Bunnies

These bunnies are made from upcycled sweaters -- either cashmere or angora.  The sweaters are washed in hot water in the washing machine causing the fibers to catch onto each other (felting).  The sweaters are then dryed in the dryer.  I cut off all parts of the sweater which will not be used and then the fabric is ready (no fraying).  I also use this method with my dollmaking.  The bunnies are stuffed with wool and lavender.  Just at the top of the photo you can see "baby carrots" which are made of wool felt.  The green mohair is needle-felted into the head.

West Coast Early Childhood Symposium

I've been busy getting ready to sell my dolls this Saturday (Nov 13, 9:00am-7:00pm) at:

West Coast Early Childhood Symposium
Rudolf Steiner College
9200 Fair Oaks Blvd.
Fair Oaks, CA

The title of the symposium is "Childhood -- Cultivating the Wisdom of the Pure Heart" and much of the weekend focuses on puppeteering and storytelling.  So I hope my storyteller puppets sell well!

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. 

Mother Earth

Here is Mother Earth and her root children.  Her hair is braided wool roving.  Vintage lace detail at neckline.  Her body is made from 100% cotton flannel and her apron is 100% wool felt.  The root children are dressed in simple buntings made with cotton flannel and are tucked into the pockets of the apron.  Mother and children are stuffed with wool.  She stands 18 inches tall and the children are 3 inches long without the hat.

Snow Babies

It might be a little premature for these little guys to appear on my blog but I've actually gotten in the mood to make them.  Yes, they will appear at the holiday event noted in my calendar on my website.  They are my own design and are simply made from a circle of felted wool/angora sweater and a little hat.  The scarf was made from a sweater also.  On these babies there is no mouth, leaving it to the child's imagination whether the snow baby is happy or just content...

Pumpkin Baby

Now that my daughter has started college, I'm beginning to think about the autumn season, my favorite of the year, when the leaves start to fall, acorns fall to the ground and pumpkins are harvested.  This pumpkin was made from a kit from de Witte Engel in the Netherlands.  The stem is a pipecleaner covered with wool.  The body and hat are 100% wool felt also from de Witte Engel.

10-inch Waldorf Doll

This doll was made using felted sweater fabric for the body rather than skin fabric.  The lavender jumper is made with 100% wool felt.  Her hair is a crochet mohair wig.  I find that it is economically beneficial to occasionally make dolls with sweater fabric skin and it looks good also.