I have always enjoyed being crafty with a purpose - something that would be used right away or treasured for years to come. When I had my first daughter, I made a doll for her (thanks to the Black Apple Doll template!) to resemble how she looked at that age. It soon became a tradition, and when she turned 2, then 3, then 4, she got a new doll and each one was more perfected and made with better construction as I improved my skill. I enjoyed continuing the tradition with my second daughter and all the little soon to be one year olds in our play group using old onesies that they used to wear as the fabric. My favorite part about creating each doll was how each one had a different look about them, from hair color and style to skin color and clothing design. With a desire to reach a bigger market than just my family or gift giving to friends, I set out to create my own template so many more little girls could have a personalized doll for their collection.

Topknot Twirl was born out of an inspiration from my daughters as well as a tribute to the life where their childhood began. They were both born in China, and their dearly loved Chinese Aunt (“Ayi”) is the center head in the Topknot Twirl logo.