Custom Made Dolls · Izannah Walker Reproduction Doll

Shirley’s Doll

I’d like to introduce you all to Shirley’s doll.  She is a custom doll, made from my Isabeau mold and is slightly smaller than Isabeau, at 17 – 1/2 inches, as requested.

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17- 12 inches tall, with just a bit of “wear & age”. Bare feet, ringlets, and an antique – unused, store stock – white second skin.

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Shirley asked for plain, untrimmed undergarments, with tucks on the petticoat. All three pieces are made from antique sheeting that was previously parts 19th century women’s petticoats.
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This dress is made from a wool challis striped fabric and matching border print. The dress has longer length gathered sleeves and a cartridge pleated skirt.
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This second dress is made from a mid-19th century cotton in a paisley print. It also has the same longer length gathered sleeves, and has two “growth” tucks in the skirt.

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This is a close-up of the wool challis dress that shows the cartridge pleating, and a worn spot in the fabric that is patched from underneath with a matching piece of challis. Even the most glorious fabric suffers a bit from the passing of time… but considering 165 or so years since this fabric was made it is in amazing condition. 🙂
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Just enough light at the end of the day for a visit to see the doll’s new house. It is coming along really well!

 

Antique Izannah Walker Dolls · Holidays · Uncategorized

Isabeau’s Diary

“Dear Diary,

I’m sorry I haven’t written for a few days.  It’s been such a busy weekend!  Our dearest friend Emmaline has come to visit and we are having such fun.”

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“We had a very Happy Valentine’s Day!”
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“We are so happy the Emmaline came to stay with us for a nice long visit!”

“Every day we all walk out to check on the progress of our new house…”

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The doll's new house www.izannahwalker.com

The doll's new house www.izannahwalker.com

The doll's new house www.izannahwalker.com

The doll's new house www.izannahwalker.com

"Then we come inside and for hot cocoa!"
“Then we come inside for hot cocoa!”
"and climb back up in our cozy cupboard."
“and climb back up into our cozy cupboard.”

“Good night dearest diary.  Love, Isabeau”

 

Antique Izannah Walker Dolls · Custom Made Dolls · Izannah Walker Reproduction Doll

Pamela’s Doll

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A sweet little Izannah for Pamela, made from my mold of Anna.

I’ve just finished a very special reproduction Izannah Walker doll for Pamela. I was fortunate enough to get to  meet Pamela at the 2014 UFDC convention, where we had a great time chatting and planning all of the details for this doll.  She is  made from my mold of Anna, an adorable little antique Izannah Walker doll that belongs to my friend Mary.

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Pamela’s doll in progress. I love her tiny smile 🙂
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Pamela asked for blue painted boots to match the prussian blue in her doll’s dress.

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Blue embroidery edges the hem of her petticoat…

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Details… Cording piping and cartridge pleating at the waistline of her dress… individually hand stitched fingers and applied thumb…
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The original antique Anna just happens to be visiting here at the moment and was happy to pose with her newest little sister ❤ (Pamela’s doll on the left and the antique Anna on the right).
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Old & New ❤
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Sharing secrets… the original Anna (right) and her newly made companion (left).

 

Antique Izannah Walker Dolls · Other Types of Doll Making · Painted Cloth Doll Making

The Dream Continues…

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More cloth dreams…  My winter issue of Doll News arrived today and low and behold there is another article in it about the UFDC special exhibit on American cloth dolls at the 2015 convention!  So while the winter winds blow and rattle all the old windows in my house, I plan to snuggle in my bed under a mound of hand pieced quilts and read more about all of these glorious cloth dolls and their makers.  Sweet cloth dreams are sure to follow…  Sleep tight!

Antique Izannah Walker Dolls · Izannah Walker History · Other Types of Doll Making · Painted Cloth Doll Making

American Women Dream in Cloth…

www.izannahwalker.com

American Women Dream in Cloth…  don’t you just love that title?  The January issue of Antique Doll Collector magazine contains this very intriguing article, about the special exhibit on cloth dolls that was at the UFDC convention last summer.  It was the perfect reading for a cold and blustery winter’s day.

www.izannahwalker.com

So while the baby napped, this American woman filled her head with daydreams of glorious cloth dolls, both past and future…

www.izannahwalker.com

Look closely.  Do you see anything unexpected???
Look closely. Do you see anything unexpected???

 

Apparently not only American women, but small cats have a fondness of cloth.  Sadie was captivated by the fabric of this antique baby dress <3
Apparently not only American women, but small cats have a fondness of cloth. Sadie was captivated by the fabric of this antique baby dress ❤

www.izannahwalker.com

Sadie and I are both looking forward to next months issue so that we can continue our cloth dreams by reading the second half of the article. 🙂

Doll Accessories · Izannah Walker Reproduction Doll · Uncategorized

A Letter from Hannah Grace

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Hannah grace has written us a letter to say that she loves her new home and is making friends with all of the bears who live there too, especially Mr. Ginger. ❤

All of the girl’s were thrilled to receive a letter from Hannah Grace!  . She said that keeping busy helps when she is lonely for her friends and family in CT, so she has begun working on a few projects.

