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.
Orange "cheddar" prints.
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.
Clarets and nutmeg browns.Brown prints were very fashionable in the 1860's.Indigo blues, group 1.Even more indigos (group 2).Civil War era "double pinks"."Poison" greens.Black and white "mourning" print fabrics.Browns and reds.A lovely sheer cotton printed with subtle plum and golden yellow flowers.1830's Prussian blue paisley.Red and blue paisley.
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.
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 🙂
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.
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!
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!
Strands of pink colored bone beads will make charming doll size necklaces. I also have them in natural bone and indigo blue.
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.
Antique white fabric and lace spilling out of a mid-19th century hide covered trunk. The wooden trunk, lined with period newspaper, is just the right size to hold an Izannah Walker doll and her wardrobe.
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 🙂
Early 19th century German wooden doll, with intricately carved ball joints and turn of the 20th century indigo clothing. The doll stands next to a 19th century domed wooden trunk in original blue paint and a 19th century turned walnut spool holder /pincushion. Lying at her feet is an antique crochet sample booklet, made of brown polished cotton with pinked edges.
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.
A closer look at my newly acquired antique wooden doll.
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.
These tiny bisque pincushion dolls, clad in pink silk, are barely 2 inches tall.Another fun flea market purchase is this doll size polychrome folk art cupboard. There is a drawer in the bottom, big enough to hold an entire child size tea set.The girls were quite pleased when I brought home this Izannah size mid-19th century doll chair, with a rush seat. They were getting tired of having to share one chair 🙂 The chair is sitting on top of a c.1750 Rhode Island blanket chest in original red paint, covered with a late 19th century hooked rug.
This doll presents a beautiful time worn appearance with characteristic Izannah cracked paint and soft antique fabrics and lace.
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.
Her antique indigo print dress has two growth tucks in the skirt and is short enough to show her lace trimmed pantalettes and red painted boots.She has two ringlets in front of each ear and short wispy hair that goes to the nape of her neck in back.See the scallop tops of her red boots peeping out from under the lace trim on her pantalettes.Hand gathered lace trims her linen chemise and pantalettes.All dressed for Halloween with her witch's hat and cobweb lace shawl.Contrasting antique black pindot fabric bands encircle the neckline, waist and sleeves of her dress.Trick or treat!
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 .
Last month, when I went to the Harwinton (CT) Antiques and Design weekend, I happened across this fantastic portrait. At the time I had just spent several days painting scallop topped boots on what felt like an entire army of tiny feet and sewing yards and yards of gathered white ruffles and lace. Finding this painting felt like the hand of fate.
Harwinton Antique Show Labor Day weekend 2011Susan Wechsler at the South Road Antiques booth wrapping up the portrait for traveling.Such a great find from a wonderful dealer. You can find Susan by visiting http://www.southroadantiques.com or write to her at southroadantiques@me.com .This doll has been sold, but you may special order a similar doll of your very own.
We’ve hung the portrait in our parlor, so that she over looks the wing-back chair and Sheraton sewing table, where I sit in the evenings to do my hand sewing. That way whenever my thread tangles, I have to rip out stitches, or just generally need a bit of encouragement, I can look up for inspiration. This tiny girl is a gentle guide to the look and feel of long past childhood, that I strive to convey in all of my dolls. I am so happy to have found her!
She looks as if she could have been a model for one of Izannah Walker's dolls.
Izannah Walker was born 194 years ago today on September 25, 1817. Happy Birthday Izannah! To commemorate the occasion I’ve created a special Izannah Birthday Doll with an outstanding eleven-piece wardrobe. I’m also having a birthday sale, from today 9/25/11 through next Sunday 10/2/11, all reproduction Izannah Walker dolls, Izannah Walker Doll Making Classes, Izannah Walker Doll Clothes Patterns and Spun Cotton Ornament Classes are 10% off. This sale includes custom order dolls and as always you are welcome to place items on lay-away. If you have any questions, want to place an order, or would just like to chat about Izannah and her dolls and mine, I can be reached at 860-355-5709 or paula@asweetremembrance.com.
