DollShoppe : Primitives & Collectibles

Primitive Folk Art Dolls

2009-08-13T09:31:00.005-06:00

This last month and this month have gone by in a whirl wind and it doesn't seem to be slowing down much.

I thought it was past time that I gave you a update, so here it is.

These photos are of some of the dolls I've been working on, there are several more in various stages that are being made that aren't pictured at this time.

The first girl is Ruby and her Dolly. The second girl is Daisy and her Dolly. Ruby and Daisy are 2 of my favorite black dolls that I have made to date(I think) They turned out beautifully. Their big brown eyes seem to hold a bit of that childhood innocence. They look as thought they are going to have a tea party with their dollies. They are bout 23" tall and their dolls are about 8" tall. Both Ruby and Daisy have wire in their arms so they can hold their dollies.

The next little fellow is a Halloween character doll. I named him Pumpkin Head. He has his own jack-o-lantern. His arms are bent so that he can hold it too. His face is needle sculpted. He was inspired by the old Halloween decorations of the 20's and 30's. He is a unique character for sure. He is approximately 14" tall.

Next is a Raggedy Annie and her Baby. Raggedy Ann dolls never go out of style, do they? She looks like the perfect mother, Her needle sculpted face has so much personality she will definitely win your heart. Annie is about 13" tall and Baby is about 8" tall.

Last but not least is Booker and his Pup. Every boy needs a pup and Booker loves holding this little one. The pup is button jointed. Booker has wire in his arms so that he can hang on the that squirmy little pup too. Booker is about 23" tall, Pup is about 8" long. He has the cutest stubby tail too!

If you want to see more photo's of these dolls 0r to read a better description please visit the Doll_Shoppe_Prims Photo Gallery.

Booker Daisy and Ruby are sold (I think, I am waiting for confirmation on that.) It is possible that the Annie doll is sold too.

There are several more dolls in the making. Including, the Fairy - Her wings are all painted now! A Older woman, possibly a church lady or a farm lady, we'll have to see how she turns out. More elves, another version of the Pumpkin Head doll, a brother for my Belindy dolls, and more. Yes, I have been very busy!

I have a busy weekend ahead of me, will be leaving tomorrow and be back Sunday evening. Then back to work on those dollies!

Thanks for stopping by.
Please don't forget to visit my Doll_Shoppe_Prims Gallery.

HAPPY 4th of JULY

2009-07-04T17:33:00.003-06:00

Just stopping by to wish everyone a Happy 4th of July!

Be safe & have fun.

More Elves and Fairy Progress

2009-06-30T12:44:00.005-06:00

Just finished up 4 more elves.
They all turned out really cute.

Candy Cane Elf is all done up in red and off white stripes. He had on mittens that have a candy canes painted on them, his shoes also have candy canes onnd Settings\Administrator\Desktop\Fairy Progress\Fairy Progress1.jpg them. He has jingle bells sewn to his hat and on his shoe laces. His shirt, shirt cuffs and pant cuffs are laced with green embroidery thread. He has pretty green eyes that seem to look up at you.

Jingles Elf is done up in the traditional colors of red and green. He had jingle bells sewn down the front of his shirt instead of buttons. He has jingle bells on his shirt cuffs and pant cuffs and on his hat. He is holding a big jingle bell ornament. With all those bells what else could I call him but Jingle. His name is painted on the brim of his hat.

Holly Elf is adorable! He is winking. He was a little more time consuming to paint than the others because he has holly leaves painted on his hat cuff, shirt cuffs, pant cuffs and belt. He also has a holly leaf collar that has a jingle bell at the center front.

The Snowman Elf is the 4th one. He is wearing overalls with a snow man painted on the front bib. He has Snowmen on his hat and shoes too!

They are all a little over 17" with their hats on, without them they are about 13" or 14" tall.

Instead of rusted buttons at the joints I used pewter buttons.

Like I said they are all so cute!

More photo's of them can be seen at the Doll_Shoppe_Prims photo gallery

THE FAIRY - Update.......
The fairy is coming along, I made 4 pairs of wings before I was satisfied with how they turned out.
The wings in the picture still need to painted some, I need to line all the colors with black.
I struggled with deciding what type of head to put on her. I thought of making her more realistic looking with beautiful human features but decided she was going to more of a character doll. She has an impish, happy face. She will be funny, cute and sweet when she is finished.

Other News
The rest of today I will be re-organizing my work room. I have acquired a 1893 Singer Sphinx Treadle Machine. It is wonderful! It is made with such a good quality to be 116 years old and still working like a dream.
I learned to sew on old treadle - it brings back good memories.

I will be working on the fairy in between working on filling orders. I'll keep you all updated on her progress.

Thanks for stopping by! Come back again

Primitive Folk Art Fairies - The Body Designs

2009-06-04T09:37:00.005-06:00

The Primitive Folk Art Garden Fairy Dolls are coming together.

I have designed the bodies for both the medium sized fairies and the Fairy Queen.
The Medium sized body is similar to that of the Patriot Dolls but thinner and with a bit of a waist line. The arms and legs are thin with delicate ankles and wrist's. They will have little shoes that are turned up at the toes.
I haven't yet decided on what kind of head to put on her, I will be thinking of that today and making that tomorrow.

The Fairy Queen Doll has a much more adult style body. She will be approximately 22" - 24" when finished.

I haven't yet decided on what type of wings to put on them, I think the medium sized garden fairies will have colorful butterfly style wings.

Today I am taking the little ones to the zoo, tomorrow back to work.
Thanks for stopping by, Please come back again!

The Newest Primitive Patriot Dolls

2009-05-16T21:12:00.005-06:00

Just finished up these 4 dolls today. I was getting bored with the plain faces so I spiced them up a bit.

The Town Crier Patriot Doll has a rusty bell with a wooden handle. He is approximately 14" tall.
I painted his mouth in a open position, after all a town cryer is not a quiet fellow.

The Winker Patriot Doll is so cute. He is winking of course. He is wearing a green shirt and his eye that is open is green. His hair is a reddish color and he has the cutest little freckles sprinkled across his cheeks. He looks like he could be a mischievous little fellow. He is carrying a Gadsden Flag. He is also approximately 14" tall. I have attached his arms and legs with pewter buttons instead of the rusty tin ones.

The Blond Patriot Doll is carrying a 13 star American Flag. He has blue eyes and is wearing a reddish/brown colored shirt. I really like the way his shirt color turned out. He is approximately 14" tall.

The Uncle Sam has got to be the cutest Uncle Sam I have made to date. He is approximately 14" tall with out his hat. His hat is about 4" tall and when he has it on he is about 16" tall. He is wearing the tradional red white and blue colors. His hat band has 13 stars painted around it. He is carrying a 13 star American Flag in one hand and a Gadsden flag in the other. His boots are painted and laced with heavy waxed thread.

You can see more pictures of the new dolls at my Doll Shoppe Prims Gallery

The Belindy dolls that I had listed in my store have sold.

I had to raise the postage fees on the dolls listed in my store to reflect post office's raised rates. Remember at the new store the postage cost is figured into the dolls price.
There is only one doll listed there now. Doll Shoppe Primitive and Collectibles at the Olde Primitive Sisters Marketplace.

I will be leaving for 12 days on Thursday the 21st. Hopefully I will have one more update before I go.

Thanks for stopping in at the Doll Shoppe. Come back again.

Belindy Dolls Are Now Available

2009-05-06T22:00:00.005-06:00

Belindy Dolls Are Available.
These 2 primitive black folk art dolls are now available in The Doll Shoppe Primitives and Collectibles store at the Olde Primitive Sisters Marketplace.
Thanks for looking!
Thanks for stopping by at the Doll Shoppe.

The Belindy Primitive Dolls Are Finished

2009-05-05T19:17:00.006-06:00

Three of the new Belindy dolls are finished.
And finally I had a nice day to take photos of them.

They are all approximately 14" tall. They are made of muslin and painted in layers, sanding between each layer and given a final coat of stain to give them a primitive look. Their clothing is also distressed, aged, sanded and patched.

All of these have mohair hair that is lightly glued and needle felted into place.

There are a lot more photo's of each doll in my Doll Shoppe Prims Photo Gallery. Check them out.

If you recall, I did have 4 that I was working on. I ran out of mohair and had to order it for the 4th doll, so she is sitting in my work room bald as a newly hatched blue-jay waiting patiently for her hair.

One of these Belindy dolls has been spoken for. As soon as Rose picks which one she wants the other 2 will be listed in my store at the Olde Primitive Sisters MarketPlace.

The cost for a primitive Belindy doll is $50.00 + 7.50 shipping to the lower 48 United States. If you live elsewhere please email me and I will figure the shipping price for you.

Now I must get to work on the Patriots. I know the ones who ordered them are looking forward to seeing them finished.

Thanks for stopping by The Doll Shoppe!

What's New? More Primitive dolls !

2009-04-25T15:36:00.007-06:00

It's been a while - a long while since I've updated. Guess it's about time!

I've been working steadily lately to fill orders for primitive dolls that have came in.

The first photo is of Elf dolls in progress, is it ever to early to think of Christmas? These are a different version than the 2008 Elf Dolls. These will be button jointed at the shoulders and hips.

The 2nd photo is of Belindy dolls. Everyone seems to love Belindy. These 4 dolls are in various stages of painting. The other doll that is in with the Belindy's will probably have a paper clay face added to her. I am not sure what I want her to be yet, I am thinking of making her into an old fashioned style doll of the 40's - you know, with the side glancing eyes and cute little nose.

The 3rd photo is of 4 Patriots, 1 Mammy and one Snowman that are in the making. I do the patriots are already all spoken for.
The Mammy will have a paper clay sculpted face, I haven't yet decided if her hair will be sculpted or if it will be rooted mohair.
The snowman, I think, will be really cute when he is done.

