Happy New Year!!

Champagne, sparkly stuff & making changes for the better. What's not to love? Happy New Year to you all!!

I am not great at keeping my resolutions, but this year I want to do more of this:

Sketching
Reading
Exercising (Pilates is the only thing I do - maybe try something new?)
Business Planning (this doll business needs a plan!)
Spending time with the family
Keeping better contact with relatives & friends (more than just email & FB)

What are your resolutions?

NEW IN SHOP - Mini Ornaments

New in my shop! Any mini doll can made into an ornament.

Making it personal.

NEW! Personalized message labels!

Marilyn Neuhart

I love these dolls & I love this story (via House Industries):

Using scraps of colorful Mexican cotton fabric given to her by a freelance client, Marilyn started making simple stuffed dolls for her children. A doll eventually ended up in the hands of Ray Eames, who asked Marilyn to make one for Alexander Girard. Ray subsequently sent the doll to Girard at Christmas of 1959, who ruminated over it until the following September then asked Marilyn to make 100 of the dolls for the grand opening of the new Textile & Objects store in three months. Working night and day, Marilyn made her deadline. The dolls became the centerpiece of the revolutionary new store when it opened in May of 1961.

(More about her here)

26 dolls = this table

That's my goal. I need this table!

Gift bags!

If your doll is a gift, we can enclose a gift bag, chocolate tissue & a cute 'to/from' sticker.

Available here!

Down in it.

I started Sophie & Lili in 2004 with the idea of a reversible wrap skirt for toddler girls. I had no business plan, I had no money saved & I had no clue about what I was about to get myself into. My daughter was getting more independent and I needed a creative outlet so, I kept moving forward blindly. By 2007 the company was still just 'me' and lots of help from my husband. This wasn't his dream, but, he was always there to help. We were getting major press and I had just landed a huge order at Saks. My husband warned me about having no business plan but, at that point, I was so 'in it' that my business was running me - not the other way around.

I paused to have my second daughter but, history has a way of repeating itself & here I am finding myself back in the same situation (albeit on a much smaller scale).

This weekend I must have sewn 60 dolls to gear up for the holidays & an upcoming fair. I sew at night & little bits during the weekend days. For the most part I really DO enjoy it. This weekend was a little 'much' though. My clothes are all covered in thread & fabric bits. It's not a glamorous look. Here is a glimpse of my desk at its messiest!



Well, now I am back 'in it' and I hear my husband saying "I told you so...". So, I am trying to backtrack and form a plan. One idea is to take a small group of (5) dolls and have them manufactured overseas. This way I can fill the wholesale requests that I am getting & lower the store retail price point. I started to sketch 1 of the 5 dolls (sneak peek!). I have a manufacturer lined up but, I am torn. I love the handmade part. I love that they are made by ME and in the USA.

What to do? Both?

In black & white

It will take forever to get a treasury listed on etsy so, I decided to do one here. I was going through my favorites and noticed a theme (some might say dreary) of grey, black, white & linen. This wouldn't surprise anyone that knows me.

These are just some things I wouldn't mind being the owner of. Hint hint. Holiday gifts maybe? :)

All from etsy:

Top Row:
Cotton Fiji Dress by Modaspia
Black Cat (Ari) by Mia Hansen
Money Bag Pillow by Chakra Penny Whistle

Middle Row:
Medium Frame Pouch by Oktek
Emma Silhouette by Optic Waste
Emma Embroidery by Mary's Granddaughter

Bottom Row:
Rita Doll by Frazzydazzies
Sienna Necklace by Cecilia Ostman
The White Shirt by The Little Nothings

Are you happy?

Recently my 2 year old Lola has been asking me "Are you happy?" with a big fake smile on her face. She usually asks right after I reprimand her for doing something naughty but, sometimes she asks when I seem tired or rushed. It's made me aware that I'm not so good at hiding the stresses of every day life from my face. I am working on that.

Tonight I was giving both girls a bath. Sophie (7) started to spray her sister with the water from her rubber duckies and suctioning them to her body which resulted in silly farting sounds. We all started to laugh hysterically. Lola stopped and said "Mommy, you're happy! You're happy I'm me!".

Truer words were never spoken.

Giveaway winner is...

Katy!

Congrats Katy! Please send me your info via email. Thanks all for entering!!