Waldorf Inspired Dolls & Toys

2010-06-15T23:00:00.001-04:00

New dolls, new Etsy shop, new website and blog.....they are still coming soon, but not this week as we tried so hard to make happen.

Sickness in Larissa's family (she and her two young sons) and an adverse reaction to an increased pain medication dose for me, has not allowed either of us the time we needed to meet our goal of opening our Etsy shop and web site this week.

As we are both now feeling better and gaining our equilibrium again, we are working towards our goal to open this new shop very soon. Each day as we work together (long distance no less) our spirits are high and we are excited about our new dolls and the ideas we are coming up with for future dolls. We have been Skyping and that has made it feel very much that we are much closer than 900 miles from each other! Although I am in New York and Larissa is in Atlanta, the best part of working with another person is the joy to realize every day how much we have in common in our artist expression and in our business goals!

So, bear with us and we will be revealing our new doll business name very, very soon! We know you will love our dolls and toys as much as we do!

Do you want to buy one of our dolls that is for sale today? Great! We have "Ready to go home today" dolls on our existing Uniquefiberarts Etsy shop. We have the following ready for you to buy today:

One organic, all natural 14" Waldorf Doll with long brown hair. Penny is a doll that any little girl would love to have to dress and undress. But particularly any little girl who loves horses will adore this doll. Penny loves horses too and particularly loves her pretty horse print dress! Find Penny wearing her horse dress here. Find her favorite pink horse Pippie here.

There are additional items of clothing listed that you can purchase to go with this doll. There is a matching wine and swirl long sleeve dress with a pretty natural frayed bottom. Find her wine color dress with swirls here.
There are additional Waldorf inspired felted horses ready to go home today, too! Find the one of a kind original blue horse Perry here and the original purple horse that you will not find any where else, Phoebe here.

Another ready to buy doll you will also find is CoCo, a first companion Waldorf doll. Made with warm, soft fleece for the body and hat, the gorgeous brown "skin" and black curls make this an irresistible doll. Find CoCo here.

Take a look at our current Etsy shop for other felt and felted toys here.

Blessings from our New York and Atlanta home studios!

debbie :)

Five Days till we move to a new blog and a new Etsy store!

2010-06-12T15:57:00.001-04:00

FIVE days till My new Etsy shop (dedicated only to dolls and fun doll accessories) will be open in 5 more days! My daughter Larissa and I are getting the behind the scenes details taken care of for our shop. We are very excited about the new web page and blog that will be live in just 5 days! Check back here for web address and exciting new Etsy store name!
Until then you can still buy our wonderful Waldorf Inspired dolls at our current Etsy store: UniqueFiberArts

debbie :)

Seven Days till we move to a new blog and a new Etsy store!

2010-06-10T09:21:00.000-04:00

SEVEN MORE DAYS!: My new Etsy shop (dedicated only to Waldorf inspired dolls and fun doll accessories) will be open in 7 days! My daughter Larissa and I are getting the behind the scenes details taken care of for our shop. We are very excited about the new web page and blog that will be live in just 7 days! Check back here for web address and exciting new Etsy store name!
Until then you can still buy our wonderful dolls at our current Etsy store: UniqueFiberArts

debbie and larissa

Eight Days till we move to a new blog and a new Etsy store!

2010-06-09T07:54:00.000-04:00

ONLY EIGHT DAYS TO WAIT: My new Etsy shop (dedicated only to Waldorf dolls and fun doll accessories) will be open in 8 days! My daughter Larissa and I are getting the behind the scenes details taken care of for our shop. I am very excited about the new web page and blog that will be live in just 8 days! Check back here for web address and exciting new Etsy store name!
Until then you can still buy dolls at my current Etsy store: UniqueFiberArts

debbie and larissa

Nine Days till we move to a new blog and a new Etsy store!

2010-06-08T11:23:00.001-04:00

I am excited to announce that my new Etsy shop dedicated just to Waldorf dolls and doll accessories will be open in 9 days! My daughter Larissa and I are both working deligently to make many dolls and fun accessories for our shop. I am very excited about the new web page and blog that will be live in just 9 days! Check back here for web address and exciting new Etsy store name! We think you will love it!
Until then you can still buy dolls and place custom orders at my current Etsy store: UniqueFiberArts

We are filled with happy anticipation - wait till you see!

debbie & larissa

Eleven Days till we move to a new blog and a new Etsy store

2010-06-06T16:08:00.001-04:00

I am excited to announce that I have been busy making dolls to sell in my new Etsy shop dedicated just to Waldorf dolls and doll accessories! My daughter Larissa and I are both working deligently to make many dolls and fun accessories for our shop. I am very excited about the new web page and blog that will be live in just 11 days! Check back here for web address and exciting new Etsy store name! We think you will love it!
You can still buy dolls and place custom orders at my current Etsy store: UniqueFiberArts
I am filled with happy anticipation!
many blessings to you.

debbie :)

Twelve Days till we move to a new blog and a new Etsy store

2010-06-05T11:35:00.000-04:00

I am excited to announce that I have been busy making dolls to sell in my new Etsy shop dedicated just to Waldorf dolls and accessories! My daughter Larissa and I will both be working deligently to make many dolls and fun accessories for our shop. I am very excited about the new webpage and blog that will be live in just 12 days! Check back for web address and exciting new Etsy store name! We think you will love it!
filled with happy anticipation,
~debbie :)

Back to work...I can't wait!