The Olde Primitive Sisters site has moved, and my Doll*Shoppe has moved along with it! Please visit me at:Doll*Shoppe Primitives and Collectibles I only have 2 dolls for sale in there now, but am working on more so please visit often.

Thanks, and Have a GREAT DAY!!!

I Got A Blog Award

2008-12-09T23:21:00.002-07:00

I just received this award on my blog. It was given to me by my fellow Prim Sister and Doll Maker, Bev of Heartland Creations.

Bev is a great doll maker herself so this award is quite an honor. Thanks Bev!

Primitive Christmas Elves on ebay

2008-12-07T19:24:00.003-07:00

Primitive Christmas Elves On eBay

I just listed a couple of Christmas Elves on eBay.
I haven't listed there in a while and thought maybe some of you would like a chance to bid them.

There are only 2 more that I have left to finish. So if you're in the market for elves - now's your chance.

All of the others that were pictured on here a while back have been made and sent to their new homes.

These two are a boy and a girl. They make a cute brother and sister elf set, and would be so cute peeking out from under a Christmas tree.

They measure about 16" tall and have whimsical 3-D needle sculpted faces.

They have been painted in layers and sanded between each layer and stained to give them the appearance of an antique toy.

Their clothing is all cotton and has been lightly stained with coffee to give it an aged look.

They have wire in their arms, so that they can be posed or they can hold items such as small gift, or maybe a candy dish.

Their socks and boots are painted on. The boy's boots have cotton laces with jingle bells. The girls boots are an old fashioned style and have buttons up the sides.

They both have mischievous green eyes.

This was the last of my reindeer print material. I really liked how well the pattern fit in with a primitive theme.

Like I said earlier, I only have 2 more elves to finish and then, I will be done making them for 2008. It's a good thing, I'm about elfed-out for this year.

I already have visions of new primitive dolls and animals for 2009 in my head.

Thanks for stopping by the Doll*Shoppe !

Lucy And Ella

2008-11-26T15:29:00.006-07:00

Lucy and Ella are my 2 newest Pet dolls.

These 2 sweet girls are up for sale in my store at: Doll*Shoppe Primitives and Collectibles which is located at The Olde Primitive Sisters MarketPlace.

They are approximately 23" tall. These 2 are made from my own original patterns.

They have a painted shoulder head, lower arms and lower legs. They are painted in layers, sanded between each layer and stained. This process gives them the look of an antique toy.

Both of these girls turned out very nice, with such sweet faces.

Ella is the first black Pet doll that I have made, She is very pretty and I think I will be making more black pet dolls in the future. After all, she would get lonely without sisters, wouldn't she?

Thanks for checking in at the Doll*Shoppe.
Happy Holidays!

A Busy Time Of Year - More Elves and Pet Dolls

2008-11-24T21:05:00.003-07:00

I am so far behind - it seems as if I may never catch up!
I've been dealing with some on going health issues that have slowed me down a bit. But I'm still making dollies! Just at a slower pace these days.

These Christmas Elves and Pet Dolls are pending the approval of one of my great customers.

The Elf Family

They turned out cute! I really like the Granny and Grandpa. I put little spectacles on the Granny. It adds so much to her personality.

I dressed the old couple in a nice flannel that is a deep burgundy wine color and trimmed their outfits in green and off white checked homespun fabric. Granny doesn't get a hat, it would mess up her hair - don't ya know.
The younger ones are dressed in sage green print and burgundy and off white homespun fabric.
They are all such characters with their impish smiles and glancing eyes.

NEW PET DOLLS

I finally finished my black Pet Doll. I named her Ella. She has a sweet face, I really like the way she turned out.

The other 2 Pet Dolls, Lucy and Olivia are also very nice. I gave them a light color skin tone and brown eyes. That combination with the dark black hair gives the wonderful impression of an old antique china doll.

Back to work for me ........................... gotta get those orders filled!

Thanks for stopping in at the Doll*Shoppe - please come back again!

Another Dolly Update

2008-11-11T15:07:00.005-07:00

I have been busy sewing.

Everyone who has ordered dolls be assured they are in the making.

The ones in the photo are a mixture of Elves, patriots, pet dolls and Christmas dolls. There should be 22 dolls in the photo and I have 10 more that are in various stages of completion.

I will be so glad when these are finished as I am bursting with fresh new ideas for dolls and animals that I would like to make.

There is a new design on some of the elves that I am making, they will be jointed at the shoulders and hips with lightly rusted metal buttons.

Thanks for checking in, I hope to have better photo's and another update for you all soon.

Have a great week!

Elf Update and Other Happenings

2008-10-31T20:00:00.006-06:00

The past 2 weeks have been very busy around here.

4 More Elves Finished.

I improved the body a bit compared to the last one. The armature in the arms is more stable, and they are able to hold things better than before.
And I made the collars differently by making petals of fabric and overlapping them. I think it looks very old fashioned elfish. I also made 3 of them with pointed elf shoes instead of the rounded toes.

A Papa Elf with gray whiskers and a balding head. He is approximately 23" tall. He has blue eyes.

The large Girl Elf is also approximately 23" tall. She has red hair done up in puppy tails and tied with green embroidery floss. Like most red heads she has green eyes.

The Snow Girl Elf in shades of blue with snowflake print on it is approximately 16" tall she has blond hair. Her blue eyes match her outfit.

The Boy Elf is also approximately 16" tall, his hair is a light blond. He has green impish eyes and a cute little smile.

All the elves have rooted mohair hair. The hair is lightly glued and needle felted into place. Their features are painted, as are the shoes and stockings. The clothing is lightly stained with coffee to give the appearance of a vintage piece.

There are more pictures of them in my Doll_Shoppe_Prims Galler y

Other News and Why I haven't been around to update my blog.

My Great Great Niece decided she wanted to enter into this world early. She came October 29, 2008 weighing in at 3 Lbs 2 Oz. She is 16 1/4" long.
What a cutie, perfect in every way - like a tiny little doll.
She is healthy and will be going home from the hospital next week.

Happy Halloween Everyone!

The Christmas Elf and a More

2008-10-19T12:42:00.004-06:00

The Christmas Elf
The Christmas Elf is finished and will be on his way to his new home tomorrow. He is such a whimsical little fellow, full of personality.
New Items In My Store
I have updated and added new items to my store Doll*Shoppe Primitives at The Olde Primitive Sisters Marketplace. I added 2 more Belindy dolls and Chloe and her own Little Belindy Doll. I will be adding more to it in the near future so check back everyonce and while to see what is new.

Notice to All the Doll Makers and Crafters
A Great Place to Sell your Creations !
The Olde Primitive Sisters Marketplace is a fantastic web based mall to sell your wares.
I'm excited to be able to share this with all my fellow doll makers and crafters ! They are now accepting new vendors.

So if you have thought about setting up a web site or store on line this is a great opportunity for you. The cost is very affordable, cheaper than most places by far!

The owner does quite a bit of advertising so there are a lot of visitors coming and going to check out the products available.

Support is available through the owner or other members.

No, I'm not getting paid to post this - selling my creations through the Olde Primitive Sisters Marketplace works great for me and I just thought if you were looking for a way to sell your creations you might want to give it a try. For the small monthly fee you get a world wide audience to introduce your art too. It's much cheaper and easier than trying to do craft shows.

If you want more information just click on this link and check it out. The Olde Primitive Sisters Marketplace

What I'm Working On.
More elves! May be a girl elf or 2 , and I think one will become and old gray haired elf. These are so cool! Just making them makes me laugh when I look at their little funny elfy faces!

I also have a couple of Pet dolls that I am painting. I think this time I will make one into a black doll. I love the classic look of these old time dolls.

Back to work for me. Hope you all have a great weekend and come back soon to see what's new at the Doll*Shoppe!

4 Belindy's are finished! Primitve Black Folk Art Dolls

2008-10-14T21:04:00.003-06:00

The 4 Belindy dolls I had started are now finished!

At least one of them is already taken, the other 3 will be listed soon In The Doll*Shoppe at the Olde Primitive Sisters Marketplace.

Belindy
Belindy is Raggedy Ann's best friend. She wears red and yellow clothing, and is as cute as she can be.

Pictures of the 4 that I have just finished are available for viewing in my Doll_Shoppe_Prims Gallery. Each of them is a bit different, than the other. Some have thick hair some have sparse hair.

They are made of muslin, stuffed with fiberfill and painted head to toe, sanded and stainedto give them a primitive antiqued look. They are button jointed at the shoulders and hips with lightly rusted tin buttons.

They are wearing red and yellow dresses, muslin pantaloons and muslin aprons. All their clothing has been sanded, stained and patched to give them a well worn vintage look. 2 of the dresses have skirts made of yellow and white plaid with a cherry print on it.

All of the Belindy's shoes and stockings are painted on. The shoes are tied with waxed black thread.

What else is happening?

I am still working on the elves, but they are coming along and I should have a picture or two to post by the end of the week.

I have put dark brown mohair hair on the first elf that was previously pictured and made him a little pair of overalls that are off white with green snowflakes on them. His shirt is made of dark green homespun fabric with a deep burgandy collar and cuffs. I'll let you take a peek at him at the end of the week.

Thanks for stopping in. Please come again.

Chloe and Little Belindy - 2 Primitive Black Folk Art Dolls

2008-10-05T12:31:00.002-06:00

Chloe and Her Little Belindy Doll

I have put the finishing touches on Chloe and made her a Little Belindy doll to hold.

They are absolutely adorable together!

