elsa's penchant for dolls began when she was eight years old. at that time, her mother gave her two dolls: one made by hand, dressed in traditional attire of the altiplano, and another of european manufacture, made of porcelain. elsa collected dolls from that moment until the end of her life. her passion led her to collect more than 800 dolls, although she did not acquire all of them; some were given to her, especially by friends and her husband, who was a diplomat and was constantly traveling. she also created several of them with her own hands and even made them clothes. currently, her collection is exhibited in the museum in la paz that bears her name.