My name is Phyllis Chism and my wonderful husband and I live in Minnesota, the Land of 10,000 Lakes.   I have two awesome daughters, 3 handsome grandsons and a beautiful granddaughter.  I work for a mail order catalog company as a Sales Manager. In my spare time I enjoy gardening, reading, volunteer work and of course dolling! I have completed 2 of Judi Ward's doll designing classes on line, entered online challenges and swaps and always looking to master new techniques.

I learned to sew, knit and crochet at the age of thirteen, and have always loved to make clothing. So, when a very good friend of mine approached me about joining her doll group I was hesitant about it. As hesitant as I was, she was persistent. Eventually, I gave in and went to my first meeting in January of 2007. I went to the meeting armed with my first doll book and the quilting project I was working on. When the wonderful ladies in this group begin to do Show and Tell, I watched in amazement. They all gave me tips and encouragement. Then selected a pattern in my book and said this would be a good doll for me to start with. So, I went home with my assignment, made my first doll and the rest is history. I was hooked and will probably always be. I now have my very own website to show off my beauties. www.divadollsbyphyllis.com.  I have some of my work being sold at Elinor in St Paul and the Textile Center. I also do about 6 shows a year, which will be listed on my site.

As a small child I can remember how difficult it was to find dolls for us that looked liked me, so African American dolls are my specialty, but not limited to that. I also do custom orders, to suit color style etc.

Each art doll I make is Handcrafted with Love. My goal is to have the receiver of one of my dolls get as much pleasure from it as I got when making it.

July 24, 2011   Annual Dolls in Summer Show Mermaid Event Center
2200 County Road 10  Moundsview, MN 55112
10:00 AM - 3:30 PM $5.00 Cover Fee

 October 2, 2011    Dolls-Bears-Toys-Oh My!
Crown Plaza Hotel   Plymouth, MN 55441
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM $5.00 Cover Charge

 October 9, 2011   Annual Dolls in Fall Show Mermaid Event Center
2200 County Road 10  Moundsview, MN 55112
10:00 AM - 3:30 PM $5.00 Cover Fee

December 2011  Womens Art Festival
Midtown YWCA   2121 E. Lake Minneapolis, MN