Crafty (& Handy)

Wee Girl

I haven’t been feeling well lately and I’ve been confined to the house. As cabin fever was really setting in, I decided to do something crafty. Brandon’s been teasing me because it is on the whimsical side, which I usually hate.

Wee Girl

The whimsy factor gets worse too. This project was based on a chidrens’ craft project… for making flower fairies. You’re supposed to make little wire bodies and then take apart fake flowers to make the clothing. I instead chose embroidery thread, felt, and fabric to make mine.

Little Wire Bodies

The Body for my Wee Girl

I actually made two heads (wooden beads, paint, and more embroidery thread) because I didn’t like the way the first one turned out. Too smug.

A Head for my Wee Girl

I gave her a little paper flower to hold, glued her head on, and she was finished.

Wee Girl

She’s just under 3″ tall, so my Wee Girl is indeed very wee.

What do you think? I’m afraid Brandon’s right. I’ve gone whimsical, haven’t I?

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  • jenni s-g
    September 3, 2008 at 11:17 am

    Super cute! And there’s nothing wrong with a little whimsy in your life! :)

  • Elizabeth
    September 3, 2008 at 11:22 am

    Yes. There is a place for whimsy in all our lives. This is a great project and a great outcome.

  • Sam
    September 3, 2008 at 11:45 am

    I think she’s whimsical and wonderful:) I think whimsy is just a natural part of my life and design now that I have kids.

  • kristen
    September 3, 2008 at 12:01 pm

    so cute!

  • marzi
    September 3, 2008 at 12:11 pm

    very cute and not that whimsical. i think your edits and changes kept you just a hair to the left of whimsical! ;)

  • elizabeth
    September 3, 2008 at 12:31 pm

    I love her! She reminds me of the worry dolls I made as a kid. Great job!

  • Mandy Ford
    September 3, 2008 at 12:35 pm

    She’s adorable! And I tend to like whimsy :)

  • megan
    September 3, 2008 at 12:43 pm

    feel better, nicole — and your wee girl is indeed wee and adorable!

  • sunny
    September 3, 2008 at 12:48 pm

    awww..hoping you get well really quickly!!

    and what a beautiful doll! whimsical is good sometimes, right? I love all the colors you used, the cute (modern!) bangs, the little face. I love it all. Didn’t know I loved it until I saw it! Am in love. Did I mention I love it? :)

  • Mrslimestone
    September 3, 2008 at 1:16 pm

    I really hate all things cute but that is just adorable. (in a totally cool way). Provided you don’t make 200 of them and line them up for display, I think you are safe from being uncool.

    Would it be wrong for me to suggest you make a guy one too? She seems lonely. hehe

  • Genevieve
    September 3, 2008 at 2:02 pm

    I think that this is cute and cool, and very lovely as well.. Plus you’ve got yourself a pretty nifty pair of scissors there as well.. im deff. jealous ;)!

  • katelynjane
    September 3, 2008 at 2:07 pm

    Definately whimsy. But not bad! I think she’s really cute (:

  • Laura
    September 3, 2008 at 2:36 pm

    I love her! She’s great!

  • teaorwine
    September 3, 2008 at 2:40 pm

    A wee girl would be so cute tucked into the ribbons on a gift!

  • wendy
    September 3, 2008 at 3:23 pm

    I think whimsy is good when used in moderation. For me it is the subtle reminder that life isn’t always hard and to take a moment to smell the roses. I think on guy to match the girl and you are good, any more than that then you cross the line into crazy :)

    Feel better

  • Memphis Mary
    September 3, 2008 at 3:53 pm

    I love your wee woman–and it is good for your mind and soul to revert back to play. Sorry you haven’t been feeling well. Do you have some chicken soup?

  • Had
    September 3, 2008 at 4:13 pm

    Forget the girl, those scissors are amazing.

  • amy purple
    September 3, 2008 at 6:10 pm

    Where are those scissors from? They’re really cool! The girl is too – how creative!

  • luuve
    September 3, 2008 at 6:40 pm

    i second the none too whimsy! lol but umm im with the others…whhhhheeeerrreee did you get those scciiiisssooorrss!!!

  • Making it Lovely
    September 3, 2008 at 6:46 pm

    Everyone loves the scissors! I think I got them at Hancock Fabrics, so I’m sure they’re readily available at your local fabric store. :)

  • Claire Gaston
    September 3, 2008 at 7:24 pm

    Adorable! Really perfect job!

    (Yes those are standard embroidery snips, crane, available anywhere. They are just perfect for trimming little hair.)

  • Claire Gaston
    September 3, 2008 at 7:24 pm

    Duh, me! Hope you’re feeling better soon!

  • Renee
    September 3, 2008 at 8:08 pm

    I love it!

  • joyce
    September 3, 2008 at 8:24 pm

    She’s great! Ive been playing with making some of these too…also from the instructions for flower imps or fairies. Mine look different from that…and different from yours too. Love that about handmade stuff!

    Hard for me to have too much whimsey….as long as it’s not too cutsie, I’m in.

  • Anna
    September 3, 2008 at 8:35 pm

    She is simply lovely!

