The window at Estabrook’s Inc. already is decked out for Halloween with an eerie chandelier and cobwebs.
There’s a family inhabiting the space, too.
“They look kind of creepy, like the Adams family,” says Mary Ellen Dezelsky, who owns the company with husband Brad. “It’s like looking into their living room.”
The scene draws a crowd to the building at 1505 Woodside in Essexville. People stop and take photos.
Those characters, along with 100 characters the couple has collected over the years to decorate their home, come from the fertile and talented mind of Joe Spencer, co-owner of home decorating store G.T. Homestead, 109 Third St. in downtown Bay City.
From small beginnings, Spencer has built a business of original dolls, some lifesize, figurines and ornaments that attract fans from around the globe.
It was 25 years ago that Spencer started making his soft-sculpture dolls that he and partner Rick Windt would sell at area church bazaars. Named Gathered Traditions by Joe Spencer, the characters would sell out in the first hour.
“We would set up in church bazaars and everyone would walk past every other booth to get to ours,” remembers Spencer.
As followers grew, the two decided to open G.T. Homestead to showcase the dolls and sell other unique home items.
Concentrating on Halloween and Christmas, Spencer’s dolls became the big draw for the annual Halloween open house. In fact, customers have been known to camp out the night before to be first in line to get one of Spencer’s originals. This year the open house runs Sept. 9-11.
Fifteen years ago Spencer branched out, adding hand-sculpted dolls made from ProSculpt, a polymer clay.
It was about 10 years ago that Spencer’s business really hit the big time.
A sales rep for Gallerie II, part of a textile company headquartered in New Port News, Va., happened upon one of the open houses and the dolls.
Gallerie II quickly signed the artist to a contract, and the dolls have become the largest portion of the company’s Halloween business.
Although Spencer doesn’t make each doll sold by Gallerie II, he is still hands-on through the entire process. Although they are mass produced, the dolls are still hand-sewn and hand-painted.
“When they go into production, they e-mail me photos,” he said. “They ask me if anything needs to be changed. I still have control.”
Gallerie II has also signed on to produce some of Spencer’s clay-based dolls with the first being released in January.
What is it about these little dolls that have captured the hearts of collectors for the past 25 years?
It’s the faces and Spencer’s attention to detail in the costumes, says Cindi Steele of Gallerie II.
“They are just really unique,” said Steele. “They are kind of creepy. The faces are eerie, some are cute. They just have a special look. They are not your typical stuffed doll.”
With a passion for Halloween, Spencer’s dolls are right up Dezelsky’s alley. The couple begin decorating their home with Halloween items right around Labor Day.
“They (the dolls) are creepy in away,” she said. “That’s why I started collecting them.”
It is advised that those heading to the open house arrive early if they want to purchase a doll.
Prices for Spencer’s originals begin at $85, with smaller figurines selling for $45, and ornaments running between $20 and $45.