Sophie & Lili :: Made with love. Made for hugs.

Lots of new stuff at Sophie & Lili!

2012-01-29T06:53:00.000-08:00

Lots of new stuff at Sophie & Lili!

1 - Sample Sale! $15 each

cleaned out my work space & found these production samples that didn’t quite make the cut. some have mismatched sample fabric on back, light markings, no side labels, etc. they are all still cute though!

all sales final.

2 - Valentine's Day baby dolls

baby doll size valentine’s day dolls. 4 styles to choose from. $20

3 - DIY doll kits

you can now make your own sophie & lili dolls! kits include a black & white, color-your-own panel & piece of fabric for back. fabric markers sold (on site) separately.

There is also 30% off promo going on until end of February (!) on regular dolls. Use Lucky Kids Mag coupon code LUCKYKIDS2*

*excludes custom dolls, DIY pre-order, sample sale & Valentine’s Day dolls

xx

Thank you for a great 2011!

2011-12-23T06:15:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays & thank you for a great year!! See you in 2012 with some new products!

And please use code 20thanks for 20% off your purchases until 1/7/2012.

Oh baby!

2011-12-10T07:00:00.000-08:00

I am happy to announce the birth of Sophie & Lili babies! There will be 4 doll styles to start: Baby Sophie, Baby Lili, Baby Olive & Baby Josie. Pre-order yours now! Shipping in January. :)

Shop Small!

2011-11-23T06:43:00.000-08:00

Now is a great time to shop & support small businesses!

These are just a handful of my favorites for babies & kids:

1-3

Ellie Bellie Kids - http://www.elliebelliekids.com/

Joya Baby - http://www.joyababy.com/

Play This Way - https://www.playthisway.com/u-mat.php

4-6

Daytrip Jr. - http://www.daytripsociety.com

Courtney Courtney - http://courtneycourtney.com/

Erin Flett - http://www.erinflett.com

7-9

Kumquat – http://www.kumquatbaby.com

Feterie – http://www.feterie.com

Loralin Design – http://www.loralindesign.com

What are your favorites? Happy Thanksgiving!

Holiday Order Cut Off 11/18

2011-11-14T08:48:00.001-08:00

Holiday Order cut off is Friday, November 18th!

Here is a list of the doll styles available
without special ordering (as of 11/14):

Jane 3
Pia blonde 2
Sophie blonde 2
Apple blonde 3
Apple Brunette 1
Audrey 1
Jenny 2
Esther brunette 1
Esther redhead 1
Mollie 2
Jill 2
Clara 2
Selma 3
Sally blonde 1
Sally black 1
Rosa 2
Olive 1
Tamiko 4

*Any doll style or custom doll can be ordered by the 18th.

Courtney Courtney LOVE

2011-10-29T05:35:00.001-07:00

A few years ago I stumbled upon a cute etsy shop selling dresses & tops crafted from upcycled t-shirts & embellished with bold hand printed shapes. I bought several for my daughters & they have become some of our most special pieces of clothing. The dresses are by Courtney Courtney. We have remained e-friends over the years and I am happy to announce that we have found a FUN way to bring our brands together with a limited time/limited quantity collaboration! Courtney will be selling her upcycled dresses with my S&L character designs (organic jersey knit) incorporated into them. I will announce when they will be ready via email, FB & twitter. Be sure to sign up for my email list on my website or like us on Facebook!

You can find Courtney Courtney here: http://courtneycourtney.bigcartel.com/

Be sure to sign up for email list at Courtney Courtney so you can see the dresses as soon as they are ready!

S&L sign up here
CC sign up here

P.S. Coincidentally, I just got an order from one of CC's customer's for a doll of her daughter wearing her CC dress! It was so fun to create! I will be happy to make custom dolls like these. Some of her designs are intricate, so I will do my best to design something in it's likeness! The two on the bottom are based on some of CC's favorite dresses.

Custom dolls available here.

xx

I heart making custom dolls

2011-10-07T08:24:00.000-07:00

Tiny boxes

2011-09-23T05:48:00.000-07:00

Recently I came across the HGTV show Secrets of a Stylist and am smitten with it. LOVE Emily Henderson's style. If you loved Domino & Blueprint magazine, you will love this show! I have been following her blog and was really excited to see this design challenge she put together. Basically, it is a dollhouse decorating design challenge and I really wish I had the time and money to do this! I mean I REALLY want to. I just know I would make myself crazy and spend too much money.

When I was 10 my parents bought me this Fisher Price house. It had working lights, a green vanity/toilet & a mod dinette set. I LOVED playing with this house. I spent hours making mini foods out of plasticine for my dolls - mini strawberries, hamburgers, etc. I cut fabric for curtains and bedspreads. (Yes, I still am dying over this dollhouse that I posted a year ago).

Since I really want to participate, I started to design on "paper" what I would do for this challenge. Here is a little preview. Maybe I will go for it and do this for real one day?

Can not wait to see what Emily and the other bloggers come up with!

Custom wholesale orders

2011-06-24T16:17:00.000-07:00

A few sketches of dolls I have been working on for Kumquat in LA & Daytrip Jr in Kennebunkport, ME. I love designing custom orders. My customers have the best ideas!!

Instagram

2011-06-16T05:34:00.001-07:00

A little addicted to instagram. http://instagr.am/p/FkPo_/

Justin's Story - surviving cancer!

2011-05-21T16:41:00.000-07:00

I am passing this heartfelt note along (with permission from my friend Erin) in hopes that it can help at least one little guy or girl with this rare eye cancer. We love you guys!

About 6 months ago we noticed a strange reflection in Justin's left eye. It resembled a cat's eye at night. It had a translucent color. It lasted for a second and we wouldn't see it again for a while. It happened a few more times but Adam and I thought it was just the way the light caught it. We actually never said it outloud or discussed it until a few months back. We thought nothing of it!

In March Justin's left eye began to appear "lazy" at times, but would look perfectly normal the vast majority of the time.

We decided to have the doctor see him. Before we could make an appointment we received a letter from Eastern Connecticut Health Network informing us that our pediatrician's office was being closed and we should find a new pediatrician. They gave us a list of names. I called one and took the earliest appointment. When I met our new doctor for the first time on April 18th I explained I was there because Justin's eye appeared a little lazy from time to time. I also showed him a framed 5x7 photograph of Justin where you could see a small white reflection in the corner of his left eye. I figured I'd mention the strange white reflection we had seen a few times, somewhat concerned that he might think I was crazy. He spent 10 minutes with us. He shrugged his shoulders and said he wasn't concerned about the photograph. He shined a flashlight in Justin's eyes and said, "His reflection looks perfect, but it looks like something might be going on with the vision in his left eye." I asked him to refer me to an eye doctor. He found the name and number of an opthamologist in Glastonbury and told me to call them.

