Dolly days

Meet Louisa. Isn't she a sweetie? She's the oldest member of my little doll family and dates from the 1860s. I found her on Ebay a few years ago. She was seeking a good home and my heart was lost as soon as I saw her.

Her head is wax over composition (hence the hairline cracks) and her eyes are glass. I adore old dolls but perfect condition is never important to me. I prefer the loved and played-with look and Louisa would surely have lots of secrets to share if only she could talk.

She has a cloth body stuffed with straw and carved wooden hands and forearms that adjoin cloth upper arms attached to her body at the shoulders.

Her boots and lower legs are also made of wood and are attached to upper legs made of cloth. Her pretty muslin dress and underwear are in excellent condition.

Over the years I've spend many happy hours reading about old dolls and have a varied collection of books about them.

Vintage prints of little girls and their dollies appeal to me greatly. This gorgeous woodcut dates from the 16th century. I often dream of owning a REALLY old doll but they are exceedingly rare and if by chance I ever found one I know I wouldn't have sufficient funds to acquire it, so I dream on.

By complete contrast let me show you a doll I made at school when I was eight years old. Funny little thing isn't she! All the children in my class were asked to bring 'scraps' from home to create a dolly from a wooden peg (clothespin). Just look at her funny little blue arms! They are wire from a vintage TV my dad was repairing at the time. And guess what! My little peg doll won 'first prize'. The teacher gave me a silver sixpence which she said was 'for luck'. In England sixpences have been given as tokens of good luck for over 400 years. 

Being given a silver sixpence must have ignited my love of doll making because I've been making them (large and small) ever since .

I like making small things best so peg dolls have always been a favourite.

Recently I experimented with polymer and paper clays as I wanted to try putting larger heads onto the pegs and give each face a tiny nose. I wanted to try making tiny arms as well.

And here is the new head viewed from the back. You can see it is quite a bit larger than the original peg head. After several coats of paint and varnish I added...

.... the eyes and mouth.Then came the hair and the tiny clothes.

And here is the finished dolly enjoying a cup of tea in the dolls house. I'm very pleased with the way she turned out. She has a pert little nose and her little (sculpted) arms are attached to thin wire so they will bend. Her legs remain 'peg-shaped'. I made her a Kate Greenaway style dress, petticoat, pantaloons and apron plus a mop cap to protect her curls.

Here she is again with a tiny lace bag in which she keeps.....

 .....a shiny sixpence 'for luck'.

 Since I started making these little ladies a few weeks ago there has been no quelling my enthusiasm. By the time I'd completed doll number three I decided it might be a good idea to open a little blog shop so that each of them might find a good home. I've named them 'dolly sixpence' because each doll carries a little bag containing a shiny sixpence 'for luck'.

You will find a link to my shop in the side bar.

Meanwhile I have other little dolly ideas skipping around in my brain so I had better return to the workroom and get busy.

Until next time,
Eli

Comments

[Martha]

Eli, they are adorable!!

[clarice]

Oh I love your dolls and I love that it has been a passion since you were a little girl. It shows in your work. Clarice

[englishpreserves]

I am amazed at your little creations, Eli!
First, I am fascinated that you still have your original peg doll made when you were only eight!
I made a patchwork quilt for class when I was about the same age, and it has long ago been abandoned, and how I wish I still had it.
Next, I love the patience you she and the skill you have in making such tiny things. And they are ever so sweet, too!
I also had two 'half penny' dolls, purchased from a toy shop in New York State, in the 1970s, claiming to have come from England.
My daughter has them now, but I am interested in learning if they actually were a traditional English toy or not. They were made of wire, wrapped with string to give the doll shape, and wore clothing of tiny bits of fabric to fashion wee dresses. They had pins in their backs to be able to wear them - and I often did!
I am interested in learning more about the lucky sixpence - and I think you will understand why, when you discover my little 'surprise' appearing very soon!
xxx
Maggie

[carolyn]

As a maker of peg dolls myself I can well understand your enthusiasm.These little girls are really something quite special.

[Paula]

Dear Eli,

Such a delightful post! I love Louisa, she is indeed a sweetie, and a treasure. I love your vignette with her, the old sewing machine is fabulous.

How wonderful that you still have the sweet doll you made when you were eight, and won first prize!

The peg dolls you made are so beautiful and charming!!! You did a wonderful job with their faces and clothing. You are very talented, Eli, and I am glad to hear you opened a shop!

Love, Paula