THE DOOR OF HOPE 100 YEARS OF HISTORY By Mary Eveline Sicard

Delaware Historical Society Newsletter, Winter 2008, Vol 1 issue 1

STORIES FROM OUR COLLECTION

Miracle Lives of China

THE ANGEL OF SHANGHAI  Chapter X111 by Rosalind and Jonathan Goforth

Evengelical Publisher-Toronto  1931

Women Workers of the Orient  by Margaret Burton

West Medford, Mass 1918

Letter by Reverand Donald MacGillivrary in files of The United Church of Canada Archives 1916

Correspondence

Ashley Wright  Nov 2006; Jan 2011

Bruce MacLaren  Dec 2009

Linda Weiner  April 2006

Professor Jiang Xiaomei  Jan 2009

Research Institute of Wood Industry Chinese Academy of Forestry, Jan 2009-Certificate of Identification of Wood Species

Dorothy

Artist Alice Leverett has been creating beautiful handmade dolls, one of a kind heirloom pieces, costume sets and accessories, too, since 1986. During this time, she has also done a good bit of commercial design work for other doll companies. Though her Victorian style dolls come to the collector’s mind first, Alice’s many designs are quite varied, Tudor to contemporary, classic to trendy, and in mediums of cloth, resin and porcelain.

Forever Children

Sculpting is just one of her doll making passions, and her talents have created numerous technological advances in the doll world, including unique jointing methods. Perhaps the only thing that matches the beauty and pose-ability of her dolls is her intricately designed doll costumes. Owning an Alice Leverett Original costume is a rare treasure. Each are so finely detailed that it takes weeks to complete just one, not to mention the extensive amount of research each takes to be period correct and proportionally accurate.  Accessories included with her costume sets are also hand made by the artist and the technical skill involved in creating them is a wonder to be seen in the final result.

Anne Boleyn

Alice’s handmade studio dolls are highly prized and among the most sought after of her designs by discerning collectors.  For these dolls, she creates her own molds, pours her own resin or porcelain, paints, drafts all patterns, and is hands on in every aspect of the work.  Alice spends valuable time researching and developing each doll and costume, studying the concept, the era from which it comes, the way the clothing was worn, the fabrics that were used and much more.  It is a very important part of what makes an Alice Leverett Original stand out and her hands on dedication to the art form certainly shows in each of her wonderful dolls.

Laura

At present, the Ultimate Fashion Doll™ is as popular as ever, having initiated the great interest in the 12 inch French Fashions. Each one of Alice’s Ultimate Fashion Dolls™ is a work of art taking great time and effort to come to life, and is carefully and lovingly finished, ensuring only the finest quality dolls leave her studio. Alice also travels the world teaching sewing seminars of costume sets for the Ultimate Fashion Doll.  People come from far and wide to receive 4 days of instruction from Alice, and when they leave they have a beautiful, to scale, costume for their doll.  Some basic knowledge of sewing is a plus, however, one does not need be an expert seamstress to attend, learn, enjoy and succeed.

Eugenie from Alice’s The Ultimate Fashion Doll™ Line

What’s Cookin’? Convention 2012 Artist Spotlight

“Jambalaya Jubilee” may be months away but our event artists are already hard at work.  Each month UFDC is pleased to introduce you to the artists whose work will be showcased at the meal events planned for New Orleans.

RubyRedGalleria is comprised of a talented group of doll designers, many of whom have hands-on working experience with some of the most talented doll artists around.  Started in 2008, RubyRedGalleria quickly became a recognized name by doll collectors, known for their unique doll designs, haute couture doll costumes and accessories.  UFDC welcomes RubyRed to their first UFDC meal event, “Crepes Bleuette”.

In Their Own Words

“American Girl!  Barbie! These are two of the most famous dolls in the modern age that many girls have practically spent their childhood with. But let’s not forget that long before these dolls were even born, it was the Bleuette that captured the hearts of thousands of young girls.

Charmette dressed in outfit ‘Amber Gold’

Originating in the early 20th century, Bleuette was created and fashioned by the magazine “La Semaine de Suzette” to help educate many under privileged rural French farm girls in the social graces, manners and preferred attires of the urban French cities. This noble goal was widely reflected in the thousands of elegant yet simple dresses designed for the very popular Bleuette dolls.

