Edith Flack Ackley Christmas Tradition

Edith Flack Ackley

Edith Flack Ackley Wengenroth Born :June 6, 1887 t o November 28, 1970 residence: Greenport, Suffolk, NY

Edith Flack Ackley a legend now and in her own time.

Dedicating remembrance here on my blog to one of my favorite cloth doll makers Edith Flack Ackley.

Edith Flack Ackley a cloth doll designer and maker. Inspiration to cloth dollmakers now, past, and future generations yet to come.

In the early 1900's Ackley studied portrait painting after finishing high school.Following the death of her husband she gave it up for marionette making which provided the subject for an early book

"Marionettes Easy to Make Fun to Use"

In 1936 she met and married Stow Wengenroth an artist lithographerrenouned for his beautiful prints of the New England coast.

During her life time Edith Flack Ackley made hundreds of dolls...all cloth stuffed with cotton.She took great pride in her dolls and encouraged others to make dolls for fun or profit as well.

During the 1920's and 1930's, many artists and crafts people published books and patterns for making rag dolls. In 1934 Edith Flack Ackley released doll kits which included unbleached muslin

Edith Flack Ackley's ~1934 Magazine Pattern~Lovely CHRISTMAS DOLL~"FOR A LITTLE GIRL'S CHRISTMAS"..prepared expressly for the Readers of Woman's Home Companion Magazine

with the doll pattern stamped on the fabric, along with instructions and patterns for the doll's clothing.This doll was to have yarn hair and embroidered features. The kit was offered through the magazine Woman's Home Companion.Ackley had several different books published during her lifetime. She wrote several childrens books along with her daughter Teckla Ackley and was also an accomplished poet.

Edith Flack Ackley sure touched my life in a big wonderful way.

I have been creating many different types and styles of cloth dolls over the years. Each doll has been a true joy to create and to see it come to life, Each one taking on it's own personalitie...But there still isn't the magic and yesteryear feeling you get when creating a EFA cloth doll.

I have been collecting EFA books, and I really love my doll book library

Some of her books : Paper Dolls _ Their History and How To Make Them; A Doll Shop of Your Own; Marionettes Easy to Make and Fun to Use; Dolls To Make For Fun and Profit.

Every Year for the last 5 years I make a EFA coth doll for our own personal Christmas. It has become a Christmas Tradition

I usally create them in a historic style, Victorian, or Civil War era

neither words I haven't done a christmas theme yet,But as I work on this years 2008 Christmas I'm thinking of dressing her in a early 1900's era Christmas,

Seems I have also started a spring tradition of creating EFA just for spring..

Here is one of my real vintage EFA type cloth dolls,I bought just as you see her..I have ordered real vintage 1930's fabric and I just can't wait to get it get and dress her..isn't she a sweet heart..as I hold her I think of the woman who made her..wonder what she was thinking, was it her little girl she was making her for for? Think of the 70yrs plus of history this little doll has seen..

Below are some links to others who love EFA dolls and their own creations.also there is a smalll but wonderful group on yahoo

Click to join edithflackackleydolls

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/edithflackackleydolls/join

http://tenderarts.blogspot.com/2007/03/i-want-you-to-see-this-pretty-thing.html

http://dollzandthingz.blogspot.com/2008/10/holiday-dolls.html

http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/album/46514831thRPMH

http://www.heirlooms4tomorrow.com/twins.htm

I have listed on eBay

Hi every One
I just thought I'd let you all know I have listed on eBay two of my vintage EFA dolls from my own personal collection..
you can see them here
EFA Vintage Cloth Doll Very Detailed http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=270271823575

EFA Vintage Antique Collectible Primitive Doll
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=270271808557

It's been a couple years since I have done a ebay auction, I'm in shock with the prices of ebay is charging..I made a mistake and listed my one EFA auction twice and deleted it, And they are still charging me ..!!! I don't know if I did the auction part correctly..I wanted just the basics. but it is still costing me for 3 auctions which there are only two $32.50
I guess from now on I will stick with my etsy!!
Thank You all for looking
Hugs Sherrie

Patriotic Annie hanger pocket

Patriotic Annie hanger pockets Patriotic Annie hanger pockets it is my rendition of a Gloria Lowell pattern http://www.lowellcountrygifts.com/

called Annie Pocket..

