A Little Ozark Sawdust Doll

When the first settlers arrived in this

 part of the Ozarks they found a land

of virgin forest and intermittent

prairies. Wood was used for almost

everything.  It not only heated their

 cabins it provided the logs to build them.

Oak bark rendered the acid for tanning 

their hides.  Ashes were used for soap 

making and hulling hominy.  Charcoal

was made for heating their forges.

Maple trees yielded sap for syrup.  Ash

was chosen to make grain cradles, white

oak for wagon parts, black oak for

 clapboards and hickory for tool

 handles.  Cedar was used for tubs,

 churns and buckets. White oak was

 used to make barrels and kegs.  The

Missouri walnut made strong beautiful

gun stocks and furniture.

 The first water powered sawmill in

Taney County was built in the mid

1830's on the Swan Creek.  By 1850

 most tributaries of the White River had

one or more mills.

Needless to say it's easy to imagine

that sawdust made it's way

into many early Ozark home made

dolls.  As an Ozark doll maker I think

its only fitting that I make the

occasional sawdust doll.  Over time I

think this type of stuffing won't last

as long as wool, and it's a favorite of

little mice, the very reasons these

early dolls didn't survive.  But, it does

make a lovely period doll. 

 

Louis Allen a very talented local wood

worker has been saving his aromatic 

cedar shavings for my dolls.
(hopefully bug resistant)

She smells so nice

but, she's a little hard & lumpy.

A simple stitched face.

Her simple cotton chemise and

 pantalettes are hand sewn with flat

 felled seams.

I chose this mid 1800's reproduction

print for her dress.  I have had this

fabric awhile, never quite finding

the right doll for it.  The color is a

red orange and soft blue on a cream

background.  It has a coarse old look

to it, although it feels smooth. 

Hand crocheted lace.

Antique china buttons in orange.
The perfect fit for this fabric.

Hook and eye closures.

Period hand sewn.

She's been aged to have that

well loved look.  Although it

doesn't show much in the photos.

Taney Butternut

One of my blogger friends

suggested I use the name Taney

for a doll.  Just perfect for a

simple sawdust dolly.  Why didn't

 I think of that!

( Who suggested that?)

Mary at Colony Mountain Stitcheries

Thanks for that wonderful

suggestion!!

She will be available at Early Work

Mercantile on the 1st of August.
(Taney has found a home in Texas)

History from "The Land of Taney"

By Elmo Ingenthron.