Nippon Worry Dolls & Cattail Trinket Cases

Worry Dolls are a traditional Guatemalan custom, but these have taken on a Japanese twist!  A popular children’s gift, worry dolls are commonly kept under pillows at night to ward off worries & anxieties.  Customarily made with household items such as clothespins and bits of fabric, worry dolls are a great way to transform scrap materials into awesome works of art.
When I was young I learned a worry doll technique using tooth picks and leftover embroidery floss.  I feel using floss instead of fabric allows for more detail, both in terms of color & design as well as the actual contours of the figure.  The faces are left blank so you can draw a smile on once the source or worry is gone!
These worry dolls, like much of the art in the Amigami collection, have taken on a a Japanese twist.  The pair of Geisha, in shades of pink and violet, are inspired by summer flowers.  Their ensemble is complete with rear bow, the famous Geisha white face make-up, and hair neatly held in place (one even has “chopsticks!”)
We also have Buddhist monks in their famous orange robes, as well as Miko (temple priestesses) with their customary red skirt and flowing hair.
And last but certainly not least is their packaging.  In brilliant emerald green, the “worry box” is hand-woven from cattails of northern Appalachia.  These leaves were collected and dried personally, in a special dark room designed to retain the plants’ vivid color.
Case & lid each measure about 2.5″ x 4″ and fit neatly inside one another.  Water resistant and incredibly strong, this case is a perfect way to store your keepsakes, including your worry dolls!
This entire collection is now available in my Etsy shop!  And of course, I am always happy to make custom worry dolls or cattail boxes – just ask!