Wall or Door Hanger..Heart is 10" X 8" with a pocket where I have made a 4 inch Annie Annie's face is hand drawn by me using soft colors and sealed, Annie's hair is created with decorative snow and then painted and sealed, She holds a ribbon which is attached to a smaller heart of 3 inches. Patriotic Annie is adorable and makes you smile and feel proud and Thankful for our United States Of America and our Freedom

On a personal note "Creativity "

After hearing about the tragic news in VA.. Praying for all, I felt kinda like 911 again, Thank God he has given us all a talent, To be creative and be inspired by others creativity,

Creativity is a healing which keeps us all strong,...I sat down decided to look at these many links I have here on my blog,

Taking in others beautiful creations, Colors that were bright, Creations that made me smile, Creations that show the whimsy side and, Beautiful yesteryear looks,

I then received a email from Pattern Mart mailing list , that I subscribe to,

There was the link to Kelle's new blog, So I just stopped and took time to do a bit of "Blog Wanderings" I want to share with you all, On a personal note one of my favorite New Blog Wanderings , The blog is "Two Dancing Crows"

What a inspiring woman Kelle Arvay is! She is such a fantastic artist and caring sharing person She is the founder of Pattern Mart http://www.patternmart.com

one of my own personal hang outs! I rarely order patterns anymore that you order through the mail, But 99% most of the time I order only E-Patterns, and Pattern Mart has a huge selection of Pattern Designers to select from and instant down load!

Pattern Mart also has a FREE on line magazine "Creative Times Magazine"

http://www.creativetimesmagazine.com/

trust me when I say it is one of the very best online magazine, You all who know me , might remember when I wrote my own online magazine , How much time and research and hours and hours of on line time it takes to create a good magazine,

Doing it all by myself, I can fully under stand the under taking of putting a magazine together,Yet what a huge success it was,

Let me tell you "Creative Times Magazine" Has a wonderful staff and editor which work as a team and they turn out a fantastic bi-monthly magazine!!!!!!I wait patiently WELL maybe not sooooo patiently, ... I think I have worn out the link to "Creative Times Magazine" to see if the new edition is out :)

This is all just my own humble opinion I am not a member of Pattern Mart or "Creative Times Magazine" or associated in any way, Just a happy customer,

I'm a Fellow Artist who enjoys seeing other artists readings , growing, seeing what's new, and passing it on to other fellow artists!

Now Kelle has her own New Blog!!

It is just a delight to wander around and read such interesting posts, and links

http://www.twodancingcrows.blogspot.com/

The biggest thing I so enjoyed about "Two Dancing Crows" Blog is

It isn't about "Self" "or all about selling" It is about "Others, Inspiring new books to read, what's going on. What's new , Her blog is cheerful, Bright with colors, Eye Candy every where !! oh such fun!!

do your self a favor,YOU ARE WORTH IT!!! Go right on over and take a long peep at "Two Dancing Crows"

Be sure to read some of Kelle's past messages

Example:

More Creations , Outdoor Decor , Miracle Money , Vintage Doll Repair Book ,Past Dolls , Never too old for make believe! , Have you ever tried Punch Needle? , More Eye Candy,

http://www.twodancingcrows.blogspot.com/ Hugs Sherrie

which fabric?

Ok picture doesn't show this really well , but this is the bodice of her dress, I am going to make long puffy leeves though, But her bodice is fitted to her body,

up dated: Started this morning with this gal looking half naked
and as of now have gotten this far with her, Will finish her tomorrow , I hope..

***********
Now on to doll # 2 and choosing what fabric

ok click on pictures to have them enlarge, This is fabric A

This is fabric B

This is fabric C : Update: This fabric seems to get the most votes, Funny cause when I was placing the fabric on her for a picture, I thought "Nope I don't think this one will be any good"
This is why I so appreciate others opinions, It gives me a better view , Thank You Kerry and Kat and Connie so much for your input !!!

This is fabric D

This is fabric F
Which fabric do you think I should use?? I am at a lost! I am trying to be open minded here..
I am kinda leaning towards white on white, Can ya believe that!! Let me know ok
Thanks
Sherrie

Papier Mache' Sun & Star Finished TaDa~

Yippie Sun and Star Ornaments are finished

The sun Ornaments is 6x6.I created the sun with cloth, stuffed, gessoed, painted sun shine yellow..Antiqued. Then applied papier mache' with glue, painted again with Terra Cotta, Then did his eyes, nose, checks, Then painted again with Gleams, Antiqued again then sealed with a sealant.

The Star Ornament is 6 1/2 width and from tip to tip is 7 inches in length.I created the Star with cloth, stuffed,did NOT gessoed, But painted directly on the cloth using off white , then sanded , the cloth feels like soft fine leather , almost a velvety feel,..Antiqued. Then applied papier mache' with glue, painted again with Tapestry Wine, Then did his eyes, nose, checks, Then painted again with Gleams, Antiqued again then sealed with a sealant.
A first for me using Papier Mache'.

Saturday Once Again, Creations of My Past and Present

Well here I am.We are back home.... we were to ride all day and and also tomorrow, But Mother nature had other plans, They weather man said BAD storm coming to our area here in Florida, So we all rode to the Bike fest stayed about 4 hours had flots of fun and rode home, The wind is starting to pick up and the heat is awful 90 degrees here and it is ONLY April 14th any ways thought I would load some pictures of my past and recent works
in progress

in progress