When the doll mania grabs you, there’s no fighting back. Just loosen up, and let it take hold.
That’s the advice of at least three Columbia doll- makers who have succumbed to the epidemic and found a satisfying passion.
Rachael Waymire of Cayce did meticulous restorations of antique dolls for years while living in Beaufort, S.C. After her move to Columbia, she branched into making cloth dolls. Now she and her friends Susan West and Sylvia Small are ardent members of the Seneca S.C. doll- makers club “Stuffits.”
“The drive up to Seneca every month is fun for us,” they said. “And we learn something new every time.
“Once a year Stuffits does a big show. It keeps our skills polished.”
These three doll- makers are all accomplished seamstresses and point out their handmade creations are special.
“We pay more attention to the clothing than some doll makers,” says Sylvia Small. “We do French seams, pleats and ruffles, and darts. Some doll clothing is just rough cut and unfinished.”
Stuffits meets monthly at the Pickens County Public Library. About 15 members participated in their first show in 1995. Now about 50 attend regularly and come from 11 states.
Stuffits was started by Lois Bro, a well- known doll- maker who taught at the John Campbell Art Center in Brasstown, N.C. The monthly meetings usually feature club members sharing their talents together, and twice a year, nationally- known doll- makers are brought in to speak.
“Each feature of a doll is a specialty,” says Rachael. “Shoes, faces, hair, hands – we are still learning ways to do them better.”
Stuffits occasionally issues a challenge. Perhaps the leader gives out special kinds of fabric and requires them to make up a new doll. One year their big show in Seneca was built around a Dickens theme. Each member chose a Dickens character to duplicate in doll form.
They also work on making such creatures as giraffes, puppies, and kittens. Then there are soldiers, African tribesmen, and Oriental beauties.
When asked about this kind of doll club in the Columbia area, the three don’t know of one.
“Many doll clubs are for collectors,” said Rachael. “We go to Seneca to meet with others who create dolls. It’s a great place for beginners to get started with some help at hand. Doll- making is a wonderful pastime especially for shut- ins, and it is very creative and interesting.”
These creative crafters don’t seem very concerned with selling their product. Word of mouth is their principal resource, and sometimes their dolls are committed for sale before they are finished.
On- line resources are plentiful and useful for those wishing to try doll- making.
Sistersanddaughters.com. Dollmakersjourney.com. CraftyCollege.com has an on- line class curriculum, with emails between teacher and pupil, and a message board for sharing.
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