Issue 8 - Civil War / Victorian Collaboration Scarlett Giveaway and Origin of Artist Collaborations

Scarlett Doll Giveaway

And an Insight into our Collaborations

After the beautiful collection by Sata & Haykush Designs of the costuming from Gone with the Wind re-imagined for American Girl dolls, I wanted to end the series with a special giveaway.  

This Scarlett Doll stands 21" tall wearing the velvet curtain dress depiction but in a color I have not seen before.  In all versions, Scarlett's curtain dress is a deep green shade accented with gold and rope details indicative of the curtain ties when you draw the curtains back to let in light.  This particular Scarlett doll has an irridescent brown velvet with green undertones and green lining.  Scarlett herself has a beautiful face and stunning hair style with ringlet curls in the front and an almost 1940's wave in the back.  Gold and green tones accent and she is wearing a white cotton hoop and pantaloons underneath.

To win this doll:

1. Go to Instagram and like @satahaykushdesigns

2. Re-share one of Sata's Gone with the Wind outfits indicating why you like the outfit the best

3. Tag @satahaykushdesigns in the post with the #civilwarvictoriandolls

When we see your post we will comment with an Entry # to enter you into the drawing for the doll.  Winners will be selected at the end of the collaboration and featured in the final newsletter on April 30, 2026.  Entries will be accepted up until April 29, 2026.

About our Collaborations

I started Bbeauty Designs back in 2006 as a designer of custom clothing and accessories for women.  It largely began out of a desire to fill the holes in mainstream fashion where needs were not being met either due to size or styling. I dabbled in many areas from bridal to manufacturing accessories to creating custom gowns to creating fantasy costumes.  I became very close to my customer base and over time it became less about which products I was making, and more about helping serve the needs of the women that were coming to me for solutions.  As problem solving happens to be one of my gifted skills, I find myself utilizing this skill in multiple areas of my life as I join activities, am joining groups or organizations, and even in event planning.  In everything I have experienced the very core is the individual journey each person goes through in navigating their own self-worth and self-esteem and in finding their voice.  

In the creation of Bbeauty Dolls, I have found myself in much the same situation where I am focused on designing to meet the needs of my customers through voids in manufacturing, product availability, and problem solving.  I have interacted with even more artists and an even greater volume of women on this journey.  Not to say that men don't also battle with self-worth and self-esteem because they do, but as a woman myself I could relate to the particular journey of being an artist, a woman, and on the road to self-discovery. As I traveled on this journey and learned the lessons along the way, I had more and more of a desire to share what I had learned and to provide opportunities that helped others.  

As an individual, I continually go for what I want in life.  There are no guarantees of course, but I make it a point of shooting for the stars and seeing where it leads me.  There is the thought that only larger corporations or multi-million dollar organizations are where you have to be to make a difference or start programs and sure those that have a lot of money can certainly do things faster or on a grander scale.  But as I said, I'm always shooting for the stars and didn't require any pre-requisites to putting ideas into play.

When I entered the doll industry I was excited and challenged on what would happen next and I couldn't wait to meet all the small business owners in this field.  But largely I felt as if I had stepped onto a battlefield that was rather difficult to navigate.  Women were attacking women, stealing customers, stealing ideas, and actively putting others out of business to gain market share, and using social media as a way to call others out in their behavior. As women themselves are often pulled in several directions including juggling being moms and providing income for their families to supplement their financial situations or independence, there was definitely a "hurt my income, hurt my family" vibe going on.  

I remember being seen as a threat as a new girl on the block and largely shocked that things like this went on and how toxic it was.  Starting artist collaboration projects was a direct message and response to that chaos.  It was to prove a point, that women can still be successful and actually empowered when they stop tearing each other down and being territorial and instead work together in a common goal for success.

The first collaboration I know I was nervous because what I asked each woman entrepreneur to do was to set aside their mentality of competition, take a deep breath and promote another woman's work along-side your own.  This is incredibly difficult for many to do, because as an artist you are continuously trying to be seen amongst a crowd of other artists, to have your work stand out, and to rise in your skill.  You've worked hard for your following, putting time and energy into growing those numbers. Putting someone else's work on your page and endorsing it, takes incredible bravery.  It is easy for us to compare ourselves and are talents against others and measure our own worth by that.  It often gets said, "they are better at this than I am", "they are more talented than I am", "they have more skill than I do" and to fill our heads with how we are less than worthy.  Instead, it should be "I am also good at this", "I also have talent", "I have different skills that are just as good", and "I am worthy to show my work along side these other great women".

As the artists prepare their pieces and unveil in the newsletters their testament of their skill and creativity are already there to see.  But what you don't see behind the scenes is that when that guard comes down, the friendships made, the respect for each other's skill levels, the support each member gives each other, and the generosity of each woman comes out. We are lifted up, we laugh about our mistakes, we make suggestions, we grow, and we become stronger at the end of each project.

For me, there is nothing better to see than the artists and women I have personally been able to work with rise up, feel confident, and grow. I am proud to be a part of their journey, for their friendships, for their support, and for their dedication and generosity along the way.

It is brave to admit that you are not perfect, that you have shortcomings as well as talents, and to start ideas in motion and find out where it takes you.

I still shoot for the stars, and am happy to have all our subscribers here a part of my personal journey, my company, and the artists that show their work in our collaboration projects.  We hope that we inspire you! And if you feel a little bit brave, please feel free to reach out and reply to our emails to let us know your feedback.  We love to hear from you!