Poppets, Portraits and Playthings of the Past

The Old Curiosity Shop

2010-11-22T08:50:00.003-07:00

The Old Curiosity Shop Sale is now CLOSED.
Thank you for shopping with us!

The Old Curiosity Shop, a novel by Charles Dickens, was printed in a weekly serial called, "Master Humphrey's Clock" around 1825. It is a story about an orphan, Nell Grant, and her devoted, but misguided grandfather.

The Old Curiosity Shop

Grandfather's only legacy for his orphaned granddaughter is his shop of curiosities~ just imagine the best junk shop you've ever shopped! But Grandfather loses his shop and all his possessions by gambling them away.....poor Nell!

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Lana and Suzanne now present some of our own Curiosities:

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Little Nell is truly devoted to her Grandfather and they both leave under the cloak of night to escape before the loan shark, Quilp, tries to collect on Grandfather's debt. Poor Nell only had time to pack a few of her belongings: Her parent's portraits, a small painting of a birdcage given to her by her dear Mum, and a painted silhouette of Grandfather. And, of course, she couldn't leave her sweet songbird behind....she left her pet with her childhood friend, Kip.

Nell~
by Suzanne

This portrait of Nell is done in pen and ink with a watercolor wash. It has a soft and delicate look to it. The portrait was of a happier time in Nell's life.....she is dressed in her finest and lovingly holds her pet bird in its birdcage.

The pen and ink watercolor is painted on heavy hotpress watercolor paper and is framed in a double frame. Wood has been added to a beveled frame to add dimension and depth. The outer frame is painted in antique white and hand-painted filigree was added for decoration. The inner frame is painted black and has a glass front. The back is covered in paper and the painting is ready for display.

Framed- 13 X 14
$40 (plus shipping)

*SOLD* (thank you!)

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Grandfather~
by Suzanne

Painted in silhouette, Grandfather is seldom seen without his top hat! This painting is done on heavy hotpress watercolor paper and framed in a "antique-shop-found" black round frame. The back is covered in paper and a hanger is attached.

Framed- 4 1/2 in diameter

$28 (plus shipping)

*SOLD* (thank you Lisa!)

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Mr. and Mrs. Grant~
by Suzanne

Nell had parents who passed, leaving her an orphan in Grandfather's care.....so with some "creative" liberties, I've painted Nell's parents:

Nell's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Grant are painted in profile on card, (authentic to the period).
Each is painted in miniature and framed in "antique-shop-found" oval metal frames with ornate
moldings. The frames have glass fronts...which was a really happy find! (the glass is usually broken or missing in these older miniature frames).

Each Framed- 2 1/2 X 2 3/4 inches
Actual painting- 1 1/4 X 1 1/2 inches
$30 (plus shipping)

*SOLD* (thank you Lisa!)

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Birdcage silhouette~
by Suzanne

Given to Nell by her mother and carried by Nell along her journey with Grandfather, this sweet little painting is one of Nell's treasures. This miniature painting is done in watercolor on heavy hotpress watercolor. It is also framed in a lovely little ornate metal "found" frame with a glass front. It has a hanger, and I've placed a sage green ribbon on it for displaying.

Framed- 2 1/4 X 2 3/4 inches
Actual painting- 1 1/4 X 1 1/2 inches

*SOLD*
Thank You!

Email Me To Purchase

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~Trinkets and Oddities~
bits and baubles

Lover's Eye~
by Suzanne

An oddity that might have been found in Grandfather's Old Curiosity Shop. The eye portrait possibly originated in the late 18th century as a token of love between two people. A portrait artist would paint the sitter's eye so the sitter could give it to a beloved. These were usually set in a brooch, but sometimes in rings and stickpins.

This lover's eye is painted in watercolor on card and is set in an antique Victorian mourning pin with a glass front. The back of the brooch has a pin and clasp that work well for the age of the brooch. This is a unique piece of jewelry, and definitely a conversation piece!

