Thursday, February 25, 2010

Maida Today: A Related Site



Hello, Izannah Lovers! I wanted to let you know about a related doll study opportunity. For over three years I have been studying Izannah Walker dolls and I am not done! These studies have inspired numerous trips to a special doll shop in Camden, Maine, a family trip to visit the National Museum of Play (The Strong Museum) and a quest to make an Izannah Walker pattern true to the original dolls. Izannah's creations have the top spot in my artist's heart, but I still find other antique dolls charming and worth studying. Occasionally on these trips my eye and camera would notice another doll, and take pictures of that doll as well. Look at the sweet Alabama Baby sitting in the lap of Miss Red Izannah!

This week I started a site called Maida Today (Making Antique Inspired Dolls & Accessories Today) which will be similar to this site, but will be more inclusive of other kinds of dolls such as one of a kind folk dolls, antique wooden dolls, antique papier mache dolls. In addition, the site will offer tips & tutorials about doll making, links to patterns & workshops, and recommended books.




In a world where most things are made by machine, these creations remind us that making things with our hands is one of the unique gifts we have as humans. The focus of Maida Today will be to share the work of others' hands from earlier times, as well as share tips & tutorials for making antique inspired dolls with our own hands today. So hop on over, but keep room in your bookmarks for the Izannah Walker Chronicles, which will be ongoing.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Pictures of Old Colony Historical Society's Izannah Walker Doll



Christie Jackson, The Ruby Winslow Linn Curator at the Old Colony Historical Society, emailed to let me know they have an Izannah in their collection. I often spend time calling and emailing museums and collectors and shops asking if they will share their images of original Izannah Walker Dolls. It is such a gift when you get a call out of the blue from someone giving pictures to share without asking! And not only took pictures, but took detailed pictures and shared them in a large format. Thank you, Christie, and thank you Old Colony Historical Society! Christie shared the following about the doll:

Our "Izzy" was redressed in 1992 in a modern-made dress that was made from mid-19th century fabric. Since our historical society has been open and collecting since 1853, we have a pretty amazing array of items that have come over our threshold in the last 150 years. We do not know her donor, but she was an early addition to the museum. I personally love her painted shoelaces and the two-tone hair curls on the back of her head.
The following pictures are shared courtesy of the Old Colony Historical Society, and are copyright 2010 by the Old Colony Historical Society. They are not to be reprinted or reposted in any format without the permission of the Old Colony Historical Society. Contact for the OCHS is at the bottom of this post.

On to the detail pictures:









If you live near the Old Colony Historical Society - go visit this doll! If you don't, I am sure that donations are always appreciated. I'm hoping to make the drive there myself.



Old Colony Historical Society66 Church Green
Taunton, MA 02780
508-822-1622 phone
Open Tues - Sat, 10-4www.oldcolonyhistoricalsociety.org

A Pictorial Directory of Dolls<br> Featured on the Izannah Walker Chronicles

My mission for this blog in 2008 was to create the site I wished existed - a site for doll makers and collectors who love Izannah Walker dol...