Survival Doll

Survival doll sheltering in place

when all else fails
Whether earthquake, tornado, terrorist attack, the rapture, or an alien invasion from outer space, you have only to grab your survival doll and run.
Concealed within this innocent-looking, seemingly worthless doll is everything you will need to survive just about anything that could possibly happen. 

Other survivors you encounter may attack and try to steal your food, money and other supplies, but it’s unlikely they will bother with a doll.

arms
One contains a cup of white rice,
the other a cup of brown rice.

legs
Filled with soup makings, one leg contains dried lentils, the other split peas.

head
The core of the head is a plastic bottle filled with nails, fish hooks, and safety pins, wrapped with ten yards of twine and fifteen yards of fishing line. The core is then padded with cotton batting and encased in linen. 

Facial features are hand-embroidered to depict a fearful expression as a reminder that fear is a useful survival tool, keeping you adrenaline-pumped and alert.

torso front
Felt heart conceals a cache of silver dimes. Minted prior to 1964, these dimes are comprised of 90% pure silver and can be used for negotiable currency after the global economy collapses.

torso back
The back unzips to create a storage space for a hidden cache of survival gear.

Matches and magnifying glass for starting fires

Whistle, jackknife, two small flashlights

Ace bandages, alcohol wipes, antibiotic cream, alcohol pads, bandaids, dental floss

CD used as reflective surface to signal planes, 8 GB jumpstick for data storage

Gaffer tape and a sewing kit with needles, thread, collapsible scissors

survival gear
All objects shown here fit into the survival doll torso. The doll may be customized for individual needs, and torso contents may be modified. Optional items include a spare pair of glasses, specific medications, a small handgun, or whatever you feel you’ll need to stay alive and thrive when disaster strikes. Specially tailored kits are available for seniors.

petticoat
A two-layer petticoat concealed beneath the dress contains a complete survival manual. Contents range from first aid, constructing a raft, and building shelter, to crafting primitive weapons and purifying water.

First aid and building a raft from a poncho

Underslip: How to make primitive weapons

Back slip layers: how to start a fire, purify water, build shelter

Survival doll setting up camp in the woods

Sleeping Stones

Decades ago I researched herbal lore to create a series of magic charms. The formulas were based on the wisdom and writings of Pliny, Shakespeare, Ibn Al Awam, Indian sages, ancient Saxons, war-weary crusaders, and countless wise and wonderful old women from Tuscany, Sicily, Greece, and far-flung corners of the globe.

I have combined that herbal lore with my fondness for stones to create these sleeping stones, stuffed with cotton batting and an herbal formula for "general magic and seeing fairies." The stones are made from recycled sweaters, T-shirts and fabric scraps. Keep a stuffed stone by your pillow, give it a squeeze as you go to sleep to release the herbal fragrance, and drift away. Make some stones of your own.

The Secret Herbal Formula for General Magic and Seeing Fairies:

Thyme: The scent gives us strength, courage, bravery. In medieval times it was believed that the herb enables you to see fairies and nymphs that live in fields and meadows. Prevents bad dreams. Brings happiness and well being. Refreshes a tired person.

Rosemary: Brings good luck, prevents witchcraft. An herb of Mercury. Leaves placed under the pillow prevent nightmares. Quickens the mind and prevents forgetfulness. In Hamlet, Ophelia to Laertes, Act IV, Scene V: "There's rosemary, that's for remembrance. Pray love, remember."

Found Fairy Gardens

For those without a plot of land to call their own, try a pocket garden to lure sprites to your urban apartment. This project started when I found a piece of mossy redwood bark in the middle of my path during a walk in the rain.

Three tiny gardens.

Pebbles and a small stone create a fairy circle on a bed of moss.

This garden was created using a little recycled plastic box.  This is the atrium fairy garden.

Close the box and you have a fairy terrarium.

The redwood bark fairy garden.

Situated in an old Altoid tin, decoupaged with Chinese good luck paper.

Closed, it's the secret Chinese fairy garden.

A garden for seashore fairies.

Stalk of exotic grass with blow-away seeds
that may or may not be fairies in disguise.

Close-up of fairies. One breath and they're gone.
Can you spot the two fairies in
the redwood garden above?

Another fairy close-up. These ones look a little evil.