Bearly Victorian, Ryan! and Barely Victorian, Deb!

"Bearly Victorian, Ryan" and his wife, "Bearly Victorian, Deb!" have decided to start their own "Victorian Animals Tea Society" for all their wonderful Victorian animal friends.

After getting rejected for the umpteenth time from the latest Victorian tea society that he had applied to "Barely Victorian, Ryan!" decided that he and his wife should start their own club.

Their club would truly have an open membership and be accepting of all individuals and creatures. None of this "open to all", but really closed to animals rules. So what if Ryan and Deb were bears. They were still Victorian to the core. In fact, their lineage was probably older than some of the snooty Victorians who turned down their membership application.

Only one way around - start your own club! So, "Bearly Victorian, Ryan!" and "Bearly Victorian, Deb!" did. If there's anything Ryan and Deb can't stand it's "hoity-toity" attitudes. In their minds - everyone is created equal whether they're a human or an animal. Bears or humans - what's the difference? Nothing as far as Ryan and Deb are concerned. They're just as Victorian as anyone else.

However, don't let their names fool you. Ryan and Deb are anything but "barely Victorian!" Both Ryan and Deb are Victorian blue bloods. In fact, Ryan's lineage dates back "before the dawn of man!"

Ryan considers himself to be the epitome of the classy Victorian gentleman. He has the right attitude, the right demeanor, the right clothes, the right walk, the right taste in wine. Why, he can talk the talk and walk the walk with the best of the Victorian gentleman.

Deb considers herself to be at the top of her class. She is refined, elegant, stylish, well mannered, well educated, and proper at all times. She is a "true lady" in all sense of the word.

"Bearly Victorian, Ryan!" is a 15" Victorian bear. He is a self standing doll with a square bottom and plush felt body. His face is embroidered and he has black bead eyes and an animal nose.

Ryan is wearing his favorite blue shirt with stand-up collar and buttons. One of his favorite ties is wrapped around his neck. His blue check tweed jacket with a collar and lapels is lined and top stitched. Two wonderful blue buttons are used to fasten his jacket shut. Ryan's lined top hat sits beautifully atop his head and matches his lined jacket.

"Bearly Victorian, Ryan!" is quite the debonair. He knows it. Why don't they?

"Bearly Victorian, Deb!" is a 13" Victorian bear. She is a self standing doll with a square bottom and plush felt body. Her face is embroidered and she has black bead eyes and an animal nose.

Deb has 3 layers of wonderful lace trim along the bottom of her square body and is wearing a lace trimmed and gathered slip. Her beautiful coordinating ensemble is the latest in Victorian fashion. Her dress has multiple layers of lace trim along the sleeve hem and bottom hem and is gathered at the neck edge.

Her matching wrap is lined and lace trimmed and overlaps wonderfully in the front and decorated with a bow. She has a lined and coordinating lace trimmed cape fastened around her neck and shoulders. Deb's beautifully matching lined and lace trimmed flannel bonnet adorns her head and is tied in a bow around her neck. A lace bow decorates the front of her bonnet.

"Bearly Victorian, Deb!" is quite the fashionable lady. She knows it. Why don't they?

Designer - Linda Walsh of Linda Walsh Originals

I Lost My Head! Abraham, The Headless Horseman! - Victorian Doll

"I Lost My Head! Abraham" could hardly wait for his Victorian debut. He was just dying to show you his extremely coordinated Victorian outfit - amongst other things he was dying to show you. Like his heads!!!!!  Why, he didn't even get any blood on his outfit? Now, that's gentlemanly - don't you think?

What's the problem? Are the heads throwing you off? Actually, Abraham otherwise know as the "Headless horseman" is quite the Victorian gentleman.

He always dresses in his Victorian best. He's always coordinated. And, he's always the PERFECT gentleman. Except when he can't find "Ichabod Crane!" Then he gets - well, a little nasty.

You'd think "Ichabod Crane" would make it easy on him. Oh, no! He has to see a therapist who's trying to help him overcome his fears of the "headless horseman." Now how's Abraham supposed to do his job if Ichabod manages to overcome his fears?

"I Lost My head! Abraham, The Headless Horseman!" is a 14" Victorian Horseman doll. Abraham is a self-standing horseman cloth doll - albeit without a head!

He is wearing a multi layered lace trimmed shirt with lace trimmed sleeves and coordinating lace trimmed ascot. His cummerbund is a wide gold trimmed ribbon. His brown corduroy jacket is lined and top stitched with rolled cuffs and folded back lapels with buttons. He's also sporting a lined black cape.

Abraham is carrying the heads of two of his latest victims in his left hand and his favorite ax in his right hand. He just wants to show them to Ichabod Crane. Now why can't he find him?

