Sweet sitting dolls

I thought I'd share a few photos of some adorable dolls who have already found their homes, but I've forgotten to put in my blog for one reason or another (primarily because I'm moving).

Here's to more delightful dollies in the future!
Warmly,
Amy
Once Upon A Doll

Halloween RTG Zombies...just for YOU!

 Meet Cemetaria, a handmade Waldorf-esque doll by Once Upon A Doll. 13" tall, she stands and sits quite easily. Her adorable upcycled outfit was made especially for her by Nanerjoy, and features her little zombie friend Blimp floating under an undead balloon (Blimp was lovingly needlefelted for her by 13Chesnuts).

 Cemetaria's macabre hair is a rich array made entirely of hand spun art yarns in cemetary gray, ectoplasm green, blood red, and grave dirt brown. Her unusual eyes are handmade buttons made especially for her by an undead artisan in Canada (Etsy shop is called "onthedarkerside"). Cemetaria is not appropriate for small children, as her eyes (although very securely attached) pose a choking hazard for children who might put things in their mouths.

 Cemetaria's small handmade needlefelted zombie friend, named Blimp, floated on a balloon to her out of a game...he is the same character featured on her dres

 Zombie friends are LITERALLY friends FOREVER! Her best friend in the world is "...", a ZOM zombie mime who, true to his craft, has never spoken, so no one knows what his name is. "..." is a handmade zombie mime plush purchased at San Diego Comic Con 2014 especially for Cemetaria. "..." is the alpha prototype for a line of handmade zombie plushies. Here is the LINK to ZOMs website to learn more about he and his zombie brethren!

 Cemetaria's favorite thing to do is go to graveyards late at night and wait with her friends for zombies to rise from their graves...so she can rescue them. Sometimes she has to wait a long time, but she is quite patient and fearless. Cemetaria has an unsusual face, with an eerie mouth and the occasional stitch here and there, but her zombie friends think she is beautiful. Cemetaria's little bottom has adorable stiches as well, but she hides these from the common rabble.

 She is stuffed with clean carded local wool and her “skin” fabric is cotton interlock imported from Europe. Her eyes are handmade buttons, and each seam has been double-stitched to last years of play. Cemetaria's simple expression allows your child to imagine whatever emotion he or she wishes. The wool stuffing warms to your child’s body temperature, making it  feel like a real companion to befriend. The outfit is removable. Her hair is long and may be styled a variety of ways for creative play.

Cemetaria and her friends are listed at a very low price in celebration of her favorite holiday, Halloween. She can't wait to join you!

Cemeteria will be uploaded for SALE in my Etsy shop tonight at 6pm pacific time: here's the LINK to Cemeteria's listing

Happy Hauntings,
Amy
Once Upon A Doll

Time for a GIVEAWAY!

Moondoggie is the GRAND PRIZE for the Once Upon A Doll 1000 Likes Contest and FREE to the lucky winner of this Giveaway—all you need to do is pay shipping ($25.00 for US shipping, exact shipping for International)

Meet Moondoggie, a happy little surfer dude as a Waldorf-esque doll. He is 13 inches tall, and his hair is made of 5 different handspun wool art yarns by various wool artists to remind us of the ocean waves he loves so much.  Moondoggie’s surfboard was made by my son (for display or delicate play only) of wood, and his outfit was handmade for him by Blissality. His two tone sandals were made by me of 100% wool felt and stiffener. Moondoggie is NOT intended for small children or children who still put things in their mouths (especially the surfboard).

Second place is a green dragon kimono robe and clay play sushi for a doll:

Third place is a golden flower kimono robe and clay play sushi for a doll:

Second and Third Prize are FREE, winner only pays $5.00 shipping.

This giveaway will start today Tuesday July 22 and ends Sunday July 27 at midnight pacific time. Winners will be announced on Monday July 28.

There are three ways to enter to win:

1) Become a follower of the Once Upon A Doll BLOG and post a comment under this blog post stating that you are a follower.

2) Like the Once Upon A Doll Facebook page and post one comment under the photo of Moondoggie that is pinned to the top of the FB page. https://www.facebook.com/OnceUponADoll 

3) After posting under the appropriate FB photo, SHARE this photo with your FB friends. After sharing, please post an additional comment stating that you “shared” for the second entry.

