Hello friends!

I feel like I’m making a confession today.

You see, these days I craft and sew for 18 inch dolls like American Girl dolls but it wasn’t always so.  In fact, at one time I was against American Girl dolls and didn’t want my daughter to have one.

*Gasp* I know, I know kinda extreme, but it’s true.  I actually went from one side of the fence to the other and I want to tell you why and how I made that journey.

When my daughter was about 6 years old, American Girl catalogs started showing up in the mail.  The catalogs, just like the ones today, were full of beautiful dolls, clothing and accessories that were perfectly detailed and scaled for their mini world.

Our recent American Girl catalogs.

Those catalogs went straight from the mailbox to the trashcan.

Nope, I didn’t want my 6 year old daughter to see them.

A Change in Perspective

I had a happy content little 6 year old.

We didn’t buy expensive toys for our kids so the expensive dolls seemed over the top to me.

Thumbing through the catalog of beautiful (and expensive) dolls, clothing and accessories I wondered how it would effect my 6 year old daughter.

Would her contentment change to wanting and envy?

Where does time go? Mother-daughter moment from the archives!

This was 8 years ago and I didn’t know anything about the 18 inch doll world.  I didn’t know there were other brands of 18 inch dolls at different prices and different qualities.

My first impression of 18 inch dolls was the American Girl catalog.   Would these expensive toys have a negative affect on my daughter?

A change in perspective started with education.

For the Love of Learning

We homeschooled for 5 years when the kids were young.  Aside from reading, writing and arithmetic we participated in group classes with other homeschoolers.

My three oldest kiddos, in order boy, girl, boy, during the homeschool years.

These group classes were hands-on and a lot of fun for the kids.  One year we divided the group and held an all-girls class.  We crafted and cooked from historical periods using the American Girl Craft Books and Cook Books.

I soon discovered I loved these wonderful books that coordinated with time periods we studied in history.  (You can still find them on Amazon and your local libraries may even carry them!)  We loved tying history into doll play with the girls!

As a mother I saw the power of learning through play.  We created, we played and we learned all along the way!

So from the mom that opposed American Girl I came to appreciate 18 inch dolls for education, creativity and play.

Enjoying it Together

My daughter’s first 18 inch doll was a Gotz Precious Day, Elizabeth, renamed Emily.  I was so excited to find this quality doll, discounted at Tuesday Morning, for her birthday. The following year, when she was 8, grandma gave her an American Girl doll.

She loved all of her dolls, played with them, sewed for them, crafted for them and poured over the magazines for creative inspiration, NOT wanting and envy, as I once worried would happen.

These dolls were far from trophies, they were collectibles that my daughter loved and cherished, fostering play, creativity and learning.   The best part is that we enjoyed creating and learning together.

With her first 18 inch doll Emily.

Finding my Spark

I am a maker at heart.  I have a passion for creating and have dabbled in all types of crafting and creating as long as I can remember.

One of our family traditions is a few homemade gifts for Christmas and birthdays.

With my daughters new found love for dolls I made special things on holidays to add to her doll collection.  She loved the homemade creations and I discovered my own spark for doll size crafting and creating.

One of the first doll projects for my daughter a homemade tablecloth, placemat, napkins, and napkin rings.

A doll couch for an early Christmas, made with scraps of wood, foam and upholstery fabric.

Standing Behind Play and Creativity

Fast forward to today, and here I am creating doll crafts and sewing patterns to share with you.  Over the course of blogging these past 3 years I have come to respect and love the doll community.

It’s been a wonderful journey.  I know what’s at the heart of what I love about 18 inch dolls.  It is encouraging play and creativity and that is something I can stand behind!

Creating doll size crafts to inspire creativity and play!

Creating sewing patterns and easy to follow tutorials.

A personal favorite, making doll clothes from girl’s clothes!

It’s Where Your Heart Is

And do you know what has come full circle for me?  That I understand a little more about selfishness and envy.  At first I didn’t want my daughter to have a doll that was expensive because in a way it symbolized selfishness.  I realized that our experience with dolls was valuable and enriching because it promoted creating, play, learning and opportunities to bond.

What of selfishness, greed and envy?  They can exist in anything.  It is where your heart is and where you want to go.  These are important lessons to learn.

I missed it at first but now I see so much potential and good in dolls.  Something as simple as creativity and play can bring us all a little closer and that is what makes life richer!

It is with a great leap of courage I share a little of my story!  The passion behind creating crafts and sewing projects for dolls to share with you has always been rooted in these experience.   It was about time I shared my story with you!

Thank you, I appreciate you for reading, commenting, and encouraging me!  I have a little spark of creativity that I want to share with you, let’s keep creating, sewing and playing with dolls!

-Anna