Northern Adventure: Making Waldorf Dolls

Well, I'm still trying to catch up with all of the photos and events from our stay in NY.  If you remember I had written about going to visit the lovely Waldorf school in the area.  After seeing all the beautiful handmades there I was so inspired to try all those crafts I had been a little apprehensive to begin.  One of those crafts were some Waldorf dolls for my boys.  Owen had just fallen in love with one of my Mom's dolls and was carrying it everywhere for a time. 

I thought he needed a cuddle doll of his very own.  I made these for Christmas and didn't finish until the wee hours!  I made this one for Owen, the wool color reflecting his lighter hair.   I also made a little brown gnome hat and bunny blanket in fleece.

Michael's has dark variegated brown wool for hair and a brown gnome cap and squirrel blanket. 

I didn't really have the correct materials in which to make these.  I didn't have the money to buy Waldorf doll kits or even the right fabric for skin tone, etc. I used what I had and bought what was available and in my budget.  I bought some wool to stuff them.  I also had wool yarn for their hair.  I made their skin tone years ago by tea-staining some cotton fabric I found at JoAnne's.  (Yes, it's taken me years to make these!)  I made sure I sculpted the heads correctly by following  directions I found online at Moonchild Dolls.  I used Martha Stewart Kids directions for the rag doll style body. I had no idea how to do the hair and after a few failed attempts on wigs decided to just sew the hair in.  Yes, crazy me sewed every strand of hair into their little heads!  Yikes, it took forever but it was a labor of love.  I was so enamored with them and excited to see my boy's faces when they opened them.  (Though if I ever make more I will for sure figure out a wig!)

I wish I could say my boys play with them everyday.  But,(sigh), here they lay in their little wicker cradle. Oh, where's a girl when you need one?!  Ah well, they do play with them when I get them out and we all play together.  And Michael likes to take his to cuddle with at night occasionally.  Now if I had made them with rabbit ears or dinosaur tails or something I think they would have flipped.  I'm not giving up yet though.  I plan to make clothes for them.  I dream of learning to knit some lovely little caps and sweaters. (Maybe with ears!)  Or maybe, I'll tell some stories about them to get their imaginations flowing.  Mama has her ways.  ;)

Until next time...