History making dolls

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 438, 2 June 1992, Page 1

History making dolls

There is a little bit of the artist in every porcelain doll that Ohakune artisan, Merrilyn George, creates. Her love of the craft, particularly German dolls, has resulted in 18 exquisite antique reproductions - dolls with features painstakingly hand-painted, and clothed in fashions authentic to their era. One night a week is devoted to sewing. The smallest details are faithfully re-created, right down to tiny crocheted socks and laceedged pantaloons. Mrs George travels to Wanganui every Tuesday night to attend classes held by Doll Artisan Guild Instructor, Rae Blenkin - owner of 'Delightful Dolls'. There "students" learn the techniques of the craft, including how to fash-

ion wigs from mohair, human hair and synthetics. A completed doll can cost around $100, making it a comparatively expensive hobby, although expense can be kept to a minimum depending on materials used in clothing the doll. A pair of eyes can cost anything from $4 for plastic, to $50 for glass. Mrs George enjoys the challenge of painting eyes, referring to old photos and books to create strikingly lifelike features. Porcelain dolls are created with fabric, or "composition" bodies, with porcelain head, breastplate and limbs attached. Very tiny dolls may be fashioned entirely of porcelain. Teddies Mrs George's skills

extend far further than porcelain dolls. Jockeying for position on cabinets and shelves in her home are some 70 teddy bears, ranging in size from miniature felt bears, to her unique 'Kapai' Bears - a long-legged sporty breed that are in demand by collectors in England, with one going as far afield as Germany. Mrs George is never far from her bears. The tiny felt bears, only a few centimetres iri height, she produces on the sideline at the rugby and at netball. Thirty of the 70 bears were made over a period of six weeks. Mrs George's bears are all modelled on a "traditional" teddy bear pattern with movable arms and legs. Bears are made from synthetic fur fabric or luxurious mo-

hair, at $120 per metre of material, and stuffed with cott'on waste. Four medium-sized bears can be produced from one metre of mohair material. Already the teddies are attracting interest on a national and international scale. A selection of bears featured at last year's New Zealand Teddy Bear Show in Tauranga, receiving honours. Mrs George's

"Heirloom Bear" made from satin and lace scored 98 out of a possible 100, with points awarded for workmanship, overall proportions, design and originality, presentation and appeal, and choice of fabric. Multi-talented The multi-talented artisan, writer and teacher of Ruapehu College recently formed a teddyTurnpage2

Dolls

From page 1 bear making class for students, which is proving very popular. In her spare time (!) Mrs George turns her talents to quilt making. One recently completed is a double-sized quilt taking pride of place at her home The quilt was completed in just five days, requiring long hours working through the night and 4am starts. This was achieved over a weekend and half of a school week!