The kitchen is buzzing with activity, as Eliza Jane, Ismay, Zola and Hannah try to finish all their last minute tasks. “Hurry, hurry our company will be coming soon!” “It’s almost time for the party to start!”Eliza Jane has offered to iron all the doll’s party dresses. She is by far the best at ironing, she never scorches the fabric!Hannah has just taken the last layer of cake out of the oven. It smells so good… The entire kitchen is filled with the aromas of cinnamon and spices ❤Zola is turning the cake layers out of the pans to cool. As soon as they aren’t so warm, Ismay is going to spread sweet, tangy apple butter between the layers, then dust the top of the cake with powdered sugar.“Eliza Jane can you see the clock?” “What time is it?” Oh my, we have to hurry up!” “We need to get the cake finished and give Izzybelle her bath!” Eliza Jane, you keep ironing. Zola, you can take the cake out to the table in the yard, and Hannah and I will bathe Izzybelle.” (Ismay can get a bit bossy at times)
IZZYBELLE GETS A BATH
Being a doll maker’s doll is a lot like being a shoemakers child, you always come last… You may remember how terribly bedraggled Izzybelle was when she arrived on my doorstep a couple of years ago. I finally found just a handful of moments to start cleaning her and making her appropriate replacement arms and legs. Once upon a time Izzybelle was a charming, small example of one of Izannah Walker’s dolls. She was loved, played with and almost used up, then sent to the Martha Chase factory for repairs, so that she could be loved and played with some more. I own several dolls, and have seen and restored a handful of others, that were refurbished by the doll makers working for Martha Chase.
Izzybelle has been in desparate need of atention.
Little by little I slowly cleaned years of dirt, grime and what looked like possible smoke damage away from her head and shoulders.
Poor Izzybelle, someone got quite carried aaway with bright red paint! Her lips and both eyes were lined in red.
Little Izzy is looking better, but there are still some very stubborn bits of paint reamaining from when she was re-painted at the Martha Chase factory…
I love Martha Chase dolls, but I have to admit that as I attempted to remove the stubborn Martha Chase factory re-painting from Izzybelle, I was thinking VERY dark thoughts…
Now you can catch a glimpse of what Izzybelle looked like earlier in her life. I still have more restoration work to do, but now she truly looks like a tiny Izannah Walker doll one again ❤
I have made Izzybelle appropriate restoration arms and legs. I still need to color match them to her newly cleaned paint surface, then stuff and attach them.
“Izzybelle, your bath water is almost ready. Hannah is heating the last kettle full on the stove right now.”“Izzybelle, time to hop in the tub!”
“Make sure you scrub behind your ears and between your toes.”
“This bath feels so good! Why didn’t you make me take one sooner???”
Even Splotches, the barn cat is curious to see what the dolls are doing today. If you are too, please come back around 4:00, 7:00 & 10:00 pm to see the rest of their adventures.
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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2 thoughts on “Happy 199th Birthday Izannah Walker – Part 3 – A Very Busy Afternoon”
Hi Paula, I am really enjoying your sweet little vignettes! The girls are really pulling out all the stops for Izannah’s birthday celebration. I can’t wait to read more!
I have to say I was a little sceptical when reading about Izzybelle getting cleaned up but I have to say she is looking so much happier and I can’t wait to see her when she’s all done. I know she’ll be amazing! xxxx Charlotte
Charlotte,
The dolls are practicing for next year, when they’ll REALLY have to do something special for Izannah’s 200th birthday! 🙂 I didn’t touch Izzybelle for 2 years, but finally decided that she should at least be cleaner… I’m fairly certain that she suffered smoke damage, in addition to everyday dirt. The smoke and the red rimmed “devil” eyes eventually got to be a bit much, especially combined with the muscular “Popeye” arms and legs. Poor, sweet Izzybelle!
Hugs,
Paula
Izannah Walker Journal 
Hi Paula, I am really enjoying your sweet little vignettes! The girls are really pulling out all the stops for Izannah’s birthday celebration. I can’t wait to read more!
I have to say I was a little sceptical when reading about Izzybelle getting cleaned up but I have to say she is looking so much happier and I can’t wait to see her when she’s all done. I know she’ll be amazing! xxxx Charlotte
Charlotte,
The dolls are practicing for next year, when they’ll REALLY have to do something special for Izannah’s 200th birthday! 🙂 I didn’t touch Izzybelle for 2 years, but finally decided that she should at least be cleaner… I’m fairly certain that she suffered smoke damage, in addition to everyday dirt. The smoke and the red rimmed “devil” eyes eventually got to be a bit much, especially combined with the muscular “Popeye” arms and legs. Poor, sweet Izzybelle!
Hugs,
Paula