Designer - Linda Walsh of Linda Walsh Originals

Call Me - Your Count Dracula! - Victorian Dracula Doll

Now here's a handsome Victorian gentleman - don't you think? So what if he's "Count Dracula!" He's still dressed very chic and very much the Victorian Gentleman - don't you think?

He's got the lace ascot, coordinating outfit, and marvelous hairdo. That makes him a wonderful Victorian Dracula - don't you think?

What's the problem? Are the bloody fangs throwing you off? He's still kind of cute - don't you think?

Come on now. Yo have to admit that he is rather debonair in his black and orange coordinated outfit!

Why, he's suave, he's swank, he's charming and beguiling. He's "Call Me - Your Count Dracula!" and he just wants a wee small bit of your blood. Is that too much to ask?

"Call Me - Your Count Dracula!" is a 13" Victorian Dracula. Dracula is a self-standing Victorian gentleman cloth doll. He has an embroidered and watercolor pencil painted face with red painted fangs. He is wearing a multi colored and coordinating shirt with a stand-up collar. He has a lined orange vest with lapels and a button.

His lace trimmed ascot matches his shirt and his black satin jacket is lined, top stitched, and has a collar, lapels and rolled up cuffs. His black satin cape is lined and top stitched as well and sits wonderfully above his shoulders. He's also sporting a lined and coordinating top hat. Dracula has a full head of thick wool yarn hair.

"Call Me - Your Count Dracula!" wants you to think he is a gentleman but his appearance says otherwise - don't you think? He really is a handsome Victorian gentleman - don't you think? Come on now - don't let a couple bloody fangs throw you off? He just wants a little bite!

Designer - Linda Walsh of Linda Walsh Originals

Ichabod, I'm Not Afraid Of You Crane - Victorian Gentleman Doll

"Ichabod - I'm Not Afraid Of You Crane!" is hoping that by being very forthright and honest about his fears that he can enlist every one's help in getting over his fear of the dreaded "Headless Horseman." He is so tired and just wants to get a good night's sleep and hasn't been able to do that in so very, very long.

You see, he's been afraid of the "headless horseman" for hundreds of years and figures that it's time he got over that. It's time he was able to get a good night's sleep without having nightmares about the "headless horseman" chopping off his head. He's hoping that with your help he'll finally be able to conquer and overcome his fears.

So, with the help of his therapist he decided that he should confront the "headless horseman" and let him know that he's no longer afraid of him. He can't invade his dreams anymore and can't try to scare him to death. And, if he tells him that and you tell him that then, maybe, Ichabod can get a good night's sleep.

Unfortunately, the one night he tried to confront the headless horseman on his own he awoke to find the tombstone and pumpkins at the foot of his bed. YIKES! "Here lies the body of Ichabod Crane - never to be seen AGAIN!" YIKES! How is Ichabod ever to get over his fear?

"Ichabod - I'm Not Afraid Of You Crane!!" is a 16" Victorian gentleman doll. "Ichabod - I'm Not Afraid Of You Crane!" is a self standing cloth doll. He has an embroidered and watercolor pencil painted face. He is wearing a brushed black denim outfit with a coordinated and multiple lace trimmed shirt with lace trimmed sleeves and cummerbund.

He's wearing an olive colored felt vest with button and lace trimmed coordinating black check ascot. His brushed black denim jacket is lined with coordinating black check fabric, is top stitched, has rolled cuff sleeves, and two buttons. He's also sporting a lined and coordinating top hat and fringed flannel scarf. He has a full head of curly gray mohair hair. He is very refined and Victorian like.

At the bottom of Ichabod's body is a tombstone inscribed with "Here Lies The Body of Ichabod Crane - Never To Be Seen Again!" His tombstone is surrounded by plastic pumpkins and fall floral leaves.

Designer - Linda Walsh of Linda Walsh Originals

Lady Amanda, The Mannerly Witch! Victorian Witch Doll

I think most witches will tell you that over the hundreds of years that they have gotten a really bad rap!

You see, most people are afraid of witches and afraid that either a spell will be cast on them or they'll be turned into a toad!  That is just NOT so for most witches. You see, most are gentle and kind. And, most are really very humanitarian. In fact, most are very polite and VERY well mannered.

At least that's what "Lady Amanda, The Mannerly Witch!" tells us. She is anything but mean spirited and doesn't have a nasty bone in her body. Again, that's what she tells us!

In fact she loves life, loves people, kisses babies and loves everything and anything Victorian. So, she commissioned a whole bunch of Victorian outfits to be made for her. She figures that if she's going to be a Victorian witch then at least she should be stylish.

"Lady Amanda, The Mannerly Witch!" is a 14" Victorian witch doll. Lady Amanda is a self-standing witch cloth doll. She has an embroidered and watercolor pencil painted face. She is wearing a cotton slip with black fringe trim. Her beautifully coordinated outfit includes a fashionable dress with black lace overskirt and satin skirt, coordinated orange plaid dress bodice, ribbon bow tied at the high waistline, and lace trimmed sleeves. Her short waisted jacket is lined and has gathered and puffy lined sleeves.

