Under Rainbows

18/05/2021

When she thinks about her childhood she remembers trauma and fear.
But she has one, strong memory of herself:
On her birthday, dressed in pink with brand new roller blades and knee pads. On that day she remembers feeling special and loved.
On that day she received those blades, that gave her speed and freedom, that made her feel strong.

I am accepting commissions for inner child dolls. If you would like one for yourself or someone you love please do get in touch and I can talk you through the process.

❤️❤️❤️

13/04/2021

I have just renewed the listing for Inner child dolls.
Is your inner child calling to you?
This can be a lovely way to support yourself, to hold and cherish that little part of yourself.

Some recent customer reviews:

5 out of 5 stars
Laura is so lovely, intuitive and helpful in crafting your vision of your inner child!!! I highly recommend her.

5 out of 5 stars
Amazing experience and outstanding end result! Highly recommend without any reservation - thanks again!!

Last year I made a doll for my inner child. It was a tiny little baby, that fitted into my hand and my pocket. It enabled me to hold myself in a very real way and greatly helped my healing journey. So I started offering inner child dolls to others. When you decide you want me to make your inner

08/04/2021

My studio today.
❤️❤️❤️
Sitting on the beach, wrapped up.
Watching the kids playing and hunting for treasures.
Stitching a tiny doll.
I am very excited that I have a lot more time in the coming months for doll making so...

I AM STARTING TO TAKE ORDERS!!!

Hurray!!
Please send me a message or email [email protected] if you would like to commission a doll.

❤️❤️❤️❤️

06/04/2021

They recently lost their baby sister.
The four big brothers.
She asked me to make them a little doll each.
To have something to hold.
To remember her by.

❤️❤️❤️

02/04/2021

Her inner child doll.
There is somthing she is working through right now.
She needed her doll to look pretty.
To be attractive.
To gather attention.
She also wanted to honour the part if her that wore wellies and explored the garden.
I suggested we make her doll both.
A pretty, pink party dress and a pair of red wellies and a cardigan.
Wild and pretty.
Adventurous and tame.

These little dolls represent so much in such simple, yet profound ways.

❤️❤️❤️

10/03/2021

How I love making these tiny dolls.
It is so much fun and such a deep honour to work with someone, creating a tiny representation of their inner child.
Isn’t this one a sweetie?
She is tiny, will sit in the palm of your hand.
She has unruly blond hair, a bright blue tutu and ballet pumps and a little crown onto which I embroidered a rainbow.

❤️❤️❤️

05/03/2021

Her inner child doll.
Her sweet, wide eyed innocence.
Her heart worn on her sleeve.
Trusting and filled with love.
Holding her will remind her that she carries these qualities still.
That the hardness of life built a shell around her, it didn’t harden her heart.

❤️❤️❤️

03/03/2021

She asked me to make a doll for him.
He would have been her first baby boy.
She went on to have other children.
Her joy in them was never deminished by her grief for him.
Just as her grief for him was never deminished by her love of them.
She lives this duality.
She is mother to them all.

❤️❤️❤️

25/02/2021

This little doll represents her when she was around 7 or 8.
She wrote and told me about herself:
What she was like,
Her soft, purple dress.
The dimple in her right cheek.
I used pictures to match her hair colour and style.
She told me a little of that girl’s life.
What she carries.
How she copes.
I made her a cloak.
She wears it to protect herself from the harsh reality of life.
It is a comfort.
A shield.
A disguise.
She collects gold stars.
For being a good girl.
They are stitched to her cloak for all to see.
As proof.
When she needs the protection she can wear the cloak.
Yet underneath is her true self.
Raw and vulnerable.
It is her job to look after her; her little self.
To love and protect her.
And to learn that she is good, that she is important that she is enough without her cloak.

It is always such an honour to work with someone to make their inner child doll.

If this is something that is calling to you please send me a message for more information.

19/02/2021

She asked me to make her a little doll.
Of her as a little girl.
She is bright and bubbly.
Carefree.
She is very loving and very giving of that love.
I made her a little bag filled with tiny red hearts.
To remind her to give only what she has spare.
She is not required to give so much of herself that she becomes empty.
A shell.

❤️

It is always such an honour to make inner child dolls for people.
To help them find a way to hold, with deep love, care and tenderness that part of them that is still little.
That needs us to mind them.
That need our unconditional love.

