The saddest part of the story of the Radium Girls, for me, was the fact that management knew of the danger of the paint. The scientists who mixed the paint wore lead lined protective aprons and the paint was carried around the factory in lead canisters. It had even been reported that management would never interact with workers and refused to set foot in the building where painting was done. To this day you can still find Radium painted clocks and they still glow just as bright as when they were painted, although the radiation is minuscule and not harmful.
Even worse was the fact that during the trials, the company tried to delay the judgment because they knew that those girls didn’t have long left. So many of those girls agreed for a settlement that amounted to nothing for the company because they just couldn’t wait any longer.
Seems like this was hardly relegated to this particular company....since they were selling it in beauty products and irradiated water....the story seems sad enough without adding questionable details.... especially since the owner himself was suffering from the effects of radiation poisoning. You'd think he'd be the first of all people to throw on the lead apron. The nefarious deeds are obvious. No need to dogpile.
@@firegodessreiko it's not "questionable details" or "dogpiling". This kind of thing happened all the time back then. Heads of companies knew how dangerous their product or the process of making their product was, and then they would hire literal children to work on them. This isn't different, the materials are just worse.
The president, before he was fired because of a coup, had once gone into the painting room as one painter was doing the lip-point thing and told her to not do that. He was trained directly by the Curies and did not know about the the lip pointing.
This is why we have unions and workers rights now, and need to continue fighting for workers rights, otherwise we would have toddlers working as chimney sweeps again. They're already chipping at child labor rights, and it happens worldwide. Make sure to vote for your upcoming local elections!
This doll is absolutely stunning and the last words being “it starts in the jaw” with the jaw glowing was brilliant! The story is tragic and fascinating, I’ve never heard the story of the radiation girls but now that I have I feel angry. The people who created the paint and forced the girls to work knew the dangers and proceeded to allow this to happen, all for some extra money.
Worst part is, according to accounts of the longer-lasting women, they liked the paint and used it on themselves for intercourse appeal with their partners. They were having fun with the glowing aspect and didn't know that it wouldn't go well until it was too late and they were on the hospital beds.
Radium paint also left behind a legacy of contaminated buildings and places in the USA. Radium breaks down into Radon gas which can itself cause lung cancer too.
I don’t think I’ve ever been so shook by doll customization before. This was so beautifully made. What a tasteful tribute to the girls who died and a way to bring awareness to this gross moment in history… wow. Adding my voice to the chorus of requests that you please think about doing this again sometime… this was something that I think a lot of people should hope to aspire to with their *journalism,* never mind their dollmaking. WOW.
I agree! I was thinking to myself during the video “what a beautiful way to pay tribute to the radium girls” I love how at the end she points out how the victims literally couldn’t have done anything differently, but the corrupt people favoured profit over people’s lives
@@mflor4544 Oh no! I get you, though. My brain also goes there a lot and I have to go back and reread things to make sure like “Wait, that doesn’t say what I think I said, right?” Rationally, I don’t think people want to be combative, but once you’ve encountered your first aggro-comments person, it sticks with you.
This really reminds me of two very similar cases, that of Paris Green as well as Mad Hatters Disease. Paris Green was an extraordinarily popular pigment in the Victorian era. It was in nearly everything, from dresses, books, and wallpapers to, sadly, childrens toys. Unfortunately, like this case, nobody realized that it was dangerous until children began falling sick and dying from arsenic poisoning. I believe that the main producer of the wallpapers denied that it contained any sort of danger (spoilers it was full of arsenic) and may have even encouraged children to lick the wallpapers, though that may have simply been something that the children were doing and nobody stopped them. The cases of Mad Hatters disease is very similar to that of the Radium Girls, where hatters were exposed to incredibly large amounts of mercury and subsequently went mad and became ill. This is I believe the origin of the phrase “mad as a hatter” as well as the inspiration for the Mad Hatters design, specifically makeup, in the live action Alice in Wonderland They’re both incredibly interesting and tragic topics, and if you liked learning about the Radium Girls I highly recommend doing your own research into either one of them
Or how children and animals were poisoned by lead paint (it was cheap and used everywhere - including farm aminal buildings) because lead in paint makes it sweet, so animals and children would lick it. You'll still find buildings/houses that have lead paint in them today because the paint is increadibly stable. The lead causes stunted growth, developmental delays, nerve and kidney damage - relatively quickly. Since the paint has been used since 4 BC, it obviously took a while to discover where the illnesses were coming from, though they were well aware of the dangers of lead in the 18th century. There were movements to ban it's use in homes in the 1920's, and many countries don't use it or ban domestic use, but due to it's cheapness and stability, it's still used industrially.
@@margaretkaraba8161 thank you for sharing, I actually didn't know how prevalent lead paint was and how long it's been in use, so thank you so much for telling me !! I'll definitely be looking further into this :)
The mercury was for treating and crafting the hats every day, and inhaling mercury fumes causes immense delirium over time as well as full on mania and emotional outbursts.
Don't forget the white phosphorus and what it did to the girls working in matchstick factories. The owners tried to cover up the phossy jaw by blaming typhus. That was the leading factor behind the matchgirls' strike in 1888. Etellan briefly mentioned it
Paris Green, lead, phosphorus we’re not the only toxic colour, Vermillon was once made of Cinnabar, Mercury. Not to mention Cobalt is also poisonous as well as Manganese blue is also harmful to the environment. Is there another colour/pigment that also killed.. Oh Uranium Dioxide was also used in Festiveware. Honestly, there were so many toxic pigments and paints throughout history.
she's so beautiful, her design almost makes me cry; she looks like such a sweet girl in so much pain, it really communicates the tragic nature of the Radium girl's demise. also i dunno if it's just me but i feel like her and the lavender plague doctor you made awhile back should be friends
My high school actually put on this play and a lot of my friends were in it. One of my best friends played Dr. Knef. Thank you for spreading the tragic story of these girls.
I actually almost cried It was cruel for these girls to be working with radium while the others were earning profit. I swear the things that people will do just to put money into their pocket is downright grotesque and wicked. It was however, amazing that you made a doll in tribute to these girls who died these horrible and painful deaths. Great job and keep up the good work, Etellan
Can we just appreciate the construction of this character as the narration continues, the radioactive bones and the glow of the skeleton, it’s like every other sentence is an awakening point. Beautiful. At the beginning of the video you see glowing, radioactive, a key word and recognizable attribute. At the end, you see the Radium Girls, the withering jaw, the darkness of willful ignorance.
this is one of the best videos i've seen on youtube in a really long time! i would love if you made "handmade history" a series! like maybe talk about different things in history while you make a doll related to it? it could even be more lighthearted history if you wanted to. your voice is really soothing to listen to, so i really enjoyed you talking about radium! thank you for making and sharing this with us
I was lucky enough to have a few American Girl dolls as a child, and I was always so enamored with their historical backgrounds. This doll is like the adult, tragic version of that. I love this idea and I think you’ve handled it very respectfully. Another reason you’re one of my favorite dollmakers on this site.
