1:12 Character Doll FAQ
What is a 1:12 Character Doll?
These dolls are loosely based on real characters --- or any description given to us! They are designed to be fit in a 1:12 Dollhouse or Display, so the height ranges from 5-1/2 to 6 inches (depending on the character). They're afraid of boats (being anything but waterproof) and live in dread fear of being discovered by either cat or moth.
Where do you get your 1:12 Doll designs?
Each of our 1:12 Dolls is a SarahBeth original! Sometimes the dolls are lossely based on real people or photographs. Sometimes they're just a figment of our imaginations. Always our own original designs and patterns. Even when we try to duplicate our popular Hercule Poirot doll, each one has its own character and personality. Similar but never the same – that's the beauty of handmade.
Who actually makes the 1:12 Dolls?
Each one of these adorable Miniature Character Dolls is handcrafted in the USA by the two of us, Sarah & Elizabeth (identical twin sisters in Ohio). Never any helpers, and nothing farmed out. From the wound-wire armatures through the teeny-tiny handstitched felt clothing to the needle-felted wool heads and faces, it's just the two of us! Sarah shapes and wraps the "bodies", needle felts and attaches the heads, and occasionally makes a sheet of felt or accessory. Elizabeth does all of the design and construction from there on out, investing many hours and hundreds of tiny stitches in each 1:12 Doll. The dolls are not ready to ship until both of us have put their stamp of approval on each finished piece.
What do you use to make a 1:12 Doll?
Before going "public" with our Minikin and 1:12 Doll production, we spent many hours searching for the perfect materials and mastering sewing/felting techniques. After much trial and experimentation, we've settled on a fabulous wool/rayon felt and merino wool for the needle felting and hair work (with occasional mohair!). An occasional piece of bamboo/rayon felt finds it way into a place where Elizabeth wants a little more drape than wool affords. Seed beads add a nice bit of dimension to the wool, and glittery metallic thread is both Elizabeth's joy and curse on a number of the pieces. Every now and then, a piece of jeweler's wire finds it way into the accessories. Of course, it all starts out with a pipe cleaner or two. Never underestimate meager beginnings.
How do I care for my 1:12 Doll?
Like all wool items, these dolls absolutely DO NOT get along with dogs, cats, or moths! It's nothing personal, but the lovely wool is just too much for your pets (not to mention the moths) to ignore for very long. Make sure that your 1:12 doll is kept in a protected area. A cedar-lined box or trunk makes a great hiding place. Don't leave them there too long, though, because Minikins don't like the dark very much. They like to be admired. A glass-front hutch, glass dome or shadow box are all good choices. 1:12 Dolls are strictly for display and should never be used as a toy.