For those of you who are familiar with the Facebook group Friends of the UFDC Doll Museum you will be aware that the theme for this week’s posts is PINK. My contribution to the challenge was a compilation of some of the many pink dresses I have made for my reproduction Izannah Walker dolls ❤ I’ve looked a little further back into my photo archive and found even more pink dresses! I hope you enjoy seeing them all again as much as I have.
… you may be able to tell that all the Izannahs and I are excessively fond of pink.
The April issue of Antique Doll Collector magazine is out, which means my final installment of James’ story and the accompanying patterns are now available for you to use. ❤
Emma Blue and Sarah Jane were quite excited when this envelope arrived in yesterday’s mail from the subscription department of Antique Doll Collector magazine! The pretty quilt block stamps made it feel like the magazine had been giftwrapped!
You’ll find my article on pages 38-44 of the April issue. The patterns themselves are on pages 43 and 44. To use the patterns the first thing you will need to do is to enlarge the pattern back to 100%. The short answer to “How much do I enlarge them?” is 14.3%, which is a pretty awkward percentage that you may not be able to program into your printer. If you enlarge the patterns by 15% they will be fairly close to my original size. “Why do I have to go to the trouble of enlarging them?” Good question! I provided the patterns to ADC at full size, but due to the space considerations, and the physical size of the magazine, the graphic designer needed to shrink the patterns down to fit into the allotted space.
When you enlarge the pattern to 100% of it’s original size it should fit perfectly on an 8.5 x 11 inch piece of paper. It’s very important to remember that I made these patterns to specifically fit a 17 inch Izannah Walker boy. If you would like to use the patterns to dress a different size Izannah Walker doll, or another type of mid-nineteenth century doll, such as a papier-mache, china, parian, or rag doll you will need to completely alter the size and fit of the patterns.Always, always, always make a muslin to check the fit of any pattern you are making from antique fabric!
Now that I have given you the short answer “how much do I enlarge the pattern?” let me walk you through how to get that answer:
Measure the 1 inch key that is shown on pages 43 and 44 along with the pattern. The key measures 7/8th of an inch.
7/8 x 8/7 = 1
8/7 = 1.1428571429 so the pattern needs to be 114.3% (rounded up to the nearest tenth of a percent) of the size it was printed in the magazine, another way to say that is enlarge the pattern by 14.3%
To double check your work 0.875 x 1.1428571429 = 1
I’ll be posting some more tips for using these patterns in the near future. ❤
A fun tidbit. Looking through the open doorway of the main floor “Bedroom”* can you spy the stenciled walls that inspired the stenciling in the second floor chamber, that the doll’s use as their bedroom, in their own very tall house? I painted both the full size walls, and the miniature versions, using historic stencil patterns.
*(The only chamber actually called a “bedroom” in the 18th century because these tiny rooms adjoining kitchens, next to the cooking hearths, were just large enough to hold a bed and little else.)
Read the final chapter of sweet James’ story in the April issue of Antique Doll Collector magazine. This article will tell you how I researched appropriate little boy’s fashions for him, plus give you ideas on where to look for antique fabrics and notions. Also included are patterns and instructions for some of the clothing I made him ❤ To subscribe to Antique Doll Collector, or order this single issue go to https://www.antiquedollcollector.com/subscribe.html For just this issue scroll down to US 2022-23 Single Issue Purchase for Antique Doll Collector, you may choose the month you are wish to purchase and complete your order online. ❤
Once you have the April issue you are invited to come back here to my Izannah Walker Journal for additional instructions including on how to size the pattern up to scale before printing it, and extra sewing tips. ❤
Read more about sweet, sweet James and his wardrobe in this month’s issue of Antique Doll Collector magazine. The subscriptions department at Antique Doll Collector has informed me that they do have a limited number of extra copies of the March issue, if you have been searching for one go to https://www.antiquedollcollector.com/subscribe.html and scroll down to US 2022-23 Single Issue Purchase for Antique Doll Collector, you may choose the month you are wish to purchase and complete your order online. ❤
Welcome to this evenings sale of my three newest Izannah Walker reproduction dolls. All of these sweet painted cloth girls are looking for homes of their very own ❤
Gently Worn and Well Loved Isabeau
Doll 1 ~ A Gently Worn and Well Loved Version of Isabeau ~ $1695.00 SOLD
This pressed cloth doll was made in a handmade mold of my original antique Izannah Walker doll Isabeau. Her paint surface shows the craquelure and surface texture of the antique doll. She is 18-3/4 inches tall. This Isabeau has scalloped topped painted boots, and an antique blue linen second skin. She is dressed in an antique doll petticoat, antique pair of bloomers, and a chemise and dress made of antique fabrics and notions. Her dress has a great deal of extra fabric in both the skirt and bodice, which is something very special, as I very rarely have a large enough amount of a particular antique fabric to allow me to do this. The sleeves of the dress have two small decorative tucks, the skirt has a deep growth tuck and deep hem. She is also wearing a blue hand strung bone bead necklace.
