Just popping in to share the sweet gowns being made for Amy and her amazing dolls at A Doll Like Me. Really, if you want a fun project these are so easy to make and take little in the way of fabric, time or skill!
Just to remind you, Amy makes dolls for children (and some adults) who have special needs or limb or other physical differences. She knows the need for physical representation and the ability to see oneself as beautiful. Her work is amazing and has really taken off over the past two or three years. If you are unfamiliar with her work, please do check out her Facebook page.
The gowns we make and donate to Amy are given to children who have one of these dolls and are facing a hospital stay. There is a very therapeutic aspect in playing with their doll. Being able to dress up the doll in a hospital gown is one more way to deal with possible fear or anxiety around the upcoming stay.
The gowns you see above were made and donated by Wendy of Pieceful Thoughts. Love those emojis and the ice cream cones – fun fabrics the kids will relate to. Really, these are super simple and this tutorial will take you through the process. With a fat quarter or other similar size scrap and some bias tape, you can make a gown too!
I made these three gowns. I had super hero fabric left over from prior projects and thought these might be fun gowns. Also had that unicorn fabric sitting on the shelf. It was fun to pick out the fabric and think about the little ones who would dress their dolls and take them along to their next doctor visit or hospital stay. Even if they just act out the idea of being at the hospital or doctor’s office, this sort of pretend play is cathartic and necessary for children facing these challenges.
I remember last spring, my grand daughter developed a terrible case of hives with no known reason. She had a trip to the ER which was scary. They gave her a stuffed bunny while she was there. When she came home, we were talking over FaceTime. She would hold her new bunny and tell it, “Yes, that was scary. You’re ok. It’s all done”. This was a way for her to process that experience. I remember watching this and immediately thinking of all of Amy’s children who face scary situations far too frequently. How crucial it is for them to have a way to process all of it.
If you want to make one or two, please feel free. If you have questions, leave them in the comments and I will get back to you. Need the mailing info? Leave a comment and I will email it to you privately.
Thanks Carol and Wendy!! Amy will have a nice stack of gowns to send out as needed.
Ok, ok – You’re right. I can’t close before I share a picture of the girls.
This is a picture my son took last week. They are absolutely adorable. Big sis is three years old and little sis is three months old. (You are correct if you are thinking she isn’t all that little. Hahaha.)
