About Adrienne
I’ve been knitting for more than 10 years. I would watch some of the ladies at work knitting during their break time, and I recalled, as a child, watching my mom knit. I learned how to knit dishcloths and Afghans, hats and sweaters, then baby blankets, clothing and toys for my newborn great-grandchildren and I found that I enjoyed knitting and stuffing little toys, they are so much fun, and the joy on the children’s faces warmed my heart; then my daughter asked me to knit her a doll and there came the creative spark…a little lady doll for my grown-up daughter. I knitted my first little lady doll in 2015, and I was so captured by this gorgeous little doll that I thought she would stand up and walk, and I was having so much fun! Needless to say, I have not stopped knitting my gorgeous little dolls.
In 2018, I opened my Etsy shop to sell my handmade dolls and toys. The following year, I joined the Riverside Knitting Guild and in November 2019, I was chosen by Vogue Knitting to take part in their 5-week program, Vogue Knitting Launch Pad: A Small Business Development Program/Webinar. In March 2020, I became a member of Craft Industry Alliance, and in October 2020, I was a featured guest on the Craft Industry Alliance Member Spotlight, with a 15-minute interview on Instagram.
In November 2020, I was a featured guest on the William Grant Still 40th Anniversary Black Doll Show, and in January 2021, we created my website, connected it to my Etsy shop, and obtained my business email address. In July 2021, I joined The Doll Chat Club, and in December 2021, I participated in a Zoom interview by the Doll Chat Club on my doll-making process.
In January 2022, I was featured in a William Grant Still IG Live interview, and from February to June 2022, at the New York Historical Society Museum & Library, Black Doll Show a photo of me with my black dolls collection was included in a slideshow of contemporary doll collectors and their black dolls.
In April 2022, I received my largest order of dolls. 15 dolls! And in July 2022, I presented my doll journey at a virtual meeting for the Riverside Knitting Guild. Whew! All the while, I’ve been knitting dolls and toys, learning embroidery, and working with plastic canvas and participating in numerous live and virtual shows. I could not have done it without the support of my family, YouTube, former colleagues, friends, and always worrisome…trial and error and of course…patience!