“Babies are such a nice way to start people” ― Don Herold
Welcome to my store, Shayna’le!
My name is Esther, I design and create dolls and quilts for children and babies (because it’s the best!).
Quilting and making Waldorf dolls is my greatest love and I’ve been doing it for almost 25 years.
Originally, quilts and cloth dolls were made from necessity—a need for warm blankets and toys for children. When families were low on funds or textiles were scarce, every scrap of cloth or still-functional rag was saved to be used in a quilt. Leftover scraps were used to make rag dolls, which served as prototypes for Waldorf dolls.
Waldorf dolls are cloth dolls made with natural materials and stuffed with sheep wool. They’re made for play, snuggles, and love.
Waldorf dolls have a more cozy, handcrafted feel than commercial dolls. Each one is a unique creation with its own character and charm.
In the old days, On long cold winter nights, women would gather and sew quilts and dolls for their families and children. Sitting together in tranquility, chatting and resting following the long day's work. In addition, fine workmanship served as a source of status and pride.
I personally design and sew every product I sell at Shayna’le with utmost care, using high-quality quilting materials, Merino wool, and cloth made especially for Waldorf dolls.
The dolls are meant to be played with and they last for years, and my quilts have been passed from mother to daughter (and granddaughter…)
I want each item I create to be high-quality, beautiful, and most importantly, functional—something any child will adopt with delight.
In my store, you’ll find dolls and blankets that I designed and sewed. You’ll also find tutorials and patterns I’ve developed over the years, to make it possible for anyone to discover the joys of quilting and dollmaking.
Please feel free to be in touch with me if you have any questions; I’d love to help you find what you’re looking for.
Esther
