Penelope

Penelope

Pénélope is a craftswoman born in Bordeaux, passionate about creating handmade and ecological toys. After studying Literature and Art History, she trained in Waldorf education in the United States, where she began making dolls for her son using natural materials. Upon her return to France in 2005, she founded the Happy to see you brand, developing a universe centered on dolls and the values ​​of a childhood close to nature, art and manual work.
In 2007, she launched the brand Nils & Happy to see you with Astrid le Provost, offering clothes made in France for children and dolls. Her passion for Japan is reflected in regular collaborations with boutiques in Tokyo and Kobe, as well as workshops organized in Japan in 2019 and 2023, sharing her know-how and ecological values.
In 2023, she launched the Pénélope Wabi Sabi section on her site, combining her love of French and Japanese craftsmanship.
Penelope's creations are widely recognized, with appearances in prestigious magazines such as The New York Times , Milk , and Le Monde .

Happy to see you dolls and kits

" Derived from Waldorf Steiner pedagogy, the doll with a simple face stimulates the child's imagination and offers him the soft and warm contact of natural and organic materials. Thus the child can identify with his doll which is then a useful toy and an educational tool for his development and well-being. Soothing for the little one, it is also respectful of Nature and the environment. "

  • Natural Materials: Composed exclusively of natural and/or organic materials, repairable, recyclable, respectful of nature, depending on the materials selected.
  • Essential Design: A simple design that stimulates the child's imagination and allows them to play freely.
  • Handcrafted: Handcrafted with care and intention, offering unique quality and beauty.
  • Soothing Contact: A soft and warm touch, in accordance with Waldorf Steiner pedagogy and its educational, ecological and artistic principles.
  • Emotional Development: An essential toy for the child's emotional development.

Natural, organic materials

Natural, organic materials

" The choice of materials that I use to create my Dolls is made as if I were borrowing from Mother Nature what she offers to our eyes during a nice walk. And then there is this desire to contribute to a less polluted planet where objects would always be repairable, recyclable and manufactured as naturally as possible.
So I chose organic cotton jersey for the dolls' skin, virgin wool for the stuffing, mohair for the hair and cotton threads to embroider the eyes and mouth. I really want the doll to always carry this soft and warm touch, which it will offer to the child who will hold it in their arms.

About Happy to see you dolls

Dolls made by hand in an artisanal way

"Each doll is truly unique because it is hand shaped and hand sewn. Some are rounder or shyer, others are more cheerful and petite. Their little feet and hands, mouths and eyes are never really the same either. It is this handwork, with its little dots here, or there that I take so much pleasure in making. "

Once upon a time, there was a doll that was lovingly sewn from simple, natural materials like cotton and wool.
Once upon a time there was a doll that could laugh or cry just when you looked at it because I drew a simple face for it. When I sew the doll's face it's a bit like drawing it: a few strokes and it's there as you imagine it.

Natural, organic materials

The choice of materials I use to create my dolls is made as if I were borrowing from Mother Nature what she offers to our eyes during a nice walk. And then there is the desire to contribute to a less polluted planet where objects would always be repairable, recyclable and made as naturally as possible.
So I chose an organic cotton jersey for the dolls' skin, virgin wool for the stuffing, mohair for the hair and cotton threads to embroider the eyes and mouth. I want the doll to always have that soft, warm touch, which it will offer to the child who holds it.  

An origin: Waldorf dolls

Based on Waldorf Steiner pedagogy, the doll with a simple face stimulates the child's imagination and offers the soft and warm contact of natural and organic materials. The child can identify with the doll, which is a useful toy and a pedagogical tool for his development and well-being. Soothing for the little one, it is also respectful of nature and the environment. 

made in france