Rina Matea Trunk Show at Henri Bendel: January 17 & 18, 2009

I'm presenting my millinery collection at Henri Bendel this weekend. I hope you can make it.

New Year, New Dolls

Some new dolls for the new year...

Introducing Soline, with her black bob and green eyes, and the sweetest clothes -- a pink cami with matching shorts, a lace-edged purple-dotted skirt, and the prettiest green coat. And leather ballet slippers, of course. She currently lives in jan & äya, located at 99 Franklin Street in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.

And here is Capucine, with her brown bob and brown eyes -- fashionable in her blue-dotted cami and shorts, light denim skirt, and lovely blue fern coat. Yes, also in ballet slippers.

Rina Matea: Lucia

Severina and Matea are the names of my grandmothers, and I'm naming my little collection of handmade pieces Rina Matea -- after these two wonderful women. I only have the sweetest memories of my mama and lola, and each piece I make carries with it a little joyful thought inspired by these amazing women.

Four Years Later: Ibbie

In 2004 I took a trip to Tokyo, and after Mika Kato, Yayoi Kusama, Hina dolls, Muji, and Puroland, it's no wonder I came back to New York telling everyone who cared to listen that I was going to start making dolls and toys. Since then I have been making dolls for friends.

Friends, meet Ibbie (named after one of my favorite people in the world, Isabel Consuelo T.):

And since she's everything like Isabel, Ibbie has a big, generous, and kind heart.