I
have loved working with and making crafts for many years.
It made little difference if
it was sewing, oil painting, doing cross stitch, crochet, creating ceramics or making a doll.
I just loved making things with my hands.
I made my first porcelain doll back in 1980. I made baby
doll dresses to sale so I could earn the money to pay for my classes. The
very first doll I made was a Grace Putnam reproduction
baby doll, 12 inches long with real glass eyes. She had
the ugliest little frog looking body you have ever seen
but when she was dressed in her beautiful christening dress,
bonnet and little crocheted booties she was quite
adorable. After that I was hooked. Dolls became a passion
for me. I continued attending classes until I had finally
learned how to make them from the casting of the mold to
the finished doll. Although the reproductions were very
lovely, my love was for the modern baby doll. My favorite
sculptor was Boots Tyner (known as Boots N' Friends).
They were so much like my very own children. I eventually
became good enough to teach the art to others. I spent
almost eighteen years doing this. Oh the rewards I reaped
were countless. The smiles, the tears and the pride as
each of us finished our latest masterpiece are memories
that I will always cherish. The doll studio was closed in
December of 1998 just weeks before my late husband passed away
so we could spend more time together. In one respect
I am glad we did but oh how I miss it and the friends that
shared and played dolls with me. Below with the exception
of the first doll are a few of the dolls I have made. I
hope you enjoy seeing them and their history as much as I
enjoyed making and sharing them with you. * Starshine the
Dollmaker *
:: Little
Princess ::
This
is Jenny II. She is a 14" doll sculpted by Diane
Effner. This little one has porcelain head, arms and legs
with a cloth body. Dress by "Suzie". Of all the
dolls that have been made, by myself or by the students
that I have taught I believe this one holds the most value
in memories and I know she holds my heart as well as the
heart of a precious grand daughter for whom she was made.
After watching my doll class for several months during a
period of recuperation from a catastrophic stroke, my
husband decided he wanted to make
this
doll. It would give him something to do with his time besides just sit
and vegetate.
Besides he said it looked just like like his little
"B.J." My husband named her the
"Little
Princess"
She
was entered into competition at the Fort Worth "Pride
of Texas" doll show and he received a first place
ribbon for his work. He beamed with pride when he found
out and he knew that he had earned it by himself with the
encouragement of his fellow class mates and a little help
occasionally from the more advanced ones when he didn't do
something they knew he should do. At the time of his death
he was working on dolls for each of his grandchildren so
they would each have a special gift from the Papaw that
loved them so much. One day I may have the heart to pick
up where he left off. I guess time will tell.
::
The Fisherman ::
This
is the "Fisherman from Gloucester". He is a
24" cloth bodied doll with porcelain head, arms and
legs with glass eyes. He was sculpted by Donna Rubert of
Doll Artworks. Clothes were made by my dear friend Barb.
This was made by me for my husband for our 32nd wedding
anniversary. He loved this one and looked forward to
having the cowboy to go with it. This doll was never
placed in any competition as I made it for him. Needless
to say though, it was given a ribbon from my husbands
heart which for me made it very special.
:: The Recital ::
Kelsey
is a 22" cloth bodied doll with a porcelain head,
shoulder plate, arms and legs. She was sculpted by Thelma
Resch. She is one of my favorites. I have her done in
three different colors and can't decide which I like best.
Can you tell me what little girl hasn't dreamed of
being a graceful little ballerina?
:: Southern Lady ::
This
beautiful antebellum doll is called "Phyllis".
She was sculpted and produced by Vicki Anguish
Originals. She is 28" tall. She is cloth bodied and
has a porcelain shoulder head, arms and legs with a cloth
body. She is fully pose-able. Her dress is again made by
Barb.
She was entered into competition and received a first place
ribbon at the Ft. Worth "Pride of Texas" Doll
Show. Barb and I were both positively beaming with this
win.
:: French Pierrot ::
This
French Clown is almost 30" tall. She has a porcelain
head, hands and feet with a cloth body and flex-line frame
which makes her totally pose-able. She was sculpted by Kay
McKee of Clowns by Kay. She was the first of many doll
molds I was to purchase from this very talented lady. The
clothes were made by myself.
:: Daisy ::
This
sweet little one I call "Daisy". Her mold name
is Apple Annie and originally she was cast in a pink flesh tone.
Her sculptor is Cindy M. Rolfe of Lasting Impressions. She
is a fully pose-able cloth bodied doll with porcelain head,
arms, legs and is 19" tall. Her dress was made by
Barb. She received a first place ribbon in the
professional division, baby category at the
"Southwest Ceramic Show & Sale in Dallas, Texas.
We were stopped several times on our out of the center
with praise for how natural she looked. Needless to say I
just beamed with pride because she was so well received.
:: Sleepy Eyes &
Smidgens ::
These
adorable babies I call Precious and Punkin'. They are
12" tall babies with porcelain head and hands. Their
cute little outfits also serve as their body. They are
filled with baby beans and polyfil for that soft cuddly
touch. They too were sculpted by Boots Tyner.
Would you like to
learn more about the history of dolls? Then I know just the place for you to visit.
My best friend Barb and her sister have a
wonderful site with all kinds of information about dolls
and doll making. Believe me it is well worth the time. *Starshine*