2010-05-03T23:07:00.000-04:00

With the onset of spring I have taken some time off from doll making and blogging for a few weeks. Being away from the work I love has given me renewed interest and desire in creating my beautiful Waldorf dolls and toys. Tomorrow will be my first day back in the studio in awhile and I am so excited to work again with the beautiful premium fibers, fabrics, materials, tools while being surrounded by gorgeous COLOR!

My daughter Larissa and I will be working together to increase our inventory so that our Etsy shop always has new dolls and new products for you to enjoy. In a few days we will be ready to post wonderful new Waldorf dolls here and we will list them in our shop. So, check back here soon! I will be very interested in your comments regarding our dolls. AND a new Waldorf doll giveaway is in the works! You won't want to miss out on your chance to enter!

Blessings from my home to yours!
~debbie :)

Waldorf First Companion Doll CoCo

2010-03-13T16:38:00.004-05:00

It is a really rainy Saturday here in New York where I live. The weather man said the amount of rain we will get today is equivalent to 30-40 inches of snow! Oh my! We are SO GLAD it is NOT snow!! Ha ha. We will gladly take the rain. Most of our snow from the February snow storm is melted. As you can imagine we now have MUD to deal with! And it is still cold outside!

But good news! Robins are everywhere in our yard, and tonight we change the clocks to daylight savings time - so we know that Spring is on it's way! Before the weather warms for good, I couldn't help but make another snuggly doll in warm, cozy red fleece. This is my newest listing just added to my Etsy shop. This is CoCo: a Waldorf First Companion Doll.

Coco's body is made from super soft red fleece. The brown skin tone fabric is organic and the eyes are hand embroidered with black satin thread. The mouth is hand embroidered in red thread.

Peeking out from under the sweet little hood is thick curly bangs made from soft black mohair boucle yarn.

This soft little baby doll is 12" long and is perfect for little ones to play and sleep with. As you can see in the pictures, CoCo loves to play and is not afraid of heights. Where ever your child can think to take this doll, CoCo will be the perfect playmate, ready for action.

Then when it is time to take a nap or sleep for the night, little Coco will warm in your child's embrace. And as the wool warms, your little one will find this little doll to be a sweet and cozy companion that inspires safe and happy dreams. As your child cuddles with this doll, there is not a spot on it that is not warm and soft in return.

CoCo is made in the Waldorf tradition, with an inner head that is handmade from wool and shaped and tied and covered twice for a beautiful smooth face and hands and arms that plastic or vinyl dolls cannot compete with. CoCo's fleece body is its clothes and is all one piece, not removable. It is stuffed with rolled wool and will not bunch or lose it's shape. The little pointed cap has a bell sewn into the tip for a soft little jingle.

This Waldorf First Companion doll is the perfect first doll for an infant to grow to love. Of course, older toddlers and children can not help but love this special Waldorf doll as well and this would make a wonderful, thoughtful gift for any age.

If you would like me to make you a custom doll, the hair can be embroidered flat against the head, or left off all together, if you are concerned about the child mouthing the yarn hair. The body can also be made out of soft velour or even designer cotton fabric. I have many skin tones you can chose from for the face, hands and feet. Just leave me an Etsy email under "Conversations" and I will reply right away.

This doll, CoCo, is ready for immediate sale, costs $49 plus shipping, and is ready to give away lots of love and joy to a lucky little child. I had so much fun making this precious little Waldorf doll!

Too rainy to go out, I think I will spend some time finishing the wool bunny in Spring time colors for my shop!
Many blessings,
~debbie :)

The Snowfall of Feb 2010 and Snow Cream Tutorial

2010-03-04T22:20:00.267-05:00

Last week we were in the midst of a really amazing snow storm at our town here in New York.

Here are some pictures I took of our yard.

Our property is wooded and looks and feels like a campground. We have a fire pit and picnic tables just outside our kitchen window.

Here is our swing and picnic table the day before the BIG storm AND after the more than 2 new feet of snow fell, oh my!

Here my hubby is snow blowing the driveway moving the snow that had fallen the day before the BIG storm which was the forcast for the next day.

And this is what we woke up to!

What to do with over 36" of snow?

At our house it is our tradition to make SNOW CREAM! And that is just what we did!

Here is my snow cream tutorial for making

4 mugs of snow cream. You don't need several feet of snow, you can make it anytime you can collect a large bowl of clean snow.

First step: collect a large bowl of clean, white, cold snow that has not been stepped on, pee'd on and that has no salt or sand or debri in it.

Select a second bowl (a little smaller). It should look something like this.

These are the ingredients you will need: vanilla, milk, sugar (and of course, snow!)

Add one teaspoon of pure vanilla flavoring to the empty bowl.

Next add 1 cup of pure cane granulated sugar. I use a 1/2 cup measure, so I add the first 1/2 cup to the vanilla.

Then I add another 1/2 cup for a total of 1 cup of sugar.

Next I add 2 cups of cold milk (2% or whole milk) to the sugar and vanilla.

Stir with large spoon to mix the

vanilla, sugar and milk.

Next taste the mixture. If it is too sweet: add more milk. If not sweet enough: add more sugar. Make it the way you like it.

Now it is time to add snow to the milk mixture.

Add one large heaping spoonful of snow,

Add spoonful # 2 of snow,

Add spoonful #3 of snow.

Add spoonful # 4 of snow to the milk mixture.

Now stir the snow into the milk

mixture until it is slushy. It will still be milky.

Add 2 more spoonfuls of snow.

Now add a third spoonful of snow.

Stir the snow into the milk mixture. It will continue to be slushy, but not so milky.

Add another spoonful of snow if too milky.

With another spoon, taste the completed snow cream. It should be slushy, but more or less dry, not runny. It should be sweet and tasty and not bland.

