Doll News Spring 2014 - (Page 44)
My Dear Hitty...
by Laurie McGill
H
"
eather Redfield is an imaginative little girl of
six. Every time she saw a piece of driftwood
on the beaches near her home in Marblehead,
Massachusetts she saw it carved into a doll."
Thus begins a fascinating account of one doll's
story. Written in 1954 by the little girl's mother,
June Redfield, it is a delightful record of a close-knit
community of talented seamstresses, carvers and
artists in 1950s New England.
"It was only natural when Heather read her mother's
book about 'Hitty' that she should yearn even more for a
wooden doll, and so the story of 'Heather's Hitty' began,"
Mrs. Redfield continued.
She goes into detail about a local carver of wooden
eagles who accepted the challenge of creating Hitty.
And when Heather's Hitty needed a wardrobe, Alice
Wainwright, creator of the Polly Shorrock dolls was
called upon. Wainwright, a perfectionist, sewed copies
of many of the dresses Hitty wore in Rachel Field's
1929 Newbery Award winning book, Hitty Her First
Hundred Years.
Not only is the creation of the doll documented by the
typed word, there are accompanying black and white
photographs of Hitty in various stages of production.
There are photographs of Alice Wainwright as she sews
Hitty's clothes.
A tiny Sparrow Post
letter, measuring
1" x 1-1/2", is dated
November 18, 1956.
Addressed, to Hitty
Redfield, the letter
sends appreciation
for sending knitted
pot lifters to sell at
the Doll Bazaar. It is
signed Sethany Ann
Shakespeare.
44
SPRING 2014
Hitty sits at her desk
made of driftwood found
on Radar Beach on
Marblehead Neck. She is
reading correspondence
sent via Tasha Tudor's
Sparrow Post mail system.
"Hitty also had to have furniture, and this is where
Heather's daddy came forward," wrote Mrs. Redfield.
Faithful copies of the desk, the settle, the cradle and the
trunk seen in Dorothy Lathrop's illustrations for the book
were made of wood from shipwrecks, driftwood or old
wood found in their family home. The patterns for these
accessories were saved and photographs were taken.
Mrs. Redfield.
Although the typed account ends with Christmas 1954,
Heather and her Hitty went on to have incredible
experiences which were revealed in a series of unique letters.
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Doll News Spring 2014
From the Editor
UFDC Officers and Regional Directors
President's Message
Conference Calendar
Welcome Newer Members
Fundraising Committee Report
Shared Passions - 2014 UFDC Convention
Tasha Tudor + Dolls = Enchanting Art
Early Juneau Bebe Part II
My Dear Hitty
A Capital Affair 2013 Antique Competitive Exhibit Part II
A Capital Affair 2013 Modern Competitive Exhibit Part II
A is for Annabelle - the story of a doll
Annatasha - A Paper Doll
A Visit to the Coleman Collection
Unending Delight - Tasha's World of Dolls
A Capital Affair 2013 Special Exhibit - The Four Seasons of Sandra Sue
A Capital Affair 2013 - Beautiful Boys, Gorgeous Girls - Asian and American BJDs
All About Lavinia Loring, A French Fashion Doll Reprinted from THE LETTER, Volume 3, Number 1, Summer 1983
Life before TV - UFDC Region 1 Conference
Christine Crocker - The Pastoral Dollmