Burlington woman’s doll furniture keeps her young
05.07.2008 21:03
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- Source: JS Online
Inspired by her childhood playthings and fueled by a talent for sewing, Leticia Nunez has created a line of whimsical doll-size furniture that she hopes to sell in the mass market. A native of Chihuahua, Mexico, Nunez moved to Ventura, Calif., at age 5. Her mother, Teresa, is a talented seamstress, and Nunez learned at a young age how to sew doll clothes by hand. Later, she took classes and learned enough skills to make some of her own clothing. About five years ago, she started thinking about making doll-size furniture like she had played with as a child — but with the addition of a storage compartment. Her line of designs, named “Teresa’s Furniture,” in honor of her mother, includes chairs, love seats and lounges in a variety of sizes to accommodate different sizes of dolls. Adults might like the chairs as decorative items and a place to keep small items such as sewing supplies. The seat of the furniture lifts up to place items inside. Nunez, 44, said her oldest daughter, Emily, 17, likes to use the chairs to store her jewelry and watch. Younger daughters Alexandra, 8, and Teresse, 6, like to use the chairs with their dolls. The furniture also could be used as a pincushion or a decorative way to display collectible dolls. Last month, Nunez, who lives just south of Burlington, brought her invention to the INPEX invention trade show in Pittsburgh, with a goal of finding a manufacturer and distributor. The invention show highlighted new products and innovations that are available to business and industry to manufacture, license or distribute. Nunez participated in seminars and presentations to help her learn how to develop her product. “I wanted to take it to a higher level,” she said. “I’m hoping I’ll find a company that will take a look.” Her design patent is pending, but she has researched the market and found nothing comparable to her design. The items would be a good fit for a craft or toy store, or possibly a catalog or a home shopping television channel, Nunez said. The furniture is made of a cardboard frame and enhanced with cotton padding and covers in a variety of patterns. Fabrics range from fancy to fanciful — fluorescent flowers to princess designs. Nunez, who works as a child care provider, has had a good reaction to her items, selling them for $5 to $18 each to family and friends. Her husband, Alejandro, has been supportive of her quest to market the design, she said. And her mother, now living in Fresno, Calif., is “very proud” of her daughter’s creation bearing her name. Nunez said she also has received encouragement from people in the industry who have seen her designs. “I have a lot of faith in it,” she said.
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