Hi there, I'm Amond Paul McKenna, fiber artisan of Cedar Snail Dolls. I love to make beautifully tactile wares intended to soothe and stimulate the senses. I love to bring dolls to life. Cedar Snail Dolls was created by a request to make a deeply comforting, weighted and warm, lavender scented cashmere-bodied doll for a dear friend in recovery. I felt honoured. Within a month or so after making th
at first doll, I began receiving requests to accommodate specific sensory needs in my doll making. The buckwheat weights in the dolls became more than a matter of personal aesthetic balance, they have a grounding and therapeutic value. One more doll request led to another... then another. I started hearing the stories about how these custom made dolls were impacting day to day life in a meaningful and supportive way. Then I was approached to make dolls for elders. I started making dolls for children who could not find anything in stores that struck a personal resemblance. I was feeling increasingly, deeply inspired by the process of making and accommodating these wonderful requests. In Spring 2014, it felt time to share what I was up to and I began to offer these unique services to a growing community. I am so grateful for the warm reception I am continuing to receive. I am here to create for you in a collaborative way. Whether it is a custom visual match for an intended recipient, a specific set of sensory requirements fullfilled, or a genuine love of fine fiber handcrafted into a luxurious experience for yourself or loved one... this is the work that I am joyfully here to do. Peruse the photos I have here. See if anything inspires you. And write me if you'd like, I am available to answer questions and requests, to read and respond to your stories. I work with reclaimed fine fiber knits (cashmere, angora, merino, new wool), wool fill, buckwheat groat weights, essential oils, handspun and hand-dyed yarn, professional quality doll making cotton interlock fabric in four skin hues, mohair, mohair boucle. As well, I am open to accommodate easy wash solutions including synthetic fibers and weights. Thank you so much for taking the time to find out about Cedar Snail Dolls.
