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.
A very special custom made doll, from my Anna mold, for Claudia<3Claudia’s little Anna is wearing an all white dress fashioned from an antique c. 1840-1850 hand sewn, tucked petticoat ❤
Last week I received some very good news. Early American Life magazine called to tell me that my work has been juried into four different categories, Toys & Dolls, Clothing, Miniatures, and Holidays, in their 2017 Directory of Traditional American Crafts! I feel extremely honored. These four new entries will mean that I have been included in their Directory 38 times. Thank you Early American Life!!!
Here is a glimpse of my work in the Clothing catagory ❤
C. Reproduction 1850 – 1860’s child’s dress, based on an example from my collection. The original dress was for a boy, I drafted a pattern from the original for the bodice and sleeves, because I wanted this dress to be for a girl I added a fuller cartridge pleated skirt and used velvet ribbon for the trim rather than wool tape. The dress was sewn both by hand and by machine. The bodice and sleeves are completely lined with cotton muslin, like the original. The back of the bodice fastens with three antique glass buttons. The dress measures 21 inches in length and is the equivalent of a modern toddler size 2.
C. Reproduction 1850 – 1860’s child’s dress, based on an example from my collection. The original dress was for a boy, I drafted a pattern from the original for the bodice and sleeves, because I wanted this dress to be for a girl I added a fuller cartridge pleated skirt and used velvet ribbon for the trim rather than wool tape. The dress was sewn both by hand and by machine. The bodice and sleeves are completely lined with cotton muslin, like the original. The back of the bodice fastens with three antique glass buttons. The dress measures 21 inches in length and is the equivalent of a modern toddler size 2.
C. Reproduction 1850 – 1860’s child’s dress, based on an example from my collection. The original dress was for a boy, I drafted a pattern from the original for the bodice and sleeves, because I wanted this dress to be for a girl I added a fuller cartridge pleated skirt and used velvet ribbon for the trim rather than wool tape. The dress was sewn both by hand and by machine. The bodice and sleeves are completely lined with cotton muslin, like the original. The back of the bodice fastens with three antique glass buttons. The dress measures 21 inches in length and is the equivalent of a modern toddler size 2.
C. Reproduction 1850 – 1860’s child’s dress, based on an example from my collection. The original dress was for a boy, I drafted a pattern from the original for the bodice and sleeves, because I wanted this dress to be for a girl I added a fuller cartridge pleated skirt and used velvet ribbon for the trim rather than wool tape. The dress was sewn both by hand and by machine. The bodice and sleeves are completely lined with cotton muslin, like the original. The back of the bodice fastens with three antique glass buttons. The dress measures 21 inches in length and is the equivalent of a modern toddler size 2. The antique boy’s dress is to the left.
C. Reproduction 1850 – 1860’s child’s dress, based on an example from my collection. The original dress was for a boy, I drafted a pattern from the original for the bodice and sleeves, because I wanted this dress to be for a girl I added a fuller cartridge pleated skirt and used velvet ribbon for the trim rather than wool tape. The dress was sewn both by hand and by machine. The bodice and sleeves are completely lined with cotton muslin, like the original. The back of the bodice fastens with three antique glass buttons. The dress measures 21 inches in length and is the equivalent of a modern toddler size 2.
A. Reproduction 1840 – 1850’s child’s dress based on a dress from my personal collection. 23 inches long, equivalent to a modern size 3 toddler. I did choose to sew the narrow band of contrasting fabric trim with a sewing machine (so that it would stand up to more wear and repeated washings) rather than by hand like the original, but which is consistent with other examples of similar dresses in my collection from the same period. The remainder of the dress is sewn in a combination of hand and machine sewing, with a completely hand sewn cartridge pleated waist. Ties at the neck with 1/8th inch wide cotton tape drawstring, closes at waist with an antique button. It is made from a reproduction cotton print fabric. The matching doll’s dress is 11.5 inches long and fits a doll that is 18 – 19 inches tall.
A. Reproduction 1840 – 1850’s child’s dress based on a dress from my personal collection. 23 inches long, equivalent to a modern size 3 toddler. I did choose to sew the narrow band of contrasting fabric trim with a sewing machine (so that it would stand up to more wear and repeated washings) rather than by hand like the original, but which is consistent with other examples of similar dresses in my collection from the same period. The remainder of the dress is sewn in a combination of hand and machine sewing, with a completely hand sewn cartridge pleated waist. Ties at the neck with 1/8th inch wide cotton tape drawstring, closes at waist with an antique button. It is made from a reproduction cotton print fabric. The matching doll’s dress is 11.5 inches long and fits a doll that is 18 – 19 inches tall.
A. Reproduction 1840 – 1850’s child’s dress based on a dress from my personal collection. 23 inches long, equivalent to a modern size 3 toddler. I did choose to sew the narrow band of contrasting fabric trim with a sewing machine (so that it would stand up to more wear and repeated washings) rather than by hand like the original, but which is consistent with other examples of similar dresses in my collection from the same period. The remainder of the dress is sewn in a combination of hand and machine sewing, with a completely hand sewn cartridge pleated waist. Ties at the neck with 1/8th inch wide cotton tape drawstring, closes at waist with an antique button. It is made from a reproduction cotton print fabric. The matching doll’s dress is 11.5 inches long and fits a doll that is 18 – 19 inches tall.