We took the first available appointment with the opthamologist which was April 29th, not really thinking anything of it. I figured our little "buddy" would need to wear a patch on one eye to strengthen the muscles in the other eye or maybe he'd need to wear glasses. Adam offered to go to the appointment with me. I said, "Don't be silly. Stay at work." He came anyway and thank God he did.

Dr. Kelly closely examined Justin's eyes for about 30 min. He left the room, returned, and asked us to sit down. This is when we got the information that changed our lives. He told us that Justin had gone blind in his left eye. We'd later find out that the evil tumors had detached his retina. Dr. Kelly said it was one of two things; Coats' Disease or retinoblastoma (cancer of the eye) and that it needed to be treated immediately. I fainted and then got sick in the waste paper basket. He explained how rare it is. He treats children's eyes, exclusively, and hasn't seen an RB case in 5 years.

For the next four days we cried, prayed, held Justin, researched and waited for our appointment with Dr. Materin at Yale. Tuesday came and Dr. Materin examined Justin's eyes and told us it was cancer. Those words are truly a nightmare to a parent's ears. Justin acted absolutely normal and perfect. There is no way this could be true. Justin never said a word or showed any signs of not being able to see out of his left eye. If anything, we often remarked at how well he could see, spotting an Audi or Tahoe on the highway.

Our family and friends were crushed. They were with us EVERY single step of the way. In some ways I think they hurt twice as badly; for us and themselves. My brother Patrick lives down by Yale and was with us at every single hospital visit. Words cannot explain our appreciation for all the support we received.

On Thursday, May 5th Justin had an exam under anesthesia. Dr. Materin showed us images of Justin's perfect right eye, 20/20 thank God, and tumor-filled left eye. We were filled with feelings of shock and sadness. The resident anesthesiologist placed his hand on Justin's foot, while he was still sleeping, and cried. In a short time Justin had touched him. In a short time Justin has touched us all.

Friday, May 6th Justin had an MRI under anesthesia. This was the first test to see if the cancer had spread beyond the eye. When Justin woke in the recovery room he looked at us and the nurse and asked, "Do you have any popsicles in this place?" His spirit was unwavering every single step of the way. Dr. Materin told us the ONLY option was to remove his cancerous eye and then hope that the cancer had not spread. We broke the news to our family and friends who supported us with everything imaginable... love, conversation, food, toys, books, wine, etc.

Sunday, May 8, Mother's Day, my cell phone rang and it was Dr. Materin. He told me the MRI results appeared to show that the cancer did not spread beyond the eye. I couldn't have asked for a better gift!

The day before Justin's scheduled surgery, May 10, we traveled to Manhattan to see Dr. Abramson at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Hospital to gain a second opinion, even though we knew this was a clear case. All the families in the waiting room reassured us that we had come to the right place. After another thorough examination Dr. Abramson said that he 100% agreed with Dr. Materin at Yale. Justin's eye must be removed and soon. Waiting could allow the cancer to spread to his brain and to the rest of his body.

We tried to protect Juliana from the pain. We weren't sure how to explain it to her. She must have overheard a few phone calls and conversations. Two days before Justin's surgery my Mom, Juliana, and I were sitting at the island. She looked at my Mom and said, "Now Nana, Justin cannot see out of one of his eyes." Our mouths dropped and we waited to see what she'd say next. "Now, cover one eye, Nana. Can you still see me? Yes! Cover the other eye. Can you still see me? Yes! Now, cover one ear. Can you still hear me, Nana? Yes. Cover the other ear. Can you still hear me? Yes. See, Nana! You only need one eye to see and one ear to hear!" To us that was the most brilliant and beautiful statement we had ever heard. God speaks through children, as my Aunt Suzy says.

Wednesday, May 11, the day Justin's eye was removed, was very difficult. Dr. Abramson had told us that we should see it as a good day since it could be the day that our son became cancer free. Of course, that is easier said than done. The nurses and doctors, especially Dr. Flora Levin and Dr. Miguel Materin, could not have been more incredible. We took Justin home that afternoon, bandaged on one side of his face, from forehead to chin. We had to give him hydrocodone, a heavy pain medication every 4 hours for the next three days. He was such a trooper when we woke him from a sound sleep to give him his medicine, although he did say, "Daddy shut that stinkin' alarm off!" The next afternoon Justin was riding his John Deere battery operated Gator that his Nana and Puppup bought for him.

For the next few days I kept saying, "Slow down Justin. Be careful, Justin!" He looked at me and said, "Mommy, slow makes me sad and fast makes me happy." That is truly his motto in his life. :) Justin never questioned the bandage on his face. He did not miss his eye because he had no sight from it. He had miraculously adapted to seeing the world out of one eye. The truth is that the damage had already been done. As a parent, that is a terrible reality to accept.

Earlier this week we returned to Yale for check ups and to meet the pediatric oncologist. We got the best news on Tuesday, May 17th. The pathology report came back that Justin Adam was CANCER FREE. The cancer had not spread! My Mom was with Juliana and Justin in the waiting room. That news brought relief to a Nana that is indescribable. We were so relieved and felt soooo blessed!

Justin will require regular monitoring for the next few years, including MRIs every 3 months to make sure he remains cancer free. He is sporting patches on his eye like it's his job. Justin will get his "special eye", his prosthetic eye, in about 6-8 weeks.

Retinoblastoma is a rare but fatal cancer if left untreated. About 300 children will be diagnosed with it in the United States this year. It robbed our baby of his eye. But I can honestly say that goodness prevails. We're gaining our strength from Justin. He is a our "buddy", the definition of a cool kid. The love and support from our family, friends, and colleagues is truly amazing. We've been showered with visitors, cards, phone calls, gifts, food, etc. It is something we will never forget!

Justin and his big sister, Juliana, have taught us more in their short lives than we learned in our much longer ones. My Dad said it best when he said, "Justin is going to be just fine. Everyday is a good day for Justin!" Let us learn from Justin and his strength and spirit. Make everyday a good day, and please please please spread the word about retinoblastoma!

I heart the 80's

2011-03-29T12:56:00.000-07:00

Today I came across an image that instantly brought me back to my youth. These satin braided ribbon barrettes were all the rage when I was about 11 or 12. I spent countless hours at the Rockville Centre Woolworths buying satin ribbon with my allowance.

These were the days when my friends & I could walk to town & back by ourselves. Crazy to think I could spend spend an entire afternoon buying stickers, window shopping, looking at parrots (Parrots of the World), sorting through albums at Record World & getting some fro yo at Rainbow Yogurt. I feel old. I miss those self-indulgent times.

-----------

Here is a little tutorial in case you are old like me and forgot. I totally plan to on making these with my little girls ASAP!

http://remarkablydomestic.com/2010/05/13/remember-these-80s-braided-ribbon-barrettes/

Too much. Too soon.

