The Doll Wardrobe: Etsy Sellers

"I sell all kinds of clothing for the modern Doll, and also hand knit sweater sets."

Dollhouse Designs' Answer

https://www.etsy.com/shop/MadebyMoMoCouture

"Sewing Patterns for historical, fantasy, & modern. Plus deluxe outfits and accessories on occasion. For my patterns, I really go all out by making illustrations and diagrams as well as photos in the instructions. I always try to word the directives as if I am sitting beside a new sewist, guiding them. (I’m sorry, I just can’t use the term “sewer”!)

I would like to begin adding little video guides as well."

Made by MoMo Couture's Answer

"I sew clothing and accessories as well as create food sets/beverages from polymer clay and design and help build furniture for them. We just don't list the furniture on Etsy due to the size of it."

Mia Kate Apparel's Answer

"Clothing items! Dresses, skirts, tops, scarves ...so far! I hope to add coats and maybe some other things in the future!"

Clarisse's Closet's Answer

"Clarisse’s Closet features fashion-forward clothing for girl and boy dolls, as well as our signature wool felt hats and other accessories."

Pippaloo's Answer

"Realistic polymer clay food...and occasionally clothing...when I have the time. When I first opened my shop the plan was to to offer both- and do an equal mix, but the foods just sort of took over. Someday I hope to offer more clothing options- when I have more time to devote to my shop. Ideally, I'd love to design and make clothes that fit into each month's theme, alongside the foods."

Party With Felt's Answer

"Hair Accessories."

Noodle Clothing's Answer

"I currently sell separates, outfits, and patterns for 18 inch dolls."

The Glam Doll's Answer

"Right now I primarily sell doll clothing and accessories."

Cupcake Cutie Pie's Answer

"The main philosophy of Cupcake Cutie Pie is complete ensembles. For this reason, shoes are sold with every outfit. On occasion additional accessories like purses and jewelry also accompany the outfits we make. We make historical as well as modern fashions."

Closet 4 Chloe's Answer

"I sell trendy clothes for American Girl and American Boy 18 inch dolls. Everything from crop tops to distressed jeans to fun dresses."

Whoa It's Me's Answer

"I sell mostly modern casual wear, but occasionally outerwear and dressier things. Though I don't have any in my shop currently, I have made some cute sweaters and jackets from felted wool. I like layering, and love adding accessories with my outfits - jewelry, bags, scarves, belts."

Dollicious Clothes' Answer

"Clothes, belts, hats, jewelry and footwear."

QTpie Doll Clothing's Answer

"I sell handmade doll clothes in my Etsy shop and

I also have 30 patterns for sale through www.pixiefaire.com."

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Thank you for reading these Etsy sellers' answers!!!

And please check out their shops for your holiday shopping. Hint. Hint. ;-)

Stay tuned for another "Question of the Day" post right around the corner!

p.s. If you own an Etsy shop, or a doll-related handmade item website, please feel free to email us at nora.demington@gmail.com to participate in the next round of "Question of the Day," which will probably begin in Jan. 2016.

Thank you!!!

Saturday, December 12, 2015

Dec. 12, 2015: Question of the Day!

Today's Question of the Day is...

How did you get involved in the 18 inch doll universe?

Our answer: Well, we received Molly for a Christmas present back in the 1980's, at the dawn of time when dinosaurs still roamed the Earth, after we begged for her FOREVER from our parents.

(They probably still have PTSD about me asking for that doll.)

Around the same time, I also spent several months acting like a dog
in order to get them to buy us a dog.

(No, you didn't read that incorrectly.)

They eventually gave in to our demands for both, and provided us with a doll and a dog.

And so it began, dun dun dunnnnnnnn...haha.

The Glam Doll's Answer

"A friend suggested that I make doll clothing for upcoming craft shows. I created one dress and it sold within a day or so and I was hooked!"

Cupcake Cutie Pie's Answer

"My mother made all my doll clothes growing up. When my daughter started collecting her own dolls I discovered the quality of store bought doll clothing was greatly declining. Sewing for her dolls really came from the desire to have heirloom quality doll clothes for my daughter like I had growing up. Unfortunately my childhood doll clothes didn't fit her American Girls so I had to start making her some."

