"Why Do They Cost So Much?"

This is a question I hear a lot. Here are the reasons and when you know the reasons you may ask, "Why don't you charge more?" I've said more than once, that it takes me 3 1/2 to 4 hours to make each doll. The materials per doll cost on average about $15 give or take a little, sometimes up to $20. I really make an effort to keep the cost down. I make each body part one at a time, put it all together; create the face, fingers, toes, hair, and personality. I live 30 miles out of town so getting supplies takes time. I am actually pretty good with time economy so I do lots of things on one trip; pick up the stuffing, the clothes, etc. Then I wash all the clothes since they are clothes that actual children have worn. The face and the hair take the most time, each process can take up to an hour. After creating all the limbs loosely, I work on the head. I create the actual face first so I can "get to know" each doll. That then, determines what he/she will be wearing. It is time to fine-tune the limbs so I work on one arm then the other, etc. until I am able to assemble all the parts and Voila........a dolly. It is then that I begin working on the hair do which can be quite challenging and much of the hair choice [as with any person] is determined by the personality or attitude! Which is why I chose the guy in the corner to represent the dolls for this conversation! Can you hear him explaining this to you? He cracks me up!

So..................there you have it. As an artist I know that I will never be paid realistically by time alone, but I love creating ........ so I do. What's really funny is.......I am really fast and I have been making them for so long that I have the time down to the bare bones. I like to keep each doll different with personality so the child or adult can choose the one that speaks to them. Big, small, it doesn't seem to matter unless the doll is life size, the adult life size:) That doll is more expensive -

One fact that I think is worth noting; the dolls last for a very long time. True enough, I use very good materials so the dolls are extremely sturdy. Cindy Caparosa Sniscak, Play Therapist and owner of The Beech Street Program has been using my dolls for 15 years. [You can read a quote from Cindy below.] I have made a few repairs on her dolls and they have taken some hard hits. In a play therapist's "playroom" the dolls take real beatings sometimes, literally! They last for years and they clean up very well. I use natural products so they are easy to touch and don't get snaggy:( I work with my hands all the time and if I can't touch it, I won't use it! I want these dolls to be hugged and allowed to be close to the body of children. I will not use fabric or thread that won't hold up under the stress of love or the torture of a child working out some trauma. Now for the dolls I use yarn that I can buy fairly inexpensively .......the reason for that is that children like to cut hair and tie it into knots so you should not worry if that happens. I can repair it very reasonably..............so far for the shipping and the materials, no labor charges.

Cindy Caparosa Sniscak has this to say, "Playpals have been staples in all of my playrooms and offices since their inception. Over the past 15 years, I have amassed a collection of different ages, skin tones, expressions, and outfits. They have been heavily used in both directive play therapy sessions as well as child centered sessions and offer our child clients opportunities for therapeutic work in many thematic areas. They have been used to work on nurturance, aggression, trauma, victim, perpetrator, good, evil, power, control, anxiety, loss and family and relationship themes. These dolls have been given roles such as perpetrator, robber, victim, jury, police officer, sibling, baby, parent and student. They are wonderful props that offer endless possibilities for creativity in children’s play. They are artistically made, durable and can be easily cleaned. You would be lucky to own one."

Thank you Cindy for those comments :) Cindy will be sending a picture of the dolls in her playroom and I will post that when the picture arrives!

Update on shipping: I just raised my shipping charges to cover the doll getting to most areas in a few days fully insured. I can actually ship two dolls in one box for the same money so that is a benefit for sure. Costs for shipping have gone up every where so I use USPS to ship. I will ship Mondays and Wednesdays. If you have a "doll emergency" please let me know. You can contact me through this sight by making a comment and leave me your contact information or you can go to my website: www.playpals.etsy.com and begin a conversation. That's all! EC Hanson

Why Don't You Write a Story?

I've been creating dolls for about 20 years now; the first dolls for my kids before our move to Colorado, with the intention of my children having a companion on our long drive west. Considering all the dolls I've made [now 704] I've never created a story to go with a doll. People have asked me why I don't create a story or give each doll a name............mainly for the purpose of "advertising or kitschy drama" to generate a sale. I've given this idea a lot of thought. My reasons for not giving each doll a name are these: I believe that everyone who buys a doll or is given a doll has the right or the honor to name it. The doll's life or story should be created by the child or the adult who holds it. When that person squeezes the doll and gazes into the dolly's face, a story unfolds and a connection is formed...........on it's own without my assistance or direction.
See here on the right!

