Mary Todd Lincoln

Well, here in Mississippi we have finally thawed out after experiencing a frigid blast of arctic air like almost everyone else!  It only happens here about once every 50 years, though.  All the pipes in our house froze, but luckily none of them burst.  I was here by myself during all this, as my husband was basking in 80 degree weather in Miami while visiting his children!
Anyhow, thank goodness it is over. 
   Here is my latest doll (still in progress).  Mary Todd Lincoln was a real challenge, having been the first doll I have attempted to actually resemble a famous person. I have dress on her right now that I'm not sure will stay; might try something else.  She's 23" tall, with cloth body and paper clay sculpted head, shoulders, arms and hands.  Once again, I am concentrating on the Civil War era and probably will until 2015 to honor the sesquicentennial of the war. There are certainly enough fascinating women of that era to inspire a hundred dolls! 

   I also want you all to know how thrilled I am to have a wonderful article written about me in the new "Doll News" magazine. This is the publication of the United Federation of Doll Clubs.  It will be sent out to members within the next week or so.  I want to especially thank Ann Leiss for writing the article and being so supportive!  

After the doll show in Washington DC was over, we did some sightseeing.  I have always wanted to see the First Ladies Exhibit at the Smithsonian, and it was fabulous!  This picture is of one of Mary Todd Lincoln's gowns, made by her dressmaker and personal confident, Elizabeth Keckley. It is purple velvet, with all seams piped in white satin.  It consists of a skirt, and bodice.  Actually there were two bodices, one for day and one for evening.  Also pictured is the Lincoln china used during their administration. 

NEW LITTLE ONES

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  We are experiencing very cold weather for Mississippi and may even have snow flurries in the AM!  This is good weather to stay indoors and make dolls.  Here are some pictures of some of the smallest dollies I have made; this size is being made exclusively for some dealers in Ohio.  They are 10 1/2" tall, and dressed in antique fabrics from the Civil War era.  Their heads are paper clay over cloth, and the bodies are cloth stuffed with wool.  Then, they are oil painted.  These were really fun for me to make, as I am used to making larger dolls.  And, much easier for me to make after a trip to LensCrafters for some new glasses so I can see the tiny details!! 

 

 

 

 

I love how this little gal's outfit turned out.  The pinafore really added a great touch!  The beautiful solid oak armoire behind her was made by my wonderfully talented husband, who has been working with me to make furniture and room settings for my dolls. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another dress style with the antique fabrics.  She is enjoying her little Christmas tree with an antique lamb toy.

 

 

 

 

 

 These two little mulatto girls are dressed in outfits typical of the 1850's and 1860's.  Most of the dresses were all hand-sewn.

 





"MISS ELIZABETH WINTHROP"

Finally, a bit of cool weather has descended upon us here in the South!  It was actually chilly this morning at about 49 degrees, but will get up into the high 70's this afternoon. Perfect!! 

Just wanted to show you my latest doll, already safely in her new home in California.  She is named "Miss Elizabeth Winthrop" and I envision her as being a New England "spinster" from the 1860's. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

She is about 20" tall.  Her body is cloth and her head is sculpted of paper clay, then oil painted.   Her dress is made of silk taffeta and silk dupionni, her bonnet has antique lace and her boots are hand-made of fine brown leather.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 





New EBay listing

Good evening everyone.  Just wanted to let you know I have added another doll to be sold on EBay starting tomorrow morning, 9/29/13.  "Emma Florence" is a one of a kind cloth and clay Izannah Walker type doll.  She comes with her own little sewing kit and pincushion.  Just type in "Izannah Walker dolls" in the search bar to find her!

Ju

New EBAY listing

Hi everyone!  Things are getting back to normal after the big show!  I am working on some special orders that I took while there, and am already starting to plan new dolls.  I have listed a great doll, her trunk and accessories on EBay.  She's an Izannah Walker type, 20" doll with two extra outfits, a little "pocket", an antique child's book and a vintage trunk to store her treasures.   To see her on EBay, you can type in "Izannah Walker dolls" in the search window and it will come up.  Her name is Isabelle, and I hope she can go to a new home soon. 

Latest Dolls

Well, the big show is finally over, and it was a wonderful experience. It is always great to meet other doll people and make new friends.  It is exhausting, but worth every minute!   Here are some pics of some of the dolls I made for the show, and I can happily say that most of them have already gone to new homes.  The compliments I received on my work means so much to me as an artist, and I thank all my repeat customers and new ones! 
  As we are in the midst of the sesquicentennial of the Civil War, all the dolls I made for the show were in keeping with that theme. Some were based on real people in history; others were created by me to represent those who would have lived at that time. 
   The first doll I want to share with you is probably my favorite.  She is based on a real person from that era--Sarah Ballou.  Several years ago, PBS ran a wonderful series on the Civil War, and they read the most beautiful letter from a soldier to his wife. His name was Major Sullivan Ballou from Rhode Island, and he wrote Sarah this letter one week before he was killed at the First Battle of Bull Run. She did not receive it until after his death.  If you can, get on-line and look up this letter. I warn you, however, make sure you have a box of Kleenex around when you read it because it is so beautiful and sad you will never forget it.  This is my interpretation of Sarah, in mourning for her beloved husband.  She is cloth, with facial features sculpted of paper clay and oil painted.
                                     

                                                   

 

 

Another doll based on a real person from history is a young Black boy named "Jim Linder".  Varina Howell Davis, the wife of Confederate President Jefferson Davis, was supposedly riding in her carriage one day in Richmond and saw a young Black boy being beaten in the street.  She stopped the carriage and rescued the boy, taking him home with her to the Confederate white house.  He was named Jim Linder Davis, and unofficially adopted.  He lived with the Davis family for several years, until they were forced to flee Richmond after Union forces took the city. 

 

 

 

 

Here are some more dolls of the era:

 

 



"HATSIE"

 

 

"RUBY AND MISS KATY ANNA"

 

 

"AMANDA"

 

 

 

The following dolls are based on folk art paintings, and also inspired by Izannah Walker dolls.

 

 

 

"JONATHAN AND EMMA FLORENCE"

 

 

"LUCY ANN"