Shortly after my Aunt died in a fire at her home, I rescued a box full of partially complete dolls. Their bodies were all stuffed, and their faces painted, wigs done, and their under garments compete down to tiny little socks and shoes.
I finished 7 dolls and gave one to each of my sisters, my mother and my Aunt’s daughter-in-law. The pattern called for dresses and pinafores and hats, so it was up to me to make the outer garments for she hadn’t begun to do that.
I meant to create one for myself, but time slipped away. It has been over 10 years since I made the last one.
As I have been wondering about doing a Lady Doll, it came to me that my doll would not have a face, and perhaps I could learn how to do my doll by putting together the whole doll…well, I skipped all the small details, like socks, and petticoats and pinafores.
I did find a hat and a pair of shoes, plus bloomers. I had to make her dress, it was a quick try and needs tweaking. I want to try and design a dress that is more appropriate for a Lady doll, instead of girl doll.
She seems to childlike…I will have to play with different clothes and perhaps a new body type. But I LOVE her hair.
While tossing ideas and inspiration it came to me, that I like my dolls and ladies without faces, for faces almost seem like masks…we can hide our true selves behind a face. And perhaps the face we are most familiar with was put on to keep our parents happy…or we have a social face, a business face…I like it best minus the face.
I have two faces that my aunt painted and it came to me to use them in a Lady Quilt, where the face will be separated from the form of the Lady…perhaps seeing herself from a distant or her face on the ground. I can’t wait to begin playing, now that I have a feel for how a doll goes together, we started here… She was a brunette and I changed her hair color…
I am grateful that I had the opportunity to save these dolls. The pattern was dated 1977, created by Rainie Crawford.
I M Perfect lady 