My Summer Rollercoaster

2 Weddings in 3 days & a Finish...

Oh my golly this year has been a handful.  I am still trying to get back to my olde self.. I just feel like I got on some rollercoaster from hell and can't get off. A week after I got my staples out we were off to Durango Colorado (a trip my husband had planned for a year and would not let me out of). About a week after that Pip and I drove up to Washington to see my parents. A week after we got home from that, our oldest daughter got married!

Two days later, my middle daughter got married! School starts here on the 9th of August, so I am actually really looking forward to some quiet days. Would that be possible? I sure hope so. I don't have the energy I used to have, and feel honestly like I just want to sit and cry my eyes out for about a week, about what I don't know, and then maybe go to sleep until January of next year. I'm just worn OUT. 

I have been working on backorders in between all the happenings, painting aLOT, and on my lacquering days and evenings managed to get the center panel for the INSIDE of my short flat top casket finished. I dressed her like one of my dollys~she wears real pearls and real garnet jewels, and I am very proud to say, she has a head of my own hair. I am super pleased with how she came out. When things settle maybe ill post about her in more detail, or take a little video.

I hope you are finding time to get some stitching done & enjoying your days XOXOX

Super Honored

 My 15th Consecutive Year Selected for Early American Life's Directory of Top 200 Traditional American Craftsmen

Words can't express how much it means to me to have been selected again this year for the 2022 Directory. THANKYOU to the judges for choosing my dollys to accompany so many other talented artists' work. I really do love making dolls.

You can find the Directory in the July/August 2022 Issue of Early American Life Magazine.  It's hard to believe 15 years have passed. It seems like an eternity, and at the same time, no time at all. I have made so many dollys over the years. I remember each and every one of them. Every so often, I end up really regretting selling a doll. I need the money so they do their part and happily travel the globe....the whole time though, I really miss them.

I was elated recently when a dealer contacted me that she had bought a large collection of dolls and several of mine were included. I could not wait to bring my Wrestling Heart back home, as pictured above. 

Marta also made the long journey from Virginia to Colorado. I almost cried when I opened them up, kindred spirits from so many years ago that I have missed so much! They have so many stories to tell the girls here of their long and marvelous travels~ the endless chatter has not stopped since they arrived! 

I am currently sculpting the figures for the 2022 Poft Oak beadwork class. Once I get those finished, I will hope to get some dollys in the ETSY shop later this summer!

Happy Stitching XOXOXO

14 Years in a Row...

  2021 Early American Life Directory of Traditional American Crafts

Wow. What an honor. I have been juried into the Early American Life Magazine Directory Of Traditional American Crafts for 2021, my fourteenth consecutive year.  THANKYOU to all of the judges! These two fine 17th c bead peddlers were my entry for this year.

I love to make dolls to represent different periods. These are tiny 6" girls, very challenging to make this small. They both have period-correct wardrobes and I thought you would enjoy seeing what is underneath their outers.

I have made a couple of sets of twins, and sibling dolls occasionally. It is always fun for me to see how different they come out. No matter how hard I try to make them the same, they always take on their own unique personalities. 

I usually always give my girls pantaloons for modesty's sake, but actually, pantaloons were worn in the 17th c. Over her pantaloons she wears a period correct ankle long shift and cap.

I love this picture of her sister...perhaps she is a few minutes older...not much. She is helping younger to dress.

Both wear silk gowns trimmed with silk ribbon trim.  I stitched her hat from a bit of an antique kid glove and trimmed with real tiny feathers. Hats such as this were commonly worn by women in the 17th c.

Their clothes are removable, and bodices are fully boned and lined.

I love every aspect of doll making~ and that includes the stands! I made both of their stands to resemble a cobblestone street corner when placed together. I like to imagine myself standing right there alongside them...selling beads~ what a glorious day!

Fun with Scraps

Lil Cuties

  What have ya'll been up to?  I am super lucky that my oldest daughter only lives 8 miles from me.  One day she called me and mentioned how much she missed getting to watch me make dollys. (When the children were little, I had a bed in the studio beside my work table so they could nap and play right there were I could keep an eye on them)....  So I told her to come on over and we'll make something.  We picked thru the scrap bins and a few days later, I had 3 lil mini punkin cuties. Shes not done with hers yet, but they came out just as cute as mine!

