I thought I’d share some photos to brighten your day with these adorable creatures.
Laurel spent hours creating these handmade dolls for her high school senior project. She decided to donate them to a cause that supports young people, so they will be sold by Lilu at their annual fashion bag show on May 2. Lilu is a teen-run nonprofit that meets throughout the year to design and sew one-of-a-kind handbags; proceeds from their fundraiser benefit Wind Youth Services, which provides outreach, social services, and emergency shelter for homeless youth ages 12–24.
Laurel and her friend Quill named each doll and wrote playful biographies for them. Below are the photos and the stories behind each character.
Left: Olivier – Though he looks grumpy, Olivier is a true softie. He would give you the stripes off his back if he could.
Middle: Bellamy – Bellamy the Great is a magician in a cape. He aspires to be the world’s best magician; his best trick so far is making his dinner disappear.
Right: TeeDee (short for Toki Doki) – Spontaneous and upbeat, TeeDee lives in the moment and loves electrolytes. She brightens everyone’s day.
Left: Augustus – Always singing and dancing, Augustus waits for discovery by the famous names of the sea.
Middle: Mundo – Mundo is suave and in tune with his emotions. His plush wings are always open for a comforting hug.
Right: Amelia – Amelia loves to fly. Even though she belongs in the water, she prefers soaring through the sky. Don’t be surprised if she zooms past your window one day.
Left: Pepper – Pepper loves riding his motorcycle through the countryside, enjoying the wind on warm sunny days.
Right: Brighton – An intellectual and well-traveled, Brighton carries a wealth of knowledge. One of his guilty pleasures is marathoning Jeopardy.
Left: Samsam – Samsam has a twinkle in his eye and a mischievous streak. He loves playful pranks, including flinging chocolate cream pies.
Middle: Koko – Koko is a fortune teller who claims to hold the keys to your past, present, and future. She’s accurate about 30% of the time.
Right: Bert – During a time-travel adventure Bert stole the legendary Eye of Solomon, which left him forever frozen at age 21.
Left: Oxy Richard – Oxy adores the Oxford Dictionary. He works at the library, writes poetry in his spare time, and hosts moonlit poetry readings in the trees.
Middle: Natasha – Mysterious and resourceful, Natasha delivers “messages” from her ever-surprising bag. You never know what she’ll pull out next.
Right: Franz Franco VIII – From a distinguished line of anteaters with a reputation in archaeology, Franz carries his family’s legacy.
Right: Argon – A laid-back and taciturn creature with noble traits. In the dark, blue-green lasers shoot from his eyes. He’s prone to spontaneous wing and tail flapping.
Left: Pacha – From a distant land, Pacha sells unusual trinkets and greets everyone with a warm, friendly manner, even if his language is unknown.
Middle: Bennett – Always thinking of love, Bennett is a devoted cuddler and hopeless romantic who’s always ready for affection.
Right: Chestnut – A seasoned street vendor, Chestnut has roasted many winters away on a city corner. His chestnuts have a reputation for being “special.”
Left: Jasper – Known as the “Golden Boy,” Jasper is an expert truffle hunter. His most prized discovery was a 100-pound truffle.
Right: Rogelio – Once a touring jazz musician, Rogelio is now wandering the highways in search of new adventures and, perhaps, love.
Chilling on the sofa.
These handcrafted dolls are full of personality and imagination. Each one reflects the care and creativity Laurel put into her senior project, and donating them to support youth services makes these pieces all the more meaningful. If you enjoyed these photos and bios, keep an eye out for Lilu’s fundraiser events—projects like this show how creative efforts can help communities and support young people in need.