All of my dolls are sold on a “first come” basis. Email me at p.walton.asweetremembrance@gmail.com to purchase this worn Isabeau. You are welcome to ask questions, but please be aware that asking a question is not the same as making a commitment to buy and will not “hold your place in line” if someone else asks to buy the doll. Paypal, credit cards, checks or money orders accepted for payment. Free priority mail shipping & full insurance to any U.S address. International orders ~ exact postage + $10 handling fee to help off set the extra time required for international shipping ~ check with me to make sure your international address is one I ship to. No shipping to Russia. No handling fee for Canada.
A More Perfect Surface Version of Isabeau
Doll 2 ~ A More Perfect Surface Version of Isabeau ~ $1950.00 SOLD
This pressed cloth doll was made in a handmade mold of my original antique Izannah Walker doll Isabeau. After I made the mold I poured a plaster positive, then corrected all of the surface texture so that the plaster positive would represent Isabeau more like she was when she was newly made. Next I created a new mold, which I used to make this sweet, demure doll. She is 18-3/4 inches tall. This Isabeau has scalloped topped painted boots, and an off white linen second skin. She is dressed in an antique doll petticoat, antique pair of bloomers, and a chemise and dress made of antique fabrics and notions. Her dress is made from two coordinating double pink fabrics. The sleeves of her dress are gathered and banded. She has an amazing sunbonnet, that I reproduced from an antique doll bonnet in my collection. The bonnet took me two days to make, the original antique doll bonnet and this reproduction are both made in the same manner as actual human bonnets and are extremely detailed.
All of my dolls are sold on a “first come” basis. Email me at p.walton.asweetremembrance@gmail.com to purchase this Isabeau. You are welcome to ask questions, but please be aware that asking a question is not the same as making a commitment to buy and will not “hold your place in line” if someone else asks to buy the doll. Paypal, credit cards, checks or money orders accepted for payment. Free priority mail shipping & full insurance to any U.S address. International orders ~ exact postage + $10 handling fee to help off set the extra time required for international shipping ~ check with me to make sure your international address is one I ship to. No shipping to Russia. No handling fee for Canada.
An adorable black version of my smallest antique Izannah Walker doll Izzybelle. This is the first time I have made a black version of her ❤
Doll 3 ~ A Black Version of Sweet Little Izzybelle ~ $1895.00 SOLD
This pressed cloth doll was made in a handmade mold of my original antique Izannah Walker doll Izzybelle. Her paint surface shows the surface texture of the antique doll. She is barely 15 inches tall. This Isabeau has scalloped topped painted boots and an antique brown cotton cambric second skin. She is dressed in an antique doll petticoat, antique pair of bloomers, and a chemise and dress made of antique fabrics and notions. Her dress is made from two coordinating double pink fabrics. The sleeves of her dress have delicate tucks. She has an amazing sunbonnet that I reproduced and slightly modified, to make it work for sweet petite Izzybelle, from and antique doll bonnet in my collection. The bonnet took me two days to make, the original antique doll bonnet and this reproduction are both made in the same manner as actual human bonnets and are extremely detailed.