1 1/2 inches in diameter
Box- 1 1/2 X 2 1/2

*Sold*

(thank you!)

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Faux Watch Fob~
by Suzanne

This curiosity is a mixed media piece! The original antique pin was a drafter's pin, or a pin used by someone who would attach a pencil in the open end so they would have it handy........sort of a "pocket protector" for your favorite pencil, but attached to your lapel instead!

I've painted a "faux" watch face on the front of the pin and with a bail, the lens is attached to the retractable chain in the pin. The chain is in good working condition for its age. Another unique jewelry piece to wear.

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Thaumatrope~
by Suzanne

A children's toy in the 19th century, thaumatropes had images centered on either side of a disc. String was attached to the disc and when twirled, the eye would see the two separate images combine and make one image.

Flower/Vase~

This is a classic image seen on a thaumatrope. I've used this design as inspiration in recreating this toy from the past. When twirled, the flowers are in the vase. Pretty jewelry caps have been added to the string.

Kissy Face~

This is an original design of a man and woman painted in silhouette and puckering up for a kiss!
Pretty baubles have been added to the string.

Bird/ Birdcage~

Another classic image.....and when the string is twisted and the disc is twirled, the bird sits happily in the birdcage.

Each hand painted thaumatrope is done in watercolor and sealed for protection......and ready to be twirled!

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I love the theme Suzanne and I used for our inspirations this time! I took the idea a little later in time, to the Victorian era. The Victorians were fascinated with nature. They often collected curiosities to place in their glass cases and cabinets to admire and examine. All but one of my items is nature related, showcasing a butterfly, dragonflies, and a bird. Everything is signed and dated Lana Manis 2010.

1. Time is Fleeting Shadow Box ~ 8” high x 5 ¾” wide x 3” deep; full length is 13” including the ribbon. I have painted an old bandbox, lined it with hand painted paper and white watercolor paper for a nighttime winter landscape. Curiosities used to create the enchanting scene include vintage wedding cake topper flowers, vintage flocked paper flowers, a glass glitter bird, silver balls, silver wings, an antique enamel pocket watch face, tarnished silver tinsel, and lots and lots of hand ruched ribbon!

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2. Curiosities Cone ~ 11” including the wire hanger; cone is covered with aged pages from a vintage dictionary and filled with brown shredded, crinkled kraft paper; embellishments include a hand ruched ribbon, an antique mother of pearl button, a Curiosities banner, and 3 feathers I have collected (feathers will vary in color and size). You may use the cone to tuck in your own curiosities found on your nature outings.

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3. Butterfly on a Tuffet ~ 5 ¼” tall (wire cage only); real butterfly attached with an old amber glass pin (may be removed); tuffet pincushion is made of linen and tufted with an antique mother of pearl button; has vintage ribbon to hang as an ornament but the ribbon may easily be removed.

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4. Velvet Pincushion ~ 4” tall; silvery sage green velvet cushion; old metal brown base lined with hand painted paper; 3 old pins.

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5. Beaded Dragonfly Pincushion Ornament in Glass Case ~ Pincushion ornament is 2 ½” x 3 ½”; it is made from antique blue velvet and antique silk; I used glass beads for the dragonfly; I have used old ruching ribbon for the trim; a hand made rosette decorates the top where the hanging loop is attached; 2 antique glass head pins embellish this petite curiosity; paper label (signed by me) on back; comes in an old glass and brass display case.

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6. Large Beaded Wing Dragonfly Pincushion in Glass Case ~ Pincushion / make-do is about 5 ½” across and 4 ½” tall; I covered the pincushion with vintage linen and dupioni silk; the base is covered with damask silk; the exquisite antique metallic trim is from a dealer in Europe; I embroidered the dragonfly using glass beads and wire so that the wings flutter with the least touch. It comes in a glass and brass display case, carrying on the theme of encased curiosities.

