Meet Samantha Oliver

Today we’d like to introduce you to Samantha Oliver. 

Hi Samantha, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I made my first doll around the age of six at an afterschool arts and crafts program. It was a simple white felt dove; the joy and excitement I felt holding the finished bird in my hand were unmatched! Throughout the rest of my childhood and teen years, I played around with many other forms of art but came back to textiles and sewing in my twenties. Argyle Owl started as a personal lifestyle blog where I would share various sewing and crafting tutorials as well as playlists and clothing items from my wish lists. Argyle Owl moved to Etsy in 2012 with a focus on vintage and handmade goods, which I kept up off and on for nine years. In 2019 I decided to make a career change from pastry chef to full-time artist, so I dusted off my old sewing machine and started creating one-of-a-kind dolls. I wanted to make things that excited me, that pushed my imagination further. I’ve always felt a deep longing to live in the worlds of fairytales and fantasy. My dolls connect me to that world inside me, and I want to share them with everyone who feels that calling too.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It has been a long and winding road! There were many years my sewing machine sat ignored in a closet, due to a lack of time because of my work schedule, or an ongoing on-and-off-again cycle with severe depression, or sometimes both. I never imagined this being a possibility for me. Depression has a way of distorting the things you love into things that feel like work. I still have days even now where that small voice creeps in saying “What’s the point?” I have found the best way to silence that voice is to show it the pure joy that comes with completing another magical creature, just the same as when I was a child.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I make dolls, but not a doll in the toy sense. These dolls are meant as décor, as art pieces. My intention is to invite others into my own little world of make-believe, a world full of magical creatures and glitter. It’s a place where I would much rather have spent my childhood. A popular favorite among my customers are my Party Frogs and Toads. Each is unique, with whimsy clothing, ruffles, and little paper party hats. They are a _very_ silly bunch. I am most proud of my recent Circus Party collection; I pushed myself to work with new materials and larger sizes. I’m also very much looking forward to my upcoming Atomic Space Party collection. I believe what sets me apart is the drive to keep creating something new. I never make the same doll twice and I don’t want to live in a world of replicas. I want every one of my creations to have an individual and vibrant personality.

What do you think about luck?
Well, I suppose being able to do what I do every day is a thing of luck in itself! I feel very lucky to spend my days creating magic and art in my little home studio. However, I don’t feel that “good” or “bad” luck has much to do with my story or successes or failures. I’ve created this life for myself because I believed I could. I did the very real and very hard work for it. I don’t believe luck, good or bad, has much to do with it.

Contact Info:

• Email: shopargyleowl@gmail.com
• Website: shopargyleowl.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/argyle.owl