2011-03-25T16:05:00.000-07:00

A little update on the Nordstrom order:

After countless rounds of sampling...I am not at a place where I feel comfortable proceeding. I had to make the sad decision to cancel the order yesterday. I am totally feeling sorry for myself & wish I could have kept my big (excited) mouth shut until it was "real".

I am trying to be hopeful I can get to a place where it will work.

Helping Japan

2011-03-18T11:39:00.000-07:00

Tamiko is available in my shop. All proceeds will go to the Red Cross in efforts to help Japan.

Hold please...

2011-03-16T12:05:00.001-07:00

So..imagine you have this product that you designed and developed and people really seem to like it and want to buy it. You can't do it all yourself, but then you get this big, amazing order & you can finally justify having someone else make the product for you. You spend months sampling with a factory only to find out they just can't meet your expectations.

That's kind of where I am at. ;(

Stay tuned...

Be My Valentine?

2011-01-04T09:23:00.000-08:00

Pre-order a Valentine's Day mini here!

Custom Boy Dolls Now In Shop!

2010-12-16T06:39:00.000-08:00

For more info, click here

Hot Water for Cocoa

2010-12-14T11:42:00.000-08:00

We are joining Ellie Bellie Kids & joyababy in donating 10% of our sales now through end of January to charity: Hot Cocoa for Water campaign (clean water for the people of Haiti).

Learn more here

Lucky number 13 + a special doll auction

2010-12-09T18:42:00.000-08:00

The 13th issue of the fabulous LMNOP magazine will be out tomorrow (Monday Dec. 13th)! It was hard for me to keep quiet, but now I can finally reveal the custom dolls that I designed for the issue! Each doll is designed based on an outfit by these 5 fabulous childrenswear designers from all over the globe - Stun, Bobo Choses, 4FunkyFlavours, Lucky Wang & Olive's Friend Pop. It was a challenge to work solely by email with Jenny Lacey (LMNOP editor/founder) in Australia (opposite time zones no less), but I am so pleased with how it all turned out and all for a GOOD CAUSE!

On Sunday, Dec. 12th we will be auctioning the 5 dolls on eBay. 100% of the proceeds with go to the Make-a-Wish Foundation. The Make-a-Wish foundation is the nation’s largest wish-granting organization. Since 1980, Foundation has given hope, strength and joy to children with life-threatening medical conditions.

You can find the dolls here. Good luck bidding!

I am, I am, I am Superman...

2010-12-01T07:52:00.000-08:00

As some of you may know I tried making boy dolls a while ago. They looked adorable on paper, but when the time came to cut, sew & stuff...let's just say a front butt is NOT a good thing! The best shape for my dolls tend to be a-line. That is why I do a lot of jumpers & dresses over jeans, leggings & tights. They just hold their shape better that way. I wanted to stick to what was working best & put the idea of boy dolls aside.

Still, I kept getting requests. I was talking about this with my friend Shana at lunch one day. She suggested the brilliant idea of adding a cape to the dolls since the shape would still be a-line. And a lot of boys love superheroes, capes and all that stuff, right? I wouldn't know since I have two of the girliest girls I know! Thank you Shana!

Here are my first two custom boy orders! I have yet to sew these up, but I think they will be just fine and super cute. If you know any superhero lovers that want a companion doll, let me know! After the holidays are over, I will add them to my shop.

xo

Holiday Ordering

2010-11-06T09:17:00.000-07:00

**UPDATE** Holiday ordering for custom dolls cut-off date is 11/16/10 -
**Cut-off for regular dolls is 11/23/10**

Thinking of ordering custom dolls for the holidays? Here is some info to help you get them in time.

After you place custom doll order, it takes 1-2 days to receive your approval sketch.
Once approved, I will place order for the fabric from my vendor.
Currently the wait for fabric (from my vendor) is 6-10 business days.
Once I receive fabric, I will work on doll(s). I will try my best to make them as soon as I get fabric! Since I am starting to get really busy...please allow up to 5 days.
I ship First Class US & International. If you need an upgrade, please let me know! I can ship priority or UPS/FedEx and get you a quote.
Rush orders - my fabric vendor charges $25 shipping/rush charge to rush fabric.
Rush charge for speeding up your doll production is $10 per doll plus any upgrade fee in shipping charges.

Ordering regular "in stock" dolls? Current timing is 5-7 business days. The same rush charge of $10 per doll applies if you need your gift right away. I can upgrade shipping and get you a quote. Just email me - jennifer@sophieandlili.com

**Cut-off for regular dolls is 11/23/10**

Thanks & Happy Holidays!!

Hello Dolly!

2010-11-02T13:23:00.001-07:00

new postcard design

Gifted Magazine

2010-11-01T12:23:00.000-07:00

The first issue of Gifted holiday magazine + gift guide is out! A wonderful online magazine filled with holiday gifts, projects & crafty blogger interviews - created by Creature Comforts Blog. I honestly had no idea Ez was launching this amazing mag until this morning. What a great surprise to find my Clara doll on page 171/172!

Thanks Ez! I am in great company too!

Custom dolls

2010-10-28T08:51:00.000-07:00

I have done so many custom dolls lately & keep meaning to set up a showcase somewhere. Maybe the blog is a good place to start! :)

Some ideas for hairstyles:

Interested in a custom doll? More info here.

Black & white and cute all over

2010-10-27T11:58:00.000-07:00

New dolls in the shop next week! What do you think?

LMNOP

2010-10-21T13:03:00.000-07:00

I am working on a very fun & exciting project for LMNOP magazine.

Here is a little sneak peek. Hint - working with Lucky Wang, Stun, Bobo Choses & more! The issue comes out end of November. Can't wait to show you!

For MAJOR hugs.

2010-10-21T12:57:00.001-07:00

Introducing 16" dolls! These dolls will be available special order based on any current design in the shop. They are $38 each for an existing design, $45 for a custom order. Leave a comment here for more info or email me through my site!

Sew, Mama, Sew! Baby Shower Giveaway.

2010-10-09T13:02:00.000-07:00

The nice folks over at Sew, Mama, Sew! are throwing a baby shower themed giveaway. Among many other handmade artists, S+L will be contributing a doll of your choice on 10/14. The fun starts Monday & goes on for 2 weeks.

Go check it out and enter to win!

Softies for Mirabel

2010-10-06T05:52:00.000-07:00

This is the 4th annual Softies for Mirabel project. The Mirabel Foundation assists children who have been orphaned or abandoned due to parental illicit drug use and are now in the care of extended family. I am sending off this Sophie & Lili doll tomorrow!

You don't have to live in Australia to participate. Toys can be knitted, crocheted or sewn & sent to Mike's. Info here!

To see some examples of toys being donated, check out the Flickr photo pool.

