A Letter From Dimity

November 12, 2015November 12, 2015 paulawalton4 Comments

When last we saw our heroines they were bidding each other a tearful farewell and promising to correspond... — When last we saw our heroines they were bidding each other a tearful farewell and promising to correspond…

"Look Izzybelle, Dimity has written to us!" "Be a good girl and I'll read you her letter." — “Look Izzybelle, Dimity has written to us!” “Be a good girl and I’ll read you her letter.”

Trick or Treat

October 31, 2015October 31, 2015 paulawaltonLeave a comment

"Sadie wants to go trick or treating too!" — “Sadie wants to go trick or treating too!”

"I'm going to be a cat, just like Sadie!" — “I’m going to be a cat, just like Sadie!”

"Emeline we are so happy you are going trick or treating with us!" — “Emeline we are so happy you are going trick or treating with us!”

"Poor Sadie! She's sad because she doesn't have a costume too !" — “Poor Sadie! She’s sad because she doesn’t have a costume too !”

"We'll share our treats with her!" "Hurry and get dressed" — “We’ll share our treats with her!” “Hurry and get dressed”

The dolls and I hope you all have an enchanting All Hallows Eve ❤

Antique Izannah Walker Dolls · Celebrations · Doll for Sale · Izannah Walker Doll Making Kit · Izannah Walker Reproduction Doll · Ordering a Reproduction Izannah Walker Doll

Happy 198th Birthday Izannah Walker – Part 9 – In Which We Come to the End of Our Story & Say Farewell

September 27, 2015September 27, 2015 paulawalton2 Comments

“Thank you for coming to our party!” “We’re so glad you could be here.”

“I’m going to miss you!” “Promise me you”ll write.” “I will!”

“Good-bye!” “It’s been such fun!” “We’ve enjoyed having you stay here with us!” “Write to tell us you got home safely!” “Thank you for everything!” “This was the best party ever!”

“I’m sad to see them leave, but it feels so good to put my feet up!”

“I’m just going to stay right here on the floor!”

WHAT THEY ARE DOING NOW

Anna is busy packing. She will be leaving here bright and early on Tuesday morning for her new home.

Billie's doll is ready for her dress fittings and will be leaving here very soon. Look for her upcoming farewell post. — Billie’s doll is ready for her dress fittings and will be leaving here very soon. Look for her upcoming farewell post.

Sharon and I are still talking over the details of this young lady's wardrobe. She'll be happy to model it for you before she goes home. <3 — Sharon and I are still talking over the details of this young lady’s wardrobe. She’ll be happy to model it for you before she goes home. ❤

Lily #1 has picked out her dress and jewelry and is patiently waiting for me to make them so that she can go home with her older sister. They plan to quilt together during the winter.

Hannah #1 has found a new home! She will be helping me look through my fabric stash for just the right material for her dress. Once she is finished she will be going home just in time for Christmas. <3 — Hannah #1 has found a new home! She will be helping me look through my fabric stash for just the right material for her dress. Once she is finished she will be going home just in time for Christmas. ❤

Hannah #2 Is still available for sale and at this point you may still choose her clothing fabrics and styles. <3 $1250.00 fully dressed with free shipping in the U,S, — Hannah #2 Is still available for sale and at this point you may still choose her clothing fabrics and styles. $1250.00 fully dressed, with free shipping within the U. S. ❤

Lily 2 is also still available for sale. If you love early, worn and primitive then Lily may be just the reproduction Izannah you have been longing for... $1250.00 fully dressed, you may still pick out her clothing if you purchase her now. — Lily 2 is also still available for sale. If you love early, worn and primitive then Lily may be just the reproduction Izannah you have been longing for… $1250.00 fully dressed, you may still pick out her clothing if you purchase her now.

2 Izannah Kits finished and ready to mail – 1 painted & 1 unpainted. A full instruction book + patterns comes with each head. The unpainted head/kit is $200 and the painted head/kit is $375.

Zanna & Izzybelle are still having their tag sale through midnight tonight. ((/27/15) — Zanna & Izzybelle are having their tag sale through midnight tonight. (9/27/15) shop here

and Izzybelle is still to tired to move!

Thank you for coming to celebrate with us!

Love ❤

Paula, Zanna, Isabeau, Isane, Izzybelle, Ismay, Hannah, & their Providence Cousins

Antique Izannah Walker Dolls · Celebrations

Happy 198th Birthday Izannah Walker – Part 8 – Wake Up Sleepy Heads!

September 27, 2015September 27, 2015 paulawalton4 Comments

“Hannah, why are you up so early?”
“We need to go out to the garden and pick huckleberries for breakfast.”

“Oh no Hannah!” “You woke up the kittens too!”

“I think Sadie wants huckleberry pancakes too!”

and so the dolls got up and walked out to the garden…

where they picked huckleberries…

carried them back to the kitchen…

made pancakes, and enjoyed the beginning of a wonderful day!

Jack eventually came out from under the bed… captured a few stray huckleberries and gaily chased them around the kitchen floor!

