Featured Etsy Shop: Auntie Robin & Giveaway!

- This giveaway has ended. Winner announced here. -

This week on Lissie & Lilly, we’re pleased to feature the unique Etsy shop Auntie Robin, run by the talented Robin herself! She is one of the few rare seamstresses who sews clothing for the 6 inch Mini Dolls. All her clothing are made though custom orders, everything from historical outfits, modern, GotY, and even custom outfits. She has very generously provided a mini doll version of GotY 2015 Grace Thomas’ Opening Night Outfit for the giveaway!

The interview is presented first, followed by the review of a mini doll outfit, with the giveaway details at the end.

AR = Auntie Robin

 ~Interview with Robin of Auntie Robin~

Mini Ivy: Surprise! It’s Mini Ivy and the whole Mini gang here at L&L! Today we’re going to take over and present the Etsy Shop Feature!

Mini Ruthie: Why you may ask? Because this week’s feature is all about us!

Mini Ivy: We’re here to tell you all about the amazing, the fantastic, the talented… Robin of Auntie Robin’s Etsy Shop!

Mini Ruthie: She sews beautiful outfits for us cold, overlooked mini dolls, and she’s here today with us to answer some of our questions! Please give a round of applause for Robin!

Mini Ivy: Welcome to the mini version of the L&L studio Ms. Robin! Can you please start us off by telling us how did you get started with sewing and designing?

AR: I've sewed since I was a little girl. My mom had 5 daughters and taught us all to sew. We started out making doll clothes, and eventually made our own clothes. I've always loved to sew and embroider. I love choosing fabric and trims to make little outfits. It's so much fun!

Mini Ivy: 5 sewing daughters making doll clothes? What a doll’s dream come true!

Mini Ruthie: Now most people like to focus their talents on our Bigger Sisters, the full sized 18 inch American Girl dolls, but why did you chose and like to sew for us mini American Girl sized dolls?

AR: I started sewing for the mini AG dolls when my niece, Hannah, got one and she needed clothes for her! It surprised me that AG didn't offer doll clothes to buy for the mini dolls. It turned out there was a real need for them. I love making the little doll clothes.

Mini doll versions of Girl of the Year outfits by Auntie Robin. 

From Left to Right: Lanie's Meet Outfit, McKenna's Meet Outfit, Saige's Tunic Outfit

Mini Ivy: We were stunned when we found out we don’t have the same clothing options as our bigger sisters!

Mini Ruthie: It makes us feel small, you know, when we can’t dress to impress the way they do! Thank you for taking on that challenge Ms. Robin!

Mini Ivy: Ms. Robin, are there any unique differences/challenges when it comes to sewing for us mini dolls compared to sewing for the full sized doll or sewing for people? 

AR: At first there was a bit of a challenge as there weren't patterns for the mini doll clothes. But I have a stash of very old doll clothes patterns and learned what would work. Sometimes the tiny little details are more difficult to sew than making those details on something bigger, but for the most part, they are very enjoyable to make.

Mini Ruthie: Hear that Ivy? We’re enjoyable to sew for!

Mini Ivy: Because she’s talking specifically about the two of us.

Mini Ruthie? But of course silly! Now Ms. Robin, since it’s so much fun to sew for us, could you tell us what is your favorite part of what you do?

AR: My favorite thing is sewing doll clothes that children will love to play with. It's really fun to make a whole wardrobe for a little girl's doll. My favorite is creating/designing the clothes and choosing the fabrics and trims. I would rather do that than make a copy of one of the 18" doll outfits. Although a lot of people want the mini outfits that look like the AG 18" outfits, so I do sew a lot of those.

Mini Ruthie: I guess all of us mini dolls want to dress like our Bigger Sister huh?

Mini Ivy: It is wonderful that you like creating and coming up with your own designs though! What or who inspires your creativity when sewing outfits?

AR: Just going through my fabric inspires me to sew! I have a lot of fabric to choose from. Watching old movies and seeing the pretty clothes from the past is inspiring also. Just thinking of surprising someone with a little gift or making something that will make someone happy is the best.

Samples of custom mini doll outfits based off of historical outfits.

