A Letter from Hannah Grace

January 17, 2016 paulawaltonLeave a comment

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA — Hannah grace has written us a letter to say that she loves her new home and is making friends with all of the bears who live there too, especially Mr. Ginger. ❤

All of the girl’s were thrilled to receive a letter from Hannah Grace! . She said that keeping busy helps when she is lonely for her friends and family in CT, so she has begun working on a few projects.

Hannah is trimming photos of her loved ones to fit in her locket. She is planning to go shopping for ribbon this weekend so she can wear the locket and keep the pictures close to her heart. Hannah wants to share her quilt top with Mr. Ginger and plans to finish quilting it later this winter.She also has a small embroidery project she wants to work on and is in the process of choosing colors.

What a busy young lady!!! Now all of the doll’s are clamoring about starting winter projects of their own…

Izannah Walker Reproduction Doll · Uncategorized

Janet’s Hannah Grace

January 3, 2016 paulawalton4 Comments

Meet Hannah Grace, the first doll made from a mold that I created directly from Hannah, my most recently acquired antique Izannah Walker doll. Hannah Grace’s new mom, Janet, picked out all of her clothing fabrics and styles ❤

The original Hannah on the right and Hannah Grace on the left.

Hannah’s Warm Winter Wool Challis Dress

I made this dress out of a worn 19th century antique paisley shawl. The dress has many hand sewn details, including a cartridge pleated skirt and herringbone stitched seam finishes.

Hannah’s Summer Party Frock

For warm weather and fancy occasions Hannah Grace has a floral paisley dress made from antique gauze weight cotton. The dress has split sleeves with two different antique trims ❤

This summer dress is a bit shorter so that the eyelet tabs on her petticoat show 🙂

Still Haven’t Seen Enough?

If you would like to see EVEN MORE photographs of Janet’s Hannah Grace she has a photo album on my A Sweet Remembrance facebook page. Click here to visit it.

Thank you for stopping by to see us! We are so glad you came.

Other Types of Doll Making · Uncategorized

My First Doll

December 22, 2015 paulawalton2 Comments

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.

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 ❤

See Me in Print · Uncategorized

My Interview with Antique Doll Collector Magazine

December 13, 2015 paulawaltonLeave a comment

Antique Doll Collector magazine interviewed me for their blog last week. You can read the interview by clicking here. 🙂

Antique Izannah Walker Dolls · Celebrations · Uncategorized

Thanksgiving Wishes

November 26, 2015November 26, 2015 paulawalton2 Comments

Warmest wishes for a bountiful Thanksgiving filled with joy and love, from our home to yours. ❤

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I Will Be Temporarily Unavailable

July 27, 2015July 30, 2015 paulawalton4 Comments

Due to a death in the family A Sweet Remembrance is closed until sometime next week. I will check email as I am able to and telephone messages when I return to work. Thank you so much for your patience and understanding. ❤ Paula

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Sally’s Doll

July 13, 2015 paulawalton6 Comments

I've just finished this custom order doll for Sally. — I’ve just finished this custom order doll for Sally.

This 18 inch tall, all cloth doll, is the third reproduction that I've made of my antique Izannah Walker doll "Ismay". — This 18 inch tall, all cloth doll, is the third reproduction that I’ve made of my antique Izannah Walker doll “Ismay”.

A fortunate find was this antique linen with a crochet edge, which makes the perfect finish to the top of her arm coverings. — A fortunate find was this antique linen with a crochet edge, which makes the perfect finish at the top of her arm coverings.

Her split pantalettes are the first layer of clothing that goes on over her antique natural colored linen "second skin". — Her split pantalettes are the first layer of clothing that goes on over her antique natural colored linen “second skin”.

A scalloped hem petticoat is the last layer of her undergarments and echos the theme of her scallop lace trimmed chemise and pantalettes and her scallop topped boots.

Her pantalettes peep from underneath her dress skirt.