You can still doctor the taste at this point. In another cup or bowl, add a little milk, vanilla and sugar. Stir and taste. When it tastes good to you, begin to add it to the bowl of slushy snow until the taste becomes less bland. Then add more snow to get a slushy, but not milky consistency. If the snow cream is too sweet, all you need to do is add more snow. When it tastes just right, fill up mug #1:

Fill up mug #2:

Fill up mug # 3:

Fill up mug #4:

and you have just emptied the bowl into 4 mugs of snow cream! Any snow that is left over may be rinsed down the drain.

Enjoy!

Put any unused mugs of snow cream in the freezer.

When you are ready to eat, put in microwave for about 10 seconds or leave at room temperature for a few minutes before eating.

And here is some banana bread I made just before

the limbs came down on the electric lines and transformers and we were

without power, water, heat, and flush for six days!

We left home and went to a lodge at West Point military academy until our power and water were restored. Many of our tall trees had the tops break off and land in our yard and woods.We have so many limbs down and my husband spent days removing snow! There is much more work to do to get up all the fallen limbs,

but it so wonderful to be back home and to have our lives back to "normal"!

The blessings of my work and of my reflections.

2010-02-23T18:38:00.331-05:00

Waldorf Doll Toy

Perry is my newest Waldorf Inspired Needle Felted Wool Horse

Thanks to Missy for the suggestion of the name Perry for a Waldorf horse!

Penny is our Waldorf doll who adores horses and you can imagine how happy she is to have so many horses to love right now!!

From left to right: Phoebe (purple horse), Pippie (pink horse) and Perry (blue horse) are handmade, organic and all natural. They are made from sheep's wool batting which I wrapped and needle felted to a wire armature that allows for gentle posing while playing and adds to the strength of his construction.

Perry is covered in light blue Merino wool roving from New Zealand. The bottoms of his hooves are light yellow.

He proudly wears his new blanket that was woven from medium blue and green roving and needle felted together and then placed on Perry's back. The green "straps" across his chest and belly completes the look. His mane and tail are braided from merino roving in the coordinating colors of light yellow, green, white and medium blue.

Both are solidly attached to his body, allowing for safe play from the young to the old. There are no small parts to cause choking, however it is best to supervise very young children as they play with him. He is solid and firm, but feels soft.

It took a full 3 oz of wool to create him. Perry is 6 inches tall from his head to his hooves. He is 8 inches long from his nose to his tail. You can buy Perry, and all my Waldorf inspired dolls and toys on my Etsy shop. Check it out!

I am very busy in my fiber arts studio with new dolls and toys. Here is a peek at one of the happy new creations that I am working on this week. It will be listed one day soon in my Etsy Shop

It started snowing again today where we live in New York and by tomorrow they are forcasting up to 12 more inches of snow!

I stopped working around 4pm to admire the new fallen snow and to take some pictures.

To my delight there was this bright red cardinal on our little feeder just outside the kitchen window!

Since I was a teen, cardinals have had a special meaning for me. There were several times during my teen years that I experienced extreme hopelessness and was filled with fear. In times of utter loneliness more than once, I was made aware of pairs of cardinals that had landed just outside my bedroom window in my dad's vegetable garden. As a child I was taught the scriptural truth that "not even a sparrow can fall on the ground without our Father in Heaven knowing and caring...

Seeing cardinals so close to me in those difficult times, made me have a sudden awareness that God's eyes were upon them. His heart was for them. That was not hard for me to believe. Then I would remember the rest of the passage:

...Even the very hairs of our heads are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." Matthew 10:29-31

Thoughts of the tender mercy and protection of a merciful Father in Heaven and of His heart of love towards me would begin to change me. If He loved His creation (and He did!) then how much more did He love me, a person made in His likeness? (much more!) Fear would melt away and the unmistakable love of God would warm my heart and give me new found hope! When scriptures come to life for me, well those have been defining moments in my life.

When I spotted the cardinal on our little bird feeder this afternoon, I had no thought of my own need on this day, but thought instead of our little 2-year-old grandson Nathan.

That's him in the picture above with his mom - our daughter - on a happier day, before he inhaled a nickel into his trachea a few days ago.

The x-ray shows the coin lodged tightly, but mercifully it was on it's edge and air was able to move around it!

My thoughts this afternoon were of how God protected him and made a way for him to get by ambulance through heavy Atlanta rush hour traffic to a medical center where the coin was safely and successfully removed from his trachea through surgery.

The edge of the coin can be seen in the front of this throat in this neck x-ray. It is a thick white tilted line. Doesn't it look so big in his little body?

Here he is in the ER after receiving his IV for general anesthesia.

Seeing the provision and protection of God for those I love gladdens my heart mightily.

As I moved to another window I saw our flag blowing in the snowy wind. My husband and I are both United States Air Force veterans. Our two sons, now in their mid to late twenties, are currently serving our country in the United States Air Force following after our example. My sons are never far from my thoughts and prayers. Seeing the majestic flag just moments after seeing the cardinal made me realize anew God's protection for our sons and their family's. God's loving protection and presence is real in their lives, too!

Scripture tells us God never tires and never needs to sleep. This comforts me so much! I know this doesn't mean that no harm will ever touch us. Every moment of everyday I am aware of harm that caused the ever burning pain in my foot. Even the morphine (prescribed by my doctor at New York University Medical Center) can not silence the screams of this hateful pain.

And yet.
And yet I breathe a prayer of gratitude to my God because He never leaves me. He knows that I suffer and He lifts that suffering with His love and gentle presence. How marvelous to know it!

