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Lemons from Lemonade
Originally published in Soft Dolls and Animals
By: Rebecca Roth
It is said that if you do what you love, then the money will come. This axiom never came to mind when I designed and created the first “Original Friends” doll. It was the love of a child that inspired me. The child’s name is Lupita and I lived with her and her mother, along with 13 other Mexican women in a dormitory room, inside a Women’s prison near Guadalajara, Mexico from February 2006 to March 2010. I spent five birthdays inside of a prison, going through a process that ignored logic, truth, and common sense.
I lived the life of a shop-owner in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico from September 1998 to February 2006. On that day, I was getting a deposit ready for the bank and several plain-clothed members of AFI (the Mexican equivalent of ATF) came into my shop and took me away to Guadalajara (about six hours away) so I could declare as a witness what I knew about a certain crime that had been committed in 2001. Then, I was told by the authorities, I would be returned to Puerto Vallarta. In Mexico, there is a 72 hour period once you are arrested in which you can get released, without going through a one to two year legal process that is stacked against you from the beginning, because you are guilty until proven innocent in Mexico. That is the case, unless they have already decided that they are going to use you as a scapegoat. Without knowing it, I was now in this predicament. Due to the language barrier, incompetent attorneys and other corrupt officials, I was completely helpless and without defense and so they were able to do what they wanted with me.
Lupita, her mother Sarah, and I all lived with 13 other women in a cell designed for 6 people. All of the 42 cells were just as crowded. It seemed like whenever they would release one, another would come and take her place; like controlled floodwaters in a dam.
Lupita was born inside of the prison because her mother became pregnant after conjugal visits from her husband. She was a beautiful baby and in a very short time began developing into a darling little toddler. But like the other 40+ babies (one to a cell), she played with empty 2 liter coke bottles and little of nothing else. She didn’t have toys. At Christmas time they’d give a ball to each of the children, but somehow by New Year’s, the balls were always gone.
So I don’t know when it began, but I started getting this little voice inside me saying “she needs a doll.” and “Make her a cloth doll.” By then I had already taken the advice of my sister, who visited me twice a week during the first year and thereafter, once a week until I was finally released. My sister told me on many occasions, especially when I was feeling helpless and hopeless, sad and depressed, “Redeem the time.” Meaning, take advantage of everything you can within these prison walls. And to be honest, there were quite a few things that I could take part in. They took up time, I learned new skills, and I began to give back. The first year I began to go to school in Spanish, beginning in first grade. By the time I left, I was in my second semester of high school! I took several sewing courses which took me from a non-sewer to a ClothArt doll artist. The teacher didn’t really know a lot about making dolls so I made a pattern and she helped me the best she could. You could say with the dolls, I am self taught, although I now admire and follow the work of Eleanor Peace Bailey and Patti Culeras.
The prototype of the “Original Friends Doll” had orange yarn hair, purple painted-on eyes, red lips, freckles and wore a white blouse with ribbons and a colorful skirt. She looked nothing like her later counterparts, but she was darling. Lupita named her “Mia” which means mine in Spanish and Mia went everywhere with Lupita.
Eventually Lupita and her mother were transferred to another prison on an island, where they could live more like a family and Sarah’s other three boys could come and live there with them. I don’t know what ever became of Lupita, but I know she is about 6 years old now and I’m proud that I was able to give her something that she could love, her Mia.
I began teaching Alma Esmeralda Hernandez Jose “Esme” English in 2007. At that time she was 23 years old and had been incarcerated about the same amount of time as I had; 1 year. She worked at the sewing workshop, which was really a sweatshop where to make a collared and cuffed button up blouse from start to finish would win you the equivalent of .30 cents. She worked from morning till night and made very little money, yet it was one of the best “jobs” at the prison. We would meet to study and she would talk about how much she wanted to leave the workshop. At the same time, ever since I made the doll for Lupita, my Psychologist, Vicky, kept encouraging me to make more dolls. “The doll you made was really original and beautiful and make some more.” I suggested to Esme that we make ten dolls and try to sell them. So I made patterns and we asked the teacher for scraps of fabric. This was in June of 2008.
