Handmade Dolls International Artists and Artisans handmade art dolls

Jill Bennett has been drawing and painting all her life. As a child she wanted to be a children's book illustrator and indeed she worked as one for many years. Among the authors she has illustrated are Roald Dahl, Dorothy Edwards, Dick King-Smith and Helen Cresswell.

Her other great love is the theatre. She studied theatre design at Wimbledon School of Art and the Slade School of Fine Art. So began a lifetime study of historical clothes and the way of life of the people who wore them.

Jill started making dolls in the late 1970's and found they were an ideal vehicle for her three great interests story telling, the theatre and social history.

She tries to make each doll a person, with individual personality and clothes to match, whether they are aristocrat, servant or street urchin. Jill Bennett makes small dolls. Most of them are strictly 1 inch to the foot (1/12th scale is the international scale for dolls houses). But from time to time she makes slightly larger ones up to 9 inches high.

The miniature dolls have porcelain heads and pewter bodies strung through with twisted steel wire at the joints. This gives them considerable flexibility to stand or sit or adopt other poses. (They will stand without support.)

The larger dolls have porcelain heads, hands and feet. Their bodies are padded and wired to give some flexibility. They are usually mounted on wooden plinths for display purposes.

Jennifer Carson: Handmade Art Dolls

I had always loved fabric and textures and figuring out how things were put together, so I slowly moved into the world of art dolls. I began teaching myself how to design bodies, starting with a simple dragon with only two feet and constantly reaching for a more complex form. In the beginning I was painting the features onto the dolls with acrylic paint. Then my high-school art teacher showed me how to use a felting needle. That was it, the next piece of the puzzle I needed to move forward with my work. Now I am teaching others the magic of a felting needle and love to see the smiles that my creations bring to people’s faces. A driving force in my own work has always been the work of Jim Henson and the wonderful artists that were lucky enough to work with him. It is my sincere desire that one day I am lucky enough to work with his son Brian, who continues his vision.

Aura's Treasures
Artist
Aura Buckwalter
Santa Clause is dressed in red velvet sitting in his favorite chair on Christmas Eve, reading a list of names from boys and girls all over the world. Just look at all the surprises he has in his bag of toys. This Santa is 33" from bottom of chair to top of.

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Aura Buckwalter: Handcrafted Santa Dolls

Our Santa's Story ...

In the magical world of Santa, children of all ages have anticipated and spent sleepless nights awaiting his arrival.

Now that I am an adult, I find such pleasure in creating Santas for everyone.

My desire is to make each Santa have their own personality. It's unique to be able to use materials to make Santas that one would not expect.

For example; Using recycled fur, special trim from sweaters, antique lace from gowns and velvet. The bodies of Santa are constructed with wire and padding. In the larger Santas I use wood and wire. This construction technique give more structural stability to the bigger Santa dolls.

Each Santa has different colored glass eyes.

If you desire custom Santa or any other dolls, custome pieces can be made. Santas can be made from clothing that has sentimental value to you.

As a child I loved the story of Santa. Now I pass the Santa's story onto my son and daughter. Just like Santa has helpers, I now have my daughter to help me.