Our house sits within the snowy, peaceful woods. And I find peace within my heart and mind.

I am eagerly anticipating spring like everyone else,

but I also realize that this is time to prepare my soul for the coming of the Glory of Easter and the Beauty of Spring. I refuse to wish this time away or to rush through it. As I contemplate through-out the day upon Scripture and meditations for Lent

and as I fill my mind with songs of Praise and Worship from my iPod as I work,

I cannot help but be deeply moved by the beauty of the sacrifice that Christ made for me and for you upon the Cross.

All these things complete my sense of gratitude today for the many, plentiful blessings of my life.

~debbie :)

AND THE WINNER IS:

2010-02-22T18:31:00.001-05:00

Thanks to all who entered the contest to name Penny's new pink horse! The names you chose were very imaginative. You may find them in my shop for other horses' names in the future. But the name for Penny's horse was chosen by an unbiased third party (my husband, with Penny's input) who was unaware of the names of those who entered as he read a list of the entered suggestions.

THE WINNER IS: "Pippie!! ...because it is a perfect name that really seems to suite Penny's horse!" Congratulations Linda! You will be receiving your fiber artsy prize by USPS within a few days! Hope you enjoy learning how to needle felt! ~debbie :)

Creations from my Studio (& Ash Wednesday!)

2010-02-17T18:29:00.008-05:00

Here are a few pictures of the newest items I will be putting in my store later tonight:

Penny's horse was so beautiful that I decided to make one for another Waldorf doll or doll you may own! Wouldn't a little girl you know just love her own wooly horse? This is a new wool horse needle felted around a wire armature then covered in pure white sheep's wool. After the shape was finished I covered it in purple, orange, yellow and blush colored merino wool roving from New Zealand. I created a mane and a tail from braided roving and tacked it down firmly so it will last in the hands of older preschoolers. It is safe for all ages. This little horse was made with a full 4 ounces of wool.It stands about 9inches high.

Penny couldn't wait to introduce the two horses!

This Waldorf dress is for soft bodied dolls 13 -14 inches tall. The dolls in my store whose names begin with "P" can wear this! It is wine colored with dots and swirls, long sleeve dress with a natural fray at the bottom instead of a hem. This fabric is from the new Dancing Horses designer collection that I made for Penny. Here she is wearing this dress:

I have been asked to include a few more pictures of Penny's hair showing the front and back more clearly, so here you go! Click on the pictures to zoom in. Hope this helps.

I was busy last week making Valentine's Day toys for my grandsons. Thought you might like to see what they received in the mail from me (along with candy and a card):

This dog and cat went to our daughter's sons in Atlanta. They are 3 and 2 years old and I thought they might like a different type of wool filled doll, since they received Waldorf dolls for Christmas.

The tan puppy is for 2 year old Nathan whose favorite stuffed animal at home is a puppy he named Puddles. He loves trucks and bulldozers too, so this dogs little t-shirt has just that on it.

For 3 year old Sam who loves cats the most, I made him a grey cat. He also loves Dalmations and firetrucks. So I was excited to find this t-shirt material with tiny firetrucks and tiny dalmations on it to dress his new cozy friend in.

Our son and his family just left New York and moved to Mississippi for tech school with the US Air Force. Three year old grandson Kaidyn loved our neighbor's cat and they played together all the time. Kaidyn misses Bernie the cat, so I decided that is exactly what I would try to make him. To make the cat look tiger striped, like Bernie, I took caramel colored fleece and on the underside I needle felted the rust colored thick and thin pieces of yarn. I kept poking the pieces of yarn with the felting needle just till the fibers began to show on the front side and begin to feel "furry". I think the effect was amazing! Kaidyn loves all sports and I made his cat's t-shirt with a football design.

All three animals have short pants made from this cool fabric from the designer collection Grunge Basics by Basic Grey for Moda. I cannot wait to make more of these for my Etsy shop!

This is the book I bought to learn to make these cute little softies. The directions are clear and all patterns are inside. I made changes to each, switching out outfits and colors, etc. But you can make it exactly like the wonderful ones in the book!

I sent my doll Poppy off this week to her new BFF. Since we were in the middle of a blizzard and since she was going all the way to cold Minnesota, I decided she needed a new scarf to keep her warm on her journey.

I think you will be seeing Waldorf doll scarves in my Etsy shop pretty soon. Aren't they so sweet and don't they just make her Red Duster look awesome? Poppy said she will wear it without her Duster, too. It will help her keep her nose warm even inside!

One more thing I made for Valentine's Day was the paper balls you may have seen that I had started in the pictures of my home studio. My daughter-in-law Nina helped me make enough for each of my daughter-in-laws, my daughter and myself! We worked on them while we watched the Super Bowl with our hubbies. The inspiration and directions for the Paper Balls are from this book:

Hope you enjoyed seeing all the things I have been up to the past week and a half.

Today is Ash Wednesday and the first day of Lent. My husband and I recently became members of a church that observes these days with services and encourages special spiritual preparation in each of our hearts for the glorious celebration of Easter that is to come in forty days.

As we are invited to enter into a season of reflection tonight we were reminded with the ashes of the palm branches (from last year's Palm Sunday observances), that have been crushed, mixed with olive oil and burned to create the ashes, that we too, are only ashes. And to ashes we will return. That is what the Pastor said as he made a sign of the cross on my forhead with the ashes.

