About Daughter Doodads

A Craft Passed Down Through Generations

Braiding isn't just a skill in our family — it's a tradition that stretches back generations. My grandfather braided rawhide and crafted horse nosebands for his grandchildren, including one for me. My dad carried that tradition forward, teaching me to braid at an early age, starting with a four-strand round braid in my own hair.

As my dad began to slow down, he found renewed purpose in braiding — keychains, zipper pulls, and eventually something truly special: braiding over wire and shaping it into brands. I would mount and frame his creations, and together we made something beautiful.

What makes each piece even more meaningful is the material itself. Every braided item is crafted from old lariats — ropes with a history of their own, repurposed into something new. There's something fitting about that: taking something worn and well-used and giving it a second life through craft.

When my dad passed away in 2021, I set the braiding aside for a while. Grief has its own timeline. But in 2023, I picked it back up — and in doing so, found a way to keep his memory alive in every piece I make.

When he was crafting and selling his work, he called it Dad's Doodads. Since I learned everything I know from him, it felt only right to call mine Daughter Doodads.

Every item in this shop is handcrafted with care, carrying forward a legacy of craft, family, and love.