Happy New Year to all!

 Just a few photos to show some of the orders over the last several months........

Enjoy!

Feel free to email me if you have questions or are interested in ordering a wooden doll from me babesfromthewoods@gmail.com 

I hope you enjoyed seeing these latest dolls!

babesfromthewoods@gmail.com 

 

Many people ask how I got started making dolls......

Since I was a child I loved dolls. Later, when I was 18 I started to collect antique dolls and left no rock unturned! When I was 21 I sold my collection and bought my first heritage stone home to restore. After restoring 12 homes, I am not moving again! Over the years I collected on and off and then took a huge interest in Antique Santas and holiday items from 1890-1910 that were made in Germany. One day, I thought that I would try making “one” santa for me………….18 years later I was still reproducing German santa candy containers and various other holiday items and loving it. Many of my pieces have been featured in Early American Life magazine for the past 13 years. Better Homes and Gardens also have done features in their hard cover books and magazines as well. Although I have no professional art background, I do have an inner passion for trying to reproduce things of days gone by. It has helped greatly to have inspiration and a push from a great friend, to encourage me to attempt making these fascinating English Wooden dolls. I've had the continued support of doll lovers and critics to get the technique figured out......and to this day I am still working on that. 
English wooden dolls from the 1700’s have captured my attention and tugged at my heart strings for many years. In the past years I did a lot of research and thought that I would attempt carving. Well, I still have all my fingers and I can hardly put the carving knife down. Who would have guessed? 
The dolls that come from my studio to you actually grew on our property, hence the name for my doll business………”Babes from the Woods”.
Theses dolls are made exactly as the old ones were 300 years ago. Basswood (Linden wood) is what the English carved them from as well. The eyes are antique glass pupiless eyes just as the old ones were.
These dolls are very time consuming from start to finish and each one takes on a personality as I am working them. When finished, each is named with an appropriate name for the period when they first were made in England. They are each signed and dated as well. No two are the same as they are all hand carved individually. Their costumes are typical of the period as well. They are appropriately distressed and made with old fabrics and old trims.  
It is my hope to bring even more attention to these amazing dolls from the 1700’s of which so few have survived. I hope that my English wooden dolls have a special place in collections and mostly in people’s hearts, just as they do in mine.
It is through the kindness of a friend and admirer of my work, I was encouraged to attempt to reproduce these amazing wooden dolls of years ago.
It is my honor to present to you “Babes from the Woods” by Kathy Patterson.
Enjoy, and keep the sprit of the past alive.

Babesfromthewoods@gmail.com  

Accessories for that special Wooden Queen Anne Doll.................A FEW PIECES STILL AVAILABLE

Scroll down

Lots of photos.......

Some perfect gift giving ideas for the Wooden Doll that has everything!

I’ve been going through my stash.....

.....pinballs, petticoat (hand quilted very early block print linen), sewing rolls, pockets .....

Just email for more information:

babesfromthewoods@gmail.com 

Many pieces sold today. 

As of tonight the pieces in the below two photos are all that are still AVAILABLE 

  

Inquire:

babesfromthewoods@gmail.com 

17" Constance in her Finery! Hand Carved Wooden Queen Anne Doll................................SOLD

Do take a look at Constance.  She is dressed from head to toe in early silk that is so wonderful on her.
She has a fabulous stomacher and shoes to match.  Constance is SOLD but I wanted to share her with you.
babesfromthewoods@gmail.com 
Enjoy!

SOLD

SOLD

babesfromthewoods@gmail.com 

 

Must share:

Hi Kathy!    I was out for a bit, and came home and she was here!  I couldn't open the box fast enough!  Constance is just incredible!!!   I love her!  Thank you!  I never feel like I am able to fully describe how beautiful your dolls are, and how much I love them.  Constance is just so beautiful- the fabric of her dress is so amazing, just so soft and silky and elegant, and I love the little splashes of bright green throughout the dress.  The shoes and bodice are spectacular and compliment the dress so well.  And even her stockings are so very beautiful!   She is a very lucky doll indeed, to be so very beautifully dressed from head to toe!  She has such a pretty face, and I love the bows on the sides of her lace bonnet. She is just wonderful, and I love her very much!  Thank you for thinking of me, and sending me all of the wonderful pictures of her progress.  I've always thought that it would be so much fun to watch you make your dolls, so receiving all of the pictures was a special treat indeed.   And I love her name very much!  It fits her perfectly.   She really is so wonderful, just perfect in every way.  A museum quality work of art!   I'm so thankful to be able to give her a good home.  

 

As Promised...........................

I promised last week that I would reveal the person that is taking over my Izannah Walker doll molds.  It is Lynda Hampton of Kangaroo Island, Australia.  Her site is www.thelittlehamptons.com
Do take a look!  She has now finished her first small Izannah Walker doll since receiving the molds and supplies from me. 
Lynda is very excited with this new venture and I wish her all the luck in the world as I know how exciting it was for me to paint that first head!!  I know she is working on more Izannah Walker dolls so do check her site often.

All my best,
Kathy
 

19 1/2" Izannah Walker Doll............................SOLD

I am so pleased to show you my “LAST” Izannah Walker doll.  She is now SOLD.  There will be no more from my hands.  This doll is 19 1/2” tall and has 3 pieces of antique undergarments and her dress is hand made by me using Antique Calico from about 1870.  Her bonnet goes with her as well.   toysintheattic@sympatico.ca
More on the closing of this chapter of my doll making below.................

Keep scrolling down to find out why this is my "LAST" Izannah Walker doll

.......SOLD......

SOLD

Read below...........

 

To all of you who have been on this Izannah Walker journey with me and have followed my progress and purchased my dolls, I humbly thank you. 

I made the decision a while ago to let go of the “Izannah Walker Doll” part of my doll making business.  My heart truly is in making English Wooden Queen Anne style dolls so that will be my main focus now.  For several years now I have made Izannah Walker dolls and loved every moment of the sewing, painting and making those 1850’s little dresses! 

I think I have a achieved what I set out to do, and that was to be able to make Izannah Walker dolls that looked like Izannah’s dolls.  I went to the very expensive task of making molds off of 3 of the 6 antique Izannah Walker original dolls that I sought out, purchased and studied.  Just to be able to hold the originals and study how they were made and feel the history in my hands gave me all the inspiration I needed to make Izannah Walker dolls.  The journey has been wonderful and fulfilling and a great creative challenge for me.  For this, I thank Izannah Walker for showing the world her amazing talent in the field of early doll making through her portrait dolls. 

I will be disclosing in a week or so the person that is taking over my molds, patterns, and tips.  She is as equally excited to be making these dolls with my original molds as I was when I made my First Izannah Walker doll.  I will be happy to share this info and a link to her site just the moment she lets me know I can share the secret!!

If you have questions or would like more photos of my “LAST” Izannah Walker Doll just email me: toysintheattic@sympatico.ca

She is SOLD
More photos............

SOLD

Thank you!!

SHE HAS NOW FOUND A HOME

SOLD

 

 

10" Prudence, hand carved Queen Anne doll.................in the works!..........SOLD

I just have to share some photos of this little Prudence Queen Anne doll.  I was inspired by some photos of an old Queen Anne doll that I love.  She is a bit fierce looking but in a gentle way.  Small but mighty!  She has beautiful detailed hands  and is totally hand carved by me.  She is dressed in amazing early embroidered silks and wonderful old metallic trim with natural patina.  Every stitch on her cap is hand done and such tiny stitches they are.
Follow her progress............................
I will post more photos later.
She is SOLD.
Enjoy!

SOLD

SOLD