Paula Walton’s doll-making notes
Posts pertaining to making an Izannah Walker-style cloth doll.
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…
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. 🙂
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.
Wishing you a bountiful day full of family, friends and thoughtful thanksgiving for another year peace and plenty. ❤
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.
SOLD
SOLD
This link will take you to my website where you can buy this doll and read more of her particulars. She can be yours for $115.00!
The Christmas issue of EAL also contains their Holiday Directory. I’m very pleased to have been juried into this years Holiday Directory!!!
If you enjoyed this post you may want to check out this one too!
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.
Thank you so much for coming by to see Sophie and Mae. Both of them are now sold.
Sophie and Mae, the two portrait face New England rag dolls that were in my article in the Winter 2014 issue of Prims are back home, in all their Sunday finery, just in time for Easter! Sophie and Mae are two of the five flat face head variations that I made for my Izannah Walker doll making students. Class members can use the five different heads with their Izannah class patterns. The bonus patterns are available to class members through the class discussion site free of charge. Follow this link to read more about my Prims article.
Now that the girls are back from California, they are ready to find new homes. I’ve just listed them for sale on my website. If you are interested in buying either of them you can go through the secure automatic checkout at http://www.asweetremembrance.com or you may call me 860-355-5709 or email me paula@asweetremembrance.com. Shipping is free to any US address and lay-away is available with terms to fit your budget.
Sophie
SOLD Sophie is dressed in a pink and black print dress made from antique late 19th century fabric, a petticoat with lavish pink crochet trim and a cap made from antique crocheted cotton lace. Her face, head and shoulders are painted with artist’s oils.
Mae
SOLD Mae’s face, head and shoulders are painted with artist’s oils. She is wearing a silk plaid dress with cartridge pleated skirt and velvet ribbon trim, a white scalloped petticoat, black hand knit socks and handmade brown leather shoes with purple silk laces.
Sophie, Mae and I Wish You a Happy Easter!
*** The girl’s dresser is also for sale, click here to read all of it’s particulars.
I received my advance copy of Prims Winter 2014 issue right before Christmas. Today I finally found a few moments to sit down with a small friend and look over my article, while we shared a cup of tea and a slice of the wonderful nut roll that Mary sent me for Christmas.
You can read all about my portrait face New England rag dolls when this latest issue of Prims goes on sale January 1st. The dolls featured in the article are ones that I made for my Izannah Walker doll making class. They are variations on the class patterns, that allow class members to create additional types of cloth dolls. All told I made five different variations of my patterns for my students. Two of the dolls with painted cloth faces appear in the magazine. The patterns are free for class members and instructions for making the dolls are posted on the class site.
For the past few days I’ve been exchanging notes with Martha Bishop, a dedicated and prolific doll maker who is a member of my Izannah Walker Doll Making Class. We started out talking about one of Martha’s dolls Taloulah, then as is often the case, our conversation moved on to other topics. Martha’s correspondence warmed my heart and has given me a little glow that I’ve been carrying around with me ever since. People like Martha are why I love teaching! With her permission, here are some excerpts from her emails:
... “I wanted to tell you that a lot of people have been trying to figure out how to make doll heads using molds. I’ve told them many times that I came to you to teach me how to do this, and it was one of the most important things I could have done for myself. After taking your class I was able to do what I wanted, without still floundering around with unanswered questions. I have directed them to you and encouraged them to take your classes. I don’t know if anyone takes my advice, but it is what so many people need to do. People are stubborn and waste time and money trying to figure out how to do things themselves without the benefit of a knowledgeable teacher. Just wanted you to know that.
“I saw your article in Prims with your three Izannah dolls. They did a good job, but then the dolls were beautiful. It was very nice. I am looking forward to the Alabama Baby class. I have read it and intend to get started before too long. These dolls appeal to me in a big way too, especially the black ones. I’m sure I will have lots of questions when I start.
… “I think you should put my comment on your sites, wherever you want. I am glad to let people know that there is help for them, and this class you teach is the best and only place I know of to get the training to make an authentic Izannah Walker doll, made the way Izannah made them. I’ve told people that it’s not just about making a molded head, it’s a comprehensive course that includes so much more about making the dolls, that they would need just as much as mold making . Please use this where ever you want to. I am glad to help. It’s all true.
P.S. the cost of the course is nothing compared to all (they) will benefit from it in every way.
Love, Martha”
Thank you Martha, your words are good for my soul!
If you are a fan of Prims magazine, you may be familiar with Martha’s work. Her Jack & Jill were featured in the Autumn 2012 issue. To see and read about Martha’s dolls visit her blog www.martha-maboriginals.blogspot.com and her selling site www.maboriginals.com . Make sure to read Taloulah’s story!
Don’t forget! Today and tomorrow are the last two days that you can take advantage of the SALE on my Alabama Indestructible Baby Class.
Not on my mailing list??? Here is a recap of the sale information:
Are you looking for a fun, interesting project to work on during some of these long, lazy summer days? If so, consider making a reproduction of one of Ella Smith’s Alabama Indestructible Babies. They are sweet, charming dolls that really capture the feel of the early 1900’s. My Alabama Indestructible Baby Reproduction Doll Class by Mail will be on sale for $49.00 through the end of July (regularly $65.00).
Izannah Walker Journal 