Meet the Maker — Theresa

I grew up watching my mother create beauty with her hands. She sewed her own clothes and made beautiful outfits for me – not because it was trendy, but because she loved having an individual style while staying within her budget.

When she couldn’t afford the high‑fashion pieces she admired, she simply made her own. She even made dolls for us, each one stitched with love. I adored those dolls. They carried my mother’s creativity, comfort and care in every thread.

Later, when I moved to Australia, I longed for something familiar – something creative that felt like home again. So I started sewing with upcycled op‑shop clothes and turned old garments into new skirts, coats and little treasures.

One day I discovered Waldorf dolls, especially the beautiful dolls from Bamboletta, and I fell in love instantly. Their artistry inspired me to learn dollmaking myself, especially because I couldn’t afford to buy one at the time.

Over the years I’ve been fortunate to adopt handmade dolls from talented makers around the world, including Bamboletta. My admiration for dollmakers runs deep. Anyone who masters this craft and uses their creativity to bring joy, comfort and a little magic into the lives of children (and grown‑up children!) has my full respect.

Today I pour that same love and creativity into my own patterns and tutorials. My hope is to share the joy of handmade dolls with others – just like the dolls my mother once made for me.