Each Mourning Doll is a representation and embodiment of grief and is a labor of love. I make Mourning Dolls to give you a way to hold your grief, and to honor mortality.
Meet Shuah..
"Shuah hadn't imagined that her love would grow so deeply as the years passed. She knew when they died that she would never seek to love another. She wore mourning the rest of her days."
Shuah's dress is slim fitting rich matte black fabric. The entire beaded overlay is made up of two gorgeous handmade antique collars from the 1860's. The detail in the beading is beautifully patterned like florals and greenery. The threads which hold the beads are well over 100 years old and are delicate. Shuah prefers to be handled with care. Her necklace is made of antique glass beads. The beaded front hem of her skirt is also antique. Her earrings are from an antique rosary.
Her hair is hand dyed sheep wool and is so soft. She is 24" tall. She has the quote 'I will wear mourning all of my days' hand written on her torso. She comes with a small black bordered card with her name and quote handwritten by me.
Shuah was made in my home studio. I use cotton muslin for her body which I dyed using avocado skins. Shuahs's body is made with a combination of machine and hand stitching. I then hand stuffed and assembled her using a needle and thread.