I love to see the cute and creative things made for dolls, by girls just like you! I was recently contacted by Jessica, Elisabeth, and Abigail; the creators of the My Dressed-Up Doll Etsy Shop. They make all kinds of fun 18 inch doll items, from sundresses, to shoes, to hair accessories and more--all from their home, a traveling bus! How cool is that?! I wanted to get to know more about the sisters and how they came up with their shop with an interview. I can't wait to share it with you...
Tell us a bit about yourself.
Our names are Jessica, Elisabeth, and Abigail Walker; we are from a family of 10. Since our dad is an evangelist, we travel full-time in a huge bus and sing in churches across the country. We also play a variety of instruments, including guitar, banjo, mandolin, violin, harmonica, piano, ukelele, and others.
{Here's a picture of their family. Can you pick out Jessica, Elisabeth, and Abigail? I think I can!}
How did you come up with the idea of your shop-My Dressed Up Doll?
Since a "traveling" job can be difficult to find, we decided to go ahead and start an Etsy shop. Doll clothes don't take up much space (which is a critical factor when you live in a bus), and designing cute outfits is a fun challenge for us. Because we all have been sewing for years, we already had a lot of the experience we needed.
When did you learn how to sew?
With six girls and two boys to raise, our mom taught us at a young age to do our share of the daily responsibilities. So at an early age, we knew all the basic techniques of sewing, gradually advancing more and more with each project.
What inspires your doll designs?
After looking around in several doll clothing shops online, we noticed a lack of "pretty" outfits, like elegant dresses, ruffly skirts, and coordinating hair accessories. We design our doll outfits as if we were designing them for real girls like you, making pretty party dresses or cute outfits that any girl would like to wear themselves.
What is your favorite thing to make for dolls?
Each of us has our personal favorite thing we enjoy creating . . .
Jess does a great job pairing fabrics for dresses or jumpers,
Liz enjoys designing cute summery sandals,
and Abby loves to experiment with hair flowers, buttons, and ribbons.
Do you have any American Girl dolls yourself? Do you have a favorite?
We have one American Girl doll, Kirsten; and since she is one of the older historical dolls, her hair can be a pain to keep up with. But, other than that, she has been a great model for our clothing! :-)
Do you have any advice for girls who want to start their own shop for dolls?
A couple tips to remember:
1) Be creative and experiment beyond the "normal." People love to see things that are out of the ordinary and catch their eye.
2) Pay attention to your sewing quality and watch for those little details.
3) Accessorize your outfits! Add that special hair clip or sparkly purse. If there isn't a pattern, design it yourself and make it happen.
4) Have fun with it. The more time you spend on it, the more experience you are gaining. It's worth it even if you aren't overly successful when you first start out.
~~~~~~~~~
Thank you so much Jessica, Elisabeth, and Abigail! Also, My Dressed-Up Doll has a coupon they want share with all of you American Girl Fans! Use BLOG10OFF in the shopping cart at their shop and you'll receive 10% off your purchase!
You can check out all of their doll designs and accessories, at their Etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/mydressedupdoll They would love for you to drop by for a visit! :)
Recent Comments