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Instagram: Ipswich woman's doll collection has worldwide following

Eileen Lam The dolls at the Great Wall of ChinaEileen Lam
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.

Eileen Lam The dolls in New YorkEileen Lam
The collection of Blythe dolls has travelled to New York
Eileen Lam The dolls by the Orwell Bridge near IpswichEileen Lam
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.

Eileen Lam One of the dolls and Ted on a farmEileen Lam
Mrs Lam said the photos were "light-hearted and playful"
Eileen Lam The dolls and Ted on the beachEileen Lam
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."

Eileen Lam setting up a photo of the dolls
Mrs Lam gets lots of interest when she sets up the photos

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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."

Eileen Lam A doll and Ted at Covent GardenEileen Lam
Mrs Lam said it was "fascinating" for her worldwide followers to see England
Eileen Lam The dolls at FelixstoweEileen Lam
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.

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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.

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