Multitasking is the rule of thumb on busy summer days! So early this morning I headed out to my screen porch with breakfast, and the subject of today’s Throwback Thursday in hand. After 27 years a few repairs were needed on this scrapbook that I with me to shows.
It was a lot of fun to flip through all the pages and see the things I used to make. Obviously I must have taken a few items out when I needed them for other purposes throughout the interveining years…
Many things have changed over the past 40 years, currently I am mainly making the historically accurate reproduction Izannah Walker dolls that are my passion, and the spun cotton figures that have firmly wedged their way into my heart. ❤
However some things, like my fondness for brown gingham have stayed the same. …and isn’t that nice!
I hope you’ve enjoyed taking a peek back to 1999 with me today ❤ As we move deeper into the summer season I am spending more time out in my studios and their adjacent gardens, and less time in my office. Consequently I am going to pause Throwback Thursdays until later in the year so that I can concentrate on dollmaking, and keeping up with the chores that come with an old house and my portion of an18th century farm. (But we all know that means mainly dollmaking ~ lol!)
The countdown is on! Izannah Walker’s birthday is just three short months from today!!!
Throwback Thursday All of the really wonderful people I have met, and become friends with over the past 40 years is the best thing of all about A Sweet Remembrance. Today I am sharing a glimpse of my 2021 Dollmaking retreat. I’ve only held the one retreat because it turned out that it wasn’t really feasible from an economic standpoint. I do still teach my Izannah Walker Class by Mail with online support, which keeps me in touch with all of my students including those who came to the retreat
If you are curious and would like to read more about the retreat here are links to the posts on my Izannah Walker Journal:
Welcome! Please come in and meet my latest reproduction Izannah Walker dolls. They are two little Lizzybit sisters, both slightly smaller than the normal 16 inch height of the Lizzybits that I usually make. ❤
One of the things I love the most about Izannah Walker’s original dolls is the way that each doll is an individual, even if you are comparing two dolls whose heads were made in the same mold… It’s an inherent, magical property of pressed cloth heads.
As with any antique doll, you can sometimes read the doll’s story through the clothing they wear, and have accumulated throughout time.
These Lizzybit sisters reflect very different personalities in their faces and expressions. As I worked on them I decided that I also wanted their clothing to also show those personalities. I have intentionally made their dresses so that each fabric, design choice, and detail would capture and convey their imagined histories.
For several years I have been saving snippets and remnents of antique indigo print fabrics to use in sewing “Make-do” dresses for my family of antique Izannahs. My original dress plan for both sisters was to use the very pretty double pink backing fabric from a damaged antique quilt that I had acquired for just such a purpose. The front side of this quilt was pieced together from all sorts of different “scrap” print fabrics. As I carefully removed the all of the hand sewn quilting stitches I started thinking about my indigo make-do dress project, and picturing just how sweet it would be to make these two little dolls double pink make-do dresses! So I gathered up all of the little scraps of double pink fabrics that I have been hoarding for the perfect occasion, and began dreaming up just the right dresses for each sister ❤
Here is what you need to know to buy a doll: All of my dolls are sold on a “first come” basis. I only have two dolls to sell today. To purchase either of them email me at paula@asweetremembrance.comYou 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. When each Lizzybit sells I will mark her SOLD asap. I offer a discount if you pay by check or money order. Paypal is also accepted for payment. Free priority mail shipping & full insurance to any U.S. address. Unfortunately I am not shipping to any other countries at the current time.
Thank you so very much for your interest in my work, and for patiently sticking with me during the past two plus years as I have delt with some major issues within my c. 1790 home! I truly appreciate all of you! When you purchase my work you are helping sustain and maintain my remnent of an 18th century New England farm
( I am currently only accepting payment in U.S. currency and only shipping to U.S. addresses.)
SOLDLizzybit A ~ $1695.00– $1645 if paying by check or moneyorder. (price includes priority USPS shipping with full insurance to any U.S. address). 15.5 inches tall, with painted wispy hair around her face and more short little wisps in back. To me this Lizzybit has a very sweet, proper, and somewhat solemn expression. She is dressed in a full set of undergarments, chemise, split pantalettes, and petticoat all trimmed with antique lace and featuring antique button closures. Her pretty, and oh so proper, dress is made from two different antique douple pink printed fabrics and features full gathered and banded sleeves, a drawstring neckline and a button waistband. Her black painted boots are accented by a red band around their tops.
