After what seemed the most idyllic time, handling wool tartan and tweed, my two sisters are ready to find a family. Please come on in so you can read all about them.

Morgan Marie, an 18” tall natural fiber art doll by Fig and Me.

If you would like to listen to some beautiful music, press play while you read.

This beauty, pardon me but I’m biased, up here is Miss Morgan Marie. She is the eldest sister, or as her sister likes to point out: the prototype. Seeing as the next time around Mackenzie was born. Hehehe, the dolls make me giggle so much. They say the darnest things, honestly.

Continuing with our proper introductions, Miss Morgan Marie is a bonny lass as they say, ready to tumble herself over branches, hike mountains while keeping the pace, she volunteers to carry as much gear as you feel inclined to give her, she is the first one to get up and the last one to go to bed. She is a bundle of energy and I honestly do not know where she gets it.

She is a doting sister, who loves to pester her youngest one. Always teasing her about her chubby ankles and dramatic antics. While Morgan is well educated, you have to allow for a bit of sibling mischief. Otherwise that energy might get redirected towards you!

Scottish inspired doll: Morgan Marie, a petite fig natural fiber art doll by Fig and Me.

Morgan is happiest outside, truth be told. I think she was born a drifter. She loves to go for the longest walks, one of these days she won’t come back I keep telling myself. It’s as if she is mesmerized by the horizon and unlike any other doll child I have known, she is always asking “just one more hour”…of walking!

Obviously we try to encourage this sporting behaviour but drizzle, rain sideways or falling snow by the bucket-load, nothing deters her outdoorsy spirit.

She comes home drenched to the very marrow, with so much mud on her boots she is easily 8 inches taller, crimson-flushed cheeks and her hair flying wild all over the place. But you know what else? THE widest, most cheeky smile you’ve ever seen.

We immediately take outwerwear to dry by the woodstove, dripping puddles on the floor, put a big kettle on and sit down to hear all about it.

Mackenzie then takes to the task of untangling her hair, picking all debris out, sometimes leaves and flowers, other times wool bits and even feathers! What does she get up to on these walks, we wonder?

Expectedly, Morgan Marie is a born storyteller. Sometimes embellishing her wondrous walks to points of disbelief. We all know the protocol, ask questions, as many as you see fit, look surprised or dumbfounded, but never contradict or scream incredulousness. She will never tell you another story in her life. She rules us with an iron hand.

Morgan is as they say, a little tornado. Between her infectious smile, her unending energy, her love for the outdoors in all weather, her eagerness to “do her bit”, she has an indomitable spirit.

I hope Morgan finds a family that can be patient with this much fire energy. A family that can help her come down when needed, make a big space all around her, for her to rest and to recharge. Those legs do get tired.

Now let me tell you a little bit more about her younger sister: Mackenzie Ethel.

My bonny lass: Mackenzie Ethel, a natural fiber art doll by Fig and Me.

My bonny lass: Mackenzie Ethel, a natural fiber art doll by Fig and Me.

Mackenzie Ethel is a just tad younger than Morgan Marie, but they are light years apart in personality. Mackenzie Ethel shares the cheery and bright disposition of her sister, but in a totally different realm.

She loves the home life, the social gatherings, being around people, pets and books. I know this may sound like a contradiction, but humans are able to hold opposite ends of the spectrum at the same time, that’s what makes us so funny and interesting. Wool children are no different.

She loves to be home because she loves to entertain. Church bazaars and flea markets are her second best thing in the world.

The hustle and bustle is her jam, as she says. She loves to see people of all colours, ages and sizes, dressed in all manner of fabrics, wearing the most diverse shoes and hats, walking and talking to each other. She likes to see human interaction, hands exchanging wares and money, chit chat about the weather and people carrying paper bags full of what is their treasure, while holding the hand of their loved ones, to cross a street, to get on a train, to break bread.

Mackenzie is a keen observer, and she can attune herself even into the tiniest details.

She loves to have people at home, and make them feel the most comfortable she can. She produces all manner of nutriments, akin to your fondest childhood memories. She plumps all the cushions, decorates the home only with nature’s bounty and keeps a steady fire going through gale and thunder. You can count on her to make you feel warm and cared for.

Mackenzie’s pitfall is that she’s a little bit like a crow, she collects things and people, experiences and memories. She loves things, not because of the things themselves, but because of the feelings they evoke, naturally.

A piece of paper reminds her of a brilliant saturday market where she ate fish and chips with her friends, while clacking her boots through cobbled streets. Dried flowers bring memories of endless summers, tending the garden and feeling the warm sun on your tired neck.

Table cloths are one of her favourite things: so many meals, so many celebrations. But obviously books are her tender spot. One of these days she won’t be able to leave the house anymore, as every doorway will be jammed shut with unending piles of books. Avid readers can tolerate this but if you are not, you better look elsewhere for a woolly companion.

