I’ve finally finished Maxine’s doll! The last stitches are in place, her clothes are freshly laundered, and her photographs have been taken and are on the way to Maxine for her approval. I’m really pleased with the way she turned out, I hope Maxine is too! Due to one thing and another she took me 125 hours to complete, which is much longer than the 80 to 100 hours that most of my dolls average. I think that the extra time was worthwhile. I love the look of depth in her paint. It has a wonderful appearance in person that I wish I could capture with my camera, but I’m not that expert of a photographer.
Annalise and Bess are trying on their new under garments, while Maxine’s doll looks on… just waiting for hers to be finished…
Another busy day… Annalise and Bess now have pantalettes, chemises and petticoats. Maxine’s doll is waiting for her arms and legs to dry while I work on her underwear.
Tomorrow Annalise, Bess and I will be picking out their dress fabrics. If you would like more information on my dolls you can read all of the details on my website Paula Walton’s A Sweet Remembrance, or you may call (860-35-5709) or email me (paula@asweetremembrance.com). Annalise will sell for $1300.00 when she is finished… or $1375.00 if you would like to order handmade leather shoes. Bess will be $1250.00.
If you are interested in either Annalise or Bess and would like additional photos, just ask. Lay-away is available, tailored to fit your budget.
“Welcome to our Valentine’s Day Tea Party! I’ve poured you a cup of violet tea. I hope you like mace shortbread cookies.”“Yesterday we baked cookies all day long.”“These are my very favorite cookies! They smell so good. Would you write the recipe down for me?”“If I hurry!”“Let’s pose for a family portrait while we are all together, so that we’ll always be able to remember today!”“One more! Everyone smile and say TEA!”… Three little sisters join their elders in wishing you a very happy Valentine’s Day.“Now that we’ve eaten and taken photos, let’s make make Valentine presents.”“My heart is in your hand.”“I’ll keep it on my desk so that I can see it every day and think of you.”“One last cup of tea?”
– Savannah is slaving away on a very special heartfelt letter to Charlotte.
– Ruthie is on her way back home to Brooklyn after visiting for a “spa day” to have the damage caused by the post office repaired. She says that she is ever so much better now and that she feels beautiful again. Plus she loves her new warm flannel petticoat and can’t wait to show it off to Paula C.!
– I’m getting ready to go on a double date with my husband and our very dearest friends Joy and John…
I put the final few stitches in my two latest dolls today! The winter weather has made me nostalgic for dolls reminiscent of rural New England. Sweet dolls that have passed through many hands and generations, saved by mothers and grandmothers… Dolls with stories of their own and history in their faces. Can’t you just tell that both of these dolls have had adventuresome lives? What bedtime stories they could whisper in a child’s ear…
Recently I have talked to several people who would dearly love to have a reproduction Izannah Walker doll to sew for. I have to say that these are wonderful dolls to dress. They are a very nice size and the styles and fabrics of the mid 19th century are a joy to work with.
These dolls are currently undressed. If you are interested in either of them, they are available with the “Dressmaker Option”, which includes the bare doll, my Izannah Walker Doll Clothes Pattern (for a dress, 2 petticoats, a chemise and pantalettes), plus written instructions for a second classic mid-1800’s dress. The price is $925 for the doll with painted boots and $975 for the doll with bare feet.
OR you may choose their dress styles and fabrics and I’ll do all of the sewing. The cost of the fully dressed dolls is $1250 for the doll with painted boots and $1300 for the doll with bare feet.
Neither doll is up for sale on my website yet, if you’d like to buy one please email paula@asweetremembrance.com or call 860-355-5709. I’m going to start making clothing for them this week, so if you would like an undressed doll or would like to pick custom clothing, please don’t delay.
Leather shoes may be ordered for $75. in your choice of colors. Hand knit socks are included with the shoes.
If you have any questions about either of these dolls or would like to see additional photographs of them, just ask. I always love to take a break and talk to you about dolls!
It feels like I’m always rushing from one deadline to another. I’ve spent the past few weeks working on several new dolls for a photo deadline. I finished this doll today, just in time to rush her photographs down to the post office before they closed, getting them post marked on the very last possible day!
Actually this doll is one I had been planning to have finished before Early American Life came to our house in December. For some reason people always have the mistaken idea that I have shelves full of dolls, spun cotton ornaments and all of the other things that I make to sell. They imagine that coming here is like going to a secret hidden shop full of treasures, set inside the perfect 18th century New England farmstead… This is so far from reality ! 🙂 I normally don’t have any dolls here at all, unless there are one or two on lay-away. In real life most of my dolls get packed up and shipped just as soon as I get the last stitches finished. Plus doll making is messy, so my studio rarely looks tidy and there is a trail of thread and fabric snippits leading from the studio, across the yard, to the house, and into the parlor, where I sit in the evenings to do hand sewing. So part of my grand plan, when Early American Life asked if they could come photograph our house at Christmas, was to create three or four new dolls and a whole tree full of ornaments. None of them actually got finished 🙂 . By the time the retreat was over and I kept up with orders, then cleaned and painted throughout the house like a mad woman, there was no time left! So I postponed making this doll until my latest deadline instead.
