I have been admiring painted wooden peg dolls from afar for a couple of years now. I first saw very simple dolls painted in primary colours for sale for a price far beyond my budget, and later discovered a world of artisans and crafters who create elaborate little dolls to sell or keep. Lately Esmeralda has been loving imaginative play, and so I decided it would be the perfect time to gift her some little dolls of her own.
I made three sets of dolls. The first is a little version of our family. A little girl (Esmeralda) dressed in her favourite colour (yellow), a baby (Vivien), a mama (me), and a papa (Nik). The second was a set of figures inspired by the characters from some of our favourite picture books by Sibylle von Olfers – “Etwas von den Wurzelkindern” (The Story of the Root Children) and “Pinzesschen im Walde” (The Princess in the Forest). The third was a spontaneous little Mushroom family. I would love to paint a little nativity scene next!
I found the peg dolls for sale at the German chain “Action” which is a discount store with all kinds of things, our favourite being the art supplies. I have seen peg dolls for sale online as well, and I imagine that most craft stores would have them! I painted them using simple acrylic paint.
This was such a fun, and simple project. The dolls can be painted as simply or as elaborately as one likes. I even think the unfinished dolls are adorable!
Merryweather Living 