Her lined cape is made of black satin and drapes beautifully from her neck. She has a full head of thick and flowing gray mohair hair. Her witches hat is really anything but a true witches hat. It is a rounded black stain and lined bonnet with black lace trim, and 6 black lace and orange plaid bows and coordinated beautifully with her outfit.

Lady Amanda, is the epitome of stylishness. Or, at least she thinks she is. In fact, she'd argue with you that since the Queen made her a "Lady" with full title and benefits that she deserves respect. Of course, she'll never tell us who the "Queen" was that so endowed her with her "lady" title. The Queen of the witches perhaps? Hmmmm......

Designer - Linda Walsh of Linda Walsh Originals

Valerie, The Proper Victorian Lady Ghost - Victorian Ghost Doll

The Victorian side of "Valerie, The Proper Lady Ghost!" has her waiting patiently for her introduction while the "ghostly" side of her has been rather impatient.

"Valerie, The Proper Lady Ghost!" wants desperately to be thought of as a "lady" and being accepted by all the proper "ladies" of society.

She doesn't want to be thought of as a ghost and figures that if she gets accepted as a member of the "Victorian Ladies Tea Society" that the other "ladies" in her social circle will have to accept her.

So, she has been petitioning the "Victorian Ladies Tea Club" to let her join. For some reason, however, they have been reluctant to do so citing some old rule against ghosts becoming members.

"Valerie, The Proper Lady Ghost!" has been working endless hours on meeting all the members and showing them just what a wonderful "lady" ghost that she is.

She figures if they get to know her they will love her and will have to agree that she is in fact a proper lady ghost and entitled to membership. So, she is waiting patiently - ever so patiently. She's just hoping they decide soon before her "ghostly" side has just had too much waiting.

"Valerie, The Proper Lady Ghost" is a 13" Victorian ghost doll. Valerie is a self-standing ghost cloth doll. She has an embroidered and watercolor pencil painted face. She is wearing a cotton slip with black tassel trim and a lace trimmed black diamond printed dress. She has a fashionable hooded and lined multi-sectional cape with black tassel trim and a lined bonnet with matching black tassel trim.

Valerie is the epitome of class and style, if she doesn't so so herself! She just wishes they would hurry up and decide. "Valerie, The Proper Lady Ghost!" figures if the "Victorian Ladies Tea Society" doesn't allow her into their membership she'll just have to resort to her counter measures. However, she won't tell us what they are. We just hope they haven't been thought up by her "ghostly" side. YIKES! That might not be pretty or lady-like!

Designer - Linda Walsh of Linda Walsh Originals

Be Very Afraid, Dennis! Victorian Ghost Doll

If you've never seen a proper and dignified, gentleman ghost get ready for "Be Very Afraid, Dennis!" He's every bit the Victorian ghost that be seems.

But, be very afraid! Hmmmm..... I don't think so. You see, you don't have to be afraid of him because he's not terrifying or nasty. No! No! No! It's more like - be very afraid because he'll try to charm the socks off of you.

And, once he's charmed you - well, you're his! And, then, maybe you should be very afraid!

He's a charmer, he's a gentleman, and he's very much a proper Victorian. So what if he's a ghost? That doesn't mean anything. Or does it? Be very afraid! Don't be very afraid! Be charmed! Hmmmmm......

"Be Very Afraid, Dennis!" is a 14" Victorian ghost doll. "Be Very Afraid, Dennis!" is a self-standing ghost cloth doll. He has an embroidered and watercolor pencil painted face. He is wearing a coordinated Victorian outfit. He has a black shirt with a coordinating black lace trimmed ascot, a lined and coordinating vest with a button and lapels.

His ghostly jacket is lined and coordinates with his lined vest and is top stitched with flaps, lapels, collar and cuffs. He's also sporting a lined and coordinating top hat. He's wearing his top hat slightly to the right hand side of his head so you can see his wonderful, ghostly head. You see, he thinks that's his best asset.

In fact, "Be Very Afraid, Dennis!" thinks he's got lots of assets and is down right dapper. "Dapper Dennis!" Hmmmm...... I don't know about that.

I still think it's smart to warn everyone - "Be Very Afraid, Dennis!" is on the loose and might just try to charm you. I hope you like "Be Very Afraid, Dennis!" You didn't let him charm you - did you?

Designer - Linda Walsh of Linda Walsh Originals

A Refined Scarecrow, Jimmy! Victorian Scarecrow Doll

Despite his name "I'm A Refined Scarecrow, Jimmy!" is not very refined - at least, according to his sister "I'm A Proper Scarecrow, Nancy!"

