Category: Izannah Reproduction Doll Class

Izannah Reproduction Doll Class · Stray Comments

Thank You Early American Life!

paulawaltonLeave a comment

I just received some excellent news!  The following is an excerpt from a letter Early American Life magazine sent me yesterday:

Dear Paula Walton,

Congratulations! Because of your creative talents and dedication to historical accuracy, you have been chosen to join the distinguished group of craftspeople listed in the 2010 Directory of Traditional American Crafts in the category “toys and dolls.”

Now in our 41st year, Early American Life continues to promote traditional craftsmanship, providing our national readership with comprehensive information on early American crafts, their history, their function, and the importance of their preservation. In addition, we are committed to promoting individual craftspeople and their artistry. As a Directory artisan, you rank as one of the most talented of them all.

The Directory issue will begin distribution to subscribers on about June 3rd. (The newsstand date is June 22nd).

I am extremely honored to have been juried into the Directory once again.  Even though this will be the 22nd time I have been in the Directory, it’s still every bit as thrilling as the very first time.

The two examples of my work that I submitted for judging were one of my Izannah Walker reproduction dolls and a fully jointed teddy bear made of antique white mohair.  I don’t always submit items from the same categories every year, because I make many different things.  For 2010 I decided that Toys and Dolls was a very appropriate category,  since I started this year finishing my Izannah class and getting it shipped out to my first round of students.

So thank you Early American Life.  If you’d like to buy a copy of the 2010 Directory issue, look for it to be on sale June 22nd.

Izannah Inspired Artist Dolls · Izannah Reproduction Doll Class

Two New Dolls in Progress

paulawaltonLeave a comment
All images copyright Paula Walton 2010

Now that I have finally managed to get my Izannah Reproduction Doll Making Class launched, I have time to indulge in the luxury of simply making dolls.  What a treat!

Last week I started working on two reproduction Izannahs, one with bare feet and the other with booted feet.  So far, so good.  I love the way they are turning out.   I’m thinking of painting one of them as a black doll.  It must be a good plan because I was able to go up to the attic and find my stash of nubby black lambskin in less than five minutes.  That’s always an auspicious sign.  It sometimes takes me hours and hours to locate things up there!

I’ve considered making the other into a boy doll, but I probably won’t because I have a fantastic piece of antique floral printed fabric that would make a perfect dress.  Boy dolls may have to wait until I can get my hands on a really great piece of plaid…

Izannah Reproduction Doll Class

My Izannah Class is Complete!

paulawaltonLeave a comment

I am extremely happy to say that my Izannah Walker Reproduction Doll Making Class is finished and that all of the wonderful people who pre-ordered  the class have already received their classes in the mail!

I haven’t posted much in the past couple of weeks because we were putting the finishing touches on the class, then assembling the booklets, optional material kits and packing everything up and getting it all out in the mail.  I think that the employees at my post office were a bit stunned to see me there so often, with soooooo many boxes!

The class  is a Master Level class that teaches you to make an exact reproduction of one of Izannah Walker’s iconic early pre-patent 18-½ inch dolls. Prior sewing, sculpting and painting experience is a pre-requisite.

Now that the class is completely finished I can tell you that it officially includes:

  • 75 page Booklet full of step-by-step instructions with 166 detailed photographs
  • Patterns for doll body and one complete set of clothing (dress, two petticoats, chemise, drawers)
  • Body Construction Guide with 16 measurements
  • Detailed instructions for sculpting head featuring Sculpting Guide with 54 separate measurements taken from my antique Izannah Walker dolls
  • Mold-making instructions
  • Paint swatches and formulas to match colors from original Izannah Walker dolls
  • Painting instructions
  • Fabric swatches
  • Wool stuffing
  • Source list for all required materials
  • Optional instructions for those wanting to take a short-cut approach
  • Lifetime question and answer support at no additional charge
  • Additional bonus doll making information and student interaction on my class member-only Ning site. Bonus doll making instructions already posted include a tutorial on How to Reduce and Enlarge Patterns.  Other planned tutorials will be on such topics as How to Make Other Types of Molds, Additional Izannah Shoes and Boots, and more.

An optional material kit is also available at an additional charge. It includes enough of nine historically-correct fabrics, six antique buttons, antique lace, cotton or wool tape and cotton stuffing to make one complete, fully-dressed 18-½ inch doll. Fabrics may vary from those pictured. You will still need your own sculpting, mold-making and painting supplies.

