Meet and Greet!

[Former_Member]

Hello everyone! We've come a long way. We now have over 500 members! Some of us are old timers, and some of you may be new, and haven't had the opportunity to introduce yourselves yet. Here's our chance to say hi and get to know each other. Here are some things you might want to share.

What's your name?
Where are you from?
what kind of dolls do you make?
How long have you been making them?
Do you collect dolls?
Do you make any non-doll items too?
What else do you enjoy doing when you aren't making dolls?
Anything else you'd like to share?

[Former_Member]

I'll start!

Hi I'm Jennifer

I'm from Ohio - in the USA

I make cloth art dolls and few stuffed critters and ninja.

I've been making dolls for bout 8 or 9 years

I used to collect Barbies. I still have all of mine from the 80's plus a few of my aunt's originals.

I do make other things. I have Arts and Crafts ADD. I get excited about a new project long enough to get a bunch of supplies gathered up, make only a couple things, then find something else to get excited about!

I also love to draw, play board games and video games, sing, make balloon animals, and I used to act professionally. I haven't been on stage since I had kids, but I'd love to get back into community theatre eventually!

I'm a mom of two young boys. And I love them and my husband very much! My dolls give me a chance to do something girly for a change!

[Tattermedallion]

Nice idea Jennifer! I'll follow on.

Hi all! I'm Jane.
I'm from Durham in the north east of the UK
I make all sorts of dolls but probably more fantasy than anything else.
I first started making dolls when I was in my teens but I only really took it up again two years ago.
I don't collect dolls but, come to think of it, I don't collect anything. Guess I'm not really a collecting person.
I've made all sorts over the years but currently I just do dolls, mostly because I don't have enough hours in the day!
When I'm not making dolls I'm a competitive horse rider. I was an eventer but have recently retired (too long in tooth!). I now compete in dressage and side saddle and I show hunters.
I share my home with my husband and two huge, goofy cats. I don't have kids but I am a child psychologist in "real life" so I get to borrow other people's and play with dolls professionally!

[AmyEsryTreasures]

I made my first doll two years ago. I liked how it turned out and made another, and another and gave them to family and friends. I finally ran out of people to give them to and decided to sell them. I've been selling them on etsy since June of 2013.

I have collected miniatures since I was a kid, and I've made a few things. I have a collection of roomboxes that I've put together, and a big victorian mansion. I ran out of room for more dollhouse projects, so I'm working on dolls now.

Lately I've started doing dragons. I'm using a purchased pattern, and they are turning out really cool. I'm also getting into fairies.

I have a day job and a family, so I can only finish one doll a month. I have more ideas than I have time for.

Now thats it winter, I hope to have time to redo my photos, and get established on facebook and instagram. Once summer comes I'll be busy with gardening and camping and maybe a craft fair or two.

[Guenillesetboutons]

I am from Montréal Québec in Canada. I speak french as a first language .... that explains why I do a lot of funny spelling mistakes.

My name is Catheryne but everyone calls me Cath and that is perfect since I am a cat lover ;) I have two big cats at home supervising my work ... ok, they are more like sleeping on my dolls and eating polyester stuffing, but I like to think they are my little assistants.

I have been making dolls as a hobby for four years now. I have a full time job has a graphic designer so I don't get to do as many dolls as I would like to. I have so many ideas I want to put to life, yet so little time !!! Doll making is the only form off art I do. I have tried drawing, jewelery, wood painting, knitting ,but just did not get into it.

I sometimes buy dolls from other artist I admire. I guess my little group of dolls could be called a collection and will surely grow with time.

I like to travel... road trips, back packing, week ends adventures... as long as it gets me somewhere new to discover I am happy. I read a lot and listen to music (always) I need music in my life, it's vital to me !!! In winter I like snowshoeing and skating, in summer I like to mow the lawn and watch the flowers grow ;)

[Former_Member]

Hi everyone! My name is Anne, and i am from the great state of Michigan. Which i must say is extremely cold and snowy right now lol..

