Vintage Kewpie Dolls
Work In Progress

Meet the girls:
Made from found Kewpie dolls. All were immodestly undressed when they came to me & have been lovingly redressed, using 100% recycled materials:
A range of vintage fabric remnants sourced in op-shops & kindly donated by collectors. 1940s tulle, in dusty pink, lemon, mint & lilac.
Eggshell blue organza & navy satin
1930s red lace dress remnant, with scalloped hemline
1950s Hawaiian flannelette
And a raft of pretty fabrics - flocked, glittered & embroidered, with pin dots and floral bouquets...

Maude she lost her buttons.

 Recent Cards 

Made from:
Original dressmaking patterns & knitting catalogues dating approximately 1955-1965
A variety of glass, bakelite, fabric, tin & plastic buttons, all vintage
A large orange 1960's belt buckle
 French vintage woven cotton trim with the number "8" on it..

Inspired by:
Little old ladies button collections
My mother's mother Phyllis, who sewed all the family's clothes,
including their underwear
My mother's father Norman, who worked in a rag factory,
& brought home fabric remnants in his Gladstone bag
Watching too many re-runs of Bewitched & I Dream of Jeannie

Ma

New cards..June 2011

New Cards..June 2011
Made from:
Vintage Peacock & Patons knitting catalogues
A variety of old glass, bakelite & plastic buttons
An antique tape measure, and
An original metal garment zipper

Vintage Pattern Cards..

New cards..
Made from:
A variety of original vintage dressmaking patterns, including Vogue/Butterick/Simplicity/Weigel's
Original vintage Patons knitting catalogues
Vintage glass/bakelite/plastic buttons
1940's/50's tape measures
1960's/70's ric rac
Various retro trims/haberdashery/fabric remnants.
All cards are packaged in cellophane & come with an envelope.
Contact:
littlespanishdoll@gmail.com

My Marie Antoinette..

Documenting the progress of my little Marie Antoinette..
She has been sitting in a box
Disjointed and dishevelled, since February.
So I'm happy to see her blossom.

Materials:
1920's wax doll remnant
Tulle & bead textile sample, found in an antique shop
Remnant of a Deco rhinestone necklace
Delicate vintage tulle, the colour of butter
Cuttings of auburn hair from a much-loved doll
Striped gift-wrapping ribbon
Stuffing

Sometimes a memory..

Portrait of my sister. 2009.
Edwardian lace dress.

Cupie Doll Resurrection..

Introducing Loulou:


She was nude when i found her..a celluloid "Cupie" doll, who would've been adorned in tulle skirts & glitter in the 1920's, and mounted on a stick. Loulou would've been purchased by a fairy floss stand, the object of every little girl's fantasy.


I am currently sourcing original Deco celluloid "Cupie" dolls to re-dress and restore. All new outfits will be constructed using pre-loved vintage materials as will adornements. The dolls will be mounted on sticks and resurrected to their former glory. Original "Cupie" dolls can be rare and difficult to source,so if anyone happens to spot one please snap it up for me!

Loulou's dress was sourced from an old boudoir doll who'd seen better days. It probably dates to the 1930's and is very reminiscent of "Bo-Peep" who was a character widely popularised through womens' textile crafts in the 1930's. It is made up of printed chiffon tiers in pastel pinks, blues & yellows, and is trimmed with pinkingshears. The fabric has a lovely aged quality, featuring stains, foxing and tears. When Loulou is complete she will be dressed in a matching bonnet.