The Little Belindy doll turned out so cute! I have given her a sparse hair do, done up in little tufts and tied with strips of left over material from her dress and pantaloons. She is button jointed at the shoulders and hips.

Chloe and her dolly, Little Belindy are scheduled to Ebay for this afternoon. I do hope they find a good home. The auction will end this coming Sunday afternoon 10/12/08. There will be a link at the bottom of this page to take you there as soon as she is listed.

I have posted an album of these 2 dolls in DollShoppe Prims Photo Gallery. Take a look at them and see if you agree how cute they are.

What's in The Making
I have been sewing like a mad woman this last week. Trying to catch up on orders and put some more dolls back into my Olde Primitive Sisters Market Place Store. I have Christmas Elves in 2 sizes, 22" and 16" in the making, more Pet Dolls, and even another Little Patriot.

Back to work for me.......................

..................Thanks for stopping by! Come back again and see what's in the making at the Doll*Shoppe.

Booker and Chloe - 2 Primitive Black Folk Art Dolls + more

2008-09-29T19:43:00.005-06:00

Booker - a Primitive Black Folk Art Boy Doll

Booker is quite the little guy. I had made him a proper pair of blue slacks, but I could tell he didn't want to wear them. So I ended up making him a pair of overalls. The overalls are made out of a cotton material, not as heavy as ticking but it has the same design. I have stained them with coffee and patched the knee. His shirt is checked homespun. He also is wearing a pair of muslin shorts under his overalls.

Booker's hair is made of mohair roving and lightly glued and needle felted into place. I like the short hair on him.

I still have to make him something to hold, I was thinking a frog, but them other thoughts keep coming to mind. Maybe he wants a chicken, or a puppy. He may even get a baby bunny. I still am not sure what it will be.

Chloe - A Primitive Folk Art Black Girl Doll

Chloe, my little girl doll is very sweet. She has a red and white cotton dress and muslin bloomers that are trimmed with red and white material that matches the dress.

I had made her hair ribbons to tie her puppy tails with but they didn't look right, so I will be making her some others. Her hair is also made of mohair roving.

She will be holding a little doll, which I still have to make.

More Belindy's In The Making

The box of dolls that I am working on are all Belindy dolls. I have had several people ask if I had anymore of them so ................I'm working on them!

The Belindy doll was inspired by Raggedy Ann's best friend - Belindy. These dolls are my version of that Belindy. If you want to see what they look like finished you will find an album in My Photo Gallery of Belindy. If course they will not be exactly the same but they will be similar to the one in the gallery.

Thanks for stopping by the Doll Shoppe, Please come back again!

Primitive Black Dolls and Folk Art Dolls - In The Making

2008-09-21T12:51:00.006-06:00

The 2 Primitive Black Dolls
The black dolls that I was working on are coming along great.

They are both ready to be dressed and have some hair put on them.

They are approximately 22 1/2" tall now - without hair.

The little girl will be dressed in a red and white dress with a bow tied in the back. I think I will give her puppy tails tied with white bows. She is a real cutie. Her name is Chloe.

And the handsome little boy will be dressed in blue homespun pants and a green checked shirt. I have decided to name him Booker. He is a real heart stealer with those big brown eyes.

Both of these dolls have wire in their arms so that they can hold something. I will be making a doll for the girl, I am not sure yet what Booker will hold.

The Christmas Elf

This little guy is adorable. He is so funny, I laugh everytime I look at the profile of his little face. He is approximately 16" tall. His shoes and socks are painted in traditional Christmas colors.
He has very pretty green eyes that seem to be full of mischief. I will give mohair hair, I haven't yet decided if it will be dark brown or blonde. His arms are also wired to hold something. I haven't named him yet but I am sure by the time he is dressed I will know just who he is.

Other Folk Art Dolls in The Making
The 2 sawdust filled dolls that I was working on are only on their second coat of paint. I hope to have them finished (or close to it) by the end of the week.

The Halloween Mystery Doll - A Devil

The Halloween mystery doll I have been working on is not a mystery anymore. You can tell by the photo that he is a devil. I really like the way he looks so far.

This week I hope to finish up most of these, and I need to start on some others that are special orders.
That's all for now, have a great day and THANKS for stopping by!

Meet Abbey - a Black Folk Art Primitive Doll

2008-09-11T19:46:00.006-06:00

Meet Abbey,
she is the newest black primitive doll. I just finished her this evening.

Isn't she cute?

Abbey is the doll I was previously working on. I had planned on making a man doll but she emerged instead. And that's o.k. - sometimes you just don't know who will come out in the end when you start making a doll.

Abbey is approximately 22 1/2 " tall. Her little doll that she holds is just a little over 8 1/2" tall.

She has mohair hair that is kind of wild, I was going to style it differently but I really liked the untamed look on her.

Her face is needle sculpted. She has big brown eyes, and blushed cheeks.

Her dress is made of cotton fabrics, the bodice is checked green and off white as are the cuffs on the sleeves. The dress skirt is a double skirt that is made of a off white cotton gauze fabric. The bow in her hair is of fabric that matches the skirt. Her pantaloons are made of muslin trimmed with checked fabric that matches the dress bodice.
Abbey's socks and shoes are painted on. I attached brass buttons to her shoes.
All of her clothing is lightly stained with coffee to give it an aged appearance.

Abbey's little doll is made of muslin, like Abbey. I painted on the shirt and bloomers and sewed the skirt on to her. The skirt is not hemmed.

I think I will put Abbey and her little doll up for sale on eBay this coming Sunday.

Dolls in The Making
The group of unfinished dolls is what I am currently working on. The bigger ones have the same basic body design as what Abbey has, but I have made some improvements. I have put wire in the arms so that they can hold things better and made the feet larger. There are also some that are like these only a smaller size, approximately 15-16 inches. One of these smaller ones will be a Christmas elf. Also in the group photo there are 2 sawdust filled pet dolls.

That's about it for now, I need to get busy on the others, and work some more on my Halloween Mystery doll.

Thanks for stopping by. Please come again.

2008-09-06T11:08:00.004-06:00

I have finished dressing the Izannah Walker inspired doll.
As I said before her dress is a blue print and a solid blue. The overskirt is solid blue.
There are yards of cotton lace on her underclothing and dress. All the lace was hand stitched into place.
The bonnet is lined with buckram and has a faux pearl decoration on the sides.
All her clothing is lightly stained with coffee to give it an aged appearance.

Black Doll Update
The black doll is coming along, I have decided to go ahead and paint the body also. I have only done one coat of paint on the lips and have started the eyes. There is still a bit of painting left to do on him. He will have mohair hair that is felted into place.

Mystery Doll
The needle sculpting on the Halloween mystery doll is finished (I think) Any guesses on what it is going to turn out to be? If you scroll through my last few posts you can see photos of the the legs and arms. Any guesses?

Other projects
I have cut out several dolls to sew. Including a couple of dolls in a smaller size that are similar to the most recent black doll I am working on. A few new Pet dolls (those with their names across their chest's like the old pet china dolls.) And a couple of others the same size that are similar to the black doll above.

Thanks for stopping in and visiting the Doll*Shoppe!
Have a great weekend!

Dolly Update!

2008-08-29T15:52:00.005-06:00

This has been a short week! In the time that I have had to work on the dolls
this is what I have accomplished.
____________________
The Izannah Walker inspired doll now has all her underclothes. A camisole, split drawers and a slip. I put double rows of cotton lace on each piece. The camisole has pearl beads and loop closures up the back, and the front has lace and a row of pearl beads. The split drawers and the slip both have a cotton draw string at the waist.

I have begun working on her dress, the bodice is blue floral, pleated all the way around. She will have puffed sleeves made of a solid blue with cuffs out of the floral. The dress skirt will be in the floral pattern, but the over-skirt will be the solid blue with lace on it.
_____________________

NEW DOLL DESIGN
The black doll is my new design. I am really happy the way it is turning out. It will definitely be another character.

The shoulder head, lower arms and lower legs will be painted, the body will be stained with tea and coffee.

It has it's second coat of paint now I am ready to paint the flesh color. Most of my black dolls are done in a deep umber color, I am not sure that I want to go that dark on this one, I may lighten it a shade or two.

This size of this doll is about 22-23".

I really like the body design, I think I will also be making some dolls with this body design in a smaller size.
_____________

I don't have any new photo's of the mystery doll this time, hopefully I will be able to work on it some this weekend and post some photo's next week.

Have a great holiday weekend.
Thanks for stopping by the Doll*Shoppe!

This Week At The Doll*Shoppe

2008-08-24T16:40:00.005-06:00

I was finally able to get the old fashioned primitive pet doll - Ophelia listed on eBay.

I have some new idea's brewing for some other primitive dolls. I'll get to work on them this week. I also need to get to work making some more Victorian style bunnies as the last one of those has been sold.

I NEED to make some clothes for the Izannah Walker inspired doll this week. She will be dressed in shades of blue to match her eyes.

The part of the mystery doll I have shown you today is the arms. It has l-o-n-g wicked fingers. I am going to be doing quite a bit of needle sculpting on this one. Since I am not planning on having it finished until the end of September, I will have plenty of time to add a lot of details. Any guesses what this mystery Halloween doll is is going to be?
Thanks for stopping in - please come back again!

Back to Work in the Morning

2008-08-21T19:56:00.004-06:00

I'm back - Ready to rest up tonight so that I can get back to work in the morning. Vacations are fun but they sure make ya tired, I'll sleep good tonight for sure.

Seems only one of my scheduled auctions actually launched onto eBay last Sunday due to a technical error. So I guess this coming Sunday I will be launching the Ophelia doll auction.

Ruthie, the mystery doll is not a bird. Keep guessing.
I will make the arms in the next couple of days and try to get a photo posted.

