Oct 30

Oct 30 Little Roman, Commander of the Seas

Little Roman, like most boys, loves all animals. Finds them so fascinating and good to look at. He especially loves marine mammals and so he kindly requested I made him a whale.

Little Roman and his friend William the Whale. Set of natural art toys by Fig & Me.

I had initially sketched a different animal for him. But just like him, I also love whales. I fell in love with them on my trip to Maui, back in early 2020.

I remember seeing orcas and dolphins at Sea World in San Diego back in the 80s. I spent a few summers visiting our family in California and they took us to Sea World in one of those trips. Being close to the ocean and these huge animals felt like visiting Mars to be honest. I had no direct experience of the sea, I remember so well the smell and these gentle eyes that see right through you.

But when I saw them jumping out of joy near Maui, it was a very different experience. Less scary, less messy, very profound. To be right next to an animal this large that could literally pummel you without exerting that much energy, makes you feel how grandiose they are, and how little we are in this, their water world.

So when Roman told me he wanted to take care of a whale, I immediately gravitated to this idea.

William the Whale, a natural art toy for Roman. Handmade by Fig and Me.

It was so much fun to hear him talk endlessly about whales, the different kinds, how they play, how long their gestation is, and when he told me about wanting barnacles on his whale, that sealed the deal.

I made his pretty whale friend (who we call William but we are not sure this name will stick once Roman arrives home 😊) using the same knit fabric I used for his cardigan. So they can go in matchy-style to visit Grandma of course.

We hunted high-and-low for a grey sweater to make the bottom of the whale. Unfortunately 100% natural sweaters are not very common in Portugal’s thrift stores. But we did find one and we considered ourselves real lucky.

William, the whale, is stuffed with Canadian wool and I can’t actually pick a favourite thing of making him. Stuffing him was so sweet, as well as adding the decorative stitches and the barnacles…although I have to confess: I’ve always wanted to do eyelids like that and now I am very content with myself 🐋.

Little Roman, a Waldorf-inspired natural fiber art doll.

Roman is very happy with his little friend William, and he takes him outside every chance he gets. I told him that William would appreciate a nice play silk and some wool felt friends to hang with while he goes outside to hang from branches or play in his swing. But to no avail. Apparently William loves to sit on the clover and tell stories, in whale-alese.

It is fun to see your dolls play so nicely with the toys you make for them. It is even more nice knowing these two won’t sit on a shelf for too long before loving hands keep taking them out to read books, watch movies, go camping or tousle Roman’s hair.

I just hope William doesn’t get lost in the kerfuffle!

Doll boy clothing: flannel shirt with sleeve plackets and pointed collar, corduroy pants with pockets and a little bit of squirrel-theme ribbon.

Thank you so much Heather, for giving me the opportunity to make all your children into doll form. It has been a years-long adventure but I think the wait was worth it. I hope you enjoy playing with all of them and they bring you much joy ❤️.