I know that some of you like the comfort and security of purchasing items from eBay. So every now and then I do put some of my classes there for sale.
Follow this link to view my current auctions – a few are “buy it now”.
Lovely Letters and Heartfelt Correspondence
In these final few hours of 2011 I would like to take a moment to thank you all for making this a wonderful year. I am extremely fortunate to be able to spend my days recreating dolls, clothing, and other treasured flights of fancy from the past. I sincerely appreciate all of you who have provided such unstinting encouragement and kind words. Your notes and phone calls have meant more to me than I can say…
I’d like to share a few excerpts from the correspondence that I have received this year which has touched my heart.
From C. “I am so thrilled to have found your website and to be able to realize a dream I have had for many years! I really appreciate all the time and care you take in just making sure someone feels comfortable in the ordering and purchasing process! Thank you so much!!” C. – I have loved discussing fabrics and dress styles with you… we are kindred spirits. Working on your doll will be a joy!
“Hi! Paula! The class workbook arrived about two weeks ago and to say that I was impressed and excited would be to put it mildly… I just can’t believe that I found you and am going to be making my very own Izannah doll. ” D. D. – your enthusiasm, energy and goodwill shine in every note you’ve sent.
“Hello, And thank you sooo much! she is beautiful!!! O my!!! I’m going to go “play dollz” she is the best! and so are you! I need to name her,…hummm….I’ll let ya know, B.” B. – I simply loved planning this doll with you, playing with all the fabric you sent and getting a chance to chat on the phone. I hope you’ve managed to avoid any more root canals!!
“I really appreciate your blog, it’s very elegant and well done, so thank you as one fellow collector to another. B.B.” B.B. You are a delightful and fascinating correspondent! Thank you.
S. even managed to make me blush with 73 characters of eBay feedback… “Stunning doll! Fast delivery! Amazing quality doll from talented artist!”S. – I’m so happy you have this doll and I hope that you enjoy your Christmas present! Your husband couldn’t have been nicer when he called to order your class. I’m very pleased to have you as a new student. Making your own Izannah will be a great adventure.
From P. “Oh Paula, I love your Izannah on Ebay right now. She is fantastic. Everything little thing about her I am in love with. Do you have some of the fabric from her dresses left over? I’d love to buy one just like her after Christmas. She is worth every penny of her buy it now. Everyone should go check her out.” P. – Your warmth and encouragement are something I appreciate so much. Writing back and forth and having you in my class is wonderful. I would be thrilled to make a doll just for you.
Thank you Paula for being so generous… I feel that I have gotten the most for my money in being able to make as close to a real IW as is probably possible with your class… If anybody will take my advice, I will steer them your way because I believe they will be better off with you. Thanks M. M- you have been a delight to teach! Your thirst for knowledge and dedication to perfecting your dolls is awe-inspiring. I’m very proud to have been able to point you in the right direction.
“I can only say that even though I have been sculpting and making dolls, I didn’t have the information about Izannah Walker doll design that your class has offered, as well as your other sewing information, and ongoing online assistance with the challenging areas of sculpting and mold making too. It’s a lesson as well as the real up close information, like patterns, body design and history. Those of us who never saw a real Izannah doll can get a closer look from this class. Much enjoyed! Thank you Paula.” From M. M. – I so appreciate your support and evident enjoyment of my class. You are an amazing doll artist and your work is outstanding. I love “talking” with you. Are you making any headway in tuning in on your grandmother’s hand made buttonhole skills?
To L. (known as M. to her friends), your phone calls are pure delight. I’m so happy to have been able to provide you with one of the dolls that you have always wanted. For a woman in her 9th decade you are one of the youngest people at heart that I know! It makes me happy to know that one of my dolls is sitting in the antique chair that you’ve had waiting for her for all these years.
There are so many more people that I haven’t mentioned, who have also sent lovely notes my way. Thank you, I treasure them all. You have helped to make my life richer and allowed me to live out my dreams.
May the upcoming New Year be the time when all of your dreams come true!
