Little Souls

Discover the imaginative world of Little Souls Dolls by artist Gretchen Wilson—one-of-a-kind, whimsical companions for the young at heart, filled with personality and handcrafted detail. Each doll is completely designed and handmade by Gretchen, personally signed, and comes with its original tag and gold seal of authenticity.

Gretchen creates each Little Soul individually, incorporating an ever-changing mix of recycled, reclaimed, and reborn treasures. Vintage fabrics, unusual trims, found objects, handmade components, and unexpected combinations of color and pattern give every doll its own distinctive character. No two are alike.

Gretchen’s first dolls began simply as toys she made for her own children. One day, while standing in line at a supermarket with her children and their handmade dolls, a stranger asked where she had purchased them. That chance encounter planted the seed for what would become Little Souls.

Her business grew quickly, beginning with an initial order for 1,000 dolls. What started as a creative passion soon became a thriving enterprise built around Gretchen’s belief that beauty can be found in the imperfect, unexpected, and unconventional. Her dolls combine materials, colors, patterns, and objects in ways that celebrate individuality and the wonderfully unpredictable nature of life.

The quirks and idiosyncrasies that make people memorable also inspire Gretchen’s work. Each Little Soul has its own personality, expression, and story to tell. Together, they reflect her belief that seemingly unrelated elements can come together to create something expressive, meaningful, and completely original.

In 2001, Little Souls received national attention when Saks Fifth Avenue’s flagship store in New York selected One Enchanted Christmas, a book written by Colleen Charleston exclusively for Saks, as the inspiration for its celebrated Christmas window display. The presentation brought tremendous exposure to Little Souls through Saks Fifth Avenue stores across the country.

Only three months later, at the height of that success, Gretchen’s 17,000-square-foot workshop—home to Little Souls and years of collected materials and treasures—burned to the ground. Rebuilding required change and resilience, but the values at the heart of her work remained: creativity, community, resourcefulness, and compassion.

Gretchen’s commitment to women and artisan communities has also taken her around the world. She has worked in communities in Ghana, Brazil, Mexico, Guatemala, Sri Lanka, Romania, the Caribbean, and Honduras, and has participated in product development with craftspeople in Armenia, India, Nepal, Peru, and Haiti. The traditional techniques and materials she encountered—including handmade felt, glass beads, and specialized dyeing methods—became part of the rich visual vocabulary that continues to influence her designs.

Over the years, Gretchen and Little Souls have received national media attention, including coverage in The New York Times, People magazine, CNN, and The Oprah Winfrey Show.