DOLLS

The Käthe Kruse Line Merges Play and Education

Käthe Kruse’s Waldorf dolls are charming in their minimalism. The faces of the dolls intended for babies are spheres with hand-sewn dot eyes and brief one-line … well, it’s hard to say for certain—are their “lips” grinning? Perhaps they’re determined. Or, maybe, they’re even pouting. It’s debatable what emotion the Waldorf dolls exhibit, but one thing is certain: The dolls are much more than a designer’s foray into the aesthetic of simplicity.

Artists Come Together and Create Enchanting Nature-Inspired Play Dolls

When two renowned dollmakers get to­gether and focus their talents on creating play dolls, the result is extraordinary attention to de­tail and concept.

Ruth Treffeisen’s Play Dolls Exude Confidence and Character

After dedicating her Kusch­elchen dolls to her granddaughters, Viola and Camilla, bear and dollmaker Ruth Treffeisen of Germany, thought it only fair to dedicate her Little Stars in the Doll Sky line to her youngest granddaughter, Alina.

The Designers at Käthe Kruse Get in Touch With Their Inner Harmony and Then Reach out to Their Collectors.

One of the best parts of being a dollmaker is the chance to create something out of nothing. It’s a heady experience to take a handful of fabric, threads, wool and buttons and con­vert them into a huggable and appealing character. For the creative team at Käthe Kruse, one of the most alluring factors of dollmaking was the chance to create a new lingo, to make the make-believe real and to dabble with a little bit of spiritualism and mysticism. They were able to do all this via their Feng Shui line and their popular Guardian Angel doll as well.

For More Than 25 Years, The Middleton Doll Co. Has Delivered Adorable Tykes.

When you have the opportunity to chat with Ken Werner, president, consumer products, of the Middleton Doll Co., you find yourself in the presence of a man who takes his role seriously, but not himself. Werner’s good-natured self-ribbing is evidenced by his job description: “chief baby-doll guy.” And he further proves he is a good sport when he reveals his confirmation name: “Christopher; I thought I might be the reincarnation of Chris Columbus.” Though a 15th-century explorer and a 21st-century corporate head may have little in common on the surface, Werner does share a spirit of adventure, a desire to forge into the un­known and an immeasurable curiosity to discover what is around the next bend. His visionary ways would make his maritime namesake proud!