Deliberately Ugly Doll

I buried her eyes bulged her nose and forehead and pulled her ears out, and am adding an out of proportion, shortened body with huge feet and arms. Now I would say she qualifies as ugly. But she also looks more badly made than deliberately ugly. Today, I am going to work on eyes, and make them as well painted as I can to take away from the poorly made image. I like the sawdust base, but I also will go back and refine the ears and repaint the mouth.

The stories that I have read about Laidronette never describe her. I found another source though, and will read through that carefully.

More Pondering of Ugly

A couple of pictures of twin dolls. If you follow my Josiah Gammage House blog , you must close your eyes , because these dolls are still on their way from Davenport Iowa, and aren't in the story yet.

Laidronette

What makes a woman the ugliest woman in the world? A ruddy complexion? A bulging forehead? Rough pitted skin? A short lip and mouth out of proportion?

The Maida group has taken on the challenge of creating a doll based on a fairy tale. I chose the fascinating , 1600's story of Laidronette. Laidronette was born one of twin princesses . An angry witch turned her into the ugliest woman in the world, while sparing her sister Bellote.

I've started the doll, and am having such a time making her ugly! My instinct is to shrink the mouth, add a lip and smooth out the asymmetry, but that wouldn't be true to the story. Anyway, who ever heard of an ugly heroine? We'll explore more of the story as she develops.

My dollhouse blog

I'm not sure why I decided to separate these two, but I now have a blog on 1/2 and quarter scale dollhouse miniatures.. And yes, I still have dolls in progress! The blog is http://halfscaledollhousegammagehouse.blogspot.com Dollhouse Blog I'm not sure if it chronicles my dollhousestreets or my attention issues! Check it out. Please! I need followers, and readers, and comments!

Letting dolls go

The other day I walked by this doll I made, who I named Sari, and realized I was ready to let her go. I have a pact with myself to act on this impulse whenever I have it because I have way too many dolls, and lots in the works, so on Ebay she went!

Sari is a practice doll, and I can't get a pic of her that I feel represents her, but in any event she is a strange looking creature. She's one of those dolls that just makes you smile. But now I'm sad she's going, and it seems for only enough to pay for materials...but still the sense of satisfaction for me that someone wants something I made . One fear that I have is that they will use only the clothes and that she will be found in a dumpster .see, I am really, really too attached!




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Dolls I'm working on.

I started out trying to make copies of my favorite Izannah dolls , because I was sure I could never afford one.

But now I think my goal is just to make dolls with integrity! Here are the latest-  two still unfinished, and one finished. I have fun finding names on my family tree- Peninah Flanner is on the right, and Panthea on the left.

I just found out that Peninah grew up to be a Quaker minister, so I guess the new dress needs to be plain instead of the lace trimmed dress she had on before the repaint.

Sari, who is below , reminds me a bit of the post patent dolls for some reason. I almost didn't finish her , but really like her now. Sometimes you just have to put projects away for a while I think.

Somerset Ma.

Town of Somerset History and Resources

The Town of Somerset is a suburban community in Bristol County, on the west side of the Taunton River. This area was originally known as the Shawamat Lands and was incorporated as a town in 1790. Although there was a significant Indian population when colonists arrived, by the end of King Philip's war in 1677 English settlers dominated the Pocassets, members of the Wampanoag tribe. The earliest colonists farmed and fished, both in the river and off-shore but the town developed shipyards, mercantile and shipping businesses early in its history. The first documented local shipyard was established between 1707 and 1712 on the Lee River by Samuel Lee. The dominant religious group in early Somerset were the Quakers, who established a meeting house about 1701, one of the few and earliest Quaker churches in southeastern Massachusetts. After the War of 1812, Somerset became one of the chief distribution points in New England for foreign goods with trade to China, the West Indies, Europe and the Atlantic coast. By 1847, 138 vessels were built and registered in the town with many engaged in the coastal trade. The most important shipyard was that of James M. Hood, whose yard launched several important clipper ships. This industry boomed after the Mexican War and the California Gold Rush, and spawned shipping related activities such as a ropewalk and the Somerset Iron Works, which made anchors. Aside from shipping related businesses, the largest early industry in Somerset was the making of stoneware. When steam began destroying shipbuilding, the anchor works was taken over by Job Leonard who proceeded to develop a nail works which, by 1865, was the largest single industry in town. Through all of this industrial growth, south Somerset remained largely agricultural. The opening of the Somerset and Dighton Railroad led to the establishment in the town of the Old Colony's major coal port in 1872, while an enterprising former potter created a cannery operation in the early part of the 20th century. However, as the industrial development of Fall River absorbed Somerset's industry, the community turned increasingly from shipping and iron manufacturing to suburban services. The dominant industry in Somerset since the First World War has been power generation with the erection of the Montaup Electric Company plant in 1923 and Bryant Point in 1963. The dominant character of Somerset has been residential since the bankruptcy of Fall River in the Depression brought a flood of middle-class residents into the town. Unlike most communities in the area, Somerset increased its population by 74% during the Depression. The town is now a suburban community with some small scale resort and second home development and its 15 miles of waterfront are primarily used for recreation rather than industry. Narrative based on information provided by the Massachusetts Historical Commission.