Sally chose a wonderful antique ,25 inch wide, Civil War era paisley print cotton for her dress. The fabric is in remarkable good condition for a 150+ year old textile. This small blue "Persian pickle" (my favorite term for paisley) is a particular favorite of mine, with just enough tiny minor imperfections to show it's age, but overall sturdiness. Notice the dress fastens with an antique cotton tape drawstring at the neck and an antique blue rimmed milk glass button at the waist. — Sally chose a wonderful antique ,25 inch wide, Civil War era paisley print cotton for her dress. The fabric is in remarkably good condition for a 150+ year old textile. This small blue “Persian pickle” (my favorite term for paisley) is a particular favorite of mine, with just enough tiny minor imperfections to show it’s age, but overall sturdiness. Notice the dress fastens with an antique cotton tape drawstring at the neck and an antique blue rimmed milk glass button at the waist.

I don't think I've mentioned it before, but when you see posts like this one on my website they are usually ones that I post so that the doll's new owner can look over all the final details and let me know if there is anything they would like changed on their doll. Once any alterations are made and I get the OK, then I send out the final invoice for the balance of the payment and ship the doll. Occasionally I've already emailed a few photos to the doll's new "Mom" and do one of these larger photo posts to tide her over until the doll can arrive. :) — I don’t think I’ve mentioned it before, but when you see posts like this one on my website they are usually ones that I post so that the doll’s new owner can look over all the final details and let me know if there is anything they would like changed on their doll. Once any alterations are made and I get the OK, then I send out the final invoice for the balance of the payment and ship the doll. Occasionally I’ve already emailed a few photos to the doll’s new “Mom” and do one of these larger photo posts to tide her over until the doll can arrive. 🙂

My newly made reproduction doll is shown here with two small antique friends. My goal is to make beautiful, accurate reproduction Izannah Walker dolls that will look right at home with your antique dolls and furnishings and blend perfectly into your collections.

The original Ismay, on the right, is a very early example of one of Izannah Walker's dolls. My reproduction custom ordered Ismay on the left is a faithful recreation of the original, with custom details specified by her new owner. — The original Ismay, on the right, is a very early example of one of Izannah Walker’s dolls. My reproduction custom ordered Ismay, on the left, is a faithful recreation of the original, with custom details specified by her new owner.

Ismay and her new namesake... — Ismay and her new namesake…

Ismay takes a few moments to introduce her new little sister to the rest of her family, and a special friend.

Four old & 1 new :) — Four old & one new 🙂

One last group photo... — One last group photo…

Sally's doll stops to visit with another one of my reproduction Izannah Walker dolls, this one may from a mold of my friend Mary's doll Anna. — Sally’s doll stops to visit with another one of my reproduction Izannah Walker dolls, this one made from a mold of my friend Mary’s doll, Anna. The funky shadows on the side of her face are from the candle stick 🙂

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Looking For a Summer Project?

July 10, 2015July 10, 2015 paulawaltonLeave a comment

Lately,if I have a poured and dried composition head sitting around in my studio, when I’m ready to begin painting one of my pressed cloth heads I will paint them in tandem. It always feels like the painting goes much faster when I’m painting more than one head at a time. 🙂 I’m not at all sure that is actually true, but it is convenient and I do get to cut down on the number of brushes I have to wash!

This head is one of my tandem painting projects. If you are looking for a fun and rewarding summer project this pre-painted head is available. The head comes with my Izannah Walker Doll Making Kit, which has patterns and instructions that you can use to finish the doll. The price of the kit with the painted head is $375.00. If you want to do your own painting you may order a kit with an unpainted head for $200.00. Custom painted heads may also be ordered if you would like a different hair style. If you have already purchased one of my kits or my full Izannah Walker Doll Making Class, you may also order this as an extra head to use with your patterns and instructions. I haven’t posted this head on my website yet, so if you are interested in purchasing it, email me at paula@asweetremembrance.com or call me at 860-355-5709 during east coast business hours. Would you like to know more about my Izannah Kit, click here to see a video about the kit in a previous post.

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I’ll Be Back at Work on Monday

April 29, 2015April 29, 2015 paulawalton2 Comments

I’ve been in Nebraska for the past two and a half weeks. My siblings and I, along with our various spouses and offspring, were having an estate sale to sell all of my dad’s things that he didn’t move into his new apartment and cleaning up his house so that he can sell it. I’m currently about half way back home. I’ll start catching up on emails and phone calls and be back to work on Monday. Thank you all for your patience ❤

Other Types of Doll Making · Painted Cloth Doll Making · Uncategorized

Day Dreams for a Snowy Winter Day… A Moravian Cloth Doll to Fill Your Thoughts

January 26, 2015 paulawalton6 Comments

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…