There was a time when every little girl knew how to make a hollyhock doll. I remember making them and holding hollyhock doll dancing parties in my backyard. I especially love the turbans they wear. When I took Little Frida on her walk, I noticed the hollyhocks were in bloom, so I snapped off some blossoms to make dolls. The finished dolly is only three inches tall and only lasts for the day you make it. (Side note; in the old days, country folks would plant hollyhocks on the side of their outhouses. That way, when ladies came to visit in the summer time, they wouldn't have to ask the mortifying question "Where is your privy?")
Materials: One hollyhock blossom about half-way bloomed, one bud with some color just peeking out, some tiny fern-y leaves if you want your dolly to have arms
Equipment: None for a basic model, scissors and tweezers for a fancy doll with arms
Peel away the sepals (I think that's the right word) from the bud.
Using scissors, trim away the green stem. If you were to stick to tradition, you'd pinch this part off with your fingernails.
Slip the bud onto the other blossom. With gentle pressure, it should fit very nicely. If you are making these out in your backyard, your dolly is finished. If you want a fancy doll with arms, continue reading.
Take some tiny, fern-like leaves, maybe an inch and a half long.
Take the scissors and make slits where you want to insert the arms.
Use tweezers to insert the arms.
Make enough to have a party. The one on the right looks like an opera singer. We'll put her in charge of entertainment!
How well I remember these! What a beautiful memoriy of childhood.
Posted by: Grandma Rosie | June 30, 2008 at 11:34 PM
They are so sweet. Thank you for such a nice tutorial. I may have read about them in a book but I never had seen one before.
Posted by: Kathy | July 01, 2008 at 12:26 PM
We used to float our little ladies in a pan of water. They would then glide across their 'dance floor' with grace and ease.
Posted by: Becky | July 01, 2008 at 02:32 PM
this is wonderful! I'm going to have to have hollyhocks in my garden!
hope all is well with you.
Posted by: ellen | July 03, 2008 at 08:08 AM
How sweet!
Posted by: Nataly Rinkhoff | August 27, 2008 at 10:44 AM
My grandmother used to make these dolls for us kids when we were little. Back then, it was magical watching her make them, and it was even more magical each time she handed one to me. Reading your tutorial and looking at the lovely photos brought back that magic. Thank you.
Posted by: Karen Wright | March 31, 2009 at 12:42 AM
Priests of the Druid religion of ancient (to) Britain and France believed mistletoe had magical powers.
Posted by: Cheap Coach Bags | January 11, 2011 at 10:46 PM
I remember making these dolls as a young girl, but couldn't remember exactly how we did it. Thanks for the tutorial. It made my day.
Posted by: Pat Buser | June 27, 2011 at 03:29 PM