Girls

My Girl finished her first year of preschool and is being transferred to a different class starting July 1. I still remember filling out the four page application for her last year, fearing that we may not be accepted and she won't get an education.

On the very long application, one of the questions they asked is what I expect the school to do for my child. My answer was that I wished for the school to be an extension of my family. I wanted the teachers to be kind, loving and I wanted them to care for my girl as if she were their own. Basically, I wanted them to be me, only better and more patient. Tall order, right?

Well, I think they did it! The teachers at the school showed my Girl so much love and kindness in the past year that I am very touched and I feel compelled to do something nice for them. As a parting gift, I made each teacher a doll that resembles my Girl. I asked the Girl how each teacher is significant to her and I designed the girls based on her answers.

Meet the Girls


This is for Yeung Sin Saang. She is the Girl's Chinese teacher. She always bring flowers from her garden as little gifts for the Girl because she knows my Girl LOVES flowers. She also keeps saying the Girl makes her really really want grandchildren. :-)


This is for Cheung Sin Saang. She is the "breakfast teacher". She takes care of the Girl on the mornings that we get to the school early enough for breakfast. She's also the first teacher who gave the Boy some food when he gave her puppy dog looks. Since then, all the other teachers took to feeding him when they see him and in return, he shows them his dimply smiles and says, "ng goi sin saang", which makes them very happy!


This is for Ms Tracy, the main teacher. The Girl says that Ms Tracy teaches her to write and draw and is her favorite. The picture doesn't show it very well but I got the Girl to draw a mini picture of Ms Tracy on the pink paper as part of the doll


The is for Ms Lori. Ms Lori has a kitty cat and she shows pictures of her cat to the Girl sometimes, which the Girl loves. She takes care of the Girl when I am late to pick her up. She also always has little gifts for the Girl.


The little kitty on Ms Lori's doll was made out of paper clay and then painted. I think this was our favorite doll. The Girl and I both wanted to keep this doll and give Ms Lori something else. Some of my friends (well, I can only think of one victim, really) have had a taste of my "I got you a gift, but I love it so much I had to keep it for myself" move and they didn't appreciate it one bit. I have to admit, it's pretty scummy of me. So, I have decided to teach my daughter to be a better person than I was. We decided to give Ms Lori her doll and we'll make another one for ourselves. Here is a close up of the kitty.


This is for Ms Joanne. She is the office clerk / librarian. She also takes care of the Girl when I am late and she always encourages the Girl to read books.


The little book has a real story in it about a little princess who goes to school. I made up the story. It's basically a story that says "thank you" to all the Girl's teachers. Here, take a peek over the girl's shoulder.


Here are the girls again. They were so much fun to make that I think I will make many more. I used left over fabrics from various clothes I made for the Girl for the dresses. Most of the accessories were made out of paper clay and then painted and varnished. I really enjoyed combining so many crafts (paper, book binding, clay, painting, sewing, gluing, etc.) into one project. I have plans to make them for my shop, too. Stay tuned.