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Robin Brooks Susan Reifman Kirk Coleen Pickard Lauren Sinnott Lara Nolan Cecilia Moen Veronica Stewart Amy Rose

Coleen Pickard Coleen has been sewing up breastfeeding dolls since the very beginning. Coleen graduated with a B.Sc (Agriculture) from the Nova Scotia Agricultural College, majoring in Environmental Biology. Since graduating she has held a number of different jobs, ranging from Herdsperson of a dairy farm in New Brunswick, to Research Technician with the Canadian Forest Service in St. John’s Newfoundland, to entrepeneur. The idea of a breastfeeding doll was born out of the Internet. A support group called "Parent-L" was created for parents practicing Attachment Parenting. As a group of women worldwide, we would gather together in front of our computers and voice concern, offer advice, give support, laugh, cry and moan as a collective group. Christmas time gave arise to a thread on toys, good self-esteem toys, safe toys, fad toys. One member commented on that ever-present bottle included with every one of her child’s dolls. Her solution was to discard the bottles, to make the world a more breastfeeding friendly world. From there came the question "Are there any dolls out there (in the world) representing a mother nursing her child?". The answer came back - No. Coleen was interested in working on a doll idea for the newly forming Attachments Catalog. Together Lori and Coleen shared ideas for it's creation and worked out a new partnership for carrying out the dream of baby dolls without bottles. The soft-bodied, rag-type doll embodies the naturalistic approach. Made from 100% cotton materials with yarn hair and a simple hand-embroidered face, it embraces the whole breastfeeding experience. The Mama doll can nurse her baby anywhere by simply unfastening her practical front-closure shirt, and latching her puckered baby’s lips to her breast via Velcro. She cradles the baby in her arms, nursing away, smiling and contented. First time mothers, Second time mothers with younger siblings, grandmothers, friends, and even breastfeeding awareness and support groups have been purchasing these dolls since October of 1996. Coleen, her husband Christopher and their children; Kyle ,Sophie-Rose, and Madeline live in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada. Coleen still sews her dolls and distributes them to Attachments customers. It has become a true home-based business, with dolls being made throughout births of children, moves, moves, and more moves, and the daily family ordeals. It has been a true experience in bringing an idea to life, and to keep changing and adapting to meet customer needs. Coleen says, "I hope one day to actually meet the dynamic Lori Thompson in person. Her beautiful Attachments Catalogue keeps me inspired in the deep dark winter nights, off in the far reaches of North America. I know her and I and all people can be connected, through the love we have for our children, for wanting them grounded and Attached." © 1997-2006 Lori Thompson Photography