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About Sugarfoots™

The Story of Sugarfoots

“I have always had an adventurous spirit! When the opportunity came to take a trip to Ghana, West Africa, I jumped at the first thing smoking! Now granted, the motivation was to visit an old flame and gain a feel for his much-talked-about country. I was awestruck being in a place vastly different from the United States, and admittedly, I was unprepared for all of the underdevelopment. But my mind was set, and I was ready to embrace everything except the cold-water bucket baths.
One of the joys I loved most about Ghana was the never-ending sea of colorful fabrics! I was fascinated with the women in the market selling anything from nuts and bolts to a hot lunch wrapped in large cassava leaves. These were hardworking women! Watching them daily take nearly nothing and make it something begged me to ask, “What can I do, what could I create when I return home?” I knew then that I wanted to be an entrepreneur. When I arrived back in the States, I purchased two large baskets from the women in the market, which, by the way, I would not recommend carrying on an airplane. Other passengers are not very friendly when you have larger baskets than their seats can accommodate. I was thankful for the flight attendants who did not confiscate my prized possessions but placed them in their private holding area for the duration of the flight. With the idea of eye-catching colorful fabrics, the African baskets, and my sewing machine, I was ready to sew. However, I did not know where to find the types of fabrics I saw in Ghana. With champagne taste and beer bottle money in my pocket, I happily settled for a venue in my hometown in Harrisburg, PA. This rummage store gave me many recycled fabrics I could sort and take home for free! This allowed me to create Rusty, my very first rag doll! Sadly, I had not sewn since high school. Rusty proved to be lovable, but there was a need for a few alterations. I knew that for the dolls to be eye-catching, I would need to draw upon my creativity to make it happen.
While cordially employed as a temporary office assistant at the World Bank, with limited financial resources, I loaded my dolls into my African basket and boarded the metro subway. I have to tell you, I was nervous—a grown woman with an African basket full of dolls on a rush hour commute. How do I get them to respond to me? Do I hold the basket or place it on my head?”
I carried that nine-pound basket for eight years, made sales, and gathered contact information. My calloused palms were mighty glad when the World Wide Web surfaced! Having the gift of gab as any good storyteller should, I found myself in numerous television broadcasts, The Washington Post (with a slightly challenged hair day), and three times, yep, can you believe it, three times in Essence Magazine!
Once I was on the train, I had a captive audience; well, sort of. People were thinking about “stuff,” and I had an oversized basket with dolls, standing and holding on to the overhead bar of the metro car, blocking the doors! Even frowns could not stop me. I was on a mission. If the women in Ghana could be about all day in the hottest sun ever, surely, I could withstand stares on an air-conditioned subway train! I would begin my sales pitch and not stop until I made someone smile, or at the very least, I received a thumbs up!
I am proud to have created Sugarfoots™, these old-fashioned dolls with a new look. They will be an adored keepsake for many years to come, and with your continuous support, it will ultimately be the next household name. Whether you buy Sugarfoots™ for yourself or someone you hold dear, a genuine Sugarfoots™ will always make you smile.
Lastly, as always, we thank you for your patronage and desire only that you enjoy Sugarfoots™ as much as we enjoy creating them!” Warmest Always, Barbara Nyaliemaa MosimaPresident/CEO

Keep the Joy Going with a Handcrafted Rag Doll

Our mission is deeply personal, built by hand, and carried by heart. Whether you’re a parent, aunt, uncle, sibling, or friend, we thank you for being part of our story. We hope each Sugarfoots™ doll brings joy, pride, and a smile to your family, just as creating them brings to ours. Contact us today for more details.