Ideal Posie Walker Doll!

Look who I found in a thrift store!!

She is an Ideal Posie Walker doll.

This is how she SHOULD look...

Ideal Posie Walker was made by the Ideal

Toy Co. from 1954 - 1956.  She was meant to

be a poseable doll rather than a walker doll.

Sadly, this is how she looks now,

but not for long!!

Her hair is VERY stiff and coarse.

Thankfully her hair is thick so I 

have a lot to work with.

Her dress is in such good shape, I 

am wondering if it is newer?

She is very grimy. This feels like the greasy 

dirt that accumulates in a kitchen.

Apparently the hair machine got loose

and went through her ear!

She has a talker, but it

doesn't work.

She was wearing this sweet blue and white dress,

a onesie and slip,  I washed and laid them on

a towel to dry.

This dress was relatively clean compared to

Posie, which makes me think it was a 

newer addition. Such a sweet dress!

BATH TIME!!

I scrubbed her hair and let the shampoo

sit a bit.  When I finished rinsing her off 

there was a dirty ring in the sink!

Clean at last! 

First brush out.  She seems very

relaxed, doesn't she?

I combed through her hair in sections and

rolled it all up.

While her hair sets, I will freshen her lips and cheeks.

Click here to see how I refresh face paint.

Much better!!

Let's see my other Ideal Dolls!

I have several Ideal dolls.

Ideal Miss Revlon 1956 - 59

Ideal Crown Princess 1957

Ideal Little Miss Revlon 1958 - 1960

Ideal Crissy Dolls 1969 - 1974

Ideal Cricket and Mia 1971

WELL, Posie's curlers are out and her hair is brushed!

Want to see Posie now?

HERE

SHE

IS!!

Her hair did not keep her curls, so for now

we are going with a soft wavy look.

I may recurl her hair later and do

a boil perm.  For now it is

still a great improvement!

Here are some, side by side, before and after photos.

I think this is a wonderful improvement!

She looks much happier.

Welcome Posie!!

Simple Poke Bonnet Tutorial

Certain dolls just cry out for a little something

extra.  Hats definitely fill the bill.

Restoring Clara

Clara is an antique doll I restored. I made her

a new dress and matching bonnet.

Here is a side view of  Clara's bonnet.

For Verabelle, my reproduction doll, I also 

made a new dress and bonnet.

Finding Verabelle

This is the dress that I found her in.

YiKES!

(no wonder she wanted to be rescued!)

BONNET TUTORIAL

You will need some fabric, ribbon, wide lace 

and narrow lace, flowers or other decor.  

(Antique buttons and earrings work great!)

Tacky glue or glue gun is also very useful.

First I measure from jawline to jawline, ending

just below the cheeks.

Then from back of the head to a little past the face.

You want the bonnet to slightly shade her face.

Using these measurements I make a cardboard insert.

This will give the bonnet structure and prevent flopping.

The cardboard of tissue boxes or cereal boxes

is lightweight and works well.

(Use a cup or bowl to create the rounded shape)

Using your cardboard cutout, trace onto

your folded fabric leaving extra space 

for folds and seams. This will be sewn or 

glued to the cardboard.

On one side only of the fabric cover sew your narrow 

lace with corners folded back as shown.

This will be folded under so the lace

is framing the doll's face.

I have sewn my 2 pieces of fabric together,

leaving the longest edge open.

The cardboard is inserted inside the fabric.

The side with no lace is glued to the cardboard.

I usually use a gluegun, but mine is still packed!

I used Tacky glue instead.

Turn the lace edge out and glue it down as well.

The lace edged side will be the top of the bonnet.

Cut a piece of the wide lace a little wider than your bonnet.

This way you can fold the cut edge under as you stitch 

or glue it onto the bonnet.

I have glued all 4 sides of wide lace, 

folding under the raw edges along the sides.

At this point I add ribbon and decor, while

the bonnet is still flat.

This is Verabelle's bonnet.  It is the first I made.

As you can see it is very simple. 

I did not add the following step. 

You can decide what 

works best for you.

Here is the inside.  This is the simplest bonnet

version.  The next steps will enclose the back,

but may not be necessary for a display doll.

The final step!

If you want the closed back bonnet...

Cut a second piece of the wide lace.

This will create the back piece of

the bonnet. 

Tack down and sew or glue the lace to 

the back edge of the bonnet. I have sewn

my lace down, but glue will work too.

Starting about halfway down the side of the lace,

begin in and out stitches with a double thread.

Continue gathering all around to 

the opposite side.

When the lace is all gathered tie in a knot.

Add a little ribbon or other decoration.

Here is a side view of my tutorial bonnet 

being modeled by Verabelle. 

Happy Bonnet Making!!