The kit is strictly a time-saving convenience item.  All of the materials that you need to make the doll, as well as sources where you can buy them, are listed in the class instruction booklet and on the class member Ning site.  When you buy this kit you are paying me to shop for you.  You can save money by doing your own shopping, looking through your fabric stash for materials that you may already own and using recycled fabrics.

If you’ve been thinking about ordering the class, but were waiting until it was finished to order, your wait is over!  You can purchase my Izannah class by visiting my website, www.asweetremembrance.com.

Izannah Reproduction Doll Class

and the work continues…

paulawaltonLeave a comment

Here are some of the things I did today to get my Izannah class a bit closer to being finished and ready to ship.

Izannah Reproduction Doll Class

Progress!

paulawaltonLeave a comment

We are into the final home stretch in preparation for my Izannah Walker Reproduction Doll Class by Mail.  It looks like we are on schedule to ship right at the end of the month, although we are experiencing a few weather related delays and not all of the fabric has come in for the material kits and the samples that go along with the class, so we may have a bit of a problem there.   Keep your fingers crossed!

Today among other things we stretched canvas and primed it with gesso in preparation for painting swatches that are included in the class painting instructions.  This is the type of thing that I would do out in the barns in good weather, but because it’s winter and we had a fair amount of snow fall today, I have the canvas set up on boards in my cellar, right up next to the furnace to help speed the drying time.

Izannah Reproduction Doll Class · Stray Comments

My Perfect Izannah Day

paulawaltonLeave a comment

Yesterday was a perfect day.  For the past twenty-four years I have been creating and selling fine handmade trinkets, little bits of this and that to nourish your soul, embellish your home and simply to make you smile.  Once upon a time, further back toward the middle of those twenty-four years, I used to spend the first months of each year designing fanciful new doodads and gewgaws.  Tucked up in front of a blazing fire with my sketchbook, needles, threads and stacks upon stacks of fabric, I would design, create and perfect fanciful cloth dreams.  While the winter winds blew and Mother Nature sprinkled the world with icy “glitter”, I would stay at home and work away on anything my heart desired.

Time moves on and things change, as they always do.  I no longer have the luxury of wiling away all of my winter days working on new designs.  What I have now are a few perfect days each year that recreate the gift of past times.  Yesterday was one of those days.

I spent the day making samples for my Izannah class instruction book.  It was wonderful to have an “all Izannah” day.  In the morning I rummaged through my attic to find cotton and wool stuffing.  I could tell it was going to be a stellar day when I managed to burrow through my stash of antique fabrics and lay my hands on all three of the fabrics I needed to find in the very first box!  Then I sat down at one of my favorite sewing machines, my mid-1940’s Singer Featherweight and sewed body parts together for several hours.  I would have liked to use my Great-Grandmother Lovelady’s Singer treadle machine, but my sewing room was too icy cold and the treadle isn’t anyone’s idea of portable. 🙂

I took a short break to make a big pot of French Onion soup for lunch, and because I was having such a charmed day, my husband Brian cut up all of the onions for me.  Just so I wouldn’t cry.

In the afternoon and evening, I moved to my front parlor.  There I built a warm, toasty fire in my Shaker box stove and pulled my Sheraton sewing table right in front of it to work on.  I love my sewing table, not just because it has all sorts of wonderful places to hold my hand sewing tools, or because I can stash my current project away inside it’s fabric pleated “pouch” when I need to make the room look presentable, but because I like to think about all of the other women who have sat beside it and plied their needles during the past 200 years.  It gives me comfort to know that while some things change, others remain forever constant.

When I was much, much younger I didn’t have the patience for hand sewing.  It was something that I hurried through just to finish a project.  Now, intricate hand sewing is my very favorite part of anything I make.  I find fashioning tiny, perfect fingers and thumbs, like I did yesterday, to be a treat.  I didn’t even mind too much 🙂 when I had to tweak my Izannah’s boot pattern for the sixth time and make yet another in a long line of sample feet.

Everyone needs a perfect day now and again.  I hope that you find one of your own soon, the type of day that brings no bigger stresses and strains than having to battle it out with your cat over who gets the chair next to the fire!

Izannah Reproduction Doll Class · Izannah Walker Project Ideas

Making an Izannah Paper Doll

paulawalton2 Comments

I came up with this idea when I decided to make a very special certificate for everyone who pre-ordered my Izannah Walker Reproduction Doll Making Class in 2009.  I really enjoy making these paper dolls.  They are based in part on a set of early 1900’s Dennison paper dolls that I own.