I had the Samantha doll, but I read the books for many of the other dolls. They really were fascinating to me, too! Cool to hear your story. What was your favorite doll?
It was a very sad time in history and goes to show how cruel humanity can truly be. Im glad that you shared the story about it. I also love the doll to, it represents it perfectly and is just amazingly thought of and perfectly done. Love her, great job!!
I squealed when I saw this! I got to be in a production of the stage play Radium Girls by D.W. Gregory in the spring, playing one of the radium girls! It was an insanely fun and emotional process, especially when it came to my character's illness and death. I remember people telling me that they didn't know anything about the radium girls before seeing the play. Thank you for spreading the knowledge about them and for your amazing custom!!
This is a beautiful way to memorialise and honour the memory of these girls, as an art piece the doll is so beautiful, but it does not hide the horror of the truth of what they went through. She is so honest in her representation of the tragedy the girls she was made in ode to, who they were and what they dealt with. This is a very difficult line to walk in art, and you've done a beautiful and thoughtful job
Can we have more history creations like this? It was really fascinating and the doll made to represent the tragic history behind it was completely stunning
If she does the Agent Orange, she'll have to know it is a forest treatment but was used so much that it intentionally infected water and now thousands of Vietnamese children get mutated faces to close to inhuman results since it's a genetic-altering drug.
aside from learning history a general illness series would be neat for representation. kind of in the notes how there are barbies with wheelchairs or how they added glucose checkers on the sims 4. we could all use learning a bit about those and would be even cooler if she featured artists or just people with said illnesses/disabilities to tell the story/be interviewed. and give them a shoutout. im always waiting for a doll artist to finally do that because i dont want hecking Mattel to represent me because i dont care to be in their little rich company club, but i want actual real ppl to think of us and put work into making us feel heard and included and even shouting out some of us. i overall really enjoyed this podcast-esque video because its always more fun than getting a tutorial of doll making which i still do appreciate but i dont make dolls so its more entertaining and productive for me to hear a story or conversation :) (also i can focus more on the techniques if i have to figure out what shes doing rather thant quickly getting told it)
please PLEASE make this a series. the script in this video was amazing, from beginning to end i was captured and felt so many emotions. it was like a movie!
I was so excited when I saw this posted! I remember learning about this case and it was so heartbreaking, especially when you learn how the company's lawyers would keep pushing and delaying the trial while the poor women were literally dying from the radiation poisoning. I'm so glad you covered this. I think it would be interesting if you made dolls inspired by historical events or stories that you find interesting.
All of the work you put into this video paid off so well! I absolutely adored this video. The doll is beautiful and haunting, you were somehow able to capture horror and fear on her face. And the story was captivating and so tragic.
Agreed! The doll has so much emotion in her face, I really feel like she embodies the hopelessness of those poor girls Beautifully done, and a wonderful tribute
"Radium Girls" was a popular play for local high schools around me. I think three of them all brought it to the same competition in the same year. It was a beautiful story and I enjoyed the show!! But I did get tired of seeing it after a while haha. Beautiful work as always
This doll is such a tragically beautiful representation of the radium girls. Lights on, looks gorgeous and perfectly healthy. But as soon as the lights go out, sick, and bones glowing.
etellan, this is an incredible video and creation. i really enjoy listening to historical stuff, so having you tell the important story of radium with your soothing voice as well as creating a beautiful doll, was so so good. thank you !!
16:26 that makes so much sense! I honestly expected that, because of the 'brush in the mouth to make the tip pointy' action that was highly endorsed, the logical conclusion might be that because of that, the radium would condense where it entered i love the doll, it truly is a work of art imo, it's just saddening; the situation behind it.
I absolutely love that this is a crafting/repaint but also somewhat of documentary? Its fascinating and I'd love to see more of your customs with some history behind them like this doll and your Plague doctor doll!
She is a beautiful tribute doll, and you have just educated many of us on something schools never would have dived so deep on. As sad and traumatic as the events were, you somehow found the strength to research and respectfully talk to us about the information you found and create an emotional piece of art through your doll despite the mistakes you may have made. I applaud you for all of your hard work on this video and doll! ♥️
I was in a production called Radium Girls, and seeing this video got me very excited and feeling very nostalgic. I had the absolute honour to play as Katherine Wiley, and seeing the story unfold was incredible. Beautiful doll, and thank you for sharing the history of Radium!
This was so hauntingly beautiful. I'd be lying if I said I didn't shed a tear. Thank you for this sweet tribute. Those poor girls deserved so much more in life.
this was a lovely video, such a sad history, I love how her face and body shows the pain, this is one beautiful way of remembering the girls, since probably the media made every famous person remembered, lovely.
It's such a hauntingly beautiful doll. Her eyes look like they are full of tears. And the glowing ribcage under her dress, it's.... It's sad and beautiful and beautifully crafted.
This is one of the most incredible dolls I've ever seen! More impressive was your editing and the well thought out voice over that was so enlightening. I didn't know this story before. Those poor girls being used so horribly, having such painful deaths and on top of it people trying to ruin their reputations too. This was a beautiful tribute to them and their sad story.
What I love about this is it really feels like you have found a niche in your hobbies and interests all combining into one video that is gorgeous and lovely to watch all together. You did a great job telling the history and putting the doll together and editing and having an impactful piece of art.
The doll is absolutely gorgeous, so haunting and beautiful! Even knowing the broad strokes of the Radium Girls hearing their story told is so horrifying. I love this concept for a video, a history lesson and a doll inspired by it! Very well done, etellan!!
The doll is absolutely gorgeous. I have hyper focus into the creepy hystery. Thank you for doing the research and telling us the history in a respectful way. We should never let those who suffer from the greed others be forgotten.
The story is always heart breaking and makes me so sad. The doll you have made is spectacular and beautiful beyond words. I hope one day you do release her print to buy as she is magnificent.
She's absolutely beautiful! The care that you take with research and editing makes you the best doll painter channel on RUclips. Not only the spectacular work but the whole video itself.
I recently was in the play “Radium Girls”, and one of the characters I played was Grace Fryer’s mother. It was tragic, researching this story and also having to play a character whose daughter was dying while trying to fight for her basic rights. Thank you for putting in the time to research and share and story of the radium girls!
This was..such a beautiful, tragic episode and i hope you do more of this type of content! This feels like a memorial to all the victims of the greed of corporations unwilling to stop hurting people for profit. She turned put beautuful
"I'm Etellan, and this is Radium Girl" reminded me of the podcast Lore, and how every episode begins with an introduction and "I'm Aaron Mahnke, and this is Lore". I really liked this one.
