You guys aren't going to believe what we are giving away next!
to give this one of a kind
handmade doll, Flora, to one luck winner!
Erin sent along Edith with Flora, this adorable little red head. She'll fit right in with my Eleanor, Henry & George, don't you think?
When they arrived, I sat down at the table with my baby boy in my arms and opened the package. Inside were these fun brown paper bags adorned with spray painted clouds and twine.
I opened them up and studied them carefully. Suddenly, I looked down and my baby had this huge grin on his face. I guess the joy I felt was contagious! I sat and thought..this would kill any blue mood! Erin, you've come up with the perfect store name!
My next thoughts were of all the little girls I want to buy one for! There are so many to pick from, and they are customizable! I love the clothes and accessories, they really give each a personality of it's own.
Let's get to know Erin, one of the masterminds behind these great dolls, while having a look at some other fun stuff from
goodbyebluemonday:
Q: I understand goodbyebluemonday is a joint effort, run by yourself and shoshana. Tell us a little about how that came to be?
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| Where the magic happens |
A: Shoshana and I have been friends for about six years now; we bonded quite a bit over knitting and crafts in general. We would always be working on a project whenever we got together, so eventually, we figured why not open up a shop on Etsy and see if everyone else might enjoy our work as much as we enjoy making it.
Q: Your dolls are amazing! Do you remember the first one you made? How did it come to be?
A: I’ve been making dolls for about two years now; I started by making one for my daughter Josephine. It was pretty remedial, but I learned a whole lot from the process and was able to see so many possibilities for future work. There’s something so exciting about producing art that is functional. It pleases me so much to know that what I make won’t just be looked at, but instead, will be touched and held, played with and (hopefully!) loved.
Q: Which of your products holds the most personal meaning to you?
A: Hmnnn. I guess my
cloud dolls, because they are completely original, and they reference my most favorite occurrence in nature. I’ve always responded to the soft, impermanent and somewhat moody attributes that clouds represent.
Q: Whilst getting to know each other, we talked about our children's name and your doll names. I really love the classic names you have chosen! How do you come up with these?
A: I have a running list of names that I like, but I actually almost never name a doll until I’m setting up a listing for it. I do favor old fashioned names for my dolls, for one because I prefer them, but also, I like how they references the more traditional nature of doll making.
Q: I've noticed you carry both sewn and knit items in your shop. Do you have any other hidden talents? (painting, photography, taxidermy ;) )
A: Well I am a formally trained fine artist first and foremost, so I can handle all sorts of different mediums, but, beyond that, I’m a pretty decent bread baker, and I can wiggle my ears.
Q: What inspires you?
A: Everything. I take in a lot of media in general; old movies, lots of children’s book illustrations, lots of music. I’m a pretty sentimental person, so I reference a ton from my own childhood; I was in love with all of my dolls when I was a child, and I think that I unintentionally incorporate certain characteristics of my favorites into my doll designs.
Q: You've been very successful in your Etsy shop. To what do you attribute your good fortune?
A:I think that having an honest and personable relationship with our customers has benefited our shop greatly. It's definitely affirming when you start seeing previous customers return for other purchases. We try to work wholeheartedly, with each step cared for equally, and it is my hope that that shows in the quality of our items. I really am appreciative of it all, especially of the fact that people are choosing more and more often to buy handmade products for their kids and choosing to support small and uniquely niched businesses like ours.
Q: What are your future plans for your shop?
A:One of the issues with having a busy shop, is finding the time to develop new items. Luckily, my super talented assistant, Dru ( Shoshana's husband), helps me immensely in that regard, so I am able to work on new designs from time to time. I do plan to add some more boy dolls, some basic babydolls with removable clothing, and perhaps finding a way to simplify the customization process.
Q: Just for fun, what is the last thing you bought yourself on Etsy?
A:The last thing that I bought on Etsy, were some wonderful, handmade felt fruit (strawberries and a banana) from
AlphabetEmporium, for my children (Benjamin,9 and Josie, 4). They are so beautifully made, and my daughter insists on tucking them into her backpack every morning before school, just in case she ever feels like having a little "snack".
After you've gone and checked out
Erin's shop, come on back and enter to win the fabulous OOAK Flora!
How to Enter the Giveaway:
1. Follow this blog
and leave a comment here saying you did.
2. "Like" goodbyebluemonday on Facebook & let them know I sent you
and leave a separate comment here saying you did.
3. Tweet about the goodbyebluemonday giveaway
and leave a separate comment here saying you did.
Don't forget to visit the
Giveaway Page for other great giveaways :)
Fine Print:
Only 3 entries per household please
1 winner will be chosen September 22nd at midnight PST
Winner will be chosen by random.org
Entries will be validated
Winner will be announced here
Winner will have 3 days to contact me,
after which a new winner will be chosen
Must be 18 years of age or older to enter
