Name: Handmade OOAK Clothespin Dolls
Made by and When: Phyllis Burns, Tammy Fisher of Curiositeej, LLC.; Rev. Dr. Laverne C. Hall, and Peggy Spackman are the known artists of four of the six clothespin dolls; ca. 1990s to 2017.
Material: Wooden craft clothespins, paint, yarn, fabric, ribbon, human and synthetic hair
Marks: “Ut” in white paint is on the palm of the left hand of the 7-inch doll in the red-print dress. The Little Healing Jemimah Angel is signed and dated, Laverne ©2014, by Rev. Dr. Laverne C. Hall. The others are unmarked.
Height: Heights range from 4-1/2 to 7-1/4 inches
Hair, Eyes, Mouths, and Clothes: Except for the Little Healing Jemimah Angel, the dolls have hand-painted facial features. See individual descriptions.
Red Dress with Afro: 7-inch ca. 1990s, made using multiple pieces of wooden craft clothespins and a wooden ball for the head. Black synthetic fibers create an Afro hairstyle accented with one red ribbon on the side. Dressed in a machine-sewn red-print dress with a red pinafore and pantaloons. The ends of the two inverted clothespins that form the legs are painted white to give the appearance of shoes.
Christmas Topsy-style Clothespin Doll: 7-1/4 inches tall, circa the 1990s, made from a craft clothespin kit, has a carved wig with three Topsy yarn braids. The painted black eyes glance to the doll’s right. Wears a red cotton Christmas-tree-print dress, matching pantaloons, and painted-on red boots.
Custom-made Doll Collecting Clothespin Doll: Inspired by a photo of the curator with dolls in the background, in 2015, Peggy Spackman created this 6-inch doll using craft clothespins. This doll has black yarn spiral curls, painted facial features, and wears black wire-rimmed glasses, a peach print dress, white knit socks, and painted-on black shoes. With the right arm, the doll holds a miniature wooden nesting doll and a crown-wearing queen holding a scepter; a mini bride doll is held in the left arm. The bride’s head and body are fashioned from a Q-tip.
Clothespin Doll in Orange Felt: A 5-inch doll made by Phyllis Burns in 2017 from a craft clothespin stands on a circular clothespin base, has black-painted hair and a painted face; wears a peach and orange felt dress adorned with several yellow and orange buttons. The head and dress neckline are accessorized with a yellow, orange, and red striped grosgrain ribbon bow. Brown pipe cleaners create the arms.
Cleo (short for Cleopatra Jones): Made in 2017 from a craft clothespin with a wooden base, polymer clay, paint, and other materials, this 5-1/2-inch doll by Tammy Fisher of Curiositeej, LLC. has painted facial features (gold-rimmed shades, nose, and mouth) and wears a green dress tied at the waist and neck with yellow tulle. Green undies match the dress fabric. The removable wig is made from the curator’s hair. The wig is attached to a tignon that matches the dress fabric. The wired arms are poseable. This doll is the only clothespin doll in this installation with fingers, pierced ears, gold-tone earrings, and a mature bosom fashioned from polymer clay.
Little Healing Jemimah Angel: Made in 2014 from a painted-black craft clothespin and base stand, this faceless doll has an Afro hairstyle created using synthetic hair. A black flower accents the hair. A wired gray ribbon creates the clothing. Each Jemimah Angel’s creation is recorded in a Jemimah Angel booklet. A copy of the booklet accompanied this Jemimah Angel. Recipients of Jemimah Angels were asked to share their favorite scripture and affirmation, which is recorded in the booklet. The curator/owner of this angel shared Philippians 4:14 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” and the affirmation, “From this day forward, I accept my strength from Christ and will be humbly full of His courage, composure, and confidence.” The Jemimah Angel is named after the first of three daughters born to Job after he recovered from suffering and regained prosperity.
Other: Clothespin dollmaking remains a popular doll-maker’s craft using craft clothespins and other materials based on the artists’ creativity and inspiration.
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