I dont know what the heck I was thinking when I sculpted this lil punkin....she is so blasted tiny~ I had a heck of a time trying to hold onto her arms while trying to stitch on her sleeves. Shes a little cone puppet

She likes to hide in her cone and then pop out and try to scare her friends.....but shes not scary. 

 This is Full Moon Party~ she is named after one of my favorite teas. What is super fun about making small things, is that tiny scraps are all you need. This size of doll doesnt take much of anything to make, just some time, imagination, and lots of laughs with your daughter ;)

2020 Early American Life Directory

13 Consecutive Years of DKFA Dollies

   I simply could not be more honored to share with ya'll that my dollies were juried into the 2020 Early American Life Directory of Traditional American Crafts again this year.  I received my August issue of Early American Life Magazine  and was elated to see my boys exploring the Number One House in Historic Zoar Village in Ohio.  Thankyou Thankyou Thankyou so very much to Early American Life Magazine and to all of the judges, for appreciating the work that I put  in to making my dolls, and Thankyou Thankyou Thankyou to each and every person who has given one a home. I appreciate it from the bottom of my soul~

on eBay this week!

Will you be my Valentine?

 Do you have a lil Ladye around 5-6" tall in need of companionship? Thomas Henry would love to make her acquaintance...or perhaps you have a class of young, impressionable students that would benefit from a stern but caring schoolmaster?

 Thomas is on eBay this week~ just click the link in the sidebar to my eBay specials!

19th c Tinder Ad?

 Regency Male Seeking Female Companionship....

 lolol Ok I just couldnt resist!  I love Thomas Henry to death~ hes such a nice fellow...hard working....compassionate, kind~ but hes been a bit depressed as of late because all his friends are talking about what they are making for their true loves this Valentine's Day...and he alas, is alone. 

I keep telling him he needs to quit reading so many books and get out and meet people...but he's pretty shy. 

As you can see he is a Handsome fellow!  I told him I would ask my readers, if they should know of any young Grodnertal or Peg Wooden that is looking for companionship?

Mr. Tipton suggested they go to towne and look for a fresh new silk Top Hat to bring his spirits up....and whilst there, will have a proper photo taken...so better put on his coat so they can be off!

Those Knobby Knees

No need for Embarrassment Thomas Henry.....

I often find myself wondering, if I were a dollye...just when would I have liked to have been made?  As alot of you know I teach at the Bath Textile Summer School certain summers...and how on Earth could anyone in their right mind live in Bath, England, and not just be head over heels in Love with  Jane Austen and the Regency era in general?  I have been reading several of Jane's books & letters....and as fate would have, had a special order for a male companion doll of said era....and thus, my obsession with Regency gentleman began.

Alas...this last grouping of boys has my girls swooning at every sight. I have never seen them so frazzled...so agitated, so ....fussy!

There is good reason why a nice Regency Dandy is few & far between....well, a gentleman doll of any period 19th c and before. Their wardrobes are so involved....so many pieces tailored to fit their every curve perfectly...the time it takes me to dress one gentleman, I could have dressed four ladies.  These little guys are so much fun tho, I thought you all would enjoy a picture of Thomas Henry's knobby  little knees, before he puts his trousers on.(no need to avert one's eyes....his manliness is well hidden within his long shirt!)

Things Never Change

Mr Tipton....

oh my... such a tight fit Mr Tipton ....

me thinks Ye has enjoyed too much merry~making this Christmas...

I hope I dont have to let out his trousers 

Truly Honored

Thankyou Early American Life

 It's been such a busy summer! I have so many things I want to share here on the blog~ just got back from a wonderful trip to Yellowstone national Park...went up home to visit my parents and picked sapphires in Montana...spent my 4th of July on the surface of the sun (it was sooo hot) along with the cicadas...but first, want to express my heartfelt thanks to all of the judges for selecting me again for this year's Early American Life Directory of Traditional American Crafts for my 12th consecutive year. 