A connection such as this in the play therapists office is........the most important connection.......... each child creates a scenario that allows them to move through whatever trauma they need to move through.

In a child's arms in their own 'playrooms' that connection is also important; a bond, an attachment to someone else, a safe friend who doesn't judge, a buddy on a long trip, or a confidant to share their dreams, their secrets, and their woes.

Who am I to name a doll for you or to create a life for them before you arrive? With any luck, each doll that I create will have a personality that captures just the right person finding a home that is good for them.

I awoke with an idea today! Not an uncommon occurrence; what if you send me an outfit that was your favorite when your child was growing up; you tell me what color hair, eyes, and skin color and I create a doll just for you and your family! Of course, it will never be duplicated as with my other dolls. I have never been willing to make the same doll over and over; each doll is one of a kind! The most important element here is that you get to choose an outfit from the start. Just a thought.
Let me know what you think..........

One of the things that I really appreciate about these dolls is that generally, they are not so 'gender specific'. If you or your children like, you can put on clothes that will depict a boy or girl; put on a hair clip or a bow to identify as boy or a girl; you can add glasses and a necktie or a fancy skirt. What if the doll gets dirty? These dolls are very easy to clean up; if the fingers and toes get dirty or you get a smudge on his/her face, just use a cloth with light soap and water to clean up. If the whole doll is in need of a washing; put the wash cycle on gentle, place your little doll in a pillow case and pin or tie closed. While it tumbles and turns in the washing machine the hair is protected, the painted eyes will not come off, and the body comes out clean! If after time, you find the wear and tear on the "hair-do" is too much, I will make a repair! Let me know, we can speak about the how-to's to get repairs done. You can e-mail me or contact me through this site.

As you can see, no two dolls look alike.............that's the way I like it. Chances are I will continue creating dolls because I love making them. I think they have many purposes and they seem to make people happy. I know they make me happy! I hope to hear from you now and then.

Off to paint some umbrellas to keep the summer sun off your face! I will share the newly finished umbrellas next post!

Enjoy the day, Happy Easter!
EC Hanson

A Few Reasons I Continue Making Dolls!

Can you believe this face? Or should I have said....faces?! They look like sisters. Here is another shot. How could you not love these images! This is the reason I continue to make dolls. This is the reason I love making dolls! What fun I have creating new dolls almost everyday.......do I have the life or what! Let me know if you need someone to love or to pinch!

Brainstorming and Planning....................

OK, so here's the thing...............while I sit in my studio and create dolls, paint umbrellas, and make new paintings that will be made into cards...... I realize that I am almost there!................. I made a few decisions a little over a year ago and those choices are blooming [that's right, it's Spring!]. My process has not been 'perfected yet'........I am almost to the end of the extra stuff in my studio! That was one of my pledges or resolutions... "to use everything [all materials] in my studio instead of buying new supplies." I have burned through that one without much trouble. The other resolution I made to me was this, "to do what I want when I want and............ it must be something that makes me happy." So far, that too is going pretty well; I make things almost everyday; I work with women continuing to assist them in moving their lives forward, as a life coach that keeps me out of total solitude......... and I spend more time in the home I love with the man in my life I hardly saw in the past decade! All these things seemed nearly impossible while I worked a full-time job for someone else! Here is my issue with "almost", back to the start of this post: as I make these dollies, I realize that I want a doll to be in the arms of every child who has to spend a moment alone......................while mom and dad speak with a doctor, or a child that has spent a scared uneasy night because they are alone in their room. I want a doll with every person who needs help sitting up in a wheel chair because their muscles just don't do the job anymore [the dolls are big and stuffable, with sweet eyes so one might feel there is a friend along for the ride]. You can see where I am going with this, right?

I'd love to make donations of these dolls but I still need to work and so I am looking into funding to make this vision actually happen. As I peruse the web seeking help with funds to keep me producing dolls I realized that maybe I should begin with a less complicated or a more simple approach.........anyone who makes a donation to a children's hospital or has an elder in the family in a wheel chair or an Alzheimer's unit can purchase a doll and make a donation themselves! So that's how I'll proceed............ If you are interested in donating a doll to your favorite charity give my doll site a click www.playpals.etsy.com and see the dolls I have on hand!