This chair!

2010-10-01T07:50:00.000-07:00

I have been obsessing over this bell spool style chair since my husband & I saw them in a magazine years ago (maybe Cottage Living) and then again at the Chatham Bars Inn. I admit, they are a little grown up for me. Most of our furniture is super casual and either found at antique shows or hand me downs.

This weekend we are going to check them out and I think we both agree...it's time to grow up!

Book Wish List

2010-09-30T06:53:00.001-07:00

Orla Kiely's Pattern Book

Vera: The Art and Life of an Icon

Maira Kalman: Various Illuminations (of a Crazy World)

Jeffrey Fulvimari

2010-09-29T06:40:00.000-07:00

When I was 18 and studying fashion design at FIT, one of my professors squashed all my hopes and dreams of becoming a fashion illustrator by telling me "Fashion illustration is dead. There is no money in it. You can't make a career of it anymore.". Talk about depressing! I had been drawing fashion sketches since about 9 years old. I filled sketchbooks weekly. Stupid me, I listened to her.

A few years after I left FIT, I remember seeing Jeffrey Fulvimari's amazing sketches on Stila Cosmetics packaging and advertisements. It seemed so groundbreaking (yet retro at the same time) for this company to be using illustrations vs. real models. His sketches (not the same artist they use now) were adorable and I felt such regret for listening to that professor in college. I am a realistic person. My sketches are no where near as good as his, but I remember thinking "if only I took more time and developed a better style...".

P.S. - I am not a big make-up wearer. I bought Stila make-up for the packaging alone!

For my birthday I think I am gonna treat myself to his Greatest Hits book. He has done countless projects from Anna Sui, Gap, Pucci Mannequins, MTV, Madonna's English Roses to Louis Vuitton. Too many to name really!

Will I Ever Grow Up?

2010-09-08T13:01:00.000-07:00

This dollhouse is probably old news to some, but I didn't grow up in Sweden...so it's brand new to me! What is wrong with me that I want this house for ME & not my kids? I wonder if it has anything to do with the time my father accidentally threw all my dollhouse furniture away vs. storing it in the attic after I told I him I was too big for dollhouses. I take it back!! I am not too big for this. So cute.

Coveting for Fall - Black, Gold & Neutral

2010-08-31T11:28:00.000-07:00

Nook e-reader & Kate Spade "Read a Book" Cover
Linea Pelle Perry Stud Mini Clutch
J Brand Skinny Cargos
Matt Bernson Sabot Clogs
H&M Poncho
House of Harlow Necklace, Ring & Bracelet
UGG Clog Boots

Some new designs brewing

2010-08-09T11:23:00.000-07:00

Along with a lot of custom orders, I actually had a little time to play around with some Fall designs this weekend! (It feels like I spend 95% of time sewing & accounting vs. playing). The first two here are for a custom order to London & the other two are potential new dolls for my shop.

Stripey tights, fall coats, bunny slippers, pjs! I have a lot more ideas. Let's just see if I can find the time. xx

Marcia, Marcia, Marcia

2010-08-09T05:54:00.000-07:00

A year or so ago my BFF Jen (aka Dr. Jen of Play This Way) bought my daughters the Brady Bunch DVD box set as a gift. I laughed when she handed me the green shag carpet covered set, yet secretly couldn't wait to tear it open! My daughters are 8 & 3. My 8 yr old is obsessed with Selena Gomez, Myley, Demi Lovato, etc. I was skeptical she would appreciate the innocence of Brady Bunch, but we gave it a try.

It was love at first sight. Both she & my 3 year old couldn't take their eyes off the TV. They instantly fell in love with Cindy & Marcia (sorry Jan). I love watching it too. So many good memories of "Oh, my nose!", "Something suddenly came up.", Davy Jones, the Hawaii episode with the giant tarantula, the broken vase, Greg and his groovy attic bedroom... (I could go on and on).

SOOO...if you are looking for a fun gift for your kids & don't mind a little TV time, I would highly recommend this set of DVDs. Thanks Jen. This is one of the best gifts ever. xo

Buttons

2010-07-27T13:09:00.001-07:00

Coming soon in my shop!

Mini Boden Goodness

2010-07-22T05:37:00.000-07:00

Oh how I wish I were 6 again. This stuff is so flippin' cute.

Orla Kiely AW 2010 (I die!)

2010-07-21T07:53:00.000-07:00

This quilted floral patent leather bag needs to be mine.

Been a busy girl.

2010-07-13T13:02:00.000-07:00

I have been busy. Lots of wholesale orders & I am very thankful. Two new stores - Brown Paper Packages (Australia) & Little Seouls (California).

Also, I have been futzing around with my website. Made a few design changes - still in progress.

Sidetracked & self-doubt

2010-06-16T17:39:00.001-07:00

Even though I consider myself a whiz in Adobe Illustrator, I can't help but feel like I don't know what the heck I am doing when it comes to textile design.

1) I am not 100% sure how many colorways to make. How do you stop? It's so hard to edit!

2) I am not a huge fan of tiny prints and calicos. I really do appreciate them, but when choosing fabrics I go for larger/bolder graphic prints. I know my designs lack variety of scale. (working on this!)

3) When I am 'done', then what?

---

Can you tell that I'm finding it very hard to focus on completing my designs first before daydreaming about all the fun stuff you can make with my 'pretend' fabric line? : )

---

P.S. - I would love to show you more but now I'm starting to worry about showing too much. :(

Entering the world of textile design?

2010-06-12T14:42:00.000-07:00

I have been toying with the idea of designing my own fabrics for years. I just never knew where to start.

I did design some prints for my clothing line a few years ago but, that was through my manufacturer in India and I was not really involved in the process much. I kind of just closed my eyes, crossed my fingers and hoped the strike-off would be ok. There wasn't time to be very picky.

There are so many talented textile designers popping up these days - Lizzy House, Denyse Schmidt, & Amy Butler to name a few. So when I came upon Lizzy House's book - How to Enter the World of Textile Design, I was ecstatic.

She encouraged me to take a stab at designing a line & has been so kind to give me feedback and help. I am no where near completion but, if you know me at all, you know I am very impatient. How can I wait months to see a strike-off? I had to see what a few of my ideas looked like on fabric to even consider if I'd present these to a manufacturer one day! Thank you Spoonflower for helping me with my instant gratification issues.

So here are my first few designs. They are a little kitchen-y/picnic-y which I am not sure is really what I was going for. I could see them on aprons, tea towels or table clothes. The florals I intended for apparel, baby/kids clothes & accessories.

I would LOVE your feedback. What do you think? Are these fabrics you would use? If so, what would type of projects would you use them for?

Thanks! xx

Brimfield!

