THE IDEA OF SAPPALOTTAS

In German we say "Sappalot" when we are surprised or amazed.

Sometimes this surprise goes along with anger. For example if your child has drawn a big corsair on the wall.

The child might be enthused about it, but you might not be 100% happy about it.

For me this element of "sappalottig" game is an essential part of childhood.

 

For us grownups it might sometimes be stressfull to clean up overflown bathrooms after the production of magic potion, to fall into carefully dug pitfalls or to recognise, that something has HAD to be taken to pieces to look and understand the inside of something.

But there is always a part of me that is glad to fall over surprises like these or others, as it means, the child is totally preoccupied by the discovery of the world and it's own skills.

 

As a dollmaker I am even more happy about the "sappalottig" parts of playing, as there are still more girls playing with dolls, than boys (at least after the age of 3).

 

As a woman I want to support girls empowering themselves to look at their dolls (representing themselves) not mainly as an object of beauty, but to being all one can be!
I hope that girls spend their time with their dolls not only dressing them up beautifully und brushing their hair but to play all their wishes, possibilites, skills and allowing themselves to be who they are!

 

In the same spirit all my felted figuren are crafted. I want them to be free, wild, dreamy and funny.

 

 

"SAPPALOT" - THE DOLLS HAVE GENITALS!

All Sappalottas have genitals. Sad enough I have to mention it.

With the same implicitness the dolls have toes, ears and bellybuttons, of course they have genital organs.
As a little input to the development of gender identity I find it important not to confuse children by finding "nothing" on their dolls (often seen with all kinds of dolls and figures).

In practice I regularely recognise that the first thing children do, is undressing their doll to look whether it is really a girl or a boy and than being happy to see that everything is on it's. place.

 

 

 

SAPPALOT - IT TAKES ALL KIND OF PEOPLE TO MAKE A WORLD!

As it takes all kind of people it also takes all kind of Sappalottas.

My dolls of course have diffent colour of skin, eyes, hair and sexes.

The faces are as different as their bodies.
So I want to reinforce parents  to let their children choose their own doll, because they might find something else important than we do.

Also I would be glad to work on a doll with special needs or any other special elements that makes the child happy, if someone wishes to have a doll created for his or her special child.