My blog is about hand sewing techniques and the historic one
of a kind early American cloth doll. These early dolls are
extraordinary examples of the creativity, skill and imagination
of the everyday ordinary American woman that "made do" with
the materials at hand to make a doll for their child to play with.
These dolls reflect the times, fashion and environment these
women were familiar with & are a window into time. Very
often these dolls were the only doll a woman would ever make, thus
the primitive look to these individual dolls. Women of all color made
these amazing dolls. While many children enjoyed the fine store
bought china doll, most children from the isolated, poorer sections
of America had to "make-do" with home made dolls. These finely
crafted dolls are a part of our rich diverse American culture. I am
very proud of the work I create. I take great pains to create dolls that
give credence to the original makers and our early American history.
To see some wonderful examples of these early dolls:
(There are 4 videos to this collection you can find them all here)
&
I love Etsy, I've purchased many doll making supplies
there, vintage and antique ribbons, buttons, even the mohair
for my stuffed animals comes from Etsy.
I have been considering opening an Etsy shop as an outlet
for selling my dollies. It's the premier place for selling your
hand crafted items. After reviewing their policy on
banned items I have discovered some of my dolls would
not be allowed for sale there. New versions of certain
items connected to sensitive events in history are not
allowed. In this particular instance, I am referring to
the mammy doll. This is America, companies have the
right to make policies and run their businesses in any fashion
they choose, I respect that. I love the American way.
Etsy's a very successful company.
Carry on Etsy!
I don't consider my reproduction dolls as "mammy"
dolls in a derogatory way. Mammy is a child's
term for referring to "one's mother." Did little children
use that word in a hateful way?
Most of the wonderful historic black cloth dolls
do have a common thread; they have a particular style of
clothing and familiar look about them. The same goes
for the prairie or homesteader cloth dolls. All the early
one of a kind cloth dolls were made by ordinary women
with skill and love for a child to play with. I find it sad that
dolls fashioned in this way are considered offensive &
could arbitrarily be relegated to a category of hate but, that
seems to be the way the wind is blowing.
As an American and an artist, it greatly concerns me when
an American company bases policy on current social trends
rather than facts and legality. Don't American companies
prosper because of our American freedoms? When is it
okay to squelch artistic freedom, ideas, or the written word.
Where does it stop?
Instead of opening a shop, I sent Etsy this e-mail. It
pained me to do so, as I will have to look long and hard
to find the right supplies for my dolls. I don't think
Etsy will notice, I'm a teeny tiny drop in their monetary
bucket but, as an American I feel compelled to
speak my mind.
Hopefully, I still have the right to my opinion.
It has come to my attention that "new" versions of certain items
connected to sensitive events in history are prohibited on Etsy. I was
considering opening a shop, but after reviewing your policy I have
decided not to do so. I am a historical cloth doll maker and on
occasion I make historical reproductions of black American dolls. My
dolls are reproductions of famous black dolls, mostly from the Hatch
Collection. I take great care to make fine examples of the these
fabulous historic black dolls. I am greatly concerned about living in a
country where we are afraid we might offend someone. This is another
example of political correctness gone amuck. What has happened to "If
something offends you.....don't buy it, don't watch it, don't read it??"
It's called choice.
A generation which ignores history has no past: and no future.
- Lazarus Long, from the works of Robert Heinlein
A
society or government that squelches creativity, ideas or silences
dissent is not a democracy. Etsy is bowing to the current winds. If you
continue policies such as this, be careful what you wish for. A day may
come when you are at the receiving end. I have removed Etsy from my
favorites, please eliminate me from your site.
Sherri Farley Make Do Dolls
http://littlecabincreations.blogspot.com/
Hate comes from ignorance and fear
not ladies sittin' in their craft rooms, makin'
innocent dollies, tryin' to earn a livin' or a
few coins for their pocketbook.
I find the notion frighteningly Orwellian.
As a country we have a complex history,
some of it is rather shameful, but it's who
we are as Americans. Ignoring "bits" of history
won't change it nor will it allow us to grow
as a society.
George Santayana, philosopher, essayist, poet
and novelist once
said.
"Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
