And, it feels good to be writing again. This little project has been in the works since July 19th, when I attended the Darlene Lane dinner for an Alsace doll at convention this summer. I'd attended it for Betsy (she got the doll), but I got an excellent dinner, and enjoyed a fabulous presentation by Elizabeth Schmahl, on Hansi's illustrations and Alsase-Lorraine during WWI. Great food and inspiration all in one sitting. 
And, its funny, but it wasn't the dressed dolls on display that caught my fancy, but the illustrated postcards by Uncle Hansi, the storks, and the history of the region that appealed to me. I do recall that my mother's family history has roots in Alsace-Lorraine, and it was one the things she had great pride in. I never really paid that much attention to dolls costumed this way, thinking "someone went a little wild with the bows", but after the presentation given at the event, I started doing my treasured research. And, talked with Betsy, at length, about the costuming and history. Her family history has roots there as well. 
I fell in love the storks of Alsace. It was my intention to make a doll and needle felt a stork for her. Upon learning that these storks, indigenous to the region, grew to the height of 5', I was in awe. That's how tall I am! The history of the stork delivering babies came from this region. The tale was born out of the regrowth of a people who struggled hard during the first world war to recapture land that had gone back and forth between France and Germany since the 1600's. The stork is an emblem of Alsace-Lorraine, and a grand bird he is. I was also charmed by Uncle Hansi's illustrations, which reminded me so much of the original Becassine drawings. 
Hansi (little John), Uncle Hansi, as a non de plume, was Jean-Jacques Waltz (1873 - 1951), a staunch pro-French activist, famous for his quaint drawings, some of which contained harsh critiques of the Germans of the time. He was also a war hero having been captured by the Germans once, as well as alluding capture much of his life. His drawings portrayed the resilience of the French, the charm of its children, beauty of the countryside during the war (bombed out buildings among the blossoms of spring), and storks. These precious images helped the region during great loss of life and keep their spirits up.
When I'd returned from convention, I went online and purchased several antique Hansi postcards to aid in creating a doll from this region. I also spent hours saving off favorite Hansi images from online searches and have shared a few below. After collecting a stack of various cloths to work from, I decided to make Gretel from two of my postcards rather than one. The clogs in the one could not be made - well maybe, but I didn't want to try - and since she had short boots on in another, I felt it okay to blend the two images, and just play.
Its amazing to me how so much work can go into something and not look like it. But, work on this I did. It was the apron fabric and the skirt's trim that I began with. I generally select the hardest or most elusive parts to work on first, because if these can't be achieved, the rest of the costume won't develop well. I'm such a stickler to drawings. Even if they are "just made up", I want what I see, and try.
The beige and red striped cotton of the apron is a woven fabric. I chose an aqua blue machine thread and laboriously made tiny zig-zags on my machine alternating rows, to get the look. Doesn't sound hard, but it took patience. The trim was another matter. I considered embroidering a band by hand, however I found a jacquard trim that was "close" and purchased it. I pulled out the silver border threads and the yellow centers from the middle of the flowers to get the look. It wasn't too difficult, but it took time. Yes, I pulled too hard on the small work at times, threatening to mess up the whole piece of ribbon, but clipped as often as needed to not make that mess.
The skirt is a dark blue wool, which I lined with a merry blue and white stripe. I considered what sort of lining a skirt like this would have, if lined at all, and selected something that "mother might have on hand". Her top, or jacket, is heathered brown wool. Two bands of black ribbon edge the sleeve. Her little shawl is a cotton, black with red roses. Its a triangular shawl. The fringe is handmade knots - a little over 100 of them. I thought it would take forever to do them. I'd made similar fringe knots on Jolly Jane's hip scarf for her gypsy costume. Bigger though. And, you hardly see them due to the ends being tucked into the apron and her long hair in back. Kind of like undergarments. You never see them, but know they're there. Her little knickers are edged in lace. The original stockings I made where from black and gray socks, but I decided on blue and white stripes to break up the dark, dark, dark.
Gretel's boots are Lawton doll boots that I cut down and re-edged on the machine. At that stage of the costume, I was more interested in getting to the accessories, and these boots work fine. By the way, Gretel is a 12" reborn Lawton - the same sculpt as Illustrated Alice.
After a couple of months studying the bow and how it sat on the head, I noticed that there was a beige or gold "lace" cap beneath it. Betsy and I had a long discussion, and online look, at the various ways these bows were made, and the different caps and ways they sat on the head. The bows themselves vary in size, shape and color, but there was no real discussion (online) of why, except for the possible significance of the age of the female, religion or holiday. Some were red. Scarves of varying florals, solids and plaids could be worn with or in substitution, too, to the traditional Alsace costuming. It was mind boggling - like just about anything goes. I liked the idea of a gold lace cap and used a lace sewn and sculpted into a cap to attach a large black cotton bow to. This was fun.
I also noticed in one of Gretel's illustrations that she wore an embroidered belt around her waist over the apron. I had a small piece of cotton grosgrain ribbon about 3/32 wide and sat down to embroider red petals and green leaves on it. Why not? It wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be and I was chomping at the bit to get to the accessories.
A stroke of luck found me purchasing on a BIN, two antique doll baskets that were similar to the ones in the Hansi illustrations. It was needle felting time and I made a cute little bundt cake, a green pear and two red apples. Remember the Christmas trees decorated in red apples? The stems were something else to needle felt, but I managed with a bit of effort. Not much can't be replicated in wool, but metal.
It was time to make that huge red umbrella she holds. I grabbed a couple of sticks of basswood and two minutes into this, I realized I was barking up the wrong tree. I knew I had a fresh package of Paperclay somewhere in a cabinet, and pulled that out and sculpted the stem and handle of the umbrella. Paint and Gesso later, I made the red round, edged that then created a faux umbrella. This is what you do if you're sticking to an illustration. The spokes weren't necessary. Its a prop. I don't always get so anal about stuff - worth noting though.
But, my favorite part of all of this was the Alsace soldier doll. In all the dolls I saw on display at convention, not one carried her soldier doll. And, to me, he's the best part of all of this. Did little girls really have these dolls to play with? Was this a statement Hansi was making? I don't know, but I loved that little guy, so I made one. He's about 4" tall on wire armature. Blue jacket, red pants and a matching cap. There were two versions of him and I chose to do the one with a single breasted jacket, or one row of buttons - which are seed beads. Gretel is coming back from market and she took her little soldier doll along with her, red umbrella under her arm in the case of inclement weather.
This was a fun project. I wasn't so sure about it even after I began, but being able to be a bit creative here and there made it joyful. I hope you'll enjoy the other Hansi's below, and one of mother dressing her daughters for the day. There's so much to see and feel, experience through these images.
And, well, Halloween is coming up now! We are taking off for a few days into the Eastern Sierras to see the change of aspen leaves, and then its Halloween costume time. I think...
Love,
Melissa
