A sweet little Ismay, almost ready to head to her brand new home ❤
Making this Ismay has been a great treat for me, as I am not often asked to make black reproductions of Izannah’s dolls. This is the very first time that I have made a black version of Ismay and I am completely smitten with her such a lovely doll in person and so very difficult to take photos of!!! Poor dear, my photography skills do not do her justice…
Formerly part of the Richard Wright collection, this amazing black Izannah Walker doll is the only surviving extant example that I am aware of.Scarcer than hen’s teeth, this charming doll is one of the few Izannah Walker dolls with a wig. In a newspaper article many, many years ago, Norma H. Robertson, Izannah Walker’s grand-niece, stated that her great aunt made “darkie”, or as we would now refer to them, black dolls. So there must have been more than just this one. 🙂
au natural
a 2nd skin made from antique glazed cotton
bare Ismay
“look Ma, no clothes!”
tiny toes
chemise and pantalettes
lovely lacey petticoat
a dress fashioned from an antique cheddar print fabric trimmed in black velvet ribbon
Ismay makes a quick stop in the kitchen for a snack.
Ismay
Ismay
A sweet little Ismay, almost ready to head to her brand new home ❤
Ismay
Ismay
I made Ismay’s second skin body covering from and antique petticoat that I’ve had for at least twenty years. I finally found the perfect use for it! ❤
19th century petticoat…
close-up of brown glazed cotton petticoat
This next dress that Ismay is modeling is not part of her wardrobe. She borrowed it from Cloe so that she could show her new Momma what she looks like in a different style of dress. Anita and I have been discussing a rather extensive wardrobe for Ismay, made from fabrics that Anita has been collecting. ❤
Ismay wearing her borrowed dress ❤
Ismay
short gathered sleeves
Ismay wearing her borrowed dress ❤
a soft painted hairline and Nigerian kid skin wig
monochromatic dress
Ismay in brown
sitting pretty
Ismay
Ismay
an Ismay for Anita
Ismay will be ready to travel just as soon as she decides what color shoes she wants. February is much too cold for bare feet! She’ll have to wait until summer for that.
Cloe’s dresses… the brown size doll dress is the one Ismay borrowed 🙂
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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Hi Paula, This doll is just wonderful! Her dress, and everything about her is just perfect! And I love the dresses that you made for Cloe. I think she will want to wear them all the time! Thank you for sharing all of the great pictures – Anita will be so thrilled for this new doll! Susie
Paula, your doll is very special ! I like everything – face, hair, body, clothes. The girl is very harmonious. You yourself sculpted face or this a copy of your antique dolls?
Svetlana
Svetlana this doll is a reproduction of my antique Izannah Walker doll, Ismay. All of the Izannah Walker dolls that I make to sell are reproductions of antique dolls. I do sculpt too, but not for my reproduction Izannahs. I want them to be as close to the real dolls as possible, imperfections, wear and all. 🙂 This is why my dolls are reproductions, rather than dolls that are inspired by or based on the antique dolls.
Such an EXQUISITE doll…I just love her! Love Cloe’s dresses. If you could find a quilt top (that could be cut up) or some quilt squares that are similar to the background quilt I bet they would also make an incredible dress as well.
BRAVA my friend!!!!!
Thank you David! I actually use the backs of quilts, that are too worn to be restored, for dress fabric 🙂 The quilt in the photo is actually extremely fragile and worn on the front side and I am using the back for dresses 🙂 I have 30 or 40 quilts in my antique fabric stash. Cloe’s dresses are made from reproduction fabric so that they will stand up to the wild antics of a two year old!
Izannah Walker Journal 
Hi Paula, This doll is just wonderful! Her dress, and everything about her is just perfect! And I love the dresses that you made for Cloe. I think she will want to wear them all the time! Thank you for sharing all of the great pictures – Anita will be so thrilled for this new doll! Susie
Thank you Susie! Love to you and all the dolls ❤
Paula, your doll is very special ! I like everything – face, hair, body, clothes. The girl is very harmonious. You yourself sculpted face or this a copy of your antique dolls?
Svetlana
Svetlana this doll is a reproduction of my antique Izannah Walker doll, Ismay. All of the Izannah Walker dolls that I make to sell are reproductions of antique dolls. I do sculpt too, but not for my reproduction Izannahs. I want them to be as close to the real dolls as possible, imperfections, wear and all. 🙂 This is why my dolls are reproductions, rather than dolls that are inspired by or based on the antique dolls.
Paula
Such an EXQUISITE doll…I just love her! Love Cloe’s dresses. If you could find a quilt top (that could be cut up) or some quilt squares that are similar to the background quilt I bet they would also make an incredible dress as well.
BRAVA my friend!!!!!
Thank you David! I actually use the backs of quilts, that are too worn to be restored, for dress fabric 🙂 The quilt in the photo is actually extremely fragile and worn on the front side and I am using the back for dresses 🙂 I have 30 or 40 quilts in my antique fabric stash. Cloe’s dresses are made from reproduction fabric so that they will stand up to the wild antics of a two year old!
Paula
Paula She is outstanding!! No wonder you are smitten!! Someone shall have a true treasure!!!
Many Blessings , Linnie
Thank you Linnie!