Julie's Doll

A while ago, Julie at work approached me for doll advice. Not many people there know I make dolls, only really my nursery colleagues who are very nice about the ones they have seen! Julie wanted to make a doll for her friend-more a stuffed kind of toy I suppose. I told her how I make cloth dolls and rattled on about it for a while. She listened and went off to think about it. A little while later she came back to me and just asked me to make it for her! This is her initial sketch idea. She wanted it to have three heads, be in the colours of the Jamaican flag, and portray the proverb Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil.

Below is my sketch-and, contrary to my usual approach, I did actually follow it pretty much exactly!

I wanted to make it stand on its own, so I made it with a flat bottom and weighted it with ceramic cooking beans.

I got the idea for the shape of the heads from Junker Jane, (artist Catherine Zacchino), who's dolls I love. I like their square heads and I love her use of fabric.

I felt a bit bad about the see no evil head, so I made his blindfold seeable through!

The three wise monkeys commonly associated with the proverb. I can't do monkeys, hence the square heads! I have had this little plastic version since I was a child. It was given to me by my Gran. My favourite thing on the doll is the button headphones!

It was fun having a mini commission. Julie's friend liked it apparently.