SOLDLizzybit B ~ $1695.00– $1645 if paying by check or moneyorder. (price includes priority USPS shipping with full insurance to any U.S. address). 15.25 inches tall, with painted wispy hair around her face, and more short little wisps in back. Can you tell just by looking at Lizzybit B that she and Izzybelle are very dear friends? They always have the best of intentions, but somehow manage to find themselves in some rather amusing situations, and troublesome predicaments… Bold, fearless little dolls that have a few tomboy tendencies, and hearts of gold. ❤ Lizzybit B is also dressed in a full set of undergarments, chemise, split pantalettes, and petticoat, all trimmed with antique lace and featuring antique button closures. Her make-do and mend dress is comprised of five different double pink fabrics. It has growth tucks in the sleeves and in the skirt. Both the neckline and the waistband of her dress close with drawstrings, as she is simply too squirmy to hold still for buttons and button holes. The back of her left sleeve has a little heart shaped patch because she ripped her sleeve one afternoon while climbing the apple tree (something that she is strictly forbidden to do). She has the same black painted boots with red trim as her sister does,
A special way to start the month of June… I will be offering two little Lizzybits for sale on Tuesday June 2nd at 7 p.m Eastern time (6 p.m. Central, 5 p.m. Mountain, 4 p.m. Pacific).
One of the things I love the most about Izannah Walker’s original dolls is the way that each doll is an individual, even if you are comparing two dolls whose heads were made in the same mold… It’s an inherent, magical property of pressed cloth heads.
As with any antique doll, you can sometimes read the doll’s story through the clothing they wear, and have accumulated throughout time.
My two latest dolls reflect both of these qualities, and in fact you might say that it is only once in a blue moon that you will find new dolls that have been intentionally created, stitch by stitch to capture this much aura of their imagined histories.
2026 marks the 40th anniversary of Paula Walton’s A Sweet Remembrance. I hope you’ll join me for the next 12 months as I look back at some of my favorite past dolls and other works, and make new creations to celebrate this milestone year.
As part of my anniversary celebration I’m starting Throw-back Thursdays on my Facebook and Instagram pages to share bits and pieces of all the crazy things I’ve saved and accumulated over the past 40 years of A Sweet Remembrance ❤
Wish me luck as I attempt to come up with a new post every Thursday for the next year! To start things off today I shared some of the various business cards, post cards and flyers that I’ve sent out, handed out at retail & wholesale shows, and tucked in with the items that I’ve sold.
I’m sure you’ll notice that not all of the business cards are for A Sweet Remembrance. I’ve always been a multitasking kind of person, so I’ve done severel different things at the same time that I’ve been selling items under my business name of A Sweet Remembrance.
I’ve also posted images of all the information that I enclosed with four of my pieces that Prims magazine borrrowed for photography, plus my prototypes for all three of the bears. The sweet early reproduction of Isabeau was one of the very first ones that I made , and is one of only three of my reproductions that I’ve given individual names. My standard practice is to simply call all of them by the same names as my antique Izannah Walker dolls that their handmade molds were taken from. Clearly I am so very fond of the name Charlcie, which was the name of one of my maternal great grandmothers, that I eventually gave it to one of my antique Izannah Walker dolls that I acquired quite a while after the Prims article was published.
Obviously my contact information has changed several times during the past four decades. So please disregaurd phone numbers and email addresses found in these photos. ❤
ISABEAU ~ $1700 ($1645 if paying by check or money order) SOLD Thank you so much for coming to meet her ❤
This new 18 inch tall Isabeau is both the very last doll I made in 2025 and is the first doll I am offering for sale in 2026!
