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.

R. JOHN WRIGHT FELT DOLLS

1. Lillian, portrait doll of makers' daughter,
2. Snow White and The Little Prince,
3. Musette, a candy container, with Benjamin Bunny and Jiminy Cricket (Steiff, not Wright)

Jill gave our October program on R. John Wright felt dolls. The R. John Wright company has been making felt dolls since the 1970's. What was once a two-person operation became cottage industry is now a business with 50 employees and annual sales of 5-10 million dollars. John and Susan Wright did all the prototypes, as well as made all the dolls originally. Both artistic and interested in dolls, the Wrights perfected the craft of felt dolls making by studying quality dolls like Steiff, Lenci, and Kathe Kruse. From peasant-looking character dolls to the Little Children series, the R. John Wright Company turned to story book characters and film stars - Pooh characters, Snow White, Cinderella, Beatrix Potter characters, The Wizard of Oz characters, multiple bears, and The Little Prince. Most dolls are limited editions of 250-500. The R. John Wright dolls are known for the impeccable detail and high quality of felt, materials, and facial painting. These dolls are works of art!

SHARON'S CARVED WOODEN DOLLS, MADAME ALEXANDER BUTCH

Our own member Sharon's hand-carved wooden Hitty dolls.  Note the wood grain in the on the right.  She has perfected the oil-painted faces.

Here is our September guest Melanie Fay with her beloved "Susie," a Madame Alexander baby doll that she has treasured for 62 years.

SUMMER FINDS - GREAT DOLLS

Effanbee Patsy Tinyettes, 1 of 50 shaved muzzle teddy bear, 1927 Hebee Effanbee compo, Norah Wellings cloth doll, wooden Dutch doll,  Franz Schmidt bisque head baby, stuffed felt handmade figures from NC, and Effanbee Patsy Baby.

Reproduction French "H," only one original found. made in France in the 1870's perhaps by Halopeau.  Repro by Denise Dotchin in Bedford, UK.    Effanbee Button Nose dolls, talking Dora doll, handmade paper Santa ornament, and Dewees Cochran doll cleaned up, hair washed and set, and original skating outfit copied.  The paper Santa was made by Sus Devnani.  Her website is designsbysus.com....She only takes phone orders. Tell her your request and she will send it. She also makes many other dolls besides Santas. She also will put your own childs picture on a doll. She does these all year and would have some stock to send the next day. She is very interesting and is also a doll collector.

Georgine cloth doll with much-desired dress with hearts, Googly and another all bisque.

Interesting handmade cloth "Hitty-Kitty," looks like wooden Hitty doll, but cat-like, and 1940's Ruth Gibbs china with gold painted shoes, dressed as a bride.

HITTY, OTHER CARVED DOLLS, AND EXCITING NEWS!

I have some exciting news!! I've been asked to be a special guest doll artist at a doll show and sale in Georgia! It is October 15 and is sponsored by The Peachtree Doll Collectors to benefit the Campus of Georgia Baptist Children's Home. http://www.gbchfm.org/apps/calendar/?scheduleid=132907. I am hoping to have some Hittys to sell at the show so I'm going to be doing a lot of carving, sanding, and painting between now and then.

Also, I have carved a Hitty out of wood from a catawba/catalpa tree that was blown down during the tornadoes in Pleasant Grove, Alabama. I'm going to put her on ebay with the proceeds to go to First Baptist Church Pleasant Grove to assist in repairing the church and/or go to their fund to help people affected by the tornadoes. This is the church where I carve on Mondays. One of the guys I carve with, Condie Lowry, is going to make some Hitty furniture for the auction too, and some of it will be made out of fallen wood. When we get it all finished, I'll post the link to the auction in case anyone wants to check her out :). Here's her picture (she's the doll with lots of grain) and pictures of other dolls I've carved in the last few months including two Hittys with oil paint (long hair Hitty painted by the wonderful and talented Hanna Hyland and me), and my version of a wooden papier mache type doll. The wooden papier mache is wearing the dress from the pattern in Doll News, and the long hair Hitty is wearing a dress made by Patricia Brooks.

Sharon

DOLL PARTS USED IN ASSEMBLAGES - EXHIBITION IN NEW ORLEANS

"Athena"

Here is one of a group of assemblages by artist Audra Kohout, who has an exhibit of her work currently in a New Orleans art gallery (Riard-Cimino Gallery on Julia Street, the happening place for artists).  Though some works seem disturbing, they are after all reflecting life, which includes the light and the dark sides.

http://www.heriardcimino.com/kohout/kohout.html

Click on the URL above to view all the works in the exhibit.

FINISHING TOUCHES TO A DOLL OUTFIT

I dressed this sweet 12" Bru in a vintage dress. I added silk ribbon streamers, and ran satin cording and ribbon through the lace . I added matching silk ribbon trim to the vintage French lace bonnet. Shoes are Bru style, but not old.  Socks are hand crocheted.

PROGRAM ON CHINA DOLLS

Covered Wagon hairdo, about 1840-50, pink tint.

Flat top hairdo, about 1860, rare brown eyes.

Highland Mary hairdo on left made by Kling, about 1880. Alice in Wonderland hairdo on right, about 1870-1880.

China dolls (glazed - shiny - porcelain) were made mostly in Germany beginning in the 1700's, but didn't become popular until the 1840's. Literally billions were made, and though they were play dolls and many were broken, there are still good examples today for collectors to treasure. Many hair styles were made, depending on the styles of the times; it's possible to date a china within about 20 years. A hair style was made as long as it was popular. Blonde chinas were made in the 1880's, whereas before that, they had black and brown hair, brown being rare. Pink flesh tints were used early on. Chinas lost popularily during the latter part of the 1800's, due to the popularity of bisque (unglazed) dolls; also child-like characteristics in chinas appeared in competition with bisque child dolls. The low brow common type china doll was made from the 1890's to the 1930's. Bodies were either handmade fabric at home or purchased fabric from a manufacturer of bodies such as Goldsmith; many of the manufactured ones had corsets. Some china dolls had leather bodies or leather arms. Many had china legs and arms; early hands were spoon-shaped, and later ones were cupped.. Boots before 1870 were flat-soled and with a heel after 1870. Chinas came in many sizes and with various hairdos; most of the original prices were just a few dollars. Most chinas are unmarked.  Some collectors say they are cold and serious-looking, which is true, but during the time they were made, it was a serious business to be a child, with many adult lessons to be learned.