Meet The Maker

Designer and plus maker from Kansas City, Lisa Hadley has created a wonderful line of adorable dolls and children accessories. She let us know why she started “Friends of Hadley” and what inspires her work.

Enjoy!

I started making plush when all of my friends started having babies. I wanted to be able to give them something personal and heartfelt, and what is better than something handmade. I had always wanted to learn to sew, and make dolls. This seemed like the perfect opportunity.

Two years later as my skill evolved, so did my plush friends. People started asking for custom requests, so I figured it was time to try opening up a shop! Friends of Hadley brings me joy daily because it connects me with people, and community of artisans I would have never met otherwise and the joy I see when I get a picture of someone who has received my plush is priceless to me!

I am inspired by so many things around me. My family is a long line of talented quilters, knitters, artists – you name it, they can do it! Growing up surrounded and encouraged by them inspired me from a very young age to create and still does. I often try to channel them in my work. I also work as a designer by day, so being constantly surrounded by talented creative people (even including my husband) drives me to keep making.

I really love the process of seeing plush come to life from little pieces of fabric. Every single one is slightly different than the one before. I love picking out the patterns, and giving them each their own little personality. I still get so excited to see how each of them will turn out! Each one of them are unique and each one has my heart poured into it. It’s so special to be able to share that with others!