This is a photograph I first shared in February, 2012 ❤ It shows a reproduction Izannah Walker doll that I made, photographed, and then talked one of my sons into inserting in a copyright free antique photo. ❤ ❤ ❤ Every now and then this photo pops up in my Pinterest and facebook feeds. It always makes me smile when that happens… especially when people have added inaccurate captions because they think the doll in the photo is an original ~ not realizing that it is an altered photograph… It’s original caption having been lost when the photo was shared, then shared again… like playing a visual version of “telephone” 🙂
It’s funny, the altered photo is no longer in it’s original post, having fallen victim to one of my infrequent photo storage deletion sprees… as storage space here on my blog is always an issue 🙂 However I did leave a couple of color photographs of the doll and a short video of her in the original post, which you might enjoy seeing!
This is the unaltered copyright free Dover image we started with to create the final photo.
“No! We should stay inside where it is warm and read…”
“or work on our samplers…”
Isabeau, Ismay and Zanna were forced to agree, for the sad truth is that the dolls only have one coat to share between them all, which was kindly loaned to them by the bears…
…and so Isabeau sat down to read “The Story of My Dolls” aloud. “No one seems to know much about Tillie” she read…
“We do, we do!” cried all the dolls…
… later they bundled Izzybelle into the borrowed coat and let her go outside to scoop snow into their biggest bowl. Then they made snow ice cream, which they ate to their hearts content.
Two sweet sisters all ready to to begin life in their new home. Very special custom order dolls for Connie made from my Ismay and Isabeau molds.
Connie’s Isabeau and Ismay have matching chemises, pantalettes, a petticoats, all made from antique white cotton fabrics, lace and buttons.
Isabeau has an extra linen petticoat with lovely hemstitched details.
Isabeau is showing off her extra petticoat, made from hemstitched antique linen.
Because sisters love to raid each others closets, I made sure that their dresses will fit both dolls ❤Trading dresses!
I love both of the dress fabrics that Connie chose. Both dresses have extra fabric, for fuller skirts, a deep hem on the paisley dress and two growth tucks on the double pink dress. ❤
The dolls and I have had a very busy day ❤ We spent a little extra time this morning baking a special Valentine treat, Chocolate Bread, an amazing combination of dark chocolate, tart cherries and coffee. While the dough was rising, and filling the house with an enticing scent, we went out to the studio where Josephine, Isabeau and Ismay kept themselves busy making valentines. ❤ ❤ ❤ click on any photo to enlarge ❤ ❤ ❤
Ismay and Isabeau cut out Valentines, weaving paper hearts into tiny paper hands, while Josephine addressed envelopes to all of their dearest friends…
Josephine has been spending her time composing advertisements for the shoppe. “Mistress Walton begs leave to inform her Friends and the Public in general that she intends opening a Pop-Up Shoppe on Monday, the 12th inst. with a new and elegant assortment of paper cuttings, stitchery, and love tokens… Mistress Walton takes this importunity of returning thanks for the great patronage she has already received from her numerous friends… ” Josephine is a devoted reader and she found great inspiration in Advertisements for January, Ackerman’s Repository, Vol. XI, 1814
Birthday messages… ❤
Making Valentines was such fun, and kept the dolls so busy that I was able to work on many other things.
Cutting out dresses for the twins, Annabelle and Annalee ❤Photographing new dolls… four different versions for a custom order 🙂
Sewing on arms, legs and second skins, in Valentine colors of red and pink ❤
We hope your Valentine’s Day has been just as wonderful and eventful as ours ❤
With soft snowflakes gently falling down around the trees and barns… it is easy to imagine life here on our farm 100, even 200 years in the past. Time has a way of blurring and shifting on days like today.
As I walk out to my studios, thinking of the doll’s eyes I am going to paint and small bodies I am going to sew, I wonder… did Izannah think similar thoughts while walking through the snow on a winter’s day?..
A sweet little Ismay, almost ready to head to her brand new home ❤
Making this Ismay has been a great treat for me, as I am not often asked to make black reproductions of Izannah’s dolls. This is the very first time that I have made a black version of Ismay and I am completely smitten with her such a lovely doll in person and so very difficult to take photos of!!! Poor dear, my photography skills do not do her justice…
Formerly part of the Richard Wright collection, this amazing black Izannah Walker doll is the only surviving extant example that I am aware of.Scarcer than hen’s teeth, this charming doll is one of the few Izannah Walker dolls with a wig. In a newspaper article many, many years ago, Norma H. Robertson, Izannah Walker’s grand-niece, stated that her great aunt made “darkie”, or as we would now refer to them, black dolls. So there must have been more than just this one. 🙂
au natural
a 2nd skin made from antique glazed cotton
bare Ismay
“look Ma, no clothes!”
tiny toes
chemise and pantalettes
lovely lacey petticoat
a dress fashioned from an antique cheddar print fabric trimmed in black velvet ribbon
Ismay makes a quick stop in the kitchen for a snack.