    What talent you have for the creative!!

  • southern hostess
    September 3, 2008 at 9:15 pm

    Now that, as my mom would say, is “cute and darling!”

  • lyndal
    September 3, 2008 at 9:17 pm

    just stumbled across your page and wanted to say how beautiful it is. Also my husband, baby and i are moving to illinois from australia in 6 weeks although we will be in peoria. cant wait to get there and explore chicago. the dolls are devine…

  • All Things Lovely
    September 3, 2008 at 10:23 pm

    Nicole, I hope you’re feeling better.

    And dam, I want those scissors but of course Hancock Fabrics don’t ship to Australia!

    Ah ha, never fear! I found somewhere. :)

  • All Things Lovely
    September 3, 2008 at 10:28 pm

    I hope you don’t mind, but I thought I’d post a link to where I got them for those not in the US. :)

    http://www.123stitch.com/

  • drey
    September 3, 2008 at 10:43 pm

    how incredibly cute, nicole!!!! woah. (and yes, whimsical) :)

    GET BETTER!

  • Erin
    September 4, 2008 at 12:39 am

    She would make any little girl smile. I would have loved her as a little girl (heck, I’d like one right now!). Do you plan to sell them?

  • Benita
    September 4, 2008 at 2:32 am

    You have, you have! Love her. Or is it a self portrait?! :)
    I want to make one tooooooo!

  • Priscilla
    September 4, 2008 at 6:52 am

    These, with appropriate clothing, would make great wedding cake toppers. I love it.

  • Alison
    September 4, 2008 at 8:57 am

    Definitely cute and not too whimsical since the fabric is so fun. These would make adorable Christmas tree ornaments.

  • chanelle
    September 4, 2008 at 12:48 pm

    yes, but it’s a rockin’ kind of whimsy.

    ;)

    hope you feel better – and make more!

  • ambika
    September 4, 2008 at 1:23 pm

    I love the detail and colors. I honestly think clothes from flowers would have been far more whimsical than this.

  • Tatyana
    September 4, 2008 at 2:48 pm

    I’m with Benita – is it a self portrait?
    It reminded me of your post about your grandmother asking you if the art in your house was you…
    Very cute!

  • Tracey
    September 4, 2008 at 4:54 pm

    Very cute- I want to make one with my daughter right now- she collects flower fairies! By the way, Whimsy is a good thing…

  • Kristin
    September 4, 2008 at 5:18 pm

    You could sell little Wee Girls they’re so cute! There’s nothing better than a little project to give you a feeling that you’ve created something, even if it’s a bit whimsy!

  • susan
    September 4, 2008 at 10:42 pm

    Well, you arent feeling 100%. Have you been taking a lot of cold medication…I get all whimsical when i take too much. Just kidding…I love your wee creation…its whimsical sure, but a funky sorta 70s retro whimsy!

  • cath c
    September 5, 2008 at 7:54 am

    sometimes whimsy is a necessary thing. it’s like, growing up with brothers, always having male close friends, and raising 2 boys, i don’t do girlie. now i have a baby daughter,and with gift certificates in hand, we shopped for baby clothes. my husband looked at me cross-eyed when i suddenly squealed super girlie at all the cute little clothes. where did that come from?! but it was definitely a necessary whimsical moment! and your wee girl is just as adorable!

  • Sarah
    September 5, 2008 at 8:41 am

    Maybe if you’d kept it as a fairy craft I’d say, yes, you’d turned to whimsy, but this kind of cute and adorable is more folk art than fairy tale :)

    PS – I LOVE the way you worked with the embroidery floss! So perfect!

  • Kim
    September 5, 2008 at 10:01 pm

    Oh, that is seriously fabulous!

  • Melony
    September 6, 2008 at 8:47 am

    Whimsical is wonderful:
    Happy, sweet, charming, and lovely!

  • patricia
    September 6, 2008 at 11:41 am

    follow your whims
    carefree and happy
    she is so very wee and sweet
    me wants one of those wee whimsy women.
    oh please do a give away….

  • Rosa
    September 7, 2008 at 7:18 pm

    How adorable. I love anything little.

  • At Home with Kim Vallee
    September 8, 2008 at 11:47 am

    Your wee girl is so adorable! You should make more and start selling them. It would satisfy the envy of girls who are not crafty.

  • Violet
    September 8, 2008 at 1:26 pm

    Very cute!! I want a purple one! =D

  • K T G
    September 9, 2008 at 5:29 am

    I didn’t know you didn’t think you were already whimsical.

  • Christy
    September 9, 2008 at 6:06 pm

    what a sweet dolly! she’s exquisite!

  • Home accessories lover
    September 15, 2008 at 4:13 am

    Wow, this girl is so ellegant and cute! Nice one:)

  • Erica
    September 15, 2008 at 9:12 am

    I love her! I actually have a girl that is a pin that I have saved from when I was a little girl, and I was showing it to my daughter the other day. I was wondering about how I might go about making another. Now I know how! Thanks!

  • kiwi
    September 20, 2008 at 9:35 am

    She reminds me of Kenley from Project Runway.

