American Women Dream in Cloth… don’t you just love that title? The January issue of Antique Doll Collector magazine contains this very intriguing article, about the special exhibit on cloth dolls that was at the UFDC convention last summer. It was the perfect reading for a cold and blustery winter’s day.
So while the baby napped, this American woman filled her head with daydreams of glorious cloth dolls, both past and future…
Look closely. Do you see anything unexpected???
Apparently not only American women, but small cats have a fondness of cloth. Sadie was captivated by the fabric of this antique baby dress ❤
Sadie and I are both looking forward to next months issue so that we can continue our cloth dreams by reading the second half of the article. 🙂
Welcome to our birthday tea party in honor of Izannah Walker, an extraordinary doll maker, who was the first woman to receive a United States Patent for her doll making method!
The dolls and their guests have gathered in the front parlor, while I brew a pot of tea. This afternoon we will be serving a combination of Earl Grey, lavender and ground vanilla beans. I drink mine with a bit of sugar, Isabeau and Zanna prefer lavender honey in theirs and little Izzybelle likes her cup partially filled with warm milk and a heaping spoonful of sugar, then topped up with tea!
A large scoop of Earl Grey tea, lavender flowers and a pinch of ground vanilla beans… total bliss!“Welcome!” “We are so glad you could come!”“Have you met our dear friend Lily? She just moved from Toledo to Michigan and now she has come to pay us a visit.” ” Sharon’s doll is also visiting us. We are so happy she could stay for the party!”“Does everyone have a seat?” “I’m going to go get the tea. I’ll be right back!”“This is Sadie, one of our new kittens.” “Izzybelle, be careful! Don’t let Sadie knock you off of the piano stool!” “Don’t worry Isane, I’m holding on tight!”“Here comes Jack. He follows Sadie everywhere!”Jack very much wants to play with Billie’s doll, who is another one of our party guests.“Would you care for a Honey Tea Cake?”“No Jack, not you!” “Tea cakes aren’t good for kittens.”“Isane don’t let them get the cakes!”“That’s right Jack, go see Anna, she’ll pet you.” “Petting is much better than cake!”” Sadie, I’ll pet you too.”“Now that the kittens have settled down, would anyone like a cup of tea?”“Oh no! Lily did Jack knock your cup out of your hand?”“Don’t worry. Nothing broke and I have a clean cup right here for you.”Too much excitement! The kittens are all worn out and have gone off to take a nap…“I would really like that cup of tea now!” “And I’d like a bit of quiet, civilized conversation!” “Well I LIKE having the kittens come to tea! It makes everything so much more interesting!” “Hush Izzybelle…”“I know what we should do. Have you seen Joy Harrington’s article in Antique Doll Collector magazine? It’s all about the house she had made for her Izannah Walker dolls.” “You can tell Billie all about it when you go home to Kansas.” “I think next year we should ask for a house of our very own as a birthday present!”“Cake? “I don’t know anything about cake.” “Or falling teacups…” “You must be thinking about some other kitten.” “Yawnnnnnnnnn”
See? I told you that the girls loved Joy’s article about her doll house! If you would like to read the article too, it is in the August 2015 issue of Antique Doll Collector magazine on pages 43-48. Not only does it include wonderful pictures and descriptions of the doll house, but it also shows Joy’s fantastic collection of antique Izannah Walker dolls. It is such a treat!
The dolls, kittens and I have so enjoyed having you visit us this afternoon! We hope you will come back tomorrow and Sunday for new posts at 10:00 a.m. & 4:00 p.m. each day, as we party on!
And now, I don’t know about you, but I plan to brew another pot of tea, put my feet up and watch the dolls giggle and play on into the evening…
* Sharon’s and Billie’s dolls are custom orders, who will soon be traveling to their new homes. In the photos they are wearing borrowed finery. They will each be receiving their final dress fittings soon and will both have posts of their very own to show off their new wardrobes before they leave here.
** Lily is an antique Izannah Walker doll that is staying with me while she undergoes a bit of judicious restoration. She will also be featured in a series of upcoming posts that will chronicle her restoration adventures.
A family photo of the dolls in my studio this week. Not all of them are fully finished and dressed, but all are currently available for sale. 9/29/11 Update - the doll in the pink bonnet, the doll in the brown and red dress and the doll with the blue body have been sold.
Here is a glimpse of the dolls that I am currently working on. Email or call me if you would like to see more photos of a particular doll, or would like to ask questions and prices. Paula@ASweetRemembrance.com or 860-355-5709.
SOLD - Thank You!
She has SOLD, thank you for looking.
I got a little carried away when I was listing items and set up twenty five auctions. I’m selling several antique dolls, vintage teddy bears and some antique cooking implements. If you’d like to look at every thing I have listed on eBay, click here. Most of these auctions have closed, but there are a few still running for Izannah and Spun Cotton Classes.
My favorite reading this week is the August issue of Antique Doll Collector magazine. It has a fantastic eight and a half page article about the Izannah Walker Reunion held last November by the Doll Collectors of America. The article is full of glorious photos of the 31 antique Izannah Walker dolls that attended. If you don’t already have a copy of this magazine, you need to get one immediately.
Another Izannah Walker article to be on the look out for is one being published in the Christmas issue of Early American Life magazine. I’ve just finished working on my advertisement for that issue, nothing like thinking of Christmas in July! I’m very proud to say that I will be in the 2011 Holiday Directory of Traditional Crafts that will also be in the EAL Christmas issue. Thank you Early American Life!!! This is the 24th time that I’ve been chosen for the Directory 🙂
Izannah Walker Journal 