Ismay
Ismay
A sweet little Ismay, almost ready to head to her brand new home ❤
Ismay
Ismay
I made Ismay’s second skin body covering from and antique petticoat that I’ve had for at least twenty years. I finally found the perfect use for it! ❤
19th century petticoat…
close-up of brown glazed cotton petticoat
This next dress that Ismay is modeling is not part of her wardrobe. She borrowed it from Cloe so that she could show her new Momma what she looks like in a different style of dress. Anita and I have been discussing a rather extensive wardrobe for Ismay, made from fabrics that Anita has been collecting. ❤
Ismay wearing her borrowed dress ❤
Ismay
short gathered sleeves
Ismay wearing her borrowed dress ❤
a soft painted hairline and Nigerian kid skin wig
monochromatic dress
Ismay in brown
sitting pretty
Ismay
Ismay
an Ismay for Anita
Ismay will be ready to travel just as soon as she decides what color shoes she wants. February is much too cold for bare feet! She’ll have to wait until summer for that.
Cloe’s dresses… the brown size doll dress is the one Ismay borrowed 🙂
The wheel of the world has turned once again and it is time to welcome in a new year… Even more so than Thanksgiving, New Year’s is a time that causes me to think about all the things I am thankful for and to consider all of my hopes for the upcoming year.
I AM GRATEFUL…
I am thankful for the opportunity to study, care for and love the Izannah Walker dolls in my collection. They may not be pristine, perfect examples of Izannah’s work, but each mark of wear and evidence of love holds a special place in my heart.
Everyday I realize how exceedingly fortunate I am to be able to do the things I love. I can not express how thankful I am to be the current custodian of eight of Izannah Walker’s dolls! I am constantly amazed that these dolls are mine to love and care for. It’s been a long time coming, with years upon years of searching and more hours than I can count of work to pay for them. If you had asked me 25 years ago if I would ever own even one Izannah Walker doll I would have said no, but the longing for one these amazing dolls never waned. So I continued to search for a doll I could afford and try to save money to pay for her… It’s good to hold on to your dreams, whatever they are, to continue to strive for your goals and not get discouraged! It also helps to be tenacious and downright stubborn! 🙂 Because I know that I am blessed, I try to share my Izannahs, both old and new! I have always been grateful to others who have been kind enough to show me their dolls, in person, in photographs and online, so I attempt to repay my thanks by doing the same – plus adding in bits of my imagination and the world it lives in… Come by in the months to follow and see the dolls at play ❤
To my immense surprise and delight, 2016 brought two new Izannah Walker dolls into my little doll family!I have named Josephine (on the left) and Eliza Jane (on the right) after two of my great-grandmothers. One of the things I am most looking forward to in 2017 is making reproductions of both of these dolls. The chance to focus on each doll intensely, learn her similarities and differences, and simply enjoy being in their presence for the many hours it takes to make a new reproduction doll for the first time is a treat to look forward to!
THANKS TO YOU…
Thank you all for your support of my work these past 30 years! I didn’t say much about it, but 2016 was the 30th year I have been making and selling my handwork.
Thank you for your purchases, both large and small! Thank you for your kind words of encouragement and your compliments. It is a scary thing to expose items you have lovingly created to the world! Thank you for making it a rewarding experience, and much less frightening.
Thank you for being the kind of customers and students who turn into friends and brighten my days!
A huge thank you to those who have entrusted their precious dolls to me for restoration!!! I have appreciated the chance to take care of your treasured dolls, and to carefully undo the worst ravages of time and past accidents. I learn so much with every doll I have the opportunity to study and observe! I know I’m slow and cautious when restoring dolls, so thank you also for your patience.
Emmaline after restoration.A 2nd after restoration photo. The change in color is very subtle. These photos were taken before the doll was seen by her owner. After the owner had a chance to see the replaced arm and replaced antique linen upper arm covering, we decided to “age” the fabric and arm more.
An immense armful of thanks to those few special individuals who feel the same way that I do about sharing the beauty of Izannah’s dolls, and who have graciously allowed me to make reproductions of their antique Izannah Walker dolls! I truly can not thank you enough. ❤ ❤ ❤
Lily after I finished her restoration. What a beautiful Izannah Walker doll!The Lilys! Sisters, best friends and bosom companions through thick and thin
KNOW YOURSELF
One of the good things about being older is gaining a deeper understanding of yourself! After a lot of trial and error, I know many of the things that make me happy. I know that I am the happiest creating beautiful,intricate, time-consuming things. I do make and sell a large number of items… and I used to make even more. Yes, I can make simple, less expensive dolls, bears, clothes, pincushions, etc. etc. etc… but doing that is more like drudgery. I strive for special, amazing, perfect work. That is what makes my heart sing. I may not always reach my ideal, but that doesn’t keep me from trying again and again. I know this is not the right way for everyone, but it is for me. So know yourself! Be kind to yourself and follow the path that is uniquely yours. Don’t follow the crowd, follow your heart! ❤
Cartridge pleated baby dress.
HOPE FOR THE NEW YEAR
A new year traditionally brings new beginnings. My hope for 2017 is to be more creative. To try projects that I’ve been daydreaming of for years. To let that spark of creativity light all the days of this brand new year!!!
My hope for you is that you will be able to turn some of your long held daydreams into reality in 2017, and that you will be surrounded by those you love and care about! Try something new! Happy New Year to us all!!!
The dolls are still in the midst of their Christmas festivities. It’s such a wonderful time of year that they like to make it last just as long as possible…
Izannah Walker Journal 