CLOTH DOLL ADORNMENT WORKSHOP
Embellish a fanciful cloth doll with hair, clothes, and accessories in this Denver workshop!
Spend a joyful two hours in my welcoming studio crafting a one-of-a-kind fanciful fabric doll—no sewing skills needed.
We’ll start by choosing your doll’s body from over 50 fanciful cotton designs, each with its own look. Then, I’ll teach you how to adorn and decorate your doll with my patented hair technique. Using an array of colorful fiber materials like yarn, tulle, ribbons, yo-yos, rickrack, and felt, you’ll style your doll’s hair however you like—sweet and simple or totally wild.
Next, you’ll dress your doll in a jacket or vest and embellish it with vintage buttons, appliqués, and trims from the creative bar.
Whether you come solo, with friends, or family, this hands-on experience is playful and relaxing. No two dolls are ever the same, and you can change the hair endlessly even after you leave.
Dolls have always been about their storytelling and connecting. After our session you will leave with something personal you’ll adore for years.
CHOOSE A WORKSHOP DATE
REVIEWS
Choose a date OR request a class at a time convenient for you!
STUDIO LOCATION
Prism Workspaces, Blg. 2, Studio 30D - 999 Vallejo St, Denver, Colorado 80204
Near both Denver Art District and HWY 25, plenty of free parking.
What you'll do
Express your creative self in this craft workshop in Denver where you will personalize an adorable cloth doll. You will first choose a doll from over 50 beautiful 100% cotton patterns and colors on their bodies, which will likely be the only hard thing to do in the whole workshop!
Then take your time over the next couple of hours picking "hair" from a dozens of options including yarns, ribbons, tulle, trims, rickrack, macrame cord, extensions, fabric strips, felt cutouts, etc. The dazzle is the patent that allows you to easily tuck, tie, twist, braid, weave the "hair" onto the doll's head, which I will demonstrate. You will also choose either a jacket or a vest for your creation, and embellish it with a vast choice of materials (buttons, fabric yoyos, felt appliques), all set out for you to peruse!
You will have as much hands-on or hands-off help as you like. Create and customize something completely unique to you!.You'll find joy in being able to craft something you love as you spend time with friends or family.
Friday through Sunday dates are on the calendar, but we can have this fun together also in the evenings and weekdays, just make a request!
What you'll get
Your choice of one 21" doll from a selection of over 50 body fabric designs, and baskets full of choices for the "hair" and detailing of the jackets or vests. Each doll goes home in an organza bag with an instruction card and plastic needle for refreshing the clever patented design on the head.
Knowledge required
Beginners with no fabric or craft experience, to experienced crafters and sewers, everyone has fun at their own pace!
What to bring
All is provided for doll making; spring water to stay hydrated (it's dry in Denver!), and a refrigerator if you want to bring a snack or (any!) other beverages. I have all the glassware and dishes.
Suitable for
Suitable for adults, and kids (minimum 6 years old).
An adult must accompany any attending kids (the adult may observe for free).
This experience would also be a unique gift for a girls outing, gift for mom, or gift for couples.
GUEST PHOTOS
MEET YOUR TEACHER, PEGGY STAFFORD
I had a cloth doll from Appalachia growing up… and she dazzled me! So, I began making dolls 15 years ago as an alternative to the plastic doll market, where so much is predetermined. I wanted to create a new cloth doll that was open to the user's interpretation, play and imagination… for him or her to create their own wonder with their own doll.
Along the way, I developed a technique that allows for the infinite replacement of the hair, and was granted a USPTO patent in 2016.
Stafford dolls are 21” handmade cloth dolls in dozens of joyful, cozy fabrics, and stuffed with yarn for comforting huggability. Both adults and children delight in the scrumptious fabrics and the fantastic array of resources that can be used to style, cut and replace the hair.
All these years later, I now have my very own gorgeous studio space to invite others into to embellish their own doll. You may have no experience whatsoever in fabric arts, or you may be a master quilter; everyone will be free to use the bountiful array of embellishments for hair and clothes on their own, or with guidance/suggestions from me...and the others in the workshop! People love to collaborate, and the results thrill everyone, including me!
Stafford Dolls have no race or gender or story, except for the one the owner chooses, or not, to give their doll. Some go home as toys, some as decorative art, some are designed to be lovingly gifted.
I truly believe that most, if not all, of us are imaginative people who have scarce opportunity to express ourselves creatively. Stafford Dolls provide a delightful way to explore fun materials to design a doll for yourself, or as many do, for a friend, that is very special indeed.
Bring your friends or family along, young and older, for a truly memorable shared experience, and a huggable, joyful creation of your very own to take home.