Just finished this little gal, who has gone to her new home in California! I can't believe it is almost April already. We are in a huge mess here; we've remodeled two bathrooms and are painting two bedrooms all at once! I just wanted to get it over with at one time. The bad part is, it hasn't left much time for doll making! My husband and I are very hands-on with the house; we do as much as we can ourselves. Doug refinishes floors, paints, does beautiful woodworking, etc. plus tons of other stuff. I paint, wallpaper, sew my own draperies, and whatever else I can get into.
Maizie is about 14" tall, and is sculpted of paper clay, then oil-painted. Her hair is human. Her boots are sculpted and painted to look like leather. I love the way her little "topsy-turvy" doll turned out! I'm still working on two special orders I took 8 months ago! There just isn't enough time in the day to do it all.
Hope you are all enjoying a beautiful spring--it was 85 degrees here today in the Florida panhandle!
Here is a couple of pictures of one of my latest creations, Gabriel. He was a special order for one of my favorite customers in Connecticutt. He is about 12" tall, and his head/shoulder plate is sculpted of paper clay and then oil painted. I hope you all had a nice Thanksgiving, and a wonderful holiday season!
I just wanted to let you all know that I have posted several great dolls on my Etsy shop for sale!! Check it out. I offer free shipping within the US. Keep checking back, as I have more items I'll be putting on soon!! Just go to my website, www.ladywithapast.com, and then click on "shop" and then "etsy".
Hello everyone! Well, I am back from the wonderful 30th National Doll Festival in Orlando! A great time was had by all. Once again, many dealers were there displaying for sale their beautiful collections of antique dolls, fabrics, trims, accessories and other treasures. I was the only doll artist there, but was so happy with the show. It is so much fun to see old friends from past shows and make new ones. I sold a lot of my dolls and took special orders for more!
Plans are already being made for the next show, which will be in Phoenix. Having never been that far west, I am looking forward to that adventure.
Here are some pictures from my display tables...
I encourage all of you to try to make it to one of these shows; they are so much fun, and help promote our shared passion of dolls!! I will be posting some dolls on my Etsy shop very soon. I just need to get into my studio now and try to straighten it up so I can begin work again. It looks like a hurricane blew through it right now!
Hello Everyone! I have an exciting proposition for all of you! I am on the Board of my local Historic Association, and we are having a fundraiser. I created the special doll shown above to be raffled off to a lucky winner! Her name is Lizzie, and she is about 26" tall. She is hand-sculpted of paper clay, and is oil-painted. Her wig is beautiful light brown mohair. Lizzie's exquisite costume is from the
Civil war era. Her short jacket with pagoda sleeves is made of rusty red velvet with black velvet and braid trim. Full batiste undersleeves are trimmed at the cuff with antique lace; the same lace forms a little collar. Her skirt is red and black plaid, with an inset border of plaid cut on the bias with braid trim. Lizzie's bonnet is of the rusty red velvet, with antique black lace brim, and black ribbon and black roses trim. Her boots are sculpted on her feet, and are black and tan with tiny brass buttons. She has beautiful batiste underdrawers and slip trimmed in antique lace. Lizzie's little doll has a paper clay head which has been antiqued to look like an old paper mache doll. Her dress and underthings are entirely hand-sewn. The dress is made from antique fabric from the 1860's. For those of you who have bought my dolls in the past, you know the quality and attention to detail I lavish on my creations. These two dolls would sell for about $800 at one of my shows. But, for just $10 a ticket, or 3 for $25, you could have a chance at winning her! All proceeds will go to the Jefferson County Historical Association here in Florida,a non-profit organization. If you wish to purchase tickets and use a credit card, please email me at: dollmaker@bellsouth.net or call me at 850-766-5117 so I can get your
information. Or, you can send a check made out to: Jefferson County Historical Association. Mail it to me, Terry Merritt, 710 W. Washington St. Monticello, FL 32344.
The winning ticket will be drawn on Saturday, May 13th. Please take a chance on winning this beautiful doll, and helping a worthy cause!! GOOD LUCK and thank you so much for participating. Here are some more pictures of Lizzie.
I got a great gift today in the mail; the latest issue of DOLLS magazine. I am so excited to have been featured in an article this month, highlighting my historic dolls. What an honor this is for me, and it makes me even more determined to create more dolls that speak to you, my wonderful collectors! Also, I am being featured on the Doll Chronicles blog that is found on the home page of DOLLS magazine on-line (www.dollsmagazine.com.) I hope you are all well, and also hope to see many of you in August in Orlando at the National Doll Festival. I am working on many new dolls that I think will be fabulous!!
I just got notification within the last few days that the "Kreativity" doll and teddy show that was scheduled for the end of January in Sarasota, FL. has been cancelled due to the ill health of the promoter and apparent lack of follow-through on the part of vendors. I am disappointed about this, as it should have been a good show. Anyhow, this means more dolls for sale at Rowbear Lowman's "National Doll Festival" which will be in Orlando August 1-5 at the International Palms Resort. It is always held at the same time as the UFDC annual convention, so there is a lot of doll excitement in one place! For more information, go to www.nationaldollfestival.com. and see the ads in Antique Doll Collector magazine.