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Thank you for visiting!

Lana

And the word was.......

2010-10-13T08:46:00.007-06:00

We have a winner!!! Sandy of The Humble Stitcher.
(please visit Sandy's blog to see her beautiful needlework, dolls and quilts!)

The word was THAUMATROPE: a toy that was popular in the Victorian era. It is also known as a "wonder turner". It had a picture on either side of a disc, and two pieces of string were attached to that disc. When the disc was twirled, both images would blend into one. (a little "hint" to the update on Friday)

Thank you all for playing! Hangman seemed to work well online, perhaps we will have another game soon?!

Please join us this Friday, October 15th, at noon (EST), for our update. There will be many interesting "curiosities" to see............so, stay tuned!

Let's Play a Game!

2010-10-11T11:10:00.008-06:00

Poppets, Portraits and Playthings of the Past will be updated this Friday, October 15th, at noon (EST), so in the meantime.....Let's Play a Game!

Here is how it works: Have you played hangman before? It is just like that....but online. Hopefully this is fun and works well online....we'll see! :)

You are to guess a letter ~(just post it in the comments, or email if you prefer...email link below).

Email Me To Play

I will keep track of the letters in the order they come in and either post them IN the word, or at the bottom of the post so you can see the eliminated letters. You can comment and guess more than once, so don't be shy!

But, unlike Hangman, I'm not going to hang anyone! :) We will just keep track of the word and hopefully someone will guess before Friday....if you have a guess of the word, please post that as well. If you have a definition of the word....even better! :)

If you guess correctly, (and blogger let's me keep track/time of who posted when, etc.), you will win a 20% off gift certificate for our update!!

(disclaimer: I've never played an online game of Hangman, so I'm not sure how this will go...so please bear with us and play along! If a problem/question comes up during the game, we'll think of someway to remedy it....'cause it is all in the spirit of fun!)

And please be sure to leave us a way of contacting you; either via your blog link, or leave your email when you post.

Okay......Let's Play!

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Here are the dashes for the word: (eleven letters in this word)

THAUMATROPE

we have a winner....please see post above!

Have fun!

Update 10/12: ~*Hint*~ 19th century toy

Save the Date

2010-09-08T08:34:00.003-06:00

Now that we have all assembled, may I have your attention please? ...........

We are busily working away, so please mark your calendar and plan to join us for our next update:

Where: HERE

When: Friday, October 15th at noon (EST)

If you'd like a reminder, please email either Lana or Suzanne (our contact info is on the sidebar) or become a follower of our blog.

Thank you, and we hope to see you there!

p.s.*hints* and maybe a sneak peek or two will be posted as the date draws near!

Minds at Work

2010-08-24T08:36:00.000-06:00

“Curiosity is one of the permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous mind.”

Samuel Johnson 1709-1784

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Suzanne and Lana have been putting their minds together to create an enchanting webshow for you this fall.

Please continue to visit as they leave a trail of hints as to what has inspired their creations.

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Curious Minds ...

2010-07-27T11:05:00.000-06:00

Girls have curious minds...

... and fain would know the end of everything.

{Elizabeth Barrett Browning}

No Peeking

2010-07-18T18:40:00.002-06:00

What do you see? Can you see what they’re planning?

My view is not clear, I need to be standing

But what if they catch us spying on them?
We’d spoil all the fun and anticipation..

We need to stay seated and wait patiently,
And then we will satisfy our curiosity.

Secrets

2010-07-11T19:20:00.002-06:00

"We dance round a ring and suppose,
While the secret sits in the middle and knows."

Robert Frost (1874- 1963)

Something Old, Something New

2010-07-02T13:55:00.003-06:00

Suzanne and Lana are still around. For quite some time, they have each been very busy with their own families and businesses.

Much of Suzanne's time has been spent home-schooling her boys

and painting portraits and silhouettes for her online shops and for custom orders.