The next time you would like a quick doll-making project, gather up your paper, scissors, and glue-pot and make a flat Izzy.  Mine carries a certificate in her “book’, but yours could hold and invitation to tea, a thank you note , or simply be a lady of fashion who enjoys playing “dress up”.

Following are instructions.

Instructions:

1.  I took a photograph of one of my original Izannahs, sized the photo to fit on an 8- 1/2 x 11 inch sheet of card stock and printed it in high quality.  If you don’t have an antique Izannah, a newly-made Izannah inspired doll would work just as well.  You could also use pencils or watercolors to draw or paint an Izzy.

2.  Use rubber cement to adhere a second piece of cardstock to the back side of your printed image.  Weight down with a heavy book  until dry.

3.  Draw a pattern for the base of your paper doll.  I used two shapes that resemble half circles, one slightly larger than the other.  Cut out your pattern pieces.

4. Trace the larger pattern piece onto the bottom of your printed Izzy.  Do not draw a line over the doll’s legs.  Trace the smaller pattern piece onto an empty area of your background card stock.

5.  Using scissors and an X-ACTO knife, carefully cut out the paper doll and stand.  If you do not want to use an X-ACTO knife, you can trace both of the pattern pieces for the stand onto background cardstock, cut out the paper doll and stand entirely with scissors and then glue the doll to the larger stand piece with rubber cement.

(click on each photo to see it full size)

6.  Cut slits into both parts of the stand so that the pieces fit together and the doll can stand up.

7.  Trace a pattern for the doll’s chemise, add shoulder tabs.  Cut out pattern.  Then trace pattern onto white card stock.  Cut out.

8.  The card stock chemise is a base for making a crepe paper dress.  Using  your imagination, crepe paper, ribbons and buttons, fashion a dress by cutting out a skirt, bodice and sleeves, then glue them directly onto the card stock.  Tip: Pinking shears or scissors with scallop blades make a nice finish for the bottom of crepe paper petticoats and skirts. *In Early American Life magazine, Christmas issue 2005, on page 34 there is an inspiring photograph that shows a bevy of paper dolls dressed in their finest crepe paper frocks.

9.  Sign and date your paper Izannah.

10. Fold down shoulder tabs.  Place dress on your paper doll.

11. Sit back and admire your accomplishment!  Smile!  Enjoy!

There is still time to pre-order my Izannah class, and it remains on sale, 10% off, through January 1.  All pre-orders come with a paper doll just like the ones pictured here and a vintage Izannah Walker post card (while supplies last). Class information here.

Izannah Inspired Artist Dolls · Izannah Reproduction Doll Class · Painted Cloth Doll Making · Where to Shop

Announcing Izannah Walker Reproduction Doll Class by Mail Pre-Order Offer

paulawalton1 Comment

Greetings,

Are you as stunned as I am that Thanksgiving is on Thursday and that Christmas is only 33 days away?  This year has just flown by.  Last December, just after Christmas, I started this blog (www.izannahwalker.com) to give dollmakers additional information about using my Izannah Walker Doll clothes pattern and to chronicle my adventures while working on a set of patterns and instructions for a class on Izannah Walker Reproduction Dolls.  It’s been a crazy year and I haven’t gotten as many blog posts up as I would have liked, but I have made quite a bit of progress on my pattern drafting and instructions. This is a project that has been in the planning stages for five years, so I am quite thrilled to be able to say that I am finally close to completion.

Normally I would just wait until the class was ready to go before putting out any type of announcement.  However something happened last week that made me change my mind.  I received several orders for Spun Cotton Ornament Classes that people happened to mention were Christmas presents.  Every year, quite a few husbands buy the classes for their wives.  I suddenly realized that maybe some of you, who have been waiting patiently for me to finish the class, might want to put it on your Christmas List this year.

So I am announcing the class now for February release and taking preorders.  In order to stretch Santa’s shopping dollars a bit further, preorders placed before January 1st will receive a special 10% off deal.  I’m sending out very special sweet certificates and vintage Izannah postcards (while my supply lasts) with each pre-January 1 early bird purchase, so that Santa has something to wrap or slip into your Christmas stocking. (Sorry, but this part of the offer has now expired.)

For those of you who aren’t dollmakers, I also have some wonderful new items about which you might want to drop hints to Santa.  They will be up on my website in the next couple of weeks and will include new teddies, an adorable sock monkey, a C.W. Parker c. 1930 carousel horse and some very intriguing Victorian folk art wool balls.

