Happy 198th Birthday Izannah Walker – Part 3 – Baking Birthday Treats

September 25, 2015September 25, 2015 paulawaltonLeave a comment

The dolls have taken over my kitchen to bake honey cakes for this afternoon’s birthday tea party. It’s time to get out the cookbook!

This is one of our favorite cookbooks. America Eats by William Woys Weaver. It is no longer in print, but if you search you may still be able to find a copy here or there... — This is one of our favorite cookbooks. *America Eats* by William Woys Weaver. It is no longer in print, but if you search you may still be able to find a copy here or there…

"Isabeau will you find the page with the honey cake while I get out the honey pitcher?" — “Isabeau will you find the page with the honey cake while I get out the honey pitcher?”

"Here it is, Honey Tea Cake." — “Here it is, Honey Tea Cake.”

"Hannah, Isane and I will get out the ingredients, and you can measure them into the bowl." — “Hannah, Isane and I will get out the ingredients, and you can measure them into the bowl.”

"Alright, I can do that Isabeau" "Can you please hand me the flour?" — “Alright, I can do that Isabeau” “Can you please hand me the flour?”

"Zanna, do you think I should add some lavender to part of the batter?" — “Zanna, do you think I should add some lavender to part of the batter?”

"I think that is a wonderful idea Hannah!" "It will taste so good with the wild flower honey!" — “I think that is a wonderful idea Hannah!” “It will taste so good with the wild flower honey!”

"Does this look like enough lavender?" "Or should I add just a smidgeon more?" — “Does this look like enough lavender?” “Or should I add just a smidgeon more?”

"I love lavender! Let's add a bit more." — “I love lavender! Let’s add more!!!”

"Ismay, is the oven hot enough?" "I think the tea cakes are ready to bake." — “Ismay, is the oven hot enough?” “I think the tea cakes are ready to bake.”

"Yes it's just the right temprature." — “Yes it’s just the right temperature.”

"These smell devine" "The first batch is ready to come out of the oven right now." — “These smell devine” “The first batch is ready to come out of the oven right now.”

"Izzybelle, let the cake cook a bit so you don't burn your mouth, and then you can be our official taster." — “Izzybelle, let the cake cool a bit so you don’t burn your mouth, and then you can be our official taster.”

"Is it good?" "Oh yes! Everyone is going to love them. Maybe we should make more!" — “Is it good?” “Oh yes! Everyone is going to love them. Maybe we should make more!”

"Let's hurry and get the last of these out of the oven. We still need to get the chairs set up in the parlor and change clothes before the guest start arriving..." — “Let’s hurry and get the last of these out of the oven. We still need to get the chairs set up in the parlor and change clothes before the guest start arriving…”

Please come back to join us at 4:00 p.m. Eastern time for tea. ❤

Antique 19th century children's clothing · Celebrations · Restoration and Conservation

Happy 198th Birthday Izannah Walker! – What to wear to the party?

September 25, 2015September 25, 2015 paulawalton2 Comments

You’ve just received an invitation to a birthday party! What is the first thing that you think of??? “What am I going to wear?”

The dolls would like you to step back in time with them, as they show you what a little girl in the mid-1800’s would wear to a party. The dress they are showing off is one of my recent finds from the Elephant’s Trunk Flea Market. It is the approximate equivalent of a modern girls size six.

Hannah and Isabeau carry the party dress out to the wash tub.

First Things First

Before you can go to the party, you have to make sure that your best dress is clean. Isabeau, Hannah, and Isane volunteered to do the laundry…

It was a hot day so the girls decided to do the wash in the shade of the apple tree.

Zanna came along to pick up windfalls to make into pies. — Zanna came along to pick up windfall apples for pies.

“Hannah I think the water temperature is just right.”

“Now we can let it soak, while we help Zanna pick up the rest of the apples.”

“What a perfect day!’ “I hope we have time to sit outside with our quilting later.” “Maybe if we hurry and get finished here we can find a little time to sew before dark.”

If you would like to know Isabeau’s method for washing antique textiles take a look back at this previous post (click here).

Time To Get Dressed

It’s almost time for the party to start, so you’d better get dressed. The girls have laid your clothes out on the bed for you.

