All dolled up and ready to roll

LOUISA RUST

With the advent of mass-produced toys such as Barbies and Bratz, fewer people are familiar with the old-fashioned art of doll and bear making.

However, a group of keen Illawarra craftspeople is trying to raise the profile of the craft with an annual show next month.

The members of Shellharbour-based doll- and bear-making group All Dolled Up, who attend regular meetings and hold lessons and seminars to improve their skills, are putting what they’ve learned to good use for the group’s annual show to raise money for the Albion Park Aerial Patrol.

Mrs Di Godfrey, a member of All Dolled Up and also an international award-winning doll-making teacher, said the hobby was not only for experienced artists and craftspeople.

“I cannot draw a straight line to save myself,” Mrs Godfrey said.

“I think it helps in doll-making to have a good brush stroke, but like anything it just takes practice.

“It can be an expensive hobby, but there are cheaper ways around it,” she added.

All Dolled Up has been functioning for 14 years, and in the past has supported many charities and causes including Warrigal Care, Palliative Care Port Kembla, the Early Intervention Unit at Warrigal Public School, Parkinson’s NSW and Diabetes Australia.

The group has about 40 members and they come to meetings and lessons from as far away as Sydney and Nowra.

All Dolled Up’s annual show will be held on Sunday June 1 at Warilla Bowls and Recreation Club, Jason Avenue, Warilla, from 10.00am to 3.00pm.

The show will feature a doll and bear competition, trading tables, a ‘‘Children of the World’’ doll display, raffles and lucky door prizes. Entry to the show costs $5 for adults or $3 for children. For more information on either the show or on how to join All Dolled Up, phone 4295 1799.