I have been making dolls for several years now. At the beginning it was purely for children. As my doll making journey evolved, I learned new techniques and by this way I could create more sophisticated dolls.
At a certain point I had to decide for whom my dolls are made. For children or adult collectors? The decision had to be made, as some of the materials, especially considering the hair and the
fabrics for the clothing, are not suitable for a small child. Not because they are not in good quality. They are still 100% high quality natural fibers. Yet especially the alpaca or mohair
locks used for the hair come from private farmers, who do not go the long way of official certification process. It is just too expensive for these farmers.
Additionally a toy for a child should be as simple as possible in order to nurture their creativity (according to the Waldorf pedagogical concept). This makes the sophisticated dolls with
meticulously sculpted faces not suitable for a child of young age.
So I decided to make mainly collectible dolls for adults, with delicate and sophisticated faces and bodies. The cloths are made with high quality natural materials, designer or vintage fabrics which I have been collecting for years.
These dolls take a lot of time, as I am needle felting (sculpting the wool with the help of a single needle) complete doll, head to toe. I also use wire armatures for the neck so that the dolls
can move their heads slightly.
As the time is limited, I cannot make many dolls. So I will make my dolls and try to put on my Facebook, Instagram or main web page for adoption. I hope at least once a month. So please follow both of my social media pages in
order to be up to date. I don't take any custom orders for collectible art dolls, yet happy to hear about your wishes and inform you if a doll similar to your wishes is on the way.
The prices for the collectible dolls vary, depending on each single doll itself.
As some of my customers whose children are enjoying the accompany of my dolls were very disappointed with this decision, I decided to continue making my children dolls. However I will only make them as custom orders. So please do not hesitate to contact me if you wish to have a Loulabee doll for your child.
The children dolls are 35 cm tall, have classical faces, beautiful dresses, and hair crocheted with mohair yarn. These dolls cost 250 €. If you have any extra wishes please let me know to make you an offer.
The doll making classes are still happening. I know I haven't announced many of them for this year. It is because of our family situation at the moment. Especially the weekend classes in Berlin are very hard to organize in advance. But please let me know if you are interested in learning from me, beginner, intermediate or advanced level. I will happily add you my workshops list and inform you in advance as soon as I organize one.
I am also invited to Turkey to offer a workshop there. I will be offering a Head Sculpting workshop in Izmir on the 4th of April this year. Please contact me if you are interested.
And of course I haven't forgot all who are too far away to attend a workshop in Europe. My very talented photographer friend Eva and I have been working on a doll making tutorial for a year now, and it will be available at the end of this month in English. German version will follow very soon after that.
I am still learning and developing my skills, and curious what this year will bring, how my dolls will evolve in 2020.
And of course, I always enjoy reading your comments and messages. Let me know about your wishes and expectations from Loulabee dolls.
The registrations of my two advanced doll making workshops (as well as other workshops by several international doll makers) in the next years European Waldorf Doll Retreat in Arlon have already started.
If you wish to attend this international event, you are asked to register to the organisation. After you have completed your registrations there, your registration to my classes will be accepted. So please follow these steps if you would love to be part of this year's "Woodstock of Doll makers":
1) Please go to the Organisation Page www.ewdor.com.
2) Follow their instructions and register to the event. There is a registration fee for the organizers (who are doing a great job to organize such a wonderful event with big efforts and engagement.) This fee is additional and not included into my workshop price. Also the transport, accommodation and meals are not included in the workshop prices.
3) Please then reserve your spot here directly, by paying the nonrefundable deposit of 25% of the total fee. You can find the information on my workshops here.
For all other information about the meals, accommodation etc. the organisation team will be helpful to you.
I am looking forward to meeting you all new friends and the old ones I made at the last event!
"Handmade! The hand follows the heart. Only the hand can make something that through the hands reaches the heart again. Nothing is more convincing example for this than a doll.
A doll is something to love. That is its meaning and purpose... And what is love?
Love is the wish to embrace, to care for, to caress, to cuddle.... All love begins and ends with it... Doesn't our hand feel light at the sight of a little kitten, doesn't it caress instinctively over a round child head? We want to touch that what makes us tender and gives us the feeling of love and affection. Thus sensing and feeling are the same."
(Käthe Kruse: Ich und meine Puppen, S. 128-130)
“Handarbeit!…Die Hand geht dem Herzen nach. Nur die Hand kann erzeugen was durch die Hand wieder zum Herzen geht. Dafür gibt es wohl kein überzeugenderes Beispiel als die Puppe.
Die Puppe ist etwas zum Liebhaben. Das ist ihr Sinn und Zweck… Und was ist Liebe?
Liebe ist umarmen wollen, zärtlich sein dürfen, streicheln, anschmiegen, sorgen, pflegen wollen. Alle liebe beginnt und endet damit. … Hebt sich nicht unser Hand leicht beim Anblick eines Kätzchens, streichelt sie nicht unwillkürlich über das runde Kinderköpfchen? Anfassen wollen wir, was uns zarte, liebevolle Empfindungen erweckt. Und daraus folgt, dass Fühlen und Anfühlen dasselbe sind.” (Käthe Kruse: Ich und meine Puppen, S. 128-130)