Meanwhile, Lana has been busy with her chickens and other animals

and hand-sewing items for her shop.

Later this year, they will have something new to share with you,

but no peeking ~ it's to be a surprise!

Be sure to follow this blog, or email Suzanne or Lana and ask to be added to their email list.

Each of them send out updates whenever they have new curiosities to share.

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"Curiosity is lying in wait for every secret."
Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882)

Welcome to Our Summertime Offerings~

2009-06-26T00:00:00.023-06:00

~* CELIA *~

by Lana Manis

Celia is 14” tall and is made of cloth with hand sculpted, paper clay hair. Her muslin body has been painted with acrylics in areas that will be seen, and her facial features and hair have been painted with watercolors. Her white linen, hand-sewn dress has puffed sleeves and she wears a vintage pink ribbon as her sash. Underneath is a simple muslin slip. She has brown shoes that have been painted on with watercolors. She is a simple girl, made in the style of 19th century dolls, with slightly larger arms and legs in proportion to her body, as were many made in those days. Her arms and legs are jointed as well as her hips so she may sit in a chair or on a shelf. Please visit my website for more photos of this doll.

~update: I just got my shipment of saddle stands and Celia WILL come with her own stand at no extra cost.

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~*ANNE*~

by Lana Manis

Anne is a large doll at 21” tall. She is made of muslin and has been painted with acrylics in areas that are visible, with her facial features painted with watercolors. She was made in the style of the Queen Anne wooden dolls of the late 1700s and the early 1800s. Her dress is made of cotton and dupioni silk. The back seams and hem were machine sewn, but the rest was all draped and hand sewn to fit her body. She wears a lovely shawl made from antique lace and an antique mother of pearl button. More antique lace trims her sleeves and adorns her hair. Her hair is done up on her head with wild wisps flowing all around. It is made from sheep’s wool ~ it is not glued, but is firmly attached by a needle felting process. Her muslin under slip is trimmed with antique lace. Her shoes are painted with watercolors and are embellished with little snippets of antique lace and fresh-water pearls. Her arms and legs are jointed as well as her hips so she may sit in a chair or on a shelf. Please visit my website for more photos of this doll.

~update: I just got my shipment of saddle stands and Ann WILL come with her own stand at no extra cost. PLease visit my website for photos.

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~*Prudence and Her Doll*~

by Suzanne Davis

This little one looks as if her big brother has been teasing her and causing her to pout for her portrait! Miss Prudence, is painted on canvas board in acrylics. She is signed, dated and sealed with a wax finish.
Her oval frame is antique gold, in color, with a decorative raised molding around the outside.
The back is covered and ready for display.

(slight side view)

6 ½ X 8 ½ Oval $65 (plus shipping)*
*Free Shipping if purchased as a set with Lana's doll, Celia.

Email Me To Purchase

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~*Rebecca and Her Queen Anne Doll*~

by Suzanne Davis

This offering is reminiscent of the pencil and charcoal drawings of the 18th and 19th centuries, that perhaps would be found in an artist’s sketchbook, or a lady’s journal.
I’ve named this young girl Rebecca. She is sitting in a high back chair accompanied by her pet parrot and holding her Queen Anne doll. The illustration is done simply in pencil. I’ve used various pencil grades to shade and draw her. She is drawn on 100% cotton cream paper that has been sealed after completion for preservation.
The illustration is framed in an antique gold colored frame with a glass front.
The back is covered with pretty vintage-style paper and is ready for display.

7 ½ X 9 ½ $45 (plus shipping)
*SOLD*

Email Me To Purchase

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~*Outstanding in Her Field*~

(Just a little play on words!):

by Suzanne Davis

This silhouette is hand drawn and hand painted onto pre-stained watercolor paper. I’ve used umber shades to depict a background of trees and fencing. The little girl is holding doll while walking in the field.
She is accented with white watercolor washes on her dress and hair, depicting curls and gathers.

