I began designing my own handmade cloth dolls about 20 years ago, long before Etsy was created, to sell at arts & crafts shows in upstate New York, in the United States.

I had loved playing with dolls as a child and my mom taught me how to sew at an early age. When I was 12, I made my first doll and kitty from a kit.

Fast-forward about 30 years. Seeking a creative outlet, I started experimenting, drawing doll patterns in a spare bedroom of the house where I live with my husband, three sons and three cats. I designed and sewed a handful of test dolls before the basic body structure was what I wanted.

Then the fun really kicked in: Imagining characters, hand drawing faces, picking out fabrics for clothing, sewing outfits, and making accessories, like jewelry, seashell bikinis or hats for the dolls.

Over the years, I created angels, brides and grooms, ballerinas and bikers, cowboys and farmers, mermaids, nuns, princesses, pirates and punk rockers, and witches.

You won't find a Raggedy Ann, Waldorf doll or any other common doll from a commercial pattern in my shop. Each doll I create is a one of a kind piece of art. But they are designed to be played with - either by children or adults who just can't help themselves.

Girls and boys have become so excited seeing my dolls that they dance with joy. But adult also buy them to use as unique and beautiful home decorations or for their doll collections.

My doll bodies are made from muslin. The dolls are stuffed with polyester fiberfill. I use cloth remnants or recycled fabrics to make the outfits. Most have hair made from yarn.

I make dolls that can be dressed and undressed. I also make dolls that have fancy outfits that are not removable.

For years, I sold my dolls exclusively at craft shows in New York. In 2007, when I heard about Etsy, I opened an Etsy shop.

I add new dolls to my Etsy shop as frequently as I can. But it does take time. Each doll is unique. Each is handmade. And I'm the only doll maker.

I hope you enjoy my Etsy shop. When you buy a doll from Joelle's Dolls, no one else in the world will own a doll exactly like it!