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SOLD I’d Like to Introduce You to my Latest Reproduction of Tilly Lamb, who is Currently Available for Sale…

Thank you for coming to meet my newest reproduction of my antique Izannah Walker doll Tillie Lamb.

TILLY LAMB ~ $2445 SOLD. Tilly Lamb has a somewhat unique body with larger, plumper arms and painted boots that are fashioned differently than other Izannah Walker dolls. I’ve really only seen these features on the one other doll that I know of that is made like Tillie Lamb. I truly love the endearing slightly bolder folk art quality that this gives her She is 20 inches tall, from the back of her heels to the top of her head. Her toes point downward another 2 inches.

CLOTHING

I’ve chosen some amazing fabrics for this very special doll. Her dark brown figured dress is made from a sheer madder dyed cotton with a window pane check weave. This fabric came from a remanent of a c. 1860’s skirt that I am sure must have had a matching bodice. Even though someone had previously cut into the garment, I could tell that it had once been a very wide full skirt, tightly gathered at the waist and meant to be worn over layers of petticoats and a caged crinoline (which people now often refer to as a hooped skirt). I fashioned this lovely fabric into a very classic mid 19th century girl’s dress, with very full banded sleeves and a generously full skirt. Next I paired this fantastic madder fabric dress, with a fugitive purple print fabric for her that the sun has turned into a matching shade. The apron I made from this fugitive purple is a copy of the apron that my antique Tillie Lamb often wears. The original apron is one I found in Brimfield many years ago.

Because every girl needs more that one dress, Tilly has a second dress made from a vintage brown gingham check, with short straight, tucked sleeves. Did you know that gingham was original made in Asia, possibly Malaysia, and first appeared in England during the 17th century, when it was introduced by Dutch traders? Originally it began as more of a striped fabric, before becoming the classic woven checks that we are more familiar with.

Tilly’s second skin body covering is a coffee brown glazed cotton that coordinates perfectly with her madder dyed dress and fugitive purple apron. I made her chemise, split pantalettes, and petticoat from antique cotton sheeting and lace.

ACCESSORIES

Around her neck Tilly wears a necklace that I made from vintage bone beads. She has a heart shaped pincushion, made of another wonderful piece of mid 19th century fabric, suspended from a woven brown gingham ribbon. Instructions for this type of pincushion appeared in Eliza Leslie’s book The American Girl’s Book; or Occupation For Play Hours first published in 1831. https://paulawalton.wordpress.com/2011/02/09/two-heart-pincushions-from-the-american-girls-book/

Additionally Tilly comes with a length of fabric tape measure, like the one my original Tilly Lamb often carries in her apron pocket.

This Tilly Lamb reproduction Izannah Walker doll is $2445.00 SOLD

All of my dolls are sold on a “first come” basis. To purchase Hannah email me at  paula@asweetremembrance.com . Please be aware of how much the doll costs BEFORE you send your request to buy. You are welcome to ask questions, but please note that asking a question is not the same as making a commitment to buy and will not “hold your place in line” if someone else asks to buy the doll.  Checks or money orders are preferred, Paypal is also accepted for payment. Free priority mail shipping & full insurance to any U.S. address. International orders ~ exact postage + $40 handling fee to help offset the extra time required for international shipping and the currency conversion fees ~ check with me to make sure your international address is one I ship to. No shipping to Russia.

Tilly is a wonderful size to display in antique children’s chairs. Here she is in one of my antique highchairs. Note ~ Her newly painted face does appear a bit glossy in some lights, but as the paint continues to dry and oxidize the sheen will lessen and go away.

Read more about my antique Tillie Lamb here:

This is the post I wrote about my antique Tilly Lambs arrival…
This post has information about my original antique Tillie Lamb as she appeared in Your Dolls and Mine A Collector’s Handbook 1952 & The Collector’s Encyclopedia of Dolls 1968
Doll for Sale · Izannah Walker Reproduction Doll · Studio News · Where to Shop

One New Reproduction Izannah Walker Doll will be Available for Sale on Monday April 15th at Noon Eastern Time

Those of you who follow Paula Walton’s A Sweet Remembrance on Facebook and asweetremembrance on Instagram are probably aware that I have been working on a reproduction of my antique Tillie Lamb. She’s been very patiently waiting for the last few weeks for me to work on her wardrobe in between tree cutting crews, birthday celebrations, egg hunts, and shopping expeditions to estate sales and flea markets.

