MINIKIN Dolls of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince George

The whole world has been watching and waiting for the arrival of Prince George Alexander Louis of Cambridge. Since his arrival we've all seen pictures of him in the arms of his parents, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, on the front pages of newspapers, magazine covers and the like. Now, you can see Prince William and Kate (and Prince George!) as Minikin dolls.

Elizabeth and I thought that Peppermint Toes should feature a set of dolls based on the Royal Family when they appeared outside of St. Mary's Hospital on July 23rd. The Duchess of Cambridge wore that blue polka-dotted Jenny Packham dress, and we have recreated it in felt for our Minikin doll out of wool/rayon felt. The dots have been hand-sewn onto the felt. Prince William is wearing his baby-blue shirt and has a metallic thread belt buckle and studs. Prince George is needle-felted from merino wool. Even his white shawl is felted from merino, which is what the real Prince's G.H. Hurt & Son shawl was made from.

These dolls are now available as a custom order in our Etsy store. It will take about three weeks for us to complete and ship your set of Royal Family Minikins. Prince George is felted individually, so if you would like Prince William to hold him, just let us know! We would also be able to make the Royal Family in the outfits as they appeared in the first Official photos of Prince George.

Elizabeth and I have had a lot of fun making these and are hoping that others will enjoy our version of the new Royal Family. Thanks for stopping by and visiting! Be sure to check back often, as we've got more dolls coming soon.

The Hills are Alive . . . Looking at Maria in "The Sound of Music"

"The Sound of Music" has been one of my favorite musicals for many years. Naturally, when we started making Minikins, Maria was on one of the first lists of prospective ideas. She was slightly challenging in the fact that her dress is one piece, and I had to make it without ever trying it on, as it took a bit of work to get it slipped over the doll's head! It looked really nice once it was done and the hem was trimmed, though. The apron was the really fun part. Wool felt doesn't come with stripes printed on it, so I had to decide if I was going to try and do stripes, just edge the whole thing in a different colour thread or eliminate the stripes altogether. 

I decided to try and sew my own stripes. Using a simple back stitch, I used a darker grey thread and created my own striped fabric. Her apron is actually made in three parts and then sewn together when I sewed it to the dress. The only hitch was that I ran out of dark grey thread halfway through, and we had to run to the store.

This is certainly one of the more recognizable of our Minikin outfits. When you think of Maria, it's always standing on the top of the hill with her arms outstretched, getting ready to sing the title song! (When they actually filmed that famous shot, the camera was in a helicopter. Every time they passed over Julie Andrews, the downdraft from the rotors would send her flat on her back in the mud! Not quite as dreamy as it seems in the film! However, it certainly made a very memorable opening to a memorable film!)

If you are interested in seeing more photos of this doll, just click here.

Maria Von Trapp from 'The Sound of Music' MINIKIN Doll

The past couple weeks has seen us busy with custom orders, but we've managed to list another precious little Minikin Doll in our Etsy shop.

Elizabeth and I have always been crazy about musicals, and one of E.'s favorites is The Sound of Music. It didn't take long to think of making a miniature doll of Julie Andrews as Maria Von Trapp (actually, she's not a "Von Trapp" in the first scene of the film --- what was her maiden name?!).

 Julie Andrews Doll as Maria Von Trapp in The Sound of Music

This little Maria is dressed in her Nun's Novice dress and apron. This outfit is worn by Julie Andrews in what is probably the most well-known scene of the film: the singing of The Sound of Music. Maria's dress is made of wool/rayon felt, and the stripes on her apron are actually hand-sewn! Her hair is made of blond mohair doll hair. Feel free to browse through our Etsy shop (link at the top of this page).

John Wayne & Maureen O'Hara in 'The Quiet Man' as MINIKIN Dolls

We've been so busy with custom orders this week that I've completely neglected this blog. One of our favorite movies is the John Ford film, The Quiet Man. It's a simple tale about simple, country life in Ireland --- and the stars are John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara.

The Quiet Man seemed like the perfect theme for some Minikin dolls, so we designed Sean Thornton and Mary-Kate Danaher in their trademark outfits.

All of their clothes are made from wool/rayon felt, and their heads and hair (including John Wayne's cap) are needle-felted from 100% wool roving. These precious dolls are available in our Etsy shop, so be sure to take a look (link to the store is at the top of this page). Thanks for stopping by!

John Wayne as Rooster Cogburn in 'True Grit': A MINIKIN Doll

This is the first Cowboy Minikin! Rooster Cogburn (as played by John Wayne in the 1969 film, True Grit) seemed like a perfect choice for this venture into the wide world of the Wild West. Okay, so it was the eye patch that really inspired us to make this character.

Elizabeth and I are just crazy about Westerns and cowboys. This little Minikin is complete with his very own red bandana and tall hat. He stands at a whopping height of 4-3/4" --- perfect for a miniature John Wayne.

So, be sure to check out this adorable doll in our Etsy shop (use the link at the top of this page). Coming soon: John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara in The Quiet Man.