Paula
Waved Braid or The Amazing Things You Can Do With Rick Rack
I’ve always been rather fond of rick rack. It reminds me of my childhood. The dress I wore to my first day of kindergarten was trimmed with white rick rack and I remember seeing it on countless aprons and kitchen curtains during my youth.
In truth, rick rack or waved braid, as it was first known, has been in existence far longer than I have. 🙂 I haven’t been able to track down an exact date yet, but it was certainly available when this papier-mache milliner’s model was made in the 1830’s.
The waved braid on the dress above is an exact color match to the dress fabric. Both the braid and fabric are cotton and I am speculating that they were dyed to match. The dress is original to the doll. Three rows of waved braid circle the skirt and the bodice is adorned with a lavish combination of braid and knotting.
By 1882, when the following paragraph from The Dictionary of Needlework was published, waved braid was certainly common place and was being used to trim children’s clothing. It’s not a far leap from children’s garments to doll clothes, which explains why waved braid is often seen on doll clothing from this era.
“There are also waved cotton braids, used for trimming children’s dresses, which are sold by the gross, cut into lengths. The numbers are 11, 17, 21, 29, and 33. There are also waved worsted braids for children’s use, which are sold in knots of 4 or 5 yards each, and sold by the gross pieces. The numbers are 13, 17, and 21.”
In the 1880’s it was also popular to do crochet work using waved braid. Some fantastic laces can be created in this manner. I don’t crochet, but if you do and would like to read more about how to make this type of lace, follow this link.
No matter what name you call it by, waved braid, snake braid, corrugated braid, rick rack ( alternately ricrac, ric-rack or ric rac) is a very authentic choice for trimming historically accurate, mid-1800’s reproduction doll clothing.
How-To Instructions and Photos for Making Another Classic Izannah Walker Dress are Now Posted on My Izannah Walker Class Site
Merry Christmas to all of my Izannah Walker Reproduction Doll Making students! As my present to the class this year I have posted instructions for making a classic mid-nineteenth century Izannah Walker dress on the class member site. The instructions include a bit of dressmaking history and how-to photos. I hope you enjoy using the instructions to make a new Christmas dress for your Izzy. After all, a girl needs more than one style of dress in her wardrobe!
If you are one of my students who has not already signed up for the class member only site, I strongly urge you to do so. Here is a sample of the bonus class information you are missing out on if you are not using the class site:
– A Tutorial on How to Reduce & Enlarge Patterns
– Making Molds: Instructions on How to Make Three Additional Types of Molds (different than the molds in the class instructions book)
– Straw and Silk Bonnet Tutorial
– Directions for Making a Classic Izannah Walker mid-1800’s Child’s Dress
– Discussions and additional Directions for “Adding the Grace of Age”, Painting Tips, Clay, Sculpting, Tools, Special Accessories, and more…
and best of all it’s entirely free for all class members.
Email me at paula@asweetremembrance.com if you are a student who needs another invitation to the class site (everyone is automatically invited when they purchase the class). Be sure to include the approximate date that you took/purchased the class so that it will be easier for me to look you up in my records. Also for those who have already signed-up for the Ning site but can’t remember how to get there, I am happy to send you a reminder 
If you haven’t taken my class yet, but have been longing to do so, this would be a wonderful time to start. Make it your 2012 New Year’s resolution to learn how to create an Izannah Walker doll using the same techniques that Izannah did. I do have a handful of classes ready that I can mail out immediately, so it is still possible to get a class before Christmas if you order today or tomorrow (forUS shipping address only).
My Current Stock of Antique Fabrics
I love fabric! Especially if it is old. I thought some of you kindred spirits and doll makers might enjoy taking a look at my collection of Izannah era fabrics. They span the 1830’s – 1890’s, which covers virtually all of Izannah Walker’s doll making career, from her earliest doll, rumored to have been made in 1828; through the start of her doll making business in 1845, as reported by her grand-niece Norma H. Robertson, on to her United States patent in 1878 and her death in 1886.
If you order a custom-made doll or doll clothing you may choose from any of these textiles. In most cases, I only have enough of each to make a single dress, although there are a few exceptions. Some pieces are just large enough to use as trim or for accessories.
