The issue is SOLD OUT! I just received a sneak peek of the September issue of Antique Doll Collector! It is going to be a wonderful Izannah-filled issue!!! If you are not already a subscriber to the magazine, you may want to hurry up and order a subscription! See if they will let you start with the August 2017 issue so that you can read the great article Joy Harrington wrote about an amazing mid-19th century doll wardrobe in her collection, A Mid 19th Century Wardrobe for a New England Girl. While the actual wardrobe isn’t an Izannah Walker wardrobe, it is all from the same time period and you do not want to miss a chance to see it! I can’t wait to read Joy’s article “Izannah Aprons” A Closer Look in the September issue. ❤ I have it on good authority that there will be at least one additional article about Izannah Walker dolls in Antique Doll Collector during 2017. ❤ ❤ ❤
Another date to mark on your calendars!!! As many of you may know, I am co-chairman for the Jenny Lind Doll Club doll show. This year is the 30th year for the show, so we wanted to do something special at this year’s show. Being fellow Izannahphiles I know you won’t be surprised by what I came up with. 🙂
The Jenny Lind Doll Club is very pleased to announce that we will have a special educational exhibit of Izannah Walker dolls at our October 29th, 2017 show. This is an almost unprecedented gathering of so many of these rare dolls at a public event. There will be at least eleven Izannah Walker dolls on display that belong to current Jenny Lind members, along with photos and memorabilia of Izannah Walker dolls owned by past members, including legendary Izannah Walker collector Maureen Popp. At this time discussions are underway with friends of the Jenny Lind doll club about the possibility of additional dolls being loaned for the exhibit, so the total number of dolls on display may be slightly higher. There is no separate admission fee to view the educational exhibit. Entrance is included in the doll show admission of $7.00.
All exhibited Izannah Walker dolls are part of private collections, they are NOT being offered for sale. This is strictly an exhibit in celebration of both our Doll Show’s 30th anniversary and Izannah Walker’s 200th birthday.
*If you will be attending the show and own an Izannah Walker doll that you would like to add to the exhibit, please contact us at jennylinddollshow@gmail.com to make arrangements. ❤
You may have noticed that I haven’t posted much lately. Unfortunately that doesn’t mean that I have been enjoying a long lazy summer… ( just kidding – I love what I do!) As is usually the case, there is just so much going on that I simply haven’t had time to blog!
It’s funny, I was talking to Tess Rosch, publisher of Early American Life, last week and she made some comment about me being a “high energy” person. It’s not the first time someone has said similar things. I have some dear friends who firmly believe that I only manage to get so many things done because I’m on drugs. 🙂 They asked very nicely if I would please share, as they needed to finish quite a few projects of their own. LOL! I don’t actually think of myself as high energy. Instead I view myself as a very tired, stubborn woman with an extremely long to-do list… So we’ll consider this post as checking one of those items off my list.
The August 2017 issue of EAL, which Includes the Directory of Traditional American Craftsmen.
Lots of exciting things are going on! I’m so thrilled to say that I have been chosen for the Early American Life Directory of Traditional Craftsmen in four different categories this year! Not only will you find me listed in Toys & Dolls, but also in Miniatures, Clothing & Accessories, and Holidays (in the upcoming Christmas issue). This makes 38 times that I have been juried into the Directory!
Three photos of my work are shown on pages 64 and 65 in the August 2017 issue of Early American Life.Look for these two dolls from my collection in my September article in Antique Doll Collector magazine.
Magazines have been a big part of my summer so far. I spent several months combing through 80 years worth of books and articles, doing research for the article on Izannah Walker and her dolls that I wrote for Antique Doll Collector magazine. Look for it in their September, 2017 issue. It is the cover article!
Currently I’m in the midst of working on an article and project for the Christmas issue of Early American Life. Keep your fingers crossed and wish me luck! I need to have it finished by the end of July!!!
OTHER HAPPENINGS
Third Thursdays are starting this month! If you didn’t read about them in my last news letter, stay tuned for more information in the next few days. This should be fun!!!
I also have quite a few really amazing things in the works to celebrate Izannah’s 200th birthday! More news will be also be forth coming about them soon. 🙂
SIGNING OFF FOR NOW
Clifford The Big Red Dog!
I made quite a few bloomer type shorts out of 1930’s prints to go with antique and vintage tops for Cloe’s summer wardrobe ❤
Reading our haul of newly checked out library books…
Strawberry juice, tiny pea and all. It was another successful visit to the gardens!
As I mentioned, this has not been a leisurely summer so far, but I have made time to garden, work in a few non-doll sewing projects, and be a grandma. Cloe and I have been enjoying our “library days”, when we go to story time at our local library, check out books, then spend the day together “gardening” which means checking on the peas she helped plant and eating berries as fast as she can pick them, playing and reading. ❤
I hope your summer has had some magical moments too!