Thanks to all of those who have stopped by in the last week. Come back again!

VACATION TIME ~ August 12-20th

2008-08-11T20:16:00.003-06:00

All orders received August 12- 20th will be processed and filled August 21st in the order that they were received on a first come basis.

I will be back August 21st.

I appreciate you for checking in on the Doll*Shoppe. Please come back soon.

New Dolls, Ebay Auctions and The Mystery Doll

2008-08-10T23:21:00.010-06:00

I have been so busy this week getting all the loose ends tied up so that I can go on vacation the 12-20th.

I have scheduled eBay auctions to launch on Sunday, August 17th. The Little Patriot Drummer Boy and the Old Fashioned Pet Doll Ophelia will be listed.

The Drummer Boy is a great piece of folk art for those who collect patriotic or primitive pieces.

Ophelia is has such a sweet character about her, she makes you wonder what she is thinking about with that sad, somber, thoughtful look she has.

The little black Raggedy Ann style doll, Annie is listed for sale in my Doll*Shoppe at the Olde Primitive Sisters Marketplace.

The Belindy doll is already sold, but I just had to post a picture of her finished for you to see. She is quite a little character.

I have been working on my - Halloween doll. It is something different, that's for sure. The leg picture I posted above belongs to it. I am going to keep you guessing on what it is until it is finished. Hmmm, a mystery doll - what could that that leg could belong too???

The new body I designed is going to be very useful and versatile for use in future projects. I really like it and may make a lady series using the design.

Tomorrow I will finish tying up the loose ends so that I can enjoy my vacation. I will return the 2oth.

Orders placed during August 12th - 20th will be filled on a first come basis when I return.

Thanks for stopping in - Please come back and visit the Doll*Shoppe!

Sneak Peek Preview : Annie and Belindy

2008-08-03T15:32:00.005-06:00

Annie and her bestest friend Belindy are almost finished. Here's a sneak peek preview of this adorable pair of primitive dolls.

Their clothing needs a few more final touches before I can say they are finished. A few more patches, and then they need to be aged and stained.

I had been going to make a black Annie for some time now, and I figured she might get lonely so, of course I had to make Belindy too. I swear when you look at them together you can almost hear the little girl giggles of these two.

They are approximately 13" tall.

I used mohair for the hair on both dolls. It is lightly glued and needle felted into place.

Belindy has 16 ribbons in her hair, quite a job tying all those little boogers, but it was worth it. The hair style suits her. She must like it, she's got a big smile!

I will finish them up and post them in my Doll Shoppe at the Olde Primitive Sisters Marketplace this week sometime.

I will post a finished picture of them here, when their clothes are ready, they're so cute I can't help but to show them off!

I am not going to post any eBay auctions this week. I have 9 days left before I leave on vacation so I have a lot to do this week to get ready to go.

Have a great day my friends
and
thanks for stopping by!

Pretty Old Fashioned Girls

2008-07-31T11:23:00.005-06:00

Here are some of the latest primitive dolls.

Meet Pepi, Grace, Ophelia and Sophia.

These old fashioned dolls are part of the Pet Doll Series.

They are approximately 23 inches tall.

The shoulder head, lower arms and lower legs are painted and aged to give the dolls a beautiful antiqued look.

Their dresses are all cotton materials, they have been aged, by sanding, patching and staining.

They each have their own individual personalities.

All of them have painted brown eyes and black hair. They look like sisters. The legs are a little fatter on these than Mary's legs. But they still are proportioned with the doll and look very nice.

This group of dolls are pending sale, so they are not available in my store.
If you would like one similar to these, please contact me to place an order. You can choose your eye and hair color. And let me know what name you would like on your doll. The cost is $45.00 per doll plus shipping.

They are sweet dolls with an old fashioned primitive flair.

I also have started a pair of dolls, one is a black Raggedy Ann type doll and the other is her pal Belindy. Right now they sit naked and bald in my work room, waiting patiently for me to finish them. They have such cute little faces. I am going to needle felt black mohair in for the hair on them. I should be able to post photo's of them in a couple of days.

Back to work for me - Thanks for stopping by!

Little Patriot - Drummer Boy

2008-07-23T18:56:00.005-06:00

More primitive Americana!
Here's the newest Little Patriot, The Drummer Boy.
He is approximately 13 1/2" tall. He is the first Little Patriot with straight legs.

His clothing is made as a part of the doll then painted on. He has little buttons up the front of his shirt and on the sleeve cuffs. His breeches are painted in a brown shade, they too have buttons on the sides of the cuffs. His little belt buckle is made of metal and has been aged. He also has little buckles on his old fashioned shoes. The shoes and stockings are also painted on.

His tri-corner hat was made separately and can be removed from his head.

His painted on hair is a lighter brown than the other brown haired patriots, it has a bit of a reddish tint to it.

His eyes are blue, his lips red and his cheeks have been blushed.

In his hands he holds his drumsticks, these have been carved out of wood.

His drum is made of muslin, painted in layers and sanded just like the doll was. On the front of the drum I have painted an American eagle emblem like the one on the Seal of the United States. It is complete with 13 stars , 13 stripes, 14 arrows and an olive branch. The ribbon in the eagles mouth has E Pluribus Unum written on it, which is Latin for "Out of Many, One."

This little fellow is $75.00. If he is hasn't sold by Sunday 7/27/08. I will be listing him on eBay.

More photo's will be available of Little Patriot Drummer Boy within the next day or two. You will be able to view them in my gallery at: Doll*Shoppe Primitives and Collectibles Gallery

More Old Fashioned Pet Dolls

2008-07-20T17:12:00.003-06:00

This is Mary and Emma.
Both of these sweet girls are part of the Old Fashioned Pet Dolls series, inspired by the pet china dolls of the late 1800's.

Mary is approximately 23" tall.

Emma is a petite 12" tall.

Both girls have a painted shoulder head, lower arms and lower legs. The paint is applied in layers and sanded between each layer, then stained. This gives the doll a lovely antique look. This process also makes the painted parts have a feel to them that is much like the feel of leather. Their clothing is aged by sanding. patching and staining with coffee.

If you would like to see more photo's of them and a more in depth description please visit My Marketplace Store or my Photo Gallery later this evening.

The newest of the Little Patriot Series is still in the making. He is a little different than the Little Patriots that have come before him. This one has straight legs instead of those that are bent at the knee. He is a drummer boy so he is carrying his drum instead of a flag. I will have him finished, and pictures will be posted by the end of the week.

Other exciting news this week, I finally purchased THE sewing machine that I have wanted for years. It's a 1940's model Singer Featherweight. If you are a doll or quilt maker, you know the machine I am talking about, everyone wants one! I have a 1963 featherweight that I use consistently to make my dolls but I have drooled over the earlier versions of the Featherweight for the last 25 years. Unfortunately the average price for one in the shops is between $600.00 - $700.00. More than a little over my budget.

I got this one from a fellow who was moving and just wanted to sell his Granny's old machine that had been stored for years int he attic. He gave me a great deal on it, (a FANTASTIC deal) - so I am the proud owner of a awesome old Singer Featherweight, and it runs like a dream and is in perfect condition.

More dollies are in the making! I am going to start another Annie doll (maybe 2) this week, sew some clothing for one of my Izannah Walker inspired dolls, and hopefully get around to working on some other's that I have been thinking of for a while now.

Have a great evening and thanks for stopping by!

2008-07-13T18:22:00.003-06:00

Wow - I haven't posted on here in days!
Sometimes life gets busy, that's o.k. - it's all good.

I will have at least 4 days this week where I will be working on my primitive dolls.

There are 4 in the making right now. I also have another of the Izannah walker inspired dolls that I need to get dressed. I have picked out a blue homespun material, like Thaddeus Monroe's suit was made out of, and a contrasting floral cotton that matches the weave of the blue pretty well.
If this week goes as planned (keep your fingers crossed.) I will be able to post pictures of them by the end of the week.

I have new ideas! I have been sketching some new dolls today. I will try to get some of them cut out this week, while finishing the others.

Have a great week!
Check back in for updates.

Thanks for stopping by!

Oh, and stop by my Doll_Shoppe _Prims Gallery to see photo's of the latest dolls all in one place!

This Week

2008-06-29T11:53:00.004-06:00

I haven't yet made a decision on what I will be making this week. I did cut out another Little Patriot yesterday. So maybe I will work on him.

I scheduled the Frontiersman Patriot on ebay to be listed at 4:00 p.m. Mountain time today. So I thought I would put a few more photo's of him on here.

If you want to see more photo's of him scroll down to my previous listing.

It is very hot here today so I think I will just relax for most of the day, and dream up new things to create. Like the list I have isn't long enough - LOL.

A comment on the previous post said. "I wonder who taught you how to make these?" In answer to that question, I am pretty much self taught. I have been sewing painting and sculpting since I was very young. I picked up skills here and there and put them all together to make my dolls. My Mama was a seamstress, sewing mostly clothes, but around the holiday season she took orders for basic rag dolls and later on cabbage patch look a likes. My Daddy taught me how to make a face in playdough when I was 4. I have always had a desire to paint and draw. that just comes naturally. I started making real dolls when I was a teen, and have been through a gamut of changes over the years, cloth, ceramic, clay, paper mache' , wood, porcelain, ect. Now I am back to cloth. I tend to think in 3-d so the designs are not hard for me to come up with, I just let my imagination take over. Sometimes I dream of how to make them. LOL , that makes me sound a little nut-so. But it there is something I can't figure out, I tend to get the answer in my sleep from an old doll maker. Maybe a alter ego, my muse, maybe an angel. I don't know who he is but I'm glad he's there.

Have a great week, and thanks for stopping in.

