This very large papier-mache doll can wear children’s size clothing.
Today I have been rendering a bit of loving assistance to this damaged, but still beautiful papier-mache doll. I’ve been asked by her owner to stabilize her condition, more than restore her. I have glued the very large crack in her head and started repairing the holes in the back of her head. Her antique underclothing is currently soaking in a solution of Orvis and distilled water. The idea here is to conserve the doll with a very light touch. I’m doing just enough to keep her together and stop her from deteriorating further, while allowing the story of her life and enchanting time worn appearance to shine.
This doll has a very nice hand sewn body, with magnificent fingers and hands!
Come back to visit next week to see how she looks when I’m finished working on her…
I love these little pink shoes with their scalloped edges ❤
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 buying from them for almost 30 years, so it was fun to see where all the seeds have been coming from.
Butterflies!
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.
Metzer house kitchen.
Metzger Sunday house living room.
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.
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, 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 🙂
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.
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 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.
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…
… and the dolls, it was time to go.
Edyth recommended a fabulous Mexican restaurant.
Another tiny Sunday house, this one made of limestone.
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.
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 ❤
Izannah Walker Journal 