Tag - Welcome to the doll hospital

"is that like in the Tangled movie?" Sophie cheerfully asked as she rooted through the accessory box she had. You had a bit of most things, not everything but she could make what wasn't there. So as she found the little bagged earrings which could be problematic for a three year old girl, then a red book and a black frying pan. "These look as they'll just clip on her ears but could get easily lost" she mused showing Mickie everything she had found. Said earrings were very tiny and even hard for Sophie to handle.

"Now for the outfit. How about something like a nice summery dress for her. She'd see that everyday?" Sophie suggested but there was plenty of other ideas that Mickie could work with.

Mickie Reed

All the main outfits were in one box; shoes and hats in a smaller one. She hadn't anything sorted by seasons but she knew what colours were fall ones. "Fall colours tend to be based on browns and reds. I'm sure it'll get cooler anyway so a doll should reflect this". Sophie had arrived in spring when it had started to get warmer so figured fall and winter wouldn't be as warm as summer but might get slightly colder and wetter. Perhaps windier in storm season.

She started by finding some suitable boots ranging from low ones to thigh high. Then picked out slightly heavier looking outfits in reds and browns. You could even include burgundy. She even picked out something that was close to a dress that was sweater and a knee length skirt and matched that with thigh high heeled boots. Even adults could have fun doing dress up this way.

By now Mickie did had a good selection of fall outfits to look over. Also the chance to get more later if Mia looked like she'd play with the doll.

Mickie Reed

Sophie heard what Mickie had to say about Mia. She had been Mia's age and while she didn't remember much of it he aunt had told her similar things; the baby doll she had got more attention than her parents for a while.

"She will have a doll that looks a bit like herself but my late father and late aunt did say I did seem more invested in my doll than them. It might well be normal you know as I was told I was also very curious about other things. I think the frying pan is a great idea too. Early self defence classes" Sophie replied as more items got laid out that could fit the ideas behind this doll.

"Thank you for the confidence in me. I see this more as a community thing starting with the children in the orphanage and working out to the hospital children ward. Having representation is important including dolls with hearing aids, prosthetic limbs or wheelchairs" she added as she shared some of the scope of the project with Mickie. It could expand further again.

Mickie Reed

The praise did confirm to Sophie that she was on the right track. Even doing good things in a small way improved the world round you and the good ripples kept spreading out. Then came a question. "You can do that and hopefully they can also find dolls that match their daughters" Sophie replied with a smile.

So the doll was dressed with her selected outfit and accessories; then was ready to go. The price overall for Mickie was actually cheaper than buying a doll new and the more business she got the easier it would be for the girls in the orphanage to get their dream dolls too. She was also playing her part in the island being sustainable. "I also hope Mia likes this" she added as she closed the box over.

Mickie Reed

Sophie would never be challenging a toyshop nor be competition for one. Her scheme needed to be self financing and the orphanage had helped with the start up costs as she needed equipment and stock items to get started. So once those got paid back it would be that way. Money changed hands and Mia's unique Barbie was hers to play with. If she needed a Ken to practice frying pan moves like an anime magical girl she also had those too.

"Thank you Mickie. I do hope it'll keep going so every girl and boy get the chance to have their own doll if they want one. There's a boy my age who wants a GI Jane to go with his GI Joe; he even plans to build a cardboard tank for them" she said with a smile. This request had been mapped out and she knew what was needed to make it work.

Mickie Reed

The orphanage children didn’t have the same resources as she has in LA. So they improvised and a cardboard vehicle was just as good an option for children who worked with donations and the resources they had brought with them. “I used to have a Barbie car before I came here but there’s only so many things like that in the thrift shops. So you need to make things and that might even extend to making outfits too” she replied. A child’s imagination only increased until the stage they grew up.

Mickie Reed

Now what Mickie suggested sounded like fun. "That does sound like fun. A driver would be needed but a Barbie Sports car? Where would you get one here?" she posed. Once you sat in and pushed along with your feet was fun then but when you were ten those didn't work as an idea.

"Then we need to find a driver" she added. The next issue once you had the fancy car.

Mickie Reed