Christmas Decorations

Here is an antique doll head with a cotton body and clothes on the tree, a wonderful large Nativity Scene handpainted in Italy, and a cheery wreath in the kitchen window.  They are just a few of the decorations we enjoyed at our December Meeting.

Christmas Meeting Displays

Here are a tea party with German bisque dolls (cloth Alabama baby with back to us):i.e.,

-doll in blue dress with white pinafore is a 31"Heinrich Handwerck/Simon Halbig

-doll in pink dress and bonnet is Kestner, mold 146

-doll in yellow dress and bonnet is Kestner, mold 154

-doll in green velvet dress with white lace collar and white lace bonnet is an unmarked composition.

-Alabama Baby has his back to you.

 A German bisque dome head baby in the high chair, a wonderful Christmas tree with many handmade ornaments, some of which are hand felted ones made at one of our club workshops, and a nutcracker mantel display.

Secret Santa Gifts at December Meeting

Here are a Shirley Temple replica and three sweet porcelain dolls.  The third picture shows a Louis Nichole doll by Precious Moments.

Secret Santa Gifts Opened at December Meeting

Here are a quilted rabbit, a vintage Century Doll Co.  doll named Chuckles, an 8" Madam Alexander doll, and a porcelain angel and ornament.

Christmas Meeting Secret Santa Gifts

Here are a few of the presents happily received from our surprise Secret Santas. Fron the top: an Annalee Elf, a handmade pillow with Bru dolls printed on cloth, a sweet antique DEP doll, and a vintage German Santa candy container.

SANTA FIGURES AND PRETTY JUMEAU REPRODUCTION

The Santa figures (tree lights up in first photos, and third photo is a Viking Santa) and Jumeau reproduction were made by Kathy James of Charlotte, SC, and costumed and accessorized by Mary Funderburg, a guest at our last meeting.  It was nice to have you visit with us, Mary.

DOLL HATS FROM HAT WORKSHOP, NOVEMBER MEETING

Jill with pretty Walkure (made by Kestner) wearing a new mob cap made from a doily lined with contrasting color.  Round elastic was run through zig zag stitches after lining (cut smaller to leave a lacey border) was attached.  She wears an old flower that came with her.

Ann with Annalee Mouse wearing a new red Christmas hat with holly and spaces for the ears.

Sharon holding her wooden Hitty and eyelet Normandy bonnet (pattern given in post below), and Beverly holding her almost finished mob cap, which she will probably decorate with ribbons or flowers.

Here is Janet's Normandy bonnet from eyelet under construction.

Janet with her doll's new almost finished Normandy bonnet.  She needs ribbon ties, pleating in back to fit her head, and perhaps some sort of decoration.

DEP dolly wears a newly constructed Normandy bonnet of taffeta with lacey overlay, silk ribbons, and a round thread lace pouf.  I think she is pleased with her new chapeau.

NORMANDY BONNET PATTERNS FOR DOLLS

Normandy Bonnet (from the Delineator 1886): The Normandy Bonnet achieved great popularity for children's wear during the 1800's, a style derived by fashion artists from the headgear of French peasants from the region of Normandy in northwest France. The headdresses were a veritable symphony of fine, often handmade, lace, with frills and furbelows, depending on the region where they originated. Of course the children's bonnets were simplified, but nontheless charming.

The first pattern above is for an 18" doll and the second for an 11" doll. Follow instructions carefully. Remember to double click to enlarge images. A wonderful aspect of this style is that it can be made simple or extremely elaborate, depending on how much decoration you add. For instance, you may decorate the band on top with lace frills or flowers and the bottom edge with pleated ribbon all around. You may add ribbon ties with rosettes where they attach (zig zag stitch on ribbon by hand and draw up the gathers to make a rosette).

The third photo shows our patient teacher Dorothy with avid learners. The bottom photo is of Sharon's hand carved Hitty with her brand new (not quite finished) Normandy bonnet. She will pleat the back edge to fit her head and add ribbon ties and perhaps decoration.

DOLL BONNET WORKSHOP NOVEMBER MEETING - MOB CAPS MADE FROM DOILIES

We were greeted by Dorothy's dolls modelling different styles of bonnets, and offered materials and patterns for mob caps (4th photo above, doll on the right and also second from left)  and Normandy bonnets (3rd photo above, dark red with white lace).  Double click on photos to enlarge.  The mob caps can be made from a lace doily.  Simply edge stitch with a large zig zig stitch a round piece of cloth, preferably a contrasting color to the doily and smaller, so as to leave a lacey edge without the lining.  Attach the lining to the doily by hand stitching.  Then run round elastic cording from the fabric store through the zig zag stitches, leaving enough to tie a bow so you can adjust the gathers to fit the doll's head.  Voila!  Just add ribbons, flowers, or other decorations for a simple but beautiful cap for your doll.

TWO NEW HITTY DOLL COLLECTORS

Here are Barbara (top) and Ann (bottom) with their new Hitty dolls carved by our member Sharon, who will be featured doll artist at the Peachtree Doll Collectors 7th Annual Doll and Bear Show and Sale Oct. 15, 2011, from 10-4, Palmetto, GA. Email for more information on the show: nancypillar@comcast.com. See our earlier post on Sharon Kirby's hand-carved Hitty dolls, copied from the antique original.

CLOTH DOLLS

1. Kathe Kruse doll,
2. Unknown maker with talking witch doll,
 3. L to R: Casey, original felt doll by Dorothy Clark, Musette by R. John Wright (candy container), and Steiff doll Jorg.
 4. Lillian by R. John Wright in front with Lenci dolls on either side.