Persona Dolls

When I moved to Scotland in 2003 I did not know anyone. In a bid to have "some" friends I joined groups. One group was fund by Falkirk Council and aimed to bring together parents of children that had varying ethnic backgrounds. At one of these meeting I proclaimed my love of doll making. I was told about persona dolls and my first thought was "I can make those". I went home a developed a doll that was approximately 80cm, was male and had skin that could represent Asian descent. That doll was Nadim. The doll worked so well that I went on to make additional dolls that were used in Falkirk.

What are Persona Dolls?

"Persona dolls are large cloth dolls reflecting the diversity of society with different skin tones, clothes, characters and abilities. Staff can develop stories for the dolls so that each has its own unique personality, family background, likes and dislikes and life history. " itscotland.org.uk

"The persona doll can be used for lots of different initiatives, such as racial equality, global citizenship and international education. "itscotland.org.uk

What's In A Name?

I take care not to name my dolls when I am making them. It is not because I don't care, it's because if I named them I would care too much.

If I named her Lucy she would assume the characteristics of a Lucy. My mind dredges through all the Lucys' that I have ever known. Lucy Ewing in Dallas is what springs to mind but then she was blonde.

If I named her Ingrid, would that make her German or least of Germanic origin?

What ever I named her she would be mine and therefore she could never be yours.

Naming anything is an honor that honor I leave to you!

It's All In The Details

I spent time looking at this doll trying to work out what was missing. The answer came when I completed the bag. The crosses on the bag influence the way the stripes "read" and touch of pink on the base of the bag complemented the colour palette.

It All Starts With A Goal

I decided that I was going to make 101 handmade cloth dolls.

I am going to complete them by the 10Th October 2010.

The thing about goals of this nature is that they tend to grow. It never occurred to me that I would have to store them. It never occurred to me that I would be sitting for hours talking to people about the 101 Dolls.

I am often asked "why?"

My mind goes to that Kevin Costner movie about base ball, I think it is Field of Dreams, and the line "build it and they will come."

I am not sure what will happen when they are complete but I can see my dolls "living" all over the world.