Create a Healing Doll Companion:
A chance to create a one-of-a-kind doll to aid you in your healing journey
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🧵 Create Your Own Healing Doll — In-Person Workshop with Erika Cleveland Once again, after the success of last year, a chance to work with Erika in her intimate studio space, surrounded by her inspiring collection of dolls. Last year's workshops were transformational and inspirational for the participants. Come again or join for the first time, this year! Remember: spots are limited! ✨ Workshop Overview Spend the day in a small, supportive group of like-minded creative women. You’ll create a personal healing doll using natural materials and traditional hand-sewing techniques. This doll will reflect your inner needs, intentions, and healing journey. Whether you're new or experienced doll-maker, this workshop offers a powerful and grounding experience. See below for more details. 📅 Dates & Times Two Sunday Sessions Available Choose one or attend both (space permitting):
10:30 AM – 12:30 PM Break 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM Sunday sessions offer free, unlimited street parking near the studio. Place: At my studio at the Jackson Art Center, 3050 R. St. NW, Washington, DC on the second floor, Studio 15A 👥 Group Size
🎨 Benefits from this workshop:
I will be providing instructions to create a stick armature doll, a simple and intuitive starting point. However, you should not feel limited to this approach. You may want to experiment with other doll-making techniques, such as soft sculpture dolls. Be aware, however that this is a one (or two) full day workshop and dolls take time and focus to complete. Materials list suggestions include sticks, sewing supplies, quilt batting, fabric and something to make heads with. You will receive a more comprehensive materials list upon signup. I will give suggestions of other materials you might need to purchase if you would like to try another technique. You will be asked to decide on a healing intention* before you come to the class. This can be related to healing for your body, for your life goals, or can have a spiritual focus. This is up to you. A healing intention* is a conscious and purposeful thought or focus aimed at promoting healing—physically, emotionally, mentally, or spiritually. For example, a healing intention might be:
❓ Common Questions
💰 Cost & Payment
Pay by credit card through the Transformative Healing Doll website link below. (Note: if you want to use PayPal, you have to go all the way through to the last payment option and a small icon for PayPal will show up) Direct sign-up link below if you already know you are ready to sign up. |
Emily with her doll, see her comments below
I was motivated to take Erika’s class after seeing her work and falling in love with her dolls. After seeing them and talking to Erika, I felt that, although I had no experience whatsoever with this kind of creative process, creating healing dolls was open to anyone. I wanted to create a doll - an older woman, a character who was unabashed about living her life and presenting herself in any way she chose without self-consciousness. I had no idea what I would create, but in the end, my doll became the a representative of an older woman whom I had met when I was younger, who wore loud and clashingly colored clothes, carried alarmingly fun handbags, and dressed as if she were going to a garden party, a house of workshop or a halloween at the same time. I found her fun and fascinating. I did not fully understand my doll or my process until after I brought her home and continued to work on her. I love her as I loved the woman whom I had known.
It was a delight to be in Erika’s studio, surrounded by her work and all her materials, with other women as we glued, sewed, and wove together whatever parts of our stories we wanted to share. I felt I was part of a beautiful ritual. Before the workshop, I did not sew or create objects, and since then, I have allowed myself the gift of making and discovering, both in the process and in the final product, bits and pieces of my life and imagination. Emily Carton, participant, Healing Doll workshop, summer 2025 
Lina with her doll, see her comments below
I had been making dolls (inspired by Erika’s work) for more than a year, but I didn’t feel that I was progressing, either artistically or emotionally. I was at a standstill. I was trying think of other ways to make dolls—other materials, other ideas, a different approach—but I was focused on the shape and the look and could not be free to just create. When a friend invited me to join her class, I realized it was what I needed.
