A LITTLE HISTORY HERE ABOUT MY EARLIEST DOLLS

Back in the day (1974), I began with making my own method and using porcelain clay hand pressed into two or more part press molds and then the parts put together. At first I only had just dolls in one size (8"). In 1977, with a new baby and dollmaking as our only support, I took a course in industrial mold making so that I could pour liquid clay into molds. Once I had professional molds for my 8" dolls and understood how clay shrinks once dried and more once fired, I started making smaller derivatives of the one set of molds and thus came about the 6.5" size and then the 5" size. For the even smaller dolls, I sculpted dolls with one-piece heads and torsos and arms and legs which were jointed with pins. This style was first a 3" size, then 2" and then 1.5" which I used as pocket dolls for the bigger 8" original sizes. Then I added chairs for display and little bears for accessories and I was off and running with other accessories and furniture. In all those early years I believed in only creating dolls strictly from my own imagination and purposefully avoided doll shows, doll reference books and all dolls from history. It wasn't until the 1980's that I became addicted to early Americana for my home and also started my love for cloth dolls and folk art.

ABOUT THE SALE: To inspire purchasing to aid in my necessary downsizing of the accumulation of over 50 years of dollmaking, not to mention all the stuff crammed into our sprawling farmhouse, attics, cellars and barns, I have greatly reduced all prices. Most of my sale prices are below half of same or similar items of mine being sold on Ebay and other venues such as Ruby Lane.
NOTE: All the dolls and other items listed below have only the one available, unless otherwise stated. Layaways are always accepted. Add a note in the Notes Box on your order form that you would like your choice(s) to be a Layaway.

NOTE 11/2/2025: MORE TO COME - PLEASE COME BACK IN A FEW DAYS

8" PORCELAIN DOLL LTD ED SET VERMONT DOLLS

Made for the Enchanted Doll House's annual catalog. The founder/owner of the shop was one of my biggest promoters of my early work and she, in fact, pushed my limits and thus was responsible for my making the Basic Bear Series beginning my secondary career of kit making. This was the second Vermont Doll and was a set of the boy with straw hat and wood rake and the girl with her basket of porcelain eggs.

Set of 2 Dolls were $495, new sale price is $295 Add to Cart

8" PORCELAIN DOLL LTD ED - STORY TIME IN THE WING CHAIR WITH BRAIDED RUG

Oh, how I love wing chairs. I have six vintage ones in my home, so it is a natural to make them part of many editions and kits. This one is in a lush dark green velvet complete with a tiny braided rug in coordinating colors. The theme is "Story Time" where an 8" doll with blonde braids is reading a story from her hand water colored book to her tiny doll and bear. Her little bare feet poke out of her pantalets trimmed with hand crocheted lace.

This doll set was $595, new sale price is $395 SOLD

THE EARLY AMERICAN SERIES GLASS FRONT DISPLAY HOUSE

This is the second (and smaller) collection acquired from an estate - all items are in excellent condition.

This is a barrister style glass front "room" filled with assorted items that were part of the years of the Early American Doll Series Clubs for Finished Things from 1985 - 2004. For this sale, I am trying to keep everything from this estate complete as a set. If it doesn't sell complete (which would be a shame), I will sell all of its individual items separately, including the glass front "room" display. Size is 36.5" wide (at top corners) x 16.5" tall x 16" deep, and has interior lighting, a fabric back wall and the glass front lifts and is held up with a wood prop (included). The complete set includes everything you can see inside and shown in separate photos below, including the 9" decorated feather tree not shown in the house pictures, but down below individually. The set has over 35 items and its value is about $2450 using old 2003 prices. Although 2003 prices are a significant savings from current values, it will be further reduced to $1850 for the sale. The best option is for the set to be picked up here at my workshop, but we may also be able to deliver it to locations within New England and Eastern NY for a $150 delivery fee or it could bs shipped for a fee to be determined (estimate of $150-$250 depending on the buyer's location).

The Complete Display House (with 35+ items) $1850. SOLD

Last fall I sold another of these which included many more items and a much higher sale price ($3775).

Shown above is the Display House with its glass lift front closed.

Shown above is the Display House with its glass lift front open held up by its special prop.

Shown above are some of the items in the set.

Shown above are more items included in the set.

Shown above are some of the items in the set including the 9" Basic Doll dressed in her undies and dress and pinafore outfit.

Shown above is the 9" feather tree not shown in the display house, but is included in the set. The tree has 9 branches, each with an ornament, a wooden candle and a turned and painted wooden base. There is a star on top and a garland of painted wooden beads. I photographed the wooden ornaments separately because they are hard to see amidst the feathers.

MY THREE DOLLS INSPIRED BY THE SECRET GARDEN

These 9" papier mache and cloth dolls were made in a limited edition exclusively for The United Federation of Doll Clubs, July, 2019. I chose the theme of The Secret Garden for that year's national convention "Star Struck" - as the most fitting to my style among the suggestions presented. The author of this beloved tale, Frances Hodgson Burnett, spent many years in Tennessee building a successful writing career. The beloved story, The Secret Garden was written in 1911.

The dolls begin with, of course, Mary Lennox, the main character, who arrives in the Yorkshire countryside of England at Miselthwaite, the manor of her uncle, a spoiled and willfull child who has been orphaned by the death of her parents in her homeland of India (depicted here in the second picture in her fancy dress). But plants and wild creatures plus the friendship of a local boy, Dickon (shown in second picture), in tune with all things in nature bring about a wonderful change in Mary. My doll representing the Mary (top picutre) who has found meaning and joy in gardens, wildlife and new friends. She is dressed for the garden with her hair done in braids wearing a straw hat and pinafore from which hangs the key to the long lost garden.

 

THE DOLLS:
• Transformed Mary Lennox (top photo) shown with her jumprope, descriptive book, and the key to the garden on her wooden stand. Original price $795, sale price $475 SOLD

• Spoiled Mary Lennox shown in her fancy white dress with blue buttoned boots and holding a scond book about the flowers she would learn about in the secret garden. Includes her wood stand. Original price $695, sale price $375 SOLD

• Dickon, shown with his gardening accessories and seed packets dressed in his country boy outfit. Stand included. Original price $695, sale price $375 SOLD
 

 

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