INSTRUCTOR BIO:

Victoria Reeves is an Artist | Writer | Teaching Artist who teaches at libraries, community centers, after school programs and home parties across Chicagoland.

Examples of Victoria’s Empowerment Dolls - www.instagram.com/empowerment_dolls

REFERENCES:

(Victoria Reeves has presented at the following Chicagoland libraries:)

Bensenville Community Public Library (3/1/25) | Elizabeth Morris, Digital Librarian and Archivist emorris@benlib.org | (630) 766-4642

Sulzer Regional Library (6/11/24) | Chicago Public Library | Sarina Ortiz, Library Associate sortiz@chipublib.org | (312) 744-7616

Northtown Branch (11/14/24) | Chicago Public Library | Diem Nguyen, Librarian dnguyen@chipublib.org | (312) 744-2292

Oak Brook Public Library (5/17/25) Brigitte Crowder - Library Program Coordinator BCrowder@oak-brook.org | (630) 368-7700

Wilmette Public Library (8/6/24) | Jennifer Bartel, Programming Coordinator jbartel@wilmettelibrary.info | (847) 256-5025

PROCESS for the Empowerment Doll Workshop:

Receive a Mind Mapping worksheet and brainstorm creative self descriptors. Design, stuff, hand-sew, and embellish a doll. Write an affirming message on the back. Takeaway: small, fabric Empowerment Dolls - inspirational textile art dolls that patrons can place in their studios, writing spaces, backpacks or ???

SUPPLIES:

A ‘buffet table’ will be set up with brightly colored, pre-sewn doll forms, heads (complete with many shades of skin tones), eclectic yarn for hair, vintage buttons, beads, trim and fiberfill stuffing. Participants get to choose the colors, designs and textures for their Empowerment Dolls that speak to them. Scissors, threaded needles, markers and handouts are also provided.

PRICING:

Fee includes all supplies needed, including hand-sewn/prepared doll forms, vintage beads, buttons, yarn, needles, thread, scissors, fiberfill stuffing and handouts. Please note that I prepare and machine-sew all of the doll forms in advance, which is quite time consuming. This extensive advanced prep enables participants to complete an entire doll in only 1.5 hours, WITHOUT the use of sewing machines. This prep opens up the workshop to participants of any level.

The only skill required is very basic hand-sewing - which can be taught in minutes.

$250 for (up to) 10 participants - includes all supplies, prep, instruction, handouts)

$350 for (up to) 20 participants (includes all supplies, prep, instruction, handouts)

AUDIENCES:

Children (aged 6 - 10 with a caregiver), 11 and older can attend alone

Teens, Adults, Intergenerational Groups (Teens + Adults together), Seniors

ROOM REQUIREMENTS:

Any meeting room that can accommodate the enrolled participants. A room layout photo will be provided upon booking. Very easy to host! We simply need tables and chairs. No AV equipment or mess.