*** a late night addition to this post. It’s 11:00 p.m. and I’m quitting for today. One doll is finished and the other one is waiting for her arms to dry. Last photo of the night, with more to follow in the daylight!
Here is a quick glimpse of two dolls that I have been working on for the past month. I’m so pleased with the way they are turning out that I just had to share a few photos with you before I go out to my studio for the day. Both of them are made from a mold of the Izannah Walker doll I bought in November.
The original Izannah is on the right. She was recently repainted by a previous owner – so this is not her original paint. My reproduction is on the left.Another view of the girls as they sat with me this morning over tea.The second doll I’m working on from the same mold.One last photo…
Now back to work so that I can get these girls completed!
Please feel free to contact me if you would like more information about either of these dolls. paula@asweetremembrance.com or 860-355-5709
My name is Paula Walton. I’m a working craftsperson. I’ve been self-employed since 1986, when I started selling the items that I make under the name A Sweet Remembrance. Among other things, I am a doll maker, a dressmaker that specializes in reproduction women’s and children’s clothing, maker of spun cotton ornaments and holiday figures, and a freelance designer. Upon occasion I write magazine articles and am a Craftsperson in Residence. I teach and do demonstrations quite frequently, plus I was previously the director and curator of a small museum in Connecticut.
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Paula, nice mold. It’s turning out some great heads. I like the roundness of the heads and faces. Very nice paint job, I like the look. Fondly,Mary Goddard.
This Izannah, of the two, is my favourite. I favour the ones with short hair. Your girls are as individual as the originals, the mark of anything hand made.
Your antique from which your made the mold, do you know how much of her was repainted, and would you ever remove this paint, or even if it is possible?Jane
Thank you! The entire head and shoulders of the antique doll was recently, (and rather badly) repainted. I am going to have to do something about the paint, but am taking my time to make sure I decide on the right course of action. When my antique Izannahs have very old re-paint I have been leaving them as is, but in this case the repaint has neither age nor skill to redeem it.
The reason for the individually of both Izannah Walkers doll’s and my reproductions of them is mainly due to the process of making pressed cloth heads and the construction methods used. I do try very hard to make the paint on my dolls look like that of the originals, which vary a lot because of the things that have happened to them throughout their long lives. 🙂
Izannah Walker Journal 
Just beautiful! Love the way you paint the eyes.
… and it only took me 28 years to be able to get them right! 🙂 Thank you!
Paula, nice mold. It’s turning out some great heads. I like the roundness of the heads and faces. Very nice paint job, I like the look. Fondly,Mary Goddard.
Thank you Mary! I decided to do the paint differently on each one. It gives them very different looks, but I do like both versions.
Paula
This Izannah, of the two, is my favourite. I favour the ones with short hair. Your girls are as individual as the originals, the mark of anything hand made.
Your antique from which your made the mold, do you know how much of her was repainted, and would you ever remove this paint, or even if it is possible?Jane
Jane,
Thank you! The entire head and shoulders of the antique doll was recently, (and rather badly) repainted. I am going to have to do something about the paint, but am taking my time to make sure I decide on the right course of action. When my antique Izannahs have very old re-paint I have been leaving them as is, but in this case the repaint has neither age nor skill to redeem it.
The reason for the individually of both Izannah Walkers doll’s and my reproductions of them is mainly due to the process of making pressed cloth heads and the construction methods used. I do try very hard to make the paint on my dolls look like that of the originals, which vary a lot because of the things that have happened to them throughout their long lives. 🙂
Paula