Old Chooks and Dolls

Grannies, zulu dolls and a whole lot of "The Nat on the farm goes click click click".

(Quote from a song to get a child to pull a happy face for my camera).

This is my life right now. Most of it anyway.
I've been putting in the hard yards in the last week working on a book for the Uthando Project. (and woman on a mission - the radiant Georgia Efford).
Today was spent adjusting photographs, conceptualising the layout and borrowing mum's sewing machine to make stuffed letters.

I stuffed up the stuff, but it was just to show how we'll do the cover type for:

100 dolls
countless
hearts

Then exceptional artiste, Lynne Tognolini, started blanket stitching some felt letters which are looking super sweet.

I'm doing most of the photography and the design of this book which is due to print in two weeks. (!)

Here is a sneak preview.

The book will feature words from organisations in Kwa Zulu Natal - South Africa about the state of human affairs, children's lives and how dolls made by multicultural Australians are making a real impact in the lives of families.

Photos above supplied by NGOs in KZN

The book will feature a range of portraits of the doll makers from Australia, from all different backgrounds.

And all different ages

I suggested we mix up the portraits by asking people to bring their own background fabric, something with meaning to them.

Each maker will tell us a little about their childhood experiences.

The book will tell us the power of these little dolls to enable a child to grieve, express, understand and feel the love. The doll 'experience' runs deeper still as the makers teach other makers, here and in South Africa. The dolls are also used as a medium to teach psychology principles to caregivers and highlight the importance of play for a child's growth - and as a child's right.

To quote Anne Sorenson "I've got the doll addiction, but it's a good addiction to have".

The book will have all the patterns you need to sew or knit dolls from babies to grandmas to warriors.

Essentially, it will be a resource for organisations around the world, as it presents a template for making culturally relevant dolls and how to work with the caregivers and communities.

To find out more about the Uthando Project visit www.uthandoproject.com

You can even buy my documentary film there for a $10 donation. I made it a couple of years ago in South Africa.

For now, I'm head down in the book, but there is always time for some music and dancing on set.

[current mood] Pills Shaking in the Bottle & Leftovers

Comments

[Halley | Catalog Printing]

Aw that's so sweet of you! The model sure did made the doll looked so expensive with her pose, great job. Hopefully, you continue such good deeds to people in South Africa. A doll can make a difference especially for an African child.

[Sam]

Hi Natalija, We have been supplying printing for Georgia, Lynne for the Uthando Project for many years. Likewise our youngest two children were involved in making dolls in high school for Uthando (for Lynne when she was teaching arts) so we know how wonderful this project is and have been lucky enough to see some lovely photos over the years of very happy children when they have received their new dolls from Australia. I just wanted to comment that I have been reading your blog for several years and enjoy your photography and was thrilled to see that you were the photographer for the current Uthando Project work - it is a small world indeed! Your amazing, vibrant, photos were just wonderful and captured such sheer, and genuine happiness! Georgia was simply gushing to us about the book that was about to be printed (at that point I had no idea that you had done all the work!) and we had the pleasure of printing your photos to large format recently for a display they have planned. Kind regards, Sam.