It’s been a beautiful cool, sunny autumn day at the doll’s very tall house, as all of my little cloth Izannah sisters celebrated the 206th birthday of the extremely talented woman who made them.
There were many scrumptious things to eat, which they all agreed looked even more delicious when served on their new set of china. As I am sure you can imagine, sweet little Izzybelle was very excited to see what their shared birthday present was! The sisters thought that receiving their very own pair of tiny dolls, that look very like much like they do, was a wonderful gift. Their birthday dolls were made by Lolly Yocum of Laurelleaf dolls.
Since Hannah, Sarah Alice, and Isabeau did so much baking for the party on Saturday, Tilly Lamb and Charlcie took over the kitchen today to bake blueberry jam cake, and set out the pies and shortbread for the party.
Meanwhile, up in the bedroom Sarah Alice was trying her best to get Izzybelle to stop trying get an early glimpse of their birthday present, and to keep her neat and tidy for the party…
Eventually Izzybelle was persuaded to tie her sontag, straighten her dress and stop trying to peek into the parlor. Then Sarah Alice hurried her downstairs, before she could get into more mischief…
At long last all the the party preparations were finished. The little cloth dolls gathered around to parlor table to sing Happy Birthday, light a birthday candle for their beloved dollmaker, and feast on far too many sweets… (I didn’t try to stop them, because after all such a special day only comes once a year and they deserve a special treat).
Thank you for joining us for this year’s birthday party! We hope you have enjoyed it ❤
Welcome to my annual Izannah Walker birthday celebration here at my Izannah Walker Journal! This is the 14th year that my Izannah Walker dolls and I have been having our own little parties to pay tribute to the wonderful dollmaker who created them ❤ We are so glad you have come to join us!
Due to the unrelenting rain that has been persistently falling for days I have made the decision to split my birthday post into two parts. The second half of our party will be posted on Wednesday, September 27th at 9:00 p.m. Eastern time. It has been much too wet for all of the little cloth girls to commute out to their very tall house today!!! So this evening we’d like to invite you all to read about the doll’s party preparations…
Tomorrow evenings release of my newest dolls will be happening as scheduled. Three of my handmade reproduction Izannah Walker dolls will be offered for sale here at 9:00 p.m. Eastern time (September 26th, 2023)
HAPPY 206th BIRTHDAY IZANNAH WALKER part 1
Saturday, September 23rd…
Isabeau and Sarah Alice spent the morning looking through the vegetable gardens, to see what lovely fresh vegetables and berries they could find… As they filled their garden baskets with the last of the herbs, tomatoes, patty pan squash, sweet corn, raspberries and blackberries they talked about what they should cook for this years birthday party. Izzybelle’s tomatoes have been thriving this summer, so it was no surprise that there were still more than enough left to make into something, but what??? They quickly decided that it needed to be something festive, that felt at least a little bit special. “Isabeau do you remember that recipe for tomato pie that we found tucked into the back pages of our cookbook?” asked Sarah Alice. “Do you mean the one with all of the grated cheese in it?” replied Isabeau. “Yes” said Sarah Alice. After a bit of reflection, and a few minutes of frantic activity spent chasing down a half dozen tomatoes that had rolled out of her basket, Isabeau agreed that tomato pie sounded just right to serve as a light supper at the party.
Both little cloth girls were quite thrilled to find one last autumn bunch of rhubarb out in the back garden, which they immediately resolved to make into pie as well. One sweet and one savory!
Throughout the long afternoon spent in the kitchen Sarah Alice, Isabeau and Hannah managed to bake both pies and a batch of shortbread cookies, while they prepared the doll’s favorite Saturday night supper ~ Boston brown bread, baked beans, and hot dogs. As they cooked they were also able to agree on what kind of birthday cake they should bake… It was a lovely afternoon in the doll’s house as the sisters talked, giggled and cooked the afternoon away
On Monday, September 25th, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. Eastern time
to attend my virtual celebration of Izannah Walker’s 206th Birthday!
The little cloth girls and I hope that you will come visit us as we throw our annual birthday party in honor of the amazing dollmaker that created them.
