With my recent dollhouse house post, http://brandyshappyhome.com/american-girl-dollhouse/ , I have had a lot of questions about Payne Street Doll Boutique. Who? What? Where? When? I also have had several questions after I shared a recent Facebook post from Payne Street Doll Boutique addressing a doll themed website offering plans that were undeniably designed after Payne Street without any acknowledgement of inspiration. So it is my great honor I get to share with you today the inspiring story of Payne Street Doll Boutique. So without further ado here is their story in their own words. AND Payne Street is offering a very special “election” of their own to DIYers that follow Brandy’s Happy Home.
“Is Payne Street Really Closed, or Is Something Wrong with My GPS?
After several wrong turns, you at last find the right street only to discover it’s closed. Isn’t that frustrating? We think so, too, especially when the detour doesn’t look nearly as good. AGers everywhere are wondering why Payne Street Doll Boutique suddenly put out the orange cones and started redirecting traffic. We’re giving Brandy’s Happy Home the inside scoop!
It all began in the fall of 2009 with a set of bunk beds. Over the next five years, Payne Street Doll Boutique’s product line grew to more than 50 furniture items and playsets, sold to hundreds of customers both home and abroad. With business booming, why the abrupt halt in production? The answer is twofold.
PS Doll Boutique’s master craftsman suffers from muscular dystrophy, a progressive neuro-muscular disease. No one would ever know by looking at his doll furniture, however. Each piece exhibits such delicate precision and artistry. In fact, under the right light, you might catch a glimpse of some strange, magical glow. A burning ember of the love he shared while building, the tiny scrap of his strength he may never recapture. He selflessly gave it away so that a child he doesn’t even know could laugh and play. The sacrifice was perfectly paid. He doesn’t regret it or wish he had spent the muscle any other way. Eventually, the disease reached a point where he struggled too much to keep up. It was time to let go.
Wait! Don’t grab the tissues yet! We were ready to move on from a financial standpoint as well. Anyone who has shopped at PS Doll Boutique knows our products were crafted with the highest quality materials. “And the prices reflected it,” you mumble. You might be surprised to learn that our prices didn’t leave us with much profit. All that lumber, hardware, paint, fabric, batting, packaging materials, and shipping cost adds up in a hurry. In fact, UPS rates increased more than 30% between 2010 and 2016. Those rate hikes hurt a small business in a huge way. We never worried too much about competitors who tried to copy our products. We knew there was no way anyone could build our pieces the same way we did and sell them to make big bucks. They would have to cut corners somewhere if they planned to make a living off of it. Something we refused to do. We would have rather closed than cheapen our products. So that’s finally what we did.
Is it the end? Not necessarily. We are always happy to share our blueprints with customers who want to try to DIY. Please keep in mind, our blueprints do not include step-by-step instructions. Most of our products require intermediate woodworking skills. Anyone who possesses these skills would not need step-by-step instructions—just a drawing with some notes and measurements. For this reason, we feel it would be wrong to sell them. We typically share them free of charge. Ask and ye shall receive! In return, we simply ask the recipient to keep those drawings for personal use only. If you chose to share them, we won’t come after you. But we’d appreciate a shout out to let your friends and fans know who supplied the inspiration.
As a salute to all of Brandy’s DIY fans, we’ve decided to offer her exclusive permission to share one of our blueprints on her blog! Which one? You decide! Place your vote for one of the following three products. The one with the most votes will be featured in a future Brandy’s Happy Home blog! We hope this vote will add some fun to your Election Day!”
Payne Street Doll Boutique Barn!
Payne Street Doll Boutique Pet Hutch!
Payne Street Doll Boutique Entryway!
THANK YOU so much Payne Street Doll Boutique for sharing your story! Thank you for providing wonderfully crafted doll toys! We love you!
If you want to be inspired with more PS pictures check out their Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/Payne-Street-Doll-Boutique-166447696734471/ or their sales page from their Etsy shop here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/paynestdollboutique/sold
Put your vote in the comments in this post, comments on the Facebook link, or comments on Instagram links. Votes will be tabulated on November 22, 2016! Happy Election Day!
I was never able to get out to your store and now I’m sad it’s gone. All the best in your future endeavors and I wouldn’t turn down those blueprints. I really need some custom props now that I’m getting my own business selling cloths off the ground.
I vote for the pet hutch!
Thank you, Payne Street Doll Boutique, for sharing your love through the wonderful items you’ve crafted. Our prayers are with you! Tie between Pet Hutch and Barn, 1/2 vote for each?
The barn gets my vote!
