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Spool Dollies

My grandmother passed along her old sewing supplies to me a long time ago and as I've used the thread I have saved each wooden spool to make Spool Dollies. I have since collected more vintage spools to create many more spool dolls, which I am selling at www.ericadaley.etsy.com. I use only non-toxic paints and varnish. Below you will find many examples of the spool dolls I make.

Measuring tape doll and mini Spool Dolls - the spools are from a vintage travel kit and the thread is left on the spool.

Family and Large Doll Groups

This Spool Dollie is made using a spool of variegated thread from Italy called Necchi. Retors Brillante
is another variegated thread from France. When making these dolls I do not remove the thread, but
rather secure it to the spool, then varnish over it in order to keep the thread in place. The thread is so
beautiful there is no need to paint the spool. These spools are very rare, so the price is a bit
higher than my other Spool Dollies, but they make a wonderful addition to any collection!

Spool Dollies Babies

Boys and Girls

Kokeshi Spool Dollies

Front and Back of dollies

Where do I get all these vintage spools? Well, as mentioned above, the first batch was passed down to me by my grandmother, but now I have to hunt for them. You can't just mail order them like wood doll forms, so I have collected literally thousands of spools. I find them primarily through auctions and estate sales. Some come to me in perfect condition (though this is rare), and many come in a sad state. I have had an entire set come with wasps nests (still alive) nestled into the center of each spool, needless to say these went to the curb. I carefully hand pick through every set of spools I purchase as I only keep the best ones to make Spool Dollies or to put into the kits. Very large and very tiny spools are a lot more rare, that is why they cost a little more. Perfect spools are not easy to come by, and the cost of collecting them is not inexpensive (though I try to keep the price as low as I can), but I think the vintage spools are beautiful and add so much character to the dollies.