That little blue puppy started it all… It’s hard to believe how much the Nonesuch Dolls have grown! It just goes to show you that practice and determination pays off.
I started making little felt dolls in 2006 as a way to keep my hands busy. It was my very last summer vacation before my final year of college. I made these little dolls all summer and throughout the school year. They weren’t pretty, but they were me. I loved making them so much! About a year after I graduated, I decided to take my hobby to the next level and start a small business. I invented the Nonesuch Dolls and opened a shop on Etsy. Nonesuch Garden bloomed!
The Nonesuch Dolls went through several transformations since I opened my shop. I developed a love affair with wool felt and dumped the cheap stuff. (I’ll never go back!) I enlarged my pattern and switched to jointed limbs. I developed a special way of painting felt so I could express accurate animal markings. I created packaging and certificates to make my dolls extra special. Most recently, I started signing my dolls with a tiny ultrasuede label emblazoned with the Nonesuch Garden insignia! It took four years to get to where I am today. I feel like everything is finally falling into place.
Lately I’ve been thinking about all the things that have lead up to this moment. I’ve been thinking about all the people who taught me the little things that would become the building blocks for the Nonesuch Dolls. My Mom taught me how to sew and make patterns. Making plush animals and doll clothes with my Mom are some of my favorite memories from my childhood. I learned how to sew a blanket stitch in my Home Education class in Middle School. I used it to applique eyes and teeth onto a crazy dinosaur pillow I had made. My aunt showed me a wonderful embroidery technique that would later become the little round eyes of the Nonesuch Dolls. The owner of the local scrapbook store was invaluable when I was developing my packaging and certificates. She helped me brainstorm which materials and techniques would work best. My small business adviser has been my biggest cheerleader. She has helped me become a more savvy business person and gain confidence in myself and my products. The Nonesuch Dolls are more than just cute plush animals. They are a road map of my creative life and the people I have encountered along the way.
Every stitch I make takes me another step further along my creative path. I hope you are as excited as I am to see where it leads.
