Tree of Life had the pleasure of interviewing Karen from “Karen’s Kottage,” a woman who makes the dolls with special needs. Pictured are our Bulgarian Coordinator's twins with their dolls.
1. How did you begin making the dolls?
I started making dolls back in the early 80's when Michigan was in a recession and money was very tight for Christmas one year. I made my children each a doll that looked like them wearing a pair of pj's that matched the pj's "Santa" made them.
1. How did you begin making the dolls?
I started making dolls back in the early 80's when Michigan was in a recession and money was very tight for Christmas one year. I made my children each a doll that looked like them wearing a pair of pj's that matched the pj's "Santa" made them.
I enjoyed making them so much I started making more of them, sold them here and there, took them to craft shows, made them for family members, made a couple to donate at Christmas time every year and eventually made them for my grandchildren. In those years, they weren't really an income but more something I just really loved making..In those years, they weren't really an income but more something I just really loved making.. In 1999 I decided it was time to
get out of corporate America, so I created a website just to see if I could possibly sell some of the things I love to make.. That's when the dolls became an actual income for me.. It was my grown daugthers idea to make the dolls of every race.. My son in law is in the army and they've been stationed all over the world. Meeting so many people of so many races, my daugther had started to notice that almost all dolls were white. She asked me if I'd ever thought of making dolls to match all children... She's a pretty smart cookie :o)
2. How did you start to make the special needs dolls?
I have to give that credit to a special mom who wrote to see if I could possibly make a doll with a shunt. She sent me all
kinds of information, pictures and websites about shunts and was very instrumental in helping me figure out how to create a "shunt" doll for her daughter. It just seemed to take off on it's own after that. I started having parents write to ask if I could make a doll with this special needs or that special needs..
These parents are really the ones who get the credit for the Special Angel Kids... I feel so blessed to be able to work on these very special dolls. (they are always my favorite orders!)
3. Approximately how many dolls have you made?
This is a question my husband and I discuss often.. I have NO idea. lol... It's in the hundreds, but I've just never kept a
count.
4. How far away have the dolls traveled?
I'm proud to say "Karens Kids" are living all over the world! I've shipped them to Sweden, many parts of Europe, Hong
Kong, Netherlands, Australia, Germany, England, Mexico, Canada and all over the United States
Karen also makes other handmade items, all made in the USA, including handmade cloth dolls, customized 18" vinyl dolls (much like American Girl Dolls), reborn dolls, doll making fabric, cat tents, dog tents, kozy kitty cat sacks, cat box privacy screens, fireplace screens, handpoured soy candles and discounted doll making supplies.
To contact Karen or view her site please visit her at www.karenskottage.org
get out of corporate America, so I created a website just to see if I could possibly sell some of the things I love to make.. That's when the dolls became an actual income for me.. It was my grown daugthers idea to make the dolls of every race.. My son in law is in the army and they've been stationed all over the world. Meeting so many people of so many races, my daugther had started to notice that almost all dolls were white. She asked me if I'd ever thought of making dolls to match all children... She's a pretty smart cookie :o)
2. How did you start to make the special needs dolls?
I have to give that credit to a special mom who wrote to see if I could possibly make a doll with a shunt. She sent me all
kinds of information, pictures and websites about shunts and was very instrumental in helping me figure out how to create a "shunt" doll for her daughter. It just seemed to take off on it's own after that. I started having parents write to ask if I could make a doll with this special needs or that special needs..
These parents are really the ones who get the credit for the Special Angel Kids... I feel so blessed to be able to work on these very special dolls. (they are always my favorite orders!)
3. Approximately how many dolls have you made?
This is a question my husband and I discuss often.. I have NO idea. lol... It's in the hundreds, but I've just never kept a
count.
4. How far away have the dolls traveled?
I'm proud to say "Karens Kids" are living all over the world! I've shipped them to Sweden, many parts of Europe, Hong
Kong, Netherlands, Australia, Germany, England, Mexico, Canada and all over the United States
Karen also makes other handmade items, all made in the USA, including handmade cloth dolls, customized 18" vinyl dolls (much like American Girl Dolls), reborn dolls, doll making fabric, cat tents, dog tents, kozy kitty cat sacks, cat box privacy screens, fireplace screens, handpoured soy candles and discounted doll making supplies.
To contact Karen or view her site please visit her at www.karenskottage.org
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