Nancy's hoping she can help her brother, Jimmy and turn him into a right proper and respectable Victorian. The problem is he is a boy and a scarecrow to boot! But, Nancy thinks that doesn't mean he can't be Victorian and can't be the proper gentleman at all times.

After all, Victorian males are also well known for their manners and etiquette and since Nancy has plenty of that she figures she can transform Jimmy.

Nancy knows that she has been well trained and has no doubt she can teach her brother how to behave in a mannerly fashion. She is so confident of her skills that she is even willing to teach him how to dance. And, if you've ever taught your brother how to dance - well, you know how that goes!

Jimmy is willing to give all this a try. He loves his sister - after all and will do his best to see that she doesn't fail. He knows he can do it and also secretly knows that he really is every bit as refined and proper as Nancy is. But, he can't let her know that. He has to have a little fun - after all he is a boy and a scarecrow.

"I'm A Refined Scarecrow, Jimmy!" is a 12" Victorian scarecrow doll. Jimmy is a self-standing scarecrow cloth doll. He has an embroidered and watercolor pencil painted face. He is wearing a multi colored and coordinating shirt with gathered sleeves, a lined and coordinating jacket with pockets, flaps, lapels, collar and cuffs. He's also sporting a lined and coordinating Sculley cap. He has a full head of wonderful string hair that just his demeanor.

He is definitely refined - and, quite proud of himself. I hope you like "I'm A Refined Scarecrow, Jimmy!" His sister "The Proper Scarecrow, Nancy!" was released yesterday. Nancy's got her work cut out for her to get Jimmy ready for all the social events of the season. She thinks he's just not as refined as he needs to be - at least, not yet! Jimmy, on the other hand, knows better. They just don't get much more refined than Jimmy! Just don't tell Nancy!

Designer - Linda Walsh of Linda Walsh Originals

The Proper Scarecrow, Nancy! Victorian Scarecrow Doll

"The Proper Scarecrow, Nancy!" knows she is a scarecrow, but that doesn't mean she can't be Victorian and can't be the proper lady at all times. After all, Victorians are well known for their manners and etiquette and Nancy has plenty of that. She is always correcting her brother, "A Refined Scarecrow, Jimmy!" His manners are atrocious and his language skills - well, let's just say he has a lot to learn.

Nancy knows that she has been well trained and has no doubt she can teach her brother how to behave in a mannerly fashion. She is so confident she is even willing to teach him how to dance. And, if you've ever taught your brother how to dance - well, you know how that goes!

"The Proper Scarecrow, Nancy" is a 12" Victorian scarecrow from our new seasonal Victorian line. Nancy is a self-standing scarecrow cloth doll. She has an embroidered and watercolor pencil painted face. She is wearing a cotton slip with multiple layers of lace trim, a lace trimmed blouse, Multiple panel skirt with multiple layers of lace trim and gatherings, lace trimmed and lined felt jacket with a collar and cuffs, and a lined and lace trimmed felt bonnet with bows. She has a full head of wonderful string hair that just matches her outfit to the tee. She is definitely right proud of her appearance.

Nancy knows that when she is out in public she always has to look her best. You just never know when your picture is going to be taken and Nancy, the proper scarecrow, always wants to look her best. After all, she does have a reputation for class and elegance to maintain.

I hope you like "The Proper Scarecrow, Nancy!" Her brother "I'm a Refined Scarecrow, Jimmy!" will be released tomorrow. Nancy's got her work cut out for her to get him ready. He's just not as refined as he needs to be - at least, according to Nancy! Of course, her standards are a bit high!

Designer - Linda Walsh of Linda Walsh Originals

My Favorite Victorian Lady Doll Design Needs A Name

While I was taking pictures for all 1,496 of the dolls and crafts that I have made I decided to take pictures of my favorite Victorian doll design.

She was made for me to use as the Spring and Summer display that I have on the cabinet in my front hall and is not for sale.

Every season I change the front hall display and she stays there for the two seasons which suits her just fine.

Of course, my sister also loves her and I have to be careful that when she comes to visit during the Spring or Summer that she doesn't steal her. She keeps threatening too.

I told her that she can't have her. But, I half expect to see her hanging out of one of her suitcases.

So, she says, "Fine, then I'll take my namesake." Her namesake is similar to this doll and is the doll I used for my Debra (LW027) pattern. She, however, is in a very fancy faux blue suede and white lace outfit. She's beautiful, too, just not as much of my favorite as this one is.

I keep telling my sister that she can't have her either as she was the doll I used for my Linda Walsh Originals pattern so I have to keep her to support the pattern.

