Hola! My name is Breachelle. I’m the doll maker / crafter behind With Love, Ret. Every now and then I find myself fascinated by and gravitating towards anything arts and crafts. While I’m grateful for my full time work in digital media, all the weekends I spent in my humble craft space, that’s when I can say I am truly making my heart sing. Crafting can speak things and emotions that can’t always be said with words. I remember being inclined to make things with my hands since I was a kid. I also am thankful to my parents and my brother who are artistic in their own ways. Growing up, I take advantage of my free time working on or imagining art pieces, from beginning to end. This same energy motivates me to always spread the wings of imagination wide just letting the mind soar. I I took a stab at knitting, perfumery, participated in bazaars selling handmade bracelets and almost believed I could paint 😛
Doll making as a therapy
When I took a long medical rest back in 2018, dollmaking as a craft served as a beautiful, comforting therapy. Back then, I wasn’t planning on sharing my dolls to the public because making something deeply personal and then present it to the world with an open heart can often be a vulnerable path. This is why I’m truly grateful for all the thoughtful engagements and meaningful connections I continue to receive from fellow crafters and dreamers. I called my first doll collection “LoLi” short for Love and Light. Part of my doll making journey involved learning from other doll makers from Russia and responsibly outsourcing the finest materials from Netherlands , Germany and Australia. This part can get challenging at times and it helps to draw an inspired, push from other crafters in order to stay committed to the energy that fuels this creativity. If my story speaks to you as a crafter, the most important takeaway I can share is to “Learn from others but follow your art” . Own your pace and believe in your creative process. Just start creating and keep showing up. I believe there is an artist in each of us, and it’s a precious gift from God. Our job is to honor that tiny dream that makes our hearts go pitter patter than usual. Thank you for visiting.
With Love,
Ret