Thanks for stopping by!

Hercule Poirot's Friends as Minikin Dolls

We have spent the past week making a set of Minikins based on Hercule Poirot's friends (as portrayed in the Poirot TV shows starring David Suchet). These were made as a special order for a friend, so they don't appear in our Etsy shop. However, we did manage to make another Miss Lemon doll, and she is now available on Etsy. More of Poirot's little friends will be coming soon --- and we're always open to filling custom orders! The photo shows a Poirot doll surrounded by his friends.

Minikin Dolls (left to right): Captain Hastings, Mrs. Oliver, Poirot, Miss Lemon & Inspector Japp

These little dolls range from about four to four-and-a-half inches in height. Their clothes are all made of wool/rayon blend felt, and their little heads (and Inspector Japp's hat!) are needle felted from 100% wool roving.

Captain Hastings wears an outfit loosely based on one worn by Hugh Fraser in Murder on the Links. Mrs. Oliver wears an outfit based on one worn by Zoe Wanamaker in Mrs. McGinty's Dead. Miss Lemon  and Inspector Japp wear outfits based on some worn by Pauline Moran and Philip Jackson in The Case of the Missing Will.

Poirot and Miss Lemon are both available in the shop. If you're interested in any of Poirot's other friends, then feel free to e-mail us or request a custom item. Thanks for looking!

Jules Verne's Princess Aouda as a MINIKIN Doll

Here she is! The final Minikin in our trio of characters based on Jules Verne's Around the World in 80 Days. The costumes are based on those worn by the players in Michael Todd's 1956 film version of the story. A very young Shirley MacLaine played the beautiful Indian Princess, and this little doll is based on one of her beautiful outfits in the movie. She even sports a "bracelet", "necklace" and "ring" --- all made from gold thread.

 Making Princess Aouda was quite a challenge for Elizabeth when it came to the beautiful stitch-work on her dress and shawls. The clothes are trimmed in some cotton floss and a lot of gold-colored metallic floss. The gold thread looks beautiful on the finished product, but it's sure tough to sew. There are a lot more hours of work in this little girl than her two friends, that's for sure!

All three characters from Around the World in 80 Days are now available in our Etsy shop. Please, take a look (just click on the tab at the top of this page), and check back often!

 

Jules Verne's Phileas Fogg and Passepartout as MINIKIN Dolls

Michael Todd's Around the World in 80 Days won the Oscar for Best Picture in 1956 --- and it certainly deserved it! You can't beat the combination of the beautiful widescreen and color shots, Jules Verne's classic story and the fabulous performances of over 100 stage and screen greats. David Niven plays Phileas Fogg, an English gentleman of means who sets off around the world. Cantinflas plays Passepartout, Fogg's valet and traveling companion.

Since this is one of our favorite color films, Elizabeth and I couldn't resist turning these fun characters into little Minikin dolls. We're very happy to announce that Mr. Phileas Fogg and Passepartout are now available in our Etsy shop. Mr. Fogg's traveling outfit is based on David Niven's "Safari" suit (as seen in the India portion of the film). Our little Minikin even has its very own needle-felted pith helmet!

The little Passepartout Minikin doll is based on Cantinflas' outfit in the film. There are even patches on the tiny pants. These are proof that Passepartout comes from "a very ancient family". He also comes with the large red carpet bag. Of course, this little doll hasn't put all of those brand-new bank notes in the bag, yet. :) Check back soon for Princess Aouda --- another great character from Around the World in 80 Days.

Please, take a moment to browse through our shop (link at top of page). We've got a lot of ideas and more Minikins coming very soon.

Agatha Christie's Captain Hastings as a MINIKIN Doll

We are excited to announce the arrival of Captain Arthur Hastings into the fun world of Minikin dolls. We've made a variety of Poirot dolls, but no Poirot is complete without trusted associate, Capt. Hastings! Played by Hugh Fraser in the Poirot TV shows, Hastings brings some lighter moments to often dark moments. He is the total opposite of Poirot, but they are a great pair of sleuths.

Hastings has a variety of interests (almost obsessions) when it comes to things like photography, fast cars and golf. In honor of this, our Hastings Minikin is dressed in plus fours and ready to "hit the green". His outfit is patterned after the ensemble worn by Hugh Fraser in the golfing sequence in Murder on the Links.

This little doll is the perfect addition to a Poirot MINIKIN, so be sure to check out both of them. Stay tuned over the next couple of weeks for Miss Lemon! You can visit our shop on Etsy by clicking on the link in the bar at the top of this page.

King of England MINIKIN Doll (Richard the Lion Heart)

Who doesn't like stories about Knights and Kings or Robin Hood and His Merry Men? I don't think that most people outgrow a love for those stories --- Elizabeth and I certainly did not! We've always loved imagining stories of Medieval Days, and British history is our favorite subject. With this love in mind, we decided to make a Minikin doll of the old King of England. We were thinking of Richard the Lion Hearted (as he appeared in the 1938 Errol Flynn film, The Adventures of Robin Hood) when we made this doll, but he could be any of the early Plantagenet kings. They all had red hair and would have worn this traditional symbol of England at some time or another.

