By Hannah Kelley
Photos by Sigita Stonienė

Childhood is generally a time of simplicity and inno­cence, filled with steppingstones on an individual’s path to discover and carve out their place in the world. Sigita Stonienė, the dollmaker behind Sybil’s Tales, has a way of cap­turing the essence of what it means to be young and conveying it through her artistry.

Calm surroundings set the stage for Stonienė’s work. She said, “A cozy studio, a steaming cup of tea, quiet music, and just the right amount of creative mess help me settle in and focus. These small rituals ground me and allow me to get into the right mind­set for my ideas to flow naturally. Once I’m into the flow, I dedi­cate many hours at once, as I’m the most productive that way.”

Before she begins working on a doll, there is usually a spark of inspiration, be it a piece of material or a memory triggered by a recent experience. “Sometimes a melody from the past inspires me to create a doll,” Stonienė said. “This was the case with a little fair-haired boy, Benjamin, who came to life as a composite character inspired by childhood memories of films about street rascals. Other times, I come across a fabric with an interesting pattern or texture, and I immediately know which little girl I’ve created will wear a coat made from it. I observe children’s facial expressions, the way they move, and how they hold a toy or hold their pet on a leash. From all of this, my dolls are born — little children in miniature form.”

In other instances, it’s an imagined situation that propels Stonienė forward creatively. She explained, “Sometimes I have the idea to create a group of playground friends, as I already know what they will do and how I will photograph them — pre­senting dolls through videos and photos is an important part of my creative process. In these cases, I create several dolls at once, and their outfits are designed to com­plement each other. Of course, I also create dolls individually, each with her own story, personal­ity, and name.”

Born and currently residing in Klaipeda, Lithuania, Stonienė has been interested in the arts for most of her life. “From a very young age, I loved to draw, which likely influenced my choice to become a fashion designer,” she said. “I have always been fas­cinated by the history of costumes and how they have evolved from the past to the present.”

When her two children were young, Stonienė’s focus on fash­ion broadened to include designing clothes and dolls for them. “I wouldn’t say I am completely self-taught, because I have a de­gree in fashion design. At the same time, I went through a long journey of trial and error, learning from both mistakes and suc­cesses, until I was able to create dolls as they are today,” she said.

Now a grandmother to two granddaughters and a grandson, the dollmaker has newfound motivation to continue her work. “I created the brand Sybil’s Tales when my first granddaughter was born; the anticipation of her arrival inspired me deeply,” she said. “Over time, I became immersed in the world of doll collec­tors. My dolls are not merely toys, each one is a miniature child, carefully crafted to embody personality and spirit.”

Stonienė’s initial dolls were close to 22 inches tall, but she has since settled on a size of approximately 18 inches. She said, “In the beginning, I created fairly simple dolls, but I felt they lacked expression. I needed to approach things differently, which meant experimenting, making mistakes, feeling disappointed, and continuously searching for ways to create what I truly en­visioned. Over time, I developed my own technique to ensure a doll moves as I want and has a lively, expressive face. Focusing on proper proportions, scale, pose, and treating the doll’s figure as a whole also helps me achieve the desired result.”

Perfecting the overall look and feel of each doll is important to Stonienė, and if a doll doesn’t meet her expectations, she re­works the design until it does. This can be a time-consuming process, but it is worth it.

When it comes to the finer details, the dollmaker said, “The most enjoyable and magical moment is when I paint a doll’s eyes and catch her gaze. At that point, I know exactly what suits her, and creating the rest becomes very easy.”

Continuing to put her fashion background to good use, she designs and sews outfits that help her dolls’ personalities shine. “When creating clothes for my dolls, I use natural materials,” she said. “I especially love Lithuanian linen, which feels won­derful to the touch, drapes beautifully, and comes in gorgeous earthy tones. I also favor cotton lace and batiste for their delicate texture and elegance. For my dolls’ shoes, I use natural leather or thick wool felt, which gives them durability and a handcraft­ed feel.”

Once complete, the dolls model for the camera. Stonienė said, “Thanks to the way they are made, my dolls move beauti­fully, and their photos become a pure expression of my visual language.”

The artist added, “It may sound banal, but while I am creat­ing a doll — sculpting her face, sewing the body, covering it with fabric, painting the eyes, styling the hair, dressing her, ob­serving her through the camera lens, and then carefully packing her into a box so she can safely travel to her new home — she becomes my favorite. In those moments, I pour all my creativity and the warmth of my hands into her.”

Her efforts have not gone unnoticed, and through the years, collectors have provided an abundance of positive feedback in the form of letters and photos. Due to popular demand, Stonienė has plans to expand her offerings in the future: “I am often asked to create tutorials or outfit patterns. Until now, I have enjoyed focusing on dollmaking for myself, but I feel that I have now gathered enough knowledge to share it with others.”