Welcome to Maria's Doll School ~ follow us on social media
​If you like sewing, crafting, appliqué, patchwork, embroidery, drawing, painting, textiles then you'll LOVE doll making! A personally made cloth doll is something that has infinite value, an heirloom that will last and last, a piece of art that you create from your heart and joy. If you are new to doll making, watch my Complete Cloth Doll Tutorial 2 videos below and I explain every single bit! If you just want to get the PDF pattern and are ready to go then buy it from our Doll Shop for £3. 
If you are a visual learner and want photo step by step instructions then get the Make A Doll eBook also at the Doll Shop. 

My story of why I make dolls to heal my inner child ~ in the press

10.10.2020 
​The Argus, Brighton UK
​Hove woman on how making dolls helped heal childhood trauma 
>> Read full article online
#MentalHealthAwareness

Hello Dollies! Thank you for being here. I want to tell you my story of why I started to make dolls. It's not an easy story to read but it's what happened and it's why making dolls has been such a lifesaving comfort to me for the past 6 years. 

In Psychology, the term ‘inner child' refers to the child we once were - and if that child experiences great trauma, this part becomes compromised and affects adulthood. On 5th September 2020, I exclusively revealed to The Brighton Argus that my father was one of Chile's disappeared victims. Read article here.

Now that I have spoken out so publicly about the lifelong impact of her loss on her 'inner child' I want to normalise the experience of feeling depression, anxiety or PTSD as a part of life that happens as a result of experiencing trauma. When my depression was at its worst, I asked myself: 'What can I do about this?' and an answer came from a very young part of me: ‘I want a doll’. So I made myself a little cloth doll and it was the most comforting thing I’ve ever done. The need for self-comforting tools is greater than ever in the context of the pandemic.

Inner child doll to buy or bespoke to look like a loved one ~ handmade by Maria

The dolls are handmade from cotton calico fabric and faces drawn by hand by Maria Adriana Contreras, doll and textile artist. 

How to choose your doll: 
  • Your doll(s) can be personalised to look like you or a loved one by sending me a photo
  • You can request special piece of fabric can be used for the clothing that is meaningful to you
  • You can choose to buy an existing  inner child doll to buy such as my popular Frida Kahlo doll pictured here. 
  • Inner child dolls are little, they fit in your hand and have lavender filled bellies for precisely that. They are that comfort in your pocket to see you through the day, or the little friend on your pillow to talk to at night! 
  • ​You can order by filling out the contact form and say which you'd like or let me know your specifications. 
  • Inner child dolls are 15 cms tall and start from £37 and come in a presentation box-bedroom!
  • How about having your whole family done? 

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