Darlene and Lisa
We started making art dolls together several years ago. We took classes, learned various techniques and made everything from Goddess Dolls to sculptural dolls.
It wasn’t until we were making dolls for the children suffering in the wake of Hurricane Katrina that we realized what kind of dolls we both loved to make and that meant the most to us. Those are dolls you can hug and dolls that make you smile! We’ve been designing and making “those” dolls since then and couldn’t be happier with our decision!
Lisa owns and operates a cozy, busy yarn shop (The Creative Warehouse in Needham, MA) and Darlene is a retired software executive. We have different careers and different backgrounds but share the same passion for the dolls and helping women and children.
About The Dolly-Mamas LLC
We formed The Dolly-Mamas LLC as a social entrepreneurship (a for-profit organization with an equal focus on social issues). Because we donate a portion of all profits to women & children’’s causes, this means that the more successful we are, the more we can help.
Our Products
We introduced our first line in 2008 – The KuKu Dolls. They are multicultural, knitted, felted dolls that are available as kits, patterns and finished dolls. Each KuKu Doll has its own name and personality and when you make one, you put a little touch of yourself in it as well. They are guaranteed to put a smile on the face of whoever receives them!
Our Programs
Today we are working closely with Connect Africa. We taught Dr. Lynn Auerbach (project founder and a knitter herself) to knit our KuKu Dolls and she went back to her project in Uganda and taught many villagers to knit the dolls. The Dolly-Mamas LLC provides the yarn and purchases the finished dolls from the connect-Africa project, helping provide the knitters with an ongoing source of income. The very good news is that much of the money earned from knitting is being used to pay school tuitions!
The Dolly-Mamas LLC sponsors the PIP (Partners in Possibilities) Program. Working with non-profit organizations, we provide a special line of kits, patterns and finished dolls (made by the Uganda knitters) that can be made and sold to support their efforts.
Thanks
A special thanks to David Lazdowsky – aka “MacGyver”. He is the gift that keeps on giving!
We thank Jim Leavitt and Anita Daly for their creative support and guidance.