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Doodlet's Toy Store + Gift Shop in Santa Fe, New Mexico

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Nothing happens unless first a dream: The story of Doodlet's

there were two young girls who each dreamed a very special dream. Though they had yet to meet, it was the same dream.

The first young girl was named Theodora Ruthling. She grew up to become Theo Raven. Her mother, Ma, was called Doodles because she liked to doodle. Theo was called Doodlet because she was the little daughter of Doodles.

The second young girl was named Lisa Arnold. She grew up to become Lisa Young. Much, much later Theo would call her Doodlelise because she was like a daughter to Doodlet.

Now Theo dreamed she would open a little shoppe in Santa Fe, New Mexico named Doodlet’s®, filled with wonderful treasures from all over the world. And in 1955 her dream came true.

From the moment it opened, Doodlet’s® was filled with laughter and joy, enchantment and whimsy. There were wonderful treasures from all over the world: handcrafted folk art and miniatures; nostalgic toys and candy; amusing and imaginative books and greeting cards; and endearing happiness essentials® for the home and heart. It was beloved by all.

Now in the same year Doodlet’s® was born, so was Lisa. Her family also had a shoppe filled with wonderful treasures from all over the world, named Arnold’s of Dallas. It too was beloved by all. And so it came to pass that when Lisa was 10 years old, she visited Santa Fe for the first time where she wandered into Doodlet’s. There, something magical happened! For Doodlet’s® whispered to her heart and she knew that this little shoppe was the shoppe of which she dreamed—a shoppe she now dreamed she would own one day.

Many, many years went by, until one starry evening in 2010, Theo called Lisa. She asked Lisa if she still dreamed to own Doodlet’s®. Lisa said yes. And so the very special dream that each of the two young girls first dreamed long ago, now became one. And Doodlet’s® was passed from Theo to Lisa.

Today, the laughter and joy, the enchantment and whimsy, the happiness essentials® that have always been Doodlet’s®, are still found in that little shoppe in the heart of Santa Fe, there for all to discover and delight in its wonderful treasures and share in its very special dream.

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Visit Us!

120 Don Gaspar at Water St.
Santa Fe, NM
happiness@doodlets.com

HOURS

10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Mon – Sat
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.  Sun

Hours May Vary / Call to Confirm

505-983-3771

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Happiness Essentials ® ∙ All Content Doodlet's ® © 2023

Homepage photography by Wendy McEarhern for Parasol Productions ∙ Artwork by Jone Hallmark ∙ Site design by Think All Day

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