Closet 4 Chloe's Answer

"I didn’t have an AG doll when I was growing up. Although they were around, I don’t even remember hearing about them. I guess I first heard about them when my first daughter wanted one."

123 Mulberry Street's Answer

"I got involved in the 18" Doll world thru my sewing students. I teach children sewing classes and the girls wanted to make clothes for their dolls. That inspired me to dig out my daughters old American Girl Doll and I was hooked."

Dollhouse Designs' Answer

"I used to sew for my daughter’s dolls, and after she was grown I MISSED those dolls and making things for them!! On a whim in the early 2000s, I looked up American Girl online and was amazed at how much new stuff was out there. I saw some dolls available for resale on eBay. I read restoration tutorials and bought a couple to restore, intending to resell them. Then came the day I received a Josefina that I just could not part with. It was all downhill from there!!"

Noodle Clothing's Answer

"Like most things, in a round about way. I was at an antique market about 3 summers back and found a Growing Hair Crissy doll, which prompted me to come home and have a look in the basement for my own. My mom made me such nice clothes for her back in the early ‘70s. While doing some research on line, I found Liberty Jane and was so intrigued by doll clothes that looked like people clothes, I reworked some of the patterns to give my old doll a new wardrobe. It planted the seed of sewing doll clothes for sale, but I realized that if I was going to, it would have to be for AG dolls."

Whoa It's Me's Answer

"When I first began sewing on Etsy, I didn't focus on doll fashions. I quickly had the feeling that the type of sewing I was doing was ultimately going to feel like a bit of a chore. Sewing on Etsy is strictly a hobby for me, and I don't need any more chores! So, I decided to focus on the type of sewing that I have loved the most throughout my life, which is doll fashions. It wasn't difficult to settle on sewing for 18 inch dolls specifically."

Dollicious Clothes' Answer

"When my daughter got her first AG doll I started making clothes for her doll and loved it."

QTpie Doll Clothing's Answer

"My youngest daughter received a Madame Alexander doll from her grandmother, there were almost no clothes available in Canada, so I started sewing them. Then I took the Liberty Jane Design Class and bought myself a Maplelea and American girl doll and I was hooked."

Made by MoMo Couture's Answer

https://www.etsy.com/shop/MadebyMoMoCouture

"As a kid I was always fascinated with miniature things and my great aunt had a shadow box with tiny things in it, like coke bottles and tiny flour sacks, etc. I was always most interested in that when we visited her. So when I came across an American Girl catalogue one day you can imagine my excitement. A friend insisted there was a market for their clothing and that I should try it. The rest is history!"

Mia Kate Apparel's Answer

"I loved reading the books and magazines, and pouring over the catalogs when I was younger. I always dreamed of owning a doll, and received my first doll (a JLY) for my 11th or 12th birthday. I then got Kaya for a Christmas present a few years later. My recent entry back into the 'universe' came from reading the blog 'Never Grow Up: A Mom's Guide to Dolls and More.' I loved her doll set-ups and photography, and that inspired me to get my own dolls out of storage and start enjoying them again! I also joined some AG groups on Facebook, and eventually was able to purchase Mia, my dream doll."

Clarisse's Closet's Answer

"I began sewing when I was 7 or 8, making clothes for my American Girl dolls. Eventually I grew into making full-sized clothing, but when I pulled my dolls out of my closet about 5 years ago I decided to make a new dress for them just for fun… and they never went back in the closet."

Pippaloo's Answer

"My girls and I started collecting together.

Now my girls have almost aged out of the dolls...but I haven't."

Party With Felt's Answer

"Always loved dolls - and when I first saw the doll in 1986 I fell in love with it - high quality and the promoting of education as well a play was a nice mix."

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Thank you for reading these Etsy sellers' answers!!!

And please check out their shops for your holiday shopping. Hint. Hint. ;-)

Stay tuned for another "Question of the Day" post right around the corner!

Thank you!!!

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Dec. 1, 2015: Question of the Day!

Welcome back to our Question of the Day series!

Today's Question is....

How did you come up with your shop/brand name?