Here is your freshly washed chemise and dress.

Fancy scallops on the sleeves <3 — Fancy scallops on the sleeves ❤

The dress fabric is a woven white on white cotton that has turned to a lovely pale ivory over time. All of the long seams are machine sewn, with the detail work, such as this tiny cartridge pleating done by hand.

The back of the dress is fastened with large brass hooks and eyes.

And what should little brother wear to the party? A blue linen jacket trimmed with black braid and brass buttons!

A close up look at the hand sewn c. 1850's boy's jacket. <3 — A close up look at the hand sewn c. 1850’s boy’s jacket. ❤

Antique Doll Furniture · Antique Izannah Walker Dolls · Celebrations · Doll for Sale · Izannah Walker Reproduction Doll · Ordering a Reproduction Izannah Walker Doll · SALE · Where to Shop

Happy 198th Birthday Izannah Walker! – Part 1

September 24, 2015September 25, 2015 paulawalton6 Comments

SOLD Meet Anna. She is available for sale and would be thrilled to come join your doll family.

Welcome to my annual Izannah Walker birthday party! This year the dolls and I have a fun filled three day celebration planned. We are so pleased that you could come join us for the start of the party. I will be posting throughout the day today, with additional posts at 9:00 a.m., noon, and 4:00 p.m. Eastern time. Come back tomorrow and Sunday for new posts at 10:00 a.m. & 4:00 p.m.

1 Finished Doll For Sale – Now SOLD – Thank You so much for looking!

ANNA IS NOW SOLD. I have one doll made from my Anna mold available for sale. She is a very sweet, worn and well loved doll. Just the right size at 17 inches to be a little sister to other Izannahs in your collection. She has short wispy hair framing her face and tickling the nape of her neck. This Anna is dressed in an amazing antique red print fabric that I found in Brimfield in May. The fabric had never been washed until yesterday and even after one gentle washing still retains it’s crisp sizing. All three pieces of her undergarments are trimmed in tatting. Her short black scallop topped painted boots are embellished with a red scallop outline. As a birthday special she comes with a tiny antique tintype image of a young girl. When you imagine the story of Anna’s life, perhaps this little girl will become her original owner…

Anna can be yours for $1250.00, which includes free insured shipping to any U.S. address. Actual shipping charged to other countries. As always you may place Anna, or any of my dolls on lay-away. Call me at 860-355-5709 during normal business hours, or email me anytime at paula@asweetremembrance.com if you have any questions about this doll or would like to purchase her.

Introducing Two New Reproduction Izannah Walker Dolls

I am very happy to tell you that I now have two more molds! I made these molds, just like all of my others, directly from original antique Izannah Walker dolls. This means that I can offer you ten different authentic, all cloth, historically accurate reproduction Izannah Walker dolls!

Pictured below are the four dolls that I will be working on during the next three days as part of my Izannah celebration. After all what better way is there for a doll maker to mark the birthday of her very favorite doll maker than by paying homage to her by reproducing some of her amazing dolls! If you’d like to follow along with my progress you can check in at my facebook page to see the dolls coming to life. Click here to visit A Sweet Remembrance in facebook.

Lily

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.

This first Lily will be going home with her older sister and namesake ❤

A Second Lily

This Lily will be available for sale for $1250.00 when she is completed. She will come with a full four piece wardrobe which includes a chemise, pantalettes, peticoat and a dress, with painted boots.

Hannah

Hannah recently came to join my Izannah family from the collection of another of my dear friends, Edyth. ❤ I’m honored that she has entrusted me with one of her treasures.

Hannah is 18 inches tall and has such a sweet expression. Just like Lily #2, both of these Hannahs will be for sale once I have finished them. Yes, they also cost $1250.00, have painted boots and come with a full set of clothing made from antique fabrics and notions. 🙂

If you have any questions about these dolls, or would like to purchase one of them, please call me (860-355-5709 during east coast business hours) or email me (paula@asweetremembrance.com anytime). As a special birthday treat Isabeau, Zanna, Ismay, Isane, Izzybelle and the original Hannah have been busy piecing together quilt tops to go along with the Lilys and Hannahs that are purchased during this three day weekend. More about their quilting party later on… Just one more reason to keep checking back in through out the next three days 🙂

Feeling Creative?