I am going to be open to inspiration that may come from a new place within me during this season of reflection and prayer and fasting. I look forward anew to the gift of creativity and beauty!
May the peace and love of God be with each of you!
~debbie :)

NEW CONTEST to name new Waldorf Inspired Needle Felted Horse

2010-02-14T13:34:00.007-05:00

CONTEST CONTEST CONTEST CONTEST CONTEST

Penny has thought and thought, but cannot think of an amazing name for her little horse. She is trying to come up with a "P" name (a name beginning with the letter P) for her little friend. I am hoping some of you will leave a comment helping her name her horse. For the person who gives us the perfect name (Penny will be the final judge) I will happily send out a ball of pure felted plain wool (that I have already rolled then wetted with very warm water and added soap.Then I squeezed and squeezed and rolled it around in my hand till it became a more solid ball. It was then rinsed and squeezed dry and set out to air dry completely. It is 9 inches around and about 3 inches high. It is now ready to decorate so I will also send the winner some colored roving and I will include a barbed felting needle and instructions. Have you always wanted to try needled felting, but didn't want to invest in all the supplies? Then this is your chance to try it!

So to enter: add a comment below with a "P" name for Penny's horse. Please include an email address so I can contact you if you win. Enter as often as you like, but only one horse NAME per entry. The contest is open NOW (12:35pm, Sunday, February 14th, 2010) and will close on at 11:59pm on Saturday, February 20th, 2010. Winner will be announced Sunday, February 21st. Prize will be mailed out on Monday, February 22nd.
Good luck everybody!
~debbie :)

Waldorf Doll Penny and Her Pink Felted Horse

2010-02-13T23:10:00.012-05:00

I can't wait to introduce you to my newest

Waldorf doll Penny! She needs help naming her beautiful new needle felted wool horse!

I AM HOLDING A NEW CONTEST TO NAME HER HORSE.....KEEP READING TO FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN ENTER AND HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN!

WINNER will receive

wool ball to felt, wool roving and

a felting needle with instructions.

Penny loves horses. She loves to play horses with her friends!! She loves to read books about horses. All night she dreams about growing up and riding far away on the fastest horse ever!

Other Waldorf dolls love to play house with their best friends, or dress up, or love to cook, but Penny loves to play horses with her friends. She is happiest when her friends bring all their horses over and they have a sleepover and play together all night.

I decided to surprise her by making her a new dress with the new Dancing Horses fabric by Laurel Burch for Clothworks. The bodice and sleeves are Dancing Horses Dark Wine Swirls and Dots and the skirt of the dress is Dancing Horses Dark Wine Metallic Mini Horses. Her matching under panties are made in the mini horses fabric. When the dress was ready and I brought it to her, I told her to close her eyes and not peak. I helped her put on the dress, her eyes squeezed shut. She was talking a mile a minute, wondering what I could be up too and asking so many questions.

I placed her in front of the mirror and told her to open her eyes. She almost fainted with delight! But my surprises were not over. She didn't know it, but I was setting about to make her the prettiest horse ever and all for her!

I decided to make her a gorgeous and unique friend - a horse that I would fashion out of pure sheep's wool. I started by making a wire armature frame that allows for careful posing during play. The frame is covered with over 3 ounces of wool that I have needle felted together.

The process is a traditional art form used before the colonial days. After shaping the armature to have 4 legs, a back, neck and head, I began to cover the frame with fluffy, undyed wool. The tools I used were a long barbed needle and a large flat brush for a base. I then took lengths of fluffy wool and rolled it around the wire, covering it completely. I added more wool and then as I rotated the form of the horse I poked the barbed needle deep into the wool and up again, deep into the wool and up again - thousands and thousands of times.This process causes the wool to felt and to become firm yet remains soft and squishy to touch.

As I needled felted the wool it lost its loft and I added more and more until the thickness and desired shape was achieved with the needle. After many hours of this process of adding wool and punching and shaping it with the needle, the final shape and form of the horse was complete.

Then I held Penny up to my selection of wool roving that hangs in my studio. I told her we were now going to decide the color her horse would be. It took her like one second to choose the bright pink. She sat near me, watching as I continued needle felting the pink roving to the raw wool and before our eyes the horse became so colorful and bright and happy!

Every horse has a mane and tail of course and Penny helped me pick out the prettiest colors to make her horse the most beautiful and magical that has ever been! I attached, twisted and tucked the roving to get the effect we were after. I secured the ends of the tail and mane. After adding a "blanket", "reins", swirls and embellishments Penny's horse was ready to nuzzle and play with her!
Penny is in her glory!

Already she has hosted a tea party for her new friend.

They have "traveled" away to places unexplored and back.

And all the other Waldorf dolls around here think that Penny has the most wonderful horse they have ever seen.

Oh, and Penny? She is of classic Waldorf design. Her legs are one piece with her body.

She can sit and her arms are attached. She is fashioned, like her horse out of 100% pure sheeps wool. The wool is rolled and inserted into "skin" that is made from long stapled cotton grown only in Turkey. The fabric is from Europe and is organic and all natural. The quality is superior to any doll "skin" fabric I have ever used. She has an inner head that is tightly rolled wool that is tied and shaped before the skin fabric is applied. She has a little nose and hand embroidered brown eyes and pink mouth. Her gorgeous mane of thick brown hair is hand dyed wool yarn in eight different textures. I crocheted a yarn wig that caps her head and then I cut and pulled through and tied off every strand of her hair. Her hair is in pig tails now, but can be let down and played with and styled in so many ways. Please do not use a brush however, the hair can only be finger combed due to the way some of the yarn is made.

Both toys' wool bodies will warm when hugged. Imagine sleeping with a doll that shares your body heat and in turn warms you?! This is a gift a child will cherish! Penny is heirloom quality and while she can be handed down to the next generation, my Waldorf dolls are made to be played with everyday by this generation of children!

