Dotee Dolls

Do you know of them?  They were really popular several years ago and everybody in the doll making world and also the embroidery and beading circles was making and trading them.

Dot Christian is the lady who first created them and they are named for her....  such sweet little things they are.... she said she liked to use them to spread friendship, love and joy.  They sure did a lot of that.  My understanding is that they were never to be sold....just traded or given as gifts.  She made hundreds (I wonder how many she did make?) and traded with people all over the world.

I wish her blog was still around...she had so many great photos of dozens of them and little stories about them and where they went and where some sent to her came from.   I have collected quite a few photos of the ones I really like and am always on the lookout for a pretty coloured one or a cute shape or the amazing beading work, etc....

Since long before Christmas I have been having fun making origami ornaments ... buying and using all sorts of pretty beads.  You can already see where this is going can't you? ....

Now... I really should be putting away the beautiful beads, pretty papers and gold and silver threads... ((OH< AND... may I just put this out there before I go on with the dolls??))

I have almost run out of single ply gold thread to hang up the origami ornaments.  I did manage to find 12 more rolls of the silver on an Easy site, but, gold is nowhere to be found.  It is a craft thread I suppose more than a sewing supply... found in bead shops.  All it says on the label is one ply thread made in Japan and the yardage .. sold for about $2.50 a spool.  The spool is a skinny cardboard  2 1/2 inches long with a 3/8 inch diameter.  If anybody knows where I might find some can you please let me know?  Or if you have some of the same stuff, do you want to sell it to me?  or will you trade it for something? .........

Onward...

I want to make a Dotee Doll.  I can still play with pretty colours but in fabric instead of papers... and do some fun beading... all around their little faces, on the hangers and the tails, and on the bodies and ... ..oh, the hair ...the list of supplies to use for hair is amazing...

Also, I had a thought about incorporating some of the embroidery techniques and fabric scraps from the classes I took with Karen.... I could make a white on white with lovely embroidery stitches and perhaps some soft pastels placed here and there .... I think that might be a great little dolly.... I'm "imagineering" even as I'm writing this.

Anyway,  most of these are Dot's own design and dolls... ... although, one of these is not like the others and is not hers ...but, I love the colours and so am showing you that as well....

Does anybody have an original Dotee Doll of their very own?   I would be interested to see a photo of it if you do.

So, as far as I know...the above dolls were made by Dot herself...that is her hand displaying them...

This one I think somebody made for her... the facial embroidery is so much different than her own.

I love the colours and beads... and, it seems to be a different type of body than her usual...but, I like it too.  Aren't they all so sweet? ...

Click them to enlarge for more detail..... and ...     stay tuned for my very own first Dotee doll... soon..... .