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Happy First Day of Spring 2010

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I hope that this first day of Spring is as glorious where you are, as it is here in Connecticut!  The sun is out, birds are everywhere and I even have flowers blooming weeks early, due to an unexpected warm spell.

It’s a great weekend for a celebration, which is what we are doing at our house!  No, we aren’t partying because my Izannah doll class is finally finished, although that would certainly be a very good reason, too.  Instead it’s a birthday weekend here.  Our family has gathered together to wish my husband, Brian,  and our oldest son, Ian, Happy Birthday!  Their shared big day was actually on the 18th, but we had to wait for the weekend to come around.

So my wish for the day is that you are all getting to enjoy the beginning of spring in a special way too! 🙂

Izannah Reproduction Doll Class

and the work continues…

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Here are some of the things I did today to get my Izannah class a bit closer to being finished and ready to ship.

Izannah Reproduction Doll Class

Progress!

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We are into the final home stretch in preparation for my Izannah Walker Reproduction Doll Class by Mail.  It looks like we are on schedule to ship right at the end of the month, although we are experiencing a few weather related delays and not all of the fabric has come in for the material kits and the samples that go along with the class, so we may have a bit of a problem there.   Keep your fingers crossed!

Today among other things we stretched canvas and primed it with gesso in preparation for painting swatches that are included in the class painting instructions.  This is the type of thing that I would do out in the barns in good weather, but because it’s winter and we had a fair amount of snow fall today, I have the canvas set up on boards in my cellar, right up next to the furnace to help speed the drying time.

Antique Izannah Walker Dolls · Stray Comments

Happy President’s Day!

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Izannah Reproduction Doll Class · Stray Comments

My Perfect Izannah Day

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Yesterday was a perfect day.  For the past twenty-four years I have been creating and selling fine handmade trinkets, little bits of this and that to nourish your soul, embellish your home and simply to make you smile.  Once upon a time, further back toward the middle of those twenty-four years, I used to spend the first months of each year designing fanciful new doodads and gewgaws.  Tucked up in front of a blazing fire with my sketchbook, needles, threads and stacks upon stacks of fabric, I would design, create and perfect fanciful cloth dreams.  While the winter winds blew and Mother Nature sprinkled the world with icy “glitter”, I would stay at home and work away on anything my heart desired.

Time moves on and things change, as they always do.  I no longer have the luxury of wiling away all of my winter days working on new designs.  What I have now are a few perfect days each year that recreate the gift of past times.  Yesterday was one of those days.

I spent the day making samples for my Izannah class instruction book.  It was wonderful to have an “all Izannah” day.  In the morning I rummaged through my attic to find cotton and wool stuffing.  I could tell it was going to be a stellar day when I managed to burrow through my stash of antique fabrics and lay my hands on all three of the fabrics I needed to find in the very first box!  Then I sat down at one of my favorite sewing machines, my mid-1940’s Singer Featherweight and sewed body parts together for several hours.  I would have liked to use my Great-Grandmother Lovelady’s Singer treadle machine, but my sewing room was too icy cold and the treadle isn’t anyone’s idea of portable. 🙂

I took a short break to make a big pot of French Onion soup for lunch, and because I was having such a charmed day, my husband Brian cut up all of the onions for me.  Just so I wouldn’t cry.

In the afternoon and evening, I moved to my front parlor.  There I built a warm, toasty fire in my Shaker box stove and pulled my Sheraton sewing table right in front of it to work on.  I love my sewing table, not just because it has all sorts of wonderful places to hold my hand sewing tools, or because I can stash my current project away inside it’s fabric pleated “pouch” when I need to make the room look presentable, but because I like to think about all of the other women who have sat beside it and plied their needles during the past 200 years.  It gives me comfort to know that while some things change, others remain forever constant.

When I was much, much younger I didn’t have the patience for hand sewing.  It was something that I hurried through just to finish a project.  Now, intricate hand sewing is my very favorite part of anything I make.  I find fashioning tiny, perfect fingers and thumbs, like I did yesterday, to be a treat.  I didn’t even mind too much 🙂 when I had to tweak my Izannah’s boot pattern for the sixth time and make yet another in a long line of sample feet.

