Janice Candela Tate - Dollmaker Extrordinaire

Just up the street from Janice and Norm was the Port Clyde Baptist Church.  My mother had always been a Unitarian-Universalist, but the proximity of the Baptist church was too hard to resist.  Plus the church provided social outlets, such as yoga classes and the PC Baptist Sewing Circle.  Handmade dolls were part of their annual fundraiser.  I believe that my mother was instrumental in the design of the fisherman, his wife and mermaid, which were a group project to be sold at the annual bazaar. 

This fisherman has a schooner tattoo on his chest.

 

The fisherman's wife

The mermaid

 

 

 

Another fish couple.  They were all different.

 

The crowd lined up outside the church waiting for the door to open.

It was necessary to limit quantities - 2 dolls per customer.

Over the years these dolls became a very hot item, and would sell out.  The group also made quilts as a fundraisers, with each member stitching a square that had been designed by Janice. Each year had a different theme. One year featured notable buildings in the area, another year a different local dog was on each square.  I believe that the sailboat quilt is on display at the Marshall Point Lighthouse.  At one time there were postcards available of the quilt.

Local buildings

Lobster buoys and winter activities seem to the the theme here.

Local sailing ships are featured in this quilt.  Details below:

Janice made 15" dolls for her granddaughters, a blonde doll for Amanda and a redheaded doll for Hazel.  She used the patterns in the book below for inspiration.  Janice's artistic talent raised these dolls to a high level.

Amanda's doll

Amanda's doll and friend.

Hazel's doll

The dolls had knit hats, dresses, shoes and an ermine trimmed velvet robe.

This little pig is from the quilt below.

This beautiful crib quilt was made for Hazel.  The pigs are dancing around a May Pole.  

A quilt for Amanda's doll - dancing cats.

A quilt for Hazel's doll - grazing cows.

This patchwork heart was hung in Janice and Norms closet.

Yet another box...

 I had almost forgotten this smallish box of items on a high shelf on my bedroom closet.  I wouldn't call my grandparents hoarders at all, but they obviously had a sentimental streak and reverence for the past.  As always don't forget to click on the images.

A sweet little bark canoe

A child's block puzzle in a box

This celluloid Japanese toy from Japan in its original box.  Wind it up and Kikataiso performs acrobatic feats on the bar.  The only thing missing is the red pennant on the weighted post.  I used to think that this might have been my most valuable inherited item.

This box looks to have been decorated by my grandmother.  It contains an assortment of items:

A fragment of beading, a chain mail doll purse, and other random treasures.

Charms, and things

Japanese ink stick, small dice bottle, doll carrots and a carved wooden chain, most likely carved by Janice who also carved beautiful dolls.

Beads in a medicine tin, and a blue bottle of Vicks drops, empty.

A bison from Montana, made of Montana copper, a pin from Canada, a blood donation pin, and a rhinestone studded alligator.  Also, two Sunday School merit awards for faithfulness and reminding one to read the Scriptures.

A Lincoln campaign button or memorial?  Bookmark and a carved nutshell basket, again likely by Janice

Jean Darling and her sewing outfit.  A doll ca. 1934 that came with pre-cut clothing to be assembled.

An assortment of clothing and accessories, some from the kit, and others Janice originals.

A box within the box

"As we used them before the war.

Handmade matches from a single piece of wood, and dipped into perhaps phosphorus?

"Made in Owego 1858"

Saved by a family who took an annual WCTU pledge not to touch liquor: a miniature bottle of Scotch and two glasses on a tray.  Made in Germany.

Arm and Hammer gave these bird and animal cards away as a promotion with purchases.

Made in Germany, a collapsible telescope with a compass, a signal mirror to attract the attention of rescuers.

Your guess is as good as mine what this hand rigged tool was for and why it was saved.

And finally, some things tucked into a cigar box.

A box of wooden dominoes with instructions.  Two porcelain deer, and an iron elephant.  Mysterious aluminum knurled tube.  Glass paperweight, souvenir of Niagara Falls.  A VERY small penny bank, a bird call, and folding penknife.  Oh yes, and a sticker to promote the use of Spatari Radio Language,a word of mouth code that could be used by international radio users, invented by pacifist Carlo Spatari.  There is a stack of these stickers.     That's all for today!

Dresser Scarves and more

I seem to have a large collection of what look to be dresser scarves.

Mostly these seem to be mass produced

Fairly well preserved, with the occasional stain.

Embroidered linen pillow cases.  I have the feeling that these may have been purchased, too.

And this one embroidered on all sides with the initial H at the center.I suspect it was made by my great aunt Hazel, or by her mother, Candace Campbell

 This one has the look of hand weaving with a fringed edge all around.  It looks like a Sherwood or Wands item to me.

Nothing fancy, but a lovely piece of densely woven linen, 17" selvedge to selvedge, hand hemmed on two sides.  I think I will start using these last two items myself.

Crocheted yoke with butterfly motifs for a child's dress.

 

Some pieces of very elaborate lace.  I think likely purchased, but never used.
 

Linen dresser scarves with crocheted ends.  I believe these were done by my paternal grandmother, Archangela Candela.  As an orphan in Sicily, she was brought up by nuns.  I know that Italian nuns are renown for teaching sewing skills, so I imagine she would have learned from them. 

These 100% cotton pillowcases from W.T Grant have been embellished with an elaborate crocheted edge.

Cotton pillowcases with a very complex tatting insertion.  Apparently one could purchase cotton goods double woven to form a tube for pillowcases, as these cases have no side seams, just a very carefully stitched closure at the bottom. 

More tatted cases.  It is hard to imagine the enormous patience one would have needed to create these.  My grandmother Archangela, died in 1943 at the age of 63, so I never met her, and these pillow cases are a bit of a family mystery.

When my mother's friend Alice Loubris Wilson got married in NYC, my mother was her maid of honor, and I was a flower girl.  My mother made these flowers out of silk organza and taffeta to embellish our dresses.

She also was a regular knitter of gloves for my siblings and me, with crocheted cords to be strung through our sleeves to avoid loss.  Her term for these crocheted cords was, "idiot's delight".