Holiday Party, December 2, 2019

The club had its annual holiday party at member Jan Irsfeld's beautiful home, decked out in seasonal finery.

And speaking of decked out, members were able to again admire Jan's collection of Madame Alexander's Cissy, many dolls dressed in ornate outfits meticulously crafted by Jan.

Adding to the fun and festivities was the club's gift exchange, bringing surprises and smiles.

Thanks to Ann Meier for the photographs!

Speak for Yourself, John

But as he warmed and glowed, in his simple and eloquent

language,

Quite forgetful of self, and full of the praise of his rival,

Archly the maiden smiled, and, with eyes overrunning with

laughter,

Said, in a tremulous voice, "Why don't you speak for yourself,

John?" 

The Courtship of Miles Standish, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Continuing the Thanksgiving theme, these 14-inch tall cloth dolls with molded mask faces represent John Alden and Priscilla Mullins, two famous pilgrims.  From member Elaine Jackson's collection, they are circa 1950 and are from Just Folks Doll House by Helen Walker of Staunton, Virginia.  John Alden and Priscilla Mullins were married in the Plymouth Colony.  However, this pair is best known from The Courtship of Miles Standish, an epic poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.   

The poem involves the friendship between Captain Miles Standish and John and their love for the lovely Priscilla.  Miles, described in the poem as a blunt fearless soldier and a man of words and not actions, is too shy to propose to Priscilla and asks his handsome young friend, John, to do so in his stead.  However, following John's presentation of Miles' proposal, Priscilla responds, "Why don't you speak for yourself, John?" Longfellow was a descendant of John and Priscilla and his poem was based on family legend.  

Thanksgiving Dolls

With the "Turkey Day" holiday coming up, this blog will be featuring dolls with a Thanksgiving theme. First a little history. Although it was traditional in many cultures to hold a feast of Thanksgiving after a successful harvest, the celebration that would eventually become the national holiday in the United States was held in 1621 by the Pilgrims at the Plymouth Colony. The feast was attended by both Pilgrims and Native Americans from the Wampanoag nation. Although various presidential proclamations declared a day of Thanksgiving, it was the October 3, 1863, declaration by President Abraham Lincoln that established "a day of Thanksgiving and Praise" on last Thursday of November.

The picture of friendly Indians sharing the Thanksgiving feast with the Pilgrims is a familiar image in our country, but sadly the true story is grimmer. The Pilgrims settled in lands left empty when a plague brought by European settlers wiped out the resident Patuxet Indians. Squanto, the Native American celebrated as the Pilgrim's helpmate, teaching them how to plant crops and fish, learned English after he was kidnapped and taken to Europe as a slave; upon finally winning his freedom, he returned to his homeland only to discover that his Patuxet tribe had been exterminated by disease, making him the last surviving Patuxet (Squanto himself died in 1622 from fever). Tensions between the European settlers and the indigenous people, mainly over trade and land, finally exploded in 1675 in a three-year armed conflict known as King Philip's War. The war resulted significant deaths on both sides, but the Indians suffered the greatest losses, thousands being killed, exiled, or enslaved. The Wampanoag tribe, originally the Pilgrim's ally, was nearly exterminated.

Still, the image of the Indian is as much a part of the Thanksgiving panoply as Pilgrims and turkeys. In accordance with this tradition, member Elaine Jackson shares these two handmade cloth Indian dolls.  The dolls were produced by the WPA Michigan Toy Project in 1939.   The WPA, initially the Works Progress Administration, later changed to the Work Projects Administration, was created by President Franklin Roosevelt as part of the New Deal to provide employment to artists and craftsmen during the Depression.  Under the WPA, thousands of dolls were produced to be used in schools as educational aids.  The dolls included people in ethnic and foreign costumes, as well as historical figures.  Of oil painted cloth, the dolls were made from an Edith Flack Ackley cloth doll pattern.  Ackley, a writer and doll artist, published patterns for dolls and their clothing. The dolls are 11 inches tall, not including their feather headdresses, and are unmarked.  

 

Happy Halloween!

Tonight is All Hallow's Eve, better known as Halloween, when child, and many adults, don disguises, play tricks, and demand treats.  Like people, dolls also can be costumed.  Witches have long been associated with Halloween.  This doll, dressed as a warty witch, is appropriately named "Hexe."  Her head was made for the Germany doll company Cuno and Otto Dressel by Simon and Halbig.  Nine inches tall, her right hand is pierced to hold her besom and her molded boots have curled toes.  Cats, especially black cats, are often portrayed as a witch's familiar spirt or companion.  This widely-grinning black kitty is by Gebruder Heubach and is all original. 

Another witch doll, this one by Hertwig and Company of Germany. She is 6 inches tall and is all original.  The black cats in crocheted clothing and the wise-looking raven are all-bisque animals also made by Hertwig.

But some dolls prefer to disguise themselves as beauties instead of beasts. This lovely lissome lass belongs to member Jenell Howell. She is Mirwen by Fairyland, a South Korean ball-jointed doll company

October 7, 2019, Meeting

October's meeting was the club's annual swap meet, with a wide variety of offerings brought by members.

Member Jan Irsfeld brought two dolls she had recently dressed as "show and tell."  This composition half doll is costumed as a Gibson Girl from the 1910s.  Jan stated that the doll sits by her sewing machine and looks askance if Jan uses improper language.

Jan dressed this doll as a mascot for the Austin Quilt Guild.  Her skirt is pieced together from vintage material.

August 5, 2019, Meeting

 Members Jenell Howell and Myrna Loesch gave a presentation on their adventures at the United Federation of Doll Clubs 70th Annual convention in Nashville, Tennessee, which took place from July 23rd through the 27th.  The convention theme was "Starstruck."

This is the convention souvenir doll, Little Miss Star Struck, a felt character doll created by doll artisan R. John Wright.

They displayed their various convention purchases, projects, and souvenirs.

Jenell shared her latest BJD acquisitions from Ruby Red Galleria.  This is Shan, dressed as the legendary Monkey King from the Chinese epic, Journey to the West.

This is his female counterpart Yu Ping, dressed as Princess Iron Fan, also from the same epic.

Shan and Yu Ping garbed as ordinary children

Big sister Ten Ping is dressed for the Dragon Boat Festival.

Another Oriental doll Jenell acquired at the convention, but from an earlier era.  This is the all-bisque Chin-Chin Baby by the German company of Gebruder Heubach.

Many convention attendees look forward to the various workshops teaching all aspects of doll crafts. This sheepskin wig and beautiful be-flowered gown were created at the convention workshops.

Member Sallie Howard shared her convention acquisitions as well.  

Melody Brite is the creation of Judy D. Porter.

This is Pat Moulton's interpretation of country music legend Minnie Pearl.

And this is her Dolly, dressed in her coat of many colors.

This lithe and elegant lady is from the Robert Tonner convention dinner, entitled “Walking the Red Carpet.”

Members also brought non-convention treasures. This is Madra Lord from the world of the Gene Marshall fashion doll series. She belongs to Jenell and was dressed by member Jan Irsfeld.

Elaine Jackson shared the newest addition to her collection, this wonderful antique papier mache boy.

 Visitor Mary Beard made both this cloth doll, dressed in antique and vintage fabrics, and the miniature crazy quilt.