Sophie and Mae Are Back Home From Their Visit to Prims Magazine & Are Now SOLD

April 18, 2014April 18, 2014 paulawalton6 Comments

Sophie and Mae have the same bodies as my Izannah Walker dolls, so all the girls can share clothes. — Sophie and Mae have the same size bodies as my 18 – 1/2 inch Izannah Walker dolls, so all the girls can share clothes.

Thank you so much for coming by to see Sophie and Mae. Both of them are now sold.

Sophie and Mae, the two portrait face New England rag dolls that were in my article in the Winter 2014 issue of Prims are back home, in all their Sunday finery, just in time for Easter! Sophie and Mae are two of the five flat face head variations that I made for my Izannah Walker doll making students. Class members can use the five different heads with their Izannah class patterns. The bonus patterns are available to class members through the class discussion site free of charge. Follow this link to read more about my Prims article.

Now that the girls are back from California, they are ready to find new homes. I’ve just listed them for sale on my website. If you are interested in buying either of them you can go through the secure automatic checkout at http://www.asweetremembrance.com or you may call me 860-355-5709 or email me paula@asweetremembrance.com. Shipping is free to any US address and lay-away is available with terms to fit your budget.

Sophie

SOLD Sophie is dressed in a pink and black print dress made from antique late 19th century fabric, a petticoat with lavish pink crochet trim and a cap made from antique crocheted cotton lace. Her face, head and shoulders are painted with artist’s oils.

Mae

SOLD Mae’s face, head and shoulders are painted with artist’s oils. She is wearing a silk plaid dress with cartridge pleated skirt and velvet ribbon trim, a white scalloped petticoat, black hand knit socks and handmade brown leather shoes with purple silk laces.

Sophie, Mae and I Wish You a Happy Easter!

"This would be a good hiding place for the chocolate eggs!" — “This would be a good hiding place for the chocolate eggs!”

"I wonder where Sophie hid those eggs???" — “I wonder where Sophie hid those eggs???”

*** The girl’s dresser is also for sale, click here to read all of it’s particulars.

Other Types of Doll Making · Stray Comments

At Long Last, an 18th Century Doll for My 18th Century Home

April 16, 2014April 17, 2014 paulawalton10 Comments

I have long dreamed of finding a late 18th century doll to live here with us in our 224 year old home. Last year, more or less by accident, I happened across a c.1790 English Wooden doll for sale on Mary Ann Spinelli’s website. I had an immediate crush on her! She was just what I was looking for, a plain everyday English wooden that could have been found in a New England farmhouse such as ours. Mary Ann is gracious enough to offer lay-away, so I have been paying her off over the intervening months since I first saw her photo.* Today I finally got to meet her in person!

Her clothing was replaced in the mid-19th century. She is currently wearing a dress that is made very much like those I make for my Izannahs. The dress is made from a thin, gauzy cotton with a Prussian blue print. It fastens with a glass button and brass hook. — Sophronia’s clothing was replaced in the mid-19th century. She is currently wearing a dress that is made very much like those I make for my Izannahs. The dress is made from a thin, gauzy cotton with a Prussian blue print. It fastens with a glass button and brass hook.

Amazingly after more than two centuries, she still has all of her fingers! — Amazingly after more than two centuries, Sophronia still has all of her fingers!

When my life calms down a bit, after I host a meeting of my doll club in May and return from selling at the UFDC convention in July, I’m really looking forward to pulling out my tiny stash of 18th century fabrics and sewing a new wardrobe for my English wooden doll. I’ve decided to name her Sophronia after Sophronia Guild Ferris the first woman known to live in our house. (You can read more about the original Sophronia and the history of our house here.)

This doll belongs to my friend Rainy Crawford. The doll was passed down through a New Milford, Connecticut family. See how she compares with my doll. — This doll belongs to my friend Rainie Crawford. The doll was passed down through a New Milford, Connecticut family. See how she compares with my doll.

Another view of Rainy's doll. — Another view of Rainie’s doll.

Still lovely after all this time <3 — Still lovely after all this time ❤

* As I have often mentioned, I’m always happy to offer lay-away to my customers because I know just how helpful it can be when you dearly want to buy something that stretches your budget. Read more… https://izannahwalker.wordpress.com/2011/08/15/the-joys-of-lay-away/

Antique Izannah Walker Dolls · Izannah Walker Reproduction Doll · Ordering a Reproduction Izannah Walker Doll

A Fond Farewell…

April 15, 2014 paulawalton4 Comments

Today the dolls and I have had to bid farewell to Cindy’s doll. The girls were all sad to see her go, especially her older sister Isabeau…

" Did you remember to pack everything? Have you got your red dress... and both of your shoes?" — ” Did you remember to pack everything? Have you got your red dress… and both of your shoes?”