All things here are pure art. The doll, the video and the story telling. The only thing you got wrong was entitled this video as relaxing. The way these people passed away was so sad and horrible. I can't even imagine what feels like to see a daughter slowly disintegrating, it's too much to handle. This doll captures that horrific, doomed path in her face. Also, this glowing material was a perfect choice to be added in your art. Congratulations for your work! Loved the video
Absolutely sad story, but a beautiful masterpiece. In my opinion this is one of your best creations. She looks so sad, it seems that she is about to cry. Great work! Thank you for sharing!
My school did radium girls for their play, so I read the book and watched the play and started researching more and more and looking at information from the time and all sorts of things and it’s so fascinating this school play has made me really begin to become facinated with this tragic period of history, so as you could imagine this video is bringing me so much joy.
I'm really curious how a play of this story would look, there's been a couple of people who've mentioned it as a production- which is really interesting. I just wanted to mention that there's also a graphic novel called radium girls. The art is very stunning too and the story is told in a very thoughtful way. If you didn't know already and wanted another book style 🖤
GRAPHIC NOVEL?! I NEED TO READ IT! Thanks! As for radium girls as a play and what its like, it’s very good! I think it does a good job of telling the historical story in a very close to reality way as well as gives us main character to follow and root for to make it easier to tell as a story so you aren’t jumping around town to town to all these girls and instead we mention other factories and how the events of the play are happening everywhere but we mainly focus our characters in one plant in one town and a few girls making the whole thing easier to tell in play form. It’s honestly a very good and well done play. Something I love that they do is the main radium girls actually all die off as the play continues, they’ll gradually get sicker and sicker, makeup done to make them look pale and malnourished, they’ll get canes and limps, shaking, complaining about pains and then the character will die off, of course leading the others to wonder why so many radium girls are dying. About halfway through the main girl grace is having worsening foot and leg pains cause radium again causing her to wonder whats causing it. I think my absolute favorite scene is where grace is about to kind of put the pieces together on why so many radium girls are dying and what’s actually happening but she isn’t quite at that realization. She then goes to bed and has a nightmare. In this nightmare she wakes up and madame curie enters, wearing glow in the dark skull makeup as her character is dead at this point, and drops a tray of dials in front of grace, telling her it’s time for work. Madame curie continues to tell grace that she needs to work and keep painting dials and grace keeps replying telling madame curie that she cant work shes tired shes in pain she’s dying she simply cant. Then, grace’s friend Irene enters, they used to work together and were close but Irene died from the radium. Irene is also covered in the skull makeup. She also prompts grace to start her work and paint more dials. Grace’s cousin katherine who also died the same way enters covered in skull makeup. The three of them begin circling grace, telling her that everyone has to make sacrifices, it’s all for science, its for the war efforts, she needs to keep working. Grace protests, saying how she’s still young, she should be married with kids, she shouldn’t have to be working when she’s in such pain, it’s not fair and she “didn’t choose this.” Katherine then says “sure you did grace.” And picks up the little cup of radium paint from the tray and drinks it. Grace screams at her to stop since at this point she kinda knows that the paint is bad. Grace snatches the cup from katherine, and Katherine slowly turns to face down the audience, and just has her mouth wide open, letting a huge amount of blood pour out slowly all over her face snd dress. Irene says “now look what you’ve done grace, she’s bleeding all over the dials.” As she sobs, Grace says “i guess I shouldn’t have said anything..” and madame curie says “it’s no problem, after all, what’s one more dead dial painter?” The three exit the stage, leaving grace to lie back down and cry before being woken up. MASTERPIECE 💖
I would love more handmade history! Extremely strong start. I’ve been thinking about your doll for literally months because of the real story behind it
I love this video so much. I'm a big history buff. Hearing your calm, nice voice talking about the history while seeing your talent in action was truly amazing. The doll turned out morbidly beautiful. Her face is everything and I would love to see you take this on as a series in the future.
i never thought that a doll customization would leave me so in awe, but you have outdone yourself this time. i usually put these videos in the background as I draw something, but god, I could not look away or tune out the incredibly interesting yet horrid facts of those poor painters. this was, and I mean it, beautiful, in every way. love your work! sending lots of love from India
This breaks my heart... Knowing so many young lives were essentially cut short due to corporate greed... It's awful... This doll is lovely and I'm glad people are still spreading awareness
Your story telling of history through such an artistic mode is exceptional! I loved every minute. People who are not doll enthusiasts often raise their eyebrows and shake their heads at the time and effort put into this passion. You’ve taken your passion to a whole new level! Begging for more of these wonderful videos x
im actually sad that the people who were aware of the dangers and causes of death by radium still used it. i really liked your story telling style and your voice and the doll itself made it better.i really want you to tell other stories as well.
This doll is truly a masterpiece, and as a avid lover of history, I quite enjoyed the ADHD rambles! The last sentence said really sends a chill through the body. It's unfortunate that so many workers in past times and even modern times are just expendable numbers on a chart to employers, but thankfully there are people like Dr. Knef to stand up for the workers.
She is absolutely gorgeous! Her faceup is stunning and all of the glow in the dark elements really make her pop. 💖💖 And I love the mix of art and history as well.
the shot at 20:38, when you move her hair out of the way of her eye, my god... that was breathtaking. what an incredible incredible doll. a work of art! nuclear physics and radiation specifically is also a major interest for me, and actually took some community college classes on it as it's all just so fascinating to me. marie curie is an inspiration to me (as she should be for all girls and women) and i was so taken by your script/essay on radiation poisoning. this was a stellar video, and i'm so glad you made it! thank you for your amazing work!!
thank u for handling this topic so respectfully and not telling it as some creepy story!! that's quite rare to see. also the doll is absolutely beautiful. wonderful video overall!
I absolutely love historical horror. It just tickles my brain in a way I can't express. I've always been fond of creepy things and I adore Etellan's work with all of my being so as you can guess, this was right up my alley! 💕 Thank you Etellan for another amazing job. I know Halloween isn't the most popular in Australia but you still gave us a creepy doll anyway 🥰
This was an absolutely beautiful video. Your narrative style flowed so wonderfully alongside your work process. The story is a sad one but an important one; and I feel like this video was a lovely tribute to the workers who lost their lives for the interests of greed. The doll is of course breathtaking and the design so very well thought out. I would love for you to do more of these infodump style videos. You're so good at them!
I feel compelled to make a comment, but I'm utterly speechless. There's such a haunting and tragic beauty to this doll, and I love the concept of creating physical representations of historical events. Bravo, you've truly created a breathtaking work of art.
