Just as creative couples the world over delight in designing one-of-a-kind weddings that express their truest selves, many wedding guests get a similar kick from bypassing the surprise-proof gift registry and seeking out something completely unique to wrap up for their soon-to-wed friends. While there’s no shortage of memorable big-day presents on Etsy, Jordan Grace Owens’s eponymous shop is a particularly perfect destination for them. Again and again, her satisfied customers have described a bride unwrapping a box, taking one look at a personalized paper doll set of herself and her partner, and bursting into tears of joy.
Explore the Jordan Grace Owens collection
For the last 10 years, Jordan has channeled her passion for people into her original artwork. Today, from her cozy attic studio in Durham, North Carolina, she sorts through photographs of couples on the brink of the next phase in their lives, and creates highly personalized paper dolls and portraits, all drawn in her signature whimsical style. Jordan’s line also includes magnets, t-shirts, screenprinted posters, and original ink drawings, but wedding season remains one of her favorite times of year. “I’ve heard from couples who loved their dolls so much, they decided to commission a gift set for someone else when their own friends got married,” she recalls. “That’s always really gratifying, and a reminder of why I love what I do.”
Read on to find out how Etsy convos inspired Jordan to focus on custom work, and to discover her process for creating paper dolls—then shop the Jordan Grace Owens collection.
How did you get into creating one-of-a-kind paper dolls and custom portraits?
The first paper dolls I made were for a local art show, and they were about three feet tall, much larger than the ones I do now. When I started making smaller versions for craft shows and to sell on Etsy, the dolls weren’t based on real people—they were made-up figures wearing beautiful vintage dresses that I wished that I had, or just imagined. But I found that people were digging through my stashes and looking for dolls that looked like themselves or like their friends, or sending me convos asking, “Do you have any with red hair?” That’s what led me to the custom dolls, which were really a launching point for me.
How did the convos with Etsy customers influence your creative process?
My custom work has continued to evolve through a dialogue with my Etsy customers over the years, and their requests really do inspire what I offer. For example, several people contacted me after I drew a set of paper dolls for them and said, “We just had a baby, can we buy an addition to our paper dolls?” That’s why I began offering little newborn paper dolls, as well as pets. I like the idea of a paper doll set as a modular family portrait that can be added to over the years.
Have you always loved illustrating people?
Yes! As a kid and as an art student, I was really into portraiture and figure drawing. I also love clothes, so it’s no surprise I love drawing clothes in different patterns and colors. I think the clothing is one of the most important, distinguishing parts of the paper doll, because the bodies are only six or seven inches tall and the faces are small and minimalist. It’s fun to see what outfits people decide on.
Can you walk us through the process of making a custom paper doll set?
When someone places an order for paper dolls, I ask that they upload a few different photos: photos of themselves facing the camera and a full body photo that shows an outfit, or a photo of their clothes laid out. I also ask couples to tell me their relative heights if I don’t have a photo of them together. Some couples will send me full body photos of themselves. Others prefer to send me photos of their faces, then different photos of their favorite outfits. It’s up to me to pull it all together!
Once I have all the images, I draw from the photos in pencil, sketching out the paper dolls, and then go over the pencil with tracing paper and pen. I scan that and clean it up a little bit in Photoshop—but not too much, because I still like it to feel hand-drawn. Then I print the outline and color the paper dolls with Prismacolor markers and colored pencils. Once they’re colored, I glue an extra layer of black paper to the back, cut out all the pieces, and assemble the dolls using the world’s tiniest brads. I always send a photo of the final dolls before I mail them out.
What’s it like working so closely with brides and grooms on custom portraits and paper doll sets?
It’s an honor to have someone trust your work that much. Weddings are such a fun opportunity to get a portrait done, because people are celebrating you as a couple, and all your friends and relatives get a chance to see it. I’ve also had brides or grooms contact me before their wedding to gift a paper doll set to their partner as a surprise, or order them to use as a cake topper. It’s a really personal process and I feel like I get a peek into my customers’ lives.
Do you recommend paper doll sets as a unique wedding gift?
Definitely. Sometimes it can be difficult to track down all the right photos of a friend or family member, but this way, you can just visit the wedding website and take the photos from there. It makes ordering so much easier, and I think it’s a special commemoration of the day. First anniversary gifts are traditionally supposed to be paper, so my dolls are a perfect fit for those, too.
What’s next on the horizon for Jordan Grace Owens?
I’m about to list some new t-shirts with my original illustrations of faces and bodies. I’d also love to get more specifically into wedding invitations. I like having deadlines looming, because I’m not the type of person inspiration just comes to—it arrives when I sit down and work at it. Etsy has been such a great way for me to take control of my work, to have a platform where I can make things and sell them directly to people. I accidentally stumbled into this career, but it’s a better one than I ever could have imagined.
Follow Jordan Grace Owens on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest.
Portrait, studio, and process photographs by Anna Carson DeWitt. Product photographs courtesy of Jordan Grace Owens.
44 comments
Rada Danilovic from RadArtaDesign said 2 years ago
Your shop and items are wonderful! I love your stoty too :) Congrats!!
DeUno from DeUno said 2 years ago
Wonderful dolls! Charming characters! Great idea! Congratulations!
Amy from GibasAeroGiftShop said 2 years ago
Love those kitty cats! Congrats on the feature!
