The Doll That Started It All

When my daughter Lillian asked for a doll with purple eyes and pink hair, I never imagined where that simple request would lead. I searched everywhere, but nothing felt right. The dolls were either too stiff, too generic, or didn’t reflect the magic and personality I saw in my child.

So, I made one myself.

That first doll was far from perfect—but to her, it was everything. It looked like her. It felt like her. And for the first time, I saw just how powerful representation could be, even in something as small as a handmade toy.

Not long after, Lillian was diagnosed with vitiligo. As a mom, I knew the questions would come, and I wanted her to have something that made her feel confident—something that looked like her and showed her that her uniqueness was something to celebrate. So, I made her a new doll with tiny “bleach spots” stitched in to match her skin. I also found a children’s book about vitiligo and sent it with her to school. I wanted her to know she wasn’t alone.

Later, my youngest daughter Coralie was born prematurely at just 29 weeks. She spent 2.5 months in the NICU and has overcome so much. Her journey inspired my very first preemie doll—smaller, softer, and made to comfort little hands fighting big battles. Now, as she grows with sensory needs and autism, dolls and stuffies continue to be her comfort and connection.

I’ll never forget the first doll I gave away. It was for a little girl battling cancer. She was losing her hair and felt so different from her friends. I made her a doll with the same features and a bald head—just like hers. Her mom told me it gave her daughter strength during treatment. That doll never left her side.

That’s when I knew—this needed to be more than just a hobby.

It needed to be free. It needed to be for them.

There are so many beautiful, brave, one-of-a-kind children out there—kids with feeding tubes, cochlear implants, limb differences, and so much more—who deserve to see themselves in something made with love.

That’s what this project is about.

Celebrating children as they are.

One doll at a time.

One story at a time.

One stitch at a time.

If you're here, thank you.

You're part of the reason this dream keeps growing.

With love,

Kelsey