SNEEK PEEK - Primitive Frontiersman Patriot

2008-06-27T11:08:00.005-06:00

He is finished, And what a cute little patriot he is.

His little outfit makes him look as though he is straight off the frontier - ready to defend his country.

The technique that I use in painting my dolls gives them the feel leather, so it suits this little fellow very well.

I painted his clothing in shades of brown to emulate buckskin. His lace up shirt has double fringe across the front and the back. His pants have double fringe down the sides. His little boots lace up the sides in the old fashioned style.

He has brown painted hair and eyes.

He is made of muslin, stuffed with fiberfill and jointed at the shoulders and hips with lightly rusted tin buttons.

He is carrying a 13 star Betsy Ross style American Flag that is made of canvas and hand painted on both sides.

His hat is also made of muslin, that has been painted.

The doll an flag have underwent an aging process to give him that wonderful look of a antique toy from another era.

The Patriotic Frontiersman will be listed on ebay this coming Sunday June 29th.

Work In Progress - American Frontiersman Patriot

2008-06-21T15:33:00.005-06:00

This is what I ended up working on this week in my spare time. He is an American frontiersman patriot. It has been a very busy week so ..... he is still in the early stages.

I am very happy with the way his face came out, he is going to be a handsome little fellow.

He is made of muslin and has a layer of gesso painted on him. There will be several layers of paint on him before he is finished.

He is dressed so it will look as though he is in buckskin britches, a lace up shirt with a fringe yoke, and boots. And of course he will have a little tri-corner hat. to go with the outfit. I debated on the hat - tri-corner or a coonskin type hat, I decided for the Little Patriots, they all should have the tri-corner hats.

Hopefully I will have the time to finish him this week.

I would like to thank those who took the time to leave comments on my blog and those who took the time to email - it is appreciated, thank-you!

Little Patriot - a Revolutionary War Primitive Patriotic Doll

2008-06-15T17:18:00.008-06:00

I just listed this little fellow on ebay. He is a cutie - if I do say so myself!

The up coming 4th of July holiday has me in a patriotic mood, so I am celebrating by making a little Americana folk art!

He depicts a patriotic American from about 1765.

He is wearing breeches, a off white shirt and a tri-corner hat. I kept the colors of his clothes plain and natural. No blues or reds on him, but the American spirit is in him as you can see.

He is carrying a Gadsden flag that became popular during the Revolutionary war. I drew and painted the rattlesnake on both sides of his flag.

His hair and eyes are painted - his face is needle sculpted.

I even put the little buckles on his shoes. He also has a metal belt buckle, and buttons on his shirt front, cuffs and breeches cuffs.

I think he is a great representative of the American spirit.

Once again he is made from my own original pattern.
Because my dolls are made one at a time and from my own patterns there are no 2 alike. He is a one of a kind.

He is button jointed with lightly rusted tin buttons.

I am not really sure of what I will be making this week, but you can be sure I will be working on something. I'll let you know when I do decide.

Have a great week - and don't forget, you can always view my items that are available in my online store at Doll*Shoppe at the OldePrimitive Sisters online Marketplace and my ebay auctions are listed at the bottom of this page.

My All American Girls

2008-06-04T21:45:00.005-06:00

I have been on another patriotic kick lately.

These 2 dolls, America and Liberty are pet dolls with their names written across their fronts. These dolls were inspired by the pet china dolls of the late 1800's.

They are made of muslin and stuffed with fiber fill.
Their head and shoulders, lower arms and lower legs have been painted in layers, sanding between each layer and finally stained. This process gives them a wonderful antique look and the feel is much like old leather.
They are both approximately 22" tall.

There clothing has been aged, sanded,patched and stained with tea.

I tried to capture the persona of our country in these two. They both look as though they have been through some tough battles and have survived through the ages.

America and Liberty will both be posted to ebay Sunday afternoon- June 8th.

I have another little fellow I have been working on. He is a patriotic fellow - I do believe he is a member of the Sons Of Liberty.
He will be jointed with tin buttons, and have his clothing painted on. Hopefully I will be able to finish him by June 15th. I will post pics of him sometime next week.

Thank you all for peeking in! Keep coming back - you never know what is happening next.

I will be gone June 5th - through the 8th. So........ if you have any questions for me or would like to place an order go ahead and email me and I will get back to you on Monday the 9th.

Mabel - An Old Fashioned Doll - Is for sale

2008-05-28T11:52:00.002-06:00

Mabel the old fashioned sawdust stuffed doll that was on the previous post is for sale at the Olde Primitive Sisters Marketplace
Mabel is approximately 22" tall. She has a painted shoulder head, lower arms and legs.
Mabel has been aged to perfection, and really looks and feels as though she is a toy from years gone by.

She is available for $40.00 +$7.50 Shipping to the lower 48 United States.

If you live elsewhere and are interested in purchasing her please contact me through this page or through the Old Primitive Sisters Marketplace to get a shipping quote.

Mabel's sister Clara is on hold for someone, So if you would like a similar doll stuffed with either fiberfill or sawdust, let me know and I will make one up for you.

Old Fashioned Dolls - Mabel and Clara

2008-05-22T17:01:00.005-06:00

Thaddeus Monroe has been listed on ebay - such a cute boy he is.

Mabel and Clara are finished! They are proper primitive old fashioned young ladies.

I hope you like them.

I made them into pet dolls - like the pet china dolls that were popular in the late 1800's they have their name written across the front of them.

Both dolls are made of muslin, with painted head and shoulders, lower arms and lower legs. I tea stained all their clothing and splashed tea on their bodies as well to give them a aged look.

Mabel is stuffed with sawdust, because of the weight I have given her a boxed seat to help her sit up better.

Mabel has brown eyes. She is wearing a dress made of unbleached cotton that has been sanded, patched and stained to give it an aged look. I used antique pearl and shell buttons are Mabel's outfit and olive green cotton lace around her neckline.

Clara is stuffed with fiber fill. She has blue eyes. She is wearing a dress made of cotton gauze, that has been sanded, patched and stained. Clara also has a camisole on under her dress.

I really like the cotton gauze for primitive doll clothes. It looks very worn with just a light sanding and it takes the coffee or tea stain wonderfully.

Both girls are wearing bloomers made of unbleached cotton that have been aged with tea.

I think my favorite is Mabel, the sawdust gives her a real old-fashioned feel.

I like the finished doll when they are stuffed with sawdust, the more you handle them the more compact the sawdust becomes and the floppier the doll will become.

These 2 charming old fashioned girls will be for sale in the Doll*Shoppe at the Olde Primitive Sisters Marketplace.

Mabel will be $40.00 + shipping Clara will be $38.00 + shipping

I will be posting them for sale when I get back from the coming holiday no later than Wednesday 5/28/08.

Have a wonderful Memorial Day holiday!

Meet Thaddeus Monroe

2008-05-15T16:59:00.003-06:00

Thaddeus Monroe is for the most part dressed, the only thing he is missing right now are his shoe strings.

I have been calling him "my lad Thad."

Thaddeus Monroe will be listed on ebay next Thursday, May 22, 2008.

This doll style that I make was inspired by many great doll artist's of the past including Izannah Walker. His face and boots are needle sculpted. I painted his eyes blue and his hair in shades of brown.

He is jointed with slightly rusted tin buttons at the shoulders, elbows, hips and knees.

Thaddeus has been painted in layers, and sanded between each layer and stained to give him a primitive antique look of an old toy.
He is wearing a button up the front undershirt made of muslin, under drawers, also made of muslin that button at the waist.

His shirt is made of a off-white/tan cotton gauze fabric.

His tunic suit is made of a dusty blue homespun. I dyed all the clothing with coffee to give it an aged look. As a result the dusty blue color has darkened and has some streaks of coffee stain that makes it look as though it has been around a long while. The pants are short pants with a button fly and buttons on the side of the knee. The jacket is modeled after the Norfolk jacket style that became popular in the 1800's, it has buttons up the front and matching belt that buttons in the front.

I am working on some new larger sawdust filled dolls. I'll be giving you an update on them soon. I think they will be going to my site at the Olde Primitive Sisters Marketplace when they are finished. Be sure to visit me there, and take a look around while you are there, we are a group of primitive artist's uniting together to bring you the best of our prim world.

Thanks for stopping by, come back soon!

Big-Eyed Annie and Her Baby

2008-05-07T19:16:00.004-06:00

She's a cutey. Here she is - NOW available at: The Olde Primitive Sisters Online Market Place.
She is $45.00 +$7.00 shipping to the lower 48 United States. If you would like a shipping quote outside of the lower 48 states please email me.
Annie's arms are bent perfectly to cuddle her little Annie. Both dolls are jointed at the shoulders and hips. The big one is about 14" long and the little one is about 7" long.
They would look so cute displayed in a little rocking chair.
I also have a great Primitive Victorian Style Rabbit Pull Toy there that is available for $43.00 + $7.00 shipping to the lower 48 United States.
While you are at the Olde Primitive Sisters Online Marketplace browse around - there are a lot of talented primitive artist's selling their wares there, you never know what you might find.
Have a great week! and Thanks for stopping in.

Finally - and Update

2008-05-07T18:24:00.004-06:00

I'm sorry I went AWOL on you. I'm here now and working away, trying to get everything done! Someday I may have to admit I am not superwoman, but I'm not ready to do that just yet - LOL.

I did go ahead and open my space at the Old Primitive Sisters Marketplace. So far I only have a Victorian Style Rabbit Pull Toy there. He's pretty cool. I will add my Big Eyed Raggedy Ann doll set there tonight, as soon as I am done here!

