Ariella the Mermaid and an English Town Doll took top honors in the recent Dress-A-Doll fundraiser benefiting The Blind Center in Washington.

Ariella, first in the adult division, was created by Elizabeth Warren of Washington and the English town doll, which received top honors in the juvenile category, was designed by students in the 12-15 Taddio/Velde classroom at Washington Montessori Public Charter School.

Sixty-two entries were received for the contest, according to The Blind Center’s assistant director, Deborah Waters. Of those entries, 39 were in the adult category and 23 were in the juvenile category, she added.

The dolls were the result of a unique fundraising idea inspired by plain, white-muslin rag dolls donated to the center several years ago by National Spinning’s Caron International division. Clients and volunteers at the center stuffed the dolls with batting, and artists and craftspeople from Beaufort County and surrounding areas created their own original designs.

Dozens of dolls, each a one-of-a-kind work of art, are available for sale in the center’s gift shop, which is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays. The dolls are priced from $15 to $38 each.

An anonymous panel of judges critiqued each doll and presented awards accordingly. In addition to Ariella, the top prizes in the adult category went to Melber Baker of Chocowinity for her Mardi Gras Dancer (second place) and Lynn Warren of Washington for Jolly the Clown (third).

In the juvenile category, Zuri, an African doll designed by Linda Street’s classroom at Chocowinity Primary School, took second place. Third place went to Adriana DeMercurio, a student at Chocowinity Primary School, for her fashion doll, Roxanne.

Along with the judges’ awards, The Blind Center also chose several favorite entries.

Director Sally Moler was partial to Miss Blue Eyes, created by Beulah Bowden of Bath; Mrs. Molly Farmer, by Lynn Warren of Washington; Lavender Lass, by Sue Mansfield of Washington; Pixie Dust, by Dottie Walker of Washington; Tin Man, by Carol Persche of Bath; and Grace, by Emery Grace Watkins of Washington.

As assistant director, Waters selected Hard-Hearted Hannah, by Pat Carlson of Chocowinity; Michelle Obama, by Edythe Williams of Chocowinity; Eclectic the Clown, by Melber Baker of Chocowinity; and Mammy, by Vivian Purvis of Fountain.

“There was a tremendous turnout,” Waters said. “The response was much more than we could have anticipated, and the variety is just amazing. We hope to do this again next year.”

For more information about availability of the dolls, contact The Blind Center at 252-946-6208 or theblindcenter@aol.com.