Davis Farmers Market in Davis, California

It is so fun to sell my dolls at the Farmers Market in Davis.  I meet people there from all over the world.  The first doll to sell was on her way to the Alps in Italy.  I sold many dolls and soon must replenish my supply for the upcoming holiday season.  There are many fairs that I go to in the San Francisco area and around Northern California.  I hope you enjoy viewing this basket of storyteller puppets.

Knot Doll

This is a knot doll, or as some call it, a "blankie" doll.  This is the best suited doll for a baby's first doll.  I made this one from cotton flannel but I now use wool sweaters which have been felted in the washing machine.  Wool is the only fiber that naturally resists flame.  Wool is also a bit easier to sew with as it has some give (stretch) to it. 

Needle-Felted Fairy Dolls

These 6" tall dolls were made using a pipe-cleaner for the arms and wool roving wrapped around them.  The rest of the body was made with dyed wool.  The wool was held together by using a felting needle.

Lavender Storyteller Puppet

This doll was made from two different sweaters which were  felted in the washing machine. 

Storyteller Puppet

This doll is about 10 inches tall excluding the cap.  It was made from a recycled wool felted sweater.  I go to thrift stores and buy wool/angora blend sweaters, sometimes cashmere, and put them into the washing machine.  The agitation felts the wool.  Then the sweaters go into the dryer and when they are dry I cut off all the unusable parts and use the fabric for my dolls.  The head is made in the traditional waldorf style and the muff is extended to about four inches (just below the waistline).  The leggings are added onto the body and then the dress.  The sleeves are empty for puppeteering.

Baby Lady Bug

This little baby is about 10" long and is made from wool felt (wings) and velour (body and hat).  Stuffed with wool and flax seed.  The kit was from my favorite on-line store de Witte Engel from the Netherlands.  It can be purchased from http://www.witteengel.com/

Daffodil Child

This little doll is a 6" tall nature table doll.  She is made of 100% wool felt, stuffed with lamb's wool, and has embroidered facial features.  She has a pipecleaner armature and the stem is also made with pipecleaner covered with wool felt.  She took nearly three hours to make -- isn't she so adorable?

Greetings

I'm going to give this blogging a try.  I so admire other bloggers and have wanted to try my hand at it....so here we go. 

Dollmaking has become my passion--I only wish I had more time for it than I have now.  I became interested in Waldorf dollmaking when my daughter was in a Waldorf kindergarten (she's now in college).  It has changed my life.  When I retire from my regular job I will make dolls full-time and will teach dollmaking.  I will try to post as often as possible, showing you my dolls and sharing a bit about each of them.

The doll you see above stands 6" tall (exluding flower she's holding). She (a violet child) is a nature table doll or makes a great gift for any one.  She is made of 100% wool felt and is stuffed with lamb's wool.  Her facial features are hand-embroidered and her hair is tibetan lamb's wool.