I am in the process of making 2 more Izannah Walker inspired dolls. One boy and one girl. They are both ready to assemble now. I will do that tonight and start on the clothing tomorrow. Hopefully I will have enough blue homespun that I can use it for both dolls. I have painted their eyes blue to match the material.

I have so many idea's going through my head for my next projects. I keep stopping what I'm doing and writing myself notes so that I will not forget all the things I would like to make.

April 27,2008 Update

2008-04-27T19:47:00.003-06:00

Hello All,

This last week has been a whirl wind. I can't believe how fast time goes by.

I have not listed anything on ebay this week.

The Izannah Walker Inspired boy doll is at the ready to paint stage. He will be about 19" tall. His little boots have square toes and are needle sculpted. I can't wait until he gets to the stage where his personality really comes out, which is usually in the painting. I also have another girl and her doll in the making.

I have a beautiful piece of dusty blue homespun material that I will be making his clothes out of.

I still have not got to play in the clay yet. Hopefully this week I will have time for that.

Am going to open my spot up at the Old Primitive Sisters Marketplace by May 1st. So I am trying to get a couple of things done to list on there for sale.

I will be posting photo's mid week of the works in progress. Please check back in and see what's happening.

Meet Aunt Eula and Her Pesky Pet Crows

2008-04-20T17:05:00.005-06:00

I finished the black doll and have listed her on ebay. Her name is Aunt Eula and she is a gardener.

Her favorite flowers are sunflowers so I made her a basket full of them. There are 6 sunflowers made of muslin with stems of wire wrapped in cotton floss. She has 2 pesky pet crows that have taken up residence on her hat brim and built a nest there.

At first I had her dressed in a simple cotton dress that was light green with polka dots and a yoke of small pink flowers - but it just didn't have enough personality for this lady. So I found a piece of material in my stash that had crows and sunflowers on it, and made her a new outfit. Then I methodically "ruined it" LOL - I sanded it thin, dyed it with coffee and patched it. It looks and feels like a very old comfortable gardening dress.

The 2 little crows are made of muslin too, I thought about sculpting them or carving them out of wood but decided if the flowers were made of muslin the crows should be too. They turned out really cute.

The Izannah Walker inspired doll was purchased by someone from New York, so she will go live there soon.

I am thinking of making a boy along the same lines as the Izannah Walker inspired girl dolls. I don't see many old fashioned boy dolls being made and I think it would be a fun project. So that is on my list for the near future. I will probably start on him this week. I can see him now in a fancy little boys Victorian outfit with cotton lace looking so proper and well behaved.

I am really itching to sculpt something or someone. It has been months since I sculpted anything. Sometimes I just wanna play in clay. So I am thinking I will start sculpting something this week.

I would like to thank all of those who have recently visited my blog and those who have emailed or left nice compliments on my dolls. THANK YOU so much!

Izannah Walker Inspired Dolls Have Been Listed On ebay

2008-04-13T17:00:00.005-06:00

Hello All,

I just listed the 2 Izannah Walker inspired dolls on ebay.
They turned out nice.

I am going to miss them when they sell. You get kind of attached to them after a while.

I didn't do the pleated dresses that I had contemplated before, Instead they are dressed in cotton and homespun, in a style that was popular in the mid 1800's. Both dresses have been trimmed with cotton lace and stained with coffee to make them look old.

I put a lot of work into these 2. I named the bigger one Louisa May and the small one Polly.

I dressed them in split drawers, a camisole that has faux pearl and loop closures and a skirt slip - all these are made of muslin and trimmed with cotton lace.

I gave Louisa May a high brimmed bonnet and Polly a runched bonnet.

I also added faux pearls to Louisa May's boots.

Louisa May also has a over skirt that attaches to the dress with 2 pearl shank buttons.

After I finished making these outfits I found my Godey's Lady Book of Styles, that is where I had seen the picture of the pleated dress, no doubt I will have to make another one of these dolls someday so I can make a dress like that!

I seriously thought of making the pleated dress from memory, then decided against it - so this time I just I found a picture of a dress from the mid 1800's on line to make Louisa May's dress from. I really like the runched sleeves, and the buttons that close with loops instead of button holes.

Time for me to kick back for the evening - Tomorrow I start all over again, LOL. I think I will finish the black doll this week.

The Dolls are Ready To Dress

2008-04-05T16:22:00.004-06:00

Due to unforeseen happenings I have had many delays this week in my doll making and artistic adventures.

I have the dolls ready to dress, I had planned on having them finished by now, but hey, life happens!

The one inspired by the Izannah Walker dolls is ready to dress, I have been pondering the style that would suit her best. I have pulled out my fashion books and looked over the styles of the mid to late 1800's but as of yet have not decided on one style. I want her dressed in something not too fancy but stylish and historically correct. Her underclothes will consist of a camisole, petticoat and split drawers.

As you can see in the photo's she is multi-jointed, so that she can be easily posed. Her joints are held together with lightly rusted tin buttons. This body style is not like the original Izannah dolls, in fact very little of her is like a original Izannah Walker doll. She is not a reproduction, she was only inspired by her dolls.

The black doll is a hoot. I like her upward side glancing eyes it makes her look at though she has been up too some kind of mischief or that she is just thankful for all that she has. She has old grandma style slipper shoes with big flowers on the toes.
I am not decided but am leaning towards giving her black mohair hair with a bandanna to tie it up with. At this point she still seems like a gardener to me. I think I will dress her in light green, and maybe, a muslin apron of some sort. We'll see how she turns out.

Thank you all for checking in.

Grapevine Annies and Other Stuff

2008-03-30T18:49:00.006-06:00

Here are the unique primitive Raggedy Ann type dolls I was thinking of making. I made them today and have listed them on ebay.
I named them Clairette and Madeleine after the grapes. Their hair is made from dried grapevine tendrils. I embroidered on their dresses too, grape leaves and grapes. I like them. I don't know why, they are just simple dolls. They have a country girl personality about them that is endearing.

Poor old Camel with Wrinkled knees will be heading out to his new home in Colorado tomorrow, the Raggedy Ann doll will be going with him. They fit so well together, I'm glad they are going to the same home.

Yankee Doodle Dandy will be heading for Texas. There seem to be quite a few patriotic doll collectors in Texas. I think maybe Texas is second only to Illinois in my patriotic doll sales.

I will be working on the dolls in the previous post this week.

The character doll has turned into a black doll. I think she may be a gardener. (maybe that is just me - wishing for spring to come. We are in the midst of a cold snap at the moment and may even get some snow again.)
Her personality is coming out and she is a funny ol' girl.

Hope everyone is having a good weekend!

Dollies in Progress 3/27

2008-03-27T13:56:00.004-06:00

So far this week this is what has been accomplished. The Izannah Walker inspired doll is coming along. She will be 18 or 19 inches tall. I have needle sculpted her little old fashioned boots. I think she will turn out nicely. I imagine her (at this point) with brown spiral curls and brown eyes. Of course that could change as she comes out in the making. As to how she will be dressed I haven't decided yet, possibly - maybe something with tucks in the bodice and a sash that ties in the back.

She will have a dolly of her own. I needle sculpted little ears and fingers on her - she is about 7"-8" tall and will be button jointed at the shoulders and hips.

The character doll is funny, I still don't know who she is. I sculpted her shoes on her feet. And put a decoration on the shoe toes. I have made her so she will hold something cradled in one arm.

The Uncle Sam is sewn in red striped ticking, blue cotton and muslin fabric. I still have to sculpt his face and paint the face and hands. He also needs cuffs and collar added to the jacket and, of course I will have to make him a top hat.

I still want to make the primitive Annie that I have in mind. She will be a unique and unusual primitive doll, made of muslin and dyed with tea and coffee. Hopefully I will have time to do her up before next week starts.

I want to tell you all that the OPSG (Old Primitive Sisters Group) has their website up and running are selling their primitive creations. Please take a look there and see what this talented group of artist's have to offer. OLD PRIMITIVE SISTERS ONLINE MARKET PLACE

As of now, joining in this market place is still on my list of things to do.

Well, back to work for me. Have a great day!

This Weeks Auctions

2008-03-23T17:16:00.003-06:00

I listed on ebay today the Raggedy Annie Doll, The Camel With Wrinkled Knees and the Yankee Doodle Dandy Boy.

I am already missing the poor old camel. LOL - he IS quite the character.

I have 4 more dolls int he making and a great idea for a primitive Raggedy Ann type doll that I want to do this week too.

The largest doll that I am currently working on will be similar to the Izannah Walker dolls. She is not made of stockinette like Izannah's were. She will be made of muslin. I have given her applied thumbs in true Izannah style though. And I will paint her face and hair similar to the old Izannah Walker dolls. She will be button jointed at the shoulders, elbows, hips and knees. She is kind of cool and I am a little excited to see her finished.

Another of the dolls I am working on is more of a character doll. I haven't yet decided what she will evolve into, but she has a very interesting needle sculpted face.

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!!!
and thanks for peeking in on my blog.

Happy Spring! - What's New

2008-03-20T13:46:00.006-06:00

We are having a wonderful spring day!

I finished the Camel With Wrinkled Knees. What personality he has. I think I have become attached to the little guy, we have been conversing for several days now - LOL. I really will miss him when he is sold.

He has shiny black button eyes. He is made of a natural flannel and stained with coffee and has patches sewn here and there. I made his halter out of muslin and painted - sanded and stained it. Of course he can't stand up and is a bit floppy to pose but that only adds to his charm.

Although I didn't purposely design the camel to fit with the Raggedy Annie doll I made last week, she fits perfectly on his back. They make quite a pair.

I dressed the Raggedy Ann Primitive Doll in cotton gauze clothing. I sanded her clothing thin and made holes in it, added patches and stained them with coffee. On the front of her little apron I embroidered the words: Always and Forever, Annie.