Back in April 2012 I read the book the Cloth Doll Collection by Patti Medaris Culea and fell in love with her dolls. By May i was making dolls and listed my first one here on Etsy. I guess you could say i am a self taught doll artist by books and videos :)

Since i was a kid drawing was my outlet. I love to draw and most of my OAK dolls always start with a sketch that i create and I bring them to life in cloth and lots of sparkley trimming lol.

I do not have a regular day job, sewing i guess you could say. I was in a car accident about 7 years ago, that changed my life So my full time job is my kids and twin granddaughters ( both ginger!)

[Former_Member]

What's your name? My name is Beth
Where are you from? I'm from Texas
what kind of dolls do you make? Cloth dolls
How long have you been making them? Since 2001
Do you collect dolls? Yes
Do you make any non-doll items too? Yes, a variety of non doll items.
What else do you enjoy doing when you aren't making dolls? Hanging out with my dogs and my companion, and family.
Anything else you'd like to share? I'm giving my dolls away to good homes since they don't sell.

[CatherinePicone]

Since I've been too busy to actively participate in recent months, it's nice to reconnect with everyone and hear your stories!
I'm Cathy, and I live in North Carolina.
I make cloth dolls-mostly mermaids, but I'm trying to fit in some angels again soon. I miss them!
Honestly, I can't remember when I started making dolls, but it's been a while!
I actually collect doll ornaments-fairies, angels, and of course, mermaids.
My fish pillows have become more popular than my mermaids, so I make a lot of those.
There's almost no free time now, but my husband is a truly fabulous cook and loves to experiment. We're always looking for new dishes and ingredients to try.
I also spend too much time and money buying fabric.

[theyellowroses]

Glad I finally read your post Jennifer. I thought the thread was about a physical meet & greet!

I'm Carol & I live in Corpus Christi, Tx on the gulf coast.
I make rag dolls, mostly Raggedy Anns & Andys.
I made my first Raggedy Ann for my daughter when she was about 10 & she is 42 now. I don't collect dolls, just dust & aches & pains.
I also make stuffed animals. I started doing mosaics maybe 15 years ago. I recently listed some pieces here.
I love making things and spending time with my kids & grandkids. We do lots of watching football & eating! I also like to go down to the bayfront to collect shells & sea glass.

Jennifer I think I have arts & crafts ADD too! Fortunately most of mine involves sewing, so I repurpose the fabric collection often.

Cath, English is my 1st language, but my spelling is bad!

Cathy I love your mermaids & your fish pillow are great!

So nice to meet you all! I love your dolls!

[Guenillesetboutons]

It's really nice to no a bit more about everyone, seems we can now picture the creator with the dolls !

[Former_Member]

Hello! I'm Sally. Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area in California, but living in Portland, Oregon since 1999.
I make cloth dolls, but not for kids or play. Fabric sculptures, I guess, but that could sound a little pretentious.
I've been making them longer than I care to admit. ;-) About 10 years.
My mom collected dolls for me when I was little, but I haven't done much for myself.
Occasionally dabble in other stuff, but mostly dolls.
Gardening and home repair projects
Great to get to know more about you all!

[DarkMoonDoll]

Hello My name is Trina A.K.A DarkmoonDoll. I have been interested in doll ever since I was a little girl. I enjoyed dressing my dolls up in original handmade fashion that like to sew from scraps. Not much has changed since just the fact that I experiment with all kinds of media with my doll making. I create repainted art dolls, plushies,bottle dolls,cloth dolls,and papier mache dolls.

When I am not working on my dolls I enjoy making hand sewn beaded and embroidered hand.

I also make cloth and paper greeting cards which I look forward to posting soon. Thank you so much for allowing me to be a part of your group.

[Guenillesetboutons]

Welcome Trina ! :)

[ChatterSox]

I think this is a great idea! I'm enjoying getting to know all of you.

Hi, I'm Sandra and I live in Nova Scotia, Canada.

I make non-traditional sock monkeys as well as sock creatures, garden glove dolls and fleece dolls. I started making sock dolls about two years ago. I find I can get more personality from socks than I can from cloth...socks are so forgiving and I'm still learning. I am in awe when I see what our team members create with cloth.