Following the grand birthday celebration…
On Tuesday September 26th at 9:00p.m. Eastern time
I will be offering a few of my handmade, historically accurate, reproduction
Izannah Walker dolls for sale.
For the particulars about how my sales work please read below. Thank you!
How to buy one of the dolls that will be for sale on September 26th, 2023 ~ this is the IMPORTANT part, so please read this!
I’ve been trying to keep buying my dolls as straight forward and easy as possible. I started out by simply saying that the first person to email me and request the doll would be it’s new owner. Straight forward and right to the point… What could go wrong? LOL ~ As I found out quite a few things could! There have been a few “hiccups” along the way… So in order to keep it all simple and easy please read and follow these directions, which will allow me to mark the dolls that sell “sold” as quickly as possible, collect the buyer’s payment and shipping information right away, and just generally get each doll on his or her way to their new home as quickly as possible. Plus it will also let everyone else know exactly what dolls are still looking for their new home. ❤
In a perfect world I would have the time, money, and energy to completely re-do my website and have automatic inventory control that would allow me to list one of a kind items. Until that magical day happens I appreciate your patience with my current selling policies. Thank you!!!
All of my dolls are sold on a “first come” basis. To purchase a doll email me at paula@asweetremembrance.com , in your email specify exactly which doll you wish to buy . Please be aware of how much the doll costs BEFORE you send your request to buy. You are welcome to ask questions, but please note 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. Checks or money orders are preferred, Paypal is also accepted for payment. Free priority mail shipping & full insurance to any U.S. address. International orders ~ exact postage + $25 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.
Isabeau and Sarah Alice have come up with their own personal tips as well ❤
Today is the day I will be posting the schedule for my annual Izannah Walker Birthday Celebration, so be sure to check back here to my Izannah Walker Journal later today, or visit my business Facebook page Paula Walton’s A Sweet Remembrance or asweetremembrance on Instagram
All the little cloth girls and I were so glad that you could join us yesterday, as we celebrated the 205th anniversary of Izannah Walker’s birth! It was a joyful day in the doll’s very tall house! Today is much quieter, since there were plenty of English muffins left over for breakfast and quite a bit of cake for dessert too. The doll’s also received another birthday delivery from Mr. Twigg and his faithful horse and wagon. Thankfully this parcel was much easier to bring inside.
This evening’s after party is a chance to sit back, relax with friends and chat about all the tea party particulars. ❤
The little christening pincushions shown throughout the doll’s house.
The Little Christening Pincushions Shown Throughout the Doll’s House
If you have been curious about the small decorative pincushions that Sarah Alice and Isabeau were making you will be able to read more abut them in my upcoming article about the history of infant pincushions, titled Welcome Little Stranger which will be in the December 2022 issue of Early American. The article also include instructions for making some of your own. The all three versions pictured, as well as other larger pincushions are included in the article.
Baking for the Tea Party
Sourdough English Muffins
Yes, I did make really tiny sourdough English muffins from scratch, then cut and toasted them in a hot skillet! The jelly and jams that the dolls served at the tea party were also homemade, wild violet jelly made from the violets that I picked from my farmyard this spring, black currant jam made with currants from my garden, and peach jam made with peaches from a local farm. I added a generous pinch of cinnamon to the peach jam to make it taste like peach pie. If you’d like to make your own English muffins I suggest the King Arthur recipe, which is the one I use. I made my own sourdough starter using wholewheat flour. When I bake these sourdough English muffins I use at least 50% wholewheat flour. https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/sourdough-english-muffins-recipe
Prairie Stack Cake
Tillie Lamb’s Gingerbread Layers
This is the recipe that I used for the gingerbread layers of the doll’s latest birthday cake.
Rum Gingerbread
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
1 egg
2- 1/2 cups flour
1- 3/4 teaspoons baking soda
1 cup molasses
3/4 cup hot water
1/4 cup rum
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon cloves
Combine butter, sugar and egg. Stir in dry ingredients alternately with the molasses, water and rum. Pour into a buttered 9 x 12- inch pan and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. You may substitute buttermilk for the water and rum.
front side2nd side ~1 teaspoon nutmeg – 2 cups nuts ~ which I never add – 1 tsp. vanilla
Pumpkin Cake and Spice Cake
Here is the hand written recipe card that I copied from my mom’s recipe for Pumpkin Cake 40 years ago. The recipe for the spice cake came from the Better Homes & Gardens New Cook Book that she gave me in 1975. I substituted raisins for nuts in the spice cake because the dolls and I like it much better that way.