Antique Izannah Walker Dolls · Celebrations · Izannah Walker Reproduction Doll

Happy 198th Birthday Izannah Walker – Part 7 – In Which The Party Continues & Games Are Played

September 26, 2015September 26, 2015 paulawalton2 Comments

“Tag!” “You’re it!”

“Too much running… I’m losing my shoe…”

“Let’s play hide and seek”

“Isane you’re it!”

“Alright… One… Two…”

“Anna, give me your hand and I will help you up.”

“Isabeau, can you give me a boost from behind?”

“When we duck down, will you shut the drawer?”

“Izzybelle, we can still see you through the glass.” “Find another hiding place.”

“How about now, can you see me now?” “Yes, we can see you!” “No more glass doors!” “Find a new spot!”

“I don’t think Izzybelle really understands how to play this game. Do you?”

“and what on earth are those cupboards for anyway???” “Haven’t you heard? They are going to hang on the walls and be high rise efficiency apartments for the Queen Annes…” “I don’t think I’d like apartment living…”

“I think we have found the BEST hiding places!”

“I think so too!” “I’m all set, how about you?”

" Yes, I'm all set too." — ” Yes, I’m all set too.”

"Come on Lily, I'll find us the perfect places to hide!" — “Come on Lily, I’ll find us the perfect places to hide!”

"You hide behind the bears..." — “You hide behind the bears…”

"...and I'll duck down beneath the other dolls." "Just pretend I'm not here."... giggle... — “…and I’ll duck down beneath the other dolls.” “Just pretend I’m not here.”… giggle…

"Hurry Isabeau, we need to hide!" — “Hurry Isabeau, we need to hide!”

"Just don't forget to let me out if Isane doesn't find me..." — “Just don’t forget to let me out if Isane doesn’t find me…”

"How about now, can you see me now?" "Is THIS a good place?" — “How about now, can you see me now?” “Is THIS a good place?”

"How ever did she get up there???" — “How ever did she get up there???”

"... 98 ... 99 ... 100!" "Ready or not, here I come!" — “… 98 … 99 … 100!” “Ready or not, here I come!”

Antique Izannah Walker Dolls · Celebrations

Happy 198th Birthday Izannah Walker – Part 6 – Piecing Quilt Tops

September 26, 2015September 26, 2015 paulawaltonLeave a comment

Zanna, Isabeau, Isane, Ismay and Hannah have been diligently piecing quilt tops, as birthday presents to send along with the young Hannahs and Lilys. Little Izzybelle has been their devoted helper.

Sunny, late summer afternoons are the perfect time for the dolls to sit under the hydrangea tree and sew.

“I’m so glad that we managed to get all of our chores finished in time to work on our quilts!” “Oh yes. This is a perfect day to be outside!”

“Izzybelle, would you please hand me a spool of thread?” “I just ran out!”

” I like all of these palampore center medallions!”

“Let’s see how the quilts look on the bed.”

“Zanna, what do you think? Do you like it?”

“This one looks good too!” “I’m glad we made two of these!”

“This one is nice!” “I was worried that we wouldn’t get them all finished in time!” “Let’s cut out backings to send along with the tops.” “Good idea!” “Can’t you just see Hannah and Lily quilting their quilts this winter.” “Maybe their new families will be quilters too!” “I hope so.”

One quilt top and coordinating backing will be included with any of the two new Hannahs and two new Lilys that are purchased this weekend ❤ The dolls and I want them to be warm and cozy in their new homes! One Hannah and one Lily have been spoken for, you may see the others here. Hannah #2 & Lily #2

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

Antique Izannah Walker Dolls

An Izannah Filled Week

September 23, 2014September 23, 2014 paulawalton4 Comments

This is one of my favorite weeks of the year! I’m reveling in an abundance of Izannah filled delights 🙂 Not only am I in the midst of playing with all my dolls, as we prepare to celebrate Izannah Walker’s 197th birthday on Thursday, but this past Saturday was the September meeting of my doll club. I love my doll club and all of the interesting and amazing women who are part of it. On Saturday I had the chance to return two antique Izannahs I have been restoring to their owner and also got a chance to see the newest Izannah that she has added to her collection! What a treat!!! I snapped a few photos to share with all of you other Izannahphiles. This little Izannah (she’s 16 inches) was so much cuter in person than she was in her official auction photographs, and of course much sweeter than she appears in my quick spur of the moment pix too! I also learned that one of the other members in my club is related to Izannah Walker. What a week so far!

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

Izzybelle Visits Fredricksberg – The Final Chapter of Izzy B.’s Travel Log

July 26, 2014July 27, 2014 paulawalton8 Comments

The final leg of Izzybelle’s Texas adventure was our visit to Fredricksberg. After we left the UFDC convention we headed for the hills! (the Texas Hill Country) Izzybelle and Ismay were very excited because they knew that they were going to get to visit all of the dolls that belong to Edith O’Neil during this part of our journey.

Our first stop after leaving the convention was Wildseed Farms to look at the gardens and buy wild flower seeds. I've been buy from them for almost 30 years, so it was fun to see where all the seeds have been coming from. — Our first stop after leaving the convention was Wildseed Farms to look at the gardens and buy wild flower seeds. I’ve been buying from them for almost 30 years, so it was fun to see where all the seeds have been coming from.

