Recently, those connections have taken a beautiful turn through the power of poetry.
On a recent tour, a gentleman, Les Stevens, visiting with his retirement village paused not only to admire the dolls on display, but to capture the moment in verse. What began as a thoughtful gift – a poem written for my mum after his visit – has blossomed into something truly special. His words captured the museum so well we had them printed on canvas beside one of Mum’s favourite dolls – a doll that, by chance, shares the same name as Les’s beloved aunty. The result is a piece of art that now hangs proudly in our collection.
Since then, Les has continued to share more of his writing with us. We’ve discovered that poetry is his way of seeing the world: everything he experiences, he captures in words. Over the years, he has filled several volumes with poems, many inspired by his travels across Australia. From the red earth of the outback to quiet coastal towns, his verses paint vivid pictures of the country we proudly call home – places that many of us know well, but perhaps haven’t paused to see through the eyes of a poet.
In an age where everything moves quickly, his poems remind us to slow down and take notice – of the landscapes we pass, the towns we visit, the stories tied to each corner of Australia. His work is not only personal but also deeply Australian, celebrating the spirit of travel, discovery, and belonging.
Les has self-published four books of poetry, sold privately, each capturing his uniqueway of seeing the world. One particular book, written during his travels across regional Australia, takes readers to places many of us may never find the time to see. Reading it was a reminder of the history that still surrounds us and the beauty of our nation waiting to be explored.
Just as our dolls and toys capture the imagination and history of play, Les’s words capture the heart of place and memory. His poetry is a reminder that art comes in many forms – sometimes in porcelain and fabric, other times in pen and paper – but always with the power to connect people. To buy les books you can contact us oremail him direct on ….. selsnevets@hotmail.com.
Shyloh
Tales from the youngest daughter of a doll collector — raised on Milo, Vegemite, and more antiques than a country op shop.
Disclaimer
All of our printable designs are sold for personal use only andare not to be resold, redistributed, or used in commercial products. That said, we love supporting education and creative learning. If you are an educator, home schooler, or community group and would like to use these printables forclassroom or educational purposes, please feel free to contact us for written permission. We’re always happy to chat about how our designs can be used tosupport learning while still protecting the integrity of our original artwork and museum collection.