Cake Frosting
Use your favorite cream cheese buttercream frosting ❤
Alphabet Cookies
Fun Fact
I had to open eleven out of twelve individual packs of Mini Alphabet Cookies to be able to spell Izannah! Surprisingly there were abundant “I”s and “Z”s. The letter that took the longest to find was “N” followed by “A”. I purchased the cookies at Aldi.
Settle by Seth Tudor
The Mysterious Delivery of the Large Wooden Settle
At the end of the birthday celebration the unseen Mr. Twigg leaves a large wooden settle at the front of the doll’s house. Mister Twigg is the little cloth sister’s neighbor who runs a delivery service along with his trusty horse and large wagon. Mister Twigg delivered my birthday present to the dolls. The settle was lovingly made by Seth Tudor, Tasha Tudor’s son. It is 1/3 scale and is a miniature version of a settle that was in Tasha’s house. He makes them in three different scales. This particular size will also work for American Girl’s dolls. The three drawers on the bottom are functional. I’m fairly sure that you can reach him through https://www.tashatudorandfamily.com/ , though I contacted him through the Take Peace Facebook group that I am a member of.
The little cloth girls and I will be painting their settle a custom color once the girls stop squabbling over exactly what that color should be!
Flowers
All of the flowers came from my gardens ❤
One Final Surprise!
The dolls were quite thrilled when Mister Twigg came again today to deliver a parcel. It was a lovely birthday present from their dear friend Kay, who often spoils them with holiday gifts ❤ Thank you Kay!
Thank You for being a part of our twelfth annual Izannah Walker Birthday Celebration ❤ ❤ ❤
It is my pleasure to introduce you to my two latest dolls, reproductions of Isane & Isabeau. Both made from handmade molds of my original antique Izannah Walker dolls.
It is my pleasure this evening to introduce you to two charming young Izannah sisters who are looking to venture out beyond the confines of the very tall house & find loving new homes of their very own. In addition to offering these sweet cloth girls for sale I also have one party dress for sale. ❤
How to buy any of the items for sale tonight ~ this is the IMPORTANT part, so please read this!
I try to keep buying my dolls as straight forward and easy as possible. In order to do that please read and follow these directions. All of my dolls are sold on a “first come” basis. Email me at PaulaASweetRemembrance@gmail.com , in your email specify exactly which doll you wish to buy . Yes this is a different email address than you used to purchase dolls before. I’ve added it so that purchase requests only will show up in the inbox. Be aware of how much the doll costs BEFORE you send your request to buy. You are welcome to ask questions, but please be note 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. Checks or money orders are preferred, Paypal, credit cards are also accepted for payment. Free priority mail shipping & full insurance to any U.S address. International orders ~ exact postage + $25 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.
Both of this evening’s dolls have a special alphabet body covering or “second skin”. It seemed appropriate for autumn and the beginning of the school year. I’ve always been charmed by these illustrated letter prints, which are most commonly seen on antique china dolls. This fabric print is also some times known as an “educational print”, and if you search for them you will find quite a few different ones on the bodies of a variety of antique dolls.
DOLL A. Isane $1595.00 SOLD
Doll A Isane
This Isane is approximately 18 inches tall. She comes fully dressed in a handmade chemise, pantalettes, petticoat and dress. Her brown print dress has extra fullness in the skirt and two graduated growth tucks. The sleeves of the dress are also tucked. All fabrics, lace and buttons are antique. PLEASE NOTE I am offering this doll for sale now, but it will take approximately a week to ten days for her to ship. Perhaps you noticed that she has two left arms! Sadly this is not the first time this has happened to me. When I started sewing her together I made the startling discovery that she didn’t have a right arm! lol So I am going to have to make her one and multiple coats of paint are going to have to dry before I can ship her.