A. Reproduction 1840 – 1850’s child’s dress based on a dress from my personal collection. 23 inches long, equivalent to a modern size 3 toddler. I did choose to sew the narrow band of contrasting fabric trim with a sewing machine (so that it would stand up to more wear and repeated washings) rather than by hand like the original, but which is consistent with other examples of similar dresses in my collection from the same period. The remainder of the dress is sewn in a combination of hand and machine sewing, with a completely hand sewn cartridge pleated waist. Ties at the neck with 1/8th inch wide cotton tape drawstring, closes at waist with an antique button. It is made from a reproduction cotton print fabric. The matching doll’s dress is 11.5 inches long and fits a doll that is 18 – 19 inches tall.
A. Reproduction 1840 – 1850’s child’s dress based on a dress from my personal collection. 23 inches long, equivalent to a modern size 3 toddler. I did choose to sew the narrow band of contrasting fabric trim with a sewing machine (so that it would stand up to more wear and repeated washings) rather than by hand like the original, but which is consistent with other examples of similar dresses in my collection from the same period. The remainder of the dress is sewn in a combination of hand and machine sewing, with a completely hand sewn cartridge pleated waist. Ties at the neck with 1/8th inch wide cotton tape drawstring, closes at waist with an antique button. It is made from a reproduction cotton print fabric. The matching doll’s dress is 11.5 inches long and fits a doll that is 18 – 19 inches tall.
This is a photograph I first shared in February, 2012 ❤ It shows a reproduction Izannah Walker doll that I made, photographed, and then talked one of my sons into inserting in a copyright free antique photo. ❤ ❤ ❤ Every now and then this photo pops up in my Pinterest and facebook feeds. It always makes me smile when that happens… especially when people have added inaccurate captions because they think the doll in the photo is an original ~ not realizing that it is an altered photograph… It’s original caption having been lost when the photo was shared, then shared again… like playing a visual version of “telephone” 🙂
It’s funny, the altered photo is no longer in it’s original post, having fallen victim to one of my infrequent photo storage deletion sprees… as storage space here on my blog is always an issue 🙂 However I did leave a couple of color photographs of the doll and a short video of her in the original post, which you might enjoy seeing!
This is the unaltered copyright free Dover image we started with to create the final photo.
“No! We should stay inside where it is warm and read…”
“or work on our samplers…”
Isabeau, Ismay and Zanna were forced to agree, for the sad truth is that the dolls only have one coat to share between them all, which was kindly loaned to them by the bears…
…and so Isabeau sat down to read “The Story of My Dolls” aloud. “No one seems to know much about Tillie” she read…
“We do, we do!” cried all the dolls…
… later they bundled Izzybelle into the borrowed coat and let her go outside to scoop snow into their biggest bowl. Then they made snow ice cream, which they ate to their hearts content.
Two sweet sisters all ready to to begin life in their new home. Very special custom order dolls for Connie made from my Ismay and Isabeau molds.
Connie’s Isabeau and Ismay have matching chemises, pantalettes, a petticoats, all made from antique white cotton fabrics, lace and buttons.
Isabeau has an extra linen petticoat with lovely hemstitched details.
Isabeau is showing off her extra petticoat, made from hemstitched antique linen.
Because sisters love to raid each others closets, I made sure that their dresses will fit both dolls ❤Trading dresses!
I love both of the dress fabrics that Connie chose. Both dresses have extra fabric, for fuller skirts, a deep hem on the paisley dress and two growth tucks on the double pink dress. ❤
The dolls and I have had a very busy day ❤ We spent a little extra time this morning baking a special Valentine treat, Chocolate Bread, an amazing combination of dark chocolate, tart cherries and coffee. While the dough was rising, and filling the house with an enticing scent, we went out to the studio where Josephine, Isabeau and Ismay kept themselves busy making valentines. ❤ ❤ ❤ click on any photo to enlarge ❤ ❤ ❤
Ismay and Isabeau cut out Valentines, weaving paper hearts into tiny paper hands, while Josephine addressed envelopes to all of their dearest friends…
Josephine has been spending her time composing advertisements for the shoppe. “Mistress Walton begs leave to inform her Friends and the Public in general that she intends opening a Pop-Up Shoppe on Monday, the 12th inst. with a new and elegant assortment of paper cuttings, stitchery, and love tokens… Mistress Walton takes this importunity of returning thanks for the great patronage she has already received from her numerous friends… ” Josephine is a devoted reader and she found great inspiration in Advertisements for January, Ackerman’s Repository, Vol. XI, 1814
Birthday messages… ❤
Making Valentines was such fun, and kept the dolls so busy that I was able to work on many other things.
Cutting out dresses for the twins, Annabelle and Annalee ❤Photographing new dolls… four different versions for a custom order 🙂
Sewing on arms, legs and second skins, in Valentine colors of red and pink ❤
We hope your Valentine’s Day has been just as wonderful and eventful as ours ❤
Izannah Walker Journal 