Resurrecting Old Blog Post "Stuffed Animals are for Everyone!" 1/21/22

 *This is at the Sunflower House

Why do I make animal dolls? 

 The first mouse doll I made I named Brigitta and my boyfriend and I sent it to his mom. She really liked it, but said it felt like the doll might be "wasted on me since a child would really love it". I say nonsense! Dolls and stuffed animals are for everyone. I just wanted to make something cute.

 She requested another doll to be made for a relative who absolutely adores her. I had a childhood friend that I loved so much named Amelia and I think of her from time to time. When I mentioned the name Amelia to my boyfriend's mom, she said was perfect since there were Amelia mouse books she could add with it. Her young relative carries the doll everywhere! I was still working out a pattern and it took so so many tries until I landed on the shape I liked. I also did the face paint, eyes, noses and packaging very different. 


 My brother asked for a baby doll one year for Christmas. He was the youngest of 4 sisters who all had baby dolls so of course he wanted one too. My neighbors got him one and my dad was pissed about it. My brother dragged that doll everywhere! It had no clothes and was dirty, but he loved it. One day my dad was in a drunken fit and threw it into a bonfire yelling "dolls are for girls!" He threw lots of our possessions into a fire. We weren't allowed to be attached to things. It was a traumatic event in my childhood that I reflect on sometimes. Sometimes it makes me cry. It is now. I was heartbroken for my brother. There is quite a bit to unpack here. 


 My family lived in a small home for quite a while and we had many of our belongings in our garage. The garage would fill with water every time a storm came through. Many things were ruined, including our stuffed animals. They were covered with mildew and flies laid larvae on them. They decomposed in a way and we needed to throw them out. I have one stuffed animal from childhood and I hope to restore it. For some reason, this feels important to me. 


 Theodore Fox was my first fox prototype. My boyfriend said "you should finish him and give him surfer shorts and t-shirt". So I did. He was almost scrapped but now sits in his office. 

 


My grandmother passed away and I miss her. I was at her house one night and noticed her coat closet open. I saw something that reminded me of fabric I had. 

I said "Grandma, I have that same fabric" 

She said "Oh that, I made that!" It was a cape lined in shiny fabric. 

We thought it was funny we both happened to end up with the same fabric. I made Eleanor Elephant as an heirloom doll to remind me of her. I used a pair of old studio pants I had since she really encouraged me to get into the arts and sciences. She is complete with the cape and bow. The chair I found second hand for $4 and I knew it was for Eleanor :) 



Update 11/20/2023:


Here is Bear Bear. The only survival from childhood. 





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