I try to keep buying my dolls as straight forward and easy as possible. In order to do that please read and follow these directions. All of my dolls are sold on a “first come” basis. Email me at PaulaASweetRemembrance@gmail.com , in your email specify exactly which doll you wish to buy . Yes this is a different email address than you used to purchase dolls before. I’ve added it so that purchase requests only will show up in the inbox. Be aware of how much the doll costs BEFORE you send your request to buy. You are welcome to ask questions, but please be note 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. Checks or money orders are preferred, Paypal, credit cards are also accepted for payment. Free priority mail shipping & full insurance to any U.S address. International orders ~ exact postage + $25 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.
Doll B. Isabeau $1595 SOLD
Isabeau with “educational” print second skin
Party Dress $295
Made of antique fabrics in a classic mid-19th century child’s style, this party dress features extra fabric, a growth tuck, and contrasting fabric bands. It will fit my 18 – 19 inch reproduction Izannah Walker dolls as well as antique Izannah Walker dolls of the same size. The neck band is 12.5 inches, finished waist is 8.5 inches and the skirt length is 8.25 inches.
I try to keep buying my items as straight forward and easy as possible. In order to do that please read and follow these directions. All of my dresses are sold on a “first come” basis. Email me at PaulaASweetRemembrance@gmail.com , in your email specify exactly which dress you wish to buy . Yes this is a different email address than you used to purchase dolls before. I’ve added it so that purchase requests only will show up in the inbox. Be aware of how much the doll costs BEFORE you send your request to buy. You are welcome to ask questions, but please be note 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. Checks or money orders are preferred, Paypal, credit cards are also accepted for payment. Free priority mail shipping & full insurance to any U.S address. International orders ~ exact postage + $25 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.
Thank you so very much for coming to see my latest offerings and for attending this year’s Izannah Walker birthday celebration!
Welcome! The dolls and I are so happy that you could come to this year’s party! They’ve assigned me the task of being the official greeter, since they are all rather busy at the moment. Just between the two of us, they are running a bit behind. It all started when Sarah Alice decided they should make something special for Izannah’s birthday…
Earlier this month…
“Isabeau you are so good at sewing! Would you be willing to help me make a special surprise for Izannah’s birthday party?” asked Sarah Alice. “Something pretty to decorate the parlor, that we could keep out all year long to remind us of our very own dear Izannah?” “I might be able to.” hedged Isabeau. “Is it really something we will have time for? The party isn’t all that far away” Sarah Alice assured Isabeau that she had the perfect project in mind and that if they worked together she was positive that they could have it finished in time for the birthday tea. “I don’t know if Izannah’s mother was given a christening pincushion when Izannah was born or not, but I think we should make her one now.” “Two hundred and five years later?” asked Isabeau very gently. “Yes” said Sarah Alice “It will be a wonderful way for us to show that we remember her and still love her.” “That is a lovely idea” agreed Isabeau. So the two sisters snuck away to the parlor, whenever they thought their other sisters were busy, to work on their birthday surprise.
Unbeknownst to Izabeau and Sarah Alice, Izzybelle had been peeking in the parlor window and listening at the door as the two sisters worked on their birthday surprise… I’m sure you must know just how little sisters are, they always want to do the very same things that their older sisters do. So you won’t be at all surprised to learn that Izzybelle started thinking about something special that she could do for the party.
