We met at Slung Low Leeds in our first long weekend D&D after pandemic. It was brilliant!
In previous big D&Ds we made 267 dolls. I called a session asking for help making 33 dolls so we could reach 300, 10% of the community of almost 3000 so far.
Frank, Elspeth, Ruby, Keith, Joanne, Amy, Pat, Caitlin, Zoe, Saskia, Nina, Cora, Tenar, Jack, Lloyds, Ruby, Ess, Ali, Antony, Leannah, Amy, Tim, Jocelyn, Debbie were inspired to help. There were also three more people I forgot to write down the names. Some of the makers made two or three dolls.
We worked non stop during the weekend and I am so happy to say we made it. Actually we made one more on Monday so the total is 34 dolls. I’ll organise all comments in the next post.
I missed a lot to be together a whole weekend making dolls in a big D&D. Last time was four years ago. I am so happy it happened again this year. The dolls have come to the event since they were born. First time there were only seven of them. They feel at home, they love it.
Thank you SO much for all the makers who helped us to achieve our target, to Beatrice who painted the wall including the dolls in abundance, to Mat from Slung Low and a huge thank you to Lee, Phelim and all Improbable team who once more did an amazing generous job holding the space for everybody. I love you all so much. Thank you!
Rita, Cidinha, Ivani, Suzelei, Maria Conceição, Regina, Heloísa, Célia, Fátima, Nanci, Felipe, Osmarina, Maria Cristina, Maria Aparecida, Lourdes Paula, Mirian, Carmen, Tânia, Dalva, Lilian, Jacy, Esmeralda, Nilza e Vanderlane. We spent an afternoon making dolls. We made 24 in total.
There were people from several places who had the chance to meet each other and exchange experiences. Some generously brought pillows to help the project and also food to share at the end of the workshop. After we finish making our dolls I mixed all of them up and asked the makers to find their own doll. Despite the fact they are all very similar it was a simple task. After spending such a long time making the doll it becomes unforgettable. We ended up our session placing all the dolls standing up together and we reproduced their space composition with our own bodies. We were 25 hearts beating together for a better world!
‘I was happy to share this moment, to meet different people. The mentor is a super polite, kind person with strong energy, she allowed us to be relaxed in our dreams that I even actually slept. I sang a song ‘…you didn’t want to dream the dream I dreamt…’ I had a wonderful afternoon.’
‘I arrived here as one person and left here as another. I leave this unique experience very invigorated due to the exchange of energy in the group and the meditation that transports us to another source of pleasure and good living. An incredible idea! I loved it!’
‘It was the first time I participated in something so innovative. I hope that the doll I made received all my love and a lot of positive energy. Thank you for the invitation. The moment of socialization was very good.’
‘Playful activity in which there was a lot of pleasant interaction with friends.’
‘I felt integrated with the group and I believe that these dolls will bring joy and integration wherever they are made. They can provide peace and union of people and the end of wars.’
‘This experience was a feeling of belonging to the whole of which we are part. We are all connected by the energies that circulate on the planet.’
‘I had a very good feeling as if my heart was beating in the doll. I felt a lot of peace, an incomparable feeling like I hadn’t felt before, it was a great feeling. It was a privilege to be here.’
‘The experience brings a lot of peace and tranquility, it is a type of cleansing of the soul.’
‘It was a new experience. I don’t like doing manual work. I always liked to renew the house – painting walls, doors, windows, railings. For the first time I managed to do work like this, a dream doll. Thanks for the opportunity.’
‘It was a pleasant moment with the group. I assembled the doll and passed joy and energy to its heart. I enjoyed helping people to assemble their dolls.’
‘For the first time I filled a rag doll called a dream doll. I thought I wouldn’t be able to do it, but I did it easily. I felt happier and fulfilled, it was a wonderful sensation. I realised I am capable of doing anything, I just need to want it and put it into practice.’
‘In the meditation I transferred good energy of love, health and joy for the doll and for whoever picks it up.’
‘A different afternoon bringing friends together and making a doll where we leave a little bit of ourselves to travel the world. I am grateful for the opportunity.’