God bless them! We would love the pet hutch. My daughter loves playing vet with her dolls. This set would be a dream come true!!!
Hate to hear about y’all closing. You have such talent!
I vote entryway.
Also, any chance of getting the plans for the house as a whole?? It’s so beautiful!
My Grand daughter would also love love love the barn
Wishing the family the very, very best of luck. Thanking you also for your generosity in sharing such a wonderful gift. I would have to vote for the barn too. May God bless.
Option 2: Pet Hutch.
This is a lovely gesture! My vote is for the entryway. There are so many opportunities for seasonal and holiday decorating and photo ops.
The barn!!! but all of them are absolutely awesome!
I would adore the plans for the barn.
Thanks for opportunity to get any of these plans.
How sad! It’s so hard to give up something you love to do. I
pray the gentleman can get good medical care to help with his condition.
How kind they are offering their plans for free! We don’t have a dollhouse yet, but I love the entryway. It is incredible! But, my daughter has two horses and no stable. So, I think we will vote for the barn. We would be happy to view any of the plans though.
Thank you.
God Bless!
Wow, what a wonderful post. Thank you Brandy and Payne Street Boutique for sharing this post and your story. What a hard choice to make since all are wonderful and I would love any and all of them. Thank you for your generous offer. I am going to vote for ……………. the Pet Hutch.
On a personal note, have you ever considered researching/ using Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils for helping with the Muscular Dystrophy ? Please don’t be offended just trying to share some knowledge. Thank you again, God Bless .
I vote for the entry way
The Entryway.
barn please… I was also curious and sad to hear the reason why they closed.. is there any cure for his condition?
I wish that I could share the pics of the door entryway that Merel and Rachel created for me. I wish that I could share pics of the vet clinic that blows my mind every time I glance at it. Their craftsmanship and attention to detail is nothing short of extraordinary. All the way down to the most precious cushions (each one being different from the next) that were put inside of each cubby, and on the gurney, that I can swap out for the bath box. And the colors were exactly what I dreamed. Merel and Rachel cannot be duplicated. People will certainly try to. But nothing will come close to the work this couple has put into their items. Besides all of this, they were so incredible to work with. Their kindness is as big as Texas. I did not even know the extent of Merel’s condition. They heard my plea and worked with me with no hesitation. And their work is worth every dime. I was so excited to do a youtube video to feature the door entryway, in hopes of getting their name out there. I do not collect AG dolls anymore. But I refuse to let go of my door entryway or my vet clinic. These are priceless heirlooms that I will keep in my home and in the family.
Oh……and I vote for THE VET CLINIC! (Hutch) 🙂
Glad to read this post. I too agree that the pieces you created for this client are incredible and outstanding in every way.
Love the barn and was hoping to make one for my friends doll farm setup for Christmas. I vote barn!
Thank you Payne Street!
Sorry for the repeated comment. I posted it multiple times by accident.
Please give me only one vote for the barn! Thank you!
Love the barn and was hoping to be able to make one for my friends doll farm setup for Christmas. I vote barn!
Thank you Payne Street!
God Bless you Merel and Rachel! I will keep you in my thoughts and pray for God to give you strength, courage, and guidance in your time of need. I feel so honored that I was able to be one of your last few customers. I am forever grateful to you!
I will cast my vote for the pet hutch. It was a piece I often would look at with hope to purchase someday.
I vote for the pet hutch, Please!
The barn is so cute. Our friends would love it if we could make them one for their doll farm setup. I vote barn!
Thank you Brandy for posting this! I was curious and am saddened to hear the reason why they closed. They are a true inspiration to all! Wishing them the best and grateful for their generosity! Won’t lie- would love all three but I’m leaning toward the barn now. Thanks Brandy!
Thank you, Payne Street Doll Boutique, for sharing your love through the wonderful items you’ve crafted. Our prayers are with you!
Our girls are having a hard time deciding on their favorite accessory, but we think the entryway will be used the most by all of us, so we vote ENTRYWAY!
I’m gonna vote for the pet hutch since my daughter wants to be a vet!
I vote for through.
The hutch. Sorry….auto correct.
I vote for the ENTRYWAY
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I vote for the entryway!!! 🙂
My daughter and I are having a hard time deciding……..it’s a tie for both of us between the pet hutch and the barn. We decided to vote barn (but the hutch is awesome too!!). Thank you Payne Street!
The Pet Hutch!!! We need this so badly! I was hoping to buy this from them and was heartbroken to find out they were no longer in business!! Thank you, Payne Street, for sharing your amazing creativity with us!!!