about me
hi! welcome to my website! my name is antônia monfardini, i’m a brazilian visual artist, and my work consists mainly of illustrations and doll making based on the creation of characters and narratives. i draw and sew dolls since i was a little kid, and after many years of tests and experimentation, i developed a mixed media technique that allowed me to bring my ideas to life, and turn my drawings into three-dimensional pieces.
as soon as i started sharing my artworks on the internet, i received a lot of questions about my sewing style, so, fulfilling requests, i arranged a full tutorial in order to show all the steps of my doll making process, from the blueprint’s initial sketches to the last touch ups of the finished piece. if you’re interested in learning how to make your own fabric dolls from scratch, access MY HANDMADE DOLL MAKING PROCESS by A.M.!
check out some of my works and keep up with my artistic process through my links! 🐇
frequently asked questions
WHAT MATERIALS ARE THE DOLLS MADE OF?
i make my dolls mainly out of fabric and sewing thread, and fill them up with polyester fiberfill. they also have a little wire skeleton on the inside that allows them to be poseable. their clothes are made out of different kinds of scrap fabrics (sometimes customized/handpainted/embroidered by me beforehand), shoes are usually made out of paper, EVA foam sheets and acrylic paint, and accessories are made with the most varied of materials (such as clay, different kinds of paper, tiny chains and beads, etc.), it really depends on what i find best suited for each project!
ARE THE DOLLS FRAGILE? CAN I MOVE/PLAY WITH THEM?
the dolls are not necessarily fragile, if you drop them on the floor, for example, they will remain intact as there’s nothing breakable in them. however, they’re definitely NOT toys and i also wouldn’t recommend using them for purposes such as stop motion!! the continuous movement of the bodies tends to loosen the seams, stretch the skin fabric, and disarrange the fibers of the filling, which can leave the doll with a slightly wonky and deformed appearance. even though i make them with the intention of being poseable, keep in mind that the more you “play” with them, the more they will soften and become worn out, just like what happens with any other fabric doll.
moreover, because they’re basically all fabric, they get dirty very easily. they need to be kept away from sunlight, dust and liquids, preferably inside a box, and, if extremely necessary, can be gently cleaned with a soft, dry cloth. it is also extremely important to always wash your hands very well before handling your doll.
to sum things up, each doll is an artwork and should be treated as such!
ARE THE CLOTHES AND ACCESSORIES REMOVABLE?
not always, it depends on how tight/loose the garments fit on the doll’s figure. i naturally make shoes, socks, pants, skirts, hats and large jackets removable, but more form fitting clothes and accessories i have to necessarily sew/glue them already dressed on the doll so that there’s no apparent closings and everything has a nicer finish, making it impossible to take off without cutting seams or tearing everything apart. i could make all pieces removable with a velcro/buttoned opening, but since the dolls are VERY small, any amendment other than one single seam would turn out way too thick and evident and it would compromise the doll’s final look. also, like i said before, because my dolls are made almost entirely out of fabric, taking off clothes and putting them back on too many times can make their bodies look wonky, dirty and worn out after a short while. even when i’m making them i’m careful to try on the clothes as few times as possible! they are not easy to dress up.
i prefer to prioritize the quality and finishing of the work as a whole, but if you insist and don’t mind these aesthetic inconveniences, i can analyze your request and see what can or cannot be made removable. in any case, extremely tiny and/or tight-fitting pieces (such as earrings, bracelets, necklaces, gloves, tops, etc.) have to be necessarily attached to the doll’s body as they simply do not allow a functional opening due to the size limitation.
DO YOU MAKE DOLLS OF ANY CHARACTERS?
i will always need to analyze each order beforehand, to confirm whether it’s possible or not to fit the requested character into my technique and style, but in principle i can represent any human/humanoid/anthropomorphic(ish) characters. i can’t make mecha, non humanoid monsters, furries or characters with over exaggerated features.
DO YOU MAKE DOLLS OF REAL PEOPLE/ORIGINAL CHARACTERS?
yes!! just like any other order, all you need to do is attach in the form all the reference images necessary for me to comprehend the appearance of the doll you want me to make (refs for face, body, clothes, shoes and accessories). it can be your own drawings or pictures of the person you want me to portray.
DO YOU MAKE DOLLS OF ANIMALS?
i’ve done a few already, but i personally don’t consider myself very capable of making animals, as it involves other types of anatomical studies that i never really got into. when i make them they often end up looking more like plushies rather than very faithfull representations. but if the character you want to commission has a pet companion, i’ll definitely try my best to make it along with the doll, you just need to add reference images of it as well in the form’s attachments when placing your order!
CAN I COMMISSION A DOLL YOU HAVE ALREADY MADE?
yes, it is possible to commission a “replica” of an existing doll i’ve already designed, just please keep in mind that, as it is an entirely handmade process, no doll will ever turn out to be exactly the same as the original!! you may commission the same character, but never the very same doll.
WHY CAN’T I CHOOSE MY DOLL’S HEIGHT?
i like to make my dolls as if they all belonged to the same universe, even though i portray characters from different source medias. think of it as if i were to put all of the dolls i’ve made side by side, they would all be like tiny humans with slightly different heights, some taller, some shorter, but none of them would be out of place because their overall anatomies would be standardized and compatible. that’s why i prefer to personally select their measurements!
DO YOU SHIP TO ANY COUNTRY?
yes, worldwide shipping available! i send all my packages through my country’s main post office, but in case they happen to not ship to a specific location, i’ll then opt to send it by FedEx, that basically ships worldwide!