Artist Talk Series: Dollmaker, Elise Cunningham

Elise began dollmaking as a child with handmade paper dolls and created doll patterns with instructions which her grand- mother sewed for her.

In early 2000s she found an old, filthy, ragged homemade cloth doll at a flea market; took it home, disassembled and washed it. She was fascinated to find the doll stuffed with scraps of 1930s-era silk lingerie fabric. She could imagine a Depression-era mother carefully saving bits and pieces in order to make a toy for a happy child. The doll had obviously been well-loved and much played with. Elise created a pattern from the resulting pieces and that pattern is what she use today to make her dolls.

All of Elise’s dolls are sewn at a slow and leisurely pace using natural fiber and repurposed vintage materials.

The doll‘s yarn hair is either wool or cotton,, more often than not it is hand spun or artisan made. Curly hair is weft wigs made from sheep or alpaca locks. The dolls are stuffed with sheep or alpaca wool, all natural materials sourced directly from Upstate New York farmers.

Elise is proud to continue the handcrafting traditions passed down by generations of women.

The event happens up a flight of stairs inside the House. Please note there is no elevator and masks will be recommended for this indoor event.