Cabbage Patch Kids Though Xavier Roberts is the creator of the Cabbage Patch Kids brand, many of the brand's defining characteristics, such as the dolls' overly round faces and that they came with an adoption certificate, can be traced back to Martha Nelson Thomas, an American folk artist from Kentucky. Before Roberts ever became involved in the toy industry, Thomas created and marketed her own line of dolls, called Doll Babies, which she sold at local arts and craft shows and markets. The two crossed paths at a state fair in 1976 and Roberts began purchasing her dolls to sell at a profit
Xavier Roberts gave credit to Martha Nelson Thomas, the original creator of these dolls. Roberts would later create a series of country-inspired toy bears called the Furskin Bears. Due to the commercial success of his Little People line Roberts had already become a self-made millionaire by the age of 26. Other artwork by Roberts has been featured in galleries such as the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, Georgia. His creations also became part of the State of Georgia's permanent art collection after Roberts presented three Little People to Georgia Governor George Busbee. Roberts designed and built his own house with help