Friend's Fabulous Facets!

Marcia Friend

By Lisa A. Lawrence

Reprint from Doll Show Magazine Fall 2002

Born in Pennsylvania, Marcia Friend spent a year in Paris after studying as a French major at NYU.  She currently lives in New Jersey, working in banking as a systems analyst for the last 16 years.  About four years ago, Marcia started to sell beaded and pearl jewelry. “I wanted a little extra doll money.” She states, “I sold very little – maybe 4 pieces in a good month.  I started doing the rhinestones because 2 people asked me to do commissions for convention dolls that they were submitting.  I loved what I found when I started looking for pieces to use for them and introduced my first Rhinestone Collection at the 1999 Gene® Convention.  There was nothing else like it and it did very well.  After that, I gave up the beads and pearls.”

Marcia used to buy Barbies® and still has a few from her childhood.  However, her main love has switched to the larger fashion dolls, mostly Gene and Tyler®.  “I haven’t counted how many I have – probably about 100.” Marcia states, “Many people compliment the scale of my jewelry and I think that being such an avid collector gives me a good eye for what suits the dolls.” 

Asked if she has ever collaborated with anyone, Marcia states, “I have collaborated on one piece with Linda Fischer, who makes gorgeous handmade rhinestone jewelry.  I sent her some findings and described the design that I wanted.  She did a few iterations of a prototype and we came up with the ‘Comet’ set, based on the same Chanel set that Ashton-Drake® based the jewelry for “Best Bet®” on.  After getting that prototype, it was months working with my manufacturer to get it made, as the findings were difficult to work with.”

While Marcia takes commissions, it’s usually when someone asks for something to go with a particular doll or outfit, not a particular jewelry design.  “I don’t have the ability to duplicate specific designs.” Marcia states, “But, I can try to get things that are close to it.”  But, Marcia will do just about anything if given good measurements or a sample doll.  “Most of my stock is for the 15” – 16” dolls.” Marcia states, “But I’m starting to do some things specifically for Kitty Collier® and Cissy®.  Just about any of my 15” – 16” designs can be made for the larger dolls by request.  I also do jewelry for Barbie, mostly on request.”

Most of Marcia’s items are human jewelry that she has cut up and adapted for dolls.  “I have designed a few pieces from scratch and I have a jewelry manufacturer who makes them for me.  I am definitely one of their more bizarre customers.” Marcia laughs, “But they seem to enjoy helping me get things to fit the dolls.  It’s a little different from their usual business.  Most of my suppliers think I’m a little strange.  I’ve shown them pictures of my jewelry on dolls, but they don’t get a sense of the scale from that.  They don’t realize what I do unless I show them an actual doll.  At that point, they’re usually shocked at how their items can be scaled down to work on something so small.”  Marcia loves shopping for pieces and figuring out what will work on dolls.  Recently, she discovered “magnetic pins.”  “The magnetic pins are especially fun because I love finding things that look like miniaturized versions of pins that people would actually wear.” Marcia exclaims, “It took me a long time to start doing pins.  Many customers had been requesting them, but I hated the idea of piercing the doll’s clothing.  The little magnets are perfect and I was thrilled when I found them!” 

Marcia’s biggest order to date has been two jewelry sets that she did for the 2001 Gene Convention.  She made the 1200+ pins herself, but had her manufacturer do the 800+ necklaces and earrings.  Marcia’s manufacturer also makes more of her bracelets, some of her Club pieces, and a few other designs, as well as making up prototypes based on drawings or pieces that she shows them.

While Marcia has been balancing her jewelry business with her systems analyst job, the success of Facets by Marcia is now requiring her full time attention.  She intends to work at her systems analyst job only part time, giving her more time to devote to jewelry.  Marcia herself has built and maintained her website. Ever expanding on what she offers for sale, she has included furniture, miniature decorative items and Kingstate® shoes and outfits.  While Marcia would love to do jewelry designs for doll companies, she is most concerned about maintaining quality control. “I did a simple set for a special event Mary Hoyer doll,” Marcia states, “and expect to be doing more for that company. Cost is an issue in producing my jewelry. Most companies don’t budget that much for jewelry.  I would be concerned about a company using inferior materials – like acrylic rhinestones or poor plating - to make it cheaper.  My pieces are made with Swavorski or other high quality Austrian crystal.”