Thank you for shopping my Etsy shop. I would love to make a custom doll like this or of a different style and size. Just let me know!

~debbie :)

CONTEST

Penny has thought and thought, but cannot think of an amazing name for her little horse. She is trying to come up with a "P" name for her little friend. I am hoping some of you will leave a comment helping her name her horse. For the person who gives us the perfect name (Penny will be the final judge) I will happily send out a ball of pure felted plain wool (that I have already rolled then wetted with very warm water and added soap.Then I squeezed and squeezed and rolled it around in my hand till it became a more solid ball. It was then rinsed and squeezed dry and set out to air dry completely.) It is 9 inches around and about 3 inches high. It is now ready to decorate so I will also send the winner some colored roving and I will include a barbed felting needle and instructions. Have you always wanted to try needled felting, but didn't want to invest in all the supplies? Then this is your chance to try it!

So to enter: go to the blog post entitled NEW CONTEST... posted on Sunday, Feb.14th
leave your idea for the name for Penny's horse in the comments section of the Feb.14th post (not this post). Good luck everybody!

WINNER OF THE VALENTINE'S DAY GIVEAWAY:

2010-02-08T02:42:00.002-05:00

Thanks again to everyone who entered!
I will be giving all sorts of fiber artsy things away
from my blog as well as more Waldorf Dolls so
please check back often for continuous giveaways and
please enter again!

You may check to verify that your name was entered into the drawing at Random.org

I am happy to announce that todays winner by random drawing is.....

Drum roll please...

MISSY! (of misfit momma blog) has won the Waldorf Doll 'JO' during our Valentine's Day giveaway which ended Feb 5th.

CONGRATULATIONS Missy!

I hope your daughters will truly enjoy their new Waldorf doll and that you will feel the heartfelt blessings that are sent from my house to yours today!
May God continue to bless you!

~debbie :)

Waldorf Doll Valentine's Day Giveaway Officially closed

2010-02-06T00:53:00.001-05:00

Thank you for everyone who entered my contest! It closed at 11:59pm Eastern tonight, Feb.5th, 2010.
I will be entering email addresses of all entrants to Random.org to get the results. I will make sure each entry is counted for those of you who worked hard for the extra entries.
Check back on Monday, Februray 8th, 2010 for the name of the winner! It will be listed right here on my blog.

Have a great weekend!

I was interviewed today by Annie at Home. Check it out

2010-02-04T17:10:00.003-05:00

Have you ever wondered how I chose Waldorf dolls over other dolls to make?

Have you ever wondered if you could sell handmade items successfully on Etsy?

Have you ever wanted to know another mom's experience with home based business opportunities and how that compares with being an Etsy shop owner?

Have you ever wondered if I get so attached to the dolls I make that I am tempted to keep them for myself?

Annie has.

She interviewed me today for her blog www.annieathome.com and got the answers.

Thanks Annie for showcasing my dolls and Etsy business on your blog! I love your blog and look forward to following you!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Reminder: The Valentine's Day Waldorf Doll Giveaway ends tomorrow (Feb. 5th) at midnight!

Thanks to everyone who has entered to win! If you want to enter more times for a greater chance of winning, or if you have been meaning to enter and have just put it off, it is not too late! You still have time to enter if you do it now!

Good luck everybody!
~debbie :)

My Home Studio

2010-02-02T17:51:00.022-05:00

Waldorf Doll Giveaway: All entries must be in by 11:59pm Eastern February, 5th 2010. There is still time to enter!

enter here!

Taking a peak into other artist's studios and satisfying my curiosity about their work spaces always inspires me to make the best use of the space in my home. Sometimes that just means making sure I have a designated space for my supplies and equipment. It almost always means I need to put things away and straighten up so that I can work without too much clutter that could hinder my creative spirit.

When our three children were growing up, I had a small doll business I ran from my home. Back then I used the kitchen table, stored stuff away in closets throughout the house, piled boxes of finished products in a corner of our bedroom and diningroom and claimed a small space in our family room to work. Now that our children are married with homes of their own, I thought you might like to see how I have turned one of the bedrooms into my studio where everything has finally all come together in one convenient spot. I spend some of my time each day creating my dolls, toys and fiber arts in this space. Maybe you will get some ideas that you would like to incorporate into your own home work space. I would love you to be inspired by what I have learned from my experiences as an artist, so welcome! Come on "in"!

I have always enjoyed working in a wrap-around style work space. This allows me greater reach of everything within my work space. My printer is right there on the left as you enter the room. My hubby bought it for me for Christmas. It is a great scanner, copy, fax, printer...and best of all? It is WIRELESS! YAY!
All my business is conducted on my laptop. When I am not feeling well and need to lay in bed, the laptop comes with me and I can print patterns, orders, etc. from the other side of the house! I love it!!!

In the past 20 plus years this space in our Hudson Valley New York, USA home has had many happy uses: a bedroom for each of our 3 children at some point, a guest room, play room, my husband's office, a storage room and now it is where I create Waldorf inspired dolls and toys and create art items with wool and organic wool products.

It is very healing to be surrounded by gorgeous natural textures and organic materials. Color and design inspire me and soothe my mind when pain in my body threatens to take center stage not only in my body but also in my head. (I suffer with RSD / Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, a chronic pain disorder.)

Organization of my supplies, books and equipment allows me to create anytime: when an idea comes to me, when I am feeling up to it or when time allows here and there. While engaged in art I am able to tolerate pain much better, often becoming unaware of the unrelenting pain in my left foot for short periods of time. Pain medications become more effective or can be reduced when I am fully involved in the creative process! To keep me engaged and interested I always have more than one project going at the same time and in this space there is room for it all! I feel gratitude for this magical, happy space.

