Shannon Jefferson used to be surprised when people would order her toy pirates and gnomes as gifts for grown-ups.

But it turns out she's not the only adult still enchanted by the old-world charm of her vintage-style dolls.
Shannon's love of vintage styles is not restricted to toys.

Before the US-based artist, who grew up in the Midwest, began designing and creating her cute and quirky range of dolls, she owned a boutique that specialised in vintage and handmade items.

The pull towards making toys came from her love of her own childhood dolls and from the appeal those dolls made to the artist in her.

'I love that each is one of a kind; and, the more silly, the better,' Shannon said.

'I love the vintage and unique style of toys that I had growing up; I also love adding touches of whimsy like hats and unusual fabric combinations to each piece. They seem to take on a personality of their own.

'One of my favourite soft toys that I made is a turtle with a party hat on.

'I always hope that each child who gets one of my dolls will consider it a best friend and have it for many, many years.'

While the toys appealed to all ages, they were made primarily for babies and young children.

'All items are made to order with age in mind,' she said.

'They range from baby-friendly with no removable or loose parts to very interactive with buttons, ties, and more grown-up embellishments.'