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Miriam Sonstenes

Miriam SonstenesMiriam SonstenesMiriam Sonstenes

Musician, Educator, Fibre Artist

Musician, Educator, Fibre ArtistMusician, Educator, Fibre ArtistMusician, Educator, Fibre Artist

Singing Heart Dolls

Welcome!

Singing Heart Dolls are hand crafted "Waldorf" style wool dolls, made from all natural materials, by Miriam Sonstenes on Vancouver Island, BC, Canada

NEW Dolls for Sale:

Limited Edition Bamboo Snuggle Doll

C$ 65.00
Pay with PayPal or a debit/credit card

Extra soft, eco-friendly bamboo cotton. Height: 11 inches. 100% wool stuffing.

Please specify ROSE or BLUE when ordering

Limited Edition Flannel Rag Doll

C$ 65.00
Pay with PayPal or a debit/credit card

Flannel rag doll, perfect for tiny hands. Height: 8 inches. 100% wool stuffing.

Please specify BURGUNDY, PURPLE or BLUE when ordering. 

Flannel Baby Doll - Last One!

C$ 65.00
Pay with PayPal or a debit/credit card

This one comes with a removable hat. Height: 11 inches. 100% wool stuffing.

Flannel Snuggle Doll

C$ 50.00
Pay with PayPal or a debit/credit card

Soft, cuddly sleeping doll. Height: 9 inches. 100% wool stuffing

Bamboo Snuggle Doll

C$ 50.00
Pay with PayPal or a debit/credit card

Soft, bamboo-cotton snuggle doll. Height: 9 inches. 100% wool stuffing

Photo Gallery

A FAMILY TRADITION

My maternal grandmother was a skilled knitter, doll maker, and dedicated Waldorf handwork teacher in northern Germany. She made beautiful, soft, cuddly dolls in the traditional way: all natural materials, expertly hand sewn, with adorable tiny clothes for many outfit changes. When I was four she began teaching me sewing, knitting and embroidery. These hushed hours doing "handarbeit” (handwork) with my siblings, under her watchful eye, as well as attending Waldorf from kindergarten to grade 8, started my life-long love of fibre arts. 


I have mostly been a knitter, on and off for many years, while being a full time touring musician. When the pandemic hit my Mom sent me a few of my grandmother's dolls that I’d had as a child. Oh to hold those sweet soft little bodies again in my hands… I felt inspired, and made my first doll in the summer of 2021, and my heart started singing. Not for many years had I felt such joy and excitement, and commitment towards learning a new skill. And one that was deeply embedded in my own heritage all these years. 


During the pandemic, the loss of festivals, travelling, music camps, dancing and socializing had left a hole in my heart, not easily filled no matter how much sour dough bread I baked. And so I began making dolls. I could hear my grandmother, leaning over me to correct some stitches, humming a tune. Her expert hands demanding nothing less than perfection. And my own Mom, an equally skilled seamstress, artist and maker of beautiful dolls clothes during my childhood, inspired me with overseas packages of materials as well as a few traditional German doll making books. Besides my grandmother's dolls, these books have helped me get started. The patterns for dolls and clothes I'm currently using are mostly from Freya Jaffke, a well know German Waldorf Kindergarten teacher and doll maker, who unbeknownst to me passed away in 2021, just before I got started making dolls. I'm sorry I won't have the chance to tell her how much her books mean to me.


These type of dolls are often called Waldorf Dolls, being associated with the Waldorf school and Steiner pedagogy. It’s believed that the simpler the doll, the more the child will learn to use their imagination, a critical skill for survival in the modern world. Imagination and creativity give a child adaptability, strength, problem solving skills, and a positive outlook on life. As well, the companionship a doll can provide for a young child, a sense of comfort and warmth (being literally made of wool) is not to be overlooked. If treated with the same gentleness as a real person, these simple little dolls can help inspire a kind and loving heart towards others. It feels like an important time to bring this kind of energy back into the world. This is the part of doll making that speaks directly to my own heart, and gives my creativity a meaningful outlet during these uncertain times. 

Recent Dolls Sold

Description of Dolls

Limbed Dolls

A regular 10 inch, limbed dress-up doll is made from soft, durable, organic knit fabric, filled with 100% sheep's wool. The hair is crocheted yarn. The eyes and mouth are embroidered. Each doll comes with one outfit. Clothes are made for easy outfit changes, recommended for ages 3 and up. 


Current pricing is $120 plus shipping , including one outfit. Additional cost for hair styles and extra clothes.


Options (based on available material)


Fabric colours:

Cream

Latte

Mocha

Cinnamon

Chocolate


Hair Colour:

Blonde

Light Brown

Dark Brown

Ginger

Black


Hair Styles:

Short

Short Curls ($25)

Shaggy ($25)

Long (for ponytails, pigtails, braids, etc) ($30)


Eye Colour:

Blue

Blue-Green

Brown

Black


Baby Dolls

Smaller dolls are made with the same materials, but using flannel or bamboo cotton for the body. Small dolls range from $50 - $65 plus shipping.



Custom Orders Available Now

Contact Me




Available Skin Fabric Colours for any size doll: Cream, Latte, Mocha, Cinnamon, Chocolate

Cream Fabric Colour

A few of my grandmother's dolls that we had growing up, with clothes made by her, and my mom. 

Dolls made by my grandmother late in life. These belong to my aunt Christina and her children.

Copyright © 2022 Miriam Sonstenes - All Rights Reserved.

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