I’ve just finished making the last few stitches! She will be available for sale this coming Monday, April 15th, at 12:00 noon Eastern time (11:00 am Central, 10:00 am Mountain, and 9:00 am Pacific).

This very special reproduction of my antique Tilly Lamb comes with a small wardrobe of two dresses, a pinafore apron, and a tiny collection of accessories.

She will be posted, as always, here on www.izannahwalker.com and sold on a first come basis. I hope you will be able to drop by on Monday to make her acquaintance.

Izannah Inspired Artist Dolls · Izannah Reproduction Doll Class · Izannah Walker Dollmaking Class · Izannah Walker Project Ideas · Izannah Walker Reproduction Doll · Studio News · Where to Shop

For Those Interested in my Master Level Izannah Walker Dollmaking Class by Mail

2/24/2024 ~ I’ve been putting together class books for two new students, and also made 2 extra copies. If you have been wanting to take the class this is a great time to get immediate shipping on the class materials and a chance to start your Izannah Walker dollmaking journey at the same time as a few other fellow students. Online support for this class in a private Facebook group is included as part of the class.

Available for immediate purchase at my website https://asweetremembrance.com/category/classes-by-mail/

antique dolls · Antique Izannah Walker Dolls · Celebrations · Holidays

Tilly Lamb, Isabeau, and Sarah Alice Are Sending You Affectionate Valentine Wishes from The Doll’s House

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Today Tillie Lamb, Sarah Alice, and sweet Isabeau stayed inside to decorate their house with Valentines as a surprise for their sisters, who were outdoors playing in the snow. While the other little cloth girls went sledding and built snowmen the self appointed decorating committee cut out paper hearts, placed Valentines on their sister’s pillows, and addressed cards to their friends. They even made Valentines for their dolls

Doll Accessories · Studio News · thank you

Thank You to Everyone Who Stopped by to Meet Hannah Last Night ~ If You Loved Her Heart Pincushion & Would Like to Make One for Yourself Here Are The Directions!

All of the directions for making a heart pincushion like Hannah’s are below ❤

A Charming Heart Pincushion from The American Girl’s Book

If you have been looking for a Valentine’s Day project, let me suggest this heart-shaped pincushion from the Amusing Work section of  The American Girl’s Book; or, Occupation for Play Hours by Miss Eliza Leslie, Boston: Munroe and Francis; New York: C.S. Francis, 1831.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the book, it became a childhood standard whose immense popularity resulted in 16 editions in its first 23 years alone. The final paragraph of the introduction to the book states, “The author of this little book has not aimed at compiling a juvenile encyclopedia. – It is simply an unpretending manual of light and exhilarating amusements; most of which will be found on trial to answer the purpose of unbending the mind or exercising the body, and at the same time interesting the attention.”

A Heart Pincushion

“Cut two pieces of linen into the shape of a half-handkerchief.  Sew them  together, leaving a small open space at the top, and stuff them very hard with bran, or wool.  When sufficiently stuffed, sew up the opening and cover the pincushion with silk, sewed very neatly over the edge.  Then make two upper corners of the pincushion meet, and fasten them well together.  This will bring the pincushion into the shape of a heart.  Put a string to the top.  Emery bags are frequently made in this manner.  Pincushions should always be stuffed with bran, wool, or flannel.  Cotton will not do.”

1. I started this project by cutting out a 7 inch square of linen and of red polished cotton for the pincushion and a 2-1/4 inch square of canvas (I picked canvas over linen to keep the emery from seeping through the weave)  and a 2-1/4 inch square of red polished cotton for the emery.  I didn’t have any red or pink silk on hand, but I did have some lovely vintage scarlet polished cotton.  You may certainly cut to triangles like the original instructions advise, or you may decide to simple fold a square, like I did and skip sewing one seam.   You may also change the size of the triangles/squares until they meet your preference.