Bleuette dressed in outfit “the Ray of Malachite”

While the Bleuette doll gradually lost its popularity in the 1930s, many doll artists and collectors still remained loyal to Bleuette because they love the values and beliefs that Bleuette expresses. Some collectors believe that while Barbie and American Girl are more “trendy” and “modern”, they fail to preserve the tradition of good graces that are evident in the Bleuette.  RubyRedGalleria has noticed this problem, and took action to recreate the Bleuette doll to preserve this noble tradition.  RubyRed recreated the new Bleuette.

The new Bleuette has an identical look to the original Bleuette except for a few improvements. Modern technology allowed RubyRed to make Bleuette into a more fashionable, more durable, and more enjoyable doll. Firstly, the Bleuette is now made by poly-resin instead of the original fragile and easily breakable materials of the past. The benefits are astounding: the skin is smoother, the doll is lighter and the material is more durable. In addition, RubyRed also added a face changing feature into the doll. Bleuette’s face, eyes and wigs can all be switched! In essence, you can have hundreds of different Bleuette’s all in the same doll! Think of all the money you can save! The idea of launching the Bleuette came from RubyRed’s owner and chief designer, Ms. Ruby Ho. “I have developed many dolls in my life,” she said, “but I still cannot recreate the presence that Bleuette had in the early 1920s. Bleuette encompasses rich culture and history. No matter how well I design the other dolls, some of us still can’t forget the Bleuette’s we had as a little girl.”

“There are thousands of beautiful Bleuette dresses that are passed down in history,” she continues, “and it is a shame that it is very difficult to find a high quality and economical Bleuette to dress them with. Some of the dresses are still breathtakingly beautiful, and it also helps teach the younger generation good dress sense and good social graces that are still very welcome in the modern world.”

Bleuette and Ellette, Lady Sagesse (Limited Doll Set)

Starting from 1981, Ms. Ruby Ho has been in the doll business for over 30 years, and she still enjoys designing new Bleuette dresses. “I also like to recreate some of the vintage dresses in the style of the original Bleuette clothing. With modern technology, we can make them much prettier but still preserve the vibe of the original taste. It is both exciting and fun.”

RubyRedGalleria looks forward to hosting an event at this year’s convention.  Attendees at their event will be receiving a new limited edition Bleuette design: “Crepe Bleuette”.  Joy and excitement are guaranteed!

Charmette, Dancing in Masquerade (Limited Doll Set)

For more information on RubyRedGalleria please visit their website at www.rubyredgalleria.com. 

What’s Cookin’? Convention 2012 Artist Spotlight

“Jambalaya Jubilee” may be months away but our event artists are already hard at work.  Each month UFDC is pleased to introduce you to the artists whose work will be showcased at the meal events planned for New Orleans.

To develop her own style and improve her skills she specialized on portrait dolls. Her love for children provides her with the gift of observation not only of the physical child but also the soul of the child. Children from the school and preschool right across the street from Heidi´s house have inspired her to create some of the many dolls that collectors of her work treasure. Ten years after the beginning of her life as a dollmaker Heidi visited the first Toy Fair in the United States. It was quite an ordeal for her to just find her way from the airport to her hotel since she spoke little English at that time.

Years later at another Toy Fair she met Mrs. Zapf from ZAPF CREATION.  They developed a close working relationship and through this Heidi was able to create her own vinyl collection.  The challenge for Heidi was how to translate the porcelain models into vinyl and how to take her artist dolls and then produce them to be manufactured.  During the production process the doll’s soul and personality often got lost and this was literally painful for Heidi. Her goal was to paint these dolls herself, put them together, pick their wardrobe and give them back their magic. As a result she brought out a line of small porcelain dolls in 2002.  These dolls were a great success and were quickly sought after by collectors.

Every year Heidi spends two weeks in Indonesia with her longtime friend and designer Rosemarie Ionker. Together they design new dresses and pick out the most beautiful fabrics in keeping with Heidi’s high standards.  She loves being in contact with her collectors and visits a great number of retailers every year for signings of her dolls.

The theme for Heidi’s event in New Orleans is “A Touch of Spice” and will focus on Heidi’s connection to and affection for Indonesia.  The Spice Islands are part of Indonesia.  Heidi will be producing a child of that nation, something near and dear to her heart.

 For more information on Heidi please visit her website:  www.heidiplusczok.com.

