Mori and a little about clothes

 Linen and lace, ruffles, tiny pockets and endless buttons - oh and the wonderful hours spent turning through my fabric stash! Creating a doll outfit takes some time, there is so much to consider and no doubt the doll always has something to say about it.

Before I begin stitching a doll I will always put together a little bundle of favorite materials I'd like to use for her, I make endless drawings and notations in my sketch book and will often set about dying yarn or cloth to set the perfect palette for her personality. Sometimes my planning pays off, a doll is born and she instantly takes to my choices, sometimes however a personality shines through that gently presses into a new direction.

This year I would very much like to focus my doll clothes styling to reflect my own personal taste for bohemian and folksy layered outfits, subtle tones and quality natural fabrics. Creating miniuture clothes, similar to those that I wear myself has been tremendous fun, like playing dress up when I was a little girl!

Me and my little style twin Tova

 Mori is a gentle soul - quiet and reserved; the sort of girl that is so at ease with herself and her surroundings, that you may not even see her in the room at all! " The art of becoming invisible " she tells me - what a funny little thing she is - a mystery for sure!

 Mori is a wanderer, a nomad. Barefoot she would walk untill her feet would carry her no further, and would happily sleep where she fell, as at home in the forrest as she would be with me I know!

Mori and two baby spring time elves will be available to adopt this friday at the Enchanted Toybox On Friday 6th of Feb at 7pm est

Tova - a girl of the rain

Oh my dear Tova, you seem so sad my love - gazing out at the over cast skies.
"Will it ever stop raining?" she asks me quietly.
January in England can be a bleak time of year, night closes in so much earlier, we are swept with south westerly gales and the landscape around is wild and ragged.

 Tova was born of this sombre time of year, the rain has settled upon her, bestowing a forlorn expression and a quiet tone. Some dolls truely capture a piece of your own self, embodying a certain mood or feeling, at times we can all feel under the weather, like our world has faded into grey and Tova, gentle soul that she is - takes the worries of all to her heart.

 So will it ever stop raining? Well I shall tell you what I told Tova,

" It may rain, it may pour -

but as long as you have just a little bit of sunshine in your heart, 

then you will always have a rainbow in your pocket. "

If you would like to share your troubles with Tova, she will be looking for a new home comment style from now untill midday Sunday 18th  January in my hyenacart shop for further photographs please do visit my gallery.
Scarlett xx

Jonah and his bird

Meet Jonah - this little boy was inspired by a tender moment whilst walking home through the park one day with my eldest son. He had noticed a tiny bird singing so sweetly high up in a tree, and holding his hand outstretched called for the little creature to fly down to him. How I wish the little bird had obliged! Sadly not but the magical idea stayed, and a little boy with a feathered friend soon developed in my notes and sketches.

Jonahs handmade leather bound journal

 Jonah likes nothing more than wandering around, humming to himself looking for creatures, mainly flying ones! He is fascinated by their graceful speed and delicate mannerisms and will spend many an hour patiently watching them, 

sketching away in his little journal.

One of our favorite birds is the blue tit, a very common sight in English gardens, and so cheerful in voice and colour I knew it would be the perfect companion for little Jonah - and wasn't he delighted to find that this little felted fellow would sit happily in his hand, take crumbs of left over sandwiches and sing merrily all the while! 

Such a happy little fellow!

Like birds of a feather

 Although he may be a little bit quieter, and more reserved than some of my dolls, Jonah has a gentle heart and I'm sure will bring much love to his new family! 

Could you be my mama?

All packed ready to go wherever the day may take him

 If you think that you would like to give Jonah a home, he will be taking entries 

over on my hyena cart page until 6pm est Sunday 5th of October

Bramley - the apple girl

When I was small many a good time was had nipping over the neighbors fence to sneakily pinch an apple or two, my sisters as lookouts - excitedly skipping about under the tree as I hurriedly stuffed the fruit in my pockets. We were always caught and scolded for our thievery, but I have to say the excitement around apple picking time and autumn in general has always remained.
Now my mother has her own little orchard, and every year me and my boys like to spend an afternoon or two collecting apples, ready for pies and crumbles, or even just to top our morning porridge ( its getting chilly over here in England now )
This year we have been joined by a dear little doll named Bramley. Named after a true traditional English apple, and just as sweet!

Bramley is a 15 inch doll, made from quality natural materials.
Her skin is sunkissed de witte cotton and  she is stuffed with sweet devonshire wool. She has long wefted mohair hair in a beautiful autumn auburn shade. Like all of my dolls, she has lots of features, tiny ears, a sculpted chin, eyebrows, a swirly belly button and peachy bottom!

 Bramley was only too pleased to scramble up the apple tree, tucking fruit into the little pocket on her apron, stopping now and then to take a bite out of the rosiest ones!

This little lady requested warm comfortable clothes, She is dressed in a little lace vest, with matching undies, a three layered Irish linen skirt, trimmed with cotton lace and fastened with a wooden apple button, wool felt leaf shoes, socks, a pure wool jumper and linen apron ( with pocket for apples!)

Some of the apples in our orchard were a little heavy for Bramley to hold, so I have crocheted a little basket, and needle felted three tiny apples - just the right size for dainty little hands!

