Numidya: Love dolls, They're worth it.

Anyone who knows me well enough knows how much I LURV rag dolls. This love grows everyday. I want to make little
videos as short series and episodes using these dolls, many friends and people I bumped into have encouraged me to do so, but internet in extremely slow here at my end, and very time consuming, too.
So instead, I decided to go for something I've always dreams of doing too, Comic making (well I initially wanted to make Manga) but since I can get lazy at drawing the environment for my characters, I figured using real background and situations worked best for me. So, far my instagram followers are happily checking out the dolls' adventures.

My latest favourite doll is a Tilda one. A 100% handmade Tilda doll I purchased from a lovely doll maker in a neighbouring city. This lady makes many other dolls and I just love her creativity and original ideas. sk_stitches is her Instagram account.

There are many resources online of people making Tilda dolls, they are amazing! 50 or 60 cm tall. For those interested in sewing more than crocheting (crocheting requires more patience as it tends to take time, and there's some pressure on the hands and wrists which one has to be a bit aware of) Tilda dolls are just perfect and more convenient.

Numidya can't believe how cute Mimoza (the tilda doll) is.

Dolls, cookbooks and bookmarks (never mind the pliers lol)

I take my Tilda doll with me (btw, her name is Mimoza) almost everywhere I go. I get inspired by what goes on around me. Aspects, such as, the atmosphere, mood, situation, observations and environment, influence my decisions and scenario settings.

When I take her out to take some shots in public, I get interesting responses from "the audience". For example, I was once having lunch in the garden of a local restaurant, when I found what I needed to create a little scenario/anecdote with the doll, which I posted on Instagram and whatsapped later to many friends to add a smile to their days(scroll down to see the video). Anyway.. so, the waitresses at the restaurant watched me taking the pictures of the doll in the little garden, and couldn't hold their curiosity any longer. They came out to see the doll and enquire about my doings. As I explained, one of the waitresses threw an abrupt question at me.. "Do you like dolls?" I said yes (DUH!), then she asked: "how old are you?" I sarcastically said 9.

I found her question interesting. I had met and spoken to many people who saw me taking pictures of my dolls outdoors and most of them seemed to understand the artistic side of it. Some asked if I could make the same dolls for them to buy while others shared their love and experience with dolls and teddies. There were even many of them peeps who encouraged me to start a business, and give justice to the handmade dolls. It was though the first time I got asked about my age because I was taking pictures of my doll outside (or maybe because I like dolls?).

Either way, I believe that question was a spontaneous fruit of the waitress's cultural codes and social consensus. I mean, I lived for a few years in a couple of towns where teenagers and adults don't touch dolls anymore. Dolls were meant to be a tool that keeps the kids busy. Kids were never encouraged to take their ideas and creativity further and create scenarios that could develop into attractive projects in the future. Kids were more encouraged to use dolls to play with only. I believe kids have a great imagination and come up at time with the most extraordinary ideas. Thus, I strongly disagree with the sociaty's consensus and parenting codes that dictate that those fantastic ideas get buried in a tomb forever once the kid outgrows childhood.

I strongly believe that dolls are much more than just toys for children. I perceive them as actors, cultural and personal representatives, impersonated marks, a hobby, a signature, an artistic touch, and also as characters that can be used to:

Educate: for example, through stories and plays that have morals, messages and reminders, reflections of the real life, experiences and history). One can creative fun ways of reaching the audience's mind and be part of their lives just by using finger/hand puppet, stuffed teddies, or rag/crocheted dolls as characters in a play, animated story or a picture story book.

Develop character and personality: Just like cartoon characters and movie actors, dolls can be used to create scenarios and short motions to display a heroic figure, a villain creature, a helper, an organised, a lazy, an eager and enthusiastic or a patience element in the animations.

Encourage creativity: when characters are present, one may need creative and original ideas.Whether it's for entertainment or education or even just for fun (as one's hobby) the mind remains connected with what's going on around it and used the surrounding elements to generate original and creative concepts. This practice maintains a steady sense of observation, analysis, examination of factors and instead of remaining idle and useless, one can invent and benefit him/herself as well as others.

Run a small business: for people who are into sales, need money or simply would like to be self employed and run a little business from home, making dolls and selling them is a great initiative to fulfilling one's objective. Taking part in doll competitions could also give one a chance to winning extra money.

I've used dolls and teddies as a method while teaching kids Arabic. the kids managed to learn so many life concepts they weren't familiar with, for example, when you introduce a doll or a teddy to kids (girls) they start asking lots of questions about it, such as, "who are her parents?" "how old is she", "where does she live", so, through this situation, (method) you could the girls how to phrase the questions accurate and speak in the target language fluently. You could also seize this opportunity to teach them some social etiquette, for example, what questions are appropriate to ask and what questions are personal or fine.

Anyway, so, here is what happened in the garden..

As a result, Mimoza learnt a very good lesson. Next time she jumps over the fence, she'll wear a helmet. :p