Little girls love playing with dolls. But many, like the Bratz line, tend to create glamorized, glitzy versions of women that are out of touch with the lives of young girls. Enter Sonja Singh, a 30-something mother from Tasmania (an island off of Australia) who has breathed new life into castoff dolls with Tree Change Dolls.
Her idea started simply, born of being laid off from her job. She bought dolls inexpensively at flea markets and thrift stores. Once home, she wipes clean the make-up from their face, and repaints them with simpler, more realistic features. Her mother helps out by crocheting tiny doll sweaters, skirts, and jackets. There are even boy dolls.
Sonja was a bit embarrassed to admit her interest at first, but her husband supported her vision. Reborn as Tree Change Dolls and posted on Instagram, the dolls have become an Internet sensation. If you’re looking for something different for your daughter, check out her offerings.