Then a friend introduced her to doll making and she was hooked. Wishing to understand the human form for doll making, she took college courses of classical sculpture, figure studies, anatomy & anthropology. Around 1976 she began making dolls at home starting with Antique Reproductions and soon had a thriving kitchen business making reproduction Jumeaux and Brus. It was clear it was time to move from kitchen table to a professional business. The property eventually had 10 buildings and a 1,700 sq.
Showroom and they hired dozens of local seamstresses & wig makers, plus a local mold-maker. Susan sculpted the originals, designed the clothing and did the final porcelain painting.
She still researches every subject before starting a new project. Everything is historically correct with proper colors, fabrics, furs, feathers, beading and leathers in the styles of their represented periods. She became an active member of UFDC & ODACA, teaching doll making classes and published a sculpting book.
Her talents went beyond porcelain as she created wonderful bronze busts as well. After 9/11 and the collectible market decline, Susan and Jack did not wish to produce dolls in China for cost savings.
So, they shut down the business and moved to Eugene, Oregon for retirement, near ocean and mountains.