I designed a simple barn owl stuffed toy years ago which has been one of my most popular soft toys. I think I've made hundreds of them and have even adapted it to create a larger, more sculptural clawed barn owl that also has wings - which I still make today. 

Anyway, I've decided that it's time to offer my little barn owl softie as a digital sewing pattern, so that you can enjoy making them for your little ones. Their cute Babushka-like shape reminds me of the shape of a chubby penguin, so my sewing pattern also includes templates and instructions for making penguins! 

I've spent the past couple of months designing the penguin soft toy and putting together a new sewing pattern for both of them. It is now available to download via my online store.

To celebrate International Womens day this year (March 8) I decided to make a collection of cloth dolls inspired by the suffragettes of the early 1900's who campaigned and fought for the right for women to vote.  

They are wearing Edwardian-style clothing and 'Votes for Women' sashes, in the suffragette colours.

All three dolls will be available to purchase via my online store from 8 pm Monday 11th March (Australian eastern daylight time - AEDT). Each doll is between 20cm - 25cm tall and costs AU$380 + shipping from Australia. 

My next group of dolls are almost finished. I'll list all four little ladies in my online shop on Monday 3rd December from 7pm Sydney time (Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT)).

Each doll measures around 20 cm and is handmade from carefully salvaged second-hand and vintage fabric and firmly stuffed with wool. Bearing a small 'Willowynn' logo hand-drawn onto the inside of one leg, each doll comes with a small signed, dated and letter-pressed certificate of authenticity, in a recycled cardboard gift box made my myself.

​Please be aware that my dolls are intended as a treasure for display only and are not suitable as a toy for young children; due to delicate hand stitching, hair and small buttons. ​

They are priced from AU$380 each + shipping from Australia. I should also point out that I (regrettably) don't have a reserved cart in my online store. So you'll need to move quickly through the checkout process!

I'll also have a couple of my finished dolphin soft toys available to purchase as well. I hope you like them!

At work, stuffing fabric snails while warming up in the sun. 

My workroom gets the winter sun and is the best place to be when it's cold. I've opened up all the windows to let in the fresh air, as it's been really wet here lately. I'll be closing them and lighting the fire soon though... once the sun disappears behind the trees. 

This one (above) is now available to buy as an art print via my online store. 

My new group of four handmade cloth art dolls will be available to purchase via my online store from 10am (Australian Eastern Daylight Time - AEDT) Friday 9th March. 

​Each one of a kind doll is around 20cm tall, handmade here in Australia from vintage and second-hand fabrics, comes with a cloak or shawl and has tiny lace-up boots painted on. Intended as an art piece to display, and not suitable as a toy for children.

​These dolls are priced from AUD$340 each + shipping. There's a more detailed description of the dolls below... I should also point out that these dolls sometimes sell in minutes so be sure to move through the check out process quickly if you would like one. 

Thank you!
​Margeaux

Description:
​
Small fabric art dolls designed and handmade in Australia by myself, from carefully salvaged second hand and vintage fabric. 

They are firmly stuffed with wool and their limbs are attached to the body with moveable button joints. Each doll wears a removable cloak or shawl and little lace-up boots (painted on). Their dresses are not removable. Each doll bears a small 'Willowynn' logo hand-drawn onto the inside of one leg, and comes with a small signed, dated and letter-pressed certificate of authenticity.

These dolls are intended as a treasure for display only and are not suitable as a toy for young children; due to delicate hand stitching, hair and small buttons. These are entirely artist-made cloth dolls with some imperfections and visible stitching. Though I have made them with the utmost care and attention to detail, spending many hours perfecting them - please be aware that limbs, head, hair and clothing are hand-stitched onto the body and will come loose if pulled repeatedly or handled roughly.   

Measures approximately:
Length = 20cm (8in)

Dolls will be carefully packaged in a lidded cardboard gift box which I have made myself from recycled brown card. 

​All four cloth dolls will be available to purchase via my online store from 10am (Australian Eastern Daylight Time - AEDT) Friday 9th March.

Six weeks at home with my kids during the school holidays means I don't get very much of my work for Willowynn done... in fact I don't really even try to get any work done.  I have been drawing though... which has been so nice. I think I'll try to spend more time drawing and painting this year... it's something I used to do all the time but dropped away once I had children.  

I'll have some new cloth dolls available to purchase via my online store Thursday 7th December from 10am Sydney time (Australian Eastern Daylight Time AEDT).

​I thought I'd add some photos of the four dolls below, along with a general description, so you can have a look before they are listed.  Each doll is priced from AUD$320 + shipping.

​I should also point out that my dolls sometimes sell within minutes, so if you'd like to purchase one, it's a good idea to go through the checkout process as quickly as you can, so you don't miss out.  Items in your cart are not reserved until you've purchase is complete. 

