THE GIFTS OF MAKING DOLLS
Collected from members of a dollmaking group

PLAY
“It’s fun! I find pure joy from making dolls.”
“I have not words for the joy I get from self expression.”
“I get to communicate an idea I have no words for. 
" I get joy from self expression.”
“I get to tell a story, either a play on words 
or a concept.”
“BLISS!!”
“I get happy!”
“I enjoy the challenge of learning new things.”
“I enjoy the creative process.”

SELF AWARENESS
“I’ve learned about myself through dollmaking.”
“I find dollmaking an outlet for a build up of 
creative energy.”
“I’ve learned about myself through my dolls.
"I get in touch with my feelings.”
“Each doll I make forces me to grow –
 and I want to keep growing.”
After making a doll I am surprised at 
my potential to create.”

HEALING 
“Dollmaking is a healing process for me.  
My dolls hold energy.”
“Dollmaking is time I give to myself. 
  It’s a gift for me.”
“The dolls allow me to express my deepest feelings
 in ways that I can’t put into words.”
“When I make a feeling doll it’s as if I can
 take the feeling out of my body 
and have a conversation with it.

SPIRITUALITY
“I do better when I have a reason for making them.”
“I feel like I am giving birth to myself.”
“Making dolls sustains me – 
keeps me alive: feeds my soul.”
”I must create to be whole.”
“Making dolls is a way for me to express 
who I am out in the world.”
“My dolls need to have a soul. 
  I like to get information from the collective 
unconscious, where all  ideas float around.”