Everyone needs a perfect day now and again.  I hope that you find one of your own soon, the type of day that brings no bigger stresses and strains than having to battle it out with your cat over who gets the chair next to the fire!

Izannah Reproduction Doll Class · Izannah Walker Project Ideas

Making an Izannah Paper Doll

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I came up with this idea when I decided to make a very special certificate for everyone who pre-ordered my Izannah Walker Reproduction Doll Making Class in 2009.  I really enjoy making these paper dolls.  They are based in part on a set of early 1900’s Dennison paper dolls that I own.

The next time you would like a quick doll-making project, gather up your paper, scissors, and glue-pot and make a flat Izzy.  Mine carries a certificate in her “book’, but yours could hold and invitation to tea, a thank you note , or simply be a lady of fashion who enjoys playing “dress up”.

Following are instructions.

Instructions:

1.  I took a photograph of one of my original Izannahs, sized the photo to fit on an 8- 1/2 x 11 inch sheet of card stock and printed it in high quality.  If you don’t have an antique Izannah, a newly-made Izannah inspired doll would work just as well.  You could also use pencils or watercolors to draw or paint an Izzy.

2.  Use rubber cement to adhere a second piece of cardstock to the back side of your printed image.  Weight down with a heavy book  until dry.

3.  Draw a pattern for the base of your paper doll.  I used two shapes that resemble half circles, one slightly larger than the other.  Cut out your pattern pieces.

4. Trace the larger pattern piece onto the bottom of your printed Izzy.  Do not draw a line over the doll’s legs.  Trace the smaller pattern piece onto an empty area of your background card stock.

5.  Using scissors and an X-ACTO knife, carefully cut out the paper doll and stand.  If you do not want to use an X-ACTO knife, you can trace both of the pattern pieces for the stand onto background cardstock, cut out the paper doll and stand entirely with scissors and then glue the doll to the larger stand piece with rubber cement.

(click on each photo to see it full size)

6.  Cut slits into both parts of the stand so that the pieces fit together and the doll can stand up.

7.  Trace a pattern for the doll’s chemise, add shoulder tabs.  Cut out pattern.  Then trace pattern onto white card stock.  Cut out.

8.  The card stock chemise is a base for making a crepe paper dress.  Using  your imagination, crepe paper, ribbons and buttons, fashion a dress by cutting out a skirt, bodice and sleeves, then glue them directly onto the card stock.  Tip: Pinking shears or scissors with scallop blades make a nice finish for the bottom of crepe paper petticoats and skirts. *In Early American Life magazine, Christmas issue 2005, on page 34 there is an inspiring photograph that shows a bevy of paper dolls dressed in their finest crepe paper frocks.

9.  Sign and date your paper Izannah.

10. Fold down shoulder tabs.  Place dress on your paper doll.

11. Sit back and admire your accomplishment!  Smile!  Enjoy!

There is still time to pre-order my Izannah class, and it remains on sale, 10% off, through January 1.  All pre-orders come with a paper doll just like the ones pictured here and a vintage Izannah Walker post card (while supplies last). Class information here.

Doll Clothing · Reference Materials

c. 1860’s Girl’s Clothing Styles

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Izannah Walker is generally known to have begun making dolls around 1845, even though she did not apply for a patent until November 4, 1873.  A majority of the original clothing in which she dressed her dolls reflects the styles worn by children in the 1840’s and 1850’s.  However, 1860’s clothing would also be perfectly appropriate.

To provide you with a bit of dress-making inspiration, here are some illustrations that appeared in Godey’s Lady’s Book in 1858, 1862, 1864 and 1866.  In the future I will post some more 1850’s Godey’s illustrations, although the 1850’s illustrations are not as lavish as these from the 1860’s.