Chicken fried steak :) — Chicken fried steak 🙂

This is the tiny little Sunday house we stayed in. It's known as the Metzger House. From the late 19th century through the 1920's local farm families had small houses in town so that they could come into town on Saturday to sell their produce, do their marketing, and attend church on Sunday morning. After dinner on Sunday they would head back to their farms. — This is the tiny little Sunday house we stayed in. It’s known as the Metzger House. From the late 19th century through the 1920’s local farm families had small houses in town so that they could come into town on Saturday to sell their produce, do their marketing, and attend church on Sunday morning. After dinner on Sunday they would head back to their farms.

Metzer House kitchen. — Metzer house kitchen.

Me enjoying the porch swing at the Metzger house. — Me, enjoying the porch swing at the Metzger house.

After checking in to our own personal B&B we went to visit my friend Edyth O'Neil and deliver the doll she bought from me on Saturday at the convention. — After checking in to our own personal B&B we went to visit my friend Edyth O’Neil and deliver the doll she bought from me on Saturday at the convention.

Ismay got to visit with Edyth's dolls, which are amazing! — Ismay got to visit with Edyth’s dolls, which are amazing! You can see her sitting in the little chair on the bottom shelf.

It was really nice to be able to see two of the dolls I've made again (the one in the green and red dress sitting on the bench and the one in the apron standing behind the bench). On the left hand side of the picture is a boy doll made by Jan Conwell and the tallest doll in the back is one of Edyth's antique papier-mache dolls. — It was really nice to be able to see two of the dolls I’ve made, that Edyth owns, again (the one in the green and red dress sitting on the bench and the one in the apron standing behind the bench). On the left hand side of the picture is a boy doll made by Jan Conwell and the tallest doll in the back is one of Edyth’s antique papier-mache dolls. The tiny doll that is laying on the bench was also made by Jan Conwell and painted by Edyth.

Edyth has created a magnificent large scale doll's house out of one of her hall closets! I'd do the same thing in a flash if only I had closets :) — Edyth has created a magnificent large scale doll’s house out of one of her hall closets! I’d do the same thing in a flash if only I had closets 🙂

The lower level of Edyth's doll house. — The lower level of Edyth’s doll house.

Edyth showed us the amazing hooked rug that she is currently working on.

This outstanding rug hangs over the mantle in Edyth's living room. — This outstanding rug hangs over the mantle in Edyth’s living room.

Brian relaxes and chats with us while Edyth and I played with all the dolls! — Brian relaxed and chatted with us, while Edyth and I played with all the dolls!

Two papier-mache dolls and a Martha Chase doll that Edyth has repainted. — Two papier-mache dolls and a Martha Chase doll, that Edyth repainted.

Edyth owns an amazing collection of papier-mache and china dolls, all of whom are beautifully dressed and artfully displayed.

Edyth's husband bought her this wonderful portrait because it looks like a Martha Chase doll. — Edyth’s husband bought her this wonderful portrait because it looks like a Martha Chase doll.

Izzybelle and Ismay are fast friends with Edyth's antique Izannah Walker doll. — Izzybelle and Ismay are fast friends with Hannah, Edyth’s antique Izannah Walker doll.

Ismay loved trying out this early doll carriage. She said it was very comfortable and just her size!

After a nice long visit between us... — After a nice long visit between us…

... and the dolls it was time to go. — … and the dolls, it was time to go.

Edyth recommended a fabulous Mexican restaurant.

Another tiny Sunday house, this one made of limestone.

I loved this horse that lives outside of a great restaurant on Fredricksberg's main street. — I love this horse that lives outside of a great restaurant on Fredricksberg’s main street.

German food for our last night, to celebrate Fredricksberg's heritage. — German food for our last night, to celebrate Fredricksberg’s heritage.

We said good-bye to the Metzger house and Fredricksberg as we left for the airport on Tuesday morning at 3 a.m.

If you loved getting a glimpse of Edyth’s doll collection, you can read about her dolls in much more detail on her blog. Edyth’s fantastic book on rug hooking, Rugs for My Red Cape is out of print, but you can still get a pdf copy from her for what I consider to be a very modest amount for such a great book. If you are not a rug hooker, you’ll want this book anyway – just for the gorgeous photographs of the papier-mache dolls and the 18th century Connecticut cape that Edyth and her husband, Jack, moved and rebuilt in Texas! Also be sure to look for the in depth article that Early American Life will be publishing about Edyth’s home sometime during the next year. I’m sure it will be wonderful and I know the photography will be outstanding!

I hope you enjoyed joining Izzybelle and me for our travels through Texas!!! We wish you could have come too ❤

Antique Izannah Walker Dolls

Izzybelle Finds a Long Lost Sister

July 20, 2014 paulawalton4 Comments

Miss Izzybelle has found a new big sister!

This is just fast post before we leave the convention. A long lost sister is coming to live with the rest of the girls and Izzybelle is so excited that she can barely contain herself!

Check out this video of the Artist’s Showcase at the UFDC convention yesterday – and yes, my table is on there 🙂