In the second of our series of charming doll makers (for part ONE, please see last month's edition), we now focus on a the nearly lost art of wooden doll making. The labor intensity and high skill level of wooden doll making often makes it discouraging to take up, but Michelle del Valledolls continues the tradition of woodwork handed down to her by her father. Deep in the heart of the Montana mountains, she combines the rugged work of creating dolls from logs and chainsaw, as well as adding delicate touches in the finer painted details of each doll. Further, this "old-world" craftsmanship extends to historically recreating one of the first well-known wooden dolls, the "Hitty."

Hitty, which is short for Mehitabel, was not unlike many wooden carved dolls of the early 19th century, but was popularized by Rachel Field and Artist Dorothy Lathrop who, in the 1920's, wrote the book "Hitty, Her First Hundred Years". The book detailed the aventures of the peg-jointed wooden doll. The book made the doll instantly popular during that era, and beyond. Michelle captures the spirit and the look of the doll exquisitely in her work, with attention to historical detail and accuracy.

Recently, Michelle graced us with an interview about her life, and love, for wooden doll carving. Her work can be found online at www.treefolkhollow.com.

When did you begin with wooden doll-making?  What led you specifically towards making dolls in wood?
My Dad sparked my interest in wood working when I was just a little girl. I enjoyed watching him wood work and wanted to do

Michelle's first wooden doll, made when she was 10 years old While she did not know about Hitty at that point in time, she marvels that the doll came out remarkably like the Hittys she she would be making many years later... as well as the fact that she used screws, at the joints, for movement!

the same. He showed me how to cut wood using his band saw workwith his tools. He let me experiment cutting and sanding with pieces of scrap wood from his workshop.

One of the first things I can remember making was a musical jewelry box. When I was 10, I made my 1st peg wooden dolls, a lady and a man.  I found two pieces of scrap from the top of a chair that resembled a head and torso. 

I didnt know how to use dowels, so I pegged the shoulders and hips with screws. I had no idea I would be making and selling these little dolls later in life. 

Do you use materials other than wood when making dolls? 
Occasionally I use paper clay to craft the head, hair or entire doll. A smaller baby doll (2 to 3in) can be made entirely out of paper clay, utilizing a copper wire skeleton. Small glass eyes add a very unique look to a the clay dolls.  In as much as carving clay is much easier than wood, I still prefer to carve in wood.

What method(s)/process do you use in creating your dolls?
My methods really vary depending on what kind of wood I'm using.  In the past I have used pine and fir from trees felled in the Crazy Mountains here in Montana.
My husband Bernie will hand peel the logs using a draw knive and then use his lathe to form the head and torso.  I drill the holes for the limbs and make the necessary cuts for the t-joint hips before I carve the face and hair.  If I'm using basswood, shaping the body on the lathe isn't necessary, I just cut a blank on the band saw. A dremel is used to remove the larger pieces, then I use a carving knife with replaceable blades to carve the body, facial features and head.  The limbs are created in the same fashion.   After carving, the doll is sanded smooth and the limbs are pegged to the body with hard wood dowels.  Each doll is then hand painted signed and finished with a protective matte finish.

How did you come to recreate the Hitty doll?
While shopping online I saw a peg wooden doll and decided to make one for myself.
This successful endeavor led me to carve and sell dolls online.  In 2003 after many customer requests to carve a Hitty doll, I researched her history and read the book "Hitty: Her First Hundred Years".  That first doll and subsequent sales encouraged me to continue to carve Hitty and other wooden dolls.

How long does each doll take to make?
I haven't ever timed myself from start to finish.  Being a homeschool Mom to my 8 year old son keeps me pretty busy so carving is a pleasure I treat myself to when I have free time. Usually I can produce one doll a month while balancing everything else.

Are there any sorts of challenges to making your dolls?
The only challenge I have at the moment is finding time.

How long have you been making your dolls?
Five years.

Is there any one doll you consider the most memorable to create, or particularly special?
Only if you would like to include the "Big Hitty" I chainsaw carved.  She is about the height of my 8 year old.

After many successful years of carving and selling standard doll sizes of Hitty, my husband encouraged me to combine my two talents of chainsaw carving and doll making.  We began planning and drawing up sketches for Big Hitty.


In the summer of 2005 work was begun in the Crazy Mountains of Montana.  Logs were felled in the forest and carving began.  Her head and torso were carved from a solid Doug Fir log, her arms were hewn from Lodge Pole Pine and her legs are Doug Fir.

After the chainsaw work was completed, Hitty was smoothed with a sander, hand painted and distressed.  The final touch was a layer of antiquing to provide an impression of age.  With my husbands help, the doll was drilled and pegged, fitting the arms and legs to the torso with large hard wood dowels.  I contacted my mother Liana Rebhahn in order to design and sew appropriate period clothing

The doll was completed later that year and Big Hitty was donated to the Great Cranberry Island Museum in Maine.
A second chainsaw carved statuette of Hitty aptly named Hitty Montana was also chainsaw carved and donated to the museum as well.
(BELOW): The Process of creatingHitty Montana

Where can one purchase your dolls?
If anyone is interested in purchasing one of my dolls I would recommend joining my mailing list
which can be done either by going to my website and signing up, or just email me at hittycarver64@gmail.com
and type "add me" in the subject line.  I keep my list up to date on sales or auctions. You can also see my work at www.treefolkhollow.com