In September, in time for the Mexican Independence day on the 16th, we had our ten dolls ready and we displayed them at a little exhibit at the prison. The Director “Claudia” bought the first doll who was named Valarie, but when we finished her, she looked like the Director, so we renamed her “Claudia”. After that, the guards, visitors, and many other people started ordering and wanting them. We spent our days at work, I solicited donated materials from my supporters outside and Esme came up with the name “Original Friends Dolls.” She said original is the same in English and Spanish and everyone knows what Friends means. They are all about 90% recycled, donated and “found objects.” While I was still in prison, we sold well over 100 dolls, all unique because we never repeat a doll design.
I won’t lie to you. Being wrongfully incarcerated is one of the most difficult experiences one can live. But as I was told repeatedly “you are making lemonade out of lemons.” And I was. My faith in God was strengthened, not weakened by this experience and therefore, I believe I was given opportunities for things I always wanted to do in my life, such as having my art exhibited in a world renown gallery in Guadalajara, not once, but four different occasions or like having my art on the cover of a collection of poetry, or publishing my own poetry in three different books. These were all lifelong dreams of mine accomplished through the hardship of incarceration in a foreign prison and they were brought about by blessings from God.
By the time the higher court overturned my nine year sentence and forced the lower court to review its findings, we had sold several hundred “Original Friends Dolls” and we had numerous people working with us. On March 29, 2010, the lower court admitted that they did not have sufficient evidence against me even to pursue the case and let me go under the 72 hour rule. Ironically, my 72 hours didn’t come for over four years, but who’s complaining! The same judge who sentenced me, then let me go. This alone was no less than a miracle because it means he had to admit he was wrong and they just don’t do that!
I was sent to immigration and spent two days there while they decided whether or not to deport me. The decision was made not to deport me and gave me time to put my immigration papers in order. My sister and her boyfriend picked me up and we drove through the city of Guadalajara at night. The lights of the city and all the traffic around us mesmerized me...In a word surreal.
Since March 29, 2010, with help from numerous volunteers, I have been working with the ladies at the Reclusorio Feminil of Puente Grande (big bridge) in the state of Jalisco. We have deemed our dolls as “Ambassadors for liberty and justice”. We received our trademark last February. The dolls are on Ebay and we can securely ship to the US. We have the dolls in four different galleries and upscale gift boutiques and in November 2010 we were invited to the Feria de Maestros del Arte (www.mexicoartshow.com) which is a three day invitational trade show event for indigenous artisans; an event held in Chapala, Jalisco. We will be attending again this November 18-20, 2011. I hope and pray with all my heart that Esme will be free to join me there and have her long awaited liberty and justice must come soon, that is my prayer.
Donations: Any and all donations are welcomed. Fabrics, notions, ribbons, lace, yarn, paint, brushes, buttons, broken jewelry, shells, beads, seed pearls, you name its…If you have items to donate, please contact us at the following adresses.
Originally published in Soft Dolls and Animals
By: Rebecca Roth
It is said that if you do what you love, then the money will come. This axiom never came to mind when I designed and created the first “Original Friends” doll. It was the love of a child that inspired me. The child’s name is Lupita and I lived with her and her mother, along with 13 other Mexican women in a dormitory room, inside a Women’s prison near Guadalajara, Mexico from February 2006 to March 2010. I spent five birthdays inside of a prison, going through a process that ignored logic, truth, and common sense.
