This past September, Amazon suggested a book for me. A coloring book—Fairies Around the World. Amazon's algorithm must have realized Lucy Claire and I are connected, she was an ExtraSmall Phoebe owner and her mom, Claire, is a talented dollmaker, who I follow on Instagram (and you should too). I needed to hear the story behind this adorable coloring book.
Lucy's project extended beyond just creating and publishing a coloring book. The coloring books were put into kits. Each kit had art supplies and a copy of Lucy's book all in a tote bag. Lucy and a friend distributed the kits to children at her local Family Crisis Center.
"My coloring book was inspired by lots of things. One day I drew some fairies inspired by my moms tiny Waldorf dolls that my neighbor made fairy wings for. I loved drawing them, putting them in trees, with animals, and I loved how it could be anything I wanted. I could be creative about it.
"When my mom bought my Phoebe doll for me, she showed me how you donated dolls to little kids each time a doll was purchased; your doll brought me so much happiness, I knew how much happiness it would bring to the kids who received one. You inspired me to donate my coloring books.
"I wanted to bring joy to someone's life like you did. I donated seventeen canvas totes containing colored pencils and a pencil sharpener/ crayons, and one of my fairies around the world coloring books. That day we packaged up the totes and took them to the Family Crisis Center.
"Designing the coloring book was fun, and a challenge. I worked on it for months, and my awesome mom helped with everything along the way. I made the coloring book when I was twelve, and I turned thirteen this May.
Lucy is inspiring to me. She is so creative, generous and talented. And she has a book on Amazon!
Thank you, Lucy!