A young mother gives her daughter a doll and tells of the dollmaker who used her work to teach children to love others and respect their uniqueness.

"The Doll Lady" is a fictional literature that revolves around the story of a young lady, Minnie, who looks like a doll and acts like one. When she hears a town minister gossips about her, Minnie decides to take her revenge by sneaking into his chambers and change some lines in his sermon that his church members wouldn't like. As things unravel Minnie feels regret, but there is more to this tale, featuring themes of love, romance, downgrading, and more that captures the human mind and the complexity of human nature.

In the early 1930s, Velvalee Dickinson moved to New York City where she opened her own exclusive doll shop. She built her reputation as an expert in rare, antique, and foreign dolls. She traveled extensively around the country lecturing and exhibiting her dolls while building a wealthy clientele. Due to her husband's poor health and her failing business, she accepted the role as a spy for the Imperial Japanese Government. By hiding coded messages in her correspondence about dolls, she was able to pass on to her Japanese contacts critical military information about the US warships. The FBI arrested her and charged her with espionage and violation of censorship laws. She became the first American woman to face the death penalty on charges of spying for a wartime enemy. Eventually the espionage charge was dropped, and she was sentenced to 10 years at Alderson Correctional Facility and a $10,000 fine. Four years into her stay at Alderson, Eunice Kennedy took a special interest in Velvalee and helped her find employment once she left Alderson. Later, Velvalee would become Eunice's private secretary. Velvalee Dickinson reached out to Eunice one last time when she was in her 70s, asking for her assistance in getting a job at the New York World's Fair. She eventually disappeared, having lived her life after prison in anonymity. Velvalee Dickinson: The "Doll Woman" Spy is a carefully researched glimpse into the "Doll Woman's" life as a collector of dolls, and as the highest paid American woman who spied for the Imperial Japanese Government during World War II.

Highlights the dress and thoughts of some of the most famous women in history.

The #1 international bestseller and The New York Times Editor’s Choice “As lush as the novels of Kate Morton and Diane Setterfield, as exciting as The Alienist and Iain Pears’ An Instance of the Fingerpost, this exquisite literary thriller will intrigue book clubs and rivet fans of historical fiction.” —A.J. Finn, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Woman in the Window “A lush, evocative Gothic.” —The New York Times Book Review “This terrifically exciting novel will jolt, thrill, and bewitch readers.” —Booklist, starred review Obsession is an art. In this “sharp, scary, gorgeously evocative tale of love, art, and obsession” (Paula Hawkins, bestselling author of The Girl on the Train), a beautiful young woman aspires to be an artist, while a man’s dark obsession may destroy her world forever. Obsession is an art. In 1850s London, the Great Exhibition is being erected in Hyde Park and, among the crowd watching the dazzling spectacle, two people meet by happenstance. For Iris, an arrestingly attractive aspiring artist, it is a brief and forgettable moment. But for Silas, a curiosity collector enchanted by all things strange and beautiful, the meeting marks a new beginning. When Iris is asked to model for Pre-Raphaelite artist Louis Frost, she agrees on the condition that he will also teach her to paint. Suddenly, her world begins to expand beyond her wildest dreams—but she has no idea that evil is waiting in the shadows. Silas has only thought of one thing since that chance meeting, and his obsession is darkening by the day. “A lush, evocative Gothic” (The New York Times Book Review) that is “a perfect blend of froth and substance” (The Washington Post), The Doll Factory will haunt you long after you finish it and is perfect for fans of The Alienist, Drood, and Fingersmith.

In The Healing Doll Way, Barb Kobe shares stories and images from her transformative experience becoming a healing doll artist, as well as those of many of her students and peers. The book also guides you through the process of making healing dolls for yourself. The act of making a doll can take you through a process of imagination, recovery, and growth. You do not need to be an expert at dollmaking-or artmaking, for that matter-to experience the power of this kind of work. This dollmaking process invites and encourages you to explore a range of perceptions and emotions, and in doing so, reach a deeper level of understanding and acceptance of yourself.

“A fabulous book! . . . If you enjoy tiny, detailed projects that allow for lots of creativity and personal handiwork, I cannot recommend this book enough!” —Feeling Stitchy Salley Mavor’s book Felt Wee Folk inspired tens of thousands to handcraft dolls from simple materials. Now, she invites you to return to the wee world with Felt Wee Folk—New Adventures, starring 120 dolls to spark smiles and creativity. As requested by fans, this long-awaited follow-up shares more challenging projects. Explore fresh scenes and an array of new outfits, hairstyles, and accessories, with full-sized patterns. Make bendable dolls that resemble you, your family, or your favorite fairy-tale characters with wool felt, chenille stems, and decorative stitching. Display the figures in a dollhouse, atop a wedding cake, or in a holiday scene to be cherished year after year. From the pages of Mavor’s award-winning children’s books to your home, the enchanting wee folk dolls appeal to crafters of all ages and skill levels. More dolls, more scenes, and more outfits Use your stash—wool felt, chenille stems, and simple embellishments Delightful, challenging projects, as requested by fans Felt Wee Folk was a Foreword Reviews’ GOLD WINNER for Crafts & Hobbies “While the original book included projects beyond Wee Folk dolls, the new volume focuses on the dolls themselves. Fairies and families, kings and knights, and even some not-too-scary pirates all grace the pages of the book, beckoning readers to at least admire, if not try to create, Wee Folk of their own.” —The Enterprise (Cape Cod)

The first pattern book for making unique, customizable African American crochet dolls From American Girl Dolls to Barbie, there's something special about having your own doll, and even more so, having a doll that looks like you. And it’s not just about clothing; having a doll that has eyes, skin tone, and even a hairstyle to match your own is a thrill. For African American girls, this isn't the norm nor is it easy to find. Created by Yolanda Jordan, My Pretty Brown Doll offers patterns and crochet techniques to create this charming crochet doll, with skin tone, hairstyle, eyes, and outfits that are customizable to match the young person this gift is for. Jordan’s unique aesthetic will appeal to a wide variety of crocheters, and there are endless possibilities to make this doll unique. The book covers a basic wardrobe, including pants, shirts, shoes, coats, a hat, and a scarf. But then Jordan dives into specific adventures like going to school and playing soccer, dancing ballet and traveling to Paris. There's even a mermaid and a scientist outfit, complete with lab coat. Offering African American girls the chance to have their own doll, who looks like them and can be outfitted exactly the way they want, is a gift unlike any other. It's a wonderful opportunity to deliver something special to an underserved market.

Before they can make the attempt, Master Stevens decides to sell some of his slaves and the family is separated. American Girls Collection/Addy #1.