❤️

If you would like to work with me on making your own little one please do get in touch. L x

02/12/2020

Little C’s doll.
She is so sweet.
Made in traditional Waldorf style, with strawberry blonde hair and blue eyes.
She is wearing a little dress and matching bloomers made of the softest pink fabric. Their family just got a pug, so this print was a special request.
Over this, to keep her warm, she has a rainbow cardigan and hat with matching socks.
I hope she’ll bring Little C much joy and companionship ❤️❤️❤️

30/11/2020

This sweet little doll is available to purchase.
S/he is made of gorgeous soft, organic cotton, in a muted orange with little bunnies printed all over.
It is made in the traditional waldorf style with a very simple hand embroidered face.
My youngest has a doll in this style and he absolutely loves it. It is big enough (about 14") to give a good cuddle to, but very sweet and simple and easy to carry.
The knot at the end of the hat seems to be a favourite feature!
I am offering this wee one for the special price of 60 euro including p&p.
PM me for details.
###

25/11/2020

She asked me to make this doll for her son.
She lost him shortly after birth.
We carefully chose fabrics to reflect his skin tone and a colour they associate with him.
They are in my thoughts xx

24/11/2020

SOLD
This sweet little mermaid is going to be listed in my etsy shop tomorrow, but if she is calling to your heart please let me know.
She is 11 inches and made in the traditional waldorf/steiner way.
She has green eyes and long, curly auburn hair.
(Not surprising as she hails from Irish shores).
She has a sweet little light-green tunic over teal green bloomers. Her tail is hand knitted and really easy to put on and take off.
She also has a gorgeous hand-knitted cardigan with matching hat made from the softest rainbow yarn.
If her siren song from the sea is calling you please send me a message and she will be with you in time for Christmas.

Please note this is likely to be the ONLY Under Rainbows doll that will be available this Christmas.

love ###

13/11/2020

She lost her baby 6 months ago.
Born sleeping, perfect and beautiful.
Her arms ache with the emptiness.
Her heart aches with needing to feel the weight of her.
I made this doll to give her something to hold.
It is weighs the same as her daughter did, the weight distributed throughout the head and body so she feels right in the crook of her arm.
I am so sorry for her loss.
My heart is broken for her.
💔💔💔

26/08/2020

Her inner child doll.

She feels like she lives in her mother's shadow.
She feels small.
She feels that she is not held.

I made her doll a little version of her child self.
She sent me pictures: her blue eyes and light brown hair, the dimple on her left cheek. Her brightly coloured clothes.
Her childish plumpness that her mother didn't like.
She wore her pink hat in many pictures.

When her doll was finished I curled her up into the fetal position. So small and vulnerable.
I knitted her mother's shadow.
Black.
Blanketing.
Wrapped around and over her, hiding and smothering her.

In therapy as she unravels her mother's hold on her she can pull the end thread of the knitted shadow and unravel that too.

Then she can hold her little doll. In her hand, under her pillow, in her purse. All the time if need be, until she is ready to unfurl her.
Until her inner child can stand up, stretch, be heard, be felt and can finally be crowned with her bright pink hat.

She wrote: " It has been such a great experience working with you. This doll means so much to me. Sharing my story and allowing myself to be vulnerable with people feels so liberating. Thank you again."

24/07/2020

I recently did an interview with Anna Healy about my work as a doll maker and with The Babog Project. Grab a cup of tea and have a wee listen ❤️

Listen to this episode from Women in Business in West Cork on Spotify. I want to tell you a little about Laura Whalen. Laura lives in Courtmacsherry with her partner and 5 children. She is a doll maker, a celebrant, a writer and the creator of women's spaces. Her work is currently focused on The Bab...

23/07/2020

She recently started her self awareness journey and felt that a little doll to represent her inner child would be really powerful.

She told me a little about herself as a wee girl. Who she was, what she was like, her likes, what happened to her that was significant.

I made her doll, with a great deal of care and love.
I really loved making her, watching her come alive in my hands.

I made her a little bag. My instinct told me to. I don't know what she is carrying, but it is important.

