Half Dolls

My discovery of half dolls is the main reason for starting this blog site. Most of my half dolls are purchased from eBay, but they come from all over the world. Their former families want to see how I have adorned my treasures and I thought this would be the best way to do it. 

Each doll and her ensemble are a unique and one of a kind creation. Each outfit has some kind of "second hand" origin because much of the fabric, hankies, trims and adornments come from tag sales, garage sales, thrift stores and estate sales. Some are hand-me-downs.  Each doll has some kind of design element that I am experimenting with. Silk ribbon embroidery is prominent as is twin needlework, lace edgings, pearls, gown design and even some trinkets.  This is art form gives a new meaning to the word "recycle!"

Introducing - The Baltimore Brides
Before Grandsons Will and Chris walked their brides down the aisle, Grandma Penny presented hankies for the girls to use as their "something old." The half dolls pictured here proudly wear that "something old" hanky.




This half doll mimics Will and Beckie’s special day. For her "something old," this miniature bride is adorned with Grandma’s hanky, tea-dyed to a light cream color to match the dress and lace beneath. "Something new" is the hunter green lace at the hanky’s edge and other small trims. For "something blue" a small blue satin ribbon is attached to the petticoat underneath. For "something borrowed" and a "penny in her shoe" the base of the bride doll contains an organza bag with coins that has been placed inside.
From the waist hangs a small chain containing 2 gold hearts and 3 pearls, for when two hearts are joined, a family is created. Each pearl is a representation of the love that a child has brought into this union. The pink pearls represent step-daughter Stephanie and daughter Elizabeth. The white pearl belongs to Patrick, the first great-grandson and the apple of Great-Grandma’s eye.

 

This doll commemorates the wedding of Chris and Elese. Small touches purple and lavender were added to the white monogram hanky. Lavender organza ribbon adds just a hint of color at the waist. The under skirt was created from a great "find" at the thrift store in the form of a dinner napkin. Her good luck comes from:
"Something old," Grandma’s hanky
"Something new," ribbons, beads and lace
"Something borrowed," more pennies in the bottom of the base
"Something blue," Grandma’s blue ribbon bow on the petticoat
The chain at the waist contains two silver hearts and two white pearls. At the time of this doll’s creation, sons Daniel and Ryan had been born into Chris and Elese's family.

"I'll Love You Forever" Dolls 

When my daughters were young, we loved to share the book called, "I'll Love You Forever.”  A song, maybe it was a lullaby, winds its way through the story;

I’ll like you for always,

as long as I’m living,

my baby you’ll be.” 

After the child grows into a man, he declares that as long as he is living, “his mother she will be.”  These dolls celebrate that sentiment.

The miniatures in this series are adorned with hankies that belonged to my Mother-in-law, Penny. After her passing in October 2011, I asked for these little pieces of fabric. It was decided to create a memento for her granddaughters and great-granddaughters that included one of these hankies. Needless to say, the girls are thrilled with these lovely heirlooms to remind them of this special lady.

 
This is "Elese" and my very first half doll creation. The colors for this doll were absolutely perfect to include a heart shaped button attached with a small green cord. The cord came from the hang-tag from my newest Vera Bradley bag. All of the other girls were "green" with envy!

 

While "Beckie" may come second to be completed, hers was the first hanky where I experimented with silk ribbon embroidery. Vintage hankies are fragile and I played with a number of stabilization methods before I found one that worked well. I love the affect achived with the twin needle work on the train. 

The hanky on "Liz" was truly transformed. The hankies had been stored in an old leather pouch and cleaning them became my first priority. Some would say I took the "vintage" out of them, but there was nothing vintage about the stains and dirt that this pouch left behind! At first glance the hanky color was a dark gold, but the soft butter yellow emerged after a bath in a product used by museums to clean their linens for display.

 "Stephanie" looks elegant in the colors of spring and early summer. I loved the ribbon roses and the couched bows and streamers. The Venetian lace on the bottom complements the tiny edging on the hanky and both lend a romantic finishing touch.

"Abby" is fashioned in the true "Second Hand Rosie" style. As with the other dolls in this section, the hanky belonged to Penny Severe. The black skirt under the hanky was made from a silk scarf found among other things headed for the estate garage sale. The black and white striped over-skirt is from a silk blouse bought at a thrift store and it inspired the ensemble for this doll. Silk ribbon embroidery is fashioned in black, white and shades of gray surrounding a couched sparkling silver ribbon. Perfect for any "black tie and tails" event!

Erin was the first granddaughter born into the Severe family in several generations. She was given her Grandma Severe’s middle name and Erin also shares her Grandma’s initials. Erin Esther, who is my oldest daughter, used her middle name during her "middle school" days. I know that when Erin meets "Esther" she will love the lavender dress made of silk from a dress that was found at a thrift store. The hanky came from the ones owned by Grandma and to keep the elegant lace as a focus all of the embellishment went on the front of this gown.

More "I'll Love You Forever" Dolls

The next three dolls are dressed with hankies that belonged to my maternal Grandmother. She made a huge impression on me and helped to instill the virtues and values that I still strive for today. She was a hard working woman and I don’t think she had an enemy in the world. She passed while I was in high school over 30 years ago, but I still miss Grandma Alexander. 

 This doll proudly bears my Grandma’s middle name.  The bustle for “Cecilia” comes from a hanky whose other half made it’s way into a small wall quilt for my daughter Abby.  I had no idea what I would do with the remaining half, but I just couldn't throw it away!  Tiny seed beads dangle from points of another hanky remnant that didn’t go into the garbage.  The wonderful thing about these small dolls is that a little scrap goes a long way.  “Cecilia” is an addition to my personal collection of dolls.

 

How do you cut up a hanky that has designs in all four corners and everywhere in between? You don’t! This hanky became the over skirt for this doll's gown. The design was too busy for silk ribbon work, but strategic folds and small blue silk ribbons tie everything all together. This half doll, "Blenda" was given to my younger brother and his wife for  Christmas.

 Ribbons and lace adorn the gown for "Velma Lea." This is another one of those busy hankies that craved to be featured, but I didn’t want it to be the only focus for the ensemble. This is the first doll that I put a bodice on and several attempts ended up in the garbage before it was acceptable. Notice the lace and ribbon "muff" on her hands. Grandma’s birthday was Valentine’s Day so I think this half doll must be on her way to the celebration.  The charm at the center front of the gown simply states, "Best Mom."

Grandma Blendena

This doll has been created to honor my sister-in-law Blenda’s maternal-Grandmother Blendena and it will be a birthday gift for Blenda’s Mom on May 27th, 2012.

I am told that Grandma Blendena was a wonderful caring person who loved to make dolls herself. She also loved flowers, canning fruits and vegetables and making Christmas candy. When it came to wrapping presents, they were so beautiful with ribbons and bows that you didn’t want to open the gifts because they were just so pretty to look at!

She loved to entertain and always had a large crowd of family and friends around her, finding great pleasure cooking for everyone. She loved her grandchildren......and they loved her, her own children were the center of her heart....her nick name was Bing.

At "Grandma Blendena's" waist you will find a charm strand containing of heart of gold and 5 pearls, 3 pink and 2 white, representing her 3 daughters and 2 sons.

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