Crawford resident Mary Rister has magic fingers. She'd have to, since she sits at her sewing machine six days a week for hours on end, creating unique pieces of baby and doll clothing for her Truly Scrumptious business.

Mary has been in business over 26 years, and has sold her clothing here since 1987, when she moved to Crawford. When her first daughter Donna was born, Mary made all her clothing. People began asking Mary where she got the one-of-a-kind dresses and outfits, and when she replied that she made them, orders started coming in.

She has been sewing for over 40 years. She first learned how when she took sewing projects in 4-H. She was nine years old, and fell in love with the craft. By the time she got to junior high, she was taking every sewing class she could find.

Later, she became a sewing instructor in the 4-H program here, in the Crawford Pioneers club. Currently, she judges the clothing entered by 4-Hers at the Delta County Fair every year.

She made all of her two older daughters' clothing all through their school years, including prom and homecoming formals. When Donna was in college and was a vocal performer, Mary made her recital gowns.

When the daughter of her good friend got married in 2007, Mary made the wedding gown, a faux fur-lined, embroidered velvet gown with a train. She also made a bridesmaid's dress, two flower girl dresses and two vests for groomsmen. When the bride and groom gave the two flower girls dolls as their gifts, Mary made each doll a complete set of bridal party clothing. Each doll had its own wedding dress, bridesmaid's dress, flower girl dress, and more.

Though certainly adept at clothing construction for all ages and tastes, Mary has now switched her focus under the Truly Scrumptious name to making only baby clothing from newborn to size four for boys and girls, baby gifts, and doll clothes.

Mary creates unique clothing for the American Girl and Bitty Baby doll lines. The clothes also fit other 15-and 18-inch dolls.

Her doll clothing runs from everything to bell-bottom pants and peasant blouses for those dolls stuck in the '60s, to party outfits and formal attire. She even has bunny slippers for the dolls, and also makes accessories like hats, princess crowns, sleeping bags and pillow-and-blanket sets.

She offers a hiking and camping set for dolls that comes with several changes of outfits and a fishing pole. Her medical set comes with a doctor's uniform with a stethoscope, a surgical gown and mask, a nurse's uniform and a patient gown. A customer recently commissioned an ice skating fantasy set with multiple uniforms and outfits.

She only makes five or six of one outfit in the same material. "You don't want two dolls walking down the street and matching," Mary said, laughing.

She makes a limited number of identical baby items as well, so that each well-dressed baby won't see herself coming in the next community.

Her baby clothing is made out of old-fashioned patterns - no little "juicy" sweatpants will be found under the Truly Scrumptious line. Instead, look for pinafore-type dresses, some embroidered with farm animals or flowers. She also makes baby gifts, perfect for a new mommy. She has embroidered terry towel bibs, which after a meal of spaghetti, can be thrown in the wash and come out of the dryer unharmed. She also makes burp pad and receiving blanket sets.

She makes a poncho-style blanket that can be placed over a baby in a car seat, swing or stroller, and will stay put. She has a car seat cover in a similar design. This item is 100 percent unique, Mary's own design. They can't be found in any department store.

She accepts custom orders. Have something in mind? Bring her a photo or your ideas, and she'll whip something up for you. She also has a seemingly limitless supply of patterns for baby clothing and gifts.

To pull all this off, Mary has some help from her seven-year-old daughter Morgan. Like her eldest two children, Mary is teaching Morgan the craft of sewing. Morgan also gets to help dress the dolls to see how the clothing looks and fits, pick out material, and helps set up booths at area craft fairs. She's also quite the salesperson.

New to her business this year, Mary is starting a home show aspect of the doll clothes line. Girls, their dolls and their mothers can host a party and Mary will bring her own dolls and samples of clothing.

In the near future, she'd like to try her hand at creating a line of clothing for Barbie dolls. She also hopes to have a catalog out soon.

Her products can be seen on her website, www.delightfuldollclothes.com, or in Nature's Beauty in Hotchkiss. She also visits craft fairs around the state. Locally, look for her at this year's Crawford Pioneer Days and Palisade Peach Festival. She can be reached at 921-7941 for questions or to place special orders.

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