Ribbon Dolls• A Program by Judy M Johnson

• The doll shown here, made by my great grandmother, Mabel Burney Grenell, and given to me by her daughter, my Grandma Heath, is what started my collection

• Ribbon Dolls were popular as a craft and available in kits and patterns in the 1920s and 30s.

• Some clever crafters devised their own using fabrics, laces, ribbons, and even their own hair to make their versions of ribbon dolls.

• They are made by sewing bands of gathered ribbons & laces onto card-stock weight papers.

• I was fortunate to find a vintage instruction kit on eBay, just like the one my great-grandma had made. The instructions indicated that the crafter provide her own ribbons and trims.

• I now offer a reproduction of this for sale on my website.www.papergoodies.com and I feature my great-grandma’s doll on the front page.

Some Vintage Ribbon Dolls in My Collection : Gifts from my

mother, Helen Johnson

Some Vintage Ribbon Dolls in My Collection

L: from a 1920s kit. R: a home-made doll, fabric sewn onto a catalogue lady. Circa early 20s

Vintage Ribbon Doll from My Collection

• Babies in fancy bedding with real hair or mohair, with laces and ribbons remained a popular craft and gift into the 1950s.

• I was delighted to buy this on eBay. Isn’t she sweet?

Some Vintage Ribbon Dolls in My Collection

• These two large dollies are paper dolls painted by Queen Holden, from a 1930s book called Joan and Bobby. A clever crafter dressed them using real hair on the boy and mohair on the girl. I got this at an estate auction of a large paper doll collection.

Some Vintage Ribbon Dolls in My Collection

• This is gift I made for my grandma in the mid 1970s. I guess that makes it rather “vintage”

• It’s made by dressing the ladies in a reprint of a Godey’s Ladies Book Illustration May 1870.

• I had a deep frame custom made for it. (such things were cheaper then)

Vintage Ribbon Doll from My Collection

• I made this one using the pattern I have made available for others to use. (like Great Grandma’s)

• I thought I’d use it in a 90 minute workshop. It took me a little over an hour to make using lace, chiffon, silk flowers and ribbons.

• Didn’t think I could handle 15 people trying to make one in the time allotted.

• I came up with a different paper doll crafting project for the group.

Some Vintage Ribbon Dolls Found Online

L: a vintage bride C: modern bride, artist unknown R: modern bride made with a 50s paper dolls, artist unknown

Vintage Ribbon Dolls Found Online

If you search online, you will notice the same doll pattern style showing up in many variations. It’s great to see how different people interpreted the same basic patterns.

Vintage Ribbon Dolls & Variatio

ns

Vintage Ribbon

Dolls Found

on e-BayPrices: $30-$65 ea

Vintage Ribbon Dolls Found Online

L: Home-made on Queen Holden paper doll C: Flower Petal doll R: Same kit as my grandma’s

ContemporaryRibbon Dolls

Made by Cathi Stockmal

www.RoxyNTango.com

Contemporary

Ribbon Dolls

Cathi uses vintage figures to

dress in very creative ways! Some having

rather complex poses to work

around.

Made by Cathi Stockmal

www.RoxyNTango.com

Contemporary

Ribbon Doll

Patterns

Feather dressed pattern From www.ioffer.com by sewing_bee (2864)

Ribbon and Lace patterns from sewing_bee (2864 @ www.ioffer.com

Top left is the same design as the one my great grandma made, and I also offer the pattern @

www.papergoodies.com

Contemporary Ribbon Dolls

Variations on the same doll style,

Made by www.prairiecreekshop.com

More Ribbon Dolls Found Online

L: Fabulously creative Ribbon lady, and C: Flapper gal in undies with a cigarette! Both found @ www.jerseygirlblog.com R: A different way of making Ribbon Dolls .Print out How-tos at www.tentwostudios.com

I was inspired to try making my own version of these ribbon streamers dolls…see next slide.

These are some dolls I made in the Ribbon Streamer Doll Style

Somewillbe

avail-ablefor

saleonmy

web-site

What Can You Make with Pretty Paper Dolls, and Ribbon (and other) Trims?

Ribbon Dolls: Find your own with online searches to reference or

to buyThis program is copyrighted 2011, by Judy M Johnson, www.papergoodies.com For a high resolution Powerpoint CD to show to your favorite clubs, schools, service groups or library, please send $6 to:Ribbon Dolls, Judy’s Place, PO Box 216, Skandia MI 49885Below, Covers of print catalogues from Judy’s Place: General-$4, Movie Star-$3