Stunning. Words fail me! Your whole production is superb, not just the creation of the doll but how you presented the history that was your inspiration. Im lost in admiration ❤
One of the saddest things about this case is that many of the girls continued to work there, even as the court cases dragged on and their friends and coworkers died. Some didn't believe it, but most were from poor families and had to work to survive, even if they knew they were being hurt. They all died young. The only worker who lived to old age was one woman who disliked the taste of the radium and refused to put it in her mouth. She quit within a few days, and still, she got cancer. Her name was Mae Keane, and she lived to 107. It's just so tragic to me that the male workers and management were protected (the men wore lead vests, and management refused to step foot near the painting locations), and it's so clearly a case of exploitation of young, poor, female workers, many from immigrant families. Even the court cases were tragic. the money they won paid for their funerals a lot of times, and a number died before they could even finish the case they were testifying on. It reminds me of the shirtwaist factory fire honestly. A tragic case where disadvantaged women were heartlessly sacrificed and it was justified by saying "their deaths led to workplace safety." Like, yes, good that it's the law now. but it's not like workplaces weren't safe at the time, the wealthy owners and supervisors and so on knew the dangers and kept themselves safe - just not the people they considered disposable.
This was such a good video. I love the idea of designing a doll based on a historical event, and the doll itself is just absolutely gorgeous. I'm weak for glow-in-the-dark designs like these so this hit such a good itch for me, I just want to stare at her as she glows in her hauntingly beautiful yet sad glory. I'd love to see more videos like this if you want to make them!
I think this is my favorite doll of yours. Partially for the execution of the design, and the doll's purpose. I knew about the widespread use of radium in the past, but had no idea about the cruelty and willful ignorance towards those young women in favor of a good profit. Such a beautiful, tragic and informative art piece.
I like many people in the comments, was in a production of Radium Girls. I was part of costuming, I did quick changes; and I applied the sfx tumor to one of our radium girls. It was an amazing experience and seeing this doll is so cool!!
My mom worked in the uranium minds. It's heartbreaking to know that so many people were affected by exposure to radium while working in the uranium mines. Many of them were made to feel like their problems were not related to radiation, which is truly unfair. Despite the challenges they faced, they persevered and showed incredible strength. On a lighter note, the doll is lovely.❤❤❤
This was so incredibly moving, devastating and fascinating. Your story telling is on another level and I LOVE the format of a deep dive into a special interest topic while you created the doll. This has to be your best work, but I feel like I say that on every video haha
This doll is superbe, beautiful and scary but in a pitiful kind of way. She looks in so much pain, but revengeful at the same time when the light disappears and she is left glowing. Her eyes shows so much emotion, even though she is inanimate. I don't know how to explain how much I love her. Just... Thank you for showing us your art.
What a beautiful and tragic doll! I absolutely love this format of both a doll video and a history lesson, I hope you do more history dolls in the future
Seeing this on my FYP made my happier than I can explain. For almost two years now, I've been fascinated by the story of the Radium Girls. I've read books and written reports about them, and to see their story given recognition, combined with another favorite thing of mine, doll customization, was incredible. Thank you etellan
Very well made doll. Creepy and beautiful! It reminded me of my great aunt. She was radium girl. Having painted watch pointers for Swiss watches a few years. Then she got bone cancer, became more and more crippled, eventually she could not hold a spoon and had to be fed, could not stand, had to stay in bed. After 15 to 20 years of decaying and suffering she died in 1965. The reason why people thought radium was a wonder medicine was, that the body fought the poison by making lots of red blood cells which felt invigorating and healthy, but eventually the poison won by destroying the spinal cord (which is were the body makes red blood cells). Thanks for this video. I loved listening to you telling this sad story while watching your lovely work on the doll.
This doll is achingly beautiful, your craftsmanship is wonderful. This story is really heart-breaking, it was such a horrible way to go. I cringe thinking of how many ingested radium willingly. They ate it, drank it, put in on their faces, incorporated it into medicine, touched furniture painted with it, played with toys painted with it, and dealt with it in far more ways than I can even imagine. And the fact that, even back then, corporate greed reigned supreme. Especially with all the deaths of children of the lower class, they still only investigated further when the rich folks were dying. Astonishing.
Not only was this doll customization absolutely beautiful, but I learned a lot of interesting things while watching. I've already heard of the radium girls but this is still really interesting to listen to, and the visual aspect of watching you create the doll just brings a whole other level to it I found one Dollightfull custom doll video a while back and got hooked on the art form as a whole, and now this video has opened my eyes to an entirely new side of this community and I've just fallen in love- It makes me really want to try customizing dolls now, as most of my usual art motivation comes from topics like these.
PLEASE MAKE THIS A SERIES!!! Also I saw a video about this story and by the end I was so sad I'm so upset those women had to suffer that way when so many around them knew the dangers
![✰MAKING A CUSTOM ALIEN DOLL✰ ALIEN SPACE CREW COLLAB | monster high repaint | [relaxing]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/xk6bKoptk_Q/mqdefault.jpg)
![Creating Wirt [relaxing] | Over The Garden Wall Custom Doll](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/xWLYX1Nh6aw/mqdefault.jpg)
![Revamping Old Dolls ✨ Spectra Monster High | Doll repaint and customisation [relaxing]](/img/1.gif)
The saddest part of the story of the Radium Girls, for me, was the fact that management knew of the danger of the paint. The scientists who mixed the paint wore lead lined protective aprons and the paint was carried around the factory in lead canisters. It had even been reported that management would never interact with workers and refused to set foot in the building where painting was done. To this day you can still find Radium painted clocks and they still glow just as bright as when they were painted, although the radiation is minuscule and not harmful.
Even worse was the fact that during the trials, the company tried to delay the judgment because they knew that those girls didn’t have long left. So many of those girls agreed for a settlement that amounted to nothing for the company because they just couldn’t wait any longer.
Seems like this was hardly relegated to this particular company....since they were selling it in beauty products and irradiated water....the story seems sad enough without adding questionable details.... especially since the owner himself was suffering from the effects of radiation poisoning. You'd think he'd be the first of all people to throw on the lead apron. The nefarious deeds are obvious. No need to dogpile.
@@firegodessreiko it's not "questionable details" or "dogpiling". This kind of thing happened all the time back then. Heads of companies knew how dangerous their product or the process of making their product was, and then they would hire literal children to work on them. This isn't different, the materials are just worse.
The president, before he was fired because of a coup, had once gone into the painting room as one painter was doing the lip-point thing and told her to not do that. He was trained directly by the Curies and did not know about the the lip pointing.
This is why we have unions and workers rights now, and need to continue fighting for workers rights, otherwise we would have toddlers working as chimney sweeps again. They're already chipping at child labor rights, and it happens worldwide. Make sure to vote for your upcoming local elections!
I love the idea of this is the series where you take historical events such as this and representing them as a doll!
I demand a series! 😍
Yes! I was thinking the same thing!
I really like the idea but this video has shattered my mood even though I already knew of the story.
history and doll art together in one place? YES
Oh yes! That's a great idea!
This doll is absolutely stunning and the last words being “it starts in the jaw” with the jaw glowing was brilliant! The story is tragic and fascinating, I’ve never heard the story of the radiation girls but now that I have I feel angry. The people who created the paint and forced the girls to work knew the dangers and proceeded to allow this to happen, all for some extra money.
