Happy Easter from Paula Walton’s A Sweet Remembrance ❤
Author: paulawalton
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.
Some Good News to Share
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.
New Frocks for the Twins
Some of you may remember the twins, sweet Annabelle & Annalee https://izannahwalker.com/2016/10/19/annabelle-annalee-are-homeward-bound/
I’ve just finished new dresses for both girls, to help fill their trunk and give them new outfits for Easter and warm summer days. ❤
Sheer white antique cotton dresses with summery red blooms and antique red French cotton tape.
Silk paid taffeta, with a cartridge pleated skirt and lots of black velvet trim ❤
A pair of silk plaid dresses cut on the bias with velvet ribbon trim ❤
izannahwalker.com new dresses for Annabelle and Annalee
A Gentle Bit of Amusement…
If you’d like to go back and see the post where this photo originally appeared here is the link https://izannahwalker.com/2012/02/11/meet-my-newest-izannah-walker-reproduction-doll/
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!
A Very Snowy Day or What Little Dolls Do To Amuse Themselves When They Are Stuck Indoors…
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…
… 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.
Thus ends the story of my dolls and their very snowy day… ❤
W is for Wednesday and Working
You can see more of Josephine and Isabeau’s doll making adventures on Facebook at Paula Walton’s A Sweet Remembrance.
Ismay and Isabeau, Two Dolls for Connie
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.
Isabeau has an extra linen petticoat with lovely hemstitched details.
Isabeau is showing off her extra petticoat, made from hemstitched antique linen.
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. ❤
Valentine’s Day at A Sweet Remembrance
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.
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 ❤
If you would like to bake a batch of Chocolate Bread too, here is where you can find my recipe.
To see a bit more of our Valentine’s Day visit Paula Walton’s 18th Century Home Journal and my Spun Cotton Ornament Journal.
On A Winter’s Day…
With soft snowflakes gently falling down around the trees and barns… it is easy to imagine life here on our farm 100, even 200 years in the past. Time has a way of blurring and shifting on days like today.
As I walk out to my studios, thinking of the doll’s eyes I am going to paint and small bodies I am going to sew, I wonder… did Izannah think similar thoughts while walking through the snow on a winter’s day?..
Anita’s Custom Order Ismay
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…
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
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.
Izannah Walker Journal 