What’s Cookin’? Convention 2012 Artist Spotlight

“Jambalaya Jubilee” may be months away but our event artists are already hard at work.  Each month UFDC is pleased to introduce you to the artists whose work will be showcased at the meal events planned for New Orleans.

 Evangeline Ghastly above in ‘Eternally Yours’ Costume 

The weather on the night of Evangeline’s birth was as expected. The wind was howling, the moon was full, and the doctor was unavailable. And so begins the story of Evangeline Ghastly®. With a mysterious diary entry, a pet skunk named Mouette, and fashions right out of a Victorian novel, Evangeline is definitely…..a whole other story!

Headquartered in Mullica Hill, New Jersey, Wilde Imagination™, Inc. was created to develop and market designer products unlike anything else on the market today, including the chronically bored but ever fashionable Ellowyne Wilde® line of dolls, fashions and accessories created by Robert Tonner, Evangeline Ghastly® – the first ball jointed doll collectors are calling ‘insanely beautiful,” designed by Joe Petrollese, and their newest and tiniest doll of all ~ Amelia Thimble, which is also designed by Joe Petrollese.

About Joe Petrollese:

Still today Joe doesn’t know whether it was growing up on the streets of Brooklyn NY (also the birthplace of Barbra Streisand and Nathans hot dogs, both of which he loves) or the little red velvet suit his mother made him wear at Christmas that shaped his life. Always being the more intelligent of his two other siblings Joe showed great interest in the arts at an early age. He attended Edward R Murrow High School (a school for amazingly gifted children) where some of the teachers felt threatened by his talents. Upon his graduation, Joe was forcibly taken to live in Upstate NY by his parents at the tender age of 18.

After graduating at the top of his class from FIT, Joe went right to work. He enjoyed a professional life full of glitz and glamour in the fast paced fashion world. And after twenty years as a fashion designer, through a chance meeting, Joe met Robert Tonner with whom he immediately bonded. Robert hired Joe on the spot after being dazzled by his wit and talent. He now found himself back in the Hudson Valley. A new door had opened in Joe’s life and the doll world will never again be the same.

“Plaid to Meet You!” Wilde Imagination’s popular fashion doll Ellowyne Wilde! With inset eyes, applied lashes, and an eclectic outfit, featuring a dress, coat, hat, and more, Ellowyne is all set for her therapy session with Dr. Bantam. Designed by Robert Tonner for Wilde Imagination.

Wilde Imagination’s newest doll line – Amelia Thimble. She stands just 4” tall and is made of high-quality resin and completely ball jointed for unlimited posing possibilities. She comes with a wig, changeable, inset eyes, and the cutest outfit straight out of a seamstress’ dream! With a full line of outfits and accessories, she’s definitely Cute As A Button! Designed by Joe Petrollese for Wilde Imagination.

“Evangeline is what most people would call unfortunate; she likes to think of it as misunderstood… “ 

Designed by Joe Petrollese, and sculpted by Robert Tonner for Wilde Imagination.

One of the highlight dinners at the 2012 UFDC Convention will feature Evangeline Ghastly as the event doll in a special limited edition ensemble designed specifically for the event. The theme will be “Evangeline Ghastly – Queen of the Mardi Gras” and will surely be an evening to remember.

“From all of us at Wilde Imagination, we look forward to continuing our goal of bringing products to the market that inspire the imagination, are beautifully designed, and just plain fun! From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for your support and hope that our products bring you lasting joy!”

To find out more about Wilde Imagination please visit their website at www.wildeimagination.com.

What’s Cookin’? Convention 2012 Artist Spotlight

“Jambalaya Jubilee” may be months away but our event artists are already hard at work.  Each month UFDC is pleased to introduce you to the artists whose work will be showcased at the meal events planned for New Orleans.

In Her Own Words

Exploring the possibilities of creating a character with fabric is an extension of a life time fascination with three dimensional forms. My characters emerge from familiar tales of childhood and from stories of the heart and soul. Fabric, color texture and pattern all play intricate parts in creating interesting figures that tell their own stories to the viewers who meet them.

I begin by drawing the body shape and structure I wish to use for my fabric figures. I use a template to create the basic silhouette of the drawings. The shape is transferred to the fabric. Sewing on the line gives a great deal of control over the shape I am envisioning. Some of the body shapes are an abstraction or somewhat stylized. Most of my figures have an economy of line, a simplified structure. The costuming and embellishment are the key elements. I use paint, pigma pen and colored pencil to create the faces on the cloth figures. An extreme light and dark technique is employed to give the illusion of depth in the face.

