Lovely large c. 1840’s papier-mache doll that I brought home from New Hampshire. She has a child’s pocket tied around her waist and came with a late 18th century child’s chair with it’s original splint seat.
Last week I got to do something that I’ve been wanting to do for over 20 years! We drove up to New Hampshire for Antiques Week and a visit to Strawbery Banke museum. I’m sure you aren’t surprised that I came back a few things for the dolls, including two new friends. 🙂
Lovely library steps from NH! Now I’ll be able to reach the bedroom and attic of the doll’s house in style!
Home from NH with antique library stairs ❤
A tiny tin candle holder and silk flags from NH, along with an ironstone plate, tin spoons, a cast iron iron, and a tiny old basket from our stop in Sturbridge, MA.
A girl can never have too many spoons in her kitchen! And who could do without an ironstone plate and a gathering basket for trips out to the gardens?
Silk flags to bedeck the doll’s house for Flag Day, Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day! Plus an iron to keep all the linens well pressed and a tin candle holder to keep the dark at bay.
Two antique braided rugs found in Sturbridge will help keep the dolls feet warm when they are running around their house this winter.
Antique petticoats, pantalettes, and stockings for the dolls.
Assorted antique thread, lace, trim, ribbons and fabric from our stop in Sturbridge at one of my favorite antique shops.
BIGGEST spools of thread in the world 🙂 OK, probably not, but still huge. The smaller spool is normal size.
Just a bit of whimsy for my new studio. A piece of zinc ridge pole from one of the NH antique shows. Just imagine having the entire crest of your rook bedecked in these hearts ❤
Another view of the antique zinc ridge pole.
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Close-up of the 1840’s papier-mache doll I bought in NH.
She has the most wonderfully detailed hairstyle.
A beautiful profile and iconic 1840’s styling.
I love this black stockinette doll, often referred to as a “Beecher-type” doll because people think it has a resemblance to the dolls made by Julia Beecher.
This doll is in amazing condition.
All of my dolls are over joyed that they have new family members! ❤
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!
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.
So while the baby napped, this American woman filled her head with daydreams of glorious cloth dolls, both past and future…
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 ❤
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. 🙂
This is one of the two soft sculpture dolls that I made in 1984. This photo is from a year or two ago, when I washed it before packing it away in the attic. It’s still in very good condition, considering how much it has been drug around and played with and all the times it has gone through the washing machine!
Do you remember the first doll you ever made? My first doll was actually twins! Two identical dolls made for my oldest two son’s first and third birthdays. I made them in February and March of 1984, from a pattern that my mother gave me. She had purchased the pattern ten years or so earlier, when my little sister was small, but had never gotten around to actually making a doll from it.
Almost life size and able to wear 6 month size baby clothes.
At the time I made the dolls we had just moved 6 weeks earlier, from Nebraska to Minnesota. My husband was traveling a lot, and after I got everything unpacked I worked on the dolls during nap times and at night, after the boys were in bed. Since the dolls were the same, Blair got to open his two weeks early, on Ian’s birthday in mid-March.
Unwrapping the birthday dolls 🙂See the doll in the back corner of the crib? Even early in it’s life it was having hair raising adventures!Made from polyester knit fabric, with fake fur hair, soft sculpture details and painted eyes. My doll making skills have improved a bit in 31 years, but I hope that the dolls I make now bring their owner as much joy, delight and fun as this doll did!!!
Later that same year I made my very first teddy bear, as a Christmas gift for my then 20 month old son. I remember frantically sewing away, trying to get the bear done around midnight on Christmas Eve… Somethings never change! 🙂
This is what my first teddy bear looks like today, 31 Christmases after I made him. Still looking out at the world with his embroidered, baby safe eyes, ready to play or snuggle up close for a nap ❤
This very large papier-mache doll can wear children’s size clothing.
Today I have been rendering a bit of loving assistance to this damaged, but still beautiful papier-mache doll. I’ve been asked by her owner to stabilize her condition, more than restore her. I have glued the very large crack in her head and started repairing the holes in the back of her head. Her antique underclothing is currently soaking in a solution of Orvis and distilled water. The idea here is to conserve the doll with a very light touch. I’m doing just enough to keep her together and stop her from deteriorating further, while allowing the story of her life and enchanting time worn appearance to shine.
This doll has a very nice hand sewn body, with magnificent fingers and hands!