Yesterday…
“Charlcie what kind of cake are you baking for the tea party?” asked Izzybelle in a very innocent voice. “Ismay and I have decided that it would be nice to make a pumpkin cake this year.” replied Charlcie. “Your pumpkin cake is very good, but do you think that it is special enough for a Grand Birthday Tea Party?” replied Izzybelle “Birthday cakes should be veryspecial!” “Don’t you think it would be much nicer if we each baked a layer of cake and put them all together, just like we talked about for Izannah’s 199th birthday party?” “Oh Izzybelle, I really don’t think we have time to do that now, since the party is tomorrow. You know that we are all very busy getting ready. Hannah and Eliza Jane are dusting everything, Zanna is trying to catch all the dogs and give them a bath, Sarah Alice and Isabeau are busy in the parlor and Emma Blue and Tilly Lamb are out in the garden trying to find enough flowers to decorate the house.” said Charlcie. Upon hearing this little Izzybelle looked so sad and disappointed that Charlcie began to relent. “You might go out to the garden and ask Tillie Lamb if she would have time to come bake a layer or two of her famous gingerbread. If, and only if, she is willing to add baking onto her chores, we might try to make a stack cake…” “Shouldn’t we all bake a layer? It would be so much more special if everyone made one!” wailed Izzybelle. “Absolutely not, that is completely out of the question! There is simply not enough time for that. Be happy that Ismay and I will each bake layers and that Tilly Lamb might.” said Charlcie quite firmly.
(The story, which I am very fond of, goes like this; each family invited to a wedding would bring one layer of cake, all of the layers were stacked together to form the wedding cake. I’ve also heard this cake called a prairie wedding cake and have seen reference to each family bringing a different flavored cake layer.
“Oh my goodness! We have layers of cake everywhere!” “It’s getting very late, I’m so glad we only have one more layer to bake!”“Oh no!” “What on earth is that bunny doing in the kitchen?” “You’re a very bad bunny, look what you made me do!”“Izzybelle you know that the bunny isn’t allowed in the kitchen!” “Well I had to put her somewhere, she can’t stay in the garden! She’s eating all of the tomatoes!”
Eventually very late last night after Izzybelle helped clean up the kitchen floor and was firmly tucked into bed, all the layers of pumpkin, gingerbread and apple spice cake were baked and stacked one on top of another …and if the stack seemed to artistically lean to one side everyone was much too tired to care.
It looks like all of the English muffins are almost toasted.
After such an eventful day, and an extremely late bedtime, I’m sure you can understand why the little cloth sisters are still putting the finishing touches on the tea party preparations. Oh! It sounds as if Charlcie has just finished toasting all of the English muffins and that Izzybelle is headed up to the parlor with the jam! They have finally gotten everything just the way they want it and are ready for guests. Let’s go join them in the parlor.
“What a wonderful party!” “I’m not sure if we’ve ever had a better one!” “I ate far too much cake…” “Zanna, would you please pass me another toasted muffin and the wild violet jelly?” “Does anyone else hear a horse and wagon coming up to the house?” “What?” “Are you sure?” “Well it certainly sounds like Mister Twigg and his delivery wagon.” “Are we expecting him?” “Maybe he’s come for the party!” “Yoo-hoo Mister Twigg!” “I think he is leaving.” “Zanna let’s go see if he left anything.”
“Why on earth would Mister Twigg leave this here?” “Just look at the size of it!” “How are we ever going to move this into the house?” “After we say good-by to all of our guests we’ll have to get the rest of the girls to help”
“You know Eliza, this is really quite a comfortable settle.” “It is indeed Tillie, though I’m still surprised we managed to get it in the house and up all the stairs!” “We never would have managed it if we didn’t have so many sisters…” “Wasn’t this just the nicest tea party?” “Yes, and this having this surprise birthday present delivered at the very end was such a treat!”
The dolls and I hope you have enjoyed celebrating Izannah Walker’s 205th birthday with us! This is out twelfth year for our annual virtual party. If you would like to look back at some of the other celebrations just type Izannah birthday in the search bar. For those of you who have attended before you may remember that I do always make it a point to have dolls available for sale as party of the festivities. This year I only have two, who are sweet wonderful dolls, both dressed in brown. I also have one party dress for sale. Some years I have more, but this has been one of those years. I’m sure you know what I mean, as we all have them! Times when everything seems to happen all at once… The good news is that there are dolls for sale today! Please return here at 5:30 p.m. Eastern time to meet my latest reproduction Izannah Walker dolls. The dolls and the party dress will all be sold on a first come basis.
If you would like to know more about what went into creating today’s party, read the recipes used for the food, and find out more about the infant pincushion that Sarah Alice and Isabeau made then you will definitely want to come back on Monday evening at 8:30 p.m. Eastern time for the After Party!
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 