She is framed in a distressed black painted frame that is sealed. The frame has a glass front, and the back is covered in vintage-style paper and comes ready to display.

7 X 9 $38 (plus shipping)

*SOLD*

Email Me To Purchase

Thank you for visiting!

Welcome to our springtime offerings...

2009-03-20T17:54:00.024-06:00

~*Little Miss Fairfield*~

by Suzanne Davis

Doesn’t she look so sweet and innocent with a curl on her forehead, and ringlets in her hair
….but who knows?
Painted on a large 16 X 20 wrapped canvas (no staples showing on the sides), Little Miss Fairfield is loosely based on a portrait painted by the early American portraitist, William Matthew Prior (1806-1873). He painted Miss Fairfield in 1850 and on approximately the same sized canvas.
Little Miss sits in front of a column on the grass with a background of shrubs and trees. There are deep burgundy drapes with a tassel and cords that hang above her…..perhaps she was painted outside under a protected partition? Little Miss holds her gray bunny with a red ribbon on her lap, and her dress is a darker red with black dots. She can be displayed with or without a frame, she is signed and dated.

Click to enlarge the photo…..additional photos can be seen in the slide show below.

email me for questions or to purchase

16 X 20 $175 (plus shipping)
*Please ask Suzanne about layaway or monthly payments for items over $100*

*The watermark “Pear Tree Primitives” will not be on your purchased painting.*

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~*A Wool Gathering*~

by Suzanne Davis

This little boy is feeding the sheep twigs from his woven basket. Maybe he is helping with his families flock, or perhaps feeding his pet?....but whatever he is doing he is evidently not paying attention, because he lost Lana's sheep! (see below)

This silhouette is painted in watercolor paints onto stained watercolor paper. It is reminiscent of a vintage postcard style painting. I’ve added colors of yellow gold, and red as accents. The painting is framed in a wood frame that I’ve painted black with a bronzed/gold inset and lightly distressed. The frame has a glass front and is covered in pretty vintage-style paper. It has a hanger attached and is ready for display. The painting is signed and dated.

7 ¾ X 9 ¾
*Sold*
Thank you!
*The watermark “Pear Tree Primitives” will not be on your purchased painting.*

email me for questions or to purchase

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~* Early Cloth Rabbit *~
by Lana Manis

$40 plus shipping

SOLD ~ thank you!

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~* Hand Sculpted Folk Art Sheep *~

by Lana Manis

$50 plus shipping

SOLD ~ thank you!

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Izannah Walker Inspirations

2009-02-07T19:06:00.028-07:00

Izannah Doll by Lana

SOLD ~ thank you!

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Izannah Inspired Portrait~ by Suzanne
*SOLD* Thank you!

Inspired by the treasured Izannah Walker dolls of the 19th century, I’ve painted my interpretation of this beloved doll. She wears a light pink dress with a pleated front at the bodice and hem. A sash wraps around her dress, and on the front of the sash hangs a decorative filigree medallion.
She wears brown shoes with tan soles, and her arms are jointed, which can be seen below the sleeve.

A little about the process: Izannah was hand drawn onto primed cradle board. I first painted her with acrylic paint, and then applied vintage-style rose paper to the background for a “wall-paper” effect.
I used decorative edge scissors to cut a “shelf” edge out of tan heavyweight paper, and painted the “bottom” of the shelf for the doll to sit on. The painting has been sealed with clear acrylic sealant and wax. The back is covered with “aged” paper and a hanger is attached.
To see the "mixed media" process you can visit my blog post:

Mixed Media Post

(but don't forget to come back!)

The painting and the pretty paper wraps around the sides, so the painting can be displayed without a frame.

(Please click photos to enlarge, and please be sure to view the slideshow at the bottom of this post.)

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Izannah Note Cards~

Prints of the painting decorate the front of these 4 ½ X 5 ½ ecru vellum note cards. I’ve used pretty light pink toile paper as a background and then applied the print onto the paper. Both the paper and print have deckled edges.