My felting needles arrived and I was able to finish the Yankee Doodle Boy patriotic doll. He has blond mohair hair felted into place, and tied in a pony tail in the back. He has been painted in several layers - sanding between each layer and stained. I added a metal buckle to his belt and buttons to his shirt, and breeches. I made his flag out of cotton canvas, and painted, sanded and stained it. I attached the flag to a dowel and stitched it to his hand.

Yankee Doodle has been around since colonial times, so I had to make him a little tricorn hat and put a feather in it - of course.

What's new? I have started another doll this morning, making the pattern as I go - (that's what I usually do) I really haven't decided on a persona for it yet, we will have to see wait and see wh0 she ........... or he turns out to be. I have several ideas swimming around in my head for the up coming Mothers Day Holiday - I may have to get started on that while it is fresh in my mind.

Raggedy (Ann) Doll Update - She's a Cutie

2008-03-14T21:50:00.004-06:00

Thought I had better give you all an updated photo of the Primitive Raggedy Ann Style Doll since in the photo I posted yesterday looked all wrinkled . I am sure there are those of you who thought I'd lost my mind thinking that ugly little face could be turned into a cute Raggedy doll.

I don't have her clothing done yet. I'll be working on that tomorrow. She has mohair roving hair. I wanted to give her string hair but I am out of the rusty orange dye that I use. The mohair seems to suit her very well.

She is approximately 14" tall. Her knees are bent so that she can sit nicely on a shelf or little chair. She is made of muslin then painted in layers, sanding between each layer, and lastly stain is applied. This gives her an aged - antique look.

She is jointed at the shoulders and hips with vintage metal buttons. Her eyes are vintage buttons also.

Well, I just thought I'd let you know she is past the ugly stage and is turning into a real cutie.

The Yankee Doodle Dandy boy is coming along. I am going to have to wait until my new felting needles show up to put his hair on him though. They are in the mail and should be here sometime next week.

3-13 New Dolls in the Making,

2008-03-13T19:13:00.007-06:00

I am fighting allergies this week with bouts if vertigo so things aren't going as fast as I had planned. I don't know if I will have any listings to add to Ebay this weekend of not.

I am making another Old Fashioned Roller Bunny, and 2 painted muslin dolls. One is a Raggedy Ann style doll, the other I think will be a Yankee Doodle Dandy Americana doll.

The Raggedy Ann doll is in her ugly stage, LOL, she reminds me of a wrinkled new born.

Both dolls are jointed at the hips and shoulders and have needle sculpted faces. They are scupted and have the first layer of paint on them , and have a start of the second layer.

The Yankee Doodle Dandy Boy is going to have his clothing painted on. He will be wearing a shirt, belt, breeches and shoes. He will also have a hat that is not painted on but is made separate and will be removable. I will sew a little dress, bloomers and apron for the Raggedy Ann Style doll.

I got a great deal on a piece of natural flannel, I haven't quite decided what I will be making with it, I am thinking maybe a wrinkled knee camel to go with Raggedy Ann Dolls. If I do make a camel he will not be painted but instead will be tea and coffee dyed.

The Bunnies that I had listed on ebay last Sunday sold over night. It was a nice surprise to wake up to Monday morning. They are now all residing in Canada. Yes, I shipped them Monday and they got there today. It seems packages going to Canada this week are moving much fastser than those going from state to state.

Have a great week and thanks for stopping by and peeking in on what's going on in the Doll*Shoppe

NEW BUNNIES AND OTHER NEWS

2008-03-09T17:40:00.007-06:00

I just listed the bunnies in the above photo on ebay.

I have been trying to play catch up with myself all week. It seems the more I plan to do the more I have to do and the less time I have to do it all in.

This week I think I will be creating something a little more carefree - maybe some Raggedy Ann style dolls, it's been a while since I did those.

I am thinking of making both a boy and a girl. I'll surprise you with it during the week sometime.
Sometimes I surprise myself, It's funny when you start out making something and it some how morphs into something else during the creation process. It's like Christmas, you never know what you will get next.

The Olde Primitive Sisters Group has started a market web site of their own. There are several talented artists who are selling their goods there. Go take a peek, you might find something you like!

http://oldprimitivesisters.com/shop/

I have not set up my shop there yet, but I am sure I will join there in the near future.

3/6 Mid-Week * What's Goin' On

2008-03-06T20:01:00.004-07:00

The medium sized Victorian Bunny is finished. Her head is slightly turned to the side, it gives her a inquisitive look. I made her feet slightly larger than the last medium sized Victorian Bunny. She still needs a basket or a backpack.

The rest of the bunnies are all in different stages of being finished. The largest bunny still needs her eyes painted, the smaller ones need sanded and painted some more.

Little ducky is in a the sanding stage. I chose to paint him in vivid colors, as most of the old toy ducks I have seen were at one time very brightly colored. Of course after he is antiqued the colors will look more vintage and time worn.
I can see a lot of improvements that can be made on the next ducks I make. I will add some more needle sculpting and possibly I will lightly stuff the wings and give them a quilted look in the future.

I am seriously beginning to worry about ebay. I have read that a new CEO is on the horizon and that his plans are to move ebay to a fixed price platform. That kind of defeats the purpose of ebay - doesn't it? That along the fee increases and feedback changes has me looking into other venues that I may pursue in the future.

Other news? After receiving an invitation to join - I am now a member of the Olde Primitive Sisters Group, this is a great bunch of ladies who are all talented artist in their own rights. We all sell on ebay - If you type in OPSG into your ebay search there you will see a wide variety of primitives and collectibles that we create. Everything primitive from ornaments to primitive dolls, toys, folk art and Americana art.

I am getting tired of bunnies, again. Next week it will be something different - I think.

Thanks again for reading my blog!

Sunday's Update

2008-03-02T16:27:00.004-07:00

I will be listing my Uncle Sam saw dust dolls on ebay today. They are the perfect Americana bowl fillers for the primitive patriotic collector.

I will also be re listing the Mama Bunny and her babies. I was a little surprised she didn't sell the first time out, but sometimes that happens. She is so cute in person, the pictures really don't do her justice.

All of my other bunnies and the little duck have the primer coat of paint on them and are drying as I type this.

I hope to have a productive week in the creativity department.

I forgot to mention the other day, the Roller Bunny Pull Toy has found a new home in Illinois where he is loved very much and will be well cared for, I am sure.

New Duckling and other updates.

2008-02-29T15:36:00.004-07:00

I have designed a new duckling for Easter, I think he is a cutie with his little wings. It stands about 5" tall. In order for him to be able to stand without any support I put a fairly heavy gauge of wire in his legs. His little ducky feet are very cute! I will paint and antique him with my usual process. I may make him in a larger size in the future.
I am making 3 more Victorian style bunnies, the ones that are standing up on their hind legs. I have made them in 3 sizes ranging from approximately 8" - 16" The middle sized one will have his head slightly turned.
The little Uncle Sam Sawdust Dolls are finished and will be going up for sale on ebay this weekend. I am selling them both together in a set. They are about 7 1/2" tall.

The Rabbit Pull Toy and Sawdust Sisters

2008-02-24T15:26:00.005-07:00

Wow - what a week.

I managed to finish up the rabbit pull toy, I hope someone else likes him as much as I do. He will be up for sale on ebay later this evening. I stained the wheels and axles with walnut stain they match the bunny nicely. The pull chord I made out of hemp, I braided it and added a wooden bead on the end. It looks pretty authentic, like a vintage toy.

I went ahead and aged the sawdust sisters even more than they were.
Then I made cute little muslin dresses for them and crudely embroidered flowers around the skirt bottoms, then stained them with coffee. I sanded the dresses - yep, took out my frustrations on these, they have some thin places and some places that I sanded all the way through and made little holes. I thought about putting patches on them but decided that would make the dresses look too busy since I had embroidered them.

I gave each sister a aged brass heart and tied it to the bodice of their dresses. Instead of making the tiny hand stitched button holes that I usually make I used rusting safety pins to close up their dresses in the back. They are very sweet, very primitive looking.

The Sawdust Sisters will be listed on ebay later tonight. I do hope they find a good home with someone to love them.

I will be working on the things I didn't get finished this week - plus a few new things. The ideas are endless.

Mid-Week Update

2008-02-20T13:02:00.005-07:00

Here is my update photo's. The Uncle Sam sawdust doll needs more painting, but I think he will be cute when finished.

The Uncle Sam and Yankee Doodle primitive doll set are getting there. The faces are painted now and they have been sanded lightly. Next I will apply a coat of stain to antique them. They are both jointed dolls, and will be button jointed at the knees and shoulders. I have made them so that Yankee doodle will be looking up at Uncle Sam and Uncle Sam will be looking slightly down towards the Yankee Doodle Boy.

The little sawdust doll sisters are turning out well. I stuffed them lightly with sawdust so that they look as though they have been around awhile and are a bit floppy.

The rabbit pull toy has a layer of gesso and 3 layers of paint so far.

That's what I have gotten done on them so far this week. There are so many idea's that go through my mind that I keep a list of dolls and toys that I want to make. The list just keeps growing, I don't think I will ever run out of ideas.

Also I want to say thanks to all of you are reading this blog and looking at my ebay auctions. Your support and kind words are very appreciated.

What Am I Working On This Week

2008-02-17T22:38:00.010-07:00

This week I have several dolls going at once, which isn't unusual for me. There is a Uncle Sam and Yankee Doodle Boy set, a old fashioned Bunny pull toy, 2 little old fashioned sawdust filled dolls that were inspired by a combination of the old printed panel dolls and china dolls, and 2 little Uncle Sam sawdust filled dolls.