Best wishes to all of you and yours for a truly bountiful and memorable Thanksgiving!

Please scroll down to read details about my Izannah Walker Dollmaking Class.

Paula


Izannah Walker Reproduction Doll Class by Mail Pre-Order Offer

To the best of my knowledge, this is the only comprehensive tutorial on how to make an authentic Izannah Walker reproduction doll and her clothing. I based this class on Izannah Walker’s original patent and drafted my doll and clothing patterns from two dolls I own that were made by Izannah Walker.

This is not a corner-cutting compromise approach, yet if you know how to sew, sculpt and paint and are willing to invest the time, you could end up with the best reproduction Izannah Walker doll in existence!

What is included in the class:

  • Booklet full of step-by-step instructions with numerous detailed photographs
  • Patterns for doll body and one complete set of clothing (dress, two petticoats, chemise, drawers)
  • Detailed instructions for sculpting head and shoulder plate with accurate measurements taken from my antique Izannah Walker dolls
  • Mold-making instructions
  • Paint swatches and formulas to match colors from original Izannah Walker dolls
  • Painting instructions
  • Source list for all required materials
  • Additional instructions for those wanting to take a short-cut approach
  • Lifetime question and answer support at no additional charge
  • Additional information provided via my Izannah Walker-themed blog, izannahwalker.com.

An optional material kit is also available at an additional charge. It includes historically-correct fabrics, antique notions (buttons and lace) and stuffing, enough to make one complete, fully-dressed doll. You will still need your own sculpting, mold-making and painting supplies.

Why this class is ideal for serious doll-makers

  • With the detailed instruction booklet, you don’t have to be connected to the internet or be limited to working in front of your television screen.
  • The open instruction book will lay flat on your work table
  • You can make notes right in your booklet as a permanent record
  • The instructions are infinitely reusable

Why should you buy from me?

Experience

  • Dollmaker for 24 years
  • Author of numerous magazine articles on dolls and doll-making
  • Free-lance designer for national craft publications
  • Restoration artist of antique dolls, bears and textiles

Izannah Walker doll owner

  • Patterns are drafted and sculpting measurements directly taken from two original dolls plus extra original Izannah Walker clothing

Proven instructor

  • Teaches at nationally-known arts and crafts schools including stints as artisan-in-residence
  • Consistently highly-rated by students for knowledge, enthusiasm and encouragement
  • Sold hundreds of patterns and Spun Cotton Ornament class kits via mail and supported these satisfied customers for many years

Historical expert

  • Nationally-recognized historical artisan
  • Early American Life top traditional craftsman 21 times in nine years, including clothing and accessories, textiles and needlework, toys and dolls categories
  • Museum director and curator

Availability and pricing

To take this class in person, it would be a five-day session, with a cost of $700 for tuition and all materials, not to mention your travel expenses.

The regular price of this class will be $250. The optional material kit may be ordered for an additional $115.  75.

Take advantage of this special pre-order offer:

  • Early ordering is now available at 10 percent off the regular prices above.
  • Pay a deposit of 25 percent of the discounted price now with the balance due upon shipment. This deposit is non-refundable.
  • Special pre-order certificate for gift-giving provided (see paper doll below)
  • Free vintage Izannah postcard (while supplies last – see below)

(While orders are still being taken, the above special offer has now expired.)

The above offer will be good through January 1, 2010 only. After that date, pre-orders will still be taken, but will be at full price and may not ship on the initial release date of end of February.

In addition to the 10 percent savings, a benefit in buying now is that you will be assured of being in the first group to receive your class when they are ready. As with all my products, the Izannah Walker Doll Class by Mail includes free shipping.

All sales are final. Returns are not accepted. The doll pattern is not for sale separately, nor would it be possible to reproduce the doll without the rest of the class.

To place your order, go to the classes section of my website, asweetrembrance.com.

Another benefit for early-bird buyers

During 2010, I plan to offer additional clothing patterns drafted from items of original Izannah Walker doll clothing from my collection. Those who pre-order the class prior to January 1, 2010 will receive the same 10 percent off on every new Izannah Walker doll clothing pattern I release in this coming year during their first month of availability.

Watch for the announcements and your special limited-time ordering instructions!

For professional doll artists

Dollmakers who sell their works may sell a limited number of dolls made from the patterns included in this class as long as the dolls and advertising materials clearly credit Paula Walton/A Sweet Remembrance for the patterns and techniques used to make them.