Ozark Folk Art Doll Artist-Kay Cloud

 In the late 1980's I visited a little shop in Reed's Spring,

Missouri called the Sawdust Doll.  The owner and doll maker
was Kay Cloud.  Her shop was full of the most amazing creations.
 Her dolls and primitive animals were my first introduction into
American folk art dolls.  I visited several times, she was always
so friendly, enthusiastic & informative about her dolls.  I recall
 being so amazed she used no patterns & fondly remember her
sitting at her little treadle machine sewing clothing for her dolls.
As I look back, I know that her work was a great influence on me.
This book by Kay has wonderful patterns for simple sawdust dolls,
with painted and embroidered faces.  A must have!!

Book Recommendations

Just back from visiting family in Kansas City.

 I hit a couple antique malls & brought back

3 books to add to my wee little doll library.

This first book was recommended to me by Mary

Bean at Chip Butter White Oak.  Mary lives in the

Arkansas Ozark mountains south of me.  She's an

artist with her camera, & she makes beautiful

 dolls with a southwest flair.  Click on the link

below to see her latest doll Yancy.

Chip Butter White Oak-Yancy

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If you are interested in learning how 

 authentic antique doll's clothing was 

sewn and constructed this is the 

perfect book.  I have literally been "over 

the moon" & can't put it down!

 The first half of the book is illustrations

of dolls and their original costumes from 

collections in the Wenham Museum, in 

Wenham Massachusetts, and Yesteryears at 

Sandwich.  They date from 1835 to 1915.

Just a few examples.

The second half is projects, with a section on sewing

stitches & different techniques used in historic 

clothing construction.  It has detailed drawings of the 

interior of the garments & lots of patterns.

All in one book, I highly recommend it.

 

 

 

The second book I found is about the exhibit 

"The Heart Of The Tree-Early Wooden Dolls To The 1850's".

  It was in 2002 at the Rosalie Whyel Museum of Doll Art in

 Bellevue, Washington.  Loads of beautiful illustrations &

very informative.

The third book is Modern Collectible Dolls.

Future antique dollies for sure.

 Top right wooden doll below is by Eric Horne,

a well known doll and toy maker in England.

I have a couple of those tucked in a drawer,

who knew?

  Of course, Hitty.

These are the other doll related books I have,
that I would recommend.

 

I'm not an avid quilter, but I do love
to make little doll quilts & the log cabin
is my favorite pattern, so for me this is the
best quilting book, fast & easy!

 My favorite book about a doll.

My favorite dollhouse book.

What books to you recommend?
I'd love to know.
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Happy Reading!
Mary also suggests some other books in the comments,
so check those out too!