(click on each photo to see it in full size)

Antique Izannah Walker Dolls · Doll Clothing · Izannah Inspired Artist Dolls

Share and Share Alike

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Sharing is a beautiful thing!  If you would like to share photos of your antique Izannah Walker dolls or your newly made Izannah inspired dolls, I would love to post them here for everyone to oooh and aaah over.  I would also just love to see photos of any doll dress (petticoat, chemise, etc.)  that you have made using my Izannah Walker Doll Clothes Pattern.  It’s always so neat to see the way different seamstresses will interpret a pattern and marvel at the way different fabrics and notions change the look of a dress.  You can send photos that you would like me to post to Paula@asweetremembrance.com.  Please include your name and your website and/or blog, if you have one that features your work.

I would also welcome your input on what you would like to see included in my upcoming Izannah Walker Reproduction Doll Class by Mail.  I’m still in the midst of writing up the instructions, so if there is something that you have always wondered about concerning Izannah Walker dolls, feel free to reply to this post and tell me what your question is.  I’ll try to cover the answer in my class instructions.

Of course, if you run into any questions at all or think of something else you’d like to know when you are in the midst of taking the class, you can always ask me then too.  Unlimited telephone and email support is included in the class.

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My Thanksgiving Wish for You

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I hope that your Thanksgiving holiday this year was filled with family, friends and food! (and a bit of time for yourself to shop, sew, sculpt, or paint).

We had an excellent weekend.  All three of our sons were home for Thanksgiving.  We also got to see many of their childhood friends, who were  in town for the holiday and came over to our house to hang out with the guys.

My youngest son, Colin, who is an illustrator and editor (he’s current living in Brooklyn and working in Manhattan), did some photo shop work for me which helped me launch my Spun Cotton Ornament Journal over weekend.

I am very thankful to have such great students and customers, you are all the very BEST!  Thank you!  I look forward to talking to you in the coming year, as you enrich my life with your creative spirits.

These photos are actually from a couple of years ago when the New York Times was at our house doing an article on Open Hearth Cooking. This photo shows their photographer in action.
Izannah Inspired Artist Dolls · Izannah Reproduction Doll Class · Painted Cloth Doll Making · Where to Shop

Announcing Izannah Walker Reproduction Doll Class by Mail Pre-Order Offer

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Greetings,

Are you as stunned as I am that Thanksgiving is on Thursday and that Christmas is only 33 days away?  This year has just flown by.  Last December, just after Christmas, I started this blog (www.izannahwalker.com) to give dollmakers additional information about using my Izannah Walker Doll clothes pattern and to chronicle my adventures while working on a set of patterns and instructions for a class on Izannah Walker Reproduction Dolls.  It’s been a crazy year and I haven’t gotten as many blog posts up as I would have liked, but I have made quite a bit of progress on my pattern drafting and instructions. This is a project that has been in the planning stages for five years, so I am quite thrilled to be able to say that I am finally close to completion.

Normally I would just wait until the class was ready to go before putting out any type of announcement.  However something happened last week that made me change my mind.  I received several orders for Spun Cotton Ornament Classes that people happened to mention were Christmas presents.  Every year, quite a few husbands buy the classes for their wives.  I suddenly realized that maybe some of you, who have been waiting patiently for me to finish the class, might want to put it on your Christmas List this year.

So I am announcing the class now for February release and taking preorders.  In order to stretch Santa’s shopping dollars a bit further, preorders placed before January 1st will receive a special 10% off deal.  I’m sending out very special sweet certificates and vintage Izannah postcards (while my supply lasts) with each pre-January 1 early bird purchase, so that Santa has something to wrap or slip into your Christmas stocking. (Sorry, but this part of the offer has now expired.)

For those of you who aren’t dollmakers, I also have some wonderful new items about which you might want to drop hints to Santa.  They will be up on my website in the next couple of weeks and will include new teddies, an adorable sock monkey, a C.W. Parker c. 1930 carousel horse and some very intriguing Victorian folk art wool balls.

Best wishes to all of you and yours for a truly bountiful and memorable Thanksgiving!

Please scroll down to read details about my Izannah Walker Dollmaking Class.

Paula


Izannah Walker Reproduction Doll Class by Mail Pre-Order Offer

To the best of my knowledge, this is the only comprehensive tutorial on how to make an authentic Izannah Walker reproduction doll and her clothing. I based this class on Izannah Walker’s original patent and drafted my doll and clothing patterns from two dolls I own that were made by Izannah Walker.