Across the hallway from my studio is another bedroom I have converted into our library and TV room. My husband and I enjoy spending time together reading, watching TV or talking in our cozy, intimate space. I have learned to do all sorts of fiber arts related things in the recliner with my foot elevated. I also spend some time each day working from my bed - with my left leg straight out in front of me and my foot elevated high on a stack of pillows. That's where I am right now and where I log in my computer time, blogging, shopping, checking facebook, e-mail and tweets. I love how technology keeps me intouch with the world around me while also giving me easy ability to search European blogs and online stores, for all things Waldorf. Logistically, I do all this balancing my laptop on my tummy or I stay connected with my wireless iPod Touch when the laptop seems too cumbersome.

So, while I am all over the place in my house creating my artwork, my home studio is the hub: where I have a place for everything and sometimes have everything in it's place! Another day I will show you pics of myself working in these other spaces in our home.

For more pictures check out my set on Flickr: My Home Studio - a set on Flickr
blessings,
~debbie :)

Stampington & Company Publications

2010-01-29T18:06:00.074-05:00

For those of you not familiar with these publications I can't wait to tell you about them! I only learned about Stampington and Company publications in the past several months myself. Their magazines are visually stunning! And if color and design moves you as much as it does me, prepare to be moved!! I can spend hours looking through these, becoming incredibly inspired!

Maybe your favorite art form or craft will be featured in one of their many magazines. I love learning about and making Waldorf Dolls but never considered soft art doll sculpting. I wasn't even exactly sure what it was. Now, after being exposed to it through the Art Doll publication, I look forward in the near future to trying my hand at it! I am wondering if what I have already learned about doll making might be incorporated into this different way of making dolls. If I combined the techniques...what would I have? That is what excites me!!

I have found half a dozen of these publications at my local B and N stores (I have only checked Newburgh and Kingston locations so far). They are displayed in the magazine section under "Art" and/or with the other "Crafts" magazines which are on two separate shelving displays. Some book stores have them under both categories. So look closely. You may also order them online, but I definitely recommend checking these out. Price per issue is $14.99.

The Artful Blogger has been helpful since I am blogging now. Maybe one day I will have a visually stunning blog! Wouldn't that be so awesome? Check it out:

And check out this Somerset Holidays and Celebrations:

I would love to know which of the Stampington Publications you already love or would love to have! Please tell me about an art or craft publication that inspires your creative process. I look forward to your comments!

~debbie :)

FREE Waldorf Doll Giveaway for Valentines Day!

2010-01-21T18:03:00.028-05:00

My new blog is still under construction, but I couldn't wait to get this giveaway started, so welcome! I am glad you are here. I will be blogging about all the new things I am learning about making and selling Waldorf dolls and toys. And since I LOVE free, fun stuff, I think a Waldorf doll GIVEAWAY is a happy way to start things off. This is a doll I made for my Etsy shop a few months ago. I know you will just love her!!

HERE SHE IS!!

12 inch Waldorf Doll
"JO"

JO lists for $149 on my Etsy shop. She is one of my favorites! She is wearing a red dress with happy dots and has coordinating red panties. Her eyes are huge and brown. Her arms and legs are sewn on making her perfect for ages 4 and up. She is made with European and American natural and organic materials. She is stuffed with wonderful, warm sheeps wool that holds body heat and actually warms your child (or you) as she is slept with! What a comfort!

12" Waldorf Doll "JO", Red Polka Dot Dress and Red Panties

is the GIVEAWAY

Her thick, soft brown, boucle mohair yarn hair began as a crocheted wig that I made in one piece (with long loops that were cut open when I was finished) and then secured to her head and is made to be styled over and over again! The techniques used to make JO are handed down from almost 100 years ago from doll makers in Germany. I have spent many months learning the art of Waldorf Doll making. I continue to study daily and seek new "old" dolls to make for my store. Wouldn't this be an amazing Valentine's Day gift for the avid doll collector or little girl in your life? The winner will receive this doll just in time for Valentines Day!!

WALDORF DOLL GIVEAWAY

OFFICIAL RULES

To Enter:

In the comments section at the end of this post: tell me why you would like to win this doll for yourself or for someone else.

It is that simple. There is absolutely nothing more you need to do to enter.

waldorfdollgiveaway . waldorfdollgiveaway . waldorfdollgiveaway . waldorfdollgiveaway.

Want an even greater chance to win? After you have entered (see above)
there are ways to have your name entered more than once. Keep reading.

Here are the ways to do it:

SECTION ONE
For one (1) entry each:
(for a possible five (5) entries in this section)
* Thumb-up in Stumbleupon
* Tweet the contest.
* Post about the contest on your facebook page (you can click share at the top of this page).
* Heart my Etsy shop (make it a favorite shop) and sign up for my Etsy Shop RSS Feed.
* follow this blog (click on "follow" at the top of this page)

SECTION TWO
For five (5) entries:
(a possible ten (10) total entries in sections one and; two)
* Write a blog post (or link to this page) on YOUR blog, letting your readers know about the contest.

SECTION THREE

For ten (10) entries:

(for a possible twenty (20) total entries in sections one, two and three)

Write a guest article and receive ten extra entries in the contest.

Write about your story: A favorite doll from your childhood or your child's favorite doll (especially interested in learning about any handmade dolls that have made a difference in yours or your child's life). Leave a comment with the TITLE of your article (not the article) in the comments section below and then e-mail the story to me. I would love to post some of the stories on my blog. (let me know if you’d rather not have it posted).