Worst part is, according to accounts of the longer-lasting women, they liked the paint and used it on themselves for intercourse appeal with their partners. They were having fun with the glowing aspect and didn't know that it wouldn't go well until it was too late and they were on the hospital beds.
Radium paint also left behind a legacy of contaminated buildings and places in the USA. Radium breaks down into Radon gas which can itself cause lung cancer too.
WOW!!
I don’t think I’ve ever been so shook by doll customization before. This was so beautifully made. What a tasteful tribute to the girls who died and a way to bring awareness to this gross moment in history… wow. Adding my voice to the chorus of requests that you please think about doing this again sometime… this was something that I think a lot of people should hope to aspire to with their *journalism,* never mind their dollmaking. WOW.
I agree! I was thinking to myself during the video “what a beautiful way to pay tribute to the radium girls” I love how at the end she points out how the victims literally couldn’t have done anything differently, but the corrupt people favoured profit over people’s lives
I initially thought it said wasteful tribute instead of tasteful and got so sad because it was such a beautiful tribute to them before I realized lol
@@mflor4544 Oh no! I get you, though. My brain also goes there a lot and I have to go back and reread things to make sure like “Wait, that doesn’t say what I think I said, right?” Rationally, I don’t think people want to be combative, but once you’ve encountered your first aggro-comments person, it sticks with you.
This really reminds me of two very similar cases, that of Paris Green as well as Mad Hatters Disease. Paris Green was an extraordinarily popular pigment in the Victorian era. It was in nearly everything, from dresses, books, and wallpapers to, sadly, childrens toys. Unfortunately, like this case, nobody realized that it was dangerous until children began falling sick and dying from arsenic poisoning. I believe that the main producer of the wallpapers denied that it contained any sort of danger (spoilers it was full of arsenic) and may have even encouraged children to lick the wallpapers, though that may have simply been something that the children were doing and nobody stopped them.
The cases of Mad Hatters disease is very similar to that of the Radium Girls, where hatters were exposed to incredibly large amounts of mercury and subsequently went mad and became ill. This is I believe the origin of the phrase “mad as a hatter” as well as the inspiration for the Mad Hatters design, specifically makeup, in the live action Alice in Wonderland
They’re both incredibly interesting and tragic topics, and if you liked learning about the Radium Girls I highly recommend doing your own research into either one of them
Or how children and animals were poisoned by lead paint (it was cheap and used everywhere - including farm aminal buildings) because lead in paint makes it sweet, so animals and children would lick it. You'll still find buildings/houses that have lead paint in them today because the paint is increadibly stable. The lead causes stunted growth, developmental delays, nerve and kidney damage - relatively quickly. Since the paint has been used since 4 BC, it obviously took a while to discover where the illnesses were coming from, though they were well aware of the dangers of lead in the 18th century. There were movements to ban it's use in homes in the 1920's, and many countries don't use it or ban domestic use, but due to it's cheapness and stability, it's still used industrially.
@@margaretkaraba8161 thank you for sharing, I actually didn't know how prevalent lead paint was and how long it's been in use, so thank you so much for telling me !! I'll definitely be looking further into this :)
The mercury was for treating and crafting the hats every day, and inhaling mercury fumes causes immense delirium over time as well as full on mania and emotional outbursts.
Don't forget the white phosphorus and what it did to the girls working in matchstick factories. The owners tried to cover up the phossy jaw by blaming typhus. That was the leading factor behind the matchgirls' strike in 1888. Etellan briefly mentioned it
Paris Green, lead, phosphorus we’re not the only toxic colour, Vermillon was once made of Cinnabar, Mercury. Not to mention Cobalt is also poisonous as well as Manganese blue is also harmful to the environment. Is there another colour/pigment that also killed.. Oh Uranium Dioxide was also used in Festiveware. Honestly, there were so many toxic pigments and paints throughout history.
she's so beautiful, her design almost makes me cry; she looks like such a sweet girl in so much pain, it really communicates the tragic nature of the Radium girl's demise.
also i dunno if it's just me but i feel like her and the lavender plague doctor you made awhile back should be friends
For a moment, I thought you meant 'fiends' but now I know you meant 'friends'. Correct spelling saves lives!
@@dxmxrxsbxxckthxwxxdxlf3931 omg thanks lol
100% agree. I immediately also thought her & Lavender Dr. Would be good friends.
Lavender Physician would absolutely take her in and care for her.
My high school actually put on this play and a lot of my friends were in it. One of my best friends played Dr. Knef. Thank you for spreading the tragic story of these girls.
My high school did too, when my sister went there. I think they played an assistant to Curie but I'm not sure.
Mine as well! It was quite fun to participate in it but sad that it's based off a true story
omg my highschool literally just finished radium girls!! i played dr knef n berry
Same my school did it last year. It was a great play
Same!
"The truth will eventually bubble to the surface, and it will start with an ache in your jaw."
That line sent shivers down my spine
I actually almost cried
It was cruel for these girls to be working with radium while the others were earning profit.
I swear the things that people will do just to put money into their pocket is downright grotesque and wicked. It was however, amazing that you made a doll in tribute to these girls who died these horrible and painful deaths.
Great job and keep up the good work, Etellan
It seems that profit and greed always go hand in glove because humans never learn
What an absolute gorgeous doll for such a heavy topic. I’m blown away 🥺💕❤️
i love the nose on the doll sculpt! i feel like a lot of dolls have tiny button noses, so its nice to see a little facial diversity :]
Yeah, way better proportions, looks like you could add piercings much easier tio
yes!!!!! the nose is so pretty, i adore this sculpt so much
It made me so happy to see a doll with a face like mine!
@@heathercreates
You must be quite pretty then.
@@uMaud Awww thanks, sweet person!
19:54 this line, and the scenes as she's turning the lights off is so powerful. Gave me chills.
Can we just appreciate the construction of this character as the narration continues, the radioactive bones and the glow of the skeleton, it’s like every other sentence is an awakening point. Beautiful. At the beginning of the video you see glowing, radioactive, a key word and recognizable attribute. At the end, you see the Radium Girls, the withering jaw, the darkness of willful ignorance.
this is one of the best videos i've seen on youtube in a really long time! i would love if you made "handmade history" a series! like maybe talk about different things in history while you make a doll related to it? it could even be more lighthearted history if you wanted to. your voice is really soothing to listen to, so i really enjoyed you talking about radium! thank you for making and sharing this with us
I was lucky enough to have a few American Girl dolls as a child, and I was always so enamored with their historical backgrounds. This doll is like the adult, tragic version of that. I love this idea and I think you’ve handled it very respectfully. Another reason you’re one of my favorite dollmakers on this site.
I had the Samantha doll, but I read the books for many of the other dolls. They really were fascinating to me, too! Cool to hear your story. What was your favorite doll?
