Mini Monday - Merrydale Dolls

Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade merrydaledolls.etsy.com

Meet Chris of Merrydale Dolls:

My name is Chris and I am Merrydale's one and only designer and maker of dolls. I am originally from Yorkshire, England, and have also lived in Moravia, Czech Republic. In both places there is a strong tradition of folk lore and arts and crafts. I now live in Toronto, which is a city enriched by the cultural diversity of its inhabitants.

I love making dolls and sending them out into the world to become good companions for the children they meet.

The simple dolls I make are inspired by the ancient tradition of dollmaking from many cultures around the world, as well as the Waldorf/Steiner Schools tradition. I am grateful to the parents at the Waldorf school (where my sons, now grown-up, attended kindergarten and early grades) for passing on to me techniques of dollmaking.

I believe that the toys we give to our children should nourish their imaginations. I want children to create by themselves in their play, so my dolls' features have only a suggestion of character. The facial expressions will change in the imagination of the child.

My favourite book about a dollmaker is "Goldie the Dollmaker" by M.B. Goffstein.