Renee from RandMhandmade said 2 years ago
Congratulations on the feature!! Love your shop!
Nadia B from BasicKnitwear said 2 years ago
Very cute shop! Congrats on the feature!
elle and belle Forster from elleandbellejewelry said 2 years ago
Beautiful paper dolls! Love your cats. :) All the best, Jordan!
Anna L. from FoxyStyleJewelry said 2 years ago
I love your story! Wonderful feature and fabulous creations. Beautiful workspace. Congratulations! Sharon thank you for a great article!
Kashuen Collectibles from Kashuen said 2 years ago
I love paper doll. It is such a great idea for wedding and new born baby. Congratulations!
Sally from SallysVintageKitchen said 2 years ago
Lovely shop! Beautiful paper dolls! Congratulations on the feature.
Christines Corner Shop from ChristinesCornerShop said 2 years ago
Wonderful shop and lovely creations! The paper doll cats are my favorite!
Sujata from TreasuredMemoryLane said 2 years ago
Lovely! Love the tote bag! Congratulations on the feature!
R.M Garrett from ArtisticAcrylics said 2 years ago
I love everything about this! Your creations are beautiful, unique and definitely makes a special memory and heirloom to be treasured and passed down to future generations. Beautiful shop, and congratulations on your feature!!
Leo Nuvunga from AfricanCraftsCenter said 2 years ago
Beautiful items and shop. Congrats.
Karen from KnitPeddler said 2 years ago
Congrats on your feature! Lovely shop and items, especially the kitties! Love your attic studio too. <3
ClassicMemories from ClassicMemories said 2 years ago
Very nice shop. Congrats on the feature.
Jennifer Tyson from LadyInPurpleBoutique said 2 years ago
Congrats on the feature Jordan! Your shop and work is so unique. I love your kitty cats!
TropicalGarden from TropicalGarden said 2 years ago
Wonderful collection! Congratulations on the feature:)
maggie from BlossomBouquetStudio said 2 years ago
Love your work! Especially the cute cats!
Priscilla from Gardenmis said 2 years ago
Love your shop! Congrats on the feature and best wishes for achieving all your goals and dreams :)
AnitasPottery.com from potterybyAnita said 2 years ago
What a unique concept! So sweet and charming! And interesting how it all came about. Congrats on being featured! 🌷 🌷 🌷
Anna from FairyToysWorld said 2 years ago
This design is so unusual. Very nice and modern! I like this. Wish you good luck)
Nicole from KarmaCodeOne said 2 years ago
beautiful inside and out ~!~ cheers to much continued success
Julia K Walton from JuliaKWalton said 2 years ago
Such a charming shop and talented artist. Congratulations on the feature :o)
Carla Daniela Miranda from GlamGraphixDesign said 2 years ago
They have such a whimsy and unique illustration style. Love it.
Debra Gilstrap from gilstrapdesigns said 2 years ago
Congratulations on your feature your work is really nice and I love those paper dolls much continued success!!!!
Mattie from poppeparker said 2 years ago
Totally loved this feature! Congratulations!
Dig Deep Vintage from digdeepvintage said 2 years ago
Very cool creation! Congrats on the feature!
carolau said 2 years ago
Really wonderful Idea! Talented! You have your own style which is unique. I could see a Mobile of the entire family. Christmas ornaments with a family members face on it, or just a Santa and Elves elves in your style. Who doesn't like cats!! Great!!
Gillian Northcott from esanivintage said 2 years ago
Lovely, so girly and feminine. We should have more of this in our world. Keep up the great work.
Maria from StyleGraphicDesign said 2 years ago
So cute and inspiring!
Fields Of Vintage from FieldsOfVintage said 2 years ago
I love your shop and It was finally great to see a behind the scenes look at your process. Congrats on the feature.
Gloria m from GabbysChicEarrings said 2 years ago
Oh gosh! I love your shop, what a creative idea in making paper dolls of people and pets.
Sherri from ButterflyFeetDigital said 2 years ago
Great ideas and shop, congrats on the feature!
Oriaku Onuoha-Bean from JewelryByOri said 2 years ago
Lovely and unique shop! Congrats on the feature!
renee and gerardo from GTDesigns said 2 years ago
Beyond precious!! Love the honesty in how family faces have beautifully bucked traditions. Sweet art and truth here! Lovely work... very statement .. Congrats!!!
Rika from Licca said 2 years ago
Lovely shop! I love your work space!
Sorina from BijuBrill said 2 years ago
Really love to see innovative ideas and great people who manage to do bigthings! Really wonderful shop and the artist is wonderful!
Indre from LovePrintableDesign said 2 years ago
Very unique artworks, absolutely love all items in shop! Beautiful artist working space!
Anna Direnko from ZizStore said 2 years ago
Love your shop. Congrats!!!
Kelly Engel from GrowingUpWild said 2 years ago
Your paper art is fantastic! Huge kuddos to the photographer on this piece as well. I feel she did an amazing job at documenting your process while capturing your personality.
Anna Direnko from ZizStore said 2 years ago
Very interesting ideas.
Yuri Pysar from Pysar said 2 years ago
wow! so unique and charming.
Umesh Vigg from TheInspireDecor said 86 days ago
Congratulations on the feature!! Love it!!
Deborah from AntMablesAttic said 13 days ago
Thanks for your lovely Art!