The Journey of a Doll Maker in Natural Fiber Art Dolls
Today I shipped this doll to her new home. It is a home I know well, as over the years I have sent many a doll this way.
Natural fiber art dolls by fig and me.
Natural fiber art dolls by fig and me.
Natural fiber art dolls by fig and me.
Every single time I part with one of my dolls, I do confess, the heart receives a little shock and it beats a tad uneasy throughout the entire journey.
A lot of people laugh a little at the thoughts and sentiments I have toward my dolls.
While at the beginning it must sound absolutely bonkers to them, and I am sure they just attribute my insanity to “too much time alone playing with dolls”, eventually they come to understand the deep love I have for my dolls.
Natural fiber art dolls by fig and me.
This mostly happens as they themselves start making dolls, or at least try to learn.
The steep learning curve, the mind-boggling hours devoted to this craft, but most of all: the profound attachment that develops as you work on your doll, all this happens to them and then they seem to understand a little bit better.
Natural fiber art dolls by fig and me.
If you are not a knitter, you can’t possibly understand the love and dedication that requires to knit an aran sweater for a male in your family. Or an entire lace shawl in fingering weight with 000 needles.
If you have never needle felted a doll such as this one, you cannot possibly understand the firmness needed to withstand time and the amount of hours such a minute little being will take you.
Natural fiber art dolls by fig and me.
Walking the walk. It takes two to tango. So many sayings but the truth of the matter is that there comes a deep understanding once you sit down, take a pencil, draw a doll, load your bobbin with sewing thread, get a felting needle in your hand and roll some wool.
I was writing the script for one of my videos this morning and I needed a date to a certain design detail on my dolls. 2012. Then I realized that’s not even when I started making dolls!
Natural fiber art dolls by fig and me.
That’s ten years ago! Holy smokes. I have been making dolls for a long time.
How come I am still learning so much?
Natural fiber art dolls by fig and me.
How come I am not even remotely tired?
How come there is still so much to explore and so much to share?
Maybe it’s because I take so much time with each one that the times goes slower?
Natural fiber art dolls by fig and me.
The truth is that I don’t know why I am still here, making dolls.
The truth is that I love it now more than I did ten years ago.
Natural fiber art dolls by fig and me.
I hope I still have at least another ten years in my doll making adventures. While I cannot see the future, the mists of time are closed to me, I do hope there are homes still willing to welcome my dolls in their midst.
Natural fiber art dolls by fig and me.
Because as much as I love making dolls, as much as I enjoy it, there wouldn’t be dolls if there weren’t people taking them off my hands.
So thank you. For giving me the chance to come into your life with doll making. That may be through doll photography, through inspiration on your own making journey or through the support you give me when you take one of my little ones into your life.
I hope this journey is still young. Time will tell, right?
Natural fiber art dolls by fig and me.
Natural fiber art dolls by fig and me.
Natural fiber art dolls by fig and me.