Now that she is finished, she will be keeping me company in my kitchen. I created her for myself, incorporating all of my favorite Izannah details. I even added a third ringlet in front of each ear, like the ones on the lovely antique Izannah that was just up for sale on eBay last week. I doubt that I will ever be able to afford the $22,000.00 opening bid on the eBay doll, but I decided that I can treat myself to one of my own dolls.
My c. 1860 antique Izannah Walker doll in red, on the left, and her newly made offspring c. 2013 dressed in dress made of rare “double violet” mid-19th century fabric, on the right.
Tomorrow is going to be another busy day in my studio, as I move on to more orders and deadlines, but for tonight I am relaxing and enjoying my new Izannah, with nothing more taxing to do than decide upon the perfect name for my newest friend…
A steadfast new friend to share in my kitchen adventures!
For all of you thinking about ordering a custom made Izannah Walker reproduction doll, I am now taking orders for dolls to be completed in the first and second quarters of 2013. I’m currently working on two special order dolls, two custom dresses and a pair of shoes for the recently sold Charlcie. New orders will be added to my schedule after these items are done. I’ve also started several new heads, which will become dolls at some point in the near future.
If you would like to discuss turning the doll of your dreams into a reality, or if you are curious about the new heads that have started on their journey towards becoming real dolls, please contact me, paula@asweetremembrance.com or 860-355-5709.
Charlcie gets her first look at the article about her and her sisters in Prims Winter 2013, while Savannah peeks over her shoulder.
Update, Charlcie has found her new home just in time for Christmas!
My first copy of the new Prims Winter 2013 issue arrived yesterday. Charlcie and Savannah couldn’t wait to open it and read all about themselves! The magazine is scheduled to be in stores on January 1st. Susie Belle has already moved to her new home in Virginia. Savannah is sold and on lay-away, so I get the pleasure of her company for a bit longer. Charlcie is very happy that her sisters have such wonderful new homes and hopes that she will find one of her own very soon!
Charlcie (SOLD), Savannah(SOLD), Susie Belle (SOLD) and True Blue after the Early American Life photo shoot at our house on Saturday.
12/12/12 NOTE: SUSIE BELLE IS SOLD. Wish her a safe and speedy journey on Santa’s sleigh, as he delivers her to her new home on Christmas Eve.
12/14/12 NOTE: SAVANNAH IS SOLD.
12/22/22 NOTE: CHARLCIE IS SOLD.
I have three new dolls that are available for sale, just in time for Christmas. All of them are featured in the upcoming Winter 2013 issue of Prims magazine. As many of you know, I don’t usually name my dolls, but I did name these three. You can read their story, along with a bit about how they were made and a some of my doll making tips in the magazine, which goes on sale January 1st.
Each of the dolls is fully dressed in clothing made from antique fabrics and lace. If you’ve been dreaming of a doll with her own antique trunk full of dresses sitting under your tree on Christmas morning, that can be arranged 🙂 I have an antique doll trunk for sale, which can be filled with gift certificates for custom made dresses. Charlcie, Savannah, or Susie Belle accompanied by the antique trunk and dress certificates would make a very memorable and touching Christmas gift. I am including a signed copy of Prims along with each doll. There is also a chance that these dolls will be appearing in Early American Life magazine next year. EAL was here on Saturday to shoot photos of our home for their 2013 Christmas issue. At this point I have no idea which photos they will choose to use in the magazine article 🙂
To purchase Charlcie, Savannah(SOLD), or Susie Belle(SOLD) please visit my website asweetremembrance.com. If you would like to add additional clothing, shoes or antique doll trunks to your order you may call me (860-355-5709) or email me (paula@asweetremembrance.com) I would be happy to talk to you at any time about my dolls, answer any questions you may have, or send you additional photos. As always, lay-away is an option on any purchase.
Charlcie, shown on the right, with my original antique Izannah, on the left, that her molds and pattern were taken from.Savannah (SOLD) has a red coral bead necklace and a chemise trimmed in red tatting.*SOLD* Susie Belle has delicate wispy hair and a dress made from an amazing early “cheddar” print cotton fabric.Charlcie, Savannah (SOLD) and Susie Belle (SOLD) are looking forward to adventures in their new homes during 2013.
12/11/12 Update. An article about three of my reproduction Izannah Walker dolls will be in the Winter 2013 issue of Prims. The article about my bears will appear in Prims Spring 2013.
Articles about several of my dolls and bears are going to appear in the upcoming Winter issue of Prims magazine, available on January 1st. I haven’t see the magazine yet, but it looks like it’s going to be a great issue with some really interesting work from a terrific group of artists. Stampington Company’s magazines are beautiful, but a bit pricey, so I thought I’d share this tip with you. If you pre-order the Winter 2013 issue of Prims by November 23rd you can save $2 and get free shipping 🙂
Izannah Walker Journal 