The Upsetting Sea

Hi all,

I hope you’re all well! the crabapple and pear tree in my back garden are blooming, covered in bees, i hear the occasional toad mating call, and things just smell so good right now. My senses craved Spring.

Last year I was lucky enough to spend some time wandering around old hidden cemeteries on the coast of Maine. I love tiny little hidden cemeteries… the family plots, the ones with no signs that you just kind of stumble upon when you’re hiking or walking down road… the ones along coastal Maine often have gravestones noting folks who have perished at sea. Seeing these beautiful lichen covered stones planted the seeds for a story and the collection that I’ve just finished.

The Upsetting Sea

The first few days sailing out of Bristol, England were fairly predictable. Head winds made the sea rough, but nothing The Sweet Mercy hadn't experienced before. After twenty eight days, just as the clipper was nearing the New England coast, an awful storm started to blow. Captain Tibbets sent everyone but the most necessary below deck. The Light and buoys that warned of the treacherous rocks off Cape Elizabeth were in order, but the gale was too strong and made it impossible to navigate the rocky ledges and shallow reef that lay just below the waves. A giant hole was ripped out of the hull and The Sweet Mercy started taking on water. The Captain did his best to steer her into the cove, but the damage was done and she started to sink. Of the 138 people on board, only ten bodies were found later washed up on the rocks.

Captain James Tibbets

Naturalists recently returned from the Arctic and heading home to Boston, brother and sister Crispin and Eliza.

Twelve year old, Caroline, traveling with her governess, Clara.

The governness of Caroline, Clara

Oliver, Jane and Little Charley, sailing to be with Jane’s family in Bangor, Maine

Margaret (who signed on to sail with Captain Tibbets as Ian) and her brother Daniel.

All of the dolls’ gravestones resting in the moss together.

Along the way

As always, My husband John took the beautiful photos above and helped me work my ideas out. I was also very lucky to have my friend, artist Melanie Wesley knit some beautiful woolen caps and Clara’s shawl. Melanie also made an incredible steamer trunk full of equipment for Crispin (but oh, I’m hanging on to that). She makes incredible dolls and also stunning miniatures.

In My Shop

These dolls will be in my shop tomorrow, Thursday May 12th at 12 pm, EST. Each doll comes in his or her own handmade coffin (except the small family, which shares one large coffin) and a small gravestone, made from salvaged wood. The cost of the dolls will be $425 each and the family will be sold together for $825, (plus tax and shipping).

Question

I also have a quick question for you. Til now, I have only been writing on my Substack when I have new collections of dolls that I am about to put in my shop. Would anyone be interested in hearing from me more often than that? I’m not thinking all that frequently, but I usually go for months in between finished collections and wondered if anyone would be curious about maybe some photos of works in progress, or what my workshop looks like (generally, a mess), news… that kind of stuff. If you could let me know your thoughts in the comments, I would very much appreciate it.

Thank you so much!

xo

jana