EXTRA EXTRA EXTRA

BONUS ENTRIES

To help me get the word out about my new Etsy shop and Waldorf doll business, you will receive one (1) entry for each five (5) people you email with a link to my UniqueFiberArts.etsy.com shop.

5 names emailed = 1 entry

10 names emailed= 2 entries

15 names emailed= 3 entries

You may contact unlimited multiples of five (5) valid email addresses in one (1) email.

Remember to copy me (uniquefiberarts@gmail.com) on your email to have your entries count!

IMPORTANT: When you are completely finished entering this contest send me an email to list all the ways you entered.

GOOD LUCK EVERYBODY!

Contest began 8:00 p.m Eastern Time on January 21, 2010 and will remain open until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on February 5, 2010. You must be at least 18 years old to enter. Winner will be chosen via random contest tool. Winner will be notified via email and I will post name of winner to my blog on Monday February 8, 2010.

Have fun!

~debbie :)

Welcome

2010-01-20T23:54:00.126-05:00

I am so happy you have stopped by to read what is going on in my little corner of the world in New York.

I am busy learning about and making Waldorf Inspired Dolls and Toys to sell on my fun shop on Etsy.com

My newest listing is for this Waldorf 13.5 inch doll below named POPPY and her EIGHT NEW PIECES OF CLOTHING.

I am offering FREE SHIPPING (a savings of $20) for this listing if purchased by January 31st!!

POPPY is a genuine Waldorf doll (explanation below) who just loves dressing up. POPPY comes complete with a new 8 piece wardrobe just in time for Valentines Day.

I can't take all the credit for how pretty her clothes are. I let Poppy pick out her fave designer fabric. It took her FOREVER but she finally decided she wanted me to make her wardrobe from the coordinating pieces from the Teatime Floral 2 fabric collection designed by Holly Holderman of Lakehouse Drygoods. Poppy fell in love with the rich colorful flowers and would love to eventually have something from EVERY piece of Holly's collection.

That's why UniqueFiberArts is the shop she most hearts on Etsy.com. She has seen my stash and knows what is soon to be showing up in my Etsy.com shop! You can bet she will be using my iPod Touch through out the day to check if anyone has heart her or if her new BFF has bought this listing!! The suspense is growing for her and she is so excited!

To go under her new wardrobe pieces, she has a new pair of 'WHITE VINES ON WHITE' COTTON PANTIES(1)and a new matching WHITE UNDERSHIRT(2); 'PINK FLORAL PRINT' WIDE GATHERED LEG PANTS(3);and matching SLEEVELESS TOP(4); 'ROSE COLORED HYDRANGEA PATTERN' BOOT-CUT LONG PANTS(5); that match the 'ROSE COLORED HYDRANGEA PATTERN' AND WHITE PINAFORE DRESS(6).

And something she really wanted me to make and was thrilled when I did: a PEASANT DRESS (7); that has a CREAM background with PINK AND RED HYDRANGEA FLOWER PETALS.

She can never decide if she should wear it alone or over either the wide leg or boot cut pants - I tell her it is up to her sense of style and what mood she is in on any given day, besides, whatever her choice she will LOOK and FEEL absolutely GROOVY!

Her favorite piece (that she feels pulls everything together) is the 100% wool felt FLOOR-LENGTH RED DUSTER(8).

She loves how it compliments her beautiful new pinafore dress and adds flare to her new peasant dress (with or without the coordinating pants).

The duster will be perfect for keeping the chill off when she goes out with her brand new BFF (she is so excited to find out who that will be!)

She says the red duster makes her feel STYLISH and EXTRA BEAUTIFUL!! She is such a fashionista!

So for days, she has been busy modeling all the pieces and mixing and matching them over and over again. She can't wait to have you help her show it all off for you! She keeps reminding me that she is all set for VALENTINES DAY festivities with the beautiful clothes I have just made for her in shades of RED.

As you might guess she simply loves spending hours shopping Etsy.com looking for NEW clothes and seeing what fashions all the other Waldorf dolls are wearing! She follows my Etsy shop on twitter and facebook, too! She will never want to miss a new item placed on my shop - because she knows it will be some new item to die for! She is hoping I will make some new felt ACCESSORIES for my shop for her to wear and I promised I would - very soon.

If she goes home with you, be warned that she will want to check out my BLOG often! She knows she might actually win a FREE item of clothing if she leaves a comment telling me why THAT is the item she wants and needs the most!

POPPY is made from what is considered the ORIGINAL Waldorf Doll pattern. She is made using traditional European craftsman techniques and from natural and organic materials. Her legs and body are one piece. She can sit and her arms are attached.

She is 13.5 inches high. Her body is made from European organic knit fabric and she is stuffed with 100% clean lambs wool. Her blond wig is crocheted from the softest natural BAMBOO YARN that you won't believe till you touch it. It has been sewn securely to her head. But it can be replaced if later she wants to become a red-head or a brunette or if she changes her mind and thinks she would prefer long locks instead of the shorter cut she decided on the other day.

She is made to be played with everyday and will also last to be handed down to the next generation. She is heirloom quality.

Thank you for reading about Poppy and her new clothes and for shopping UniqueFiberArts on Etsy!! Please convo me (email me by clicking Conversations at the top of my Shop page) and let me know if you would like to order this POPPY doll or another 13.5 inch doll in this style who prefers different color wardrobe and/or hair and eyes, etc.

I am sure I can make a doll to your specifications and just in time for Valentines Day!

Blessings!

~debbie :)