Left to Right: Nellie's Holiday Dress, Samantha's Birthday Pinafore, Samantha's Middy Outfit

Mini Ivy: Ruthie… did you feel that?

Mini Ruthie: You mean that warm, tingling feeling from my chest down to my toes? Yup, I felt it alright! With so many fabrics and designs at your disposal, do you ever get a creative block Ms. Robin? If so, how do you overcome it?

AR: All I have to do to start feeling creative is go in my sewing room and start going through fabric choices!

Mini Ruthie: We have got to get ourselves a stash of fabrics Ivy.

Mini Ivy: And a stash of ice cream.

Mini Ruthie: Oh yes, can’t forget the ice cream.

Mini Ivy: I’ve always been curious about this, Ms. Robin, but what is the process when you translate an outfit for a full sized doll into a mini sized one?

AR: The first thing would be to try to find the appropriate fabric and pattern pieces that will work to make a mini outfit that looks like a bigger outfit. I will mix up pieces from different patterns and put them together to get the look I want. 

Mini Ivy: That’s really clever!

Mini Ruthie: Recently last summer, us mini dolls were revamped and now the new mini dolls have a hard, plastic body instead of cloth. Did you find any significant differences in sizing the outfits for the new, hard bodied mini dolls compared to the original cloth body mini dolls?

AR: Actually no, there is very little difference in the doll sizes. I was afraid that it would make a difference and bought one of the new dolls to makes sure my outfits fit them as well. Everything seems to fit both types of dolls so far.

Some examples of the original outfits designed by Auntie Robin.

Mini Ruthie: Hmmm… be that as it may, clearly we’re still the best.

Mini Ivy: Specifically us two?

Mini Ruthie: That’s right, just the two of us. Don’t tell the other mini girls I said that though!

Mini Ivy: Now as engaging and awesome as we are, when you’re not sewing clothes for us, what other projects do you enjoy sewing or crafting?

AR: My other favorite sewing pastime is quilting. I especially love making baby quilts. I enjoy hand quilting while watching old movies on TV.

Mini Ruthie: Before we wrap up here, is there anything you would like to share with the readers? Any advice?

AR: The only advice I would give is, if someone is considering selling their crafts on Etsy, go for it! It is a great place to sell handmade and there are a lot of very nice people involved. 

Mini Ivy: And of course, we would never forget out favorite, the 1 Word Bonus! Ms. Robin, Enchiladas or Eggrolls?

AR: Definitely Enchiladas!!

Mini Ruthie: To place an order with Robin, message her through her Etsy shop with what you had in mind. The link to her shop is: https://www.etsy.com/shop/auntierobin

Mini Ivy: Each outfit costs from $7-$12 depending on how many pieces there are.

Mini Ruthie: It takes around 2 weeks for a custom order, and longer during the holiday rush so now is a perfect time to place any orders you had in mind for the winter craze!

Mini Ivy: Be sure you let her know you heard about the shop through Lissie & Lilly!

Mini Ruthie: Thank you so much for spending time with us and answering out questions Ms. Robin! Now let’s move on to our plucky reporter from the front lines, Mini Nellie, who will bring you and up close exclusive review of a mini doll outfit by Auntie Robin!

~Review~

Mini Nellie: That's right! It's me, Nellie Puff n' Stuff, here today to give you an up close look at one of the Auntie Robin beauties!

Mini Nellie: Recognize the outfit I'm wearing? No? Well you will soon enough! Auntie Robin made this miniature version of an upcoming dress for the newest historical/Beforever character Maryellen! That's right folks, I'm wearing a miniature of Maryellen's school dress and she hasn't even been released yet!

Mini Nellie: And if the dress wasn't enough, I've got these super cute matching socks and shoes for a complete look!

Mini Nellie: That's right, this dress is all in one piece! Maybe the buttons and bow look small to you, but they're perfect for me, and sewn tightly down so I can get into all sorts of scraps without worrying about them falling off.

Mini Nellie: You want to see the back of the dress? Well okay, but really, I'm adorable from any angle. Despite the small scale of the dress, Ms. Robin has managed to make everything look neat and lined up! And yes, that's my hair glowing in the afternoon sun. Nothing brings out hair glow like a new outfit in the afternoon sun.