It was a very sad time in history and goes to show how cruel humanity can truly be. Im glad that you shared the story about it. I also love the doll to, it represents it perfectly and is just amazingly thought of and perfectly done. Love her, great job!!
I squealed when I saw this! I got to be in a production of the stage play Radium Girls by D.W. Gregory in the spring, playing one of the radium girls! It was an insanely fun and emotional process, especially when it came to my character's illness and death. I remember people telling me that they didn't know anything about the radium girls before seeing the play. Thank you for spreading the knowledge about them and for your amazing custom!!
This is a beautiful way to memorialise and honour the memory of these girls, as an art piece the doll is so beautiful, but it does not hide the horror of the truth of what they went through. She is so honest in her representation of the tragedy the girls she was made in ode to, who they were and what they dealt with. This is a very difficult line to walk in art, and you've done a beautiful and thoughtful job
I'm kinda late for this but as a Radiologist, I found this narrative absolutely mesmerizing.
Can we have more history creations like this? It was really fascinating and the doll made to represent the tragic history behind it was completely stunning
I would love to see you do a illnesses series. Like black plague and others. I know you have Lavender as one and now you have your Radium girl here!
If she does the Agent Orange, she'll have to know it is a forest treatment but was used so much that it intentionally infected water and now thousands of Vietnamese children get mutated faces to close to inhuman results since it's a genetic-altering drug.
I would love to see her make a doll based on Tuberculosis
i third this idea
aside from learning history a general illness series would be neat for representation. kind of in the notes how there are barbies with wheelchairs or how they added glucose checkers on the sims 4. we could all use learning a bit about those and would be even cooler if she featured artists or just people with said illnesses/disabilities to tell the story/be interviewed. and give them a shoutout. im always waiting for a doll artist to finally do that because i dont want hecking Mattel to represent me because i dont care to be in their little rich company club, but i want actual real ppl to think of us and put work into making us feel heard and included and even shouting out some of us. i overall really enjoyed this podcast-esque video because its always more fun than getting a tutorial of doll making which i still do appreciate but i dont make dolls so its more entertaining and productive for me to hear a story or conversation :) (also i can focus more on the techniques if i have to figure out what shes doing rather thant quickly getting told it)
You really nailed it with this one, etellen. The look on her face is palpable in it's horror and sadness and that's real spooky lemme tell you
please PLEASE make this a series. the script in this video was amazing, from beginning to end i was captured and felt so many emotions. it was like a movie!
I was so excited when I saw this posted! I remember learning about this case and it was so heartbreaking, especially when you learn how the company's lawyers would keep pushing and delaying the trial while the poor women were literally dying from the radiation poisoning.
I'm so glad you covered this. I think it would be interesting if you made dolls inspired by historical events or stories that you find interesting.
All of the work you put into this video paid off so well! I absolutely adored this video. The doll is beautiful and haunting, you were somehow able to capture horror and fear on her face. And the story was captivating and so tragic.
Agreed! The doll has so much emotion in her face, I really feel like she embodies the hopelessness of those poor girls
Beautifully done, and a wonderful tribute
I love this idea of making a doll based on history. This doll in particular is so hauntingly beautiful, especially knowing the story behind her.
"Radium Girls" was a popular play for local high schools around me. I think three of them all brought it to the same competition in the same year. It was a beautiful story and I enjoyed the show!! But I did get tired of seeing it after a while haha. Beautiful work as always
This doll is such a tragically beautiful representation of the radium girls. Lights on, looks gorgeous and perfectly healthy. But as soon as the lights go out, sick, and bones glowing.
etellan, this is an incredible video and creation. i really enjoy listening to historical stuff, so having you tell the important story of radium with your soothing voice as well as creating a beautiful doll, was so so good. thank you !!
16:26 that makes so much sense! I honestly expected that, because of the 'brush in the mouth to make the tip pointy' action that was highly endorsed, the logical conclusion might be that because of that, the radium would condense where it entered
i love the doll, it truly is a work of art imo, it's just saddening; the situation behind it.
The radium girls have always fascinated and saddened me. Love seeing this tragedy explored in a doll you've done a great job
I absolutely love that this is a crafting/repaint but also somewhat of documentary? Its fascinating and I'd love to see more of your customs with some history behind them like this doll and your Plague doctor doll!
She is a beautiful tribute doll, and you have just educated many of us on something schools never would have dived so deep on. As sad and traumatic as the events were, you somehow found the strength to research and respectfully talk to us about the information you found and create an emotional piece of art through your doll despite the mistakes you may have made. I applaud you for all of your hard work on this video and doll! ♥️
The expression on the doll’s face absolutely breaks my heart! You did such a wonderful job
I was in a production called Radium Girls, and seeing this video got me very excited and feeling very nostalgic. I had the absolute honour to play as Katherine Wiley, and seeing the story unfold was incredible. Beautiful doll, and thank you for sharing the history of Radium!
This was so hauntingly beautiful. I'd be lying if I said I didn't shed a tear. Thank you for this sweet tribute. Those poor girls deserved so much more in life.
this was a lovely video, such a sad history, I love how her face and body shows the pain, this is one beautiful way of remembering the girls, since probably the media made every famous person remembered, lovely.
my customizer of all time, you truly grab our attention! a wonderful artist
Not just a beautiful work of art but a whole essay as well! I’m so impressed and enamored
It's such a hauntingly beautiful doll. Her eyes look like they are full of tears. And the glowing ribcage under her dress, it's.... It's sad and beautiful and beautifully crafted.
The doll, and the way you told the story of radium, sent shivers through me. Amazing video
This is one of the most incredible dolls I've ever seen! More impressive was your editing and the well thought out voice over that was so enlightening. I didn't know this story before. Those poor girls being used so horribly, having such painful deaths and on top of it people trying to ruin their reputations too. This was a beautiful tribute to them and their sad story.
What I love about this is it really feels like you have found a niche in your hobbies and interests all combining into one video that is gorgeous and lovely to watch all together. You did a great job telling the history and putting the doll together and editing and having an impactful piece of art.
The doll is absolutely gorgeous, so haunting and beautiful! Even knowing the broad strokes of the Radium Girls hearing their story told is so horrifying. I love this concept for a video, a history lesson and a doll inspired by it! Very well done, etellan!!
The doll is absolutely gorgeous. I have hyper focus into the creepy hystery. Thank you for doing the research and telling us the history in a respectful way. We should never let those who suffer from the greed others be forgotten.
The story is always heart breaking and makes me so sad. The doll you have made is spectacular and beautiful beyond words. I hope one day you do release her print to buy as she is magnificent.
She's absolutely beautiful! The care that you take with research and editing makes you the best doll painter channel on RUclips. Not only the spectacular work but the whole video itself.
I recently was in the play “Radium Girls”, and one of the characters I played was Grace Fryer’s mother. It was tragic, researching this story and also having to play a character whose daughter was dying while trying to fight for her basic rights. Thank you for putting in the time to research and share and story of the radium girls!