2010-05-14T08:07:00.000-07:00

Brimfield Antique Show is this week. As the kids get older, it gets easier to bring them along. We'll set out early & give the girls things to look for so they are not too bored. Last year my oldest searched for marbles & tiny cats for her collection. The trouble is, most everything is an antique (meaning $$$) so it's hard to say no when she spies a Pez dispenser that you may see at Target for $1 for $40!

I love the thrill of the hunt & the sinful fair food (fresh squeezed lemonade, hot dogs, gyros, kettle corn...). Years ago I would go with my BFF and sort through fabric, postcards & old Howard Johnson ads. I don't have that kind of patience anymore. Now I look for bigger items like beds for my girls, coffee tables, chairs, etc. We never leave empty-handed & I cherish everything I have discovered there.

I will take pictures tomorrow and report back next week. I think I may even take some shots of things in my house we've found over the years and post those too!

xo

Looking Back

2010-05-12T06:21:00.000-07:00

I thought that our family computer was on the verge of dying a few weeks ago when my husband tried to upgrade iTunes, then the OS, then Quicktime, etc. etc. Those of you with Macs probably know this process all too well. I felt PANIC as we are guilty of never backing our files up & when we do, I am so unorganized, I can't even find the back up external hard drive. My husband worked tirelessly on waking the computer from the dead and eventually we recovered everything. The computer is working again. (Yay? I really wanted the new iMac for home)

As I cleaned up the mess we made, I sorted through my old work. Some things were easy to 'delete' & others I just couldn't let go of. I found one project that I worked on (2001) for a sweet loungewear/lingerie company called Polkadot USA. I designed a brand character for use on hangtags, robes & pj's. The robe & pj's eventually wound up in Bloomingdale's & Victoria Secret. We wound up ending the relationship because I was naive. I had no idea how/what to charge for this illustration (I think I charged too much) & I didn't know a thing about licensing (still confuses me). I wish I could say I learned so much since then. These are still things that confuse me terribly.

Which brings me to this project that went no where. The concept never came to fruition because we couldn't agree on ownership of characters, cost for artwork, etc. Aside from my still being confused about licensing, a big factor of this never going anywhere was fear that if I 'gave the characters away' I'd never get to use their likeness for future projects. I am SO glad that I followed my gut since these characters kind of evolved into my dolls.

Some other fun stuff that I forgot about - L'Oreal illustrations for hair color instructions.

Postcard for a friend's clothing store called In House (promoting Polkadot USA):

Polyvore = therapy

2010-05-11T17:45:00.000-07:00

I discovered Polyvore.com a few years ago. I don't use it much but I used it to help plan what to bring on my first big trip to Paris (2008). I was looking at some old sets I created (I must have had a lot of time on my hands when I did these!). These are silly 'mommy & me' sets. I NEVER dress like my kids nor do I ever wear so much color but, putting them together was surprisingly therapeutic.

Die Cut Doll Stickers!

2010-05-11T15:23:00.000-07:00

I am excited to announce 4 new Sophie & Lili stickers in my shop! But hurry, my kids want them ALL!

I would love to hear your ideas on how you would use these. Would you use them for your child's lunch bags? Goody bag 'treat'? Leave a message here or on my FB page & I will choose 2 winners to receive a 4-pack of doll stickers on 5/14 after 8pm ET.

Good luck!

Currently obsessed with vintage embroidered Mexican dresses

2010-05-11T08:38:00.000-07:00

I have had a love affair going on with vintage Mexican embroidered tunics for quite some time now. Love the colorful girly details - the more, the better. I came across Aida Coronado's etsy shop & blog recently and I am smitten. I want them all.

I don't know? I am kind of even liking them with black tights & sweaters as seen here.

Scenes from the weekend

2010-05-10T10:16:00.000-07:00

What a great weekend. My 8 year old celebrated her birthday at a local Art Studio. She & her friends are growing up so fast. They talk about Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez & shopping at Justice. Some girls have braces already & appear to be almost 6 ft tall. They are still little girls at heart – giggling as they painted, asking for help making garden stepping stones, making a huge mess eating cupcakes & couldn't keep them seated when it came to present opening time! Funny how only 2 short hours can wipe a girl out. Oh, that would be ME. Sophie went rollerskating after for a school celebration!

On Sunday my husband spoiled me by letting me sleep in. Unfortunately, I can't sleep past 7. When I tried to go downstairs he made me get back in bed and relax. He & the girls made whole wheat pancakes, fresh fruit, fresh squeezed OJ & he bought me some white hydrangeas (LOVE). I stayed in my robe most of the day & watched Men Who Stare at Goats. My parents & M-I-L came over for dinner (which husband also made). We had this delicious Chicken Cheddar recipe from Real Simple. I HIGHLY recommend this dish! It is filling though & falls in the category of 'comfort food'.

I think Mother's Day is by far my favorite holiday.

Hope you had a wonderful one too!

xo

Bad blogger!

2010-04-27T05:43:00.000-07:00

Hello!

Oh my gosh! I have really neglected my poor blog.

I was buried in orders due to an itty bitty sale promo on Daily Candy Kids in March and was sewing every night until midnight for about 5 weeks! All my orders went out somewhat smoothly. There was the occasional "got my cute doll today, but, it's got someone else's name on the back" email. Ok, there were a FEW OF THOSE emails. :(

Thankfully, I have the best customers and everyone seems happy now!

As much as I groan about sewing that much, when I DON'T have to sew something, I don't know what to do with myself. SO...I took on a few wholesale orders last week. Here is a peek at one order for a store in Vancouver called Little Peeps.

These dolls will be available in a few weeks. On that note, if you are a retailer interested in ordering wholesale, I updated my website with information (scroll to the bottom of that page).

With the Daily Candy deal came a lot of exciting emails & interest from some very unexpected sources. I am in talks with some great companies about possible licensing and wholesale orders. I wish I could share some news with you, but, everything seems to take so long! Trying to stay positive! I am so impatient.

New Dolls for Pre-order

2010-03-05T11:46:00.000-08:00

I have a bit of Spring fever. It's been a long winter for us in Connecticut! If you are having Spring fever too, check out these 4 new dolls here. They should be available to 3/22-27. Pre-order available now!

GIVEAWAY WINNER!

2010-02-26T11:35:00.000-08:00

Congrats to Susanna G from Geneva, Switzerland!

Please email your info to jennifer (at) sophieandlili (dot) com & let me know which doll you'd like. Thank you all for entering the giveaway. I loved reading your comments about the many lovely places you live!

xo

Doll Giveaway

2010-02-22T16:58:00.000-08:00

Today I got an email from a UK customer with a photo of their doll hanging out in the French Alps. Taking a break from skiing maybe? All I know is that is one lucky doll!

Do you live somewhere lovely, exciting, fabulous or exotic? Maybe you are going on a trip soon and want to take a doll along? Tell me about it! Post a comment here or on my Facebook page & you will be entered to win a doll of your choice.

