Tuesday, June 28, 2011

A Unique Milwaukee WPA Project



On Vintage Cloth Doll Making group


( To visit the group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VintageClothdollmaking/ )


We have been having a wonderful discussion on the " WPA dolls "

I went to amazon.com and found a really cool book about the Unique Milwaukee WPA Project

I am really looking forward to getting this book, Has lots of awesome history in it!!


The Customer Review really says allot:


This is a great story, illustrated with 130 historic black-&-white pictures and drawings and 34 color photographs. Mary Kellogg Rice has written a first-person account of her experiences guiding a remarkable Works Progress Administration (WPA) project for unskilled women in Milwaukee during the Great Depression. She was the project's art director and was involved from the 1935 inception of the Handicrafts Project. African American women worked side-by-side with white women, there were black as well as white dolls, and Ms. Rice insisted that the articles to be made be well designed, no matter how simple the article or how inexpensive the materials. These unique characteristics set the Handicrafts Project apart from many other WPA projects.Ms. Rice recounts her visit to a stark, colorless county home for children and the desperate need for beauty and color in that harsh environment. She personally approved every design prior to production. The unskilled workers, under the supervision of designer-forepersons from the art department of the Milwaukee State Treachers College, manufactured toys, draperies, furniture, book bindings, Braille books, woven fabrics, block printed textiles, and dolls with clothes children could button and shoes they could tie. The manufactured articles were used in schools, hospitals, and public institutions (which only paid for materials) throughout the United States.
First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt visited the project in 1936 and wrote one of her "My Day" syndicated columns about the workers and the high quality of the articles. The Handicrafts Project employed more than 5,000 workers during its eight year lifespan. Ms. Rice, who is now in her 90's, gives us a model for employing persons who aren't highly skilled in the production of simple, elegant, useful articles. This model, which is not being followed in 2003 government work programs, not only trains workers but also gives them pride in the fruits of their labors. Society benefits from such inspired programs. Would that there were more such programs today, under the direction of leaders with the vision of Ms. Rice.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Monday, June 13, 2011

PFATT-charity auction

The second, a charity auction to benefit a Breast Cancer Organization.

Members of the Ebay Pfatt group

All proceeds will go to the charity. It starts tonight at 9:30 P.M.

eastern time and will last 1 week

Please if you can check this out and if possible make a bid so we can make a generous donation. You can type PFATT into your Ebay search box to visit the auction.
http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=pfatt+&_dmpt=Folk_Art&_fscr=1&_trksid=p3286.c0.m19

Thursday, June 09, 2011

Day By Day!!!

Alrighty!!! I have been busy sewing right now I am almost finished with "PENELOPE" Pattern by Kat Lees"
I will have pictures of my doll soon, Creating really helps in a healing process, Having surgery then loosing my sweet sister was a huge shock I felt like I just couldn't do any thing or even would want to,Yet I know I must move on one day at a time, For my husband, For our Children and for family and friends that love me.. I am drawing closer to God and allowing him to heal my broken heart,I have found so much to be truley Thankful for, Seeing how blessed beyond words my life is!!!The skys seem so blue and the Birds even more beautiful, Being able to pray for others and their pain and seeing miracles in their lives, Just looking at a stranger and smile is a blessing.Laughing is a huge blessing ,so is being creative, After all God is a creating God!!




So I have been looking for inspiration, Things that bring a small and the good ole warm fuzzies!So I did a search on google "Primitive Cloth Dolls Images"



Cat and the Fiddle Designs by Gini Simpson


I have followed her for years, I have several of Gini Simpson's patterns their just wonderful http://www.moonandstarsshops.com/fiddle.php


I wonder what it is about a *Annie* that always makes you feel just plain awesome smiles and all!!


This is MAY'S FLOWERS..I will order this pattern -Have to see first if I can find her patterns in E-PatternAwww HA!!!! found her E-Patterns there here!http://www.catandthefiddledesigns.com/catalog.php?category=2


Cat and the Fiddle Designs by Gini Simpson - She didn't have May Flower pattern yet on E-Pattern so I ordered A DOLL'S DOLLY (pic above)



Grace Garton is a new designer to me, Grace really inspires, She is amazing artistshttp://artdollsonly.blogspot.com/2010/10/please-tell-us-about-yourself.html



I just love Grace's baby elephant!




"Oh Sew Dollin" This is a new pattern designer to me, I feel in love with her dolls, and LOVE the fact her patterns are E-Patterns!!


OhSewDollin.etsy.com http://ohsewdollin.etsy.com/


The above doll is

Polly Anna PDF e-Pattern for primitive Raggedy Ann Annie Rag Doll, Cloth Doll Pattern



Patterns byMaureen Millsof Sweet Meadows FarmPRIMITIVE WORN & LOVED POSEY DOLL http://clothdollsupply.com/mills.html



Like I said "What is it about Annies That just bring out ALL the Love and warm fuzzies!!!"