Come back to visit next week to see how she looks when I’m finished working on her…
I love these little pink shoes with their scalloped edges ❤
Just a little something pretty to dream about as winter storms bring mountains of snowflakes swirling down. Photos of a beautiful antique Moravian cloth doll to muse over next to a roaring fire…
This doll is part of the New Milford Historical Society Museum collection.
I have two very fun new doll making items available just in time for the holidays!
IZANNAH WALKER DOLL MAKING KIT
Izannah’s original dolls were made with pressed cloth heads, which is a wonderful, but extremely difficult doll making skill to master. When I make the reproduction Izannah Walker dolls that I sell, I do make authentic pressed cloth heads. I also teach a master level class on how to make a historically accurate, pressed cloth head reproduction doll, but that class isn’t right for everyone.
If you’d like to start off a little slower and try something a bit easier, for your first reproduction Izannah, this kit is the way to go! The new kit is less challenging than my Izannah Walker Doll Making Class. Included in the kit is a poured composition head, cast in a mold that I made directly from Isane, one of the antique Izannah Walker dolls that I own, which will enable you to make a faithful representation of an 18 inch antique Izannah Walker doll. The kit also comes with patterns for the doll’s body, under garments and two dresses, plus a 31-page instruction booklet filled with detailed color photographs.
This kit is suggested for experienced seamstresses who are also well versed in painting with oils. If you do not feel confident enough to paint the doll’s head yourself, you may commission me to paint it for you.
The original Isane, on the right and my reproduction of her on the left.
Isane, the doll whose head is reproduced in my kit, is a true doll maker’s doll. She has a very interesting past. Originally made by Izannah Walker, she was later repaired and repainted by the Martha Chase factory. Izannah Walker and Martha Chase, both famous and well-loved doll makers, also both lived in Rhode Island. In fact, at one time Martha Chase’s father was Izannah Walker’s physician and when she was a child young Martha owned a doll made by Izannah Walker. Later when Martha Chase grew up and became a doll maker, one of the things her small work force of women did, in addition to making new dolls, was to repair older ones.
The real Isane has very old Martha Chase arms and legs from one of her character dolls, rather than the chubbier ones found on her baby dolls. She also had traces of the highly recognizable Martha Chase pink flesh tone on her face and shoulders plus a Martha Chase body covering. One of the many things I love about Isane is this meld she represents of two awe inspiring American women doll makers!
I’m sure that Isane left the Martha Chase factory and went on to have many, many wonderful years as a beloved plaything, eventually winding up several years ago in the collection of a talented doll maker, who lives in Canada. After she left Canada, Isane was owned by at least two doll dealers, one of whom repainted her. The next stop in Isane’s long life was a sojourn at the home of Edith O’Neil, who is a wonderful artist, doll maker and collector. Edyth named the doll Patience.
In the fullness of time, Isane came to live here with me, where she acquired a new name, and after I did 60 + hours of restoration, regained her old face. I’m fairly sure that Isane’s relationship with Martha Chase has not been mentioned or even known by some of her previous owners. I know about it because of the physical evidence on the doll and my years of experience with both Izannah Walker and Martha Chase dolls. Isane is one of three dolls that I have personally examined and done restoration work on that was undeniably repaired by the Martha Chase factory.
Because Isane’s current arms and legs are not the ones she started life with, the enclosed pattern has limbs drafted from one of my other antique Izannah Walker dolls of the same size.
Please be patient after placing your order, casting the composition heads is slow and time consuming endeavor, which I am fitting in between all of my many pre-existing orders.
TINY CUT OUT AND STITCH FABRIC DOLLS
These are my new cut and stitch printed fabric doll panels.
This is the time of year when I long for simple, fun projects to make as gifts for friends and family members. My preference is for small hand sewn items that I can stitch in front of a fire in the evenings, or while talking to my children. Projects that I can pick up and work on for a few minutes when I have little bits of extra time.
Three different methods of sewing and stuffing my tiny cloth dolls.
When thinking about a project for this Christmas my mind immediately leapt to the great printed cloth dolls that were popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. I’ve always been very fond of all of the printed cut and sew dolls from that era. My versions are a combination of printed cloth dolls and photos of some of the antique dolls in my collection.
Make two dolls with each panel by adding your own plain fabric on the back.