I lived the life of a shop-owner in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico from September 1998 to February 2006. On that day, I was getting a deposit ready for the bank and several plain-clothed members of AFI (the Mexican equivalent of ATF) came into my shop and took me away to Guadalajara (about six hours away) so I could declare as a witness what I knew about a certain crime that had been committed in 2001. Then, I was told by the authorities, I would be returned to Puerto Vallarta. In Mexico, there is a 72 hour period once you are arrested in which you can get released, without going through a one to two year legal process that is stacked against you from the beginning, because you are guilty until proven innocent in Mexico. That is the case, unless they have already decided that they are going to use you as a scapegoat. Without knowing it, I was now in this predicament. Due to the language barrier, incompetent attorneys and other corrupt officials, I was completely helpless and without defense and so they were able to do what they wanted with me.
Lupita, her mother Sarah, and I all lived with 13 other women in a cell designed for 6 people. All of the 42 cells were just as crowded. It seemed like whenever they would release one, another would come and take her place; like controlled floodwaters in a dam.
Lupita was born inside of the prison because her mother became pregnant after conjugal visits from her husband. She was a beautiful baby and in a very short time began developing into a darling little toddler. But like the other 40+ babies (one to a cell), she played with empty 2 liter coke bottles and little of nothing else. She didn’t have toys. At Christmas time they’d give a ball to each of the children, but somehow by New Year’s, the balls were always gone.
So I don’t know when it began, but I started getting this little voice inside me saying “she needs a doll.” and “Make her a cloth doll.” By then I had already taken the advice of my sister, who visited me twice a week during the first year and thereafter, once a week until I was finally released. My sister told me on many occasions, especially when I was feeling helpless and hopeless, sad and depressed, “Redeem the time.” Meaning, take advantage of everything you can within these prison walls. And to be honest, there were quite a few things that I could take part in. They took up time, I learned new skills, and I began to give back. The first year I began to go to school in Spanish, beginning in first grade. By the time I left, I was in my second semester of high school! I took several sewing courses which took me from a non-sewer to a ClothArt doll artist. The teacher didn’t really know a lot about making dolls so I made a pattern and she helped me the best she could. You could say with the dolls, I am self taught, although I now admire and follow the work of Eleanor Peace Bailey and Patti Culeras.
The prototype of the “Original Friends Doll” had orange yarn hair, purple painted-on eyes, red lips, freckles and wore a white blouse with ribbons and a colorful skirt. She looked nothing like her later counterparts, but she was darling. Lupita named her “Mia” which means mine in Spanish and Mia went everywhere with Lupita.
Eventually Lupita and her mother were transferred to another prison on an island, where they could live more like a family and Sarah’s other three boys could come and live there with them. I don’t know what ever became of Lupita, but I know she is about 6 years old now and I’m proud that I was able to give her something that she could love, her Mia.
I began teaching Alma Esmeralda Hernandez Jose “Esme” English in 2007. At that time she was 23 years old and had been incarcerated about the same amount of time as I had; 1 year. She worked at the sewing workshop, which was really a sweatshop where to make a collared and cuffed button up blouse from start to finish would win you the equivalent of .30 cents. She worked from morning till night and made very little money, yet it was one of the best “jobs” at the prison. We would meet to study and she would talk about how much she wanted to leave the workshop. At the same time, ever since I made the doll for Lupita, my Psychologist, Vicky, kept encouraging me to make more dolls. “The doll you made was really original and beautiful and make some more.” I suggested to Esme that we make ten dolls and try to sell them. So I made patterns and we asked the teacher for scraps of fabric. This was in June of 2008.
In September, in time for the Mexican Independence day on the 16th, we had our ten dolls ready and we displayed them at a little exhibit at the prison. The Director “Claudia” bought the first doll who was named Valarie, but when we finished her, she looked like the Director, so we renamed her “Claudia”. After that, the guards, visitors, and many other people started ordering and wanting them. We spent our days at work, I solicited donated materials from my supporters outside and Esme came up with the name “Original Friends Dolls.” She said original is the same in English and Spanish and everyone knows what Friends means. They are all about 90% recycled, donated and “found objects.” While I was still in prison, we sold well over 100 dolls, all unique because we never repeat a doll design.
