A Trip to Brimfield Yields Treasures!

May 13, 2016May 13, 2016 paulawalton7 Comments

So many great things to see! Our trip to Brimfield on Wednesday was wonderful.

On Wednesday my husband and I made our annual trek to Brimfield, MA. Three times a year Brimfield is filled to capacity with dealers selling antiques, vintage items and collectibles of all kinds. We usually only go in May, although we have occasionally gone in July, when the weather is blisteringly hot. We’ve never managed to go up in September, since fall is a busy time for us…

Brimfield is usually one of my major buying trips for antique fabrics and trims. This year I found slightly less fabric, but bought more antique silk velvet ribbon than I’ve come across in a long time.

Another item I came away with in abundance was petticoats. Women’s petticoats, baby petticoats and doll petticoats!!!

I even found a doll size mohair coat ❤

The dolls were quite excited when I carried in several new pieces of furniture for their house. I was lucky enough to find a tiny 1850’s jelly cupboard, a stretcher base table with a wonderful Christmas inscription on the underneath side, and an amazing little rope bed.

All in all a very successful expedition!

Doll for Sale · Izannah Walker Reproduction Doll

Lily #2 is SOLD

May 4, 2016May 6, 2016 paulawalton2 Comments

Lily #2 available for sale — Lily #2 has found a new home of her very own!

SOLD- Thank You! I’ve just finished making Lily #2’s pantalettes, petticoat and sun bonnet. Now that she is finished she is looking for a new home to call her own.

I am able to offer you reproductions of Lily due to the amazing generosity of my friend Susie, who owns the real Lily. I am currently almost finished restoring the original Lily and Susie very kindly told me that she wanted me to make a mold from her while she was here. I’ll be chronicling Lily’s restoration journey here in the upcoming weeks. Lily has a very classic Izannah head and at 17 inches is the middle stair step between my Isabeau and Izzybelle.

I am able to offer you reproductions of Lily due to the amazing generosity of my friend Susie, who owns the real Lily. I am currently in the midst of doing restoration on the original Lily and Susie very kindly told me that she wanted me to make a mold from her while she was here. I’ll be chronicling Lily’s restoration journey here in the upcoming weeks. Lily has a very classic Izannah head and at 17 inches is the middle stair step between my Isabeau and Izzybelle. — Here is Lily #2 posing along with Isabeau and the real antique Lily.

Lily #2 for sale — Lily #2 has a second skin made from dark red glazed antique cotton.

Martha Jenks Chase and Izannah Walker doll — I’m sure you are probably all familiar with this photo of Martha Jenks Chase holding her Izannah Walker doll that appeared in the wonderful article “The Search for Izannah Walker” by Monica Bessette, Doll News, Spring 1994. Look at the Izannah in this photo. I believe that the same mold was used to make this doll and the original Lily. If you do not have a copy of Monica’s article, you should. It is fascinating and a must read for all Izannahphiles!!!

SOLD – If you have any questions about Lily #2, or would like to welcome her into your doll family, please email me at paula@asweetremembrance.com or call 860-355-5709 during business hours. Oops! I almost forgot to mention that shipping is free to any U.S. address and that lay-away is also available. 🙂

You can see more photos of Lily #2 by scrolling down or clicking here- https://izannahwalker.wordpress.com/2016/05/02/playing-dolls-with-my-own-little-alice/

Antique Izannah Walker Dolls

The Dolls Welcome a New Sister to Their Family

May 3, 2016May 3, 2016 paulawalton2 Comments

The dolls are overjoyed that one of their older sisters has come to join the family of Izannah Walker dolls that lives here with me! This very early example of Izannah Walker’s work has spent all of her long life in Rhode Island. She is from an estate in Coventry, RI, which is about 31- 1/2 miles from Central Falls, Rhode Island, where Izannah Walker lived and worked; and 35 miles distant from Bristol, RI where Izannah was born.

Early Izannah Walker Doll from the collection of Paula Walton — Here she is just moments after she arrived.

Antique Doll Furniture · Antique Izannah Walker Dolls · Doll Accessories · Doll Clothing · Doll for Sale · Izannah Walker Reproduction Doll

Playing Dolls with My Own Little “Alice”

May 2, 2016 paulawalton7 Comments

My own little “Alice” and Lily playing in the doll’s new house.

“The sun did not shine. It was too wet to play. So we sat in the house. All that cold, cold, wet day.”

― Dr. Seuss, The Cat in the Hat

Today is a cool rainy day, much too wet to garden, with persistent downpours that make the walk out to my studios seem very uninviting. So I’ve decided that it would be an excellent morning to sit next to the fire and share photos of my own adventures in wonderland… On Saturday baby Cloe came to stay with us while her parents went out and about. It was the perfect time to play dress up with the Izannahs and explore a bit of their new house!

“Grandma made her little fingers, just like mine!”

Cloe visiting with Isabeau, Lily and my reproduction Lily in the parlor of the doll’s house.

“Lily you wait here while I get the table…”

Cloe and Lily #2 whiled away the afternoon playing in the kitchen of the doll house, with a brief intermission for Cloe to change her dress. ❤

c. 1830 doll cupboard in original salmon paint and an impatient baby who could not wait to have her dress fastened before she started playing again!

