The life of the dead is placed on the memory of the living.
-Marcus Tullius Cicero
Hello everyone! I feel like I’m a little behind with dolls this year. In other years, mid October is when I start my Christmas babies, but this year I still have some creepy cuties to make. Even though this specific doll is not a Halloween one, it is still in the realm of the creepies. This is Amaranta, my Día de Muertos doll.
Day of the dead dolls have become a must in my shop. I feel like I need to make one every year to honor all the babies that left this world too soon. We usually refer to these babies as angels, we say they were given their wings when they passed away. I am not particularly religious but the thought of giving a baby wings so they can be free, it is such a beautiful, comforting, and interesting idea in my opinion. So let me tell you the story of Amaranta, a baby that got a very unique pair of wings.
Amaranta had a very short life, she was born into a beautiful, loving Mexican family. Her mom loved butterflies, bright colors, and all Mexican arts. She was born at home, with the help of vastly trained midwives and surrounded by love, the smell of mole, pomegranates, and the sound of the acoustic guitar her dad was playing. It was a beautiful day and a beautiful birth, everything went perfect. After birth, Amaranta spent her days in her mom’s arms, listening to her voice, her songs, and her dad’s guitar. She was loved, she was safe, she was happy. So happy that she would have the loveliest dreams every time she fell asleep. Dreams about sleeping among flowers and butterflies taking her to fly away. Her dreams were so beautiful and happy, just like her life was. One day however, she couldn’t tell her dreams from her life, and she suddenly grew butterflies wings and went flying away to never come back. From that day on Amaranta has butterfly wings, she got them when she didn’t come back to this world. Her parents were devastated. They suddenly started noticing butterflies following them. They came to the realization, those butterflies were no other than their beautiful Amaranta. They planted flowers all around their house so they can see their beautiful baby every day. In the end, Amaranta chose her own wings and they are the most perfect ones for a Mexican baby.
Amaranta has now come back to visit the beautiful world she once was part of. She comes bringing joy, love, a little sadness, nostalgia, and lots of hope, all things that make life worth living. This doll is not meant to scare you, it is a tribute to the little ones that are no longer in this realm but are always in our hearts.
Day of the dead is my absolute favorite Mexican tradition. It is the most beautiful tribute to the dead and it makes me so emotional every single year. That may be the real reason I need to make these dolls. I need to put all that emotion somewhere, and I guess a doll is the perfect vessel.
Amaranta is an 8 inch natural fibers baby doll. Her skin is Organic Cotton Interlock in its natural color. Her limbs and torso are filled with clean wool. Her head is floppy. Her legs and arms are floppy on the shoulders and thighs. Arms are sewn directly to the torso three times for extra strength. Legs and torso are one piece. Her head is firmly needle felted, soft sculpted, hand painted with fabric paint, decorated with wool felt, and hand embroidered with cotton DMC embroidery floss. Her body is also carefully hand painted with fabric paint. Amaranta is fully soft sculpted. Made with lots of love in a period of 4 days.
****Spot clean only.
Amaranta will go home wearing the clothes and accessories you see in her photos, all handmade by me:
- hand felted wool and wool felt butterfly wings with ribbon ties (you can see in her video how to put them on)
- hand crocheted marigolds elastic head band
- handmade marigold baby
If you would like to see more photos of Amaranta, you can do so here.
This doll is not a toy, it is an art doll, intended for adults and children 10 years or older that do not mouth their toys and can be gentle with their dolls.
You can also see a video of Amaranta here:
Amaranta’s adoption fee is 365 USDollars plus shipping. Shipping inside Mexico is free with Standard registered mail (It can be upgraded at the customer’s expense).
Shipping to the US and Canada is 35 USDollars through Mexpost (Mexican Priority Shipping). Shipping to Europe is now 40 USDollars. Other countries will be 55 USDollars.
If you would like your doll to be sent with a private courier with full insurance let me know so I can give you an accurate quote.
Only dolls sent through private courier can be insured.
****Customs taxes and fees may apply and they are the costumers responsibility.****
Amaranta will be in the shop on October 17, 2026 at 12 noon CST (Mexico City Time). This is first come, first served. So make sure you put your alarm to try to get her first. Click the link below (Adopt Amaranta to see the preview listing). Remember, the listing will be available for purchase at 12 noon on Saturday, not now. If you are from Europe make sure you read the listing well because there is some info about the shipping price.
I hope Amaranta’s story makes you love day of the dead even more now.
Have a wonderful day.
Read you soon.
Hugs,
Aubrey
PS. There is another whimsical Fall/Halloween baby in the shop that will be available tomorrow October 16 at 4pm CST. You can see him by clicking this text.