 Thankyou so very much~ both to the judges, and to all of my wonderful customers who have given so many of my dollies and art loving homes, I appreciate it more than I can ever express in words. 

 I thought you would like to see a larger picture of Humility~ she represents the 1790-1810 period~ a period I absolutely adore. Everyone loves the mid century dollies so much I don't often get orders for later years, which is a shame because the clothing was so fabulous~ the textiles & embroidery was so fine and delicate.

Humility's gown is hand stitched from a period embroidered fragment the owner provided, making her even more special. This period I lovingly refer to as 'gossamer white', as so much of the clothing was white on white, with the accessories adding in the colour~ usually the shoes, bags and shawls. She is one of my favorite girls! xoxox

on eBay this week!

Honesty, a One of a Kind Queen Anne Dollye

  I am so honored to have been chose again this year for Early American Life's Directory of Top Traditional American Craftsmen. I don't have as much time as I used to to make dollys, but we do have a good time in the studio when we are playing.  Each one is such a little character~ Honesty is the sweetest girl, quite timid, but she loves story time and thinks the idea that worms eat dirt is absolutely fascinating. We have some very interesting discussion over tea, her and I. She needed help to put on her shoes for her eBay pictures. All hand stitched from a precious scrap of 18th c quilted block printed cotton, with antique glass eyes and gorgeous real human hair. If you would like to get to know her better, you can see her here, or just click the link on the right to my eBay specials.

Early American Life Directory of Traditional American Crafts

Thankyou Early American Life!

   I just arrived back home from a trip up to Washington state to take the children to see my parents, and look what was in the post box waiting for me!  I am super proud to have been juried into the Directory for my 11th consecutive year this year!  Pomme, seen above right, traveled to Jamestown Va for her photoshoot~ she has told me all about the friends and interesting people she met while there. Tho Pomme was pictured in the magazine, I sent two dollys in for my entry this year, Pomme, and her little sister Spoon.

They are worked in two different mediums, Pomme is all mache with cloth legs, and Spoon is in wood...but I think they came out looking alot alike. I wanted little spoon to be more primitive and gave her a very tall forehead...her head shape is that of a spoon, hence her name, Spoon!

My son asked if there would be a 'fork' coming up, to which I am not thinking so...but one never knows. 

 I am working on my classes for next year, and have some dollys in the works as well, so hopefully I will become better at juggling my time and you will be seeing some new faces here soon!  Ill be starting the next panel on my casket as well~ I cant wait!  

on eBay this week!

New Design Flemish Palette &!

 Happy Monday! I hope your day is a great one and your relaxing with a nice cup of tea...I have mine!  I have finally had some time to breathe after finishing all the end of year school things for the children, and have this gorgeous spool palette up on eBay this week.  I designed this one after the other Flemish pieces I have made, but the design is a little different, based more on the box I embroidered of the same. I love to paint in this style, its really fun and feminine, and I love how the gold looks when its finished. Its something the camera just doesnt pick up in a picture~  if you want to see it on eBay with huge pictures so you can see all the details, or perhaps place a bid, you can find it here

  The gold is very subtle head on, but when the pieces are moved, or you move around them, you get these unexpected little flashes of light~ so pretty!  Just think how pretty a casket would be...I mean....an entire casket, painted this way!

  I have all sorts of things in my head I would like to paint, so many ideas, but the bulk of my painting time is painting what others have always wanted~ its a challenge to be sure. I haven't posted pictures in so long of my slate frames, mainly because I don't post pictures until they get to their intendeds....but by then I get busy and forget~ so thought I would share a couple of my favorites.  Its amazing sometimes what people ask for~ things I would never think to paint on a frame, but in the end, they fit really well.  Sometimes people are very specific about what they want....other times, they can be fairly vague. The above frame was a request for snowmen and snowflakes and silver Christmas balls. 

 Skeletons & pirates are always a popular theme...so this time I combined them.   I know if I was a pirate, my treasure box would be chock full of embroidery threads! 

 Charlotte told me to paint what ever I wanted, but that she likes witches.....so witches it was! I love Halloween and witches and thought this frame would be a breeze, and it turned out to be the most challenging frame I have painted to date, as it is just so blasted difficult to fit mainly vertical objects onto a horizontal plane that is only an inch tall. I love how it came out, its one of my ultimate favorites.

