Get To Know Tanja (In Her Own Words)
"When my daughter got her first American Girl doll from her grandma, the doll needed some clothes but money was tight, so I dusted off my sewing machine and designed and sewed some clothes for her.
I had so much fun crafting, designing and sewing for the doll that, at one point, the doll had more clothes and accessories than my daughter.
I started sharing my crafts and designs in a blog and then progressed to selling my patterns with PixieFaire. My daughter is all grown up now, but my love for American Girl dolls and the fun crafting and sewing for them has stayed. I have been with PixieFaire for 10 years but still love it.
I learned to sew on my grandma’s old paddle sewing machine. My mom was a tailor and a tough teacher but I learned a lot from her as a child.
Now, I am a software engineer by day and a doll pattern designer by night. My approach to pattern design reflects my engineering mindset with attention to detail and meticulously documented steps. My mind is always on the go coming up with new ideas and things to create. Sometimes I love to create the unusual like a catamaran or a horse saddle for the dolls. "
Inquiring Minds Want To Know:
Q: What inspired your brand name?
When I created my American Girl doll blog, I needed a brand name but wasn’t sure which direction my crafting was going to take so I wanted something generic that was not tied to dolls but instead was tied to me. I decided to combine my last name with what I wanted to represent and came up with ReadCreations.
Q: What’s your favorite sewing tip?
Use lots of pins and press your seams. It really makes a difference in the quality of your work.
Q: New skill I would like to learn?
Being an engineer, I love to use 3D printers/ and getting girls interested in using them. The best part about 3D printing is the designing of the 3D models. Since I had no idea how to do that, I taught myself 3D parametric modeling. I love to design everyday items for American Girl dolls and print them. To get to the next level, I would love to learn organic design. That’s like sculpting on the computer and opens up a whole new world of design possibilities.
Q: Who is your favorite doll?
Felicity, she is my favorite doll. I bought her for myself as a special treat. I absolutely love the history she represents.
Leave a Comment Below!
We'd love to hear from you. Leave a comment and tell us which Read Creations pattern design you love most!
Thanks, everyone!
The Pixie Faire Team
Toni C
November 04, 2024
Thank you for sharing your MANY TALENTS. You have designed so many nice outfits, but I’m drawn to the Tudor and medieval patterns. I prefer the historical patterns over the modern or vintage designs. The medieval dress caught my eye because I made such a dress and hennin for my daughter from jade green brocade with gold ribbon trim and belt for her middle school medieval fair.