Most of my printed dolls are 8-1/2 inches tall. Each doll panel that you buy includes two mirrored doll images, so that you can sew them together back to back, or use them separately with a plain fabric backing, or for applique work. The dolls are printed on high quality 100% cotton fabric and are completely washable. There is extra fabric surrounding each doll that will allow for a ¼ inch seam allowance. The dolls may be sewn with right sides together, turned and stuffed; machine or hand stitched from the front side, trimmed and stuffed, or appliqued on to other projects. They may also be cut out and used for journaling and other mixed media projects. Add bits of fabric, lace, crepe paper and Dresden trims to create doll clothing.
The dolls aslo look quite charming backed with printed fabrics.
Some project ideas include:
– Sewn them together back to back for Christmas Ornaments, so the “front” side is always on view.
– String several together with ribbon or twine to make a banner ,then hang up across a mirror, window, or mantle.
– Hang them individually from cupboard doors or chandeliers.
– Make a handful into a mobile.
– Stuff several with lavender and use them as drawer and closet sachets for your finest linens and clothing.
– Fill one with cedar shavings and place it among your doll and bear collection to repel moths.
– Make a bunch to give as special party favors for your doll club meetings and events.
– Make a special doll’s doll for your favorite play thing.
– Great for Baby Toys
– Add a squeaker inside to make a fun dog toy or fill with cat nip for your kitten to play with.
-Applique them onto quilt blocks, pincushions, curtains, aprons, pockets, baby bibs and clothing, tote bags, t-shirts and more.
The outline of the doll is clearly visible on the back side of the fabric, which makes stitching them together easier!
I’ve tried to keep the costs very modest and I think you will find that it is the same or less than if you printed similar images on purchased printer fabric sheets using your ink jet printer. Plus you have the added advantage of being able to throw them in the washing machine! 🙂 My printed panels are $13 each, $ 30 for any three, $95 for any 10, or buy the entire collection for $100.
I love this antique pink fabric in combination with this little fabric version of one of my antique Dennison paper dolls. After sewing and stuffing her, dress her in crepe paper frills like the originals.
Tiny scraps of antique fabric can be fashioned into clothing for your little dolls.
CONTEST
I’ve thought up lots of ways to use my new printed fabric doll panels, but I bet you can dream up even more great ideas of your own! Just for fun, I’m having a contest to see who can design and make the best project using my printed doll panels. The rules are simple. Buy a doll panel, make it into something wonderful, take a photo and email it to me – paula@asweetremembrance.com – before January 31st, 2015. I’ll post all of the photos here on my blog, then invite readers to vote for their favorite. The winner will receive one panel each of my complete collection of tiny cut out and stitch fabric dolls, which is a prize worth $100. Good Luck!!!
Two intrepid little travelers are nearing the end of their journeys. They have been wending their way west towards their new homes.
Miss Ismay and her dear friend wished each other bon voyage and shared their hopes and dreams about their lives in their new homes.Ismay is so excited to be starting a new life in Michigan! She just can’t wait to meet her new family ❤
This sweet young lady feels so happy that she is going to be living in Ohio! She loved every minute of her first trip to Ohio, when she went to visit Early American Life!
These are the two dolls I designed for my how-to article in the Christmas issue of Early American Life. The issue has been mailed out to subscribers and is currently on newsstands. My prototype dolls have come back home from their photo shoot at the Early American Life offices and they’ll be listed for sale later today on my website. The dolls may be purchased via the secure checkout at ASweetRemembrance.com, or in the mean time you may call me at 860-355-5709 or send me a note via email at paula@asweetremembrance.com.
My doll posing with her photo in the Early American Life Craftsman Directory.
I am very pleased to announce that I have been juried into the 2014 Early American Life Directory of Traditional American Craftsman!!! This is the 30th time I’ve been listed in the Directory 🙂
I’ve also been working on a special project for Early American Life. Tess Rosch, EAL‘s publisher called me a couple of months ago and asked me to design, make, draft patterns and write instructions for a cloth doll which is to be featured in their Christmas issue this year. She wanted it to be a doll that “anyone could make”. I’ve just finished the doll and thought you’d all like a glimpse at how she turned out. The Christmas issue of Early American Life will be on sale September 9th.
My newest dolls get lots of tips from their older cousin about posing for Early American Life!Same pattern, two different versions. ❤I love the way this painted face turned out!Even though this doll isn’t as fancy, her simple pencil sketch features tug at my heartstrings…
Izannah Walker Journal 