Oh my goodness! So many months have passed in silence, and here I am now, writing my very first letter to you in 2025—and it’s already mid-May.
First of all: thank you, my dears, for reaching out during my quiet months. Your kind messages—your questions about my well-being, my dolls, my course plans—truly warmed my heart. I always feel deeply connected to you when I write my letters and share my art, but knowing that this feeling is mutual? That’s something truly special. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
2024 was a special year for me. In October, I turned 50. Time to go through my bucket list before 50—oh my god, it was long!
✔ Work as a freelancer. Check.
✔ Have a wonderful family. Check.
✔ Make art. Check.
✔ Open an exhibition. Check.
✘ Travel the world. Not yet.
✔ Be happy with my life. Most of the time. (Can you actually check off happiness?)
✘ Sail the Caribbean on my 50th birthday. Sadly, no.
Instead, I was sick and home alone, four slipped discs pressing on my spine. Pain, pain, and more pain. I lay there like a turtle on its back, unable to turn. Depressed. This was definitely not on my list.
The last months were a time of healing and reflection. A silver lining? I discovered how much more life I had without the constant distraction of social media. No more flashing notifications pulling at my attention. I deleted Instagram and Facebook from my phone and muted WhatsApp. Peace. Presence. What a relief!
I read books from my long-forgotten bucket list. Watched the films I’d saved for “someday.” Bought myself stylish reading glasses (because at 50, your eyesight just decides to give up
overnight!). And you know what? The wrinkles don’t bother me—I simply can’t see them anymore! Without Instagram bombarding me with ads for “miracle products” to make me look twenty again, I just
stopped thinking about it. Sorry, Instagram—didn’t see that coming, did you?
My age put a filter onto my eyes, so that I don't see any details. Thus each time I look at the mirror, I think: "My God, you look gorgeous girl!" Aging has definetely many advantages. :)
Me trying glasses at the optician. Spoiler alarm: I took the golden ones. :)
Many of you have asked if I’ll be teaching at EWDOR this year. Last September, I couldn’t imagine being strong enough for days of teaching, so I decided to take a break. Many of you travel from abroad and need to plan ahead. If my health allows, I might offer a course after the summer. I’ll let you know when the time comes. Until then, my written doll-making guide is waiting for you in my shop.
I confess, over the past few months I often wondered whether I should give away my doll supplies, unsure if I'd ever be able to work on my dolls again. While going through my cupboards, I came across several doll bodies—made with my older patterns and already stuffed.
I usually prepare several bodies in advance and create their heads with unique characters whenever inspiration strikes. But since I frequently refine and develop my doll patterns, I hadn't realized how many of these earlier bodies had been quietly waiting in my drawers.
I thought, taking small steps forward is better than stopping altogether. So I decided to bring one of them to life—and what a joy it was to work in my older style again!
Rosaline was born from one of those bodies. She is a younger sister to Paz and Ella, if you remember them. She is a 35 cm tall sitting-style doll with a needle-felted head. Her body is firmly stuffed with clean, carded wool.
I hope you’ll love her as much as I do.
I also worked on a more elaborate doll, which is fully movable and can stand unaided. I will write a seperate post about her soon.
Coming back to Rosaline—she is now finished and available for adoption.
She comes with a full set of clothing: a red cotton dress with a soft tulle underskirt, a blue mohair cardigan, and crocheted woolen shoes. Her hair is made from light purple Wensleydale locks,
which I braided and stitched securely into place—so her hairstyle is not changeable.
Her skin is made with organic doll making fabric in a sunkissed tone, and her saphir blue eyes are embroidered with cotton yarn.
Rosaline costs 365 Euros plus shipping. If you wish to you Paypal, the paypal fees apply to the total sum.
If you'd like to wellcome Rosaline and have any questions please let me know. Mail: loulabee@gmx.de
Thank you very much all of you for the constant support, even during my abscence.
Now I am taking small baby steps back to doll making.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Love you all!
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