Fabric, creative manipulation and embellishment are key elements to my figures and chairs. I use appliqué, picot, brick and spiral beading techniques in layers over fabric and ribbon.

An ancient connection to doll making and storytelling is ever present in my work. Experimenting with new techniques in drawing, painting, beadwork, embroidery, problem solving structural and aesthetic problems, and educating myself on historical and cultural heritages, contributes to the continual growth and change in my figures.

Manipulating basic shapes in new and different ways plays an important role in the creation of my characters. Paper and wire manipulation have added a whole new page to my book of characters. The fabric and paper speak to me in many voices, the combination of these voices gives life and harmony to the finished figures.

To learn more about Christine’s work visit her website at:  www.fancifulclothimages.com

What’s Cookin’? Convention 2012 Artist Spotlight

“Jambalaya Jubilee” may be months away but our event artists are already hard at work.  Each month UFDC is pleased to introduce you to the artists whose work will be showcased at the meal events planned for New Orleans.

“With the fear of war top of mind, the proprietor of one of Paris’’ best guarded secrets, Le Beau Voute™ sent his beloved niece and nephew to America to open a couture shop. For decades, the Rousseau family had sold lightly worn couture, as well as, items sent over from esteemed couturiers. Ah, the clothing they sold was prized, but it was the beauty of their wax mannequins and charming windows that stopped many in their tracks. This is the story of the mannequins who made the journey, the unique clothes they modeled and the shop Therese and Claude Rousseau opened in the heart of San Francisco.”  (Story and dolls written and designed by Joan Greene.  The dolls are produced exclusively by Greene and Lam Studios.)

The theme for the event will be “Dinner with the Duke and Duchess of Windsor Mardi Gras 1950.  In 1950 the Duke and Duchess of Windsor were guests at the Mardi Gras celebrations.  New Orleans was all a buzz when the royal couple announced that they would attend the Mardi Gras festivities.  The big question was, “Would they honor the Carnival rules for the men to bow to the Mardi Gras Kings and Queens, and the women to curtsy.”  Only those in the most elite circles would see firsthand that, in fact, the Duke bowed low and the Duchess dipped in a royal curtsy.”

To learn more about Joan Greene and Greene & Lam Design Studios please visit their website at www.greeneandlam.com.

UFDC congratulates Joan on her recent Doty award for the “Dinner with the Duke and Duchess of Windsor Mardi Gras 1950” doll from her Beautiful Vault collection.  This doll is presented in an exclusive costume for UFDC and will be the event doll at Joan’s dinner in New Orleans.

What’s Cookin’? Convention 2012 Artist Spotlight

“Jambalaya Jubilee” may be months away but our event artists are already hard at work.  Each month UFDC is pleased to introduce you to the artists whose work will be showcased at the meal events planned for New Orleans.

The story begins in 1905 when Käthe Kruse´s daughter Maria, also called Mimerle (pictured with Kathe Kruse above), asked for a doll as a Christmas present. Her father, the famous sculptor Max Kruse, went to all the stores in Berlin, but all he saw were dolls that appeared to him to be stiff and unnatural. He thought that such dolls could never awaken motherly feelings in his daughter and so he told Käthe Kruse to design her own doll. Using the materials she had readily available, she took a towel, filled it with sand and created the head from a potato. The first doll was born! Little Mimerle instantly fell in love with it. The potato didn’t last long and so inspired by her daughter´s love for the little doll, Käthe Kruse decided to develop her doll making skills. At that time, she never would have dreamt that this would be the beginning of a worldwide career! In 1911 Käthe Kruse started making her beautiful handmade dolls in an apartment in Berlin. Her first important order came from the American toy shop, FAO Schwartz. Today the company continues to flourish employing the same loving care and attention to detail that Kathe Kruse brought to each of her dolls. The Käthe Kruse Company is proud that they have been providing quality items to children for more than 100 years. They continue to uphold the spirit of their founder and her motto, “the hand follows the heart” continues to inspire them.

To honor the founder of their company, the Kathe Kruse Company is planning to produce a child doll replica of Kathe Kruse for UFDC’s convention in New Orleans. They will be assisted by Two Sisters Studio who will be hand making a special surprise to accompany each of these beautiful dolls created in the traditional Kathe Kruse manner.

To learn more about the Kathe Kruse Company please visit their website at: www.kathekruse.de.

