Dolls are simply magical! Dolls speak to our hearts…their expressions and their quiet presence…like a little friend. In childhood, as many children do, I applied human feelings to inanimate objects. If you have read the book, Hitty, Her First Hundred Years by Rachel Field, this very quality of being ‘alive’ so to speak, is at the very core of the story. And no one could ever ask for a more true and thoughtful friend than Hitty. There are many other books that portray dolls, animals, and fantasy characters having a life of their own, and I think there is a universal appeal and magic that so many people are drawn to.
This is the very spirit I wish to endow all of my own dolls with. For me, creating dolls is so personal. I feel each one come to life as I finish the head and face, especially the eyes. Their little personalities start to shine and guide me to the finished design. I have been making dolls for a very long time, and they have evolved a lot since my first attempts, but the first time I made my current version, I knew it was ‘the one’, and Wylde Soul Dolls was born. This has grown into other styles along the way, and I’m sure it will continue to evolve. You will find the different styles below, and the feeling and focus behind each one. My greatest hope is that they will be well-loved and cared for, not just tucked away in a box, but displayed and even carried about…a little friend to be spoken to and confided in, and eventually passed on.
Wylde Soul Dolls
This is where my current line started. I decided to make a doll one day, and I wanted it to have a natural organic feel, almost antiquated. Wylde Soul represents a free spirit, and the perseverance of humans to survive through many ages…we are a scrappy lot. I wanted them to convey strong character and an independent disposition, wrapped in the softness and fragility of much like our own physical being. The warmth of wool seemed to suit that goal and it is a wonderful material to work with. I definitely wanted the dolls to feel like they were made from materials that were close to the earth and nature, something that spoke to our wild selves from long ago.
Literary Littles
I love reading and books in general…especially old worn books. I grew up reading so many fairy tales and admired the illustrations within for hours. My Literary Littles line is a way for me to combine my love of books, with my doll making…a perfect pairing! I have so many ideas…The Little Prince, Tin Tin, Christopher Robin, Gwinna, Oliver, the Little Women, Harry Potter characters, Dorothy from Wizard of Oz, Flower Fairies, the children from the Sound of Music and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Cinderella, Thumbelina…the list goes on and on. These little dolls, so defined by their stories, have an immediate disposition, but even still, I hope that they are allowed to blossom into their own as they should.
Historical Dolls
I also like to create dolls that personify legends of importance through time. This includes; Amelia Earhart, Frida Kahlo, and Rosa Parks, among many others.