2.  I folded my squares into a triangle and sewed along the edges of the linen, leaving an opening for stuffing, then turned them right side out.  I repeated this step with the polished cotton, leaving quite a large opening in one side so that I could insert the linen triangles after they were stuffed.

3.  Stuff your pincushion firmly with wool.  I find bran very difficult to come by, and Miss Leslie was absolutely correct in stating that cotton will not do, because it is quite difficult to stick pins into something that is firmly stuffed with cotton.  If you are making an emery, it is easiest to pour the emery into the opening using a small baby’s spoon.   Sew the openings closed after stuffing.

4. Slip the stuffed triangles into the decorative outer covers and sew the opening in the seam closed with matching thread.

5. Stitch two points of your triangle firmly together and put a string or ribbon through the top.  I chose to use silk ribbon that I dyed to match my scarlet fabric.

I hope you enjoy making these little pincushion for yourself or your dolls They also make lovely Valentine gifts.

These photos and directions are part of a long post that I wrote for my Paula Walton’s 18th Century Home Journal, If you would like to read the rest of the post click here

Doll Accessories · Doll Clothing · Doll for Sale · Izannah Walker Reproduction Doll · Where to Shop

SOLD ~ One New Reproduction of my Antique Izannah Walker doll Hannah Available for Sale this evening…

Good evening, and welcome to the sale of my first doll of 2024! I’d like to introduce you to Hannah, who is a reproduction of one of the antique Izannah Walker dolls in my personal collection.

HANNAH$2430 SOLD

Hannah is 18.5 inches tall. She has a pressed cloth head, just like Izannah Walker’s original dolls. Both her head and limbs are painted in oils. Her second skin body covering is a reproduction of an antique alphabet print fabric that you can sometimes find on the cloth bodies of various antique dolls. Hannah’s painted boots have sweet scalloped tops.

As something a little bit special to celebrate this first doll of 2024 I have sewn a wardrobe for Hannah. She has three dresses, each made from antique fabric and notions. Underneath her dresses she wears a chemise and petticoat that I made from antique cotton sheeting, just like you will find on the original dolls. Her pantalettes are antique ones, from that very large collection of antique doll undergarments that I purchased a few years ago. Hannah’s pantalettes are very plain, but they have one detail that I dearly love. If you look closely you’ll see that their maker had to piece the fabric on one half of them, because she evidently didn’t quite have a large enough scrap of fabric to cut them out whole.

Hannah’s dresses and petticoat have deep hems and growth tucks. One of her dresses is trimmed in rows of antique black grosgrain ribbon. Each of the three dresses have sleeves that are of a different design than the other two dresses, all three have extra fabric in their skirts to make them very full. To go over her dresses she has a pinner apron, with a large pocket that is just perfect for holding Valentines and other treasures. Her apron ties in back with a wide sash that makes a very pretty bow.

Hannah also comes with a heart shaped pincushion that hangs from a silk ribbon. Eliza Leslie gave directions for just such a pincushion in the Amusing Work section of her iconic The American Girl’s Book; or, Occupation for Play Hours , Boston: Munroe and Francis; New York: C.S. Francis, 1831.

All of my dolls are sold on a “first come” basis. To purchase Hannah email me at  paula@asweetremembrance.com . Please be aware of how much the doll costs BEFORE you send your request to buy. You are welcome to ask questions, but please note that asking a question is not the same as making a commitment to buy and will not “hold your place in line” if someone else asks to buy the doll.  Checks or money orders are preferred, Paypal is also accepted for payment. Free priority mail shipping & full insurance to any U.S. address. International orders ~ exact postage + $25 handling fee to help offset the extra time required for international shipping ~ check with me to make sure your international address is one I ship to. No shipping to Russia.

Doll for Sale · Izannah Walker Reproduction Doll · Where to Shop

Some Q & A s About Tonight’s Doll That I will be Posting for Sale at 8 p.m. Eastern Time

I’ve had a few questions about the doll I am offering for sale Monday evening at 8:00 p.m. Eastern time.