Have at it you generous beast! I can make as many as you can give...............:)

Here is my PlayPals address again: www.playpals.etsy.com! And while you're at it, check out my hand-made card site www.intentionalbeauty.etsy.com so you can buy a card to go along with your doll! If you'd like to do that I will give you a buyer's discount on the card! If you decide to do that, shoot me an e-mail and we can work out shipping details.

Thanks for the brainstorming session,
EC Hanson

Introducing PlayPals.etsy.com

Hello.............

Just wanted to personally introduce you to my new 'etsy site'; www.playpals.etsy.com. It is the contact point for custom dolls made by me [EC Hanson], play therapy toys and tools [which will be posted soon] and that special place to see all the dolls that I have on hand. I call them PlayPals TM because that literally describes one of the purposes for the dolls. I originally created these dolls to be companions for my own children as we traveled across the country to move to the prairie from our home in Pennsylvania. The dolls kept my children company and gave them a shoulder to lean on when they were alone in one of the cars in tandem on this journey. I can tell you that they were helpful emotionally and my children still have them in their possession to date..........my kids are now grown-ups and have saved these special dolls for their own children.

After that trip, I created dolls for one of my three sisters who had some grand children. The dolls back then were not as refined as they are presently:) One of my other sisters who happens to be a play therapist, pt trainer, filial therapist and ft trainer asked me to make dolls for her. I created five dolls for my sis, Cindy Caparosa Sniscak, M.Ps.Sc., LPC, of the Beech Street Program [http://play-therapy.com/beechst/meet.html] who found them useful and the five blossomed into a dozen! She shared this information with her friend and co-hort Dr.Rise Van Fleet, Ph.D., RPT-S of Family Enhancement & Play Therapy [http://www.play-therapy.com/] who also found the dolls useful and now has a group of her own.

Over the past 15 years I have attended several play therapy conferences, local and national, and have crafted close to 700!

That number slays me! I plan to continue creating dolls and finding homes for them. Not only are they in the offices of play therapists across the country, but there are dolls in private homes in the rooms and arms of children all ages. The dolls are in nursing homes and schools across the country as well. My goal is to have at least one doll in the arms of every child who sits in a hospital room and finds themselves alone while the Dr. speaks with Mom and Dad. That task has been a daunting.............but I am determined! So........if any of you reading this have any ideas on how to make that happen, please contact me so I can continue my search for funding and support to achieve this goal.

Take a look at what Carol Mader, Play Therapist and School Counselor, shared with me recently, "Dear Ellen, I used to work with Cindy at Beech Street and I still have the 3 ft. size "doll." I used him when I was a school counselor and in private practice. He/she was a lifesaver. You made the doll in such a way that it could be identified as a boy or tomboy girl. My clients in child-centered play therapy and in directed work, used "Angel," as he was named by the kids, as a playmate. A child would talk to him as though he was another classmate or friend. Also, with painfully shy children, Angel might say "what they wished they could say." Angel was used for practice of social skills and assertiveness training. Thank you for getting back in the business! Your dolls are therapeutic. Sincerely, Carol"

Here are a few of the newest faces in my current collection...........enjoy!

You can check out my etsy sites at these locations: www.playpals.etsy.com or my other site for hand painted cards, Desk Heads, sculptures, etc. at www.intentionalbeauty.etsy.com. Feel free to comment on any posts you see.............opinions are welcome! Thanks for taking the time, ECH

Day Two..........A of G Keeping it real....................

So.......in the practice of being "impeccable" with my word...it's day 2!
Keeping the attitude of gratitude is looking good! Good night's sleep, waking early full of energy........what's up with that? Multi-tasking to the max and actually getting lot done!

The birds sing in the bathroom, the dryer works, got water cold and hot, had a good lunch, man life is good.

Hope your day has begun and continues this way!

Make your list, EC

An Attitude of Gratitude.............say what?

I have been doing empowerment work with people for many years. The one thing that really stands out to me after having met with one of my groups is; an 'attitude of gratitude' is a plus....... and will afford me many opportunities throughout my day. I have decided to make a list everyday of the "things that are working today"........... a list of the positives, not the negatives......believe me there are plenty of negatives, right? So I have begun making a list daily of the things that are working for me. So far, I am using a sticky note pad and as my lists grow......I expect that I will have to graduate to a larger piece of paper.

I have talked about this for years but today........I begin my own daily "gratitude" list. Attitude is everything, being present, and checking in are good things. Actions, even as small as this are my way of moving forward and creating a more conscious "attitude of gratitude"!

Hooray! So far..........so good...............It's a great day! What's working for you? How's your attitude?

EC