Instagram: Ipswich woman's doll collection has worldwide following

  • Published
The dolls at the Great Wall of ChinaImage source, Eileen Lam
Image caption,

Eileen Lam takes photos of the dolls all over the world, including at the Great Wall of China

A woman who records the travels of a set of dolls on a social media page says she is amazed they have attracted a worldwide following.

Eileen Lam initially started Dolly Treasures on Instagram as a way of keeping in touch with her daughter when she went to university.

Almost 80,000 followers have seen her Blythe dolls in destinations from her hometown Ipswich to New York.

"It's wonderful, I had no idea that it would grow as it has," she said.

Image source, Eileen Lam
Image caption,

The collection of Blythe dolls has travelled to New York

Image source, Eileen Lam
Image caption,

But they are also pictured closer to home in Suffolk, including this view at the Orwell Bridge near Ipswich

Mrs lam first started to post photos of dolls five years ago, and named the account after her daughter Bernadette, nicknamed Dolly.

She thought it had started to become a bit repetitive, so she started to take "the girls" out and they "became little characters".

Her family of dolls has grown to more than 100 and they have travelled all over the world to Hong Kong, Shanghai, Marbella and Paris, as well as staying closer to home in Suffolk.

Image source, Eileen Lam
Image caption,

Mrs Lam said the photos were "light-hearted and playful"

Image source, Eileen Lam
Image caption,

She said "the girls" had become their own "little characters"

"Many followers are all over the world and they love to see the English countryside, London and Suffolk," Mrs Lam said.

"If you're in China and you see England, it's fascinating - and the Americans love it too."

Image caption,

Mrs Lam gets lots of interest when she sets up the photos

This Instagram post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Instagram
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip instagram post by dollytreasures

Allow Instagram content?

This article contains content provided by Instagram. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Meta’s Instagram cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of instagram post by dollytreasures

The mother of two put Dolly Treasures' popularity down to its "light-hearted and playful" nature.

She said: "It makes people happy. It reminds them of their childhood, a day of innocence."

Image source, Eileen Lam
Image caption,

Mrs Lam said it was "fascinating" for her worldwide followers to see England

Image source, Eileen Lam
Image caption,

She has published three books, called The Little Mischiefs, based on the dolls' adventures

Mrs Lam, who used to make jewellery for Harrods, travels around the world to take photos of the dolls for her books The Little Mischiefs.

She has also created a display at Benjamin Pollock's Toyshop in Covent Garden and has featured on a podcast.

This Instagram post cannot be displayed in your browser. Please enable Javascript or try a different browser.View original content on Instagram
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
Skip instagram post 2 by dollytreasures

Allow Instagram content?

This article contains content provided by Instagram. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Meta’s Instagram cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.
End of instagram post 2 by dollytreasures

Mrs Lam, who lives in Ipswich with her husband Peter, said she would continue for as long as people are interested.

"It's great fun and if you're creative, it's wonderful to have some way to express yourself and share it," she said.

Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, external, Instagram, external and Twitter, external. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk, external

Related internet links

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.