I sent her the pictures of her doll she wrote back:

"Oh my gosh - I am literally crying right now.... thank you so much I am beyond words. She is so unique and perfect... thank you 😭
🥺❤️🙏 you’re doing amazing work and just ... thank you. I am beyond touched and grateful"

I am so grateful that I get to do this work.
if you have any questions at all about an inner child doll, please do get in touch.

x

15/07/2020

Sweet little doll looking for a home xx

https://www.etsy.com/ie/listing/789870065/hope-11-waldorf-doll?ref=shop_home_active_1&frs=1

This sweet little lady will be the perfect addition to any family. She is made in the traditional Waldorf style: cotton jersey fabric stuffed with clean carded sheeps wool. Her face is kept sweet and simple, with a little nose, little blue eyes and a sweet little pink, embroidered mouth. She has

29/06/2020

Sweet little mermaid.
Even in mid summer the sea can be chilly so she needed a warm cardi and hat too.
❤️
I have limited custom slots this year as I am very busy with so please get in touch if you would like a custom doll as soon as possible x

06/06/2020

I made her sister a mermaid doll a couple of years ago. She fell in love with her, but her little sister didn't want to give her up, not for bribes, nor pleading nor tears. So her dear, kind grandaunt asked me to make her her own mermaid doll.
I hope she is everything she has dreamed of.

I have limited custom slots available so please do get in touch if you would like me to make a doll for you.

###

02/05/2020

My poor old sewing machine is out of action (it actually caught fire yesterday!) so until it is repaired I won't be offering any large custom dolls.
I am still offering tiny dolls and I have this beautiful little lady here, all ready to go (pm me for details)
Thank you for your patience ###

20/04/2020

Last week her friend had a miscarriage.
She asked me to make her a doll, in memory. In honour. In deepest sympathy.
The only way she can give her a hug right now.
###

27/03/2020

Another little doll, ready to go to their new home.
Available to purchase on etsy with FREE shipping ###

https://www.etsy.com/ie/UnderRainbows/listing/790214559/waldorf-doll?utm_source=Copy&utm_medium=ListingManager&utm_campaign=Share&utm_term=so.lmsm&share_time=1585340980413

26/03/2020

This sweet little lady is available now for sale in my Etsy shop.

She was made with an awful lot of love, with spring sunshine and hope in every stitch.

Please visit this link for more information or if you think she'll make the perfect addition to your family.

https://www.etsy.com/ie/listing/789870065/hope-11-waldorf-doll?ref=shop_home_active_1&frs=1

♥️♥️♥️

15/03/2020

Two sweet little ones, to honour the wee ones they lost 💔💔

13/03/2020

She wrote to me a while ago.
Unsure if she wanted a doll, but wanting a doll.
She was sexually assaulted when she was 10 years old.
She was at school and she was saved by another child from being a r**e victim.
She survived.
She went on to learn, to finish school.
She went to university, became a nurse.
Became a mother.
But the trauma was there.
In her.
Until it broke her body to pieces.

She wrote again. This time sure she wanted the doll.
She told me about her little self.
Her rat taily hair. Her little black loafers. Her too big navy cardigan that she could only take off at Girl Guides.
Where she felt safe.
Her doll should have on the guiding uniform. A neckerchief.
And I made her a sash. A badge for her achievements, her successes.
A badge because she survived.
A badge because she learnt to read.
A badge because she went to university.
Because she had a good job, for being a mother, for surviving again.

I didn't put the sash on her doll.
That is her job.
To be witnessed by someone.
An award ceremony.
With cake afterwards.

I sent her the pictures of her doll today before I posted her and she replied:

"oh my, she is exquisite, your words, such healing words, how can I ever thank you. Please share my story, it may help someone else. Sorry I'm in tears, which as you know is wonderful, she is perfect, I'm speechless. Your work is so full of love, thank isn't enough but its all I got"

What an honour to do this work ♥️♥️♥️

06/03/2020

Another fairy found at the bottom of my garden.
This one has a sweet little baby to mind as she grows up ♥️♥️♥️

26/02/2020

These sweet little dolls are all ready for the twins' second birthday.
They were so much fun to make and I hope that little E and little I love having them.
♥️♥️♥️

22/02/2020

In case anyone is near Clonakilty next weekend...
The Bábóg Project
Doll Making Workshop
Sunday 1st March
11am -2pm
Clonakilty Community Arts Centre

Come along and join us making a tiny doll to honour the short life and death of one of the precious babies that died in Ireland's mother and baby homes.

Doll maker Laura Whalen will guide you through the whole process. It is a simple, easy to follow craft suitable for even complete beginners.

This is a free workshop as all dolls are made for and left with The Bábóg Project. All materials and equipment provided, all you need to bring is your enthusiasm and your kind heart.

Booking essential as places are limited please email [email protected] or text 0857470086.

For more information about the The Bábóg Project and other ways to get involved please visit www.thebabogproject.com

Please share