The Life of Dolls

I have always been fascinated by Victorian dolls, the fanciful porcelain faces of the 19th Century always seemed to speak to me. I was inspired to begin creating my own versions of a Victorian doll, but I wanted to be sure that everything would be done entirely by hand without the use of molds. I really wanted to become engaged in the process, the work of creating a little form. I began experimenting, and with time began creating creatures that spoke to me. I soon created dolls as gifts and now would like to offer them to others.

The dolls I create begin to tell me a story. Here are a few to share...




Above is the beautiful Madame Marie Helene available now in my Etsy shop. She is entirely handmade and hand stitched with love.

The Madame Marie Helene is a famous courtesan favored by the royal family for her beauty and talent for stimulating conversation. She lost her true love, a village painter, to the fever, and now pines for him at the edge of the wood, their hideaway for secret liasons. She dons her most cheerful gowns in an attempt to disguise any sign of mourning that should interfere with the brilliance of her blue eyes and conversation.

This is Charlotte with quite a unique story to tell

Charlotte has always had the ability to see and communicate with spirits. At a young age she left behind her cruel parents and their small cottage to become a professional medium, performing at Barnum’s Museum in the bustling city of New York only to find that the majority of her colleagues were utter and complete frauds. She was courted by a famed lecturer, and soon was secretly engaged. Their marriage was never to be. Her fiancé died, the victim of a weak heart, and she now finds herself alone once more, forced to compete with a city of charlatans.

May I introduce the governess Louisa

Louisa is forced to work in the employment of a prominent wealthy, yet cruel family as their governess. The children tease her for her passe style and mock her attempts at teaching them French. She dreams of one day becoming a great writer and even dashes off lines for her future female pirate novel late at night to stave off the chilling air of her small and damp quarters. Her only and most treasured possessions are her pen and ink well.