The last time I told my sister "no" to both of these dolls she presented me with a list of 54 of my handmade dolls and crafts that she would take instead. All FREE, of course. Isn't family wonderful! I keep telling her that I'm still reviewing her list. I didn't tell her that I tried to burn it! LOL LOL

I told my sister after I made her namesake that she was the largest Victorian I had made and was a pain in the.....! So, I named her after my younger sister, Debra. Ha! Ha!

However, I did clarify that the pattern was a pain. You, my wonderful sister, are not. Well, let me clarify that. You no longer are. When you wanted to play "Barbie" with my best friend and I you were. Of course, you were only about 4 or 5 then.

In any event, I'm getting off track again. Back to the Victorian doll. Since faceless Victorians are my favorite she, of course, is faceless. I do hope you like her.

She is a 27” Victorian doll wearing an 1853 walking dress. She has a fancy lace and ruffled trim lined navy jacket with double stand-up collar and mid-length gathered and lace decorated sleeves. Her jacket is also decorated along all the edges with lace trim - inside and outside. The outside is flat lace while the inside is gathered lace that hangs down below the bottom hemline. The jacket is waistline length and ties in the front with two sets of ribbons.

Her dress is bi-colored with the upper being white and the bottom being a coordinated blue & white fabric. The dress sleeves are gathered and the sleeve cuff is the same fabric as the lower part of the dress. The lower part of the dress is three tiered with two over skirts. The top over shirt and second over skirt tier are each decorated with gathered lace. Each over skirt tier is gathered at the waistline and the second over skirt tier is also gathered up the front center line and back center line. There is 4Th level of gathered lace around the waistline of the dress. The upper part of the dress is adorned with two small silk floral decorations.

She has a very fancy multiple-tiered gathered lace & floral trimmed lined hat covered with white and peach silk flowers all along the top of the hat. A large band of the lower dress fabric is used to secure the hat to the head and is tied under her neck in a large bow just to the left of her chin.

Her red wool rove hair is tied in a large bun along the backside of her head and semi-covered by her hat.

She also has a lace trimmed slip underneath her dress. One of my sister-in-laws Mother's old peach colored lace scarf is draped around her shoulders as a shawl.

Her arms are wire-shaped and covered and she is wearing lace gloves. She also has a fabric covered head and covered square wood base. Her inner body is supported by a dowel and is covered with fabric and lace. She is stuffed with a ton of old bits of fabric to mimic some of the dolls of old days.

As of this date my favorite Victorian doll still does not have a name so I thought you might all like to help me name her. You could submit a name by leaving a comment on this post and then we could all vote on the names. Sound like fun?

So, what do you think I should call her?

The Innu Tea Doll

In researching my article on "faceless" dolls I came across a type of doll that I had never heard of before who has a fascinating history. The dolls are called "Innu Tea Dolls" and were made by the Innu people from Nitassinan (Quebec and Labrador) Canada. The Innu have been making dolls for a very long time.

According to history the Innu people were always on the move. As such, space to carry items was always at a premium. When the Innu people traveled to their hunting grounds everyone had to carry their fair share, including the children. Innu women would sew the dolls and stuff them with tea. The tea dolls were intended to be carried by the children and would hold two or three pounds of loose tea. When the main supply of tea ran out, the dolls were opened and the tea inside was shared. The dolls would then be stuffed with caribou moss to retain their shape and then given to the children as toys.

The illustration at the top of this article is of an Innu Tea Doll that was given to the Smithsonian Institute by Lucien M. Turner in the early 1880's. According to the Innu.ca website he obtained some of the Innu Tea Dolls from the Innu people who came out of the Hudson Bay Company post to trade. The Innu of Labrador are the last known hunter/nomadic people of North America.

I hope to visit the Smithsonian one of these days. That is, when I'm not crafting or sewing. When I do I'll be sure to look for the Innu Tea Doll.

Happy Easter

Easter - the end of the winter and the beginning of spring. What a wonderful time of the year. When I think of Easter I think of Easter outfits, Easter baskets, church services, and Easter lilies.

My favorite, of course, is Victorian Easter dresses. Second to that is the Easter lily. I can remember coming home each Easter from church with an Easter Lily. I loved them then and I love them now. In fact, I have a garden filled with them along with tiger lilies, daffodils, tulips and day lilies.

The reason my garden is filled with them is because each Easter my Mother brings one to me . After the blooms are gone I plant it in my garden. That way, every year I get to marvel at the sheer beauty and delicacy of its blooms. They are magnificent.

The lily is a symbol of purity because of its whiteness and very delicate form. It symbolizes innocence. It's called the Easter lily because the flowers bloom in early Spring, around Easter. The white lily, or Bermuda trumpet, was brought to the United States from Bermuda in 1880 by Mrs. Thomas P. Sargent of Philadelphia, Pa. It has become the mainstay of Easter floral arrangements and church decorations.