‘ Beneficial meeting for us individually, for the group and for all living beings on our planet.’
‘ I’m happy to have organised the doll’s workshop and sew them. How many dreams fit into these little dolls! What a joy to see them standing and supporting each other just as we do in life. It was wonderful to see people helping each other in their difficulties. It’s very gratifying to know that my doll will brighten someone’s life. Thank you Regina for awakening so much emotion and energy this afternoon here in the city I chose to live in. Congratulations on the project. Now there are representatives from Campinas.’
‘Making the doll was a good feeling of calm and relaxation.’
‘The experience of making dream dolls with friends was very enjoyable.’
‘It was a moment of relaxation. Through this doll, my joy will arrive in someone’s hands, it has a little bit of me, my affection and satisfaction in making it.’
‘I am grateful for the opportunity to experience this unique moment, an extraordinary peace.’
‘I felt very far away, like I was flying, relaxed and free. Within each one of us has something special – to be happy. I loved the experience, it’s a work worth living, thank you!’
‘Lots of interaction between people and lots of help between each other.’
Thank you so much for all makers for the precious time we spent together, your generosity and joy during the entire session. Thank you for makers who donated their pillows and a special thank you to Jacy who sewed all dolls we worked with, donated dreams, open her space and brought all of us together. A huge thank you to you all!
Cecília, Claudemira, Sebastiana, Sônia, Lígia, Will, Vera e Claudia came to make dolls. We made nine dolls in total. Claudemira helped sew the legs of some of them.
We played with our dolls making different compositions in the space. They supported each other to stay on their own feet. Vera made beautiful of photos of them. After that we meditated together feeling our pulse and breath.
‘Thanks for allowing us to see what the poet foretold: we are such stuff as dreams are made on.’
‘A rich experience, we think and send positive energy to others.’
‘It was a beautiful experience, being so in the present, concentrated in the puppet in my hand but at the smae time being in the future, hand by hand with the person who will play with it. Being present to build the future.’
‘Immersive and rewarding experience.’
‘Bless you!’
I am really grateful to Cecilia who generously received us in her house. Besides sharing her space she baked delicious cakes for us. Thank you so much for all makers for an adorable time we spent together, thank you!
In January Claudia, Alice, Lili e Sandra came to make dolls in Perdizes, São Paulo Brazil. We made five dolls in total.
We had a joyful time talking about the project and sharing our life experiences. We finished the session meditating and after that we put the dolls standing together, they couldn’t stand up alone.
We talked about the colours of the dolls that are the colour of our bones. They reminded me that in the Eutony technique we work our skin and bones. Such a beautiful coincidence with a technique I hold dear to my heart. It is a practice based on sensory awareness developed by Gerda Alexander.
‘Feet must be full of dreams’
‘It was a magical moment, giving life and filling that little one with dreams… Filling it seemed easy but no… I’m glad we were together, in a circle, as if we were by the fire… Telling stories, laughing, singing. .. A circle of women sharing their pearls… A spontaneous and fleeting moment… Giving pulse to the dream… The thought came: fly, fly little bird! Get out of my hand and go to the world! And how beautiful it is to put all of them together standing up! Dreams the color of bones and skin, they could only stand up because they were together… What a beautiful inspiration.’
‘Filling a rag doll with dreams and putting a heart in it is a way of reminding us that we are made of dreams, that we have a heart that beats, that together we stand supporting each other and that we can have a voice in the world, on the five continents that will receive these dolls. It was a unique and very special experience. Thank you Regina for the opportunity to be part of this dream.’
I am very grateful for everybody who helped making dolls, for Claudia who brought a pillow full of dreams and a huge thank you to Sandrinha for inviting the project and sharing her space with us.
Yesterday we made dolls at the Sunday Fix at Barons Court Theatre.
Colette, Leo, Lola Rose, Rory and Anna were the makers. We made 11 dolls in total.
‘I really enjoyed this doll making experience, I found it very cathartic and relaxing to focus on one simple creative task. It was wonderful to meet Regina and be involved in this beautiful project and connecting with others.’
