All of these dolls (which used to live below on this page, have been moved to their own page and renamed Tiny Dolls. Please click on Tiny Dolls under Dolls by Type in the main menu above.

My first 15 kits of Angels, Snowmen and Simple Santas are now discontinued but you may read about them on the Oldies But Goodies tab in the menu at the top of the page. There you may order reprints of the original kit instructions and patterns if you wish to replace lost ones or use your own supplies to make them. Later in the Spring of 2021, it is hoped to re-issue all of these as stand alone patterns only (no supplies) or patterns plus which will have certain hard-to-find items.


  

SANTAS, ANGELS AND SNOWMEN STILL IN PRODUCTION:
The following items shown below are still in production and may be ordered at any time.

FOR MORE SANTA SUPPLIES:
Be sure to visit "Santa Makings" in the Dollmaking Supplies tab in the menu at the top of the page for many Santa making supplies.

 


 

THE MILLENNIUM ANGEL
Inspired to do an angel for the next century this pattern makes a 15” angel with large quilted wings who holds a quilted star embroidered with the year 2000 - or you could choose other appropriate words or names as the year 2000 slips by - in her demurely crossed arms with quilted fingers,. She has a needle-sculpted nose and an embroidered face with simple kinky hair. Her hair, the special wax medium and techniques to make her look old are included in the pattern.

Pattern #102 (with antiquing medium and hair) $28.00 Add to Cart
(Finished Item Not Available)

 


PEACE ANGEL (16")
Another in the series of large angels, this ange was given large quilted wings which frame her early 1800’s style gown. She has slightly unruly hair of coarse mohair. Her banner is embroidered and quilted while her striped toes just peek out from beneath her slip.

Pattern #104 - Pattern includes special antiquing medium, cheek pencil, fiber for hair and felting needle for applying hair. $28.00 Add to Cart
(Finished Item Not Available)

 



REMEMBER ANGEL - 2002 ANGEL
Every year I have to meet the challenge of a new angel. This angel was made post September 11 and in style the head and wings are taken from some wonderful old slate gravestones from the 18th Century. She is about 15" tall, but with a molded primitive papier-mache head. She holds a hand-embroidered quilted banner in her hands that proclaims "Remember", appropriate for all of us for that year and all years. Of course she is quite vintage looking with her antique finish. Her color is old mustardy browns.

Kit for Remember Angel $58.00 SOLD OUT

 


THE LINSEY-WOOLSEY SANTA Requests for more Santas inspired this one in my favorite - vintage linsey-woolsey. He stands by himself carrying a handmade basket of birch twigs by my assistant, Kathi, and he holds a sack on his back, a walking stick in the other hand, and on his belt a handknit striped stocking. He is about 12" tall with a needle-sculpted nose on an antiqued cloth body. The overall look is subtle winter whites.

Pattern #103 (with wood base) $22.00 Add to Cart
Finished with Vintage Fabrics (Finished Item Not Available)

 

17" QUILTED CLOTH SANTA
This painted cloth-faced Santa shows off his quilted and pieced robe on a uniquely constructed body that allows him to stand by himself, through a special technique of weighting his feet. His wonderful presence is created by the layers of clothing and the many fabrics that go into his robe. Easy 4-patch quilt construction is used to create the "fabric" for his robe. A few options are included for accessories as well. This pattern can provide many many looks from vintage country to Victorian by just altering the fabric choices. Included in the Mini Kit are wood soles, bearding, all paints, face stencil, wires for arms, a hard-to-find antiqued belt buckle and instructions for how to make his address book. The pattern only has full instructions and patterns plus the face stencil.

Quilted Santa Mini Kit (Includes Patterns and Instructions) $78.00 Add to Cart
Quilted Santa Pattern and Instructions Only $22.00 Add to Cart
(Finished Item Not Available)

KIT FOR ALL THE FABRICS - I have assembled a limited edition of all of the fabrics (about 70) necessary to make this santa in the old browns palette that I used. The 60 squares used to make the 4-patch quilt for his robe are from my own stash of many years and all pre-cut, many overdyed, ready to sew. Except for a few accessories, everything is here, including body fabric, lead feet, leather for his belt, fabrics for shoes, stockings, pants, tunic, sack and cap with floss for the tassel. For all other accessories besides fabrics, visit the Just For Santas page. This fabric kit is optional (or you can gather all your own fabrics), but does not include the mini-kit above, so you will need both. Quilted Santa Fabric Kit $175.00 Add to Cart

 


18" MOLDED CHALKWARE FACED SANTA
This Santa is taught in my three-day retreats. It is not a kit for the faint-of-heart, but nor is it that hard, just lots of details. Includes the original molded face from my own molds, all the paints, body fabric and wooden body pieces and special lead feet so he will stand by himself, bearding wool, several toys, belt makings, buttons, special fabric for shoe making and 30 pages of patterns and instructions that include many styles of clothing so that you can make him traditional, country, Victorian or your choice, plus many other accessories in the way of sacks, packs, stockings, walking sticks, painted cloth scroll lists of names, books and many many hints for details like overdyeing to make ordinary fabrics look good. Full Kit $250.00 DISCONTINUED


NEW Mini Kit - Includes all of the basics for the Santa body: the original molded face from my own molds, all the paints, body fabric, wooden body pieces and special lead feet so he will stand by himself and bearding wool. Also includes the 30 pages of patterns and instructions that include many styles of clothing and accessories (hats, belt, mittens, scarves, sacks, packs, stockings) plus a few toys that can be made from supplies you may already have and many hints for details like overdyeing to make ordinary fabrics look just right. Santas can be made traditional, country, Victorian or your choice, plus many other accessories in the way of sacks, walking sticks, painted cloth scroll lists of names, books. Kits for other toys may be ordered on the "Santa Makings" page found in the Dollmaking Supplies tab in the menu at the top of the page.
New Mini-Kit $158 Add to Cart

Extra Molded Head and Wood base $24.00 Add to Cart
Set of Lead Feet Weights with Wood Soles $28.00 Add to Cart
Sled Kit $28.00 Add to Cart

JUST PATTERNS & INSTRUCTIONS
If you would like just the 30 pages of patterns and instructions, you can now order these. You will need a molded head & wood base - see above - to make the patterns work. Otherwise, all supplies are up to you.
$28 Add to Cart

FINISHED SANTAS - Please contact me if you are interested in a Santa of this type (beginning at $975 and up depending on the details)
My latest Santa with every single accessory and two small children on a fenced platform for display. $2575 complete, only 6 available.