She is the sweetest reproduction of my antique Isabeau, with a slightly solemn, wistful expression, dressed in the most wonderful antique red print dress ♥️The fabric for her dress came from an antique quilt that was too damaged to be restored. I’ve had this same antique fabric before, but this is my most favorite example of it that I have ever seen. The color has faded to a mellow rusty red, which does not show up well in photographs, but is glorious in person. The yellow of the flowers is now a croos between a pale yellow and a rich cream, and the brown center of the flowers is a lovely warm brown. As you know the dolls and I do dearly love to celebrate many holidays throughout the year. A Red Dress is perfect not only at Christmas time, but for Valentine’s Day, the 4th of July, Flag Day and Labor Day too! Because of the rusty red of this derss fabric, the addition of a brown apron would make it especially nice during autumn and at Thanksgiving! In addition to her red dress, she is wearing a chimese with antique trim, split pantellets with antique lace around the hemline, and an antique/vintage petticoat from the huge quantity I bought several years ago https://izannahwalker.com/2022/03/18/so-what-was-in-the-bottom-of-those-boxes-a-fun-look-at-more-of-the-contents-from-yesterdays-unboxing-video-and-a-first-peek-at-my-favorites/
Here is what you need to know: All of my dolls are sold on a “first come” basis. I only have one doll to sell today. To purchase her email me at paula@asweetremembrance.comYou 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. When Isabeau sells I will mark her SOLD asap. I offer a discount if you pay by check or money order. Paypal is also accepted for payment. Free priority mail shipping & full insurance to any U.S. address. Unfortunately I am not shipping to any other countries at the current time.
Thank you so very much for your interest in my work, and for patiently sticking with me during the past two plus years as I have delt with some major issues within my c. 1790 home! I truly appreciate all of you! When you purchase my work you are helping sustain and maintain my remnent of an 18th century New England farm ❤
( I am currently only accepting payment in U.S. currency and only shipping to U.S. addresses.)
Wishing you a Happy 2026 filled with Peace, Love, & Joy!
This new 18 inch tall Isabeau is both the very last doll I made in 2025 and will be the first doll offered for sale in 2026. She will be available for sale on Friday, January 2nd at 5 p.m.Eastern time (4 p.m. Central, 3 p.m. Mountain, 2 p.m. Pacific).
This is the sweetest reproduction of my antique Isabeau, with a slightly solemn, wistful expression, dressed in the most wonderful antique red print dress ♥️
Here is what you need to know: All of my dolls are sold on a “first come” basis. I only have one doll to sell tomorrow. To purchase her email me at paula@asweetremembrance.com after I post her for sale starts at 12:00 p.m. Eastern time (noon) 12/16. (Please be aware of how much the doll costs BEFORE you send your request to buy. The base prices of all of my reproduction Izannahs are shown here: https://asweetremembrance.com/2018/08/24/izannah-walker-reproduction-dolls/ ) The actual price of the doll may vary a bit due to clothing details.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. When Sarah Alice sells I will mark her SOLD asap. I offer a discount if you pay by check or money order. Paypal is also accepted for payment. Free priority mail shipping & full insurance to any U.S. address. Unfortunately I am not shipping to any other countries at the current time.
Thank you so very much for your interest in my work, and for patiently sticking with me during my recent challenging times! I truly appreciate all of you.
( I am currently only accepting payment in U.S. currency and only shipping to U.S. addresses.)
The dolls and I all hope you had a wonderful Christmas, filled with family, friends and things that you love. By any chance did Santa happen to leave you money in your stocking??? If he did, I have one little Isabeau who is both the very last doll I’ve made for 2025 and will be the first doll offered for sale in 2026. She will be available for sale on Friday, January 2nd at 5 p.m.Eastern time (4 p.m. Central, 3 p.m. Mountain, 2 p.m. Pacific).
This is the sweetest reproduction of my antique Isabeau, with a slightly solemn, wistful expression, dressed in the most wonderful antique red print dress ♥️
Here is what you need to know: All of my dolls are sold on a “first come” basis. I only have one doll to sell tomorrow. To purchase her email me at paula@asweetremembrance.com after I post her for sale starts at 12:00 p.m. Eastern time (noon) 12/16. (Please be aware of how much the doll costs BEFORE you send your request to buy. The base prices of all of my reproduction Izannahs are shown here: https://asweetremembrance.com/2018/08/24/izannah-walker-reproduction-dolls/ ) The actual price of the doll may vary a bit due to clothing details.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. When Sarah Alice sells I will mark her SOLD asap. I offer a discount if you pay by check or money order. Paypal is also accepted for payment. Free priority mail shipping & full insurance to any U.S. address. Unfortunately I am not shipping to any other countries at the current time.
Thank you so very much for your interest in my work, and for patiently sticking with me during my recent challenging times! I truly appreciate all of you.
( I am currently only accepting payment in U.S. currency and only shipping to U.S. addresses.)
