Each Doll is Hand Crafted
 

 

This page explains the steps used to finish each Waiata Maori Porcelain Doll. Including the preparation, decoration and fabrication of the clothing, the entire process takes about 8 full days to complete each doll.  And I enjoy every minute of it !


Firing Process

Step 1
The liquid porcelain clay is poured into a doll mould and then dried out and cleaned.  Next the eyes are cut out, the fingers, toenails and joints are sanded and the doll is kiln fired at 2200 degrees Fahrenheit for 7 hours - then left to cool for 10 hours.



Making The Dolls Clothing

Step 2
The doll is now polished with fine sandpaper, painted with eyelashes, eyebrows and nails, and fired in a kiln for 2 hours. Then further painting and colour are added for the skin tones, before a final firing for an additional 2 hours.



Time to assemble the doll

Step 3
Next the doll is assembled by attaching the arms, legs and head.  Glass eyes are added to the dolls face and a wig, eyelashes and the earrings are fitted.



Dressing the doll

Step 4
Each piece of clothing is sewn on a treadle machine. The dress and headband is traditional of the New Zealand Maori dress and the Taaniko pattern represents fish and water. The skirt is made from flax leaves and feathers from a native New Zealand Pheasant bird.

The necklace is made from the teeth of a Mako shark. (caught by myself off the east coast of New Zealand ! )  The jaw of the shark was dried out and the teeth collected, as the Maori people have done for centuries. The Poi's that the doll holds in her hand are made from dried corn husks and used for action dances.  


The one that didn't get away !
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About Me & My Dolls 

At the age of 15 I was interested in sewing and different crafts, then a friend who made porcelain dolls introduced me to a professional doll teacher, and so I made my first doll, from that time I was hooked and started collecting and making dolls. 

I became involved with the New Zealand Porcelain Doll Club and started to enter my dolls in many doll shows, wining many blue and red ribbon awards.  After entering my first National Doll Competition, and wining the trophy for "best doll of the show" I decided to research my families history (making sure my knowledge was correct) to make a New Zealand Indigenous Maori Doll.

I do the painting on each doll myself, handcraft the clothing and accessories individually for each doll, of which there is a limited edition of for collectors. What started as a hobby has expanded into a business, It is great to be doing something that I enjoy so much. 

 

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