Erika’s approach and instructions freed me, once again, to create. Listening to and working alongside others allowed me to suspend judgement of my work and myself and to just make…I had never worked on a doll before with other people. Communicating with the other participants, sharing experiences, and receiving feedback felt safe, encouraging, and liberating. I found myself working and creating without thinking. The doll was suddenly my aunt—a combination of who she was and who she could have been. And I saw myself in her. I loved the ease of being together and the very personal and intimate conversations. I enjoyed being in Erika’s studio, surrounded by her work, hearing her instructions and gentle guidance. It felt wonderful to work on a larger scale, effortlessly, freely, without fear. To anyone who hasn’t taken a class with her, I would say: It’s easy, it’s fun; it’s healing, it’s magical. Come with ideas or without. Just have an intention to be and create and to experience healing. This workshop is for anyone on a journey of creativity, self-awareness, and healing. Lina Cortas, participant Healing Doll workshop, 2025 
Doll by Helen Blumen, see her comments below
I’ve taken Erika’s workshops three times now and they have been very helpful in accompanying me on the journey to process grief, making in the service of emotional expression and just having fun. It’s very scary to do that stuff alone. Even right now, when I have a plan and materials and some time on a small project, I’m unable to get started.
I especially liked being in Erika’s studio for an extended period to really look at and take in her work. Not to imitate it (because I have no interest in learning felting, and imitation is a lost cause anyway), but to observe how she works with emotions and symbols. I knew that the class would be a safe space to process grief by making art. And I wanted to spend an extended period in Erika’s studio, to absorb her intentions and processes. I felt that healing occurred both during and after the workshop, in fits and starts. I loved making a doll. I don’t usually make representations of people, and it was so different to do that, with the coaching of the facilitator. My advice to future participants: It’s not about technique. Erika will help you figure out what making and owning your doll means to you. Helen Blumen, participant Healing Doll workshop, 2025. 
Amy Mazur, with her doll created in the 2025 Healing Doll workshop, her comments are below
I met Erika many years ago at an art exhibition where she was exhibiting her dolls. I was fascinated by the idea of “healing dolls” and promised myself the opportunity to learn more about the history of, and process for making one myself.
Time passed and, although I had the pleasure to see Erika’s beautiful and inspiring work at her studio, it wasn’t until this past summer that I actually was able to join a healing doll, day long course. As a person facing critical medical issues, I had utilized several therapeutic strategies to deal with the challenges I faced. Talking helped to some degree but, I already could express my needs and feelings verbally. It was not until I had the opportunity to think more abstractly… to use symbols and materials to “tell” my story and reflect my needs that I found a new way to find / listen to my inner conversations. As a student in Erika’s class, I joined a small group of women who also wanted an alternate way to communicate their tale. Erika explained the history of healing dolls, asked us our goal/ purpose in wanting to make one and facilitated use of everyday materials such as sticks… seed pods, yarn…fabric, charms, etc. In the creation of our individually created doll; each reflecting a keen insight into needs that are often best expressed spiritually, and emotionally. I feel blessed to have had this intimate opportunity and will seek additional chances to continue to develop my practice of creating healing dolls. I highly recommend this class to anyone seeking alternate ways to identify their journey, needs, experiences and feelings. Amy Mazur, participant Healing Doll workshop, 2025 |
Healing Doll In-person workshop, Sunday, June 7th
$275.00
$250.00
FIRST SESSION, Sunday, June 7th
Workshop Overview
Spend the day in a small, supportive group of like-minded creative women. You’ll create a personal healing doll using natural materials and traditional hand-sewing techniques. This doll will reflect your inner needs, intentions, and healing journey.
Whether you're a new or experienced doll-maker, this workshop offers a powerful and grounding experience.
Healing Doll In-person workshop, Sunday, June 28th
$275.00
$250.00
SECOND SESSION, Sunday, June 28th
Workshop Overview
Spend the day in a small, supportive group of like-minded creative women. You’ll create a personal healing doll using natural materials and traditional hand-sewing techniques. This doll will reflect your inner needs, intentions, and healing journey.
Whether you're a new or experienced doll-maker, this workshop offers a powerful and grounding experience.