shop spotlight || my dear hazel

July is seriously packed with four of my favorite Shop Spotlights and with such a variety of products -- handmade dolls, vintage sunsuits, gorgeous modern bonnets & trendy clothing and accessories. Then in August I'll be kicking off my Fall & Winter Shop Spotlight Showcase and one after another [August through December], I'll be sharing truly beautiful handmade pieces and the incredible talent behind them. I am seriously giddy thinking about it all.

Today's Shop Spotlight is on My Dear Hazel, a shop that specializes in handmade dolls that are whimsical and perfectly designed, down to every last detail. Kaelee -- the owner and talent behind the shop, is Mama to 3-year-old Hazel. She finds inspiration from living life more simply -- with less things that are of higher quality. I couldn't agree with her more. She is the sweetest and her shop is one of my all-time favorites.

|| viking doll ||

Kaelee began sewing right before her daughter, Hazel, was born. She wanted to make her a quilt, so her mom helped her get started and it turned out beautifully. From there, she began reading sewing blogs and taught herself to sew. For Hazel's 1st birthday, she wanted to make her a doll. She shared how much she enjoyed making it and she was so happy with how it turned out. After that, she made them for friends and then decided to sell them. My Dear Hazel was born.

Kaelee also shared her same passion for handmade that I have -- her love of seeing amazing handmade products in her home and knowing they didn't come from a production line in another country. "I love purchasing things from an actual person, and knowing that it makes a difference in their lives. When it comes to inspiration behind my dolls, I was really just hoping to give kids something different than the usual plastic toy-store options -- toys that are higher quality and handmade."

|| lumberjack doll ||

Her first big idea was to make a Lumberjack with a small wooden axe. Although she had seen plenty of boy dolls out on the market, she had never seen a lumberjack specifically, and many of the young kids she knows spend the fall watching their dads chop wood to prepare for winter. The mermaid was Hazel's special request.

Kaelee said she loves creating new products or embellishing dolls using interesting materials on the patterns she has already completely developed. "It is so fun to have an idea, and then see it turn into a tangible thing that is better than you imagined," and she shared that, "the most rewarding thing is finding customers who appreciate my hard work."

|| stick seahorse ||

what my dear hazel is known for || one of a kind whimsical soft dolls -- mermaids, mermen, vikings, lumberjacks, a narwhal & more

what sets my dear hazel apart || the details that go into each piece is what truly sets her products apart; from the pink thread used to sew waves in the mermaid's hair down to the felt seashells & starfish...each piece displays such beauty, even in the smallest ways, because of the care and attention to detail

my favorite products || the gold limited edition mermaid [below] is certainly mine and Olivia's favorite [here]; I am also swooning over her new stick animals, of which the stick flamingo is my absolute favorite [here]

quality + craftsmanship || it is so obvious that kaelee puts so much love and care into each doll she makes; from the beautiful hair with stitching to give the illusion is it blowing in the wind, down to the hand embroidered facial features, the lace cuffs on the arms, and the shiny gold tail...head to tail, her mermaids are beautiful

overall opinion || as soon as Olivia took the mermaid out of the box, she started squealing. it is so much fun to watch V's reactions and witness her preferences for toys. We named our mermaid Jewel because of her beautiful tail, and Olivia loves to carry her from room to room. She is very well loved yet still looks brand new, which just shows how well each piece is made and the high quality materials which go into it.

value + recommendation || I adore this shop and her dolls. Kaelee is so talented and I just look at our mermaid and am in awe that someone created that for us -- for Olivia -- so perfectly. It is the ideal toy for imagination, creativity, fairy tales, dreaming, and for little girls to enjoy for years and years. It beats a doll from the store without question, and the best part? A Mama's own two hands made it, and that is what makes it even greater.

coupon code || BLESSEDNEST15 || Save 15% off your total purchase || Valid 7.14-7.20 only

start shopping here

giveaway || kaelee is so generously offering this limited edition gold mermaid to one lucky reader! simply complete the steps below in the rafflecopter to enter. happy monday!

a Rafflecopter giveaway