Hi there
You’re probably wondering who this person is and what her business does?! Completely understandable. This is why I figured my first blog should cover this question before moving on to products, behind the scenes, the reality of running a small business and other pearls of wisdom I decide to share.
So who am I?
Allow me to introduce myself…I’m Sally - the one woman show behind Mary & Dolls. I’m live in Bedfordshire, UK with my little family who keep me busy as well as trying to fit in my hobbies of gardening, true crime (love a podcast!) and anything creative when I have time.
I LOVE music and can usually be found with my headphones on when I’m working. I like pretty much anything music-wise but my passion is rock of any kind, my favourite band being My Chemical Romance.
Other favourite things of mine include cute dinosaurs, Cadbury chocolate, tea with a chocolate biscuit or slice of lemon drizzle cake and comfy clothes. I’m a big fan of Mary Poppins and have been for as long as I can remember and even have tattoos inspired by the film - there’s dedication for you! I also am a huge dog lover.
On the flip side, I can’t stand garlic (even the smell makes me queasy), raspberries or milky tea. People who are dishonest, rude or who dawdle for no reason are not my kind of people.
So who are or what is Mary & Dolls?
Mary & Dolls is an online small business offering handmade costume jewellery for sale through Etsy or on my website. I stock slightly quirky pieces, some with limited availability making them more exclusive, all of which are made with the utmost care. My earrings are supplied with hypoallergenic wires, plastic posts or clip ons making them available to everyone.
Mary & Dolls started in 2017 as a side hustle to my main business which supplied plants by mail order. I started ‘The Jewellery Shop’ as it was called as a sideline to cover the seasons where plants weren’t so in demand, and being a creative person it made sense to me to play to my strengths. Due to a change in circumstances I was unable to continue with the plants and so grew the jewellery business.
This is when I reinvented, rebranded and fully focussed on Mary & Dolls, which I named after my grandmothers Mary and Doll, Doll being a nickname. I wanted a name which meant something to me and there’s nothing that means more than family! My logo also reflects this - the purple flower represents a violet which was Mary’s favourite flower and the pink heart is so coloured to be Doll’s favourite colour. The rest is teal which is a favourite of mine.
The rest as they say is history!