Hope the Traveling Doll

Hope is ready to travel

First of all let me thank all of you who have already gotten in touch with me, it means so much to me. I will work on Hope’s schedules to ensure that she can visit as many of you as possible.

All seams are closed, her eyes are bright and her cheeks are rosy. She is dressed in little knitted shorts, a blouse, a knitted dress, felt vest and shoes embellished with needle felted flowers. Her hair falls softly over her shoulders and a little band keeps it from falling into her face. She turned out beautiful. I believe a soft, warm doll like Hope brings warmth and happiness to children. My wish is that Hope will bring hope to the children in need and awareness of the struggles that a lot of families have to go through to everyone.

Once I have finalized everything with the chosen Non Profit Organization a link for donations will be added. Donations will then go directly to the Non Profit Organization. The donation will not be part of the raffle, which will happen once Hope returns from her travels. Dates will be posted well in advance. Please donate, as it serves a good cause, thank you.

Her first destination will take her from North Carolina all the way across the country to California where she will be staying with a lovely family. Sunshine from Flutterby Baby will be her host for a while. She will be updating the blog on Hope’s first adventure.

06/19/08 04:17:18 pm  copied from original blog

It won't be long now!

With the end of the school year and the beginning of summer Hope is almost ready for her travels. I have knitted her a beautiful dress, but now I wonder if I should also sew her something that she can wear in the sun. I will not tell you yet where her first destination will take her, that I will leave for my next entry.

06/16/08 07:54:28 am copied from original blog

Hands and Heart

I have been working on Hope off and on, but have to admit that I haven’t been keeping her blog and her pictures up to date, sorry. I sewed, stuffed and attached her arms. I gave her a big, red felt heart, which is embedded in her chest and when you carefully run your fingers over her chest you can even make out that little heart. I have pinned the torso to her neck, but have yet to sew it. I will do this in a little while, I wanted to get something up on the blog, so you could all take part and see for yourself. I have sewn the legs, but still need to stuff them and then attach them. I am getting excited to see her develop under my hands. Hopefully I will have her finished soon and we can send her off on her adventures.

05/21/08 01:40:48 pm  copied from original blog

Hopes head

I wrapped the head and added the layers of wool batting. I covered everything with tubing and tied the eye string. The head is taking shape. I am able to see her little cheeks and am satisfied. I continued to shape the back of the head and am ready to cover it with the skin fabric. I chose my very favorite skin, a 100% wool tricot, that I brought from Germany. I love working with it, because it keeps its shape the best of all fabrics that I have worked with so far and it is somewhat “self cleaning” as wool has those very special properties. I like to embroider the hair before I attach the body, as it is better to maneuver in my hands. Every hair is embroidered and it makes changing hair styles easy. Children love to play with hair, this allows just that.

Now it is time to pick out the color for eyes and lips. I will hold all my choices up to the face and select the one that I like best.

04/17/08 05:37:57 am copied from original blog

Picking her name and the materials

When I first had the idea about sending a doll into the world to bring attention to the needs of sick children, I was going to let everyone interested vote on a name for her. When I asked for advise on my idea a very dear person said ” name her Hope, because, if anything that is what she will bring to those children". I loved that thought and that is how Hope was named. Thank you Erin

04/06/08 09:51:04 am  copied from original blog