The inside of the cards are blank, and come with a matching envelope.

4 ½ X 5 ½
Set of 4~ $12 (plus shipping)

Email Me To Purchase

For further info on Izannah Walker and her dolls, please visit Dixie Redmond at:
Izannah Walker Chronicles

This Weekend~

2009-02-02T16:56:00.002-07:00

....February 7th-8th will be our next update, just an extra day to allow offerings to dry!

Our Next Update~

2008-11-17T15:22:00.002-07:00

....will be Friday, February 6th, 2009. Please join us to view new portraits and playthings of the past. If you would like to be informed in advance, as well as view a sneak peek, please email Lana or Suzanne (email addresses on sidebar), to be added to our mailing lists.

Thank you, and Season's Blessings to you and yours.

Welcome~

2008-11-01T14:48:00.026-06:00

We are so pleased you stopped by. The offerings this evening (both portraits and dolls) are listed below the history of the painters who inspired us this update.
If you are interested in purchasing an offering, please contact Lana to purchase a doll only, and contact Suzanne to purchase a portrait.
If you would like to purchase the doll and portrait as a set, the shipping will be free, just contact one of us with your request, and we will contact one another with the information.
Please find our email addresses on the sidebar.
*For a closer view of the offerings please view the slideshow of our work at the bottom of the post.*

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A Little History:

Two of the portraits and dolls offered this update are interpretations of two of Joseph Whiting Stock’s (1815- 1855) 19th century portraits. (please see the sidebar to view Mr. Stock's portraits)

Joseph Whiting Stock was born in Springfield, MA. One of 12 children, at the age of eleven he was crushed by an oxcart and left paralyzed from the waist down. He took painting lessons as therapy from Franklin White, a pupil of Chester Harding, and became proficient as an artist.

Joseph was one of the most prolific painters of his time. He kept a journal of his paintings that lists 912 examples of his work executed between 1832 and 1846, canvas sizes, the prices charged and where the pictures were painted.

The last portrait of inspiration is by James Peale (1749 – 1831). He was the younger brother of Charles Willson Peale who taught James how to paint upon his return from London in 1769 where Charles had studied with Benjamin West. James was Charles’ assistant, as well as frame maker. As James developed his own skill and style, he was most notably recognized as a miniature artist. (please see sidebar to view Mr. Peale's portrait)

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~Portraits by Suzanne~

This first portrait is based on the portrait painted by Joseph Whiting Stock in 1837, “Girl Holding A Doll”. Since the portraits were not identified by the young sitter’s name, I’ve given each of my portraits early American names:

Margaret Elizabeth~

This sweet child is dressed in white and sits in her rocker while holding tightly to her doll. For this portrait, she posed in her family’s drawing room that is decorated with a Parisian rug and deep red velvet drapes. There is also a window with a view of the tree-lined entry to the home.
Margaret Elizabeth is painted on textured canvas board and is framed in a vintage-shop-found frame of carved molding. The painting is buffed with wax to seal it and the back is covered in vintage-style paper. It is signed and dated.

11 X 13 (framed)
*Sold* Thank you!

Katherine Grace~

Sitting outside under a tree with her doll and basket of fruit, Katherine Grace poses in her prettiest frock. Her doll is also dressed in a lovely red gown with gloves and a matching sash. This portrait is painted on lightly textured canvas board and framed in a simple beveled distressed black frame. The painting is sealed and the back is covered in “aged” paper. It has a hanger and is signed and dated.

13 X 16 (framed)
*Sold* Thank you!

Susannah~

With a cradle at her side, Susannah poses for her portrait in a pale pink dress. Her doll wears a dotted lace dress with a blue sash and matching ribbon for her hair. Susannah sits on a gilded black chair with a woven seat.

9 ½ X 11
*Sold* Thank you!