The Huron Expositor, 1982-12-22, Page 5^xF7l6'.w.lArKJ
THE HURON EXPOSITOR, DECEMBER 22, 1982 — A5
Egmondville dolls are "real people"
SURROUNDED BY DOLLS—Elsie Doig of Egmondville sits with just
some of the dolls she's made for Christmas. On her lap are Grandma and
Grandpa, complete with wire rim spectacles. (Photo by White)
BY SUSAN WHITE
This time of year at (east 15 extra people
are seated on the living room couch and
chairs in Elsie and Bob Doig's house in
Egmondville.
The people are actually 20 -inch -high
soft -bodied dolls, life -like characters that
Mrs. Doig makes every year for Christmas
orders. "People laugh," Elsie Doig says,
"but working on them, you get attached to
them. Each one has its own personality."
Any objective observer would agree. One
pair, a grandma and grandpa doll, has wire
rim glasses and oozes.old-fashioned charm
and comfort. There are nursery rhyme
charactei's...Little Boy Blue, and a Mary
without her Iamb whose handmade dress
includes yards and yards of lace. There's a
baseball player; a pair of Black dolls; the
little girl with braids all over her head; and a
variety of old-fashioned granny gowned
beauties.
The dolls in the living room are samples.
Elsie Doig makes -each doll to order for
customers after 'they pick out a style or
theme. "Making them ahead just doesn't
work," she says. "People want a doll to
match a child's room or something so each
is custom done,"
Each doll body is made from the same
basic pattern and then Mrs. Doig says "I
improvise," adding different faces and
clothes. The dresses are all made from the
best material, often small calico -like prints.
Her doll. making hobby started about
three years ago. "1 made one doll and it
went on from there," this talented lady
says. She's only shown her craft at one
special event, a farmer's market a year -and -
a -half ago, and orders mostly come in
word-of-mouth advertising. She starts
about September, and has made about 20
dolls for this Christmas.
Mrs. Doig doesn't like to work to a strict
deadline. She's up every morning at 5 to get
to her job at Seaforth Community Hospital '
so that doesn't leave a whole lot of time for
doll making. She's never taken a class or
given one and she says she finds making the
dolls relaxing. "It helps me unwind. It's
very different from work."
A look around Elsie Doig's house shows
you she rarely sits around "doing nothing.
She's making patchwork long red aprons for
herself and two daughters for Christmas
and patchwork pillows, potholders, and
Christmas stockings are also in the works.
She's knitted two sweaters too for this
Christmas, and at her husband's urging,
she brings out two beautiful crocheted
bedspreads, incredibly fine and intricate,
'that she's made in the past.
"Hand made is in," these days, Mrs.
Doig comments, "much more so than store
bought items. Of course cost is one factor;
people are making their own."
It's interesting, she notes, that more
older -people (generous grandparents per-
haps?) buy her dolls than young people.
"Nostalgia, maybe," she says and the dolls
certainly are quaintly old-fashioned.
The dolls who sit in the living room will be
put away soon. "We have to," says their
maker "so that there's room for everybody
to sit down at Christmas time."
Peace on earth
go a81 men of
good will
LUKE"S
chin
Sh
May Your Christmas be fwd with
faith aagoodwill.
Seaterth
527-1080
Weavi
is now
AT THE LOOM—Christine Scott of Walton
surrounded by purses and placemats she has made.
works at her loom,
(Photo by Wassink)
rt
BY RON WASSINK
When a person thinks of weaving, there
are visions, usually of an older woman bent
over a loom manipulating foot pedals and
throwing a smooth piece of wood through
hundreds of threads. The end result is large
bolts of cloth to make new outfits for -the
fa ily,
The advent of textile mills, fashion
stores. and spouses working outside not in
the home, saw looms being discarded:
Instead people wore convenient. ready-
made clothing, Weaving was passe, some-
thing only demonstrated in museums.
More recently. weaving has again be-
come popular, not out of necessity but as an
art form.
A resident of Walton for 17 years,
Christine Scott completed an art program in
London eight years ago. The course
featured weaving. a craft which .Christine
pursued. She said weaving was a hobby
until last year when her craft became so
popular that she decided to make a business
of weaving. Last spring she joined the
Huron Tract Spinners and Weavers Guild.
Hie Guild holds two craft show and sales
each year where members have the
opportunity to sell their product.
Christine uses a loons similar to the type
used by early pioneers. With a loom. she
explained cloth is made with "thread being
stretched between two rollers. The loom has
to be threaded in a special order, Yarn is
then threaded through a reed whirl.'
provides proper spacing. The reed is also
used for beating the work down."
"Setting up the loom is the most time
•
consuming part of weaving," says Chris-
tine. As an example, she says it is possible
to make one cushion cover, from start to
finish. in one day. "But 1 would really be
pushing."' In addition to pillows, Christine
weaves purses, clothing, place mats,
scarves, wall hangings, "anything made'df
cloth.
It's our favorite time of
year ... when we pause
to thank our many
good friends for their
patronage in the past.
We look forward to
serving you in the
future.
Christine explained that weaving can be
combined with macrame to produce inter-
esting wall hangings, She says people do
not have to purchase what she has made but
can order items colour co-ordinated to
match their homes. Asked if her woven
clothing was better made than store-bought
outfits, Christine says. "I wouldn't say
better, but the outfits are unique which, to
me. is worth something."
In addition to weaving, Christine has
started making dolls. Her specialty is
making monkeys out of work socks. She
finds the dolls attract prospective buyers to
her w caring booth at craft sales, She said
both crafts arc an ideal combination. Most •
of her sales are through word of mouth.
"but my weaving is becoming more
popular."
Christine said she may teach the art of
weaving in the future. Costs for getting
started vary from S"S for a table loom to
approximately 5600 for a large 36 inch floor
model loom. She added that a loom is not a
requirement. "Cardboard or a wooden
frame can also he used." •
"Wearing was part of my school course
and just appealed to me." Christine sums .
up,
Have a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year
Wayne & Harold
SMITH CONSTRUCTION,,.
Seaforth, Ont.
fi
CHRISTMASTI ME
WarmWishes
Here are wishes expressly for our
many friends: the happiest ofholi-
days and the best of everything!
Thanks for your patronage.
RON. DRISCOLL
General Contractor
a Seaforth 527-0235
MAY THE BRIGHT SPIRIT OF THE
SEASON ILLUMINATE YOU WITH INNER
WARMTH AND CONTENTMENT.
OUR VERY SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL.
PEACE & LOVE...
GOODWILL TO
All...
WE WISH
YOU THE MANY
BLESSINGS OF
THE SEASON
0
Stacey Bros. Ltd.
Mitchell 348-0414
WHITNEY - RIHEY
Funeral Home
Seaforth 527-1390
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The Pro‘inr(' of Ontario 5asina.. Office
Ministry of Revenue Seaforth
Best Wishes from t'.•ith ltemon Manager
( lora Brugge' xv,ounranr And Stall
Ontario