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Doll-making business is a family affair in Mescal
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| Doll makers: From left, Miriam, Marjorie, Tabitha and Naomi Groleau in their work quarters. Tabitha is holding a sample. (Thelma Grimes/Photo.) |
Thelma Grimes/San Pedro Valley News-Sun
From the detail put into deciding the color and design of the eyelashes to the fitting for the clothing, the Groleau family takes pride in the porcelain doll-making business they created in their garage in Mescal.
Marjorie Groleau and her daughters Tabitha, Naomi and Miriam converted the family garage into a doll-making studio to produce the product now sold by their company, Arizona Dream Dolls.
Marjorie said they were looking for something her girls could do to earn money, and 20-year-old Tabitha found this industry after getting a doll repaired in Tucson.
"We have been learning together for two years now," Tabitha said. "I had a doll with a broken leg, and found a lady in Tucson to fix her, and she was looking to sell her business."
After classes and learning together, the four women now work to create beautiful porcelain dolls, animals and other ceramics, in what becomes a lengthy process to get to the finished product.
After mixing the ingredients for the mold, Marjorie, Tabitha, Naomi and Miriam sat at stations located around the garage to give a brief explanation of how each step works.
After being molded and set, the eyes are pushed out before firing for the first time.
Once fired, Naomi explained that they begin painting, starting with selecting the color and style of the eyelashes. That could be wiped off and redone several times before they are happy with it.
The ladies explained that painting the face of a porcelain doll has to be done in steps. After painting certain sections, it has to be re-fired before another section of the face, such as the cheeks, can be completed.
To put in the eyes, and paint them, the girls explained that it's time consuming, and takes several shades of blue to get the details of the eyes just right.
The Groleau crew said they are working on up to 13 dolls at a time, with each girl having a particular area they are good at.
Marjorie said sometimes they have a particular doll they are fond of, and tell the others not to work on it, since it is a personal project, but for the most part, every doll has a piece of creativity and talent from one of the Groleau family.
Marjorie said Arizona Dolls gives her the opportunity to express creativity and she finds it to be "a nice, quiet and peaceful kind of work."
Naomi, 18, said she gets the opportunity to work on beautiful dolls every day.
"I like working with acrylic paint, which is easier with ceramics," she said. "A lot of it for me is to express creativity, and I get to work with my hands."
Tabitha, who was key to the business getting off the ground, said she just wanted to work with dolls.
"You have these physical objects that you are making," she said. "I also work in film, but with the dolls they are right there; you have them in your hands."
Merriam, 16, said she enjoys the challenge the job brings.
"I like to put what I have in my head on to the porcelain," she said. "All the details like the eyelashes and eyes that you have to do to finish a doll."
For more information on Arizona Dream Dolls, log on to www.azdreamdolls.com, or call Marjorie Groleau at 586-1585.
From the detail put into deciding the color and design of the eyelashes to the fitting for the clothing, the Groleau family takes pride in the porcelain doll-making business they created in their garage in Mescal.
Marjorie Groleau and her daughters Tabitha, Naomi and Miriam converted the family garage into a doll-making studio to produce the product now sold by their company, Arizona Dream Dolls.
Marjorie said they were looking for something her girls could do to earn money, and 20-year-old Tabitha found this industry after getting a doll repaired in Tucson.
"We have been learning together for two years now," Tabitha said. "I had a doll with a broken leg, and found a lady in Tucson to fix her, and she was looking to sell her business."
After classes and learning together, the four women now work to create beautiful porcelain dolls, animals and other ceramics, in what becomes a lengthy process to get to the finished product.
After mixing the ingredients for the mold, Marjorie, Tabitha, Naomi and Miriam sat at stations located around the garage to give a brief explanation of how each step works.
After being molded and set, the eyes are pushed out before firing for the first time.
Once fired, Naomi explained that they begin painting, starting with selecting the color and style of the eyelashes. That could be wiped off and redone several times before they are happy with it.
The ladies explained that painting the face of a porcelain doll has to be done in steps. After painting certain sections, it has to be re-fired before another section of the face, such as the cheeks, can be completed.
To put in the eyes, and paint them, the girls explained that it's time consuming, and takes several shades of blue to get the details of the eyes just right.
The Groleau crew said they are working on up to 13 dolls at a time, with each girl having a particular area they are good at.
Marjorie said sometimes they have a particular doll they are fond of, and tell the others not to work on it, since it is a personal project, but for the most part, every doll has a piece of creativity and talent from one of the Groleau family.
Marjorie said Arizona Dolls gives her the opportunity to express creativity and she finds it to be "a nice, quiet and peaceful kind of work."
Naomi, 18, said she gets the opportunity to work on beautiful dolls every day.
"I like working with acrylic paint, which is easier with ceramics," she said. "A lot of it for me is to express creativity, and I get to work with my hands."
Tabitha, who was key to the business getting off the ground, said she just wanted to work with dolls.
"You have these physical objects that you are making," she said. "I also work in film, but with the dolls they are right there; you have them in your hands."
Merriam, 16, said she enjoys the challenge the job brings.
"I like to put what I have in my head on to the porcelain," she said. "All the details like the eyelashes and eyes that you have to do to finish a doll."
For more information on Arizona Dream Dolls, log on to www.azdreamdolls.com, or call Marjorie Groleau at 586-1585.
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