This little King is very proud of his crown, too! It was made out of beautiful gold-colored jewelry wire --- just the right scale for a little man like this. As evidenced by his red hair, he has a bit of a temper. That was a Plantagenet trait, but he's really friendly at heart.

Another special thing about this Minikin is the fact that his body is entirely wound in metallic thread (serving as chain mail). Chain mail is an absolute must for a little warrior king like this, so he also sports an under-tunic made of shiny "chain mail" fabric. His red tunic, belt and cape are made of felt and decorated in royal splendour.

This little King is available in our shop on Etsy. Be sure to visit the shop via the link in the bar at the top of this page. Thanks for stopping by!

King of the Watusi MINIKIN Doll (King Solomon's Mines)

The latest Minikin is patterned after Umbopa, King of the Watusi Tribe, as he appears in the 1950 film version of King Solomon's Mines. This is a character that we have always wanted to "turn into a doll", and a Minikin just the right answer.

This little Umbopa stands at a towering height of 4-1/2 inches and even carries his traveling blanket role. His brightly colored robes are made of Wool/Rayon felt and stitched with linen and cotton floss. His impressive hair-do is sculpted out of 100% needle-felted wool. Picture above shows our MINIKIN Umbopa alongside pictures of the real one!

The Minikin King of the Watusi doll is available in our Etsy shop. Just use the link in the bar at the top of this page to visit our store.

King Aragorn in Coronation Robes MINIKIN Doll

After featuring the little Bilbo Minikins in the previous entry, it is only fair to put the spotlight on another Lord of the Rings based miniature. This Minikin is based on Aragorn, King Elessar of Gondor of the House of Strider as he appears in his Coronation Robes in The Return of the King. Big title for a little doll!

This is definitely a one-of-a-kind Minikin. Instead of having clothes made entirely of wool felt, this little fellow features a chain-mail tunic made from a shiny, woven fabric that is covered by another tunic made of 100% silk. These are topped off with the outer tunic of felt --- hand-embroidered in metallic thread with the beautiful symbol of the Tree of Gondor. Aragorn's crown is crafted from gold-colored jewelry wire and gives him that authentic regal look. :)

This adorable Minikin is available in Peppermint Toes' Etsy shop, so be sure to check it out! You can get to our shop by using the link in the bar at the top of this page. Thanks for looking!

Bilbo Baggins MINIKIN Doll from Tolkien's "The Hobbit"

Characters from J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings were the very first idea that we had when it came to designing Minikin dolls. After getting basics under our belts like bodies and patterns, it wasn't hard to envision Minikins from Middle Earth. We set out to make the nine characters in The Fellowship, since that would give us a chance to experiment with Hobbits, a Dwarf, an Elf and Men --- not to mention, Gandalf the Grey! The picture below shows the final result. This set of dolls never made it into our Etsy shop, since they are staying in our private collection. Just couldn't part with them! Characters shown are (left to right): Aragorn, Boromir, Frodo Baggins, Samwise aka "Sam", Gimli, Pippin, Merry, Legolas and Gandalf.

We have decided to make some single Lord of the Rings Minikins, though, and the first two are now available. Because of the recent release of The Hobbit, we decided to make a little Bilbo Baggins. In the end, we made two --- one in Bilbo's "Hobbiton" outfit and one in his "Adventure" outfit. These are in the shop, so check them out by using the shop link in the bar at the top of this page.

We would also be open to custom orders for other Lord of the Rings characters (sorry --- no orcs, goblins or bad guys), so feel free to ask. We'll let you know if we have the materials to make the character of your choice into a Minikin. Thanks for looking!

Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot as a MINIKIN Doll

One of the very first characters that Elizabeth and I wanted to design for our line of Minikin dolls was Agatha Christie's Belgian Detective. A little Hercule Poirot doll seemed made for these miniature felt characters. After a lot of time studying the various suits worn by David Suchet in the Poirot TV shows (a family favorite), we finally came up with six different suits.

We listed four of these in the shop on Wednesday and were still working on the last two --- but all six sold in about five minutes! :) We are now hard at work making some more to list again. We do have a "Custom Order" option available in the meantime.

All of the suits are made of a Wool/Rayon felt, and the heads, hair and trademark mustache are needle-felted out of 100% wool. We're planning on designing Minikins of Captain Hastings, Miss Lemon and Inspector Japp in the future, so keep checking back!

Now Available in the Shop: MINIKIN Dolls

After two days of photographing and writing ads, the first MINIKIN dolls are available in our Peppermint Toes shop on Etsy. We've got all kinds of characters --- including some from J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, Robin Hood and his Merry Men, and Agatha Christie's famous detective, Hercule Poirot!



All of the Minikins had a great time, since they got together for a "family" reunion. Pictured above are all of the Minikins that we've made so far, but there are quite a few more in the works. Check back often, and feel free to request a custom order through our Etsy shop.