Slices of life, both written and photographed.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

From Tragedy to Victory: A Story of Courage and Resilience




This is a story that is chilling, in one sense, but heart-warming in another.

I have a very dear friend who has made dozens of porcelain dolls. Some of them are so real-looking you would swear they are going to get up and walk across the room.




One day, several years ago, her house was broken into.The culprits not only trashed her very beautiful home, they savagely hammered more than two dozen of her dolls' heads.  They left the hammer at the scene.  Only the bodies of the magnificent dolls were left.




My beloved friend was heartbroken. I felt deep compassion for her and enraged  there are people in the world who would cause such wanton destruction on purpose. To me, it seemed like an act of unadulterated evil.




Here comes the best part which shows the stuff my friend is made of. After the tears, she determined she was not going to let the act of vandals weigh heavily on her heart. She started to re-make the heads of her dolls and, little by little,  over time, with great care as well as financial investment, re-created all of the destroyed heads. 

















 








Many of the dolls shown in this post are ones that were smashed and remade. Aren't they fabulous? Doesn't my friend sound like one terrific lady?  She truly is one-in-a-million.








                         WHICH DOLL SHOWN, IF ANY, APPEALS THE MOST TO YOU?




6 comments:

Susan said...

I love the last doll you posted. She is adorable. Not only is your friend a woman of character and grace, she is a very talented lady! God Bless Her!

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

Wow Susan! Those dolls are amazing. That second little Indian girl looks like Marie Osmond with those big doe-eyes! :)

Okay, I know people rob houses, but why ever would someone take to smashing doll heads like that? Did they find out who did it? It's almost as if they knew her and didn't like the fact that she had such a passion for creating. Crazy!

Hope you have a great day. Tammy

Ocean Breezes and Country Sneezes said...

How awful, I know the feeling of coming home to a home that's been burgled! I'm also a HUGE fan of dolls, have been since I was a child, and I would say that I'm most attracted to the doll with the bunny! Your friend did a fantastic job repairing her beloved dolls.

Linda O'Connell said...

People can be ornery. I like the second doll. She has such a pretty face.

Rebecca said...

What an amazing woman - talented and courageous.
I really like the Afro-American (?) doll. I have 3 African or Afro-American adopted grandchildren. There are not nearly enough black dolls to buy for the two granddaughters! This one is beautiful!

Chatty Crone said...

That is amazing. I am sorry this happened to your friend. I admire her for going forward.

I like the 2 - the Indian and the clown on the left - she looks so real.

These dolls are wonderful and I would like all of them or any of them.

sandie

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