I spent the entire summer scouting for antique fabric and lace, so I currently also have a good supply of exquisite whites for dresses and undergarments.
Hint – Sign Up For My Mailing List
I don’t send out many notes to my mailing list, but when I do they usually contain good things, especially this time of year. Sign-up for my mailing list if you would like to know about new designs, studio happenings and of course special sales 🙂
If you would like to be among the first to know when I have new reproduction Izannahs available, just ask and I will add you to my “new dolls” mailing list too.
A Sweet Thanksgiving Finale
Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you all enjoyed a wonderful feast surrounded by family and friends. I am thankful for so many things in my life, including all of my terrific customers and students.
As a virtual “dessert”, to top off all of your harvest sweets, I am having a special sale on my Izannah Walker Class by Mail (click on this link) and my Spun Cotton Ornament Class by Mail (click on this link) from now through Monday, November 28, 2011.
Fresh Out of the Molds!
I just finished taking these two heads out of the molds and thought I’d post a quick photo before I start sewing the fronts and backs together. Removing the pressed cloth heads from the molds is one of my very favorite things! I am always constantly amazed that it is possible to actually make fabric do this!!! It is just like a small miracle every time. I rank it right up there with seed germination :), another of my own personal favorite small miracles.
One of these heads is already spoken for, and will soon be fashioned into a custom doll for Denise B. The other is available at this time. If you think that you would like to reserve it for a custom made doll of your own, you may call me at 860-355-5709 or email paula@asweetremembrance.com. I can tell right now that both of these heads are going to turn into really wonderful dolls!
Fabulous Finds
I have been finding the most wonderful things recently on my shopping forays to the flea market and various other locales. My latest trip on Sunday to the Elephant’s Trunk and the Jenny Lind Doll Club’s annual Doll Show were no exception. Since I just returned last week from a whirlwind shopping trip to Bella Vista, Arkansas with 11 other women, you would think I would be all shopped out 🙂 Apparently not so!
I was very excited to find strands of bone beads at the flea market. They are going to make wonderful Izannah necklaces and are available in more colors than the coral beads I have been using. The bone beads are also just as historically accurate as the coral. So now you will have your choice of both types of beads.
I’ve been frantically stocking up on all of the appropriate antique fabrics I can find. It’s going to be a long winter with many fewer shopping opportunities. I’m trying to make sure that I have enough fabric on hand to dress the dolls I will be making from now through early spring. The only drawback is that it’s making me feel a bit like a squirrel putting away nuts for winter 🙂
My shopping list, when I headed out to the doll show, consisted of one item – hand knitted doll socks. Upon arrival at the show I very virtuously purchased numerous pairs of lacy knit stockings (they are the one and only item of apparel that I do not hand make for my reproduction Izannahs). But then I got a bit sidetracked! I happened upon a fantastic German wooden doll, dressed in indigo prints.
Her clothing is old, though not as old as the doll herself. I’m estimating that her current ensemble dates to 1890-1910. Her pantalettes and chemise are probably original to the doll, which was made in the first part of the 19th century. Soon the wooden doll was carefully wrapped in tissue and residing in my shopping bag. To make sure that she didn’t feel lonely, I added a pair of tiny bisque pincushion dolls, a 1920’s Japanese bisque doll, a vintage spun cotton ornament, two tiny wooden Noah’s Ark dogs, and a pair of vintage evergreens to keep her company.
October 5th Studio Update – SOLD Thank you very much for looking :)
Thank you for taking the time to drop by and look at my dolls. At the current time all of the dolls that I have completed are sold. You are always welcome to place a special order or email me at paula@asweetremembrance.com and ask me to put you on my “New Doll Alert List” 🙂 so that I know to email you when I post photos of new dolls. (The “New Doll” list is different from my regular mailing list).
This doll has a very sweet rounded face with the look and coloring of a young child. She is available for sale with two dresses, one made from washed and faded, soft indigo and the other from a graphic black and white half mourning print.
To read more about this doll please visit my website A Sweet Remembrance. If you would like additional photos or have any questions call 860-355-5709 or email paula@asweetremembrance.com .
Izannah Walker Journal 