‘A beautiful way to think about our hearts and dreams and the 8 billion other hearts and dreams all around us. ( I particularly love the heartbeat meditation at the end).’
‘I found it very soothing – there’s something comforting about the repetitive nature of creating the doll, and the result is lovely. I especially enjoyed zeroing in on my pulse. I can’t wait to see the final result.’
For the first time we made dolls while watching the scenes performed on stage, it was perfect.
Thank you so much Leo and Sharon for inviting the project for the Sunday Fix and a big thank you for all makers who made and meditated their dolls. Thank you!
Yesterday we met at Lyric Hammersmith in another D&D event to work on ‘Aspiring and current executive directors in the arts, what do we need?’
Varnish and Paul came to make dolls. Varnish started to add dreams into her doll and will finish up when we meet next. Paul made one doll from the beginning to the end completing the process with the meditation. Dawn popped over and suggested to offer the project as an engagement project for staff development, can be done in lunch break in canteen, open space workshop, dolls can be exhibited at workplace, staff/organization can agree a theme of peace. We made 5 dolls in total.
‘I put my heart into the doll and kept it safe there.’
Thank you so much for Natalie who organized the event and inspired so many people to turn up. There were many people but not much time to work on all the sessions we wanted. Hopefully another event will happen soon.
Thank you for Varshini who facilitated the event delivering a brilliant introduction – her warmth put us at easy and her brilliancy helped us shine in our own way.
Thank you for Dawn who brought good ideias for the project and a special thank you for Paul who has been generously making quite a few dolls over the years.
Yesterday we spent the day working on ‘Who needs theatre’, another special D&D event in Quarterhouse Mill Bay in Folkestone Kent.
There was a relaxed atmosphere, we were happy to gather together.
Zoe, Tamsin, Araxi, Gwen, Brian, Billie, Danae, Abbie, Victoria, Jessie and Cheryl came to make dolls. We made 11 in total. We worked throughout the day, some makers continued making their dolls while attending other sessions.
‘Making my doll gave me an opportunity to think about my dreams and where they live in my body. And to appreciate my heart during the meditation – to give thanks. I am very grateful for this experience Regina. Thank you.’
‘It gave me a place to rest and reflect. Allowed me time to examine my hopes and dreams and it was wonderful to make time and space for that. Thank you.’
‘It was such a nice and safe space to just sit and stuff a doll. I started during one of the first sessions and ended in the last. It was a great way to process some of the things discussed as well as contribute to a bigger project built on dreams.’
‘I found making the doll so unexpected and soothing and I carried on making it through the day in different sessions, which was calming. Lovely to create something this day.’
‘A little white doll. I made a doll in grey room. Its heart stuffed in a bag of wool. I made a doll of string and bone. A doll that called me home home. I made a doll and so did you. 8 billion dolls – so much to do!’
‘The doll made me think about my heart, le coeur, my emotional state. It’s under pressure but it is strong.’
‘My wound is healed.’
‘I came to talk about theatre and ended up making a doll with Regina. My doll transitioned from male to female. He was he and then he got quite an ample bosom so before I gave him a heart he became a she. He has a red stitch where his penis was magically removed. She is called she not they. She has a heart that is full of gratitude. She loves to know her man inside. He is still there inside. She is two. They smile together the he and she. Her name is Nina. She will make lots of friends now that she has become. She will have good health. She already has a history. Nina needed surgery because her brains were popping out of her neck. She didn’t mind, it didn’t hurt, but it’s better for her ideas to come out of her mouth, not from her neck. I gave her a good sewing up. And sewed up her inside leg. She is a very happy doll. Regina says she is the first doll (out of many thousands) to transition. She does not reject her ‘he’ he is in her sense of humour he adores her. All parts of her, all her dreams (she is full of dreams) are welcome in the world. Like Regina who is the master doll maker has warmth that seeps into all her dolls. She is their blood. She gives them life.’
I am really grateful for everyone who contributed making dolls and for our lovely companionship, for Lee’s wise and cheerful introduction and for everybody involved in the organisation of this essential amazing event. Thank you!
