Imagine life as a little boy who lives in a small snow blanketed village surrounded by big trees and the chatter of nature.
He gets up each morning and walks no further than a kilometer from home to attend school in a small schoolhouse. Just like some little boys I know, he doesn't like to be bundled and bounded by warm sweaters and bulky coats. He often leaves home with his favorite winter hat, mama's hand knit scarf and warm boots to keep out the wet. Then off he goes, school books in hand and favorite sled in tow.
Though the distance to school is short and brief, he likes to prolong and extend his journey each morning, especially in winter when there is so much fun to be had in the snow. He'll stop frequently to throw down his gear and books and splatter himself against the white cold fluff to play snow angel and to lie waiting for the next snowflake to fall on his tongue. He'll take the sled up and down small mounds of snow and forgets that he has somewhere to be.
But, that doesn't matter to him because it just feels so good to be a little boy with not a worry in the world and with only the joy of a simple life to be had. His name is Jude.
I love making little boys. There have been a small handful created in the past and they are all some of my favorite creations...full of charm, character and inspired by the lads nearest and dearest to my heart or created for very special people....Ivor, Tom Frost, Claus, Paschal, Tootles...they were all some of my favorite characters. Yet, I wonder why I don't make them more often. In the wake of the crisis and unrest our world currently faces, Jude was created as a wish for an earth where all little boys and girls can have not a single worry and only a simple life filled with joy. And for those of us who are fortunate enough to have a bit of this peace and serenity in our lives, there is nothing more we can ask for.
Jude is a Wee-Bee Mini Elfcup doll. He stands less than 6" (15 cm) tall. He is made with all natural materials. His doll skin is made with premium quality cotton interlock imported from Europe. He is firmly stuffed with bio-wool made in the USA. His seams are sewn twice for reinforcement. His hair is made of mohair yarn. He has embroidered facial features and a lightly sculpted face. His cheeks, nose and various body parts are blushed with red beeswax. He is a sitting doll with sewn joints that are made flexible for easy movement and changing of clothes. But, with some posing, he is also able to stand. He has a belly button and a bum.
Jude comes wearing a simple white striped cotton shirt and cotton pants. His warm woolen hat is 100% merino wool cut from a clean, pre-washed, repurposed merino wool sweater. His colorful orange and moss tweed patterned scarf was hand knit with 100% fine alpaca yarn. His boots are hand knit with a 100% wool yarn.
Jude comes with a wooden sled, hand-painted with a scarlet acrylic paint. The sled handle is made from hemp twine. Jude comes carrying a sling holding three school books. Each book is hand bound and tied with wool yarn and contains real pencil sketches made by me. The sling is made from 100% cotton ribbon clasped together with a nickel-plated eye and hook.
Jude is recommended for ages 8+ due to the delicate nature of his design and the small parts that may pose as choking hazards for very young children.
If you are interested in giving Jude a home, he will be available at Dollectable, tomorrow, Tuesday, December 1st, 2015 at 7:00 PM (EST).
