I made this doll for the 2010 International Paper Doll Convention that is being held in Kansas City, MO this year. Unfortunately I wasn't able to attend (though I had hoped to).  Still, being able to contribute a tiny little bit of something was fun and I certainly hope to do more in the future.

The doll is ink and Copic markers on watercolor paper; nothing fancy (I was trying to keep it simple to prevent myself from going off the deep end fussing about details). I based the designs of the dresses on carriage dresses in a fashion plate from Ladies' Museum, June 1831 (I wanted to do something "summery" since it's that time of year). I really should have included a hat.  This reduction doesn't show some of the details (I used a very very light shade of grey on her corset and pantalettes ~ so there is definition there, it's just hard to see on this scan, unfortunately).

It's Friday, so why not a Friday Fashion?  It's not a fashion plate, okay, but it's a fabulous example of a silk walking dress from the 1830s, so it deserves a looksie. 

This comes from the collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, specifically the Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History (Nineteenth-Century Silhouette and Support), which is chock-full of awesome 19th century dresses ~ and all so beautifully photographed! 

The description on this particular item reads, in part:

The 1830s silhouette was created by a corseted, raised waistline; with a bell-shaped skirt revealing the lower ankle. The wide triangle atop this dress was imposed by the stays worn underneath, which had shoulder straps to hold the shoulders down and away from the neck. The wide sleeves had at first been affixed at the top of the arm and supported with sleeve extenders made of various materials. By the late 1830s, the gigot sleeve was collapsing at the sleeve cap.

Go to the site to read more and see the amazing other dresses from throughout the century.

I've been gone a scandalously long time and I won't make excuses. The good news is that I am back! And look at what a great fun piece it is with which I return!  Here at the Museum of Childhood, you can download, print, and build your very own 19th century classroom! How fun is that?

Just think of the hours of imaginative play ~ creating scenes of schoolboy misbehavior, schoolmaster terror, and complex day-to-day lessons that would make most college graduates' heads spin!

These assembly-required paper toys were much the rage in the 19th century. Modern plastics would not be around for some time and the 19th century plastic equivalent, gutta percha, does not seem to be have been capitalized on as toy-making material (or else was too expensive). Most rich kids had toys made of lead and other alloys, hard rubber, or carved wood. Poor kids mostly had homemade toys of whatever material was handy. But paper toys were largely inexpensive (less so if uncolored), so everyone could enjoy them!

Have fun checking out the museum site. There are many other paper toys there to explore, learn about, download and create.

As to my plans for continuing with this website, I do plan to continue and I do plan to try to reboot so hopefully you will be seeing some changes and additions in the coming weeks. Hang in there!  Thank you to anyone who's been checking back in to see whether I'm still around!