Who Are We? In 1991  John and I decided to make some exciting plans for our family's future.  We began with two products, Ark Essentials Newsletter-Promoting  Self Sufficiency & Emergency Preparedness and My Quiet Doll Kits.  We published the newsletter for nine years and had a great time raising children, dairy and cashmere goats, cats, rabbits, and a few cows and llamas.  We sent out newsletters from coast to coast.  Our newsletter never really hit it big but we honed our writing skills and learned lots on growing great gardens, making soap, homeschooling and raising a large family on what John made cutting meat.  The newsletter took priority as it required a monthly commitment to out subscribers.  In 1998 John managed to also complete his first book Confessions of a Butcher-Eat Steak on a Hamburger Budget and Save$$$.  He has appeared on TV and done interviews on national radio. 

I designed My Quiet Dolls back when I had three little girls, no money and several very long meetings I needed to attend.  These dolls kept my girls busy for hours and they never seemed to get tired of them.  Other families wanted some.  They made great gifts and inexpensive party favors.  As a busy mother of currently eight children( oldest 18, youngest 11 months) My Quiet Doll Kits were pretty much put on hold except for occasional bursts of energy when I would teach classes (Ricks College Homemaking Conference or Salem, Oregon's Gilbert House) or work on designing updated covers, additional patterns, working on websites, etc. They made wonderful gifts and my girls and even the boys enjoy creating  their own dolls and sharing them with friends.  A local scout troop has even made dolls for children at Primary Children's Hospital.  We want to  provide you with top-notch quiet entertainment for hours,inspire your creativity and direct you to create your own awesome works of art to play with, share or to display.  

In 2006 we incorporated and formed the "publishing division" of Ark Essentials, Inc., in anticipation of releasing the third printing of John's book Confessions of a Butcher-eat steak on a hamburger budget and save $$$. 

Thanks for checking in at Ark Essentials/My Quiet Dolls.com  today!