The winner will be chosen randomly and then announced on both the Blog and Facebook page. Winner has 48 hours to claim her/his prize, but if we do not hear from the winner in 48 hours then another winner will be chosen.

Thank you so much for loving Once Upon A Doll!

Inuit Doll and Walrus friend

Meet Ila (Inuit for "companion") and her little friend Aiviq (pronounced "Eye-vick", the Inuit word for "walrus"). She is a RTG (ready to go) Waldorf-esque doll who stands 13 inches tall; Ila comes with snow boots, a pants outfit, a winter hooded faux fur jacket, and a needle-felted friend walrus.

Her shirt and pants set have lots of fine detail to match the peek-a-boo colors in her hair and faux fur detail on her winter coat. Ila's very special winter coat has a toggle button closure and a large trimmed hood (and YES, her hair fits inside the hood). She also comes with warm winter boots that enable her to stand unassisted. Ila's little friend is a handmade needle felted walrus who was handmade especially for her by 13Chestnuts.

Ila's long hair is a spectacular combination of different hand spun art yarns in black, grey, blue and a touch of iridescent colors (reminds me of the Northern Lights)...yarn handmade by Yarn Resuce. When I was making Ila, she demanded she was to be sans nose...I was surprised, as all my other dolls have noses, but now I see that she knew best.

She is stuffed with clean carded local wool and her “skin” fabric is cotton interlock imported from Europe. Her eyes and mouth are hand embroidered, and each seam has been double-stitched to last years of play. Ila's simple expression allows your child to imagine whatever emotion he or she wishes. The wool stuffing warms to your child’s body temperature, making it  feel like a real companion to befriend. The outfit is removable. Her hair is long and may be styled a variety of ways for creative play.

**This doll is intended for children over 3 and adult collectors. Her hair, clothes, and walrus friend may pose a choking hazard for younger children who still put things in their mouths.**

For more photos of Ila, please see her photo album on my shop Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/OnceUponADoll

Ila will be uploaded for sale in my Etsy shop tonight at 6:30 pacific time:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/OnceUponADoll

Good luck!
Amy
Once Upon A Doll

Meet Princess Katrina...a new Ready To Go (RTG) doll

My daughter and I love the story "Part-time Princess: Girl by Day. Princess by Night." by Deborah Underwood and Cambria Evans so much that I decided to create a decidedly alternative and untraditional princess in honor of the book. Princess Katrina has long luxurious hair and loves pink, but she also saves the kingdom (as usual), sword fights, has tea parties with dragons, plays leapfrog in the mud, and dances with trolls. (Katrina comes with everything pictured in this photo--crown, sword, treasure chest, keys, and children's book.) She saved a prince once, and she might marry him when she grows up...but right now she's too busy.

 Katrina even has a tiny little black sword tattooed on her bum!

Katrina's parents, the King and Queen, understand that every princess defines her own life--and so she comes with two very precious gifts given to her by her royal parents. Her mother the Queen gave her a jeweled pink treasure chest, full of myriad little keys that open all of the wondrous possiblities to choose from in her life, and her father the King gave her the large key that is only her own to choose--the key to her own destiny.

Princess Katrina's hair is a spectacular mix of hand spun wool art yarns, by Yarn Rescue, Rainbow Twist Handspun, and a local yarn artist I discovered not too long ago. Katrina also carries a very special handmade wooden sword (made especially for her by Friendly Fairies Etsy shop) that she carries with her in a ribbon sword belt. The perfect broad sword for her, or play dagger for a child. Her crown is plastic with jewels that match her green eyes and pink mouth and can be worn a variety of ways in her long luxurious hair.

She sits and stands quite easily..and her sweet outfit is pink and covered with princesses and castles and other princess delights in limited edition Alexander Henry fabric and lace made especially for her by Molly's Playground. She comes with white bloomers and handmade 100% wool felt shoes with contrasting stitching. She often awakes in the morning with sparkles in her hair from her nighttime princessing adventures...Katrina has the best of both worlds, anything-but-normal ittle girl by day and princess by night!

Princess Katrina is a RTG (ready to go) doll: she and all her goodies will be uploaded into my Once Upon A Doll Etsy Shop tomorrow night (Wed, July 9th) at 6pm pacific time.
Good luck bringing her home!

