As a child growing up in Scotland I collected sheep wool on fences and adventured to wool mills with my grandmother who knitted beautiful sweaters and socks. My family took great pride in our tradition of hand making sweaters, sock and dresses. As a master quilter, my mother taught us to value goods made of natural products such as wool, wood and metal. Like my fellow Scotsman John Muir I emigrate
d to the Californian foothills of the Sierra Nevada (his “country”). It is an idyllic setting to raise my family. The landscape nurtures my creative spirit and inspired me to start Wonderwȗl. Wonderwȗl is the culmination of three passions of mine: my family, Waldorf education and wool crafts. Wonderwȗl earnings fund my two boys’ education at Cedar Springs Waldorf School. I create Waldorf inspired needle felted folk art dolls. While my dolls have their roots in the Waldorf tradition, I am not a purist so they veer off into worlds unto themselves. Each doll is carefully designed and securely constructed from an array of organic and upcycled wools. I strive to imbue each doll with a sense of heart centered humanity as well as an expression of freedom with an eclectic collage of color and texture
While my dolls are not primarily for children, my intention is to portray the image of peace and security for young eyes to rest on. I am gratified by raising boys, but if I had a daughter I would make her a Wonderwȗl style doll to emulate her essence. Wonderwȗl dolls capture qualities of the affable Waldorf style face coupled with the groovy, eclectic clothes she wears. She may be the kind of girl who is compassionate, independent and free spirited swinging from a tree wearing orange striped socks with her pink and blue skirt!