QTpie Doll Clothing's Answer

"We are a bit of a nerdy family and when we were trying to come up with a name, I wanted QTpie Doll Clothing and my daughter suggest the pi symbol."

Made by MoMo Couture's Answer

https://www.etsy.com/shop/MadebyMoMoCouture

"My original business was tutus so I just modified it from that. MoMo was a name a high school friend gave me in my early 20's. For Etsy, I just added 'Couture' to 'Made by MoMo.' Interesting story, huh? ;)"

Mia Kate Apparel's Answer

"MiaKateApparel stems from my Instagram, which is mia.kate.andco. Mia and Kate are 2 of my most photographed dolls, and sisters here at my house!"

The Glam Doll's Answer

"I came up with the name, The Glam Doll, based off of a vision that I had for the dolls. I wanted to create modest glamorous doll clothing. I originally thought I would create just formal wear, but I totally love creating casual-wear more."

Clarisse's Closet's Answer

"I created Clarisse when I wanted to create a doll fashion blog and wanted to start with a fresh character to be the star. When I decided to start selling clothes inspired by Clarisse’s style, Clarisse’s Closet seemed to be the perfect fit!"

Pippaloo's Answer

"Before my oldest was born a relative suggested the name Pippa (this was long prior to Miss Middleton's US fame) and I loved it! But the husband...not so much. And I had to agree that it did seem a bit corny with our last name- which also ends in 'ppa' So I relented. My shop name is sort of a hybrid of the name Pippa mixed with my oldest daughter's name. I think it sounds fun and unique- two qualities that I wanted my shop to have."

Cupcake Cutie Pie's Answer

"Cupcakes have always been a favorite in our house over cakes

and I nicknamed my niece at the time Cutie Pie."

Closet 4 Chloe's Answer

"It is named after my youngest daughter’s doll named Chloe.

I created my shop around the time she got her first AG doll and named her Chloe."

123 Mulberry Street's Answer

"My shop is named after Mulberry Street in New York City, My favorite place in the world!!"

Dollhouse Designs' Answer

"It is mostly nostalgia.

I used to make outfits for my daughter’s fashion and 18” dolls. The Barbies were housed in a large pink & white dollhouse and it was a centerpiece of her room. The interior was turned to the wall when not in use so the pretty exterior showed toward the room. It looked very much like the dollhouse in “Two Bad Mice” by Beatrix Potter, which was a favorite bedtime story -a very funny one too! (I used to read this aloud in a British accent)

In the story, Lucinda and Jane were residents of the dollhouse and they had their own world going on. It is fun to imagine that dolls have their own opinions and thoughts. ( ;) because of course they do). So, Dollhouse Designs creates designs FOR the inhabitants of dollhouses."

Noodle Clothing's Answer

"Finding a name was challenging. Barbie was obviously out, so I went with something that doesn’t have any real link to the 18 inch world. It comes from a nickname given to me by some good friends while we were traveling in Vietnam. My shop banner was made by these same friends."

Whoa It's Me's Answer

"In choosing a shop name, I wanted to portray an image of energy and self-confidence. In direct contrast to 'woe is me', I think it does just that. 'Whoa It's Me' evokes the image of 'Look at me - here I am!', and I strive to make doll fashions that will inspire that feeling."

Dollicious Clothes' Answer

"I was working on a grocery list at the time we were trying to create a name for the business and so food and doll clothes sort of merged together to become Dollicious!"

Party With Felt's Answer

"All of my work is done with High quality wool blend felt - and I have a custom line of soy base ink printed felt made just for me here in the USA. I love what I do - and I promote my items as Party favors - so I named it - Party with Felt!"

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Thank you for reading these Etsy sellers' answers!!!

And please check out their shops for your holiday shopping. Hint. Hint. ;-)

Stay tuned for another "Question of the Day" post right around the corner!

Thank you!!!

Thursday, November 26, 2015

Nov. 26, 2015: Question of the Day!

Happy Thanksgiving People!

If you live in the United States...

If not, you probably already celebrated Thanksgiving or you don't celebrate it at all if you aren't like...Canadian. Hmmmm.