Bramley the apple girl will be looking to join a new family on Monday, please do visit my shop for her listing - it will run for 48 hours - here is the link: Bramley
Thank you for stopping by my blog!
Lots of love Scarlett xxx

Toran's Doll

 By 8.30 we are up, fed, washed, dressed, house squared up for another day and children are starting to ask for another breakfast! We did playdough at 9.00, drawing at 9.30 - then snack time, today was one of those non stop days - and I should know on days like today where my boys are feeling rather busy - I wont be busy doing dolly work!
Nevertheless I am always the optimist and while both boys enjoyed an indoor picnic I thought I would try to sneak away for a little sewing, but no sooner was the machine threaded, two little faces appeared  "can we help" Toran chirps - eyes sparkling, fingers already busy twisting dials and switching the light on and off. After a little debating we compromise that if he can sit very still and not touch, he may watch me - I have a pair of little leather boots to sew this morning for Goldilocks and it is too fiddly for little hands. Now he tried very hard, but it is just too tempting for a nearly four year old boy to fiddle, to empty tins of thread, to NEED to sit on your lap, or help you with the machine pedal. The game was up, I looked at the tangled mess of stitches on the boot ( no doubt some tension had been helpfully adjusted) and decided to cut my losses, pack away and hope to maybe try again at bedtime. It was just as I switched off the machine that Toran turned to me and said " But Mummy I absolutely need to learn to make dollies! " Oh my sweet boy - hands turned out, shrugging his shoulders, he just wants to play! It's so easy to get caught up in all that I should do, all that I have to do - but today I realised what a special thing it is that my boys watch me work, to see that I can provide for them at home -  to inspire their own creativity. 
And so today Toran learned to make a doll. He knew immediately what he wanted to make, and really impressed me with his patience!

Stuffing his dolly with wool

choosing silk for dolly's eyes

the table got quite messy!

sewing ladybird spots

It took most of the day, with quite a few breaks for tea and biscuits, but the look on this boys face when his very own doll was finished was priceless! Mr ladybird is about 5 inches tall, has a little removable knit tunic, hat and wool felt shell which ties on with ribbons

 ( just in case mr ladybird wants to become something else someday)

Toran and his new best friend are already adventuring in the garden -

 its been the most productive doll making day ever !

Edward Bear

Oh Edward! When Mary asked for a little brother I don't think either of us expected such a mischievous creature! But even though you wear big bear foot boots, and are earnestly practising your growl - there is less Grizzly than Teddy about you my Edward Bear!

Edward is like all good boys should, mostly busy messing around, noseying into things that he shouldnt and running at the mention of a hair comb! He is truely a playful little cub!

Like his sister Mary, Edward Bear is made using my new 12 inch baby pattern from beige laib yala cotton and stuffed with devonshire wool. He has a sculpted bottom and floppy poseable limbs allowing him to sit and pose with ease. He features a gently sculpted face, tiny ears, eyebrows, and swirly bellybutton. His hair is whispy crocheted dollymo mohair.

Edward wears a knit jumper with alpaca teddy motif, matching undershorts ( which together make a nice pj's set ) cotton plaid trousers and pure wool knitted bear foot boots.

For when Edward needs to be a real bear he also has an organic cotton plush teddy romper suit with hat - and though he prowls around trying to scare his sister - I think he looks adorable in it! Though I'd never tell him, he is so proud to be a real bear!

Edward is ready for adventure and will be looking for a new home tonight at 6pm EST via short auction in my shop along with his siter Mary and some lambkin friends. 

For the rest of his photos please do visit my gallery

Due to Edwards fine mohair hair he is best suited to gentle play with an older child, or cuddles from an adult collector

A little lost lamb

Sometimes a doll will live in my heart for a long long time, quietly, patiently waiting for a time of their own. It is a joy like no other to realise these gentle souls from simple wool and cloth.

Mary is just so, a doll which encompass all that I try and impart, all that I hope Ladybird Dolls to be. 

A delicate face which in one moment look full of mischief, 

and in the next you could almost have sworn you saw a little lip quiver. 

In truth my craft owes a lot to the humble sheep, their beautiful wool lends itself to warm naturally hypoallergenic stuffing, giving my dolls a comforting huggable feel. Breeds such as teeswater and wensleydale produce incredible long lustrous locks which I use for dolls hair, 

and wool felt makes for durable doll clothes and mini dolls. 

I have longed to make a little doll inspired by sheep, a doll of understated, meek and mild beauty. 

Soft, gentle and kind - this is Mary...

Mary is 12 inches tall, made using my new baby pattern for a doll which will sit with ease, has flexible limbs and can be easily posed. She is made from beige Laib Yala cotton and stuffed firmly with sweet Devonshire wool. Her hair is crocheted from natural white dollymo mohair.

Mary is gently sculpted with a tiny mouth, chin, full cheeks and features wee ears and embroidered eyebrows.

Mary is dressed in pointelle cotton undies edged with lace, a cotton jersey shirt, pure Irish linen dress with little lamb pocket, merino knit shoes fastened with mother of pearl buttons, and a wool tweed and lace headband. All clothing items are made to measure entirely from my own patterns.

Naturally little Mary needed some warm lamb clothes too!

Her romper suit and hat are sewn from organic cotton plush 

and are just right to stay warm and cosy at bedtime.

Mary will be looking for a mama tonight at 6pm EST ( Sat 9th August ) via short auction in my shop along with her brother Edward and some lambkin friends. For all her photos do visit my gallery.

Due to her delicate hair fiber and buttoned clothing Mary is recommended for gentle play with an older child, or to be admired by an adult collector.