Purple Troll WIP

This nasty little guy is a work in progress.  He is weighted.  This time I decided to add more character to the embroidered eyes and I added some hair.  Still to come is his costume.  I am thinking of a simple yellow shirt with a green cowl.  For the time being, he is sitting on our nature table.  St. Michael is next to him making him behave.

Speaking of which, Michaelmas is in two days.  So happy Michaelmas!

Flopsie

Flopsie, my daughter's doll, is almost finished (she still needs some shoes).  Her blouse and bloomers are made out of ivory minky.  The dress is a simple pink calico.  Her hair is wool yarn.  I tried out Kyoko Yoneyama's hair technique from her book Storybook Dolls.  I really enjoyed it because I was able to make the hair in one sitting.  That's important with a little one running about.  One naptime was all it took.  Yeah!

This doll was a lot of fun to make.  I have been taking the skills (and philosophy) of Waldorf dollmaking and pushing the limits.  Flopsie has a nose and a smile, which, admittedly, is atypical of Waldorf dolls. Flopsie is not my daughter's "second I."  However, she is made from all natural materials such as cotton knit and wool. What is of most importance to me though  is my daughter loves to make Flopsie dance.

Working on a New Troll

This little troll is a work in progress. He measures roughly thirteen inches tall and is jointed. His nose is needle-felted. His eyes and teeth are hand embroidered. He is stuffed with clean carded wool. Lastly, I hope to make him a costume in the near future.

Google Translator

Great news!  I just added Google Translator to my blog because I have noticed visitors from different countries are stopping by.  I thought it would be nice to have that option available on my blog so you do not have to leave my site for a translator. 

Baby Troll Now Available on Etsy

My little green troll is now available for purchase on Etsy. 

New Trolls Soon To Appear in My Etsy Shop

I've been working on new patterns or rather heads.  Two of the four have been made, but I dunno...they aren't working for me yet.  Anyways, I have put the final touches on the last of my baby trolls.  Here's a preview.  Thanks for stopping by.  Always enjoy the company.

Flopsie

This doll is articulated so she has lots of movement. My daughter is fascinated with making her dolls dance. So I figured I'd make her one that can really dance. For modesty, she is wearing one of my daughter's play silks. I haven't measured her, but I'm guessing she is roughly 24". She is made from all natural materials.

Update:  Flopsie now has a top and some bloomers keeping her warm now.  They are made out of minky trimmed with lace.  Just need to get a picture of her and then make her dress and some hair.

Blue Baby Troll Available on Etsy

This little blue um..guy or girl troll is now available on Esty.  Thanks for stopping by!

Baby Troll Now Available on Etsy

Purchase

Details:

This doll is 12 inches tall.  The head and hands are made from hand-dyed cotton jersey.
The body is made out of four layers of muslin with reinforced seams.  It is stuffed with clean carded wool.  This doll is weighted with millet which has been baked and treated with lavender oil.  Eyes, mouth and hair are hand-embroidered with cotton floss.  Doll’s outfit is removable and washable.  The doll itself is not washable due to the millet.

And now the warning:

Keep your troll out of sunlight; otherwise, he’ll turn into stone.  Keep him away from all types of fairies, elves, pixies, gnomes and very small dogs.  Despite his diminutive size, he can still get up trouble.

Goblin sketch

For the Future

Now that I have made some troll baby dolls. the urge to make some ugly pixies and goblins is quite overwhelming.  I want to experiment with size and weight, because I want children to play with these dolls.  These dolls should have the proper role of antagonist and therefore, have the flexibility to carry out the whims of it's imaginative owner.

From Doodle to Doll: Waldorf Style Troll Doll

 At last!!!  I have finished one of four troll dolls.  This little guy just happens to be my favorite one.  I need to make three more outfits and stitch some more hair for the remaining three dolls. 

Stay tuned for more pictures and info. :)

Troll Doodles

Here is a couple of troll doodles I sketched while I was on vacation.

My Little Sweetheart

Here is my little one playing with her Waldorf doll.  I hope that as she gets older, she'll become more attached to the doll.  I know I already am attached. :)

Baby Troll WIP

I have dyed some more fabric.  Actually, I have dyed a whole bunch of fabric.  One of my favorite colors is bronze.  When I saw it, I knew there was a little troll just waiting to be born.

Recently, I purchased  a pattern by Vickie Riley of Dinky Baby.  It's the fourteen inch beginner pattern.  Let me say, that this is by far one of the best patterns I have ever come across.  The directions are so clear and there are tons of pictures to guide you along.  What a blast!

So I decided to use that pattern with my new fabric and this little baby troll was born.  He or she ( I haven't decided yet) is made in the Waldorf tradition.  The doll is stuffed with clean and carded wool.  The fabric is cotton and washed many times to ensure the dye is completely set and rinsed out.  His/her features are hand embroidered.  The hair is a small crocheted wig cap with super-soft wool and eyelash yarn.

The last thing I need to do is make the doll a nappy and gown.  The gown will be made from hand-dyed velour.  I can't wait to finish this little troll.  Hopefully, it will be in my Etsy store in a few weeks.  Come back for more updates

New Pattern and Doll

Poor little thing doesn't have any arms.  I still need to stuff them and sew them on.  Anytime you make a new pattern, there is always a learning curve.   With this pattern, I learned not to stuff the legs, attach them and then sew the body.  What a nightmare!  At any rate, I was able to sew the body, stuff it and attach the head.  I look forward to finishing this doll.

Dying Fabric for Dolls

1 lb. DRY FABRIC
3 gallons of water
3 cups Non-Iodized Salt
1/3 cup Soda Ash Fixer

1 Tablespoon Urea

1 Tablespoon PR7A : PEACH Fiber Reactive Procion Dye

 1 Ginourmous Pot for Dying

Doodles

While traveling back from St. Louis Missouri, I sketched some ideas for doll patterns.  Now I just need to make the patterns and dye some fabric.  Whee!

Introduction

Hello and welcome to my blog about my Waldorf dolls.  I have been making dolls since around 2004.  You may see my previous work at my other blog.  I have made all kinds of dolls over the years.  My passion is cloth and paperclay.  That is until I had my daughter.  A baby can't hug or play with a fragile paperclay doll.  The need to make something, or someone if you prefer, special, warm and wonderful for my baby girl grew and grew.  I did some research and came upon the world of Waldorf dolls.  It all just clicked for me.  After some time and hard work, and many failed attempts, I finally made my little girl her own Waldorf doll.  

It is my wish to continue making Waldorf dolls.  I am not the fastest dollmaker at the moment.  So this blog will be updated slowly. I recommend becoming a follower so you may stay up-to-date.

If you take the time to look out there on the internet, you will find some of the most amazing and inspiring Waldorf doll artists.  I recommend starting with the Steiner Doll group on Flickr.  There you will get to see representatives of kind souls expressing their love through Waldorf dolls.

Thanks,

Coppermouse Dolls