Welcome

Welcome! Sit down, peruse these pages, and indulge in the stories my dolls arouse within your imagination...

Once Upon A Doll began with my own love of dolls, especially hand made. My kids and I collect, play with, and love our dolls, and eventually I began to make dolls of my own. Although my dolls are based upon the principles of Waldorf doll making--natural and sustainably harvested materials (like wool stuffing and cotton interlock), hand spun and dyed wool yarns for hair, hand made doll clothes, 100% wool felt for shoes--my dolls cannot be called strictly Waldorf (more Waldorf-esque), as they have definite personalities, larger & more expressive eyes, and playful mouths. Once Upon A Doll features enchanted dolls made in the Waldorf tradition with a storybook theme for that special child in your life or the discriminating collector of handmade dolls.

Monday, February 10, 2014

And the WINNER is....

Choosing from the magic hat...
 ATHENA FILLOW!!!!
 Vanellope is VERY excited...
please contact me for your paypal and address so she may come home to you!!!
More dolls soon to come...
Thank you all so very much for entering my little giveaway, for loving Vanellope, and for all your loyal encouragement and support of my little doll shop.
Warmly,
Amy
Once Upon A Doll

Saturday, February 8, 2014

Giveaway Time!!!


GIVEAWAY Appreciation for Once Upon A Doll Friends!!!

Vanellope is FREE to the lucky winner of this Giveaway—all you need to do is pay shipping ($18.00 for US shipping or exact shipping for International)


Meet Vanellope as a Waldorf-esque doll. She is 13 inches tall, and her lovely candy-filled hair was hand spun especially for her by Yarn Rescue, with the softest wool and lots of Angelina sparkle. The candies and sprinkles throughout her hair are handmade from clay and spun into her hair, and her licorice hair tie was hand made for her by my son out of bendy clay. Her lovely outfit was handmade especially for her by Molly’s Playground, and she wears the cutest shiny zip up black boots as well. I used a very special variegated floss in different colors of brown and green to hand embroider her pretty hazel eyes.


Vanellope’s candy-studded hair is quite delicate and also poses a choking hazard, so she is NOT intended for small children or children who will play roughly with her. She is perfect for gentle play, decorating your child’s room, or for the doll collector.

This giveaway will start today Saturday February 8th and ends Monday February 10th at 3pm pacific time.


There are three ways to enter to win:

1) Become a follower of this blog and post a comment on this post on this blog stating that you are a follower.

2) Like the Once Upon A Doll Facebook page and post one comment under Vanellope’s photo that states why you love either the Vanellope the character or Vanellope the doll.

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


This giveaway ends Monday February 10th at 3pm pacific time. 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!  J

Thursday, February 6, 2014

New Year's Dolls 2 & 3 ... Rosie and The Waitress

It's time to introduce New Year's Dolls #2 and #3...
Rosie the Riveter for Kelsey:

 Rosie's dreaded hand spun wool yarn hair was made by Yarn Rescue, and I changed my pattern so that her arms would bend at the elbow (as they must to assume her classic pose)...she even wears tiny workman's boots!

And The Waitress for Michaela:
 The Waitress is one of my favorite movies, starring Keri Russell and Nathan Fillion, about a waitress who loves to make pies...her hair is crafted of 7 different hand spun art yarns made to look like berry pie, from pie crust and whipped cream to all the sparkling berries we love!
Both dolls are dressed in costumes especially made for them by Molly's Playground...and the pie "with the heart in the middle" was handmade by my son!

Stay tuned for three more customs in February...and our giveaway doll will be announced this weekend!
Warmly,
Amy
Once Upon A Doll

Monday, January 27, 2014

The 1st of the New Year's Dolls...

Meet Lana, a little girl who loves Superman and bike riding...
Lana was specially made for a winner of my New Year's contest...
Named after Clark Kent's red-headed high school sweetheart, her hair is made of a collection of luxurious hand spun art yarns that shimmer like the sunset...
Lana comes with her own little red bicycle, that she can pose next to or actually ride, as it is just her size...
 She also comes with her one-of-a-kind clay Superman figurine, hand made especially for her by my talented son...

 The little red back pack that she takes everywhere with her is filled with all sorts of delights, from a Superman lunch box and thermos, to Superman magazines, sandwiches, and an apple to share...don't you love those pink high tops!
Lana stands or sits quite easily for all manner of adventures...

There are two more winners from our New Year's contest, but you'll have to wait to see photos of their dolls until they receive them, as both wished for them to remain surprises.
Until then,
Amy
Once Upon A Doll


Monday, January 6, 2014

My first 16 inch doll!

 A grandmother approached me and asked if I would consider making a larger doll for her grand daughter's birthday...
 Inspired by the idea, 16 inch tall Penelope was born!
 Penelope is a bit of a Victorian doll... her hair is made of three platinum hand spun wool yarns, with lots of curl and sparkle. Because the little girl who will love her always wears pig tails, her hair is gathered into two pigtails on either side of her head. Because the little girl loves hats and teapots, she wears a pink straw hat and pink teapot dress.
 Penelope won't leave the house without her lace parasol and two tone pink Victorian boots...
Penelope left this morning for her new home...she's so excited to go to her first birthday party!
Warmly,
Amy
Once Upon A Doll

Monday, December 16, 2013

Katniss and Peeta

 Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark are a Waldorf-esque custom doll set in the style of Catching Fire from the Hunger Games series...




 Both dressed in their Quarter Quell outfits (handmade for them by Molly's Playground), Katniss carries her signature bow and quiver full of arrows (handmade for her by SewCuteDolls) and Peeta clasps the knife he used in the arena (handmade for him by my son)--as well as wears a band that has his signature phrase on it--"Real or not real?" Notice the pearl that he gives to Katniss?

 Katniss has grey eyes and hair arranged in her famous side braid, made of a wool and silk blend handmade yarn, while Peeta's hair is a mix of three hand spun yarns--the base color is named "Country Bread" (appropriate, since Peeta is a baker, eh?).

This is my last custom of the year--so very happy holidays to all of you!
I look forward to sharing more dolls with you in the new year,
Amy
Once Upon A Doll

Sunday, December 8, 2013

Customs, Customs, Customs...

'Tis the season of custom dolls, it seems...     
 This little purple-haired custom doll is Hit Girl from the comic/ movie "Kick Ass"...
 Her elaborate costume was handmade especially for her by Molly's Playground--and I made the pink pleather action belt. Her weapons are made of clay by my son, copies of some of her weapons from the movie...
 Hit Girl's hair is a purple china girl wig, to mask her secret identity...
 And on to another set of customs, these are for two sisters. (As you can see, my daughter is quite taken by them!)
 Nixie is for the older sister--she is an adventurous little scamp!
 Madison is the second mermaid--quite shy, just like the little girl who will find her under the tree on Christmas morning.
Madison and Nixie are already on their way to their new mommies--my daughter bids them goodbye.

Katniss and Peeta from "Catching Fire" are my final customs for Christmas...keep an eye out for their photos when I finish.

Warmly
Amy
Once Upon A Doll