Dollys have been busy to, Ladye Pomme is on her way back home from a visit to Jamestowne & Colonial Williamsburg. I am really thrilled to announce that I was selected again this year for Early American Life Magazine's Directory of Top 200 Traditional American Craftsmen, for the 11th consecutive year in a row.  Its truly an honor and I am so excited for Pomme to get back here so we can have some tea and she can tell me all  about her venture East. I hope she got to go to the glass furnace there...I went this past March and it was fabulous!

New Dollys

On eBay this week!

  Golly the time is flying by~ we seemed to have skipped Spring and ran from cold straight into Summer here in southern Colorado.  Ladye Rachael is a little Grodnertal that would love to say hello~ you can see here on eBay here or click on my eBay auction link on the right sidebar.  I have a couple dollys on this week and a great little antique child's coat made from c1740 silk brocade up for sale. 

  I love Grodnertal dollys~ some call them peg or penny woodens~ they are precious and I think my girl is pretty sweet!  I wanted to get her on for May day, but as always, i'm a bit late!

on eBay this week~

Marida, a One of a Kind Queen Anne Dolllye

  If you would like to say hello, or perhaps place a bid, she is on eBay this week here

Getting Back to Work

Wood, Mache & Glass

    It does feel good to get back to work. I havent been of mind to do much lately, everything seems overwhelming and I havent been able to concentrate like 'normal'. The children have been keeping me busy~ Emma got her first elk a bit after Christmas, and Josh has been building a forge...hes out there now hammering away and I see a nice butter knife with rebar handle in my future.... 

Got a few dollys finished.  I think the expression on Marida's face is a direct reflection of my own...kind of ho hum.....waiting for a nice cup of tea.  I wanted her to look primitive...like something Mamma would have made for her little girl from things found round the house...her clothes are hand stitched from late 18th ~ very early 19th c print from a quilt back portion

  I gave her a wig of real human hair...not my own. I have all sorts of antique hair that was saved probably for hair jewelry, but never got made up. Sometimes I use my own hair, but I liked this color, its dark but has kind of red hue to it if you get it in the light and goes well with her complection. Its stitched on over a cotton skull cap, and yes, I sat and braided it by hand.  I like how it came out, simple, but with lots of character. She will go on eBay later this week.

 My work has stacked up over Christmas,  this past Wed. was my first full day of work back out in the shop, and I have to say, it did much to make  me feel better. I love to work wood, I really do. Drilled out 17 slate frame pairs and have started to saw out the mortoises

  Of coarse I was working on my casket when lil Biskie got hit by a car, so it has been extremely difficult to get back to it since. I was working on a specific portion of the angel's gowns (where was mine & Biskie's when he needed it???) so I have added some little brown beads that are same color as his little nose in that spot.... It's been too hard for me to concentrate to count beads since,  and these are so small, I just can't see them when my eyes well up....

 But I had these pieces done, so I have gone ahead and stitched them on to finish their gowns....minus the sashes

 I don't think I like them very much, honestly, but I'm not taking them off. Perhaps when they get their hair I'll like them better....I'm not diggin little baldies...or maybe it's just angels in general.... I don't know.

But before I can do their hair, I have to make their wings....so for the next while, I'll be making feathers....well over 100 I need, of differing sizes...the small ones take me about 20 minutes to make one, so it will be a while.  I have decided to make the Quiltmania 2018 Mystery Quilt this year, because I have been feeling a need for patchwork...so am very much looking forward to that starting the end of this month.

On Stands in Januray 2018

Prims Winter 2018

 I am honored to be in the upcoming issue of Prims Magazine, and even moreso to have my name on the cover. This next issue is the best yet, and along with my little story of Minie & Moxie I am in a couple of the interview pages. I was included in the very first issue of  Prims when it came out, and it has been really fun to see the issue grow to what it is now.

 If you have a subscription to Prims, you should be getting your issue any time now,  and if not, it will be on news stands and in bookstores like Barnes & Noble on January 1st....I cordially invite you to come to High Tea with Minie, Moxie & I!