Hannah is trimming photos of her loved ones to fit in her locket. She is planning to go shopping for ribbon this weekend so she can wear the locket and keep the pictures close to her heart.  Hannah wants to share her quilt top with Mr. Ginger and plans to finish quilting it later this winter.She also has a small embroidery project she wants to work on and is in the process of choosing colors.

What a busy young lady!!!  Now all of the doll’s are clamoring about starting winter projects of their own…

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Hannah Grace, Mr. Ginger and their quilt top.
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Hannah Grace and photos for her locket ❤
Custom Made Dolls · Izannah Walker Reproduction Doll

A Special Doll for Susan

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I’ve just finished working on this reproduction of Isabeau for Susan. She is an 18-1/2  inch tall reproduction Izannah Walker doll. For Susan’s  doll I reproduced the cracked and peeling paint surfaces on the original Isabeau that I made  her mold from. The paint and layers of paste on her nose have been worn away, down to the underlying stockinette, just like on the original.
IMG_0021This doll has an antique pink linen second skin, like many of Izannah Walker’s earliest dolls did. Her dress is made from a wonderful thin white cotton, which has aged to a pale ecru. It has a skirt with four narrow tucks and a gathered ruffle of broderie anglaise, gathered sleeves banded with additional eyelet trim, an antique cotton tape drawstring at the neck of the dress, which is embellished with eyelet and tatting, and a wide waistband with eyelet and embroidered cotton ribbon. Her chemise is made from antique lace trimmed cotton and her pantalettes were originally part of a pair of women’s 19th century panteletts. She has two petticoats made from antique cotton and broderie anglaise. Her stockings were made from bits of antique cotton stockings and her shoes are handmade red leather.

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Arms over your head! Just one last clothing change. 🙂

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The original c.1860’s Isabeau one the right and my newly made c.2016 reproduction Isabeau on the left.

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This little Isabeau  is so looking forward to beginning her travels, as she is longing to make the acquaintance of her new family ❤

Izannah Walker Reproduction Doll · Uncategorized

Janet’s Hannah Grace

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Meet Hannah Grace, the first doll made from a mold that I created directly from Hannah, my most recently acquired antique Izannah Walker doll.  Hannah Grace’s new mom, Janet, picked out all of her clothing fabrics and styles ❤

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The original Hannah on the right and Hannah Grace on the left.
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The Hannahs old & new ❤

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Hannah’s Warm Winter Wool Challis Dress

I made this dress out of a worn 19th century antique paisley shawl.  The dress has many hand sewn details, including a cartridge pleated skirt and herringbone stitched seam finishes.

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Hannah Grace www.izannahwalker.com

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Hannah’s Summer Party Frock

For warm weather and fancy occasions Hannah Grace has a floral paisley dress made from antique gauze weight cotton.  The dress has split sleeves with two different antique trims ❤

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This summer dress is a bit shorter so that the eyelet tabs on her petticoat show 🙂

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Still Haven’t Seen Enough?

If you would like to see EVEN MORE photographs of Janet’s Hannah Grace she has a photo album on my A Sweet Remembrance facebook page.  Click here to visit it.

Thank you for stopping by to see us!  We are so glad you came.

Antique Izannah Walker Dolls · Celebrations · Holidays

Joyous Wishes for a Happy 2016!

Wishing upon a bright and shining star that your new year will be filled with health, happiness and great joy!
Wishing upon a bright and shining star that your new year will be filled with health, happiness and great joy!

 

On this New Year’s Day my hope for each and every one of you is that 2016 will bring you a year full of peace, happiness, and well-being! May your days be filled with simple pleasures and quiet beauty.

My new year’s reflections upon the waning 2015 are filled with gratitude. I am so thankful that I am able to spend my days creating dolls and other works that I love. It brings me great happiness and quiet contentment to bring to life the Izannah dreams of such wonderful group of collectors and fellow Izannahphlies.

As a few of you know, this year has been a bit of a challenge for me.  My father died during the summer and I have had Lyme disease for about 5 or 6 months.  I am overwhelmingly grateful for the amazing graciousness, tolerance and understanding of everyone who has had a custom ordered doll or restoration work scheduled during 2015.  You have been unfailingly kind and supportive when I have fallen behind on the scheduled completion dates for your dolls.  Thank you!!!  I am currently feeling better than I have for months and am so looking forward to this new year and being able to get caught back up on my work  load.  I love all of the dolls that are currently in my studio and I look forward to sharing them with you in the upcoming weeks and months!  Happy New Year to all!!!

 

Holidays

Merry Christmas!

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With fond Christmas wishes…

Wishing everyone a very special Christmas to remember & a bright and shiny new year!