I won’t lie to you. Being wrongfully incarcerated is one of the most difficult experiences one can live. But as I was told repeatedly “you are making lemonade out of lemons.” And I was. My faith in God was strengthened, not weakened by this experience and therefore, I believe I was given opportunities for things I always wanted to do in my life, such as having my art exhibited in a world renown gallery in Guadalajara, not once, but four different occasions or like having my art on the cover of a collection of poetry, or publishing my own poetry in three different books. These were all lifelong dreams of mine accomplished through the hardship of incarceration in a foreign prison and they were brought about by blessings from God.
By the time the higher court overturned my nine year sentence and forced the lower court to review its findings, we had sold several hundred “Original Friends Dolls” and we had numerous people working with us. On March 29, 2010, the lower court admitted that they did not have sufficient evidence against me even to pursue the case and let me go under the 72 hour rule. Ironically, my 72 hours didn’t come for over four years, but who’s complaining! The same judge who sentenced me, then let me go. This alone was no less than a miracle because it means he had to admit he was wrong and they just don’t do that!
I was sent to immigration and spent two days there while they decided whether or not to deport me. The decision was made not to deport me and gave me time to put my immigration papers in order. My sister and her boyfriend picked me up and we drove through the city of Guadalajara at night. The lights of the city and all the traffic around us mesmerized me...In a word surreal.
Since March 29, 2010, with help from numerous volunteers, I have been working with the ladies at the Reclusorio Feminil of Puente Grande (big bridge) in the state of Jalisco. We have deemed our dolls as “Ambassadors for liberty and justice”. We received our trademark last February. The dolls are on Ebay and we can securely ship to the US. We have the dolls in four different galleries and upscale gift boutiques and in November 2010 we were invited to the Feria de Maestros del Arte (www.mexicoartshow.com) which is a three day invitational trade show event for indigenous artisans; an event held in Chapala, Jalisco. We will be attending again this November 18-20, 2011. I hope and pray with all my heart that Esme will be free to join me there and have her long awaited liberty and justice must come soon, that is my prayer.
Donations: Any and all donations are welcomed. Fabrics, notions, ribbons, lace, yarn, paint, brushes, buttons, broken jewelry, shells, beads, seed pearls, you name its…If you have items to donate, please contact us at the following adresses.
What it takes to make a doll
We’re often asked how long it takes to make a doll. The actual body assembly, the nuts and bolts, is really essential to the overall quality of each doll. From 6 to 12 pieces per doll are individually sewn by machine, then stuffed and closed by hand sewing. Next, the parts are assembled and put together using large beads for knees and elbows. This part alone can take 6 to 8 hours per doll.
The decorating process is a collaborative work between the doll and the doll maker! There is a special bond that occurs while making a doll. I once made a doll, who was all color coordinated with an odd shade of salmon pink. I found a piece of crochet work that matched perfectly and I made it into a skirt for her. But when I put the skirt on her, she looked dowdy and a bit sad. She sat for several months unfinished, until I decided to take that skirt off and put something on her that was young and fun. After that, I took her to one of the markets and she sold the same day! Other doll makers within our project have commented on similar “goings on” with their dolls laying down the law on how they want to be finished! Some dolls take three days and others up to a week. It really depends on how much hand beading and other details are put into the doll. Take a look at our catalog to see how different each doll is.
The decorating process is a collaborative work between the doll and the doll maker! There is a special bond that occurs while making a doll. I once made a doll, who was all color coordinated with an odd shade of salmon pink. I found a piece of crochet work that matched perfectly and I made it into a skirt for her. But when I put the skirt on her, she looked dowdy and a bit sad. She sat for several months unfinished, until I decided to take that skirt off and put something on her that was young and fun. After that, I took her to one of the markets and she sold the same day! Other doll makers within our project have commented on similar “goings on” with their dolls laying down the law on how they want to be finished! Some dolls take three days and others up to a week. It really depends on how much hand beading and other details are put into the doll. Take a look at our catalog to see how different each doll is.