The Uncle Sam Yankee Doodle set is made of muslin and will be painted dolls with jointed shoulders and knees. Their facial features will be needle sculpted. So far they are looking very good. Yankee Doodle was around for some time before Uncle Sam came to be - I just thought maybe it was time that they meant.

The old fashioned bunny pull toy is being made of osenburg fabric. It will be painted and aged to look like an antique toy. I will give him wooden axles and wheels.

The sawdust filled dolls will be jointed at the shoulders. I think I will paint their underclothes on them and then dress them in simple calico prints or some sort of cotton material that has been aged.

The Uncle Sam sawdust filled dolls will be all painted and aged.

I have a very busy week this week - I hope I can get them all done by next Sunday.

And that catches us up for now, I will up date this at the end of week.

Thank You for peeking in on the Doll*Shoppe.

Don't forget to check out my eBay auctions. Just click on the link below:

My Primitive and Folk Art Auctions

.

Victorian Bunny - A Primitive Bunny Doll

2008-02-17T22:06:00.008-07:00

This little bunny is a cutie - he was inspired by the bunny toys that were available during the Victorian era, He is about 11 3/4" tall, including his ears, his feet are a bit smaller than most modern bunnies.

He started off as just a piece of muslin cloth. I made a pattern and cut him out, sewed him up, needle sculpted his face and brought him to life with a bit of paint.

He was painted in layers and sanded between each layer, This gives him a softer almost leather like feel. His tummy and tail are antique white.

I chose darker brown colors for this little bunny, and jointed him with antiqued brass colored metal buttons.

He has a very old fashioned air about him, he carries a little basket that I crocheted out of hemp. I had thought of making him a back pack basket, but he is so small that I think the little hemp basket fits him perfectly.

This bunny is for sale on eBay, the auction end Sunday February the 24th.
Here is a link if you would like to see him there:

OLD FASHIONED BUNNY * PRIMITIVE DOLL * FOLK ART

Mama Bunny and Her Babies. Part II - The FInished Dolls

2008-02-17T21:36:00.012-07:00

I am so happy with these Bunnies. The Mama looks so proud holding her little ones.
The asleep baby looks so calm and secure in his mama's arms his brother looks as though he is squirming to get away.

I decided to use wooden buttons for the joints. They blend well with the overall vintage look of these dolls.

Mama Bunny cannot stand by herself because she is up on her toes. She can stand propped up against something or in her stand that I customized just for her.

I put a heavy wire in her ears to keep them up-right and to make it so they can be posed.

This set really looks like a well loved toy of days gone by.

I am thinking, maybe I should make a few more of the baby bunnies to sell separately. I am sure there are those who collect the smaller primitive dolls and toys who would want them.

This set is listed on ebay the auction ends next Sunday, February 24th.
Here is a link to see them there:

MAMA BUNNY AND 2 BABIES * PRIMITIVE DOLL SET* FOLK ART

Mama Bunny and Her Babies. Part 1

2008-02-17T20:57:00.008-07:00

Spring is getting closer, I can feel it - And that means bunnies. Easter bunnies, newborn spring baby bunnies - I have gone bunny crazy this last week.

I wanted to make something different, something unique but something that also looks as if it is a toy from out of the past. After some thought I got the idea of a Mama bunny and a couple of little ones, twins.

If you have ever know someone with twins or 2 little ones close in age you will know that if you hold one you have to hold the other one too. This Mama Bunny will definitely have her hands full. I wanted one baby bunny to be sleeping peacefully while the other one is wide awake.

I decided to make these out of muslin. I made a pattern for these and may make more of them in the future. Especially I may make more of the babies, they turned out so cute!

After cutting them out and getting the machine sewing out of the way I needle sculpted their faces. The ears are hand sewed on to the bunny heads separately and not sewn into a seam with the machine.

When all the sewing was completed I got to paint! YIPPEEEE - that's my favorite part! I started by giving them all a coat of acrylic gesso and sanding that down. Then I painted them one layer at a time with different shades of brown. I used antique white for their tummy's and tails, The inside of the ears are blushed with a fleshy pink color. I painted their noses, hand and foot pads in the same fleshy pink, however most of that was sanded away in the antiquing process, and just remnants of the pink color remain looking as though the paint has worn off over time. Due to the aging process that I have used on these dolls has resulted in the dolls have the feel of leather. This adds to the vintage appeal of these primitive bunny dolls.

Uncle Sam and His Eagle Part II - HE IS FINISHED!

2008-02-17T20:43:00.010-07:00

Here he is in all his glory!

Uncle Sam and His Eagle.
I wanted the clothes to have an old vintage look to them so I sanded them to make them look like they have been around a few decades. I used tiny antique pearl shank buttons on his clothing. And Stained them tea and coffee.

His hat was made of cotton canvas and painted in layers like I had painted Uncle Sam himself.

He is a very tall 26" with his hat on. I made a stand to fit him and gave it a vintage look finish. It fits him quite well.

Uncle Sam was sold on eBay today and is going to go live in Saint Charles, Illinois.

Uncle Sam and His Eagle Part 1

2008-02-17T20:21:00.008-07:00

At the same time I was making Froggy and Miss Mousy I was also making Uncle Sam and His Eagle.
I enjoy making patriotic dolls. I love my country very much and I hope that that shows in my creations.

Uncle Sam is a tall lean fellow, and If he has a pet I would bet it is an American Bald Eagle.

This Uncle Sam was made out of a heavier material - cotton canvas. I needle sculpted his nose and jointed his lower legs and shoulders.

He was painted with acrylic gesso, then several layers of paint - always sanding between layers to give him a nice supple feel - akin to leather.

I decided to give him mohair hair. I stitched it into his head and goatee.

I made the eagle in 4 separate pieces, and used the same painting process on him as I did on Uncle Sam.

Froggy Went A Courtin' Part III - THEY ARE FINISHED

2008-02-17T20:01:00.012-07:00

I was/am very pleased with the way these two turned out. Miss Mousy perched so lady like upon Froggy's knee. Froggy's long legs and arms with big feet and hands add so much character to the ol' boy.

Both dolls have button joints at the shoulders and hips. Both have a light stain applied after the painting and sanding was finished to give them a beautiful aged vintage look. This painting process also gives the dolls a very leather-like feel.

Froggy and Miss Mousy sold today on e-Bay. Their new home will be in Loveland, Colorado.

I do hope their new owner enjoys having them around as much as I enjoyed creating them.

Froggy Went A Courtin' - Part II

2008-02-17T19:46:00.007-07:00

After all the machine sewing is done and the needle sculpting completed the fun part begins.

First I give them a good coat of acrylic gesso. Then, after sanding it all down, I let my imagination take over (once again) And start painting!

I sand between each layer of paint and sometimes - depending on the look I want to achieve, there may be as many as 6 or seven coats of paint.

I wanted Froggy to have the markings of a real frog. Most frog dolls I have seen are all green or maybe 2 shades of green. I imagined Froggy was a leopard frog, there fore he would have to have spots!

Inspired By Froggy Went A Courtin'

2008-02-17T19:19:00.008-07:00

One evening while playing the folk song Froggy Went A Courtin' on my banjo the funniest image of Froggy and Miss Mousy popped into my head.

I HAD to make those dolls based on the line "He took Miss Mousy on his knee and said Miss Mousy won't you marry me?" I could see the characters clearly in my mind and set to work to bring them into being.

The process I used to create them is unique in that it gives them a vintage look of the toys of yester year.

First it started as a sketch, I don't always sketch my character dolls first, but this time I did. Then I drew out a partial pattern and started cutting. I used osenburg fabric to make their bodies.
I sew my dolls on a old Singer Featherweight sewing machine. I have other newer machines but I really don't think my featherweight can be beat when it comes to making small tight seams.
The rest of the sewing is done by hand and there is usually some needle sculpting on my dolls too. In the case of Froggy there was a lot of needle sculpting.

The above pictures are of Miss Mousy in the making.

Winter Annie

2008-02-17T18:49:00.006-07:00

Winter Annie was a primitive rag doll I made before Christmas of last year. It was very cold outside so - of course she had to have a warm coat and a hat to match. She was about 21" tall. She was made of felt that had been dyed and stained with tea and coffee. Her clothing also had been dyed, stained and patched.
Poor old girl, she looked as if she had been through one to many rough winters.
I finished off her outfit with vintage and antique buttons,a brass jingle bell the tiniest real pine cones I have ever seen. She held 2 primitive flannel angels. She turned out very well and was adopted into a new home before the holiday arrived.

Miniature Dolls

2008-02-17T18:27:00.006-07:00

For a while I was stuck on making miniature rag dolls. It's a great way to use up all those tiny pieces of material left over from other projects.
Most of the little ones I made were under 1 1/2 " tall a few were as big as 3 inches. I made raggedy dolls, cowgirls, indians, topsy turvy dolls and even a gollywog.

They were a lot of fun to make. The indian has a real leather dress. the cowgirls have little boots that are painted on.

Where Do I Begin?

2008-02-17T17:56:00.005-07:00

I have been making dolls of one sort or another for most of my lifetime. I can remember my Mama giving me a needle and a small felt needle book to keep it in and letting me have my way with the scrap bag. (Which was a pillow case filled with all the extra scraps she had from making our clothes.) I was about 7 years old then.

Although I never really played with my dolls I liked making them and creating new things.

I opened a doll shop in my early 20's and operated it out of my house. Selling to retail stores and at various craft shows. I sold rag dolls, primitives, teddy bears and original sculpted works. After a few years I got into making porcelain dolls. Now I am in my mid forties and have settled back into making mostly primitives and patriotic dolls.

I currently sell on eBay and have been pondering the idea of opening a online store.