This was..such a beautiful, tragic episode and i hope you do more of this type of content! This feels like a memorial to all the victims of the greed of corporations unwilling to stop hurting people for profit. She turned put beautuful
"I'm Etellan, and this is Radium Girl" reminded me of the podcast Lore, and how every episode begins with an introduction and "I'm Aaron Mahnke, and this is Lore". I really liked this one.
All things here are pure art. The doll, the video and the story telling. The only thing you got wrong was entitled this video as relaxing. The way these people passed away was so sad and horrible. I can't even imagine what feels like to see a daughter slowly disintegrating, it's too much to handle. This doll captures that horrific, doomed path in her face. Also, this glowing material was a perfect choice to be added in your art. Congratulations for your work! Loved the video
Absolutely sad story, but a beautiful masterpiece. In my opinion this is one of your best creations. She looks so sad, it seems that she is about to cry. Great work! Thank you for sharing!
My school did radium girls for their play, so I read the book and watched the play and started researching more and more and looking at information from the time and all sorts of things and it’s so fascinating this school play has made me really begin to become facinated with this tragic period of history, so as you could imagine this video is bringing me so much joy.
I'm really curious how a play of this story would look, there's been a couple of people who've mentioned it as a production- which is really interesting. I just wanted to mention that there's also a graphic novel called radium girls. The art is very stunning too and the story is told in a very thoughtful way. If you didn't know already and wanted another book style 🖤
GRAPHIC NOVEL?! I NEED TO READ IT! Thanks!
As for radium girls as a play and what its like, it’s very good! I think it does a good job of telling the historical story in a very close to reality way as well as gives us main character to follow and root for to make it easier to tell as a story so you aren’t jumping around town to town to all these girls and instead we mention other factories and how the events of the play are happening everywhere but we mainly focus our characters in one plant in one town and a few girls making the whole thing easier to tell in play form. It’s honestly a very good and well done play.
Something I love that they do is the main radium girls actually all die off as the play continues, they’ll gradually get sicker and sicker, makeup done to make them look pale and malnourished, they’ll get canes and limps, shaking, complaining about pains and then the character will die off, of course leading the others to wonder why so many radium girls are dying. About halfway through the main girl grace is having worsening foot and leg pains cause radium again causing her to wonder whats causing it.
I think my absolute favorite scene is where grace is about to kind of put the pieces together on why so many radium girls are dying and what’s actually happening but she isn’t quite at that realization. She then goes to bed and has a nightmare. In this nightmare she wakes up and madame curie enters, wearing glow in the dark skull makeup as her character is dead at this point, and drops a tray of dials in front of grace, telling her it’s time for work. Madame curie continues to tell grace that she needs to work and keep painting dials and grace keeps replying telling madame curie that she cant work shes tired shes in pain she’s dying she simply cant. Then, grace’s friend Irene enters, they used to work together and were close but Irene died from the radium. Irene is also covered in the skull makeup. She also prompts grace to start her work and paint more dials. Grace’s cousin katherine who also died the same way enters covered in skull makeup. The three of them begin circling grace, telling her that everyone has to make sacrifices, it’s all for science, its for the war efforts, she needs to keep working. Grace protests, saying how she’s still young, she should be married with kids, she shouldn’t have to be working when she’s in such pain, it’s not fair and she “didn’t choose this.” Katherine then says “sure you did grace.” And picks up the little cup of radium paint from the tray and drinks it. Grace screams at her to stop since at this point she kinda knows that the paint is bad. Grace snatches the cup from katherine, and Katherine slowly turns to face down the audience, and just has her mouth wide open, letting a huge amount of blood pour out slowly all over her face snd dress. Irene says “now look what you’ve done grace, she’s bleeding all over the dials.” As she sobs, Grace says “i guess I shouldn’t have said anything..” and madame curie says “it’s no problem, after all, what’s one more dead dial painter?” The three exit the stage, leaving grace to lie back down and cry before being woken up.
MASTERPIECE 💖
I would love more handmade history! Extremely strong start. I’ve been thinking about your doll for literally months because of the real story behind it
I love this video so much. I'm a big history buff. Hearing your calm, nice voice talking about the history while seeing your talent in action was truly amazing. The doll turned out morbidly beautiful. Her face is everything and I would love to see you take this on as a series in the future.
i never thought that a doll customization would leave me so in awe, but you have outdone yourself this time. i usually put these videos in the background as I draw something, but god, I could not look away or tune out the incredibly interesting yet horrid facts of those poor painters. this was, and I mean it, beautiful, in every way. love your work! sending lots of love from India
This breaks my heart... Knowing so many young lives were essentially cut short due to corporate greed... It's awful... This doll is lovely and I'm glad people are still spreading awareness
Your story telling of history through such an artistic mode is exceptional! I loved every minute. People who are not doll enthusiasts often raise their eyebrows and shake their heads at the time and effort put into this passion. You’ve taken your passion to a whole new level! Begging for more of these wonderful videos x
im actually sad that the people who were aware of the dangers and causes of death by radium still used it.
i really liked your story telling style and your voice and the doll itself made it better.i really want you to tell other stories as well.
This doll is truly a masterpiece, and as a avid lover of history, I quite enjoyed the ADHD rambles! The last sentence said really sends a chill through the body. It's unfortunate that so many workers in past times and even modern times are just expendable numbers on a chart to employers, but thankfully there are people like Dr. Knef to stand up for the workers.
“Radium invoked a feeling of vitality and long life”
Ah, the irony
This will always be one of my comfort videos on RUclips. The melancholy brings a sad comfort, but the radium girls still live on these tragic stories.
She is absolutely gorgeous! Her faceup is stunning and all of the glow in the dark elements really make her pop. 💖💖 And I love the mix of art and history as well.
the shot at 20:38, when you move her hair out of the way of her eye, my god... that was breathtaking. what an incredible incredible doll. a work of art! nuclear physics and radiation specifically is also a major interest for me, and actually took some community college classes on it as it's all just so fascinating to me. marie curie is an inspiration to me (as she should be for all girls and women) and i was so taken by your script/essay on radiation poisoning. this was a stellar video, and i'm so glad you made it! thank you for your amazing work!!
This doll is completely breathtaking and your narration is absolutely wonderful. Those girls did not deserve that.
the ending words "and it will start with an ache in your jaw" this is ironic but the way my jaw DROPPED at that
Everything about this video was fantastic! The doll and the voiceover were so cool and engaging, I would love to see more of both!
thank u for handling this topic so respectfully and not telling it as some creepy story!! that's quite rare to see. also the doll is absolutely beautiful.
wonderful video overall!