  • tanja
    November 24, 2008 at 11:42 am

    It’s so cute! Thanks for sharing and greetings from Germany!

  • Rebecka
    November 24, 2008 at 12:26 pm

    Thank you for sharing, it’s adorable and just a little bit whimsical… ;)

  • Evelyne
    November 24, 2008 at 2:26 pm

    Just the loveliest wee girl ever!

  • Meredith
    November 24, 2008 at 4:43 pm

    She’s just goregous!!

  • Kel
    November 24, 2008 at 9:39 pm

    I love her. For some reason she is crying out for me to make for a couple of old friends.

  • Love Laurie
    November 24, 2008 at 10:41 pm

    I love it! No surprise though because everything I make has a bit of whimsy to it. Thans for the tutorial. Very sweet!!

  • juliecache
    November 26, 2008 at 12:36 am

    sew, mama, sew! had a link to this project. my 8 yo made a little wee girl today. she’s liking it enough to make more for her cousin’s christmas gift. thank you for posting your idea!

  • Erika Chapin
    November 30, 2008 at 9:36 pm

    Thank you so much for showing this along with your process. I have spent all weekend making similar ones for my daughters Christmas tree and for my friends. Congratulations in advance on having a baby girl. Girls are so much fun!

  • Bev
    November 30, 2008 at 11:55 pm

    I found your blog through a websearch for handcrafted dolls and I knew that my dd and I would have to try this one. I showed her the pictures (she’s 9) and she fell in love with your little lady doll! So today, we spent the afternoon crafting up a few of our own. She, too, wanted to make them to give as Christmas gifts to her girl cousins. Thank you for sharing!

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  • LilyBelle
    January 1, 2009 at 6:58 am

    I noticed that you have become a “follower” of my blog so have taken the time to have a look at one of yours. This wee doll is adorable and well worth the time and effort you took to create her.

  • jos
    January 15, 2009 at 10:58 pm

    that is absolutely gorgeous! i just found your site and i love it! erm, there’s nothing wrong with whimsical *looks down pensively and twiddles thumbs*

  • PJ
    January 23, 2009 at 8:45 am

    This wee girl is awesome! My daughter is away at college and she always doodles on notes by drawing stick people and I always joke with her about that. This is a three-dimensional stick girl and I’m going to make her some so she doesn’t get lonely in her dorm. Any idea what gauge wire you used for this or the bead size for the head–or are you encouraging us to just wing it? Whichever way, I’m so happy I found your site. I appreciate your imagination and creativity.

  • Jessica
    February 1, 2009 at 10:43 pm

    Aww… so cute! Are those scissors in the head picture? They are beautiful! Where on earth did you get them?

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  • mariabuenosaires
    March 27, 2009 at 4:31 am

    Muchas gracias, tu muñeca esta preciosa y me guarde el paso a paso, te felicito, saludos desde Argentina
    Maryte

  • susan
    April 15, 2009 at 11:28 pm

    such a sweet doll
    thanks for the tute

  • gaga
    May 21, 2009 at 10:10 am

    Your doll is marvelous!! i try to make it, but i found trouble glueing the hair and the head….

  • Catherine
    July 9, 2009 at 3:08 pm

    Love it. I have been trying to work out how to do those wrapped arms – thanks for sharing! I second the request to know what gauge wire you used.

  • Natalie
    August 1, 2009 at 3:58 pm

    Please carry on being whimsy, I have just found your website while looking for things to do with dolly pegs, my husband wishes i hadnt, as i have now been on her looking at all the things you have made for nearly 4hours. You truelly are a domestic goodess. Can i adopt you as my mum? i’m 32 hahahaha. Natalie from England.x

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  • Gretna
    January 6, 2010 at 8:19 am

    Very nice and lovely…:) I have a question, what kind of paint have you used to draw the face? to paint on wood…

    Many kisses! (from spain!)

  • meriam
    February 23, 2010 at 4:14 pm

    beautiful! i really want to make this can you post instructions please? from where you get the supplies to putting the wee doll together??

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    May 13, 2010 at 3:22 am

    That is just SO cute! I’d love to make one myself!

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  • Despina
    August 25, 2010 at 4:04 pm

    She is so cute!

  • Taylor
    September 4, 2010 at 9:03 pm

    She is very lovely! Love the flower in her hand.

    Taylor

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  • Irasema
    December 20, 2010 at 11:26 pm

    I have been looking for something like this. Lakeshore sells similar dolls for $5 a doll, which can get pricey when you want a whole family or two.

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  • Rose Marie
    June 8, 2012 at 9:52 am

    Oh My , This doll are beautiful! Me encanta , la pinee en pinturest ‘, te felicito , eres muy creativa!!! Rose M .

  • Shanda
    December 1, 2012 at 6:10 pm

    I would love to buy this cute little wee girls for my daugthers for this christmas…I went on Esty to see if you had a shop my girls love them and so do I very cute and adorable!!!

  • Dorria
    September 22, 2013 at 8:39 am

    Your doll is marvelous!! i’ll try to make it

  • truthstalkerdollster
    June 18, 2016 at 7:09 am

    Adorable (but OHHHH, the tedium of threadwrapping—UGH)!