Many new people have asked to be on my “New Dolls” mailing list, so this post is for them, and anyone one else who may not be familiar with the way I sell my dolls.

I try to make selling and buying my dolls as easy and uncomplicated as possible. Essentially I make a doll and when it is finished I post it here on my blog IzannahWalker.com. The first person who emails me after the doll is posted and says they want to buy the doll gets it.

Tonight’s doll will be a reproduction of Hannah. You can see photos of the original antique dolls and some of my reproductions of them and read about the prices of my dolls here: https://asweetremembrance.com/…/izannah-walker…/ A few of the newest reproductions that are in development (such as Emma Blue, and a more time worn version of Isadora) aren’t pictured yet.

The Hannah that is going to be offered for sale does come with a wardrobe of 3 dresses, and possibly an apron that will coordinate with all of the dresses (if I get it made in time). I have not calculated the time and materials cost of the extra pieces of clothing yet, which do have extra antique fabric and more time consuming details. I WILL have that figured out by the time I offer her for sale. I took all day Sunday off to play with my granddaughter. ❤

There is apparently a bit of confusion about whether or not I auction my dolls… The short answer is no, I don’t.

I do not do auctions. I simply post a description and many photographs of the doll that I have finished and ready to sell. There is no bidding, the price on each doll is a fixed price. The first person who emails me and tells me that they want to buy the doll gets it. The only tricky part is that the dolls take over 100 hours of working time to make, and usually another 100 hours total to dry between all the different steps.

I can’t make enough dolls for everyone who would like to buy one, so the dolls tend to sell very quickly. I announce when I will be posting them so that everyone has an equal opportunity to look at the doll, decide if they would like to have her/him and email me to say they want to buy her/him. As soon as the doll is sold I post that information immediately.

There is no bidding, the listed price doesn’t change, and I am selling them outright. Hopefully it isn’t stressful for anyone besides me 😊 I do my best to make it very straightforward and simple.

As always I am incredibly grateful for your interest in my work. Thank you!

(In case you are asking yourself why I don’t have a website with inventory control the answer is that it is too expensive. Especially when you take into account the limited number of dolls I am able to make in a year. )

I hope you will come back tonight at 8 p.m. Eastern time to meet my newest Hannah!

Doll Accessories · Doll Clothing · Doll for Sale · Izannah Walker Reproduction Doll · Studio News · Where to Shop

One New Reproduction Izannah Walker Doll will be available for sale on Monday, February 5th, at 8p.m. Eastern time

I’ve finished all of the dresses & underpinnings for the rather sizable wardrobe that comes with my latest Izannah Walker reproduction doll! She may still get an apron if I’m not totally worn out after spending tomorrow being a grandmother ❤

Either way, apron or no apron, she will be available for sale on Monday evening at 8 p.m. Eastern time here at www.izannahwalker.com .

As always with all of my dolls she will be sold on a first come basis. I hope you will be able to stop by and meet her!

Antique Izannah Walker Dolls · Doll for Sale · Izannah Walker Reproduction Doll · newsletter · Work in Progress

January 2024 Newsletter

January 19th                                  

Dear Friends of Paula Walton’s Izannah Walker Journal & A Sweet Remembrance,

As I sit here writing to you from snowy New England, looking back on 2023 and forward toward 2024, we are already more than half way through January… I hope you all had warm wonderful holidays!

I know it may seem that I have been a bit absent lately, as I certainly didn’t make as many dolls in 2023 as I have in previous years. Creatively 2023 was a bit of a different year for me. I’ve written magazine articles for years and years, since the late 1980’s, but I’m fairly sure that I may have written more at the end of 2022 and beginning of 2023 than I ever have in such a short period of time. I also spent a substantial amount of time last year working on a rather challenging restoration of a wonderful antique Izannah Walker doll.

