DZFANTASY *** Mikwonago, Wisconsin

It’s no secret that I love dolls….all kinds of dolls…which is one reason I was enchanted by Donna Ziegler’s fiber sculptures. Even if I wasn’t a doll aficionado, I would have enjoyed seeing these wonderful art dolls.

Donna has been designing and creating her own sculptures for more than 10 years. When she started out, her designs were more akin to cloth dolls, whose clothes she also designed and created. About seven years ago, Donna began designing her “fantasy” creations with the goal of getting into better art shows..... a goal which became reality.

From her original size figures, Donna moved toward creating smaller ones and began needle-sculpting their faces and designing all their accents and hairdos. Since switching to the smaller size sculptures, her dolls have become popular collectibles.

Donna has always liked creating one thing or another ever since she can remember and when her daughter was young she made her dolls. Donna's’ love of fantasy, color, whimsy and nature inspired her to create her current line of figures. She wants to bring a bit of joy, color and magic to the world through her creations and, after seeing her fabric sculptures, there is no doubt in my mind that she has succeeded.

Inspiration for Donna's’ fiber sculptures, comes, she says, “in nature; seeing a cloud, a twinkling aspen tree, bright fall leaves, a piece of brightly colored fabric or a fun, colorful textured yarn”. Her belief in things “unseen” also gives her ideas. According to Donna, she has more ideas than she has time to create. Each of her sculptures are created with a lot of love and care and Donna hopes they help people get in touch with the “young in heart” that is within each of us.

Each of Donna's’ pieces is one of a kind so, when I asked how long it takes to complete one of her fabric sculptures, she said there isn’t an easy answer to that question. The minimum amount of time for a small, sitting fairy might be 8 hours but she has spent as many as 25 hours in the design and creation of a larger figure. Her “fairy scenes”, because of all the details, take a minimum of 25 hours from start to finish.

Donna has a website called YOUNG AT HEART, a blog, DZFANTASY and, of course, her Etsy shop. She also sells at art shows in her area, Mikwonago, Wisconson, which is in central Wisconsin about 20 miles west of Milwaukee.

I hope your enjoy seeing Donna's creations as much as I enjoyed bringing them to you.