These are small fabric dolls designed and handmade in Australia by myself, from carefully salvaged second hand and vintage fabric. 

They are firmly stuffed with wool and their limbs are attached to the body with moveable button joints. Each doll wears a removable cloak or caplet and little shoes or lace-up boots (painted on). Their dresses are not removable. Each Willowynn doll bears a small 'Willowynn' logo hand-drawn onto the inside of one leg, and comes with a small signed, dated and letter-pressed certificate of authenticity.

These dolls are intended as a treasure for display only and are not suitable as a toy for young children; due to delicate hand stitching, hair and small buttons. These are entirely artist-made cloth dolls with some imperfections and visible stitching. Though I have made them with the utmost care and attention to detail, spending many hours perfecting them - please be aware that limbs, head, hair and clothing are hand-stitched onto the body and will come loose if pulled repeatedly or handled roughly.   

Measures approximately:
Length = 20cm (8in)

Dolls will be carefully packaged in a lidded cardboard gift box which I have made myself from recycled brown card. 

Thanks!
​Margeaux

So delighted to find this lovely article written by Janai Velez featuring my workroom in the November issue of Homespun magazine. It really is beautifully written and I love the way Janai has described my dolls. I always draw a blank when asked to describe my work so it's really helpful to hear someone else's words. ​

Homespun is a treasure of a magazine, if sewing is your thing, and is packed full of inspiring projects, tips and interviews.

​The magazine is available from Australian newsagents throughout November and is also available as a digital copy online at www.zinio.com.
​

I've finally finished the group of dolls I've been working on these past few weeks.

​So I'll have five new cloth dolls available to buy via my online store from Thursday 12 October, 10am (Australian eastern savings time (AEST). I hope you like them.

​They each have a little cloak or cape and are packaged in their own handmade gift box with letter-pressed certificate of authenticity. Each doll will be priced from AUD$280 + shipping costs (worldwide).

​I feel I should point out too that these dolls are intended for display only and are not suitable as a  toy for small children, as they are quite delicate.

​This face looking up at me while I embroider his tummy. I know he's not real but I kind of hope I'm not hurting him... 

​Two new barn owl soft sculptures will be available via my online store from 10am Thursday 31 August (Sydney time).

Here they all are... my new Willowynn cards are now available via my online shop, and over in my Etsy store. Available as a set of six art doll cards or six nature cards. ​I hope you like them!

June has been a very busy month for me. I've been working on some new designs, new sewing patterns and creatures. These three (above) will be available in my online store from 10am (Sydney time) Monday 26th June.

​My fox is made from an old (and very vibrant) orange woollen blanket. The other guy is kind of a wombat/bear blend... also made from an old woollen blanket. I'm actually not sure what he is but I like him. I'll just call him a wombat. And then there is a platypus. There's more about him in my last blog post... what a journey. I hope you like them!

​I've finally made myself a doll to keep. I think I'll call her Fern. Sometimes I feel sad letting go of something I've put so much of myself into - so I've decided to hold on to this one. I've painted a moody forest inside an old drawer, like a diorama - I'll keep her there.

Hello. I just wanted to let you know that I'll have three new cloth dolls available to purchase via my online shop from 10am (Sydney daylight savings time), Thursday 30th March. There are some more photos below.
​
Take care,
Margeaux

Here are some more detailed photos of the four little dolls I will be listing in my online store from 10am (Sydney time), on Tuesday 28th February. They are priced from AUD$320 + shipping.

​...and here are the little boots.

​Here's a pic of all four of the dolls that I've been working on these last few weeks.
This little group will be listed in my online store from 10am (Sydney time), on Tuesday 28th February.

My little Willowynn stamp isn't small enough for these tiny legs, so I hand-draw my label with my ultra fine waterproof pen.

Four new cloth dolls (and two pairs of mushrooms) will be available to purchase via my online store from 10am (Sydney time) Thursday 15 December. Each doll comes with her own cloak, handmade cardboard gift box and certificate of authenticity. Prices range between AUD$280 - AUD$340 + postage.

There are four little cloth dolls on my work table, that are almost finished. I'm just making some finishing touches to their cloaks and little boots.  All four dolls will be available to purchase via my online shop from 10am (Sydney daylight savings time), Thursday 15th December. I'll also have two pairs of my mushroom hanging ornaments available to purchase online from Thursday as well.

Next week is the start of six weeks of school holidays here so I'll be slowing down on the sewing front while my children are at home. We'll be camping and painting mostly... 

I hope to have a new collection of work available by early February... maybe some large animals this time.

Wishing you happy and safe holidays,
Margeaux

​Would you like to make these little hanging fabric ornaments? I've put together a sewing pattern for them which is available here. These ornaments make great little presents, and not just for Christmas trees... enjoy!

...and my fox and wolf toy sewing pattern is also now available to download. Phew... these ones took me ages. Thanks for waiting so nicely.