I absolutely love historical horror. It just tickles my brain in a way I can't express. I've always been fond of creepy things and I adore Etellan's work with all of my being so as you can guess, this was right up my alley! 💕 Thank you Etellan for another amazing job. I know Halloween isn't the most popular in Australia but you still gave us a creepy doll anyway 🥰
“it will start with an ache in your jaw” girl my spine TINGLED
This was an absolutely beautiful video. Your narrative style flowed so wonderfully alongside your work process. The story is a sad one but an important one; and I feel like this video was a lovely tribute to the workers who lost their lives for the interests of greed. The doll is of course breathtaking and the design so very well thought out. I would love for you to do more of these infodump style videos. You're so good at them!
I feel compelled to make a comment, but I'm utterly speechless. There's such a haunting and tragic beauty to this doll, and I love the concept of creating physical representations of historical events. Bravo, you've truly created a breathtaking work of art.
Stunning. Words fail me! Your whole production is superb, not just the creation of the doll but how you presented the history that was your inspiration. Im lost in admiration ❤
One of the saddest things about this case is that many of the girls continued to work there, even as the court cases dragged on and their friends and coworkers died. Some didn't believe it, but most were from poor families and had to work to survive, even if they knew they were being hurt. They all died young. The only worker who lived to old age was one woman who disliked the taste of the radium and refused to put it in her mouth. She quit within a few days, and still, she got cancer. Her name was Mae Keane, and she lived to 107. It's just so tragic to me that the male workers and management were protected (the men wore lead vests, and management refused to step foot near the painting locations), and it's so clearly a case of exploitation of young, poor, female workers, many from immigrant families. Even the court cases were tragic. the money they won paid for their funerals a lot of times, and a number died before they could even finish the case they were testifying on. It reminds me of the shirtwaist factory fire honestly. A tragic case where disadvantaged women were heartlessly sacrificed and it was justified by saying "their deaths led to workplace safety." Like, yes, good that it's the law now. but it's not like workplaces weren't safe at the time, the wealthy owners and supervisors and so on knew the dangers and kept themselves safe - just not the people they considered disposable.
This was such a good video. I love the idea of designing a doll based on a historical event, and the doll itself is just absolutely gorgeous. I'm weak for glow-in-the-dark designs like these so this hit such a good itch for me, I just want to stare at her as she glows in her hauntingly beautiful yet sad glory. I'd love to see more videos like this if you want to make them!
Stumbled upon this somehow, I've heard the story before but this doll customization is just astonishing how hauntingly BEAUTIFUL!
This doll is absolutely gorgeous and I loved how you used the glowing affect .
I think this is my favorite doll of yours. Partially for the execution of the design, and the doll's purpose. I knew about the widespread use of radium in the past, but had no idea about the cruelty and willful ignorance towards those young women in favor of a good profit. Such a beautiful, tragic and informative art piece.
Such a sad topic, but beautifully and sensitively handled. Your doll is hauntingly beautiful
I like many people in the comments, was in a production of Radium Girls. I was part of costuming, I did quick changes; and I applied the sfx tumor to one of our radium girls. It was an amazing experience and seeing this doll is so cool!!
What a wonderful way to teach such a tragic history. Your voice was very relaxing and the doll is terrifyingly gorgeous. Well done.
My mom worked in the uranium minds. It's heartbreaking to know that so many people were affected by exposure to radium while working in the uranium mines. Many of them were made to feel like their problems were not related to radiation, which is truly unfair.
Despite the challenges they faced, they persevered and showed incredible strength. On a lighter note, the doll is lovely.❤❤❤
This was so incredibly moving, devastating and fascinating. Your story telling is on another level and I LOVE the format of a deep dive into a special interest topic while you created the doll. This has to be your best work, but I feel like I say that on every video haha
This doll is superbe, beautiful and scary but in a pitiful kind of way. She looks in so much pain, but revengeful at the same time when the light disappears and she is left glowing. Her eyes shows so much emotion, even though she is inanimate. I don't know how to explain how much I love her. Just... Thank you for showing us your art.
Absolutely breathtaking and heartbreaking. Such a sad story and a beautiful doll. The doll design is wonderful btw!
This is such a big comfort video for me. I usually hate re-watching videos but I could have this on repeat for weeks and never be bored of it.
it’s such a beautiful doll and such a nice video, love your style voice the music, so soothing and pretty
OH MY GOD SHE'S GORGEOUS, I love how you made her eyes glow in the dark like that, and the ribcage too!!!! SHE'S JUST- AAAAA SO PRETTY
What a beautiful and tragic doll! I absolutely love this format of both a doll video and a history lesson, I hope you do more history dolls in the future
Ah, two of my special interests combined! The Radium Girls and doll making! She’s beautiful, and your storytelling is remarkable!
This is one of the most haunting videos I've ever seen. Would love to see more history focused dolls!
Seeing this on my FYP made my happier than I can explain. For almost two years now, I've been fascinated by the story of the Radium Girls. I've read books and written reports about them, and to see their story given recognition, combined with another favorite thing of mine, doll customization, was incredible. Thank you etellan
What a beautiful tribute to these girls, I also love this concept of handmade history!
Very well made doll. Creepy and beautiful!
It reminded me of my great aunt. She was radium girl. Having painted watch pointers for Swiss watches a few years. Then she got bone cancer, became more and more crippled, eventually she could not hold a spoon and had to be fed, could not stand, had to stay in bed. After 15 to 20 years of decaying and suffering she died in 1965.
The reason why people thought radium was a wonder medicine was, that the body fought the poison by making lots of red blood cells which felt invigorating and healthy, but eventually the poison won by destroying the spinal cord (which is were the body makes red blood cells).
Thanks for this video. I loved listening to you telling this sad story while watching your lovely work on the doll.
Please tell me there will be more of this series!! I love modern history and your dolls are always perfection
This doll is achingly beautiful, your craftsmanship is wonderful.
This story is really heart-breaking, it was such a horrible way to go. I cringe thinking of how many ingested radium willingly. They ate it, drank it, put in on their faces, incorporated it into medicine, touched furniture painted with it, played with toys painted with it, and dealt with it in far more ways than I can even imagine. And the fact that, even back then, corporate greed reigned supreme. Especially with all the deaths of children of the lower class, they still only investigated further when the rich folks were dying. Astonishing.
The sculpting in this doll is stunning! And an absolutely amazing customization! 💕💕💕
Not only was this doll customization absolutely beautiful, but I learned a lot of interesting things while watching. I've already heard of the radium girls but this is still really interesting to listen to, and the visual aspect of watching you create the doll just brings a whole other level to it
I found one Dollightfull custom doll video a while back and got hooked on the art form as a whole, and now this video has opened my eyes to an entirely new side of this community and I've just fallen in love-
It makes me really want to try customizing dolls now, as most of my usual art motivation comes from topics like these.
This doll came out so amazing, Bailey Sarian did a whole Dark History on this whole “story”,you should check it out if you haven’t already
PLEASE MAKE THIS A SERIES!!! Also I saw a video about this story and by the end I was so sad I'm so upset those women had to suffer that way when so many around them knew the dangers