Mackenzie loves to sit everyone at a table and spend hours giggling, enjoying food and listening to Morgan’s stories. She provokes her at times, but like I mentioned, it is best to stay on the safe side of these encounters. Mum’s the word.

As you can see, I have tried my best to use fabrics and designs to correctly portray the personality of each girl. This is one of my greatest satisfactions as a dollmaker: to bring each child out from the wool and to dress them and write about them as I should, because it’s what’s true for them.

Of course it would be much easier for me to dress them all the same way, say a change here or there in fabric or colours. Lord knows I spend too much time on their clothes and that is at no fault of their own.

But, the thing is, I don’t make dolls because it’s easy, cost effective or quick. I make dolls because I can’t help myself and in the same way I just can’t help myself to dress them, photograph them and talk about them the way I do. It is what it is.

Let’s talk a little bit more about their clothes, if you can indulge me. I just spent the better part of a month devoted to designing, putting things together, making prototypes, messing up and trying again. I was terrified of cutting into those tartans and not make it happen.

Carefully matching plaid lines, choosing which ones to match was the source of much chatter in the studio. Giving this coat a lot more room in the sleeves to accomodate for arms wearing bulky cashmere sweaters; if you are a dollmaker or a seamstress, you know the disappointment when there is not enough ease for the doll, or person, to wear their clothes comfortably. Choosing the right lining fabrics, to not add any more bulk, etc.

The tweeds get so petted every Fall that I am starting to worry I am going to wear them down to threads without ever using them on the dolls, so I have decided to use them more often, even if the season is not entirely a propos.

And then the repurposed knits. Oh dear, it takes me a wing and a prayer to choose the right ones from my stash. Not just because my stash is of magnificent beauty and I can easily get lost just looking at it, but because I have to consider future dolls in the dream book and what they might desire. So I have to use my judgement and that not always goes well with excited dolly hearts who want specific knits on their very own sleeves.

In this case I think we succeeded and everyone is happy. Aleluya!

Morgan is wearing a Gansey style sweater and Mackenzie an Aran style sweater. One has texture from purls and knits in geometric patterns, the other one has texture from gorgeous interlaced cables. Both have turtlenecks and open fully at the back for easy dressing.

Morgan wears aside her Gansey style sweater, cabled tights, tweed pantaloons with some cute pleats at the waist, a matching Gatsby-style flat hat and her leather boots.

For those endless walks in the outdoors I made her a beautiful cape with slashed openings so she can manouver her walking stick, take photos or pick found treasure on her walks.

This cape is made with wool tartan and lined, it has four metal engraved buttons and a belt and it closes with a metal sewn-in snap.

Mackenzie Ethel aside her cashmere cabled sweater, wears a tweed pleated skirt, cabled tights and leather boots. Her cute beret with a ginormeous pompom matches her tartan coat.

This pretty coat is a version of a Gusset Pocket coat I made for Poet last monthas a Patreon tutorial. Mackenzie was quite taken with Poet’s coat so she wanted one in cheerful colours. Hers is fully lined too and those gusset pockets come in so handy to carry a book, a flashlight or your little purse as you go out to run errands for Grandma.

Handmade natural fiber art dolls, sculpted in wool, by Fig and me.

These girls are made with a slightly downsized version of my Petite Fig pattern, they are 18” tall. They are heavily weighted with dollmaking glass beads in their torso and sculpted in Canadian wool. Their heads rotate in all directions and they sit and stand comfortably, though assisted. They have hand painted freckles, hand embroidered eyes and lustrous mohair locks for hair. They have an extremely comforting feel due to the added weight.

These are collectible art dolls suitable for humans 12+. Spot clean only.

BOTH DOLLS WERE SOLD COMMENT STYLE AND HAVE NOW FOUND A LOVING HOME. THANK YOU KINDLY FOR COMING TO VISIT THEM.

Natural fiber art dolls in the boreal forest, inspired by tartan and tweed. By Fig and Me.

Doll leather boots, in the boreal forest. By Fig and Me.

Natural fiber art dolls by Fig and Me. Sculpted in wool, wearing tartan, tweeds and beautiful knits.

Behind the scenes: shooting dolls in the boreal forest. By Fig and Me.

Dolls in tartans and tweeds, in the boreal forest. By Fig and me.

Sisterly love, art dolls wearing tartan and tweed. Inspired by the brittish isles, by Fig and Me.

Handmade doll coat, fully lined and made in wool tartan. By Fig and Me.

Thank you for visiting my dollmaking home and I hope these dolls bring a smile to your face.

These two will most likely be the last dolls available for sale this year, as I finish my custom work and finalize video projects. But don’t fear, I will come and post a few more blogs before the year is over.