Thank you all for coming to meet my latest reproduction of Sarah Alice, one of the antique Izannah Walker dolls in my personal collection ❤
Information that you will find helpful if you wish to buy this doll ~ Buying one of my dolls is very straightforward. Here is what you need to know: All of my dolls are sold on a “first come” basis. I only have one doll to sell today.(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. When this Sarah Alice sells I will mark her SOLD asap. I offer a discount if you pay by check or money order. Paypal is also accepted for payment. Free priority mail shipping & full insurance to any U.S. address. Unfortunately I am not shipping to any other countries at the current time. To purchase this doll please email me at paula@asweetremembrance.com after this sale starts at 12:00 Noon Eastern Time today 12/16/25.
Sarah Alice ~ $1725 ($1675 if paying by check or money order) SOLD THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING TO MEET HER
Sarah Alice is an 18 inch tall reproduction of my antique doll of the same name. Her second skin body covering is made from antique blue linen. Especially for Christmas I have combed through my stash of antique undergarments to find her an antique Chemise and Petticoat. I made her pantalettes from vintage white cotton sheeting and used a bit of my treasured hand crocheted waived braid lace to trim them. I don’t usually use reproduction fabrics for the doll dresses that I make, but I did make an exception in this case because this particular reproduction fabric (that I’ve actually had in my fabric stash for so long that it is almost vintage) is very reminiscent of the fabric that my original Sarah Alice’s dress is made from. The dress is a bit unique in that it has quite slim puffed sleeves, without the usual fullness you would expect, and broader sleeve bands that are trimmed with lace. I chose an antique lace that I felt mimiced the dots in the dress fabric. Her black painted boots have laces and a red band around their tops.
It’s very cold and snowy day here in New England. Sarah Alice swore that she could see ice forming on the bedroom window, so she very sensibly gathered up all of her clothing and went down to the parlor to get dressed in front of the warm and toasty woodstove.
Sarah Alice’s dearest wish is to find a wonderful, loving home before Christmas. She would be a very special Christmas treat for you or someone very dear to you on Christmas morning.
Only 10 days until Christmas! If you have been dreaming of an Izannah Christmas, I can make a Christmas wish for one of you come true. I will be offering a reproduction of Sarah Alice for sale tomorrow, December 16th at noon Eastern Time (11:00 a.m. Central time, 10:00 a.m. Mountain time, 9:00 a.m. Pacific time).
My latest Sarah Alice ~ Timeworn, Beloved, and Beautiful.
Buying one of my dolls is very straightforward.
Here is what you need to know: All of my dolls are sold on a “first come” basis. I only have one doll to sell tomorrow. To purchase her email me at paula@asweetremembrance.com after I post her for sale at 12:00 p.m. Eastern time (noon) 12/16. (Please be aware of how much the doll costs BEFORE you send your request to buy. The base prices of all of my reproduction Izannahs are shown here: https://asweetremembrance.com/2018/08/24/izannah-walker-reproduction-dolls/ ) The actual price of the doll may vary a bit due to clothing details.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. When Sarah Alice sells I will mark her SOLD asap. I offer a discount if you pay by check or money order. Paypal is also accepted for payment. Free priority mail shipping & full insurance to any U.S. address. Unfortunately I am not shipping to any other countries at the current time.
I’m trying my best to get one more doll finished before Christmas, though that may be slightly unrealistic. If she isn’t ready to look for her new forever home before the 25th, she certainly will be slightly afterwards. She is a reproduction of Isabeau, the second antique Izannah Walker doll that came to live with me.
After Isabeau, Zanna will be next in line for clothing and finishing touches. Plus there are two sweet Lizzybits somewhat impatiently waiting in the wings for final detail painting and clothing.
Thank you so very much for your interest in my work, and for patiently sticking with me during my recent challenging times! I truly appreciate all of you.
(Unfortunately I am currently only accepting payment in U.S. currency and only shipping to U.S. addresses.)
Wishing You & Yours a Magical Christmas and a Wonderful 2026,
All of the really wonderful people I have met, and become friends with over the past 40 years is the best thing of all about A Sweet Remembrance. Today I am sharing a glimpse of my 2021 Dollmaking retreat. I’ve only held the one retreat because it turned out that it wasn’t really feasible from an economic standpoint. I do still teach my Izannah Walker Class by Mail with online support, which keeps me in touch with all of my students including those who came to the retreat
Izannah Walker Journal 