To reach potential customers, Marcia participates in online doll boards and occasionally sells on eBay.  Mostly, she relies on word of mouth as well as getting a lot of repeat business.  While she can’t do many OOAKS, she can often adapt and changes pieces for people, as requested.  She’ll size items for any doll or do things in custom colors if she’s able to get the appropriate stones.  Additionally, Marcia does about four doll shows a year but plans to increase that as she cuts down on her office hours.  “I get booths at the shows and I also like to do a “preview” in my hotel room for my customers on the day before the salesroom opens.” Marcia states, “I usually have more time to interact with them there and help them choose things.  I do the Gene Convention, Modern Doll Convention®, Collectors United®, and a couple of local New Jersey doll shows.  I hope to do the Paris Fashion Doll Convention® again next year.”

As a more affordable way for her customers to obtain her jewelry, Marcia started the Facets Clubs.  These are subscription clubs where she mails out a jewelry set to each club member every 6 – 8 weeks.  Marcia has 3 clubs – for 15” – 16” dolls (Gene/Tyler), 18”-19” dolls (Kitty/American Models), and 20” – 21” (Cissy).  “These are great for people who can’t decide what they want or just like a surprise every now and then.” Marcia states,  “They are very good values.  It comes to $20 per set and the sets that I send out would normally sell for $25 - $35.”

To view more of Marcia’s jewelry, or to sign up for one or more of her jewelry clubs, go to http://www.facetsbymarcia.com.

September 2003 Update

Since I wrote this article last year, Marcia has been very active in expanding what she offers on her website.  She now offers rugs, more furniture, cuff bracelets for the 10 - 11 1/2" dolls.... and my favorite, TIARAS!!! 

Marcia also provides a wonderful service to those of us who can not attend the conventions.  Whenever Marcia is at a convention, doll board members eagerly await the numerous convention pictures that Marcia is always the first to post.  Knowing how impatient we all are to see our first glimpses of new dolls and outfits, Marcia often stays up late at night putting the pictures online so that those of us on the West Coast, and around the world, don't have the agonizing overnight wait we'd otherwise suffer through!  I, for one, am always on the lookout for Marcia's pictures!

Marcia has also collaborated with more people looking for the perfect designs/recreations for outfits they are offering. When Alana Bennett made Scarlett O'Hara's Love Bird gown, she turned to Marcia for the perfect necklace set.  It came out amazing!

When I started doing accessorized outfits for Lisa's Doll Closet, I made simple beaded jewelry. However, when I got to the Hollywood Inspirations line, I knew this was way out of my league!  I too turned to Marcia! While Marcia's jewelry significantly increases my costs in producing an outfit, I wanted the best.  Marcia gave it to me!  She also taught me enough about her jewelry to know there are many variables that go into it that many would never know about.  Marcia knows which stones (Swavorski and other Australian Crystals) are the best.  She knows which metals will hold their color and not tarnish the doll!  That idea alone scared me into making Marcia my primary supplier for "the good stuff."  Marcia worked with me to create the wonderful necklace and earrings that went with my Pretty Woman Inspired Dress "At the Opera", shown below:

She provided the rhinestone earrings for my Basic Instinct inspired outfit "Interrogation" and has provided me with a necklace and earring set for another yet unannounced outfit.  She calls the set  "Manhattan!"   Working with Marcia to create the jewelry for my Hollywood Inspiration line requires four months of preparation work with her.  From the initial contact through the various prototypes until the product is ready to be shipped to me is a long process.  Luckily for me, Marcia does all the hard stuff!  I just provide feedback and pay the bill!

Marcia has vastly increased her participation in conventions in the last year.  This year, a Facets jewelry set will be given out at the Gene Convention.  Marcia also designed a special Horse head Pin to to with the Gene Convention "Derby Dreams" theme, which will also work well with Montana Getaway Sydney and possibly the western-themed Alex from the upcoming Modern Doll Convention.  These sets will be available for sale at the Gene Convention and afterwards until they sell out!

At both the Gene and Modern Doll Convention, Marcia will be giving workshops on "recycling jewelry."  She'll show how to restyle costume jewelry pieces into doll jewelry.  For the Gene Convention, she's teaming up with Harry Klein!  That one will be worth attending for the sheer entertainment value alone!

Marcia also expects to be doing more jewelry for Tonner in 2004.  She will be attending the following shows:
 

Happily Ever After in-store event, September 13th, Philadelphia
Gene Convention - Sept 25-28, Louisville
Modern Doll Convention - Oct 15-18, Las Vegas
Rothman Show - November 9th, Hackensack, NJ
 

For 2004, Marcia hopes to be at:

The Brass Horse in-store event (San Francisco area - late January)
Collectors United (Nashville - mid March)
Paris Fashion Doll Show (Paris - late March)
Tonner Convention (Chicago - mid May)
Collectors United (Atlanta - July)
International Fashion Doll Convention (IFDC), Gene Con & MDC - dates unknown!