Warmly,AmyOnce Upon A Doll

Meet Hazel Grace Lancaster ...a custom Waldorf-esque doll by Once Upon A Doll

Hazel Grace is sixteen years old, but she is anything but usual. Based on John Green's main character in the novle "The Fault In Our Stars", Hazel has been diagnosed with Stage 4 thyroid cancer and has to carry an oxygen tank (which she calls "Philip") with nasal cannulas all the time just to breathe.

 The above photo is by far my favorite photo...it just captures her petite Hazel-ness to me  ...and I love her green eyes and whimsical intelligence.

 Hazel's hair is kept short and pixie-esque, made of four hand spun art yarns with a natural brown base. She has small features but self-proclaimed "chipmunk cheeks". Hazel falls in love with a boy named Augustus Waters, who also survived cancer.

Oxygen tank is handmade form a combination of needlefelting and wire, and the nasal cannulas are real. Hazel's long sleeved blue and white shirt (which reminds me of clouds and stars) and skinny jeans are by Nanerjoy...she also wears blue jean high tops.

 Each button on her shirt is memorable: A photo of Augustus with Hazel Grace from the movie, The title and name of the author, and three famous quotes from the book: "Okay? Okay.", "I fell in love the way you fall asleep, slowly and then all at once", and the infinity symbol with the fateful words: "Some inifinites are biggger than other infinities."

I won't tell you anything else about the story, but it is beautiful and poignant, with glorious highs and horrible lows--and quotes that are gems to keep in the soul forever and take out for inspiration every now and then.

The Tenth Doctor

 It was inevitable that I would need to make the 10th Doctor Who in decidedly Waldorf-esque form...

 He of course traveled to his new home in his own hand made tardis...

 He wears his geek glasses, has sideburns, and red trainers (of course)...

 Who doesn't love a little David Tennant in her life?

In addition to his characteristic blue pin stripe suit (made especially for him by Molly's Playground), I gave him his well known smirk as well :) .

Warmly,
Amy
Once Upon A Doll

Meet Bleu...a little girl who loves birdwatching

 Meet lil' Bleu, a quiet and thoughtful girl who loves to watch the birds... Her grandfather bought her a very special book entitled "Birds, Nests, and Eggs" as well as a working pair of binoculars that she takes on all her adventures in bird watching!

 Bleu wears a gorgeous frilly pants suit made by Blissality and contrasting hand made 100% wool felt shoes (all removable for fun and play). The fabric of her outfit features trees and tiny red birds, and has the loveliest sparkle to it! 

 Bleu's best friend is a little red bird named "Ruby", who she carries in a special basket when she is too tired to fly. Ruby was needle felted especially for Bleu. Her binoculars **really work** for birdwatching, and she loves to share!

Bleu's hair is a spectacular combination of hand spun wool yarns in blue and white with just a POP of red...the white yarn has a lovely angelina silver throughout as well as some of the loveliest beehive coils you've ever seen!

Bleu is listed in my Etsy shop at a VERY SPECIAL low price...right now :) 

Meet Doodles...a Spring Clown

Doodles is my first RTG (ready to go) doll of 2014!

 She is 13 inches tall (not including her clown hat) with a hand made removable needle-felted clown nose, handmade clown outfit and matching hat, 100% wool handmade felt shoes, and matching handmade bloomers underneath.

 Doodle's vibrant hair is a mix of handspun art yarns in various lush pastel colors.

She sits and stands quite easily...here is a photo of her adorable face without her hat and nose!

I will be listing Doodles in my Etsy shop tonight (Wed, 4/23) at 6pm pacific time. Here's the link:
Once Upon A Doll Etsy Shop

Happy Spring :)
Amy
Once Upon A Doll

Dr. Who #4...a custom doll

 Anyone else love Dr Who as much as I do?

 I think we all have our favorite(s), but I was SO excited when I was commissioned to create a Waldorf-esque doll in the style of Dr. Who #4--after all, he was the first Dr. Who I ever watched!

 Every week his time-traveling antics kept me entranced as a child...

 He comes with a needle-felted tardis, of course, and a little orange jelly baby (his favorite food) imported straight from the UK.

 His amazing outfit was handmade for him by Molly's Playground, his scarf was crocheted by Gypsy Moon Crochet, and his hair is a combination of hand spun yarns by Yarn Rescue and Luxfish.

 I'm sort of smitten...

Dr. Who will time travel to his new family tomorrow.
I have one custom spot available in my Etsy shop right now :)
Warmly,
Amy
Once Upon A Doll