Nathalie’s dolls are très chic.

Oh là là! Natalie Mori who lives in the South of France, near Marseille certainly knows how to make dolls oozing sophistication, elegance and glamour. Nathalie has recently joined Miniature Online, having wanted to attend a Miniatura Show for a long time. She had intended being at the Autumn Show, but like so many of us, was terribly disappointed when Covid put paid to everyone’s plans.

“I was very disappointed by the cancelled show, and very scared and sad about what is happening worldwide,” said Nathalie. “I do hope that the situation allows us to travel again in the very near future and that I’m able to come to Miniatura from France without quarantine.”

Shopping for shoes and lingerie.

She has been keeping busy during lockdown however, as she explained, “During the lockdown I was able to experiment with a new process: pouring my own moulds with air dry slip. It’s a very long process and I don’t have a kiln to use porcelain, but I really love all the process as the finished product is totally my own creation.”

As well as dolls, dresses and lingerie she also makes sweets and cakes, all in 1/12^th scale. And just looking at the dolls Nathalie produces, it’s clear that she is very talented in art and dressmaking – skills she learnt at a very young age. “I learn how to sew at school when I was 9 years old and I always saw my grandma and mother sewing and knitting for my sister and me, and I was eager to do the same. I’ve also drawn and painted since I could hold a pencil or a brush in my hand, I ‘ve never stopped since then. Of course, I take lessons and learn from other doll makers to improve myself since 2009 when I really started doll making. Before that I was more involved in miniatures rather than dolls.”

Maleficent.

As a child she recalled having a dolls house which she played with every day. When she grew up, she tried to reproduce what she’d had in the dollhouse as her mother had got rid of it thinking she was too old to keep it! Then in 2003 she attended her first miniatures show, and after meeting other artisans she bought some kits and began making her own items from scratch for those dolls houses. She also began teaching herself with the help of books, videos and classes. “I’ve picked up a lot of skills and tips. My inspiration comes from books and films. It must be things or characters that I love, and I only make one offs. I prefer to change every time because I love a challenge.

“Working on my own I made a lot of mistakes, but I practise a lot – nearly every day to improve and to make my work as realistic as possible. I love to costume my dolls as accurately as possible, to add little details that make them come alive.”

Inside the shop.

In the past Nathalie has put her sewing skills to good use making her own clothes, but now she just hasn’t the time to do this – except for making carnival and Halloween costumes for her three children and her. “I love making costumes especially for Halloween or a fun event. My daughters were my very first living dolls – since their birth I got them to participate in carnivals at kindergarten, and later at school. Now they have all grown up, but we still love to disguise ourselves and we all make our costumes, makeup and hairstyles ourselves.”

“I do the wigs for my dolls, I also make wigs for display only. I learnt this from Dana Burton. I attended a live class with her in 2009, that’s when I discovered the dollmaking world and never left! Dana also runs a forum on Minidolllist where all the dollmakers in the world can share their knowledge, their passion or just enjoy being together. Dana makes her list really dynamic with online classes, free tutorials, homework and courses to attend. I started in 2009 and never stopped learning from her and from other doll makers.

Mitsuko.

“Wigs are not so difficult to make once you understand how the fibre works! You have to understand also that your own mood at the wigging time (same as the painting time!!) is very important. You have to be surrounded by peace and calm to make them easily, if you have to deal with children running all over the place of course wigging or painting is impossible!”

Art Nouveau Wedding Box.

The dresses Nathalie makes for her dolls are so beautiful, I asked her about the research that goes into producing such gorgeous items of clothing. She said. “I do a lot of research and I have a big folder on my computer relating to the dress/period I want to make. Sometimes I want them very accurate, so I use a picture to help me or a painting. It his case I also try to use the best fabrics to match the picture. Sometimes I want them fantasy and I pick several details from one, then another to create a new dress.”

The dolls themselves certainly seem to ooze personality and attitude, so I asked Nathalie if she comes up with back stories for her dolls. However, it seems to be the other way around!

Joker and Phantom of the Opera

“In my mind all my dolls are speaking to me to tell me who they are. It seems strange saying so but sometimes when I start with an idea in mind and working on a doll, during the process my hands are not happy with what my mind asks, so I have to change! All my dolls have a story and a personality that’s why it takes me so long to make one!”

Let’s hope that the Covid situation soon improves so we can see Nathalie’s work at a future Miniatura Show.