​Worry Doll Therapy

My name is Melissa Kline. I am an author and climbing instructor with a hobby as a miniaturist!

My latest project combines two of my favorite things: climbing + miniatures = Guatemalan worry doll adventures.

How did this crazy combo come about? During the COVID-19 pandemic I was jonesing to climb and looking for a creative outlet. I discovered a small box of Guatemalan worry dolls I’d stashed away in a drawer, inspired by their whimsical, playfulness. To me, they looked like little climbers. With twist-ties, I fabricated tiny harnesses and painstakingly posed the dolls on rock using sewing thread as rope. My quarantine project was born!

Each day I created a new series of photographs with new “rope” colors and different poses. I even set them off on a mountaineering trip after a snowy day. I decided to call this project, “Worry Doll Therapy,” because working with these dolls has been therapeutic for me and I can’t help but feel that they’re relieving stress too! I hope they make you smile :)