“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.
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 ❤
The wheel of the world has turned once again and it is time to welcome in a new year… Even more so than Thanksgiving, New Year’s is a time that causes me to think about all the things I am thankful for and to consider all of my hopes for the upcoming year.
I AM GRATEFUL…
I am thankful for the opportunity to study, care for and love the Izannah Walker dolls in my collection. They may not be pristine, perfect examples of Izannah’s work, but each mark of wear and evidence of love holds a special place in my heart.
Everyday I realize how exceedingly fortunate I am to be able to do the things I love. I can not express how thankful I am to be the current custodian of eight of Izannah Walker’s dolls! I am constantly amazed that these dolls are mine to love and care for. It’s been a long time coming, with years upon years of searching and more hours than I can count of work to pay for them. If you had asked me 25 years ago if I would ever own even one Izannah Walker doll I would have said no, but the longing for one these amazing dolls never waned. So I continued to search for a doll I could afford and try to save money to pay for her… It’s good to hold on to your dreams, whatever they are, to continue to strive for your goals and not get discouraged! It also helps to be tenacious and downright stubborn! 🙂 Because I know that I am blessed, I try to share my Izannahs, both old and new! I have always been grateful to others who have been kind enough to show me their dolls, in person, in photographs and online, so I attempt to repay my thanks by doing the same – plus adding in bits of my imagination and the world it lives in… Come by in the months to follow and see the dolls at play ❤
To my immense surprise and delight, 2016 brought two new Izannah Walker dolls into my little doll family!I have named Josephine (on the left) and Eliza Jane (on the right) after two of my great-grandmothers. One of the things I am most looking forward to in 2017 is making reproductions of both of these dolls. The chance to focus on each doll intensely, learn her similarities and differences, and simply enjoy being in their presence for the many hours it takes to make a new reproduction doll for the first time is a treat to look forward to!
THANKS TO YOU…
Thank you all for your support of my work these past 30 years! I didn’t say much about it, but 2016 was the 30th year I have been making and selling my handwork.
Thank you for your purchases, both large and small! Thank you for your kind words of encouragement and your compliments. It is a scary thing to expose items you have lovingly created to the world! Thank you for making it a rewarding experience, and much less frightening.
Thank you for being the kind of customers and students who turn into friends and brighten my days!
A huge thank you to those who have entrusted their precious dolls to me for restoration!!! I have appreciated the chance to take care of your treasured dolls, and to carefully undo the worst ravages of time and past accidents. I learn so much with every doll I have the opportunity to study and observe! I know I’m slow and cautious when restoring dolls, so thank you also for your patience.
Emmaline after restoration.A 2nd after restoration photo. The change in color is very subtle. These photos were taken before the doll was seen by her owner. After the owner had a chance to see the replaced arm and replaced antique linen upper arm covering, we decided to “age” the fabric and arm more.
An immense armful of thanks to those few special individuals who feel the same way that I do about sharing the beauty of Izannah’s dolls, and who have graciously allowed me to make reproductions of their antique Izannah Walker dolls! I truly can not thank you enough. ❤ ❤ ❤
Lily after I finished her restoration. What a beautiful Izannah Walker doll!The Lilys! Sisters, best friends and bosom companions through thick and thin
KNOW YOURSELF
One of the good things about being older is gaining a deeper understanding of yourself! After a lot of trial and error, I know many of the things that make me happy. I know that I am the happiest creating beautiful,intricate, time-consuming things. I do make and sell a large number of items… and I used to make even more. Yes, I can make simple, less expensive dolls, bears, clothes, pincushions, etc. etc. etc… but doing that is more like drudgery. I strive for special, amazing, perfect work. That is what makes my heart sing. I may not always reach my ideal, but that doesn’t keep me from trying again and again. I know this is not the right way for everyone, but it is for me. So know yourself! Be kind to yourself and follow the path that is uniquely yours. Don’t follow the crowd, follow your heart! ❤
Cartridge pleated baby dress.
HOPE FOR THE NEW YEAR
A new year traditionally brings new beginnings. My hope for 2017 is to be more creative. To try projects that I’ve been daydreaming of for years. To let that spark of creativity light all the days of this brand new year!!!
My hope for you is that you will be able to turn some of your long held daydreams into reality in 2017, and that you will be surrounded by those you love and care about! Try something new! Happy New Year to us all!!!
All the dolls bring you glad tidings for the New Year…
Sweet Christmas wishes from the Izzy’s to you!
The dolls make this one of my favorite rooms…
Filled with things that make me smile…
Father Christmas stands watch beside a garlanded tree..
Ho, Ho, Ho!
