Meet the Lady Behind the Dolls
My mom knew I was looking for a doll to include in a giveaway for When I Saw You / When You Saw Me, so she began searching on Etsy. Thankfully, that led her to k.d.’s shop where she sells beautifully handcrafted dolls. It was impossible to pick just one, so I bought several more and created a Compassion Kids Christmas bundle that includes a copy of When I Saw You / When You Saw Me, a conversation guide, and one of k.d.’s dolls.
One of the best parts about meeting other creators is learning what inspires their art. So that’s why I asked k.d. a few questions, and I just had to share her story with you and the heart behind the dolls she so lovingly creates.
1. Tell me a little bit about yourself. Where did you grow up? Where do you live now? What are some of your other hobbies and interests?
I was born and raised in Japan. I moved to New York in 1996. I've been living in Harlem, New York, since 2000. Reason? I was very much attracted by everything about New York, particularly its multiculturalism. I actually am a writer for a Japanese publication. So, I have been writing about black culture, immigrant cultures, and social issues in New York or the U.S. Oh, I write American picture book reviews too. I'm fascinated by them!
2. How long have you been making dolls, and why did you decide to start making and selling them?
I started making black/brown dolls five years ago. Having just a small pop-up shop in my son's school turned into more serious business in the 2018 holiday season. Then it was full swing in 2019. (Then the pandemic came. No pop-ups this year.)
The reason I started making black/brown dolls was what I saw at Harlem YMCA. I used to work for an after-school program there. Barbie.com was a popular website among girls where they can assemble their own Barbie by selecting skin tone, hair color, eye color, dress, and accessories. One day, I noticed that some dark skin girls chose lighter skin tone than themselves. There were some black Barbies in Toys R Us, but I didn't see much black/brown rag dolls. This is why I make dolls.
3. Where do you find inspiration when creating your dolls?
I live in Harlem. There are vibrant colors, bold patterns, great music, rhythms, love, smiles, scene of pride, and everything. I get inspiration by just walking down the streets.
4. Is there anything else I didn’t ask that you would like to share?
New York, especially black/brown communities, got the hardest hit in the beginning of the pandemic. A lot of people have been struggling since then. I hope 2021 will be a better year.
You can find k.d.’s adorable, handcrafted creations in her Etsy shop. I’m warning you, you’ll want to buy one of each.