If you have an Easter lily or have been given one make sure that you plant it in your garden. That way you'll see it bloom time and time again. So, each year you can't help but marvel at its magnificence.

We hope everyone has a very Happy Easter.

Graphics - Courtesy of Becky at www.primsandstems.com

"In Your Easter Bonnet, With All The Frills Upon It....."

If you are a baby boomer, like I am, then you probably have many fond memories associated with dressing up in your finest attire (hopefully, new clothes) for Easter Day. I know that I do.

On of my favorite Easter Day pictures is the one to the left. The picture is of my mother, father, older brother, younger sister and younger brother just before going to church on Easter Day. I was taking the picture.

You might be wondering why it's one of my favorites. Well, just look at my older brother's smile - or grimace might be a better description.

And, then, of course there's my mother's hat. It was this big, white, floral, lace, ribbon concoction. Oh, sorry, mom. I meant hat. It was lovely... WINK! WINK!

Every time I look at this picture and my mother's hat I can't help but think about the words from Irving Berlin's 1948 song "Easter Parade."

"In your Easter bonnet, with all the frills upon it
You'll be the grandest gal in the Easter parade.
I'll be all in Glover, and when they look us over
We'll be the proudest couple in the Easter parade."

If you're a reader of my Linda's Blog then you know that I just love historical traditions. So, of course this got me to thinking about the tradition of Easter clothes and the Easter parade. Where and when did this all begin? Where did the wearing of new clothes come from?

Early Christians believed the week before Easter was a good time to be baptized and called it "White Week." They dressed in new white robes, which they wore during the entire Easter week to symbolize their rebirth and new life. People who had been baptized previously wore new clothes on Easter to symbolize they shared in this rebirth and new life.

Subsequently, Europeans came to believe that a new piece of clothing on Easter Sunday would bring good luck. Old or used garments would bring a year of misfortune. So new clothes became a symbol of Easter. It's unbelievable how many traditions we still have based upon superstition.

It wasn't until the Middle Ages that people in their new clothes began to take walks after their Easter service. This eventually evolved into the tradition of Easter Parades, of which New York's 5Th Avenue is probably the most famous.

After the Civil War Easter was known as the "Sunday of Joy." Women and girls who had worn dark colors of mourning during the war decided to start wearing the bright and wonderful colors of spring. Their hats were decorated with fresh flowers. If the fresh flowers weren't available then they would make flowers out of paper, fabric, ribbons, feathers, hairs, etc.

The Easter Parade in New York began in 1860 - the Victorian Era, of course. The elite of society would attend Easter Service at one of the churches along 5Th Avenue and then parade down 5Th Avenue afterwards to give every one a chance to view their new Easter hats and dresses. I would have loved to have seen that. Some of the dresses had to be absolutely gorgeous. And, of course, there were the hats.

The hats were elaborate and kept getting bigger and bigger and bigger with each passing year. Flowers, lace, bird's nests (that's something I definitely want in my hat), ribbons, etc. were all used to decorate the hats. The more elaborately decorated the hat, the better.

Of course, the first Easter bonnets were worn way before Easter was even celebrated. They weren't even bonnets at all. They were circles of wreaths of leaves and flowers and were worn atop the head to celebrate Spring. The round shape symbolized the sun and the life cycle.

In essence the Easter Parade along 5Th Avenue was the forerunner of what is known today as a "fashion show." Many seamstresses would bring their sketch pads with them to the Easter Parade so that they could go back and create knockoffs for their less wealthy clients.

Even as a child I loved Easter. Why? For me it had to do with my fascination for beautiful dresses. My mother would buy me the most beautiful little girl's dress for Easter. I'd have my hat or bonnet (of course), my black patent leather shoes, white lace socks (the tops had to be lace, of course), my white gloves (oh, yes I wore gloves), and my little purse. I don't remember what I carried in that purse. What possible needs did a little girl have. Maybe I kept my candy in there. In any event, as you can imagine I loved it.

The picture to the right is of my older brother and I on Easter Sunday. Just look at my dress. I actually remember that dress. The front bodice had the most beautiful smocking and there were several layers of tulle underneath to keep the skirt puffed out. If you've never worn a dress with tulle you can't imagine how itchy it was. If you look closely my hat was a headband adorned with flowers and I think I was carrying a lollipop. Maybe that's what I kept in my purse. My brother, of course, was all decked out in his finest too. We probably walked around our house for our Easter Parade.

Another fond memory I have of Easter attire is the first year I wore high heels. What a disaster that was. I never got the hand of it and still don't know how women wear them. I kept falling off the side of the high heels. For me, given that I'm a tall women, that was comical to say the least. So flats or shoes with wide heels became my shoes of choice.

