Meet Hattie!
I have tons of pictures from New York to go through before I can talk about that trip, so today I'm going to introduce you to Hattie.
Hattie was commissioned as a birthday gift for the older sister of the two boys who now have Faolan and Colin. I was so honored that their mother was happy enough with the two boy dolls and appreciative enough of my work to order another doll from me.
That said, I had a really hard time with Hattie. This was the first doll with which I really struggled for inspiration. I think that mostly it was the timing -- creating her in the midst of making my own children's birthday gifts, some awful late-season colds, and preparing for my trip (which was an ordeal in itself because I thought there was a decent chance I would die in the airplane). Part of it was also that the mother of the recipient had something really specific in mind (she is totally nice -- it's not that she was being difficult or anything), and I wasn't sure how to work that vision into my established dollmaking "style". With all this going on, there was a moment that I was afraid I wouldn't be able to get her to her new family on time. She ended up coming along in my carry-on (messenger bag) on the plane to New York, and her hair and pinafore received their finishing touches in the air. She was quickly photographed in our hotel room, and then we rushed to a Manhattan post office to mail her off. Whew! That was a whirlwind, and a strange way to begin a vacation.
Ultimately, despite the rush, and my own anxieties about her, I think she is so lovely, sweet, and most of all, authentic. There are lots of Waldorf dollmakers out there who are making their dolls to look more modern, fashionable, updated, what-have-you. Some of those dolls are really exquisite. But I like my dolls to have an innocent, old-fashioned quality to them. I want them to be representatives of the archetype of childhood. Despite having sort of come into dollmaking by happenstance, I've discovered that I really do have a philosophy behind my dollmaking, beyond the general Waldorf philosophy regarding dolls (that they should be free from too many details so as to be a "blank slate" for the child's imagination and creative play).
So, I've discovered that I make my dolls with that very wholesome concept of childhood in mind. I believe that they could very well be at home with a child living centuries ago. They represent childhood in its purest form. And each of them is a treasure to me -- as I hope they will be to their new little mamas and daddies.
So beautiful. You really do make the best dolls.
Posted by: patience | Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at 02:54 PM
Sweet! I totally agree with the concept of a simple childhood. You really are a talented dollmaker. She is gorgeous.
Posted by: Mary Beth | Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at 03:07 PM
She is just beautiful! I especially love her clothes and the little ribbons in her hair. I feel very inspired to make a girl doll, I've made two boys for my little fellas but a girl would be nice :)
~Stephanie
Posted by: Stephanie | Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at 03:54 PM
She is lovely!!!
Posted by: Sebrina | Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at 03:57 PM
Grace, she is beautiful! i wish i would have seen waldorf-style dolls when my daughter was younger. i feel we missed the boat on that one - and she would have LOVED one.
Posted by: kirsten | Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at 05:32 PM
hi hattie. you're just as delightful as your fairy cousins. xo.
ps. wondering where you stayed. the chair looks familiar...
Posted by: emily | Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at 05:37 PM
Oh! I love her! The pink clothing looks especially nice with her dark hair.
Posted by: Emilie | Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at 06:17 PM
Oh she turned out wonderful!!!! I love it Grace!
Posted by: Carrie | Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at 06:43 PM
Well isn't she so sweet.
Posted by: Mama Urchin | Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at 07:42 PM
She is simply adorable!
Posted by: Randi | Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at 08:55 PM
another beautiful doll! i completely agree about the simplicity and keeping the dolls childlike/old-fashioned.
Posted by: martha | Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at 08:59 PM
She is absolutely adorable!!!
Posted by: tiennie | Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at 09:24 PM
She is adorable!!
Posted by: tiennie | Wednesday, April 30, 2008 at 09:25 PM
She's so sweet!!
Posted by: Steph | Thursday, May 01, 2008 at 12:16 AM
She is so pretty! I love all of the pink :)!
Posted by: Danielle Mohr | Thursday, May 01, 2008 at 02:20 AM
she is so sweet, grace! you have a way of infusing your dolls with character without adding too much detail. i love it.
Posted by: erin | Thursday, May 01, 2008 at 05:54 AM
oh she is a work of art. i want to make one for my kids,but it seems a little daunting.
Posted by: Five Flowers/ Emily | Thursday, May 01, 2008 at 08:18 AM
Ooohhh- this makes us really excited to meet our doll in July! You make the most lovely dolls!
Posted by: Tava | Thursday, May 01, 2008 at 09:32 AM
Hattie is beautiful and has the look of a doll who will very much grow into herself as she is known and loved over the years :)
I too am a fan of the doll with 'blank slate' style features, but tend to avoid the nose eyes and mouth on the little dolls I make: a) because when I make the faces they come out looking -erm-well, unhinged somehow and b) I like to think that we can use our imagination more with a 'blank slate'. However, lots have told me that the no face featured dolls I make give them the heeby geebies and that they are somehow more frightening than a doll with a less than placid expression.
I am hoping that practice makes perfect and that some day I'll be able to master doll face making, but until then, your Hattie has been a great inspiration.
Posted by: HandyCraftyWoman | Thursday, May 01, 2008 at 12:42 PM
she is beautful, grace.
Posted by: miss chris | Thursday, May 01, 2008 at 12:51 PM
I think she turned out lovely. Very feminine and so gentle looking in her features.
Posted by: Amber | Thursday, May 01, 2008 at 03:31 PM
She's beautiful Grace. I really like her face - it'll definitely inspire a little Mama to love her and take care of her. The detail on the dress is amazing too.
Posted by: Iris | Friday, May 02, 2008 at 12:37 AM
I love her! Do you have any book recommendations for making these dolls?
Posted by: Nichola | Friday, May 02, 2008 at 03:31 AM
Glad you had a good time on your hols. Hattie is adorable.
Lisa x
Posted by: periwinkle | Friday, May 02, 2008 at 02:46 PM
I love her so much. I wish I had known about your dolls before I bought Ellery's dolls. I think your style would speak to her more so that she'd play with them. She ignores hers.
Posted by: Visty | Friday, May 02, 2008 at 04:54 PM
what a beautiful doll, grace! you are a gifted dollmaker and i'd love to know how to commission one from you. please email me. :)
Posted by: shelley caskey | Friday, May 02, 2008 at 11:15 PM
she turned out beautiful! her expression is so sweet.
Posted by: kristin | Saturday, May 03, 2008 at 03:12 PM
Your doll is so cute! I made my 2 yr old one for her birthday. I'm waiting on the hair right now. I really like the jumper on Hattie did you design that yourself? Very cute clothes.
Posted by: allison | Monday, May 05, 2008 at 10:50 AM
Oh, I love her! And I totally agree. I prefer a more classic looking doll.
Posted by: knitsational | Monday, May 05, 2008 at 01:15 PM
I'm alway so impressed with your doll and doll clothes. great job!
Posted by: Melissa | Monday, May 05, 2008 at 03:36 PM
How do I get some dolls made?
Hattie is SOOOOOOO Cute!
Posted by: PAM JOHNSON | Thursday, May 08, 2008 at 03:26 PM
She's really beautiful!!!
Posted by: mamaHeidi | Friday, May 09, 2008 at 11:42 AM
That is the most beautiful doll I've seen of the sort. I want her for me and I'd have a very hard time sharing her with my daughter!! Thank you for sharing her with us.
Posted by: michelle | Friday, May 09, 2008 at 10:25 PM