Georgie and Ralphie are two beautiful RSPCA rescue dogs that we got when they were just pups. Now 3 and 2 years of age respectively, they were found badly mistreated and lucky to survive, to be able to provide them with a safe and loving environment was the least I could do but more because of my love for animals. Georgie came home with me after hopping into my handbag, she was then and is still today overly affectionate and demands her daily cuddles. It was her decision to choose me and so it was decided that at 8 weeks of age she was now part of the family. Ralphie on the other hand was very shy and it took some time to get him to accept us; I think he wanted to stay where he was. The RSPCA staff surely were happy for him to stay as they had grown quite an attachment to him, but after Ralphie was introduced to Georgie the deal was sealed. I don’t know if it was a romantic encounter between them or more like a bond found between a brother and sister, but Georgie and Ralphie hit it off and are now virtually inseparable. If we ever have to go to the vet, they both go along to keep one another company, it is always interesting to see how they react when one is being treated by the vet – they show real concern. The pair can however be separated by Raphie’s love of the ball, stick, knotted rope, or bone. He will often break play with Georgie to present me with any of his many play items, no matter what time of the day; it is quite hypnotic for him. There is really only one thing that can break this pattern of behaviour between the two dogs; and Raphie’s insatiable appetite for the ball – a little cat named Alphie.

The saying ‘… the eyes are the windows to the soul’ refers to the hidden personality traits that we don’t or can’t convey in our facial expressions. There is a lot more to it than that but this is my interpretation, so if you have expressive eyes then best not to tell lies. Science is now suggesting that this saying holds true; if we are to accept some of the latest research findings into childhood development. This week I read an article that featured Prince William discussing how he talks to his 4 year old son; Prince George, by looking into his eyes. The purpose of doing this was to approach his son on the same level which gave the young prince a sense of confidence and helps to build his self-esteem. At ‘Little Miss K’ we have always tried to capture something special in the eyes of our dolls, some hidden personality in each doll making it unique to the owner. This detail in the eyes is captured in our latest doll range which has a multi-coloured embroider eye design, a technique that allows the observer to look deeper into the eye, rather than looking at a flat opaque surface. My partner often tells me when he was a small boy he had a toy bear and he swears the bear’s facial expressions changed depending on what was happening on that day. Now that may sound a bit far-fetched and probably nothing more than a child’s over imaginative mind, but he says that the bear had a definite change of expression which he could observe just by looking into his eyes. I can’t say the same thing will happen with our new range of dolls, what I can say is we have given them as much personality that can be given to a toy with the aim to give the owner as much joy and opportunity to develop a real bond with their new doll.