Showing posts with label #dolls. Show all posts

If You Want To Spend Hundreds On A Gift That'll Ruin Your Child's Life, This Is It


If you ask thousands of teens around the world, YAL (or young-adult literature, for those of you who aren’t in the know) is where it’s at. One of the biggest YAL successes of all time is the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer, which has inspired crazy amounts of art and (deeply disturbing) fanfiction in the years since its publication.


But this Twilight-inspired endeavor probably isn’t what Meyer had in mind when she sent her famous story out into the world — especially because someone out there will probably give one of these as a gift to their unsuspecting child this holiday season. If you value your child’s mental health, please, please don’t purchase anything from this shop.




Unique holiday gifts are totally cool. These dolls are totally not.



Unique holiday gifts are totally cool. These dolls are totally not. desktop 1449517772

Etsy / TwistedBeanStalkNurs





As you can see, this person took everything that teens find cool about the vamps in Twilight and turned it into nightmare fuel. Nice.





But if vampires aren’t your thing, this zombie child should do the trick.



But if vampires aren

Etsy / TwistedBeanStalkNurs





Because letting your child know you love them with a doll like this is the best way to spread screwed-up holiday cheer.





This one is supposed to be a punk baby that’s still among the living, but those eyes still say “dead inside” to me.



This one is supposed to be a punk baby that

Etsy / TwistedBeanStalkNurs












“I love you, mama. Also, I used to be dead, but now I’m not.”



"I love you, mama. Also, I used to be dead, but now I

Etsy / TwistedBeanStalkNurs







Oh, look! A clown baby. Life sucks.



Oh, look! A clown baby. Life sucks. desktop 1449518214

Etsy / TwistedBeanStalkNurs






(via BuzzFeed)


If you’re still convinced that ruining your kid’s outlook on life forever would make an amazing holiday gift, be sure to check out these dolls on Etsy. You’ll probably regret it, but I think you already know that.

Some Dolls Can Be Questionable, But One Woman Is Turning Them Into Real Heroes


Mass-marketed dolls for kids, usually girls, are often subject to criticism. Detractors say that they set an unrealistic and unhealthy standard for young, impressionable girls. In the meantime, though, mainstream media is seriously lacking in the representation of intelligent, thoughtful female role models.


So who can little girls (and boys, because this is the 21st century) look up to during playtime?




That was something artist Wendy Tsao was thinking about when she decided to create a more positive line of dolls for kids to play with.



That was something artist <a href=

Wendy Tsao





This doll was made over to resemble Roberta Bondar, the first Canadian female astronaut. Tsao’s collection of dolls modeled after famous women is known as Mighty Dolls.





Jane Goodall, primatologist and UN Messenger of Peace.



Jane Goodall, primatologist and UN Messenger of Peace. desktop 1444850907

Wendy Tsao






Tsao took some used Bratz dolls (which have been famously used by others for makeunders) and transformed them into women she admires. The women include artists, writers, scientists, and activists, and they all reflect different time periods, heritages, and skills.


She wants kids — girls and boys — to see that women, too, have worked to change the world.




Waris Dirie, model, author, and social activist.



Waris Dirie, model, author, and social activist. desktop 1444850909

Wendy Tsao




And no, being a model isn’t grounds for role-model disqualification.












J.K. Rowling, novelist, best known for the Harry Potter series.



J.K. Rowling, novelist, best known for the Harry Potter series. desktop 1444850911

Wendy Tsao







Malala Yousafzai, activist and world’s youngest Nobel Peace laureate.



Malala Yousafzai, activist and world

Wendy Tsao







Frida Kahlo, painter.



Frida Kahlo, painter. desktop 1444850915

Wendy Tsao






(via My Modern Met)



Tsao credits her inspiration to Tree Change Dolls, who we covered earlier this year. She’s also created other dolls that offer a more realistic and nuanced approach to childhood. Tsao plans on auctioning her Mighty Dolls on eBay in the near future. Check out her website for more information.



When They Learned That Some Kids Felt Left Out, One Company Made Something Amazing


There’s been an awesome push lately to create dolls that don’t just represent an ideal, but celebrate all the different ways people look. Newer dolls on the market display everything from different ethnicities to different body shapes. The Lammily was a doll with the proportions of an average woman, and other artists and designers have also been rethinking the ultra-glam trend in dolls for kids.


Until now, there hasn’t been a lot of representation for kids who look different than other people because of medical conditions and disabilities, and those kids were feeling left out. But now, U.K.-based toy company Makies, which specializes in custom-designed toys, has unveiled a series of 3D-printed, customizable accessories like hearing aids, canes, wheelchairs, and more.




The idea all started with a project called Toy Like Me, which saw the creation of accessories for other toys, letting kids with disabilities feel included and celebrated.









Toy Like Me started as a campaign founded by parents of disabled children to call for more representation in toy companies. They started creating their own accessories for toys their kids already owned, using whatever materials they had to craft prosthetics, canes, walkers, wheelchairs, and even service animals. Other people soon caught on, and began modifying their toys as well. They also began reaching out to toy companies and asking them to include disabilities in their products.




Makies, which allows people to create their own custom doll, responded to the Toy Like Me movement and created their own line of doll accessories.








Makies produced a doll with hearing aids and posable hands for sign language, as well as a doll with a facial birthmark.











This doll is signing “I love you.”





Now, Toy Like Me is trying to get Playmobil, LEGO, and Mattel to jump on board.

























While Makies answered the call, Toy Like Me wants to contact all toy companies to make sure that kids everywhere, no matter their abilities, can see reflections of themselves, and know that they are valuable people worth celebrating. Check out Toy Like Me’s progress on Facebook, and join the cause yourself by signing their petition. You can also check out Makies’ line of inclusive dolls and accessories.




Here are more amazing dolls that are shaking up the Barbie-style tradition:
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