Playing with Dolls...

Meet William Thomas. This soft doll is my project for Dollies Without Borders, an organization that provides handmade dolls to children in Haiti, African nations, and other locations worldwide. Representatives of the program visited our crafting class in the women's prison where I volunteer, and they taught the women how to make dolls which will be donated to the Dollies program. All of the dolls represent the ethnicity of the recipients, and all of them are hand carried to the distribution point which may be a medical clinic or an orphanage. The women in the class were truly delighted with the opportunity to make a doll, and today the Dollies founder visited to show how to paint faces. She demonstrated on William Thomas, which is why he looks so handsome! The program volunteers have as much fun with these projects as the participants. There are about 20 women in the class, so you can imagine the line up of adorable dolls under construction. They've been so excited to work on their dolls and I think parting with them will be difficult, but they are thrilled to think that their creations will bring love and comfort to a child somewhere. Watching them work on the dolls has been so enjoyable... they were meticulous in painting the expressions, and so creative with the clothing and hairstyles. We'll continue to make and donate these dolls for a long time, I'm sure.

This smaller doll is Tanya. I made this one using a pattern in the book Quilts on Safari by Jenny Williamson and Pat Parker. Their pattern for Thandi, meaning beloved, is one of several small projects in the book. I thought she might be suitable for younger children because she is a one-piece doll so her dress is stitched on. My face-painting skills have yet to be fully developed. I was afraid that Tanya looked a little angry, but was assured she's not unfriendly, just slightly cross-eyed. So she's still quite lovable. What is it about making these soft dollies that just brings so much satisfaction and pleasure? It has been a labor of love for sure.

And I caught this lovely double-rainbow over our front paddock. We've had quite a bit of rain lately, but what a treat to see this after a storm!