What a nice memory. My mother was like that too. I think she considered it one of the best parts of having children, having imaginative little people about to enjoy her creative surprises.
I wasn't much interested in human dolls (or indeed, in humans generally) , so she made little felt fish for my toy seal and animal costumes for me. The detail she put into these things was amazing. My frog costume had webbed foot spats and gloves, and painted ping-pong ball eyes on the hood. My dragon costume had a long tail and scales sewn in red yarn, the nightingale (my favourite fairy tale) had crepe paper feathers stuck on one by one.
At five I wasn't even three feet tall myself so, I guess I was the doll (or plush toy) she never had. Lucky me :)