The Story Behind Love Bali Arts Dolls : Ykpa Bali dolls

 

The Story Behind Love Bali Arts Dolls

Since I was a little girl, I never had a doll of my own.It wasn’t that my parents didn’t buy me toys, they did. In fact, I had more toys than most of my friends in the village. My father often brought me toy cars, toy guns, and puzzles, mostly the kinds of toys for boys. Maybe those toys were really meant for my brother, or perhaps even for himself, because when he was little, he never had toys. no body buy for him. He grew up as an orphan, without parents. What he gave me most often, though, were books. Every time a new issue of Bobo or Ananda magazine came out, he made sure I had it.

I grew up a bookworm. Of course, as a girl I loved reading fantasy and fairy tales. My favorite story was about a family with three children who traveled and even slept in their car while having adventures in San Diego. At that time, I could never imagine that one day I would actually live in San Diego myself. A girl from a small village under Mount Batukaru in Bali, Indonesia. Who would have thought life would one day bring me to the very place I once only read about?

But still, one thing was missing in my childhood: a doll.
Maybe that’s why today I create dolls. Each doll I make carries a piece of that longing I once had, and now they also serve a greater purpose, to support YKPA.org, helping children receive education and empowering women to earn income for their families.

The very first doll I ever received was a teddy bear, when I was about 19 or 20 years old. My boyfriend at that time, Agung, bought it for me during the Bali Arts Festival at Ardha Candra in Denpasar. Until today, I’ve kept that teddy bear, not only because it came from someone I loved, but because it was the first time in my life someone gave me a doll. 

Years later, another unforgettable moment came from my dear friend Kyra, from Australia. She has always been like a sister to me, someone I deeply love and admire. One day, she asked me, “What is something your parents never gave you as a child?” I told her, “A doll.”

Not long after, her parents came to Bali for their wedding celebration, and during the gathering, they surprised me with a gift. When I opened it, I found a brown Barbie doll, ts skin tone like mine, with short tomboy-style clothes, glasses resting on top of her head, exactly my style. At that very moment, I couldn’t hold back my tears. I was 35 years old, but it felt as though my inner child was finally seen, finally heard. That doll meant more to me than words could ever describe.

 

Unfortunately, I didn’t get to keep it for long. My daughter, Cinta, took it without permission and played with it until it was broken. I was really upset. Michael tried to comfort me, saying, “It’s okay, it’s just a doll, not a big deal.” But for me, it wasn’t “just a doll.” It carried a lifetime of longing, and the memory of that gift will never be forgotten.

Now, through Love Bali Arts, I create dolls with love, care, and meaning. Each doll is not just a product, it carries a story, a memory, and a mission. With every stitch, I remember the little girl I once was, and I hope these dolls can bring joy, hope, and opportunities to others,
especially the children of YKPA and the women who craft them.

Because sometimes, something as simple as a doll can hold the biggest meaning in life.