Mini Nellie: Alright, alright, I get it, you want a closer look. Well that's just what this reporter slash model will give you! The socks are trimmed with lace around the edge and made of a soft knit material, just like my Bigger Sisters' socks!

Mini Nellie: These shoes actually close with a small bead serving as the button! They have lined soles inside and on the bottom. Now Ms. Robin doesn't make the socks and shoes herself, but she does like to include them when they suit an outfit.

Mini Nellie: Alright, here we have the front view of the dress!

Mini Nellie: And what's a front without a back right? How does the dress close, you might wonder?

Mini Nellie: Clearly with snaps! We mini dolls have much wispier hair than our Bigger Sisters so of course velcro is death to our roots. That's why I was over the moon with giddiness when I saw the dress closes easily with 3 snaps!

Mini Nellie: This gives you a peek at the inside of the dress! Although the seams are not serged, they are double stitched to reduce fraying, and all seams and neat and straight. This helps reduce bulkiness around the midriff and prevents me from looking like I'm putting on an extra 50 grams!

Mini Nellie: There is a thin band of elastic in the sleeves to give them the classic, puffed look! 

Mini Nellie: The collar is hemmed, but not lined, which is good or it would be too thick and stand straight up! I may be feisty and red headed, but I'm not ready to be Queen Elizabeth yet!

Mini Nellie: You can see how the sleeves look from the front here. Isn't it amazing how a little piece of elastic can give shape? Just like how a little doll like me can eat more waffles than a Big Person!

Mini Nellie: And for those of you who are wondering how this looks on a non squishy cloth body, here's my friend Grace here to show you on her!

Mini Grace: Hi everyone! What do you think? Looks good on me too right? It's a perfect fit too!

Mini Nellie: Don't you love it when we can share clothes Grace? Now you better tell them how they can set about entering to win an outfit for themselves!

~Giveaway~

Mini Grace: You all heard Nellie! I'm here to present the giveaway outfit, kindly donated by Ms. Robin for your winning pleasure! It's a mini version of my Opening Night outfit! The pink dress comes with the black velvet ribbon belt, but you can't have the shoes, those are originally mine!

Mini Grace: Entering is sooooo easy! All you have to do is comment below with what outfit you would like to see be made into mini form! 

Mini Grace: Anyone can enter, even internationally, but if you're under the age of 13, you've got to get your parents to enter for you. There's no purchase necessary, though if you just can't wait for the results, or if you had other outfits you wanted in mini doll form, you can certainly message Ms. Robin now with your request! Good luck everyone! Have fun thinking about your favorite outfit in mini doll form!

- This giveaway has ended. Winner announced here. -

The giveaway will run from August 3 - August 13 (midnight Central USA time).

To enter:

Comment below with what outfit you would like to see be made for a mini doll!  

For bonus entries:

Favorite Auntie Robin's Etsy store. (include username in comment for verification)

"Like" Lissie & Lilly on Facebook (click here to go to the page) (include username in comment for verification)

Follow/Google+ this blog. (If you are already a follower/google+, just comment with your account. ^_^)

Share about this giveaway on social media (Facebook, Your Blog, Instagram, Tumblr, Twitter, Google+, Pintrest, other forums, etc.) - Be sure to include the link(s) to your post(s) in your comment so we can verify where you shared. 

*max 5 additional entries*

The winners will be announced in 2 weeks on Friday, August 14th on this post, so check back then! ^_^

How to Order Custom Mini Doll Outfit from Auntie Robin:
1) Visit her Etsy Store: https://www.etsy.com/shop/auntierobin
2) On the left hand side, click "Contact Shop Owner."
3) Write her a message explaining what kind of outfit(s) you would like.
4) Outfits generally cost $7-$12 depending on how many pieces they come with (shoes, socks, apron, hat, etc.).
5) Outfits take around 2 weeks to complete, longer if it is during a holiday rush, so now is the perfect time to place your orders in for your winter holiday wardrobe! We know what the Holiday dresses for the 18 inch dolls look like, so why not get a set to match for your mini dolls?

- This giveaway has ended. Winner announced here. -