Froggy Duds is a family business.  The Etsy store combines the work of sisters Vicki and Brenda, and Vicki’s daughter Leah. Vicki, who is a seamstress, re-awakened her love for dolls when she was searching for a gift for a grandchild.  She became interested in various types of dolls and began to sew for them.  Soon she began to receive requests from friends and acquaintances for custom doll clothing. At the urging of a friend. Vicki eventually bought her first BJD, an Orientdoll Jeong Cheong and soon began to create BJD clothing.

After Vicki began to collect BJDs, Leah became interested in the dolls as well. She planned to buy only one. Her first doll was an Orientdoll So Ye. Several dolls later, Leah was looking for ways to create something for dolls as well. With her training in graphic design and printing, she started making miniature books.  Soon Leah wanted to do even more, and she began crocheting clothing and learning to create custom face ups.

Brenda was eventually brought into the hobby, even though she “held out a bit longer (thinking both Vicki and Leah were a bit crazy), before really ‘wanting’ to be involved.” Brenda, who is a talented knitter, was asked by Vicki to make knitted items for her. Brenda deveoped a knack for making small items and eventually became more involved in creating doll fashions and in collecting as well. (her first doll was a vinyl BJD, Goodreau Whisper).

FroggyDuds was Leah’s idea. She “was traveling with her family late one night when (it) occurred to her that the three could have a lot of fun pooling their talents into one place…over the next few days, FroggyDuds was born.”  The group decided that  Etsy was the perfect venue to display their work, and they have been working together ever since.  The fact that each of them lives in a different state has never been a problem.  All items ordered at Froggy Duds are shipped for free, and the person who made each item ordered ships it out.

Everyone at FroggyDuds has worked on commissions. Vicki has made everything from a pair of jeans to complete outfits. Brenda has done several commissions for tops and other knitted items. Leah has done faceup commissions and crocheted items. Kim Lasher of Kimberly Lasher Originals has commissioned work on many occasions. For the Lasher dolls, Brenda has made sweater and hat sets, Leah has done a face-ups and made dresses and hats, and Vicki has created complete dress outfits, jeans, hoodies, and onesie outfits for her ooak babies. For anyone interested in requesting face-ups, Leah can be contacted through the Etsy store, but she also can be reached through her Flickr site leahlilly’s photostream, where examples of her work can be seen.

FroggyDuds has a special charity section in the store. According to the group, “Brenda wanted to increase her own personal charitable giving. She thought about just donating a portion of her earnings on her own and unknown. But she noticed another seller on Etsy that listed donations that had been made to various charities with proceeds of sales from the store. She started thinking that people like to know they are contributing in some way…and so the Charity section was born.”

The group likes the Etsy environment. “It’s a friendly community, and things seem to move fairly well there. They have reasonable fees as well.” FroggyDuds customers are welcome to post their dolls wearing their new items on the flickr site Show Me Your FroggyDuds. The Froggduds women agree that, ”The feeling of sisterhood and family unity have made each project even more rewarding. Each project has its own way of coming to life whether it be a moment of personal inspiration or a vision passed from a customer for a commissioned item.”

Photo above: Fairyland Puki Cupid, Faceup – Leah Lilly, Dress – Leah Lilly

Unoa Quluts Sist, Faceup - Ange, Froggy outfit - Vicki Berens

Ainsley by Kimberly Lasher, Faceup - Leah Lilly, frog crop top and jeans - Vicki Berens

Bobobie light tan Mei, Faceup - Leah Lilly, Crocheted Top - Leah Lilly, Jeans - Vicki Berens

Unoa Sist, Faceup - Leah Lilly, Vintage Dress - Leah Lilly and Vicki Berens

Light tan Bobobie Isabella, Faceup - Leah Lilly, Outfit - Vicki Berens and Brenda Rankin