Since 2006 when I first opened up my online shop, selling my primitive style dolls, beginning with very simple rabbits and elephants and yo be honest, they haven’t changed too much, I have learned a great deal about the doll making process, meet amazing doll makers from all over the world and had some heartfelt stories from people that purchased my dolls. One such story was from a young girl in the USA, after purchasing one of my rabbits dolls she wrote to me that she suffered from anorexia and would take the doll with her into therapy. I hope that little doll helped her through, we sis keep on touch for a short while, she looked like she was doing okay. It amazes me each time someone comments about my art work how they connect with it and even though underlying the work is my story it ends up belonging to someone else. That is how it should be!
I have had commissions for family heirlooms, for memento-mori pets, travel companions, made to measure for dolls houses and shadow boxes, dioramas and story book characters!
In recent year I extended my range to Australian marsupials, cats and bears. Their style and clothing remained more or less the same except I added cardigans and felt scarfs, and replace the fiber fill stuffing with sheep wool. I began hand painting socks and shoes and some of their body parts.
After making 210 rabbits, 80 elephants, 7 kittens with-out-mittens, 80 Tasmanian devils, 27 very odd elephants, 44 rag dolls, 4 bandicootes, 27 quolls, 53 donkey’s, 30 bilby’s, 19 tiny bears, and 50 cats I’m calling it a day!!
The last lot of ‘dolls’ will be up in my shop in the coming months ahead and these will be the last I will make. There small parts are very time consuming and are becoming a strain on my hands. I know I will miss them dearly, but it’s time!
So farewell little friends!