Through my sock dolls I found a creative way to combine my interest in working with fabric and my love of storytelling. Each of my sock and garden glove dolls has their own story within an imaginary world. When making my sock dolls, I'm inspired by jazz, show tunes, torch songs and the great ladies of show business and literature.

I have written two picture books for children, illustrated by my husband Ron. Recently I started making fleece dolls based on the characters in our book, "Pumpkin People".

When I'm not working on my dolls, I enjoy reading, gardening and poking around thrift stores and second-hand bookshops.

[RoyalHouseOfWhimsy]

Hi, I'm Fiona

I live on a vineyard in Oregon

I make cloth dolls, mostly fantasy and animal lately (although I'm working on a Downton Abbey doll for a fabric trunk show/tea party I'm going to soon)

I've been making my own dolls and doll clothes since I was old enough to thread a needle

I was obsessed with Pleasant Company dolls as a kid and still have quite a collection

I make lots of other items, mostly costumes and hats

I love to travel and to read and get lots of my inspiration from places I've been or books I've read

I'm thrilled to be part of such a creative, talented team of artists!

[Former_Member]

I am Abbie.
I have lived all over the world, but now live in SC.
I make dolls and their clothes from a pattern that my great-grandma used to make dolls for all of us from. I call them "Grace E. Dolls" in honor of her. She helped me make my first one in 2005.
My parents started a doll collection for me when I was very little, and I have lost some and added some through all of the moves over the years.
Besides dolls, I make skinny scarves and bow ties for toddlers to sell on etsy. I make other crafts occasionally too.
Most of my time is spent taking care of my sweet son(for whom I learned to make the bow ties:) ) and our home.

[Former_Member]

Abbie, I love that you are making dolls from your great grandma's patterns! what great memories

[Former_Member]

Thank-you Jennifer. Making them does bring back happy memories!

[theyellowroses]

Lovely to meet & learn about each of you!

[Guenillesetboutons]

Just bringing this thread on top :)

[Former_Member]

Just a bump to the top. I'm sure we've gotten a few new members since the last post!

[adelepo]

Hey,

I'm Adelė.

I'm from small country Lithuania in east Europe.
I create one of a kind interior art dolls from "Paperclay" with ribbon joints mostly. All my dolls are thematic and with story of their life.

I graduated art academy, puppet theatre specialisation, so I made theatre dolls about three years ago, but last year I decided to try interior dolls and I was amazed.

I don't collect dolls, but some day I will, when I have bigger apartment and more money for all of those amazing dolls in the world. :))

I make only dolls, but I'm thinking to start one other project, but it's in initial stage for now.

I love sketching with watercolours, COOKING, I love making tasty and beautiful food, I think it's my biggest hobby right now, haha.

I guess thats it, thanks for being so friendly and I'm glad to talk with all of you! :)

[Former_Member]

Hi all,

I am Lisabeth and I'm Dutch.

I design sewing patterns. I’m married to a wonderful husband and mother of two adorable little girls. For as long as I can remember, I have loved making dolls and doll’s clothes. After graduating from my studies in arts and design, I combined my passion for making dolls with my expertise in the designs of the dolls.

Each of my dolls is unique. They are the perfect playmate for children. They're entirely made of soft materials, which makes them great to cuddle and play with.

I don't collect dolls. Although I have quite a collection already ;)

When I am not busy designing, I am most probably enjoying my family, baking bread from scratch or other kitchen stuff.

[CornishDragon]

Hello
I'm Vic and I'm from the UK and I live in a small village in Cornwall.
I've been making cloth dolls for just over a year now and i'm enjoying making them so much.

I do admit to being a bit of a magpie / butterfly crafter so I make lots of different things from jewellery, my own lampwork glass beads and of course my handpainted Cornish Pixie Elves.

I'm not a collector of dolls unless you include the pictures I have pinned on Pinterest :)

When I'm not making dolls I'll be either melting glass, making something or I may be curled up reading a book on my kindle.

[Guenillesetboutons]

Welcome Victoria, happy to meet you !