Izannah Birthday Doll
SOLD - Birthday doll and her wardrobe.
Even though I was rushing to beat the rain and falling darkness, I had the best time yesterday taking photos of this doll. It was great fun to “play dress up” with her. Her extensive wardrobe includes three dresses, two chemises, two pairs of pantalettes, two petticoats, an apron and a real coral bead necklace. If you’d like to add more pieces to her wardrobe I can make her hand made leather shoes, a cotton sunbonnet and a straw bonnet.
SOLD - This dress has wonderful sleeves, notice the rows of gathers at the top of the sleeve by the shoulder line.SOLD - This view shows the yards of 1/8th inch velvet ribbon encircling the sleeves, skirt and waistband.SOLD - The fabric for this dress is a very old 24 inch wide pumpkin orange on white print with small brown leaves and red berry dots.SOLD - Here she is wearing her brown and red dress, which is made from another fantastic early fabric.SOLD - She comes with a real coral necklace, which matches the Turkey red embroidery on her linen apron.SOLD - This view shows her tiny stitched toes peeping out from beneath her pantalettes. The pantalettes have Turkey red embroidery to match her apron and crocheted lace in a triangle pattern that echos the zig-zag stripes in her dress fabric. Look at the coordinating fabric lining the "false hem" of her dress.SOLD - She's all dressed for a party in this sheer cotton dress embellished with row upon row of lace insertion.SOLD - Two long ringlets curl in front of each of her ears. Thank you for looking!
To read more about, or purchase this doll please visit my website A Sweet Remembrance. I’d be happy to answer any questions you may have or provide additional photos, just ask 🙂 860-355-5709 paula@asweetremembrance.com.
Make a Wish
Birthday pound cake decorated with fresh borage flowers.
This year the girls and I baked a pound cake for Izannah’s birthday using a c.1754 receipt that I found in The Williamsburg Art of Cookery. This receipt is old enough to have been a well loved family favorite by the time Izannah was born. Here’s the recipe so that you can bake one too.
Pound Cake
Beat one Cup of Butter to a Cream, slowly beat in one and one third Cups of Sugar. Add one Teaspoonful of Mace and beat in five whole Eggs, adding them one at a time. Sift in two Cups of Flour, turn at once into a greased and floured Pan or Mould and bake slowly for one Hour.*
*I baked my cakes in a 300 degree oven, 30 minutes for the doll size cakes and two hours for the larger version.
Carmel, California was one of the stops on our west coast vacation. Naturally I couldn’t go to Carmel without a shopping trip at the Carmel Doll Shop. I had a wonderful time browsing through the shop.
Michael and David were fantastic, even though they were away at a doll show, they arranged for one of their employees to come let me into the store. Thank you Samantha, you made my shopping a treat.
My find of the day was a great button front brown print day dress/morning coat that is just the right size for my 18 inch Izannahs. Every girl deserves a change of clothes :). Take a peek at my first antique Izannah modeling her “new” birthday dress.
Ironically the show Michael and David were doing was in Bellevue, Washington. We had been in Bellevue the day before and knew about the Doll Show, but I decided not to try to squeeze it in before we flew out to San Francisco. If I had known they were there I would have managed a brief stop on the way to the airport 🙂
We rounded out our day in Carmel by having tea at the Tuck Box teashop and buying licorice at the Cottage of Sweets (they have more than 50 varieties).
Since this dress looks so perfect on my Izannah, I’m planning on making a pattern from it, which will hopefully be ready for sale sometime next year.
I’m in the very early planning stages of working on an Izannah Walker Doll Making Retreat for 2012. Because a number of people contacted me about this years retreat, but were unable to attend due to schedule conflicts, I am asking for your input.
If you are interested in attending a 2-3 day Izannah class next year, please comment on this post and let me know when the best time of year would be for you. If you would prefer to email me, that would be great too – paula@asweetremembrance.com.
Izannah Walker Journal 