| The company , M.Wanke UK Ltd , Dollmaking Supplies was started by Debbie Stanton to incorporate and expand her growing business selling materials for making dolls . It was established in 1983 and started trading in 1985 . Debbie started in the "doll business" from the age of nine helping her mother , Carol Stanton , sell antique dolls in the markets at Portobello Road and Islington from 1969 to 1979 . Thereafter selling specialist doll books for collectors . The business at this time was called "Debbie Stanton Books" . From 1981 , Carol and Debbie learned dollmaking techniques from D.A.G instructor Ginny Regapoulis and also from Stan , Ann and Marian Shelski in Scranton , Pennsylvania . With the considerable knowledge gleaned from handling original dolls , it wasn't long before the quality of work produced by Carol was being recognised as something special . It was at this stage she teamed up with German entrepenuer Matthias Wanke . Carol started teaching the new hobby in Europe and Debbie began expanding the supplies business , first trading as "Living Doll Products" then "M.Wanke UK Limited" Debbie continues to look for new and exiting products for the dollmaker and has expanded the company considerably over the last few years . |