Kamrin Te Kronnie
Founder, Organizer & Host of the European Waldorf Doll Making Retreat
Co-founder, Producer, and Owner of DollyMo Yarns
I was born in the Netherlands and raised in Southeast Asia, within a vibrant blend of Eastern and Western cultures. From the age of four, my love for creativity blossomed, especially in art and needlecraft. My earliest stitches were on a doll's garment, cut freehand.
At twelve, I took my first step into formal pattern-making by joining an adult course. Inspired by Burda pattern magazines, I soon found joy in creating children's clothing, which I shared with village communities. My early fascination with merchandising and trading began to take shape.
Part of my education took place in the UK, where I chose needlework as one of my O-level subjects. There, I learned the fundamentals of fine needlework and sewing, both practical and theoretical.
In my early twenties, working at the General Bank of the Netherlands helped my skills in commerce and communication, which later proved invaluable to my business ventures.
My introduction to Waldorf dolls came when my children attended a Waldorf Kindergarten in the 1990s. This sparked my interest in doll-making classes. Before long, I was immersed in parent creative groups, volunteering to make dolls for school bazars. To refine my skills, I joined the Dutch Guild of Waldorf Dollmakers, a close community of women who gathered several times a year to share doll-making techniques and experiences.
This community was led by a few highly influential, experienced dollmakers. Together, we adhered to strict principles, ensuring each doll was crafted in alignment with the Waldorf education philosophy of Rudolf Steiner. Workshops and lectures were held, mostly in Waldorf schools across Holland, with a Textile Market to showcase doll-making materials supplied by a select group.
In the early '90s, I completed an intensive six-week teacher’s training course organized by the Guild, which concluded with an excursion and workshop at “Witte Engel” (now “Meaningful Crafts”). The Guild has played a significant role in the creation of the European Waldorf Doll Making Retreat (EWDOR).
My passion for doll making, combined with my international upbringing, led me to organize a biennial seminar for dollmakers worldwide, providing a platform to exchange techniques and skills.
In 2002, I founded “Kamrin’s Poppenatelier,” where I began teaching Waldorf doll-making and offering a small selection of doll making materials and kits. Over time, this small initiative has grown into a small family-run business.
Our world-renowned “DollyMo” doll hair yarn business started in 2011 as a partnership, and I became the sole owner of the brand shortly after. Since 2018, we have been wholesaling our yarns internationally. It brings us immense joy to see how our yarn is cherished globally, especially when we witness the beautiful doll creations that feature hairstyles made with our products.
In 2021, we relocated to the northern part of Holland, near the German border of Niedersachsen. With this move, we renamed our business to "Kamrin’s Craft Cottage" to better reflect our expanded inventory of premium craft supplies sourced from around the world.
In addition to doll-making materials and a range of soft toys, last year we introduced a curated collection of children’s fabrics to our shop. This new offering brings my journey full circle, back to the 12-year-old who first fell in love with sewing children’s clothing. We’re excited to continue inspiring our customers with quality materials that spark countless hours of joyful creativity.