Some of the infant pincushions I created for my article in Early American Life’s Christmas 2022 issue, along with the covers of the February, March, and April issues of Antique Doll Collector that had my lengthy three part article about James

While I do enjoy writing articles and doing restoration work, my true passion is doll making, and I have to admit that I have missed it! In fact, truth be told, I get a little cranky when I have trouble squeezing in time to do at least a little dollmaking. As I’m sure many of you know I live on just under 10 acres, which is the remaining remnant of an 18th century farm. The property contains my late 18th century home and three large antique barns. I am the chief caretaker of the house, barns, acreage, gardens, and all the newer studios and buildings. Thankfully my sons do give me a hand with some of the really heavy lifting, which makes it possible for me to (mostly) keep up with everything that has to be done.

I actually had a lot of plans and new dolls underway in November and December, but life got in the way. I wound up catching RSV, which is still lingering after almost three months. There have been a lot of viruses going around this winter, so it’s not surprising. I’m definitely OK, and certainly over the worst. I keep thinking it is going to go away, but it has just stayed put, like a very unwelcome guest. I made it through all of the holiday preparations, and family things (with lots of sanitizing and drugs) but have to admit that was really pretty much all I could do.

I still have Christmas decorations up all over the house. I’ve only taken them down in one room, and that was because I had to hang balloons, streamers and birthday party banners in there. LOL!

I am finally back to making dolls, quite a bit slower than normal, but that’s OK! It’s just such a joy to be creating! Since I’m working around my fatigue and the weather (we have snow and very cold temperatures) I’m not making any announcement about when the next dolls will be ready. What I can tell you is that I will be putting them up for sale one by one, not in multiples. Just as soon as each one is ready to find their new home I will be sending out emails to those of you on my “New Dolls” email list and posting the date and time each doll will be for sale on my Izannah Walker Journal, my A Sweet Remembrance website, Facebook and Instagram.

SNEAK PEEKS & UPCOMING DOLLS

I currently have a very sweet Hannah that is almost finished. I’m in the midst of making her a rather large wardrobe and anxiously waiting for her arms and legs to dry out in the frigid painting studio…

At the moment she has one pink dress finished and I am more than half way through making her blue dress… I’m also seriously considering a white dress with a tiny delicate black print and an apron to coordinate with all three dresses. I may have to scale back, but I hope not, as I am thoroughly enjoying sewing for her!

The next dolls that should be coming up after Hannah are all larger 20 inch dolls. I really try to rotate the different dolls I make, as I have molds for 18 heads Currently on my painting studio table are a lovely Tilly Lamb and some very sweet Isadoras, plus a brand new doll ~ a reproduction of my newest Izannah family member Emma Blue  At the beginning of this newsletter I mentioned the doll I restored last year. As I was working on her I kept thinking how familiar she looked… The more I looked at her the more I was convinced that she must have been made from the same mold that Izannah used to make Isadora! I got out my Isadora mold and made a head so that I could compare the two. Side by side, other than the difference in the wear, aging and various over painting, they really looked like the same head. What particularly interested me is that I had always felt that Isadora’s head was a bit large on an 18 inch body, but that is the height of the original Isadora that I made my mold from, so that is the size that I have always made her. Since the wonderful, extremely well loved, doll I restored was 20 inches tall, I decided to make a 20 inch reproduction Isadora! I do sometimes see antique Izannah Walker dolls with the same heads on different size bodies. After so many months of working on the restoration of Isadora’s “sister” I actually fell in love with her very time worn appearance, so I may play around with adding a bit more “age” to an Isadora or two, for those of you who also find old, time worn, and well loved endearing.

Thank you all for your interest in my Izannah Walker reproduction dolls! I love being able to share my historically accurate reproductions of some of Izannah’s amazing work with you. I hope your 2024 is off to a great start and that you have an wonderful year filled with all the things you love the best, and dolls ~ lots and lots of dolls!

Paula

“Why, yes, that IS one more Christmas tree you spy…”
Holidays · Saint Nicholas Day

St. Nicholas Eve ~ Remember to Set Your Shoes by the Door Tonight & Don’t Forget the Carrots!

All of the shoes are set out by the door in both the doll’s house and mine, in hope that St. Nicholas and his faithful horse will visit tonight with toys and sweets The little cloth girls made sure to tuck carrots into their shoes for his horse…