A doll resembling “Anne of Green Gables” has sparked social media attention, earning the nickname “Anne of Scream Gables.” The doll, with its striking eyes and iconic red braids, was discovered in a Cape Breton thrift store and shared on a popular Facebook group. Despite the humorous comments it received online, a man from Nova Scotia revealed that the doll is actually a unique piece of art crafted by his late mother.
The doll, reminiscent of the literary character Anne Shirley, was crafted by Heather Danylewich, an Ottawa-based artist known for her fabric sculptures. Her son, Andrew Danylewich, who runs ADJA Studio and Gallery in Liverpool, N.S., expressed his surprise at seeing his mother’s creation resurface after around 40 years.
Heather Danylewich specialized in creating large fabric pieces, such as the Anne Shirley doll believed to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Lucy Maud Montgomery’s novel. Andrew Danylewich mentioned the scarcity of his mother’s surviving works, with some soft sculptures of prime ministers housed at Library and Archives Canada.
Despite the doll’s online ridicule, Andrew Danylewich recognized his mother’s artistry in the piece and expressed his desire to locate and potentially display it in his gallery. The doll has since disappeared from the thrift store, but Danylewich remains hopeful that it will surface and be appreciated by its new owner.