Tuesday Talent - Anna&Claude

Anna and Claude are a relatively new company on the doll scene.  Anna is the designer maker and Claude was her beloved ginger tom who sadly passed away.

Anna is from Bath in England and formerly worked in the fashion industry.  She makes the most beautiful dolls.

Their faces are hand embroidered and their hair hand styled wool tops.  Sumptuous fabrics are used to dress the dolls, ostrich feathers, antique lace and silks.  Each one is boxed and numbered - a real heirloom doll.

Anna has an Etsy shop at
www.etsy.com/uk/shop/AnnaandClaude and has a presence on both facebook and Instagram.  I think her work is stunning, truly beautiful.

A New Colour Palette for 2018

Had a really great year in 2017 and over the winter this has given me the opportunity to buy in some wonderful fabric for the dolls in 2018.

I am going for a softer colour palette, more subtle and gentle. Having to abandon my British only policy but want to create a very definate look.  Using more linens especially French linens by Rousseau.  I have gone for Snowberry by Moda and Wordsmith by Janet Clare.  Still using Liberty but the softer tones and quieter prints.  Looking out for Toile du Jouy in calm colourways, love to see a frog in Toile.

I have also got my paws on some vintage calico for doll bodies.  It takes black tea staining like a dream and means I can age the dolls more effectively.  Really excited about the coming year, lots of dolls to make!

The First Frog of the Year

Happy New Year to Everyone.

This is Willow, the first frog sale of the year.  She has gone to Ambleside in the Lake District, nice and damp with lots of her favourite beetles.  I was asked to dress her in a willow pattern fabric as the family concerned live by the river with a large willow dominating their garden.  Quite naturally I went for a reproduction willow pattern by William Morris, with spotty legs and matching petticoats she makes a fine frog.

Willow is hand painted with lots of hand embroidered french knots and running stitches.  She stands fourteen inches tall and is pleasingly plump.  She carries a hand embroidered sachet with a beetle on it just in case she is hungry!