expedition
I met up with some doll friends yesterday in Sturbridge, Massachusetts. We had a great day going to some of the textile stores there. We went to Wrights Factory outlet, then to a shop that specializes in antique and vintage textiles. Unfortunately I don’t seem to know the name of the store! It was really great though! These photos are from that store-
dolls in a crib-
lots of buttons-
a wonderful picture- looks like a photo but up close it looked like a drawing- hmmm? I think she looks like an Izannah Walker doll-
We finished out our day at some quilting fabric shops. I managed to find lots of fabric I couldn’t resist.
The inspiration for the expedition was that the terrific doll maker, Susan Fosnot, was in town to do a workshop at the Wenham Museum. She is from the midwest where she has trouble finding the vintage textiles that she likes to use for her dolls. She stayed overnight with me. Here are some of her dolls that she showed me-
We spent some time up in my studio pulling stuff out of bins and drawers. I gave her some fabric, but unfortunately, though I have tons of stuff I’d love to pass on, we both like the same stuff! I need to find people who need big buttons, 60’s fabrics and all the other stuff that I have that’s wonderful but I’ll never use. Speaking of which- I’ve put some more stuff on ebay. Vintage sewing patterns from the 50’s and 60’s. I have more, some from the 40’s, but I got sick of posting them, so I’ll do it another day.
May 4th, 2005 at 1:43 pm
That is the coolest. Fosnot in your house! Love the Columbia pix and the pattern on that woman’s sweater. The first time I heard about the Wenham Museum was because I am a Claflin & Richards descendant. I only learned about the dolls last year.
Congrats on the 1958 sale.
May 10th, 2005 at 3:55 pm
Wow Mimi! Having Susan Fosnot spend the night in a dollmaker’s house is like having the President over in anyone else’s house. How very cool!
April 16th, 2007 at 10:51 am
[...] On Sunday, I drove out to Sturbridge to meet up with doll club friends and Susan Fosnot for a fun day of shopping for doll stuff. We did this same expedition last year when Susan was in town. Someday we might make it to some of the other stores in Sturbridge! [...]
December 12th, 2007 at 5:09 pm
[...] It is a town where the store fronts look like they got caught and stuck somewhere around the middle of the last century. After the opening, we drove over to Sturbridge, Mass. and went to a favorite store of mine (I’ve blogged about it before in 2005 and 2006), Vintage and Antique Textiles. Since I was with Ben instead of a group of doll makers, my time to shop/explore was limited, but I managed to find some treasures. I love these tiny shoe buttons. They are glass. [...]