All of my dolls are sold on a “first come” basis. Email me at p.walton.asweetremembrance@gmail.com to purchase this adorable little black Izzybelle. You are welcome to ask questions, but please be aware that asking a question is not the same as making a commitment to buy and will not “hold your place in line” if someone else asks to buy the doll. Paypal, credit cards, checks or money orders accepted for payment. Free priority mail shipping & full insurance to any U.S address. International orders ~ exact postage + $10 handling fee to help off set the extra time required for international shipping ~ check with me to make sure your international address is one I ship to. No shipping to Russia. No handling fee for Canada.
I have one more of these amazing dresses available for sale! The dress will fit my +/- 18 inch reproduction Izannah Walker dolls.
Additional Dress ~ $285.00 SOLD
This dress has a great deal of extra fabric in both the skirt and bodice, which is something very special, as I very rarely have a large enough amount of a particular antique fabric to allow me to do this. The sleeves of the dress have two small decorative tucks, the skirt has a deep growth tuck and deep hem. It closes in back with a drawstring at the neck and a button at the waistband.
Thank you so very much for coming to meet my latest little cloth girls ❤ I truly appreciate your interest in my dolls more than I can say!
At long last I am almost finished with the six little cloth dolls that I began in early December! It has been a very long winter, filled with many very cold days, when paint simply could not dry, and innumerable winter chores… Now that Spring has begun to appear I have been stitching away on a mountain of small garments and the dolls are getting anxious to head out into the world. Three of them will be heading to their long promised homes and the other three are looking forward to finding brand new homes of their very own too!
The next time I write dear diary I hope to be able to give you all the particulars of the doll’s wardrobes and their travel plans. Until then…
I remain your most faithful correspondent.
Sneak Peeks!
In the near future I will be posting three new dolls for sale! I don’t have an exact date yet, as I am still sewing the last of their clothing and doing all of the little finishing touches that are so very necessary. I have been sick for the past week and have finally resorted to setting up two sewing machines just a few feet from my bed so that I can alternate napping and sewing… which is actually more or less working. So slowly but surely these sweet dolls are coming to life. I’m just not entirely certain quite what day they will be finished, as it is hard to estimate how many naps I am going to require between now and then!
Three of the dolls I am making are among the last of the custom ordered dolls, so they are already sold. The three that I will be listing for sale are are two versions of Isabeau, one time worn and well loved ~ with the original paint surface of my antique Isabeau, the other a more pristine version of Isabeau which represents her as she was in her youth. I very rarely make the more perfect Isabeaus, so if you have been longing for one this may be your chance. The third doll I will be selling is something new! A tiny black version of Izzybelle, which is something that I haven’t ever made before.
As I am sure you all know by now, I dress the reproduction Izannah Walker dolls I make in antique fabrics. Usually that means that I am using fabric that I glean from antique garments and quilts that are no longer able to be restored. On rare occasions I am lucky enough to find antique doll underwear for a few of the dolls… So I am sure you will understand how thrilled I am that I have come across an enormous quantity of antique doll petticoats and pantalettes, plus some other partial woman’s and children’s pieces that I will be able to fashion into chemises! It may take me longer to alter these garments to fit my dolls, than if I made them from scratch, but I love the idea of cleaning, repairing and altering them so that they can continue on in the wardrobes of my dolls ❤
Here is a first peek at some of the wonderful things I now have in stock for all of my future Izannahs! Though I do imagine that the little cloth girls who live with me will undoubtedly attempt to talk me out of a few things for themselves…
Wishing you a very Happy St. Patrick’s Day from the A Sweet Remembrance studios!
This particular Charlotte is a very special custom order doll. She is just about to leave the studios for her new home. This afternoon she posed for a few photos for the family album. I hope you enjoy meeting her ❤
(No I am not taking any new custom orders, as I am still working my way through my backlog. I AM continuing to make and offer dolls for sale ~ I’m just not taking on any more special orders. ❤ Email me at paula@asweetremembrance.com if you would like me to send you an email when I post dolls for sale.)