What’s Cookin’? Convention 2012 Artist Spotlight

“Jambalaya Jubilee” may be months away but our event artists are already hard at work.  Each month UFDC is pleased to introduce you to the artists whose work will be showcased at the meal events planned for New Orleans.

Standing a full 21 inches tall this fully articulated Cissy is dressed in a marvelous outfit by fashion designer Jason Wu and is ready to explore the streets of the French Quarter in New Orleans along with her equally stylish canine companion.

Love Is In The Details

For many of UFDC’s members, the dolls of Madame Alexander evoke happy childhood memories.  For others it is the adult joy of collecting the beautifully dressed and appealing dolls of this firm.

Golidlocks and Bear has a bent knee and created on one of Madame Alexander’s most popular sculpts – Wendy.

In 1923, Madame Alexander founded the Alexander Doll Company based on her belief that dolls should engage a child’s imagination. More than eight decades later, the company continues her mission with a full line of collectible, fashion play and baby dolls that are heirs to her impeccable taste and standards.  To the delight of children and collectors alike, the dolls of Madame Alexander incorporate contemporary character, modern materials, and talented new designers into their works while maintaining Madame’s original vision that “love is in the details”.

Madame Alexander has also been a feature of UFDC’s conventions for many years.  In keeping with the feel of New Orleans their event is titled “Mystic Tea Leaves – Tea Houses, Beignets and Café au Lait!”.   As dramatic as the event name, this doll will be a delight to both Madame Alexander collectors and fashion doll enthusiasts alike.

Perhaps not as well known to all our members is the extreme generosity that Gale Jarvis, President of Madame Alexander, and her team have demonstrated to UFDC.  For the past few years the company has donated wonderful dolls to the Junior Collector’s tea and has been actively involved in this event.  They are helping UFDC prepare the next generation of collectors.  This year the Junior Collector’s tea event is called “Babycakes” and in keeping with this theme Madame Alexander will ensure that every child attending will be “adopting” a baby from their nursery.  UFDC salutes Madame Alexander for their role in this event and their generous donation of the dolls that will be cherished keepsakes for each of the children participating in this very special and important UFDC event.

Fully articulated ballerina from The American Ballet Theatre’s Copelia is an example of the company’s alliance with the arts.

For more information on Madame Alexander please visit their website at www.madamealexander.com

What’s Cookin’? Convention 2012 Artist Spotlight

“Jambalaya Jubilee” may be months away but our event artists are already hard at work.  Each month UFDC is pleased to introduce you to the artists whose work will be showcased at the meal events planned for New Orleans

For over 25 years Maggie has been creating felt dolls in small editions and one of a kinds.
Maggie is happiest when creating dolls, and has created thousands of them that grace the
collections of doll collectors from all over the world.

With a background in sewing, Maggie’s love of fabrics and textures naturally lead to designing outfits for her many editions. Collectors fell in love with her combinations of felt and silks, and were charmed by the colors she chose. Story book characters came to life in her small studio but they always had the unique touch of Maggie’s hand. And little girls, in fashion forward outfits, rose from the piles of felts, silks, and other natural fabrics that Maggie would find. And when the fabric she was searching for did not exist, or come in the ‘just right’ shade of blue or green, Maggie would dye it herself to achieve the perfect combinations.

Whether inspired by a sketch in a children’s book, or the feel of a fabric on the shelves of Mood in New York City, Maggie manages to come up with a design that is strictly her own, with those special
Maggie touches. Costumes, colors and accessories are chosen by Maggie and must enhance each doll for the collector.

Since 2005 Maggie has created souvenir dolls for UFDC Convention events. And to entertain
the collectors attending her daughter Emily, who studied movie making, created stop animation
videos starring Maggie’s dolls. Each year, keeping with the theme of the convention, Maggie
would create a souvenir doll that conventioneers took home and lovingly added to their collections.

This year convention attendees can look forward once again to a Maggie Iacono event. In keeping with the New Orleans feel, the event doll will be called “Praline” and is guaranteed to be as sweet as her name.

For more information on Maggie Iacono please visit her website: www.maggiemadedolls.com.

What’s Cookin’? Convention 2012 Artist Spotlight

“Jambalaya Jubilee” may be months away but our event artists are already hard at work.  Each month UFDC is pleased to introduce you to the artists whose work will be showcased at the meal events planned for New Orleans