What Types of Arts or Crafts do you Handcraft?
I create hand-sewn cloth sculptures (also known as art dolls) which I highly embellish with beads and trims most of which are vintage or antique. I began sewing at a very young age with my grandmother as my teacher and "pep coach". In the beginning it was the use of her scraps, lace and ribbon from projects she was working on that I could tie together to make doll dresses then later she taught me how to sew by hand and using a treadle sewing machine. Years of Home Economics classes and trial and error projects on my own led me to try various crafts but doll making was my passion.
Do you Sell Wholesale or Retail?
I do sell my cloth sculptures with the majority of sales being through the internet. I have tried various auction sites but found I spent more on listings than was worth the trouble. I do list items at Etsy and my website http://www.freewebs.com/dibbledabble1dolls
I rarely sell wholesale, because since I hand-sew the sculptures they aren't mass produced, but do offer a huge discount if multiple items are purchased. I am currently adding a new line to my business which is "petite couture" garments that are for My Size Barbie and large antique dolls. The garments are not ready for sale at present but I hope to list them in the near future and with all my products I am fussy over quality and detail so nothing gets listed until I feel it's ready!
Another project I am currently working on is teaching others doll making and allowing themselves to feel free to be themselves without being judged. So many people forget how it feels to be able to play and use their imaginations they are so afraid of "not being good enough" or that "I have no talent so why bother" and miss out on the pleasure of being a kid again and be able to laugh, get messy and have fun! I am as guilty as they are in that it took me many years to finally feel "safe enough" to create dolls without feeling I had no talent and with the prodding from a friend I stepped out of that trap about 10 years ago to become the award winning cloth sculpture artist I am today.
Lessons Learned
- Never let others make you feel unworthy---you may not be the best in everything you do---but you do your best and that's what counts.
- Try new methods of making things-- they may add that special touch that sets you apart from other doll makers.
- Pay attention to what marketing methods were tried and the results of those methods--don't throw money away on something that "just doesn't work" but invest in ones that have.
- Look for new ways to promote your items that may not be the "normal way"--I had a display, at an Elementary School outside the Library, of tiny fairies I created based on a book they had.