If you are the lucky winner, I would love to see photos!

Good luck! Contest ends 2/26 7pm EST

Joan Walsh Anglund

2010-02-13T08:08:00.001-08:00

This morning I was cleaning my daughter's room & noticed a sweet plate by Joan Walsh Anglund on her dresser. A gift from her nana for her first day of school. I used to try to draw these little characters for hours when I was her age. I can't believe that I didn't put this together until now, but I look at my dolls & see her influence in them. Do you think so too?

Of course this has me looking on eBay at her dolls & considering buying one...

Build Your Own

2010-02-08T12:05:00.000-08:00

After several custom requests, I think I have figured a way to build your own hair accessories. Choose from one face style + a pattern/saying -or- 2 face styles -or- 2 patterns...you choose!

New clips for little sisters, big sisters & birthday girls too! xo

HAIR GOODIES NOW IN THE SHOP!

2010-01-24T13:20:00.000-08:00

SO very excited to announce these new hair goodies for your little girls! Each set has one ponytail holder or barrette with a sweet doll face on one & a matching flower, print or word on the other.

Available in my etsy shop now.

Baby Star Organic Denim

2010-01-14T08:38:00.000-08:00

Last year I helped Baby Star design a line of organic denim which they put on hold for a while. So glad to see that they produced some of the pieces from the collection - a skirt & 2 pairs of jeans.

I have been meaning to get ALL of these pieces for my girls.

Sophie & Lili Hair Accessories

2010-01-14T07:58:00.000-08:00

Because having a full time job, 2 kids & a doll business wasn't enough to keep me busy, I've decided to add one more thing to the mix! These adorable fabric covered barrettes & ponytail holders will be in my shop(s) within the next 2 weeks.

These cute 'love' sets will (hopefully) be making it in time for Valentine's Day. (photo is not the best - my apologies)

Happy New Year!!

2009-12-30T07:58:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-10T08:43:00.000-08:00

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

Making it personal.

2009-11-23T10:54:00.000-08:00

NEW! Personalized message labels!

Marilyn Neuhart

2009-11-18T11:55:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-18T11:11:00.000-08:00

That's my goal. I need this table!

Gift bags!

2009-11-18T08:35:00.000-08:00

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

Available here!

Down in it.

2009-11-17T10:59:00.000-08:00

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

2009-11-10T10:30:00.001-08:00

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?

2009-10-27T16:56:00.000-07:00

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...

2009-10-09T13:27:00.000-07:00

Katy!

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

Breast Cancer Awareness Month & Doll Giveaway!

2009-10-05T10:35:00.000-07:00

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, Sophie & Lili will be donating a portion of our sales to the Young Survival Coalition for the entire month of October. The Young Survival Coalition (YSC) is the premier international organization dedicated to the critical issues unique to young women and breast cancer. YSC works with survivors, caregivers and the medical, research, advocacy and legislative communities to increase the quality and quantity of life for women diagnosed with breast cancer ages 40 and under.

So...since pink is the color that represents Breast Cancer Awareness - I will be giving away this all pink 'Marlo'doll to one lucky person! To enter the giveaway, please check out our new store and leave a comment below about your favorite doll.

Contest ends Friday, October 9th, 2009 8pm EST. I will use random.org to pick one winner. Please remember to leave an email address so that you can be contacted if you are chosen winner.

Please follow us on Facebook to find out who the winner is & for new announcements.

Thanks!

A few of my favorite things...

2009-10-05T09:04:00.000-07:00

Some snapshots of my favorite things - from around my house . :)

Minifashionista Australia

2009-09-28T09:29:00.001-07:00

I am working on another wholesale order! This time for minifashionista - an online shop based in Australia. They wanted really girly dolls so I went with some butterflies & flowers. :)

Line + Liv

2009-09-24T07:22:00.000-07:00

Line + Liv is a super cute childrens shop in Flensburg, Germany. I've been asked to create 4 dolls for them. Please meet Molly, Liv, Pauline & Juni. Three of the dolls are named for the shop owner's daughters.

Dolls should be available late October.

They also have a great blog.

Fawn + Forest Friends

2009-08-31T12:42:00.000-07:00

These little lovelies were custom made for Fawn & Forest. There are 4 style dolls inspired by a modern day Little Red Riding Hood.

Check fawnandforest.com in September to purchase!

Jane Foster & Her Enviable Fabric Stash

2009-08-14T07:46:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a good snail mail day. After seeing Jane Foster's amazing hand screened cats, I contacted her to see if she would want to do a swap. I came home to this cuteness waiting in my mailbox (along with the newest issue of Cookie & a Paper Source catalogue). Icing on top!

She has a wonderful (colorful) blog that she seems to update daily. She posted photos of her studio a few days ago & the fabric stash that she has is ENVIABLE!

Thanks Jane. I love my cat and have hidden it from the girls for now. : )

(Sorry about the crappy photo quality. My camera is in for repairs!)

I ♥ Moo

2009-08-06T13:09:00.000-07:00

Just got my (free) moo cards in the mail. They are running a 50 free business card trial offer. The only catch is that they add an advertisement/coupon band across the bottom. Who cares? They are still stinkin' cute & I love the way moo packages everything with a 'Yay!' sticker.

YAY!

See if this link works for you!

"Hey There, Little Red Riding Hood..."

2009-08-04T06:04:00.001-07:00

My favorite thing about making these dolls is designing their little outfits. It was the best aspect of my old clothing line too. Now I don't have the stress of having each piece graded, fitted & produced. (Still, I miss it.)

These little lovelies are for a special custom wholesale order. I was asked to do a woodsy theme so, this is my modern take on Little Red Riding Hood & her friends. I will be posting some pics & more info when the actual dolls are ready! I always say this, but, these are my FAVORITE so far!

50 Dolls, 1 Weekend

2009-07-26T15:51:00.000-07:00

You could say I had a pretty productive weekend work-wise. I wasn't planning to sew 50 dolls but, my fabric came in earlier than expected and I figured I should just get them sewn up so that I could focus on building up my shop again this week.

One order is for the new Little Bean store in Dallas. I have been 'email friends' with Christine since I started my clothing line in '04 so, this is an extra special order for me. The second order is a bit unique. The request was to send the dolls unstuffed to save on the wholesale cost. I put together 25 regular size dolls & 15 minis. It was a ton of work but, really quite fun seeing the custom styles come together with different backing fabrics. My girls played at my feet - coloring, sorting through fabric scraps, helping me pick matches for the backings. Of course we spent some time outside and played. It's hard not to feel guilty spending so much time on the sewing machine.

I plan to add some new styles to my shop (similar to the ones in photo) soon!

WINNER OF GIVEAWAY is lucky No. 8!