As with many wonderful traditions, new Easter outfits are a thing of the past. Some people do buy new clothes and some places have Easter parades as a lark. For me, I will always have the fond memories of my beautiful Easter dresses, and then there's my mothers hat. That hat! She could have had an eagles nest in it. Just kidding, Mom. It was lovely... WINK! WINK!

Who Doesn't Love Bunnies?

Who doesn't love cute, cuddly bunnies. Crafters and doll makers certainly do. When a crafter thinks of Easter or Spring they generally think bunnies and eggs. They've become a staple of Easter and Spring.

Why? Because like many other items crafters can do so many things with them. They can be Victorian, Primitive, Country, even Shabby Chic. They can be made of fur, cloth, wood, metal, just about anything. They can be colorful or bleak. They can have clothes or no clothes. They can be cuddly or firm. They can be standing, sitting, even hopping. They can be toys, dolls, knick-knacks, graphics, cartoons, candy, signs, pictures, etc. Just about anything you can imagine. The sky's the limit.

So, where did all the fascination and tradition of bunnies being associated with Easter and Spring begin. As with a lot of our traditions bunnies (or really, hares) have their origins in pre-Christian or pagan folklore. They served as symbols of abundant new life in the Spring. It was decided that Easter would always be the first Sunday following a full moon. So, since the moon was used to determine the date for Easter and the hare was the Egyptian symbol for the moon, hares became associated with Easter. Hares are nocturnal like the moon and carry their young for a month before giving birth, which is like the changing moon with its monthly full moon. It was also believed that the hare always kept its eyes open, watching the moon.

According to some pagan folklore, the Easter bunny was originally a large bird belonging to the goddess Eostre. To entertain her children she magically changed her favorite pet bird into a hare, which immediately laid colorful and magical eggs. So, because the Easter bunny was really a bird at heart he continued to build a straw nest and fill it with eggs.

Eggs were dyed and eaten during the Spring festivals in ancient Egypt, Greece, Persia, and Rome and were given as gifts to celebrate the coming of Spring. In all cultures the egg symbolizes the beginning of life or the universe. The early Christians didn't feel that the pagan custom of coloring eggs was harmful so they kept that pagan tradition and applied it to their own festivities. Some speculate that missionaries or Knights of the Crusades were responsible for bringing the coloring of eggs westward.

The earliest known reference to a modern Easter Bunny appears in German writings in 16th century Germany. In medieval times eggs were traditionally given at Easter to the servants. The first edible Easter bunnies were made in Germany during the early 1800's and were made of pastry and sugar.

In the 18Th century, German settlers brought the Easter Bunny tradition to America. The white Easter Bunny was called "Oschter Haws" or "Osterhase" and brought gifts of chocolate candy to good children. The children believed that if they were good the "Oschter Haws" would lay colorful eggs for them in a nest the children had built, which was usually a hat or bonnet that was placed in a secluded place like the barn or the garden.

Placing the hats or bonnets in secluded places eventually lead to the Easter Hunts. On Easter morning the children of the house would join together in a search for the eggs that the Easter Bunny had hidden while they were asleep.

By the 19Th century the Easter Hare became the Easter Rabbit. Plastic Easter eggs made their debut in the early 1960's with more than 1 million plastic eggs being purchased each year for Easter. American families would later change the tradition of the nest into using baskets and giving chocolate as well as money. And, today, we know how commercial all of this has become. Easter baskets are no longer just filled with candy eggs. It's amazing how a simple tradition has become such a commercial affair.

In any event, now you know why bunnies are associated with Easter and Spring. I suspect that crafters will continue with their love affair with bunnies for a long time to come. They're just so versatile. Besides, how can you not love a bunny? They're just so cute, so cuddly, so fuzzy, so warm, so....

Oh, here comes Peter Cottontail!
Hopping down the bunny trail,
Hippity hoppity, Happy Easter Day!"

Graphic courtesy of Becky at www.primsandstems.com

The History Of Faceless Dolls

If you're a reader of my Linda's Blog then you know that I just LOVE research. In thinking about my recent post on my Victorian "faceless" dolls I started to wonder exactly what the history of faceless dolls was. So, of course I had to find out.

I figured that there had to be a history of faceless dolls or, at least, some cultures and norms. Believe it or not but there isn't a lot of information on either the history of faceless dolls or cultures and norms that started such a tradition.

There is some information on two of the most popular and widely known faceless dolls - Amish dolls and Corn husk dolls. And there is the legend surrounding Raggedy Ann and "faceless" dolls. I was also surprised that there wasn't more information on "faceless" dolls throughout history. I thought for sure that they had to have been around for a long, long time.

In doing my research, what I was pleasantly surprised with was the application of "faceless" dolls for so many current charities or organizations. More on that a little later.

Probably the oldest legend has to do with "faceless" Corn-husk dolls. Some say they are the oldest form of doll known in America. The corn-husk doll shown to the right is a picture of a corn-husk doll that is in the USU Museum of Anthropology.

