Tuesday 15 November 2011

Stash Use Report for October, and Unicef Doll Show

I had totally forgotten to write my stash use report for October, because there was so little going on. I bought nothing, which is very good. On the other hand, I can only think I used 2.5 m for the Unicef dolls I made:


I always sew on the marked lines and cut after that, so the seams will not draw and the fabric stays nicely in place. The faces are painted with textile paints before sewing and stuffing so the paints don't spread. The clothes were made mostly in November so I will count the fabrics for them in this month's statistics. These two girls are going to Germany with my sister tomorrow, for her friend's little granddaughters. I guessed right, the girls love pink and red dresses.



My other sister wanted dolls for her own granddaughters, and as I was busy with making the other dolls, I promised to make them on one condition: She will paint the faces and sew the hair on the four of them. Look at her magic touch:


Here are all the new dolls in a group photo before going to their new owners near and far:


The dolls are made like traditional rag dolls, using recycled materials and leftover bits of fabric. Each doll has the Unicef logo sewn on their leg seam, and an identity card from Unicef, filled with the doll's name and details by me. The dolls can not be "bought" but "adopted", and each of them represents a real child who is helped to a better start in life with the immunsation against deadly childhood diseases which Unicef provides for them with the adoption fee of 20 € or more. The idea and the original pattern of the dolls came from Italy, and they are made by volunteers in France, Czech Republic and Finland as well. The other half of the identity card is a postcard, where the maker of the doll can add her name and address. The doll's new family can fill in the form with information of the doll's whereabouts and family, and send the postcard to the "birth mother". Usually the dolls are adopted at Unicef events or in their shops where school classes or handicraft clubs have delivered the dolls they have made together. The makers have no knowledge of the destiny of them and so the postcard is a nice thankyou for the maker. Inventing personalities and finding suitable names for the dolls is one of my favourite parts of creating a doll for Unicef. I keep a list of my dolls and try not to give the same name twice.

On my walk last week I saw floating rocks?


No, the swan family has returned after six weeks' absence. I think the parents have been taking the young ones around and showing them possible places to stay next year when they are on their own.


You can still see how the young swans are grey and their bills are not bright yellow like the adults. This morning we had frost for the second time, but the ponds are not likely to freeze over before it gets much colder.


12 comments:

  1. I just love the attention to detail on each doll. Scarves, knitted sock...each has their own personality. Very sweet red/pink dresses.

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  2. those dolls are so sweet.
    I was noticing the little socks on each one. So cute.

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  3. Love the dolls! I'll have to check out the link, sounds like a good cause.

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  4. Oh my - the dolls have so much personality, Ulla! I love the hair on the first one on the left of the four your sister did! She's a wild gal for sure! Imagine their conversations with one another as they sit on the couch before going to their new homes! Such a worthy cause! How nice that the swans are back for the fall! The look so healthy!
    Cheers!

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  5. Love the dolls, and the swan review! We don't get swans here, so thanks for the information and pictures.
    Hugs!

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  6. not just floating rocks but fishing rocks!!
    your dolls are simple and lovely, i prefer this type of doll to the more elaborate ones. the Unicef doll idea is fabulous, thanks for telling us about it.

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  7. What a wonderful story of the rag dolls! How interesting. They are just adorable too! I enjoyed the picture of the swans. You are so lucky to have them so close to you.

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  8. Love the dolls. They look so happy on the sofa together!

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  9. Ich bin ganz begeistert von der Idee bzw. der Hintergrundsgeschichte von deinen Unicefpuppen. Seit Kindheit bin ich mit Unicef vertraut (wir sind vor Weihnachten stets von Haus zu Haus gegangen und haben Unicefkarten und Kalender verkauft und später habe ich jahrelang immer selbst welche verwendet für die Weihnachtspost). Deine Puppen sind ja allerliebst....und du so fleissig!!! Welche Namen z. B. tragen sie denn? Mein Stoffvorrat hat sich diesen Monat leider nicht verkleinert, im Gegenteil :-( ! Genäht wurde nicht viel, dafür bin ich schon am sechsten Babypullover und meine Freundin strickt mit. Am Wochenende sind zwei Nähkurse, dann brauche ich wieder einmal die Nähmaschine ;-) !! Ich freue mich. Wir haben immer noch schönes, aber auch kaltes Herbstwetter.
    Herzliche Grüsse
    Barbara

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  10. What an epic achievement Ulla! Oh they are wonderful! Well done! Just think of the joy on the faces of the children when they open them. :-) I must admit to liking the punk haired doll. Does she look like the recipient?

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  11. Oh, I like that Unicef idea! The dolls are so cute and it's wonderful to think that so many different children will play with them.

    I'm having a contest at my blog that includes a soft doll pattern like this one (and a doll bed too) if you'd like to enter. It ends Friday.

    http://serendipityhandmade.blogspot.com/2011/11/meet-artist-giveaway-bee-wise-goods.html

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  12. I love your family of Unicef dolls. You probably have a lot of fun creating each one and giving them personalities as well as names.

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