I started doll-making about three years ago when my husband and I moved to rural Maine to live in a trailer in the woods. I couldn't work because I'm Canadian (we weren't married then) and I couldn't drive 'our' car because it was a standard and I was a city girl and as far as I was concerned it was a miracle I could drive at all. So. I was stuck in the (very beautiful) woods for a very looong winter. (This is not where we actually lived, but the zendo nearby.)
Very beautiful indeed, but a girl cannot live on pastoral delight alone. I had always loved Dame Darcy's comic books, and that same year my husband gave me one of her dolls as a birthday present. I loved her so much - rather obsessively in fact - that I carried her around from room to room with me for days because so that I could look at her whenever I wanted. So began my love affair with handmade dolls. I had always loved dolls, but this was the first one had I owned as an adult that was hand-made and I was determined to try it.
My first attempts were pretty wretched, but with the help of Susanna Oroyan's lovely books, I slowly got the hang of it. At first I gave them as gifts, but then I discovered Etsy and opened my little shop, and to my surprise, people started buying them. This is Phoebe, the first doll I ever sold:
But this post isn't only about me! I wanted to feature some of the artists who inspire me, and so here is some of their beautiful work.
This is by Jenny Bird Alcantara, who does incredible things by painting on fabric. I love the huge, crazy hair (mohair, I suspect) and one of these days I'm definitely going to try some bunny ears...
Because I can never get enough pink, here is a lovely, spooky albino girl by Beth Robinson, whose work is frightening and beautiful and unique.
And now an artist who is so lovely I have to include a picture of her as well as one of her dolls - she looks like a visitor from another era, and as I often feel like I'm from another era myself (although I don't quite have the nerve to wear bonnets) that always appeals to me. The divine Ms. Lateefah Wright (and how brilliant is that name?)
Lateefah has a kiln and makes actual porcelain dolls!! Oh, how I dream of the magic of kilns... This piece is so ethereal and haunting, I had to show it three times:
And finally, to that mad fairy who started it all, Dame Darcy. It's hard to find pictures of her dolls on the web, but I did find
Golden Shoes, a lovely little animated short she did which stars one of her scary-sweet creations (and some great music.)
Well, I'm off to work one of my own little ladies. I should be doing school-work, but my brain is still recovering from reading/ thinking about/ writing about/ talking about Ulysses for eight hours yesterday. I don't think I could muster a single coherent thought if I tried!
I knew I shouldn't have checked out your site today..I have tons to do and now I just want to check out all of these influences of yours! I love the Dame Darcy short..I didnt know she had one!! Wonderfully eerie and I love her ghost doll and the paper dolls..I could go on about.. Great posts lately by the way ..who knew Mr. Morris was a looker! Look forward to see what your working on :)
~Christine
Posted by: Du Buh Du Designs | November 16, 2007 at 12:58 PM
Oh, this is just the most wonderful story! I love Maine, it's absolutely beautiful there. However, I have never visited in the winter so I have no idea what it's like. But, judging by that picture it must be just as beautiful as I picture it! :)
Posted by: Beth | November 16, 2007 at 01:57 PM
Oh You are amazing!! Your story is like a fairytale.. A Trailer in the woods in the snow in maine in the winter with a man and some dolls and some majorly amazing influences and dreams and comics and books. AND! Voila, here you are! Love it!!! xoxoox
Posted by: A Fanciful Twist | November 16, 2007 at 08:15 PM
your blog is looking amazing now! i love the design, the images, etc.
and i also love this post - the snow covered whatever it is, the Lateefah doll (all three of it!)the little film (i hadnt heard of her, but im glad i have now!)and especially the music.
im also smitten by your recent cloth doll!
yay!
Lou^_^
Posted by: lou | November 17, 2007 at 05:31 AM