According to Iroquois legend the Iroquois people had three sisters - corn, beans, and squash or the "sustainers of life." The corn spirit wanted to do something extra for her people so the Creator allowed her to create a beautiful doll from her husks which was to roam the earth and bring brotherhood and contentment to the Iroquois nation. The doll went from village to village playing with the children. Everywhere she went everyone would tell her how beautiful she was.

One day this very, very beautiful doll went into the woods and saw herself in a pool of water. She saw how very, very beautiful she was and this caused her to become very vain and naughty. Kind of sounds like my "Celia" doll, doesn't it? Anyway, the dolls vanity and attitude did not sit well with the people or the Creator. The Creator warned her that this was not the right kind of behavior. She paid attention for a while (as all dolls do) but caught sight of herself in a pool of water again and thought to herself how beautiful indeed she was.

Suddenly out of the sky came a giant screeching owl that snatched her reflection right out of the water. When she looked again at the poll of water she saw nothing. This was her punishment. She would have no face and would roam the earth forever looking for something to redeem herself. Iroquois mothers passed the legend and "faceless" corn husk dolls down to their children to remind them that vanity is a bad thing and that they are not better than anyone else.

The Amish have strong religious beliefs which influence their daily lives. Their dress is plain and simple and so are the dolls they make for their children. According to the Amish tradition, the Bible says that you are not supposed to make anything that is in the image or likeness of a male or female. For that reason the dolls are "faceless."

In some Amish homes even "faceless" dolls were forbidden. Instead of a doll the children were given a piece of wood wrapped in a blanket. Since very few toys were allowed in an Amish household, boys and girls both played with the dolls. Both boy and girl dolls were made.

If you were to examine an old Amish doll you might see 4 or 5 layers of cloth on the head or the body. If the doll became too dirty, ripped or worn then it was covered with a new piece of material.

Most Amish women have been making dolls ( faceless and with faces) for their children for generations. This tradition has become a cottage industry for the Amish community. The picture top and left is of a popular "faceless" Amish boy and girl doll.

Over 20 years ago I bought a similar set of "faceless" Amish dolls. My dolls had on burgundy and black outfits but, pretty much, looked like the picture. I would have included a picture of my two "faceless" Amish dolls in this article but I can't remember where they are right now. They're here somewhere.

As far as Raggedy Ann is concerned, one of the legends surrounding her creation is that a little girl was rummaging around her Grandmother's attic and finds a faceless, battered old doll. She brings the doll into her fathers art studio and tells him all about finding it in the attic. He looks at his daughter and the faceless doll and decides to draw a whimsical face on it and then tells her to see if her Grandmother would sew two button eyes on. And so Raggedy Ann was born.

In doing my research on faceless dolls I was delighted to run across some websites concerning the application of "faceless" dolls today and why they were chosen or made "faceless." One of the websites concerned the Children With Aids Project (CWA) which was created by Joy and Jim Jenkins. CWA offers a variety of services to children infected or affected by AIDS. One of these services is giving "faceless" dolls to the children infected or affected by Aids. Why did they decide to make and sell "faceless" dolls. Because AIDS is a "faceless" disease. According to their CWA website, by buying one of the dolls you can support their mission to recruit families to provide loving, caring permanent homes for the HIV infected, affected and orphaned children.

Another article about "faceless" dolls concerned the dolls of Gloria Larocque. She has created 100 or more "faceless" dolls based upon the Iroquois legend that warns young girls about the dangers of vanity. According to the article her purpose, however, is different. Her dolls represent Canada's murdered aboriginal women, a group made faceless not by vanity but by neglect. Her project has helped draw attention to the plight of the murdered aboriginal women.

On the Girl Scouts of South Jersey Pines (GSSJP) website there was an article about a Girl Scout who made and donated 32 faceless dolls to the Pediatrics Department of the Salem Memorial Hospital to help ease the childrens fears of being in the hospital. The dolls were made out of muslin with bright striped and tye-dyed polar fleece t-shorts. The faces were left blank. Attached to each doll was a piece of paper that told the child to "give the doll a face to make it their own."

And, finally, there was article by Brenda Tobias on the Cornell University website concerning Hurricane Katrina and something the alumni did to help the children affected by Hurricane Katrina. A group of 100 alumni got together to sew "faceless" dolls for the children. Doll decorating kits and coloring books were assembled and sent to the children to comfort them.

I think you all know that I, personally, love faceless dolls. Victorians, primitives, country style. It doesn't matter. I love them all.

Why do I love the faceless doll so much? Because I think be being "faceless' the doll can be anything you want him or her to be.

You create the dolls personality to be exactly what you want it to be.

And, as we've seen from the above mentioned articles the application can be heartwarming, meaningful and beautiful.