But nannyways, Happy Day You Can Celebrate Whatever You Want To!

There.....phew. ;-)

There are like something like 28 days or something like that until the day like that big guy like Santa comes down the like chimney and like gives you like prezzies.

Did I sound like a teenage girl?

Or just someone trying to give a speech in debate for the first time?

Nannyways....

Santa...28 days.

Looking for places to shop?

Check out the shops in today's "Question of the Day!"

Today's Question:

What are your New Year's Resolutions for your shop? What are you looking forward to for 2016?

Our answer: So while we are not currently trying to run an actual shop (as we just don't have the room to manage the stock in our current house) -- we do want to post on this blog daily in 2016. That is our New Year's Resolution! Weeeee!!!

And on a more basic doll-related note, we are looking forward to Lea Clark's release, and the new BeForever doll coming in 2016.

We don't really have any interest in Lea's clothing, as we have seen so far, but we definitely want both of these new dolls. :-)

Party With Felt's Answer

"More items/pictures - I sell mainly at craft shows -

so my Etsy shop doesn't have all it should have in it."

Mia Kate Apparel's Answer

"I guess I just want the word to get out more about MiaKateApparel! I hope to sew many more cute items, make more sales, and have more happy and satisfied customers! I'm looking forward to seeing my shop grow."

The Glam Doll's Answer

"Such a good questions as we approach the end of the year! My New Years resolution for The Glam Doll is to be more focused and narrow in our aesthetic. I am looking forward to what the new year holds whether it is meeting new people or customers, creating new collections, and seeing where creativity takes me!"

Clarisse's Closet's Answer

"I’d like to do more with hats and other accessories in 2016-

I think they’re what really make outfits special."

Pippaloo's Answer

"Well, my resolution has been and continues to be to post more often on my blog. Each month I post my menu list but I'd really love to post more about my dolls and doll finds as well as do more reviews and commentaries. There just isn't enough time in the day to get it all done. And I've learned that I'm no good at doing the juggling act- everything suffers when I try to do too many things well at once. "

Cupcake Cutie Pie's Answer

"We will continue to expand the stylings offered for 18" dolls

as well as designing new patterns for Simplicity."

Closet 4 Chloe's Answer

"I’d like to try to focus more on collections.

I feel like I’m a little all over the place right now."

Dollhouse Designs' Answer

"Ah, Resolutions! Yes, I want to improve my workflow & increase my output so I can get more done. I have some amount of health limitation so I am trying to improve my productivity.

Definitely excited about the new projects I mentioned before. Especially those WIGS! I am also looking forward to making some video tutorials that will be added to patterns and the hair accessory guides."

Noodle Clothing's Answer

"I’m going to work on improving my planning and following through on it."

Whoa It's Me's Answer

http://thedollwardrobe.blogspot.com/2015/11/starting-tomorrow-question-of-day.html

"I have only recently joined Instagram, and am excited to be part of the AGIG community. There are so many fabulous IG accounts to be inspired by, and I am constantly amazed by the photo quality! I hope to increase my IG presence over the coming year, and hopefully my new camera will help with that. My other goal is to improve my time management skills, which will help me to spend more time in my sewing studio."

Made by MoMo Couture's Answer

https://www.etsy.com/shop/MadebyMoMoCouture

"To try some new patterns and put out more dresses. Dresses are a rare commodity in my doll closets! I am looking forward to doing some winter pieces. I have a puffer jacket to try and some vests. Gotta get that cold weather gear out!"

_______________

Thank you for reading these Etsy sellers' answers!!!

And please check out their shops for your holiday shopping. Hint. Hint. ;-)

Stay tuned for another "Question of the Day" post right around the corner!

Thank you!!!

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Nov. 25, 2015: Question of the Day!

As we teased you with in yesterday's post....

We are starting a new series!

We ask Etsy sellers questions.

They give us answers.

We post them here.

With one pic per day, as an extra bonus.

Exciting stuff!!!

Today's Question of the Day:

1) What do you want customers to know about your shop?

Do you have any upcoming releases planned? Any exciting news around the corner?

Okay, technically that was three questions. But ssshhhssshhhh.

