Le Petit Oiseau (The

Little Bird)

A local start-up business selling handmade bespoke dolls to be enjoyed for years to come.

Words: Paul Chapman

Images: Le Petit Oiseau

On reaching retirement, some people decide to chill out, some seem to adopt the grandkids(!), some take the opportunity to indulge themselves in a hobby. Mary Senneck lives in Walton and loves to sew; she hand-makes fabulous rabbits, foxes, and deer Dolls. No two are the same and each one wears a bespoke outfit, they can be ordered to your requirements and come boxed with a pillow and coverlet, starting life with their new owner very comfortably.

"I've loved to sew all my life although my career as a teacher of IT and maths meant it was always a pastime until I retired. I've worked as a bespoke dress maker, specialising in stage and theatre costumes since 2013," explains Mary. "All was going well until COVID which meant the face-to-face business of personal fittings became impossible.

"Then, around Christmas time 2022, I started making the doll characters for family and friends and word spread. I took some orders and I seem to have been bringing dolls to life at my sewing machine ever since!"

Mary moved to Chesterfield over 11 years ago, originally from Sheffield she moved to Surrey after her marriage and taught there until early retirement presented the opportunity of relocating to Chesterfield which she now loves and calls home. "I love the hills, the greenery and countryside."

It's hard to pinpoint the style of the little characters, we both used the words traditional, perhaps an old-fashioned style. The dolls are made from patterns supplied by Studio Seren and then Mary creates individual outfits for each one, creating a doll with a unique Personality. They remind me of 'Miffy' the fictional rabbit.

"It's a lovely thing to do," says Mary. "It gives me a chance to use up leftover materials from my sewing offcuts, a sustainable way to create new things. I use safety eyes and fire regulation approved stuffing. As they have small parts, they are perhaps not suitable for very small children but if requested I can make a doll adapted for younger children."

Mary describes her work as 'dressmaking for theatre' but on a much smaller scale. Right now, Mary is building up a stock of dolls to enable her to open an ETSY shop and her website, lepetitoiseau.co.uk, is in progress. Her dolls are priced at a very reasonable £35 and you can order additional outfits.

"I've always had a creative streak, and this lends itself to what I do. I haven't given up the bespoke dressmaking and stage costume-making so if people need outfits for proms, weddings, dance competitions, festivals or that special outfit I am still taking orders.

It seems Mary is enjoying her retirement and I wish her every success with the new venture. Check out the images and keep a look out for the Etsy shop and website below very soon… and be sure to say you saw her in S40 Local. www.lepetitoiseau.co.uk