This is not a corner-cutting compromise approach, yet if you know how to sew, sculpt and paint and are willing to invest the time, you could end up with the best reproduction Izannah Walker doll in existence!

What is included in the class:

  • Booklet full of step-by-step instructions with numerous detailed photographs
  • Patterns for doll body and one complete set of clothing (dress, two petticoats, chemise, drawers)
  • Detailed instructions for sculpting head and shoulder plate with accurate measurements taken from my antique Izannah Walker dolls
  • Mold-making instructions
  • Paint swatches and formulas to match colors from original Izannah Walker dolls
  • Painting instructions
  • Source list for all required materials
  • Additional instructions for those wanting to take a short-cut approach
  • Lifetime question and answer support at no additional charge
  • Additional information provided via my Izannah Walker-themed blog, izannahwalker.com.

An optional material kit is also available at an additional charge. It includes historically-correct fabrics, antique notions (buttons and lace) and stuffing, enough to make one complete, fully-dressed doll. You will still need your own sculpting, mold-making and painting supplies.

Why this class is ideal for serious doll-makers

  • With the detailed instruction booklet, you don’t have to be connected to the internet or be limited to working in front of your television screen.
  • The open instruction book will lay flat on your work table
  • You can make notes right in your booklet as a permanent record
  • The instructions are infinitely reusable

Why should you buy from me?

Experience

  • Dollmaker for 24 years
  • Author of numerous magazine articles on dolls and doll-making
  • Free-lance designer for national craft publications
  • Restoration artist of antique dolls, bears and textiles

Izannah Walker doll owner

  • Patterns are drafted and sculpting measurements directly taken from two original dolls plus extra original Izannah Walker clothing

Proven instructor

  • Teaches at nationally-known arts and crafts schools including stints as artisan-in-residence
  • Consistently highly-rated by students for knowledge, enthusiasm and encouragement
  • Sold hundreds of patterns and Spun Cotton Ornament class kits via mail and supported these satisfied customers for many years

Historical expert

  • Nationally-recognized historical artisan
  • Early American Life top traditional craftsman 21 times in nine years, including clothing and accessories, textiles and needlework, toys and dolls categories
  • Museum director and curator

Availability and pricing

To take this class in person, it would be a five-day session, with a cost of $700 for tuition and all materials, not to mention your travel expenses.

The regular price of this class will be $250. The optional material kit may be ordered for an additional $115.  75.

Take advantage of this special pre-order offer:

  • Early ordering is now available at 10 percent off the regular prices above.
  • Pay a deposit of 25 percent of the discounted price now with the balance due upon shipment. This deposit is non-refundable.
  • Special pre-order certificate for gift-giving provided (see paper doll below)
  • Free vintage Izannah postcard (while supplies last – see below)

(While orders are still being taken, the above special offer has now expired.)

The above offer will be good through January 1, 2010 only. After that date, pre-orders will still be taken, but will be at full price and may not ship on the initial release date of end of February.

In addition to the 10 percent savings, a benefit in buying now is that you will be assured of being in the first group to receive your class when they are ready. As with all my products, the Izannah Walker Doll Class by Mail includes free shipping.

All sales are final. Returns are not accepted. The doll pattern is not for sale separately, nor would it be possible to reproduce the doll without the rest of the class.

To place your order, go to the classes section of my website, asweetrembrance.com.

Another benefit for early-bird buyers

During 2010, I plan to offer additional clothing patterns drafted from items of original Izannah Walker doll clothing from my collection. Those who pre-order the class prior to January 1, 2010 will receive the same 10 percent off on every new Izannah Walker doll clothing pattern I release in this coming year during their first month of availability.

Watch for the announcements and your special limited-time ordering instructions!

For professional doll artists

Dollmakers who sell their works may sell a limited number of dolls made from the patterns included in this class as long as the dolls and advertising materials clearly credit Paula Walton/A Sweet Remembrance for the patterns and techniques used to make them.