2009-07-20T12:20:00.000-07:00

The winner for the Baby Star + Sophie & Lili Giveaway is Helen D! Thanks all for entering!!

We will have a giveaway again soon & plan to make some Baby Star limited edition dolls to be sold on www.babystar.com & in our etsy shop!

CPSIA Tracking Labels

2009-07-18T10:42:00.000-07:00

After weeks of stressing about the CPSIA required tracking labels for my dolls, I have finally come up with a plan I HOPE solves the problem. I decided to go with a flat organic cotton label, folded in the center. The front of the label will have my logo and 'Made in the USA' tagline. The back will have 'materials used', my RN # (which I got when S&L was a clothing co.), care instructions & a space to hand write the batch & date info.

I printed a sample on my inkjet using printable fabric sheets to test this idea out. The fabric marker is a little thicker than I would like, but, it didn't bleed and it looks 'ok'! I am testing how it washes now.

I hope this helps some of you that are stressing too. 8/14 is close! I won't order the final labels until 7/20 when they are expected to announce updated (final?) labeling requirements.

If anyone has any suggestions to add, please do!

Sophie & Lili & Baby Star GIVEAWAY!

2009-07-15T10:41:00.000-07:00

I am super excited to announce our latest giveaway. This one is a collaboration between a dear friend of mine at Baby Star! If you are not familiar with their childrens clothing, bedding & accessories, check out their site, you won't be disappointed!

One lucky winner will receive a Baby Star 'mini poodle' blanket (pink w/ daisy chain print) & a custom made-to-match Sophie & Lili doll. ($44 combined retail value)

To enter the giveaway, simply leave a comment in the comment section below this posting.

Contest ends Monday, July 20th 2009 8pm EST. I will use random.org to pick one lucky winner. Please remember to leave an email address so that you can be contacted if you are chosen winner.

www.babystar.com

Oh goody!

2009-07-14T06:45:00.000-07:00

I am barrette-obsessed. Always have been. I can't go to Target without a stroll down the hair accessory aisle. I use my daughters as an excuse but, honestly I have been known to sneak outside with one of their Goody barrettes in my hair. Simple, classic & girly. They are perfection!

To make matters worse, Orla Keily's S/S 09 lookbook is not helping. EVERY model is sporting a huge plastic barrette.

I guess there could be worse obsessions.

Images from:: goody.com, orlakiely.com & clothpony.com

Sophie & Lili Boy Dolls (Pre-Order)

2009-07-12T11:36:00.000-07:00

Thanks so much for your feedback via Twitter & Facebook. I am keeping the first run of boy dolls small & simple. 3 style dolls in 3 haircolors. If you are interested in pre-ordering a doll, they will be ready in about 2 weeks. I can post a reserved listing in my shop.

Please send me an email at jennifer(at)sophieandlili(dot)com or send me a message via Esty conversations through my shop. The first round will contain 2 of each style/hair color (18 dolls in total). First come, first serve!

Thanks! Jennifer

Thinking about boys...

2009-07-11T10:13:00.000-07:00

I am surprised at the number of requests I've received for boy dolls. I don't want to go crazy with all different styles (I have enough going on with the girl dolls) but, while my 2 year old napped, I got on the computer and started to design a few.

My older daughter (7) saw what I was working on & asked if she could help me. Being the control freak that I am, I wanted to say no but, she is quite persistent & cute...

She helped me pick most of the colors and gave me all sorts of ideas - shorts vs. jeans, diff color sleeves, etc. I think she has a future in design. :)

So, what do you think? Would you buy them for your boys? As gifts? I kinda like them.

For you curly-haired girls!

2009-07-08T11:40:00.000-07:00

Ok, I need your honest opinion here. I have had a lot of requests for curly-haired dolls & have been avoiding it like the plague. Not because I have anything against curls. Some of my best friends have curly hair & my hair is far from straight this time of year...

But seriously, I thought it might be 1) tricky to draw them w/out looking like Carrot Top & 2) even harder to sew due to the curves. I think this may work though!? What do you think? If the hair's not working, the outfits are cute for a new round of dolls.

Thanks!

First Sewing Project

2009-07-08T08:01:00.000-07:00

While on vacation in Cape Cod for the 4th, I snuck out to my favorite shop while the girls napped. I picked up the cutest beginner sewing kit for my 7 year old. I have to admit that it was harder than I expected for BOTH of us to complete but, the end result is adorable.

Next to try will be this cute kit. I wish I could get it together enough to make my own kits to sell.

NEW CPSIA COMPLIANT DOLL

2009-06-23T08:39:00.000-07:00

So much talk about the CPSIA crackdown on childrens products & toys (intended for 12 yrs and under) that my head is spinning. I am not against safe toys for our children, but, I do think these new regulations need some serious thinking through before going into effect next month.

My dolls are digitally printed on one side & backed with various vintage to new fabrics. They are filled with polyfil & sewn with 100% cotton thread.

I am ok with having the digitally printed fabric tested. I am actually very curious myself although everything I read indicates that the inks in textile printing are inherently lead-free. My larger concern is how I'll be able to afford testing on every piece of fabric that I choose to back the dolls with & the polyfil filling. Testing can run $300-500 a piece of fabric. This is absurd. I found a site that lists textile manufacturers that have taken steps to becoming compliant and I am thankful for that.

Then comes the issue of tracking labels. Each doll must be labeled with a batch number, manufacturing date, content & permanently sewn onto product by August 14th, 2009.

Fortunately, making dolls is not my sole source of income. The extra money is nice but, honestly, I love the process of making the dolls from drawing to sewing to packaging them up for lucky little girls. What about crafters that will be out of business and it IS there sole source of income? What happens to hometown craft fairs & people basically out of the loop that this even going on? Proud grandmas that want to make a handknit sweater as a gift or a handsewn bib or blanket? Are they going to be fined? Will the CPSIA be invading craft fairs?

Not trying to be sarcastic or funny. Just really confused about how these regulations will effect us. :(

Save Handmade. Ammend the CPSIA.

MINI DOLLS GIVEAWAY WINNER IS...

2009-06-19T15:42:00.000-07:00

Karen W!

Congrats! I will be emailing you for your information!

Thanks for entering!! I will do one again soon.

Mini Doll(s) Giveaway!

2009-06-16T11:01:00.000-07:00

The last giveaway was so much fun & I loved reading all the comments that I am ready to do another! This time the prize will be 2 mini dolls of your choice. To enter the giveaway, simply tell me which style doll is your favorite in the comment section below this posting. You can view past & current styles in my etsy shop.

I always love to hear your thoughts & ideas for future dolls. I've received lots of different requests from eyeglasses to curly hair. Feel free to let me know what you're thinking!

