The Self-Image Doll™
and how it came to be.

The Self-Image Doll™

A fun self-exploration project for all ages.

The Self-Image Doll™ is an idea that came to me in 1983 when I was doing what amounted to group play-therapy with foster children in my home, who had been battered, neglected, or otherwise made to feel less than wanted in their families of origin. I began to use the concept with them with phenomenal results. Doing the project and then watching me sew them together and being able to play with the finished doll gave them a serious sense of ability and worth. Not only that, it also provided me deep insights into their self-concept, which then allowed me to work more specifically to help them with their particular issues. Mind you, we are talking about very young children, kids under 6, who are minimally verbal, or in a couple of cases pre-verbal, who don't have any "jargon" at all and little if any language, except their behavior, with which to express the hurt they feel inside.

I had made up a whole kit, complete with stuffing, Pentel "Fabric Fun" pastel dye sticks, and pre-printed Self-Image Doll panel, or just the preprinted panel itself. Both come with instructions and are easy to use. At present, I have only the plain pre-printed panels left. Young children will need help with this project. Let them color the panel with the dye-sticks, then depending on age and ability, either they or you can heat-set the colors with a dry iron over clean white paper, cut them out and sew together with a 1/4" seam. Leave the top of the head open for the stuffing, and let them help stuff the doll, and then stitch the opening closed. My foster kids stood at my elbow while I stitched the dolls, and oversaw every aspect of their creation.

Of course, you can do this as a fun project, conversation piece, or give the kit as a gift as well. Use the panels as a craft-club activity, and then after they are heat-set, send everyone home with their panel to complete the project and bring to the next meeting for show and tell. Parents can have children make a new doll on each birthday. What a precious record of development for future years! On a more serious note, grieving children can work out many issues just by making a doll for the person who has been lost, or of themselves and how they feel. Happy/Sad dolls will result from decorating the panels as two fronts, one happy, the other sad (or angry, or whatever). The therapeutic uses of this tool are endless.

Multiple Self-Image Dolls

In the first sheet of instructions, I mentioned, tongue in cheek, that multiple personalities could make a Self-Image Doll for each one of their facets to help clarify what's going on. Since then, I actually knew a dissociative personality, a man who was not present in his own experience when things got intense, but let the alter-ego take over. I lost touch with him when he discovered that I knew this. Now I think, as a therapist, that it would have been extremely interesting and therapeutic, had he been interested, to have each part make one of these dolls. At the very least it may have exposed the depth of the dichotomy.

Another thought is that teenagers, who are seriously involved with trying to invent themselves, can make a Self-Image Doll for each of the outcomes they are considering. Adults in transition may benefit from such exploration as well.

In addition or alternately to the Pastel dye-sticks, any kind of fabric treatment can be used, including embroidery, fabric paint, photo transfer, batik, beads, trims, lace, or sequins. I recommend leaving the panel intact until decoration of front and back are complete. If adding embellishments, remember to leave 1/4" for a seam allowance on all edges!

Preprinted muslin panel and instructions, only $9.95 plus $4 postage.

Click Here to Order Now or use PayPal link below.

Note: Since the plain panels are all I have right now, I recommend using the panel as a pattern and tracing the two doll outlines onto another panel of muslin to work on the project. It's easiest if you don't cut out the outlines until decoration is complete and heat-set, dyed, stitched, or whatever.

Terms: Payment with order.

Quantity discounts are available for professionals or retail outlets. Just ask!

The concept, kit, panel, instructions, and term "Self-Image Doll" are trademarked property of Nancy Adams, and are sold for personal use only and may not be used commercially nor reproduced for sale. All writings and instructions are copyright 1983, 2001, and 2005 by Nancy Adams and may not be reproduced in full without express written permission.

We accept PayPal or money order only! To order using PayPal, just click on one of the links below.

If you prefer not to use PayPal, you may send a money order to me at:
Nancy Adams, PhD
PO Box 3162
Coos Bay OR 97420

More info? email me!

Photograph your Self-Image Doll for this page!

revised April 18, 2005
Check back soon!