BOTH DOLLS HAVE BEEN SOLD, Thank you so much for coming to meet them ❤
Welcome to the final evening of my 2021 Izannah Walker 204th Birthday Celebration ❤ Tonight I would like to introduce you to my latest reproduction Izannah Walker dolls. I am offering twoonedolls that I have always called “Early Izannah”. Today I decided that it is high time these wonderful large, early style 22.5 inch dolls made have a proper name! From now on I will be referring to the dolls made from this mold as “Charlotte” or “Lottie” ❤ As there are two of them available for sale at the moment one shall be Charlotte and the other Lottie.
Both of the dolls tonight are dressed in chemises, pantalettes, petticoats, and dresses made from mid-nineteenth century brown and tan gingham, brown stockings and red leather shoes. They are 22.5 inch tall reproductions of a pre-1855 Izannah Walker doll. These amazing dolls have bare feet, three ringlet curls in front of each ear and nine at the nape of their necks. Their paint surface and modeling are true to the original doll from which their mold was made.
SOLDCharlotte has a tucked petticoat trimmed in hand knit lace and an antique off white linen second-skin.
SOLDLottie has a hemstitched linen petticoat and her second skin is make from antique russet colored glazed cotton.
*Did you know that the term gingham came into use in the 17th century and originally referred to woven stripe fabric, but came to refer to the familiar woven check sometime later. When you’re dealing with a fabric that’s over five hundred years old… naturally some things do get lost in translation. “Gingham” comes from the Malayan word genggang, or “striped.” The way we identify gingham, as being a contrasting-check, was not the way in which the fabric was originally known. True gingham is distinguished primarily for being a “dyed in the yarn” fabric, meaning the yarn is dyed before it is woven. Secondly, gingham is marked by having the colored yarns (the warp) going against the uncolored yarns (the weft), to create a lightweight texture on both faces, meaning it’s essentially reversible. The name originated in the southeast Asian countries where gingham is said to have been born. The fabric balance between colored, and neutral yarns was seen as being perfect for striped shirts. As the fabric made its journey into the Western world, it retained its name, but lost its once signifying stripes.
Charlotte – $2150.00 SOLD
Sweet Charlotte is slightly more refined than her sister, with lace on her petticoat and a less worn paint surface.
All of my dolls are sold on a “first come” basis. Email me at p.walton.asweetremembrance@gmail.com to purchase. Paypal, credit cards, checks or money orders accepted for payment. Free priority mail shipping & full insurance to any U.S address. International orders ~ exact postage + $10 handling fee to help off set the extra time required for international shipping ~ check with me to make sure your international address is one I ship to. No shipping to Russia. No handling fee for Canada.
Lottie – $2150.00SOLD
Dear Lottie is a bit more demure and time worn than her sister. She has a slightly more pronounced folk art look that is quite dear to my heart. ❤
All of my dolls are sold on a “first come” basis. Email me at p.walton.asweetremembrance@gmail.com to purchase. Paypal, credit cards, checks or money orders accepted for payment. Free priority mail shipping & full insurance to any U.S address. International orders ~ exact postage + $10 handling fee to help off set the extra time required for international shipping ~ check with me to make sure your international address is one I ship to. No shipping to Russia. No handling fee for Canada.
Extra Dresses – If you are purchasing either Charlotte or Lottie and would like to have them to be fitted for an extra dress before they travel to you, I have an amazing unwashed mid-19th century fabric that would suit them perfectly! A plainly styled extra dress from this fabric, made to fit, would be $315 for their 22.5 inch size. ❤
mid-19th century cotton fabric printed with russet and brown roses.
Thank you so much for coming to our annual Izannah Walker Birthday Celebration for 2021! We hope that you enjoyed it just as much as the dolls and I have!
If you enjoyed meeting both Charlotte and Lottie, then you will undoubtedly wish to come back soon to see photos of their sister (yes they are triplets!) before she emigrates to Canada ❤ ❤ ❤
Izannah Walker Journal 