For anyone who has the urge to try making an Izzy of their own I currently have two of my Izannah Kits ready to go.

A full instruction book + patterns comes with each head. The unpainted head/kit is $200 and the painted head/kit is $375.

Notice all of the paint texture of the original antique doll is captured in this composition head.

Furniture Tag Sale

The girls were all very enamored of the article they read in Antique Doll Collector about an Izannah Doll House. So when I asked them what they would like to include in our birthday weekend they all resoundingly said “Let’s have a tag sale of all of the doll furniture, so other Izannahs can furnish a doll house too!” Consequently all of my antique doll furniture is on sale at 10% off from 9/25 – 9/27. The sale price does include free shipping to U.S. addresses. Click here to shop the furniture sale.

Zanna is in charge of setting up the tag sale & Izzybelle is helping tie on the price tags!

That’s All For Now…

Come back to see us at 9:00 a.m. eastern time for our continuing birthday party adventures.

Antique Izannah Walker Dolls · Celebrations · Doll for Sale · Izannah Walker Reproduction Doll · Where to Shop

A Busy Week!

September 21, 2015 paulawalton4 Comments

The girl’s and I are in the midst of preparing for the big day on Friday!

We are hoping that you will mark your calendar and come back to visit on the 25th for our all day celebration of Izannah Walker's 198th birthday! — We are hoping that you will mark your calendar and come back to visit on the 25th for our all day celebration of Izannah Walker’s 198th birthday!

Izannah Walker Reproduction Doll

Carole’s Doll

September 6, 2015September 6, 2015 paulawalton4 Comments

Today I finished Carole’s special order “Ismay”. After popping Miss Ismay’s shoe laces in their dye baths, I hurried to take photos of her before dark. 🙂

Ismay shows off her antique lined second skin body covering. — Ismay shows off her antique linen second skin body covering.

The linen that I used for Ismay's second skin has a W cross stitched on it, which I placed on her left knee. Obviously this linen was meant to be part of this doll!!! — The linen that I used for Ismay’s second skin has a W cross stitched on it, which I placed on her left knee. Obviously this linen was meant to be part of this doll!!!

Another view of Ismay's knees <3 — Another view of Ismay’s knees ❤

Pintucks, ruffles, feather stitching & hemstiching... <3 — Pintucks, ruffles, feather stitching & hemstiching… ❤

Carole loved the clothing that I did for my doll that was pictured in Early American Life earlier this summer. Fortunately I had just enough fabric left to recreate her wardrobe for Ismay.

Ismay wishes everyone a very happy Labor Day!

In the morning Ismay’s shoe laces will be dry and I’ll teach her how to lace and tie her shoes!

Antique Izannah Walker Dolls · Celebrations

Please Join Me On September 25th When The Dolls & I Will Be Celebrating Izannah Walker’s Birthday Here On www.izannahwalker.com

August 26, 2015August 26, 2015 paulawalton6 Comments

Stray Comments · thank you

My Heartfelt Thanks for Your Kind Messages, Notes & Cards…

August 11, 2015 paulawalton8 Comments

Many thanks to all of you for your thoughtful notes and expressions of sympathy. I truly appreciate all of your kind words more than I can possibly say.

REMEMBRANCE IS THE SWEETEST FLOWER THAT IN THE GARDEN GROWS…

Laughter and tears are the lights and darks that make up the patchwork quilt of my life. These past few weeks have been filled with sunshine and shadows, but most of all love. Thank you for your friendship. Plus a huge additional thank you to all of you whose dolls I am working on, your kind understanding has taken a tremendous weight off of my shoulders.

BACK AT WORK

While I am not totally back up to my regular pace yet, I am back at work. So please feel free to call or email me with any questions about your doll orders and classes. New things have been continuing to happen in my studio. Yesterday Hannah joined my Izannah Walker doll family. I already have molds of her in progress, so in the not too distant future I will be making reproductions of her, which will bring the number of original antique Izannah Walker dolls that I can reproduce for you up to ten.

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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.