The Nothing New One of a Kind Cloth Doll Challenge

Maida Dolls Group Challenge:

Make a doll of your own design

using materials that are already in your house

and nothing that you bought off a bolt or in a package,

with the exception of paint, thread and glue
and other homemade concoctions.

Yes, this means no poly-fil.

The doll above, offered for study by Patra Russell, is a great example of what Ike Putney calls a "Mother-Made" doll. Someone took great care in making those hands and feet. And that face that had it's nose loved off with kisses was fixed sometime by a loving family member who wasn't worried about ruining its antique value.

It's amazing how inventive the women who came before us had to be. Cloth was very scarce and prized, especially for pioneer women in the settling of our country. You didn't just toss something out when it had a hole or lost an arm, or even a head. You added to it, and you made do. And of course you used your best skills in making do with what you had.

I see some ghost lines of paint for hair...

I wonder how many faces this doll has had?

And look at the care that went into making these hands!

And feet!

This is a wonderful inspiration doll, similar to the one Edyth shared in her post Primitive Cloth Bodies, Endless Variety. What a wonderful mascot this doll is for our challenge. Have fun!

To leave a comment, click on the post title.
The "Add Comment" link will be at the bottom of the post.

Share