"Is this box comfy enough? It's going to be a long trip!" — “Is this box comfy enough? It’s going to be a long trip!”

"What do you suppose it's like in Minnesota?" "I've heard that it gets very cold there, so promise me you will wrap up well & keep warm." — “What do you suppose it’s like in Minnesota?” “I’ve heard that it gets very cold there, so promise me you will wrap up well & keep warm.”

"I'm going to miss you!" "Me too!" "Promise you'll write?" "Everyday, I promise!" — “I’m going to miss you!” “Me too!” “Promise you’ll write?” “Everyday, I promise!”

Even though Isabeau found it hard to say good-bye she knows in her heart that her younger sister is going to a good home where she will be loved, especially after I let her read the letter that I just received.

“Dear Paula,

The best surprises are those that unfold gradually. The process of making “Cindy’s Doll” has been all I imagined and hoped for when I first called you last November. Once I’d set things in motion I watched with much satisfaction as Cindy studied her choices, showed them to (our daughters) and me, and after due consideration, settled on one or another.

When “Cindy’s Doll” is actually here in hand she will become part of a loving family. I will be sure to let you know when Cindy has chosen her name. We’ve had several discussions of names, but need to hold her and know her to find out which name is really hers.

To you I extend my compliments on your skill and creativity. To take an almost forgotten art and bring it back to life as you have, mainly by just “figuring it out” with hand and eye and inner motivation is a gift, and I thank you for sharing it with us.

We are so excited to meet our doll, to have her join our family, to give her a name, and to cherish her.” …

What more could a loving big sister or a doll maker ask for… ❤ ❤ ❤

Doll Clothing · Izannah Walker Reproduction Doll

Cindy’s Doll – Part 2

April 8, 2014April 8, 2014 paulawalton3 Comments

I’m happy to say that Cindy’s doll is finished! I had a couple of little issues to over come yesterday, like finding out that I did not have enough black silk ribbon to lace both of her shoes – then having the black dye I was warming up explode all over the inside of my microwave!!!, & unexpected rain yesterday afternoon and this morning which made it impossible to take more photos. Such is the life of a doll maker 🙂

little details…

Doll Accessories · Doll Clothing · Izannah Walker Reproduction Doll · Ordering a Reproduction Izannah Walker Doll

Cindy’s Doll – Part One

April 5, 2014April 5, 2014 paulawalton6 Comments

For the past few months I’ve been working on an excessively romantic project. From time to time I receive very sweet calls from husbands who want to do something special for their wives. Before Christmas I was contacted by a very thoughtful gentleman in the midwest who wanted to give his wife a custom made doll. He wanted her to be able choose exactly how she wanted the doll to look, so with a little plotting and planning we decided that he should present her with a gift certificate for Christmas that would allow her to plan a special reproduction Izannah Walker doll. Our original scheme called for the doll to be ready in February in time for his wife’s birthday, but during the planning stages after the New Year, Cindy the recipient of our joint endeavor, told me that there was no hurry. So she and I took our time sorting out all of the details for her doll and coming up with a very complete design plan. I loved that fact that this doll has been a family affair, with Cindy’s daughters helping her choose the fabrics and styles for her doll’s dresses.

This doll is an excellent example of what my dolls look like when you request that they look "new". — This doll is an excellent example of what my dolls look like when you request that they look “new”.

This project is now coming to a close, as I finish the last touches on Cindy’s Christmas doll. Tomorrow I will be sewing yards of black velvet ribbons onto her second dress and fashioning her leather shoes. Cindy asked that I make her doll look almost new, with just a few hints of age, as the doll will have years ahead of her to age gracefully on her own.

I think that Cindy an her daughters choose a wonderful dress style for this doll. The split lace trimmed sleeves look very striking made from this red striped fabric. — I think that Cindy an her daughters choose a wonderful dress style for this doll. The split, lace trimmed sleeves look very striking made from this red striped fabric.

It was such a nice afternoon that I couldn’t resist taking a few photos of Cindy’s doll to remember her by, since she will soon be leaving here on her journey to her new forever home…