Eliza Jane Butternut

Eliza Jane Butternut

Eliza Jane is 15 inches tall and sewn entirely by

hand. She is lightly tea dyed with PG

Tips (my hubby's favorite English tea) to

 give her a mildly aged look.

She's wearing a quilted calico Button

Bonnet that has 3 vintage shell buttons.

 Her hair is wool yarn braided

into a bun.

She has a simple embroidered face.

She is carrying a hand

made primitive buttocks basket

made especially for her be

my good friend Teresa.

Her petticoat, pantalettes & chemise

are cotton muslin.

Her dress is a cotton flannel homespun in

 a maroon red and tan check.  Her apron is osnaburg.

Eliza Jane is made of cotton utility

cloth stuffed with wool roving. 

She has dark brown boots and

stripped socks. 

  She is signed, dated & comes with a

special wooden "Make Do Doll" tag.

Look for Eliza Jane at Early Work Mercantile.

1st of February

Ozark Button Bonnet

This Button Bonnet was made for my Mother

in the late 1950's or early 60's by an elderly neighbor. 

 Mother says this lady was in her late seventies, loved to work

 in her garden and always wore a bonnet outdoors.

Button Bonnets were not as common

as the Poke or Slat bonnet,

& were generally worn

for working.

It fastens together with buttons.

Looks a bit like Early America

air conditioning!

I don't know whether this was made from a 
printed purchased pattern, or one she

made from memory.

It is truly a wonderful example of

an Ozark work bonnet!

For those of you who sew..............

I am going to show several photos of the

 way it is constructed. 

This bonnet has slats too,

maybe I should call it a Slat Button Bonnet.

  Fabric is cotton.

The three buttons are shell.

Mother remembers she owned a little treadle machine.

She has used white cotton rick-rack, and

cotton white bias tape that appears to be homemade.

These are the original cardboard slats.

They could be easily removed

for washing and ironing.

The button holes are hand sewn.

I am amazed at the amount of detail that has gone

into the construction of this bonnet.  If you attempt to

adapt this bonnet into one of your own, please

 send me a photo.  I would love to see your creations.

I am going to TRY and make a doll

bonnet from this design.

When Will I Get Finished!

I really wish I could complete a doll more

 quickly, but hand sewing just takes hours

and hours!  I have been busy with

other things and can't seem to devote as

much time to doll making as I would like!

She finally has a simple embroidered

 face, some hair & a little

 wooden "Make Do Doll" tag.

I plaited some wonderful hand

 dyed brown wool into 

 a long row & hand stitched it to her head,

with a little bun in the middle.

She's not complete without all

her undergarments.   A simple chemise,

pantalettes & petticoat from cotton

muslin. These have been tea

 dyed (my hubby's PG Tips) and look much 

lighter in the photos.

I chose a simple pioneer style dress made

from  maroon red and tan cotton.  It's soft

like flannel.  Her apron is tea dyed

osnaburg.

Her dress has 3 hook and eyes.

I decided against shoestrings,

and hand stitched fingers.

Not a single button could be

spared for her,

 she's a simple make-do doll.

She is in need of a bonnet & she has

her eye on one of the primitive

baskets.  Then she will be done!

Teeny Baskets & Brooms

I am always on the lookout for handmade

   accessories that are period appropriate for my dolls. 

 Not an easy task.  I was surprised & delighted

 to receive these wonderful primitive baskets from my

 dear friend Teresa.

  She gathered the materials for the baskets in the

 woods at "Hard Cracker Farm" where she lives with

her husband Dave.

Teresa demonstrating primitive basket making
at Silver Dollar City.  Thank you Teresa, but .....
I will not enjoy parting with them!

-------------------

I attended a historic arts show at Arrow Rock,
Missouri a couple years ago and met a young
apprentice broom maker.  She liked my dolls, and
 I liked the brooms.  Long story short,
 The Widow Perkins now resides with Miss Emily.
 &  I have handmade Ozark
 brooms......doll size!

Emily has done a beautiful job & the

size is just right.

 I'm sure the Dolly's are looking forward to

 using these fine brooms!

A doll body almost finished......

I have almost finished a basic body for another doll.  I dyed a small amount of homespun muslin a faded dark brown for her high top shoes. 

For her body I chose a medium weight utility cotton and a striped cotton for her stockings.  I have lightly tea stained these fabrics with my Hubby's PG Tips tea.

She'll need a simple face, some hair & little shoe laces.

Oh, she'll need clothing too........

St. Valentine's Paper Castings

The new year has begun and I am trying to get my projects organized.  A large task with so many things whirling around in my head.   My camera and computer had to be replaced........too many new directions for this old gal to remember!  I have finished castings of all my Valentine's hearts &  will add St. Patrick's, Easter and Whimsical Animals soon. (I haven't added the hangers yet)  I hope to have all my Brown Bag Molds added to the Paper Castings Page in the coming months.  I am also working on a couple of dolls, hand sewing isn't the fastest!! 
 Busy, busy, busy.............  

Victorian Heart

1984

Tulip Heart

1989

Hummingbird Heart

1992

Basket of Hearts

1992

American Folk Art-Tulips

1992

American Folk Art-Pennsylvania Heart

1992

Cupid

1983

Lace Heart

1988