The perfect sized tree…
and the stockings were hung by the chimney with care…
All the little wooden dolls have decided they need to make clothes for the new year, so they are making themselves at home amongst my sewing accoutrements…
The little wooden dolls have taken over the “attic”of the corner cupboard as their sewing room.
A stitch in time…
sweet penny woodens ❤
To read the captions or enlarge images. simply click on any photograph.
In her recent past, this early Izannah Walker doll lived in an 18th century house, surrounded by a large family and an extensive collection of antique dolls. We recently welcomed her into our household. Hopefully she will feel at home, even though the pace of our days may be a bit quieter with fewer children, grandchildren, and dolls filling our lives…
Once again the earth has turned and November has come at last, drifting in on gently falling leaves and soft, warm rays of light… More than any other month, November causes my soul to ring with echos of the past, and my thoughts meander to the people who have lived in my house and owned the things I love before me. I dwell and marvel at small girls, turned to woman, with babes of their own, who played with the dolls I cherish. I glory in the vibrant creativity of quilts, pieced by other hands and passed down through the years, to warm loved ones… Days and hours slip away and gently flow into the past, where I allow myself to linger for a few brief hours, lost in a daydream of past childhoods. ❤
A meeting of long lost sisters… You can easily see the strong family resemblance in these dolls that range in size from 20 to 14 inches.
The newest member of my antique Izannah Walker family.
I love the proportions of this larger doll…
❤
A doll to love and cherish…
Chainstitch embroidery encircles the neckline, armseyes, waist and hem of her dress.
19th century perfection.
The dolls are happy that Lily is still visiting us 🙂
Family photo!
❤
Making toast on a cool November morning, where it has been made countless times before in the past 225+ years… Using the toasting fork made by my son Blair, bringing a bit of the past and the present full circle…
I wasn’t really planning on splitting the Halloween Party into 3 posts, but WordPress is being a little bit cranky and overexcited tonight… So here is the third installment of our party!!!
Halloween Dresses
These dresses will all fit most of my 18 inch reproduction Izannah Walker dolls. If you are interested in buying any of the dresses, especially dress #3, you should measure the waist and top of the shoulder measurement of your doll.
SOLD Dress #1 – Sort straight sleeves, made from an antique black floral mourning print cotton. Drawstring closures at the neckline and waist. $200.00 includes free priority mail shipping to any US address.
Isabeau is modeling dress #1
Dress #2 Is the same as dress #1, except it has short gathered and frilled sleeves. $200.00 plus free priority mail shipping within the US.
SOLD Dress #3 is more fitted than the other 3 dresses. Made of orange “cheddar” print antique fabric with black vining “branches” and red “berries”, trimmed with black velvet ribbon. This dress will close with three orange painted milk glass buttons and button holes. I have not made the button holes or sewn on the buttons yet, so that I can slightly adjust the fit of the dress if necessary. $250.00 with free US priority shipping.
SOLD Dress #4 is probably my favorite! It is a true “make-do” dress, pieced together from two different antique “cheddar” orange fabrics with a false hem of a third coordinating antique fabric. One drawstring around the neckline and three drawstrings at the waistband, gives this dress an adjustable fit. You will find this method used in late 18th and early 19th century infant and young children’s clothing. It’s immensely practical! $240.00 with free priority US shipping.
Treat Bags and Box
I have one set of four cotton mesh treat bags in a decorative Halloween box. $28.50 with free Priority Mail shipping within the US.
If you are interested in purchasing any of the dresses or the set of treat bags, email me at paula@asweetremembrance.com. Paypal, or credit cards and orders by Monday to ensure delivery before Halloween. Checks and money orders if you don’t mind waiting for delivery…
Zombies???
Don’t be frightened, that isn’t a zombie graveyard full of body parts… it is just “work in progress” dolls ❤
Treats!
The dolls have worked up quite an appetite showing you around my painting studio, crafting crepe paper costumes, sending Halloween greetings and modeling the latest in Halloween fashions! Now it is time for refreshments. 🙂 Hot, buttery popcorn, sweet crunchy caramel corn, tart, crisp apples and hot spiced cider!!! Yum….
And now it’s time to say good night! We are so happy you could come celebrate Halloween with us 🙂
I hope you enjoyed the doll’s Halloween Party!!! I love Halloween and all of the seasonal delights of autumn. Can you tell? Gathered in antique wire egg baskets are some of the pumpkins from my garden and Osage Oranges from my Bodark trees.
* To enlarge any of the smaller photos, simply click on them, which will also show captions.
** I’m sorry for the slow posting tonight and for breaking the party into 3 parts. WordPress was being very difficult, so it was a bit challenging to get the Halloween party online.
Izannah Walker Journal 