Contest ends Friday, June 19th 2009 8pm EST. I will use random.org to pick one lucky winner. Please remember to leave an email address so that you can be contacted if you are chosen winner.

Thanks & good luck!

Daytripping

2009-06-14T14:06:00.000-07:00

Just got back from a long weekend in Portland, Me with my family. I haven't been there since I was pregnant with my first daughter Sophie (7+ years ago). It's a great little city with tons of good places to eat and a great children's museum. The girls would have been happy just staying in the hotel and taking the elevator (or alligator as my 2 year old calls it) up & down all day. We survived a semi-grownup dinner out at Fore Street where Lola dropped a bread plate and the whole restaurant went silent. Then she proceeded to take her diaper off at the table. She is SO very cute, but, a little devil.

The weather turned out perfect. The shopping could have been better but, we found a really cool (mostly men's) store called Rogues Gallery on a cobblestone side street. Then today, on our drive home, we stopped in Kennebunkport for lunch. Lots of touristy shops selling lobster tees but, one store really stood out - Daytrip Society. I could have stayed in there all day. One cute thing after another. I picked up Lotta Jansdotter's Simple Sewing for Baby & an Orla Kiely notebook. Their site is great, their logo adorable & they have a blog that you should definitely check out!

We are all a little spent. I could live without lobster rolls & french fries for a few months. Happy to be home!

New Mini Dolls

2009-06-09T07:08:00.000-07:00

When I first test printed my dolls, I was a little off when it came to prepping my files & the scale was all wrong. The first yard of fabric I received came out as 7" dolls vs. the current 11" style I sell in my shop. I quickly figured out where I went wrong and stashed the 'wrong' fabric away in my scrap pile. This past weekend my 7 year old spied the fabric and REALLY, REALLY, REALLY wanted a baby for her big girl doll. Then my 2 year old followed suit with the begging. How could I say no to their sweet little faces? So I whipped a few together and to my surprise, they came out quite cute. So cute that I decided to try them in my shop.

Would love your thoughts!

Next on my list is to make some BIGGER dolls. Maybe 16". I have been waiting (a little too impatiently) for my test yardage to arrive. Please come soon. I get bored easily & need something new to play with. :)

Grace Doll for the Craft Hope Project

2009-06-06T15:32:00.001-07:00

I stitched up this doll today for the Craft Hope Doll project. The goal of the project is to supply dolls to the children of the Casa Bernabe Orphanage in Nicaragua. As of now, it looks like they have over 200 dolls to send! All handmade. I think it's a great idea.

Learn more about the project here

Flickr photo group here

Giveaway Winner

2009-06-04T18:29:00.000-07:00

And the winner is...Ashley! I will be sending an email to you shortly for your address. Thanks so much for all your comments. I love reading them. I will be doing another giveaway soon!!!!!!!

Sophie & Lili Dolls in Sew Hip Magazine

2009-06-02T13:12:00.000-07:00

What a nice surprise to get these photos from Bowie at Print & Pattern today! We talked about having the dolls possibly being in the magazine, but, I forgot about it until now. I guess this means I will work on setting up international shipping tonight in my etsy shop.

So cute. I want a copy. If anyone knows how to get a copy in the US, can you send me an email? Thanks!!

Princess & The Pea

2009-06-02T08:04:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite stories when I little was The Princess & The Pea. I recently bought the book for my oldest daughter Sophie. I was drawn to this version by Lauren Child whose illustrations I just adore.

So you could imagine I was thrilled to see this new fabric by Heather Ross (a huge fan since her Munki Munki line). I am working on a new idea for the dolls & this might be just the right fabric for it!

Share the Love

2009-06-01T12:52:00.000-07:00

I love to see photos of my dolls with their new mommies! I am putting together a photo gallery of S&L fans up on my site.

So please send them to me at jennifer (at) sophieandlili (dot) com if you are interested in having a photo up on my site!

This is one of my Lola holding the first two prototypes I made.

Let's Try This! First Doll Giveaway!

2009-05-29T08:18:00.000-07:00

Ok, let's try a giveaway. The lucky winner will receive a Sophie & Lili gift certificate good for one original (11") handmade doll of choice from my etsy shop. To enter & win, please leave a comment in comment section below this post. I will randomly pick a winner Thursday, June 4th - 8pm EST.

A (snail mail) gift certificate will be sent to the winner once announced.

One entry per person. We only ship in the U.S. as of now. My apologies for any inconvenience.

Good luck!

Fashion School Dropout

2009-05-29T05:14:00.000-07:00

So I mentioned in the first post that I studied at FIT. The Fashion program was a real eye opener for me at the age of 18 so, I switched majors to accessory design my second semester. One of my favorite classes was shoe design. I never had a problem with drawing or coming up with ideas...it was the execution of making a pair of shoes that was an issue! Who knew we would actually have to make shoes??

Anyway, I just spied these cute espadrilles via Camp Comfort. These definitely look like something I would have dreamed up back at school. Would love to design shoes one day.

Is pink really so bad?

2009-05-28T17:30:00.000-07:00

I have been working on a new collection of dolls with a very different color palette then what S&L is known for. I am in love with Lizzy House's Red Letter Day fabric and think these would be perfect together.

I have been getting some requests for less pink. As much as I used to fight the pink clothes, etc with my own daughters, I secretly really love it. I do understand that moms want more options though. What do you think? What colors would you love to see?

Welcome to Sophie & Lili Handmade!

2009-05-28T13:32:00.000-07:00

Hi! Welcome to Sophie & Lili Handmade.

I created this blog to keep you informed of shop updates, new products, and most likely some random ramblings about what I love, don't love, etc.

Just a little background about me & Sophie & Lili (and then we won't talk about the 'old' S&L ever again). I studied Fashion Design at FIT but, honestly it scared the crap out of me so I went into Graphic Design instead. After a traumatizing industrial machine needle in the finger incident, I didn't touch a sewing machine again until I was 30! One day I decided to make a little wrap skirt for my daughter. 1 turned into 5, 5 turned into 10, 10 turned into 100, etc. I took a few to a local boutique and sold the first batch very quickly. Somehow the skirts caught the attention of Daily Candy Kids and the day they did a post, I had over 500 emails in my inbox & about 100 orders. I quickly hired a seamstress, then hired a local factory, and finally moved production to India & Peru. Long story short, by the 4th year we were selling to over 250 boutiques including 26 Saks stores! It was a really exciting time, but, way too overwhelming with a family & F/T career in Advertising. We decided to close the doors in 2007.

So here I am rambling...let's just say it took a long time to get the urge to pick up a sewing needle again. I love to draw & I am always inspired by great textile design. The doll idea seemed like a perfect combo of the two! After a few prototypes, I got the thumbs up from both my daughters. I hope your girls love them too.

Would love your thoughts & suggestions!

xo
Jennifer Vallez