Meet Rozanna Brown | Doll Maker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rozanna Brown and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rozanna, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I grew up watching my Mom (Teresa) and Aunt (Alice) take on the latest fad of crafts and I would join them on trips to craft stores looking for supplies. As I became an adult I adopted the same love of crafts. I started to gift various things I made and the one craft that seemed to stick with me was crochet. Crochet really started to stick with me because my family was undergoing some serious health issues which meant I spent a lot of time visiting in hospitals. Crochet is a very portable craft and easy to work on while your waiting in hospitals, It helped ease my stress and it was always a conversation starter in waiting rooms.

As I made more doll, people started asking if I had a shop or if they could place an order. One day a coworker gave me a flyer to a local Christmas event in her neighborhood and suggested I have a booth. I was flattered that she thought my work could do well but I had never done anything like this so I didnt think much of it until the deadline for the application was coming up. I decided I would fill it out and in a few days I recieved notice that I was selected to be part of the event. The event was a success.

When I first started on this journey I did not have a thought process on how to get started. I jumped in without really worrying about things to much and I am glad I did because I am sure I would have talked myself out of it. This neighborhood Christmas event was the catalyst for me to really believe I had something to offer. My business is still evolving and I am always learning but here are the most important things I have learned thus far:

1. Run your business in a way that works for you.

I still have a full time job so I can only allow a certain amount of time to balance my family, my full time job, and my business. Many people will offer advice, always remember it is your business and you need to run it in a way that works for you.

2. Do what you love and create what your good at and what brings you joy.
I have created a variety of different things and what really brings me joy is dolls so I am learning to stick to this and only make dolls that I love.

3. Work on your business.
I seek out advice all the time from those I respect. Running a business no matter how big or small is a challenge and it is not always easy, so dont be afraid to ask for assistance from trustworthy sources.

4. Set boundaries and work happy.
I make every doll by hand so I always have to set a goal of how many dolls I can make in specific time frame, it keeps everything running smoothly and makes the doll making fun.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As a textile artist/doll maker I wanted to make dolls that are representative of my Mom and Aunts childhood stories. I am excited to create dolls that represent my Mexican American culture and are well received by so many people. I have one doll which is my Dia De Los Muertos Calavera doll. This doll is great teaching tools as I get to explain what Dia De Los Muertos is and people get to learn about a custom they didnt know about.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My Family is my motivation. Teresa & Alice Co is named after my Mom Teresa and my Aunt Alice. All of my Aunts and Uncles would share really fun and colorful stories of their childhood, which I loved listening to. They told stories of all the fun the had playing with the neighborhood kids and how they made their own dolls and made up different games. I try to create dolls that remind me of these stories. And my children who are always so supportive of there Mom. They are my daily motivation they give advice on all my ideas, they have created my website and they help me navigate social media. They are two great kids with a great sibline relationship. My daughter wrote a childresn book about her brother. The book is called My Brother’s Keeper by Amorette Gutierrez and can be purchased on Amazon. They are amazing kids and I am so blessed to have them.

Also my sisters always help out and support and countless cousins who are nothing but encouraging and supportive and for that I can say I am blessed!.

Website: www.teresaandaliceco.com

Instagram: @teresaandaliceco

Twitter: @Teresaandalice1

Facebook: @teresaandaliceco