Hi! I’m Mary Jane Teeters-Eichacker; I’m a new doll maker, so am still feeling my way and learning from everyone. I’m a museum curator with an interest in ethnic clothing and other cultures, which shows up in my dolls. Other influences include my childhood growing up on a farm with woodlands, my love of animals, and my fascination with found natural objects, symbols, and with containers of all kinds (boxes, pitchers, hidden layers, etc.) I’m equally fascinated with quilts and look forward to incorporating that art in future works.

My dolls are more like spirit figures; they may not have legs, or arms, or human faces. Often they are containers that open up to show something else hidden inside.

I really get excited by mixed media, especially combining found, natural objects with paperclay, fabric, (including recycled clothing) beads and found embellishments; the trouble is, with this aesthetic you find yourself squirreling away EVERYTHING because it has “doll-potential”! Great for the stash; not so great for housecleaning. I’m also fascinated with quilting, particularly the combination of colors, shapes and textures, and want to incorporate this art into future work.

My family includes my incredibly supportive husband Jack, two grown stepsons and their wonderful wives, and four grandsons. I collect boxes, pitchers, and other containers in addition to interesting hand-made and natural objects, antiques, quilts and pottery. We live on a mini-farm with a full-sized 1889 dairy barn, springhouse, and small mid-19^th c. house, which we share with our “fur family” of two dogs and eleven cats. Our pets are a constant source of fun and love - in addition to hair!

My doll are “Aulivi Autumflower and her pet turtle Pit” as made in a class taught by Kathryn Walmsley. “The Ocean’s Dream” was an original design, as was “Bastet’s Picnic” The idea for the handkerchief doll came from a cloth doll book.

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