MURRAY, Utah -- A local mom is dealing with an online firestorm after her art work was removed from an online classified page, and she was blocked.
"I was surprised," said artist Nettie Lewis.
The Murray mom makes dolls that represent the babies of monsters. She got the idea a few years back after her son wanted to walk while trick-or-treating, instead of riding in the stroller as he did in years past.
"I decided to make a doll that would sit in the stroller," Lewis explained. "People started coming up to me and the reaction was great."
Lewis said that people started inquiring about her dolls instantly, and often times she sold out of them as soon as they were made.
Her dolls typically cost between $30 and $50 to make, and she sells them for around the same price. It's more of a hobby than it is a business.
Lewis said sales were going well. Last year, while living in Cedar City, she sold 40 dolls in the month of October. Then, she made the decision to move closer to Salt Lake City, eventually landing in Murray last August.
"I thought my business would do even better there," Lewis said. "Haunted houses are big there, Halloween is big there."
However, Lewis' dolls weren't well received after the move. She posted to the online classified Facebook page, Murray 24/7 Yard Sale, but says the reaction, wasn't favorable.
"I was shocked," Lewis said. "I was blocked, and the post deleted immediately."
Lewis said she never got an explanation as to why. However, an online page description outlines that offensive posts or material will not be tolerated.
“I think mom’s dolls are cute," said Lewis' son, Armand Lewis. “It’s not like they would jump out of a chair at you. Trust me, it’s not going to happen.”
Lewis has only managed to sell six dolls this October, down from the 40 she sold last October. She figures the relocation has a lot to do with it. Despite the backlash, she says she'll continue working on her craft.
“I feel like when artists have to explain themselves, they aren’t doing it for themselves anymore.”
Lewis created her own Facebook page to sell her artwork and encourages all artists to contact her if they would like to sell art on her page as well.
Click on the link below to visit her Facebook page.