Our answer: While we did TRY to start a shop up, we currently are not running one. :'-(

BUT!

We will be posting about the shop we did make, so you guys can learn about it if you have no clue what we are talking about, haha. And you can find out the types of things we were selling in it, and where we found those items. :-)

Pippaloo's Answer

"Pippaloo offers realistic polymer clay food for American Girl dolls. I release new items every month on the 15th at 12:00 noon EST...with the exception of next month-in December. I always move the date up a few days early in December to allow a little extra time for packages to arrive for the holiday.

Usually around the first week of each month I will post a menu list on my blog of the foods that will be available that coming 15th- that way you can get an idea of what types of foods there will be. In January of the new year I will resume listing new items on the 15th at 12:00 noon EST."

Cupcake Cutie Pie's Answer

"I've been designing new patterns for Simplicity this year. We currently have three that are available: 1486, 1220, 1089 and another four that should be released in 2016."

Closet 4 Chloe's Answer

"I would like my customers to know how much I appreciate them and thank them for supporting my shop. I have lots of fun new pieces planned so keep an eye on my shop."

123 Mulberry Street's Answer

"My shop is a good mix of trendy and traditional for all types of American Girl Dolls.

My most exciting news is that 4 of my Sweater sets are going to be in DOLLS Magazine! Yea ! Canadian Doll Designer Kim Arnold is featuring them on her beautiful dolls. Check her out at The Trinket Box."

Dollhouse Designs' Answer

"Dollhouse Designs is a very beloved endeavor for me. My little company allows me to care for my little family by working from home while using my creative and artistic abilities. It completely makes my day when one of my patterns or items brings happiness or joy to someone.

I am so excited about future projects!! I am developing a few HAIR related projects that will be available early next year involving DIY pattern guides for making wigs and hairpiece accessories for dolly hair. These are a little different and I think people will really like them.

There will also be some new designs for patterns (and some outfits available) plus I am working on outfits for some of the Tonner dolls like Evangeline Ghastly & Ellowyne as well as Disney dolls."

Noodle Clothing's Answer

"Despite starting to make patterns to sell, I still intend to sew for my shop. I like to do a mix of separates and complete outfits so there should be something for everyone. The next pattern that I want to do is for the white coat that is in my most repinned outfit on Pinterest."

Whoa It's Me's Answer

"Although I have been selling on Etsy since 2009, for a couple of reasons I was mostly inactive for the past year. I am now sewing regularly again, and eager to greatly expand the selection in my shop, focussing on current fashion trends. I have lots of interesting ideas in the works for Whoa It's Me.

Also, almost all of my items have been one-of-kind, and I have had to disappoint customers because of this. I am going be more flexible in this regard, so my shop will have greater availability of some items.

I would also like to mention that all profits generated by my shop are used to support women in developing countries who sew to support their families. This is possible by making small micro-finance loans through Kiva.org. So when you buy from my shop, you may be helping a single mom in El Salvador send her kids to school!"

Dollicious Clothes' Answer

"I am the sewer and designer but I can't do this alone. My husband is my fabric cutter, organizer, photographer and runs the shop. My daughter is working with us part time as my assistant. My newest interest was sparked by a customer request for a boy outfit. I now have two boy models and I'm beginning to indulge into the boy clothing too."

Party With Felt's Answer

"I love my little corner of the market - Fun Hair Accessories for dolls -

just like a little girl would wear!"

QTpie Doll Clothing's Answer

"I love designing current fashion and I love AG dolls. I love the challenge of making my designs look like they were shrink with a shrink ray."

Mia Kate Apparel's Answer

"I am not a perfect seamtress, but I strive to do good work on the clothes I have to offer in MiaKateApparel. I make clothes from both new and second hand materials. Each purchase is packaged with care and great excitement! I don't really list my items in big releases at this point....when I have time and fabric and inspiration I sew a few things and then list them in my shop."

The Glam Doll's Answer

"Well, I would like customers to know that every item is made by me. I am truly passionate about the items that I create. Every collection feels like it is about to be shown on a runway. There will be an upcoming release titled, Songbird, that is set to be released on Black Friday."

Clarisse's Closet's Answer