 


PENNY RUG 18" SANTA KIT OR PATTERN
This larger Santa makes a bold statement and the work to get him there is very relaxing hand work if you have ever done or admired the penny rug style. You can start with any old wools (not synthetics, although small amounts of nylon added to the wool content are fine) using light solid colors and small scraps of checks, tweeds and plaids. Their original colors (if not too dark) will be easily taken over by the easy dye process you can do right on your stove with Rit dyes and the recipes included in the instructions.For example, once while teaching, everyone wanted the mustard color of my Santa above and the shop owner had yards of a pastel pink and a pastel blue. I had my doubts, but tried anyhow, and magic! You could no longer tell which were formerly pink and which were baby blue. The work of Penny Rug style is basically an applique of wool pieces using a decorative embroidery stitch to apply the cut wool designs. Wool sews like a dream especially since the dyeing process slightly felts the wool. Pattern (mini-kit) is also available. Kit Info: 18" Santa and all materials, patterns, instructions. You only need stuffing.

•Penny Rug Santa Full Kit - $225 DISCONTINUED AS FULL KITS
(Due to the extra work of dyeing and not enough workers to do it!)
•Finished Penny Rug Santa (not available at this time)

•PENNY RUG SANTA MINI KIT (has wooden base, bearding, paints, wire armatures) - you supply body fabric (3/4 yd of Kona cotton recommended, wools, stuffing, etc. - see link below for printable list. Instructions have easy dye recipes you can do yourself for all his wool).
MINI KIT (Includes Patterns and Instructions) $48 Add to Cart

• PATTERNS AND INSTRUCTIONS ONLY $18 Add to Cart

Click here for PDF of SUPPLIES NEEDED for Mini Kit (also useful for Pattern Only):

http://www.gailwilsondesigns.com/extras/PennyRugSantaMiniKitSupplies.pdf

 
 

CINNAMON DOUGH RECIPE CARD
My own improved version of a cinnamon dough to make a "permanent" clay-like dough that when dry is hard and retains its wonderful aroma of cinnamon. The recipe card includes hints and suggestions for you to make your own ornaments, plus a small sample heart. Great accessories for snowmen, Santas and angels.

Cinnamon Dough Recipe Card $5 Add to Cart
 
 



Long ago I began to make small ornaments mostly of painted wood with lots of attention to detail - these are part of my second series having retired the old ones and gone to a more people ornament size of around 3". Santa has old mustard robe and he holds a staff and painted lantern, while on his back is a backpack. The blocks are small versions of stacking wooden blocks that were covered with paper lithographs in the 1800's. All visible sides are papered with prints of my water-colored paintings of old toys. The sheep pulltoy is similar to old German ones with extra tight curly wool and a painted wooden bell on the narrowest of ribbons. The stockings are handknit using the tiniest of needles and embroidery floss as yarn. Two striped combinations available - one earthy, but rich and the other deep jewel tones. Try not to pick - get both as they are great companions. The horse pulltoy is painted wood with a flax tail with an attached saddle. Sage green, mustard and old red. The skates are special for their utter simplicity and charm. Like old-fashioned skates that had to be strapped on, they have wooden soles with linen string ties, while the blades are cast in my own mold in a blackened brass.

 

These ornaments are in very limited quantities each year. Sets of 4 of the SANTA, SHEEP, BLOCKS AND HORSE. $275 Add to Cart
SKATES Available individually all finished. $48 Add to Cart
Or see Santas Makings in the Dollmaking Supplies tab in the menu at the top of the page for kits to make them.
STOCKINGS - (discontinued - see Santas Makings in the Dollmaking Supplies tab in the menu at the top of the page for knitting your own using floss)


A DOLL'S CHRISTMAS TREE

A real goosefeather tree (9" tall) just made to go with small dolls, especially Hitty, and decorated in scale with a garland of tiny handpainted wooden beads, the tiniest of candles on the branch ends and 8 tiny ornaments plus a star on top and a turned wood base. The tree is made from real goosefeathers made to resemble old-fashioned sparcer-styled Christmas trees. They originated in Europe about 200 years ago and were brought here by early German immigrants. A 3" square picket fence surrounds the tree.

Finished Feather Tree $225 Sorry, no longer available.




A COLLECTOR’S FEATHER TREE
This tree was made to display the ornaments above at shows, but so many requests were made for it to be available, that here it is. It is perfect to display a growing collection of my ornaments and add them as new ones come out or leave just as it is - a simple, elegant statement. The handmade feather tree is of real goosefeathers with a total of 22 branches each decorated with a subtle spring green wood berry. There is a painted wood star on top, strings of wood bead garland (we actually paint all the beads old red) and the wonderful tree base is painted a rich teal. All is displayed on a deep pine green painted wood base with a picket fence which has mustard rails and pickets with old red posts. This is a large and sumptuous feast of color. Height of everything is 28”, base is 12” x 12”.

Finished $495 NO LONGER AVAILABLE