“Lily sit in this chair and wait for me. I’ll come back and play with you another day!”

The rain has stopped, the sun is out and my story has come to an end. Please come back soon to see more photos of Lily #2. She will be ready for sale this week, just as soon as I finish her petticoat and pantalettes. If you just can’t wait for her sale post, you may contact me with questions about her by emailing paula@asweetremembrance.com or calling 860-355-5709 during business hours.

Other upcoming blog posts will feature an in-depth focus on my restorations of two antique Izannah Walker dolls (Lily pictured here and Emmaline), and a complete tour of the doll’s house. I hope you can join us here at http://www.izannahwalker.com for both.

I’ll be posting more photos from Saturday’s photo shoot with Cloe on my A Sweet Remembrance facebook page.

Awards · Izannah Walker Reproduction Doll · See Me in Print

Hannah is Traveling to Locust Grove for Early American Life Photo Shoot

April 19, 2016April 19, 2016 paulawalton2 Comments

Last week I got a call from Early American Life to tell me that I have been selected for inclusion in their 2016 Directory of Traditional American Craftsmen! Such great news!!! Even better, they asked if I could ship a doll to Locust Grove in Louisville, Kentucky for the directory photo shoot. After I said “yes”, reality set in and panic ensued… Both dolls that I’d entered in the directory competition had been sold, so I needed to finish another doll from one of the same molds ASAP. I was already working on this Hannah for Carole, who readily agreed that Hannah could make a side journey to Kentucky before traveling to her new home. Thank you Carole!!! Earlier today I started Hannah off on her journey by escorting her to UPS. When she returns here after her trip, I’ll do the fittings for her second dress, then send her off one last time.

I love the body on this doll! It just naturally falls into the same resting position that many antique Izannahs do.

Custom Made Dolls · Izannah Walker Reproduction Doll

Shirley’s Doll Part Two

March 4, 2016 paulawalton2 Comments

Yesterday I had to hurry through my photo shoot with Shirley’s doll, due to the setting sun and fast approaching evening. So today I took a few more photos. 🙂

Cloe REALLY wanted to give this doll a hug… possibly forever ❤

Custom Made Dolls · Izannah Walker Reproduction Doll

Shirley’s Doll

March 2, 2016 paulawalton6 Comments

I’d like to introduce you all to Shirley’s doll. She is a custom doll, made from my Isabeau mold and is slightly smaller than Isabeau, at 17 – 1/2 inches, as requested.

17- 12 inches tall, with just a bit of “wear & age”. Bare feet, ringlets, and an antique – unused, store stock – white second skin.

Shirley asked for plain, untrimmed undergarments, with tucks on the petticoat. All three pieces are made from antique sheeting that was previously parts 19th century women’s petticoats.

This dress is made from a wool challis striped fabric and matching border print. The dress has longer length gathered sleeves and a cartridge pleated skirt.

This second dress is made from a mid-19th century cotton in a paisley print. It also has the same longer length gathered sleeves, and has two “growth” tucks in the skirt.

This is a close-up of the wool challis dress that shows the cartridge pleating, and a worn spot in the fabric that is patched from underneath with a matching piece of challis. Even the most glorious fabric suffers a bit from the passing of time… but considering 165 or so years since this fabric was made it is in amazing condition. 🙂

Just enough light at the end of the day for a visit to see the doll’s new house. It is coming along really well!

Antique Izannah Walker Dolls · Holidays · Uncategorized

Isabeau’s Diary

February 16, 2016February 26, 2016 paulawalton2 Comments

“Dear Diary,

I’m sorry I haven’t written for a few days. It’s been such a busy weekend! Our dearest friend Emmaline has come to visit and we are having such fun.”

“We are so happy the Emmaline came to stay with us for a nice long visit!”

“Every day we all walk out to check on the progress of our new house…”

"Then we come inside and for hot cocoa!" — “Then we come inside for hot cocoa!”

"and climb back up in our cozy cupboard." — “and climb back up into our cozy cupboard.”

“Good night dearest diary. Love, Isabeau”

Antique Izannah Walker Dolls · Custom Made Dolls · Izannah Walker Reproduction Doll

Pamela’s Doll

February 7, 2016February 8, 2016 paulawalton8 Comments

A sweet little Izannah for Pamela, made from my mold of Anna.

I’ve just finished a very special reproduction Izannah Walker doll for Pamela. I was fortunate enough to get to meet Pamela at the 2014 UFDC convention, where we had a great time chatting and planning all of the details for this doll. She is made from my mold of Anna, an adorable little antique Izannah Walker doll that belongs to my friend Mary.

Pamela’s doll in progress. I love her tiny smile 🙂

Pamela asked for blue painted boots to match the prussian blue in her doll’s dress.

Blue embroidery edges the hem of her petticoat…

Details… Cording piping and cartridge pleating at the waistline of her dress… individually hand stitched fingers and applied thumb…

The original antique Anna just happens to be visiting here at the moment and was happy to pose with her newest little sister ❤ (Pamela’s doll on the left and the antique Anna on the right).

Sharing secrets… the original Anna (right) and her newly made companion (left).

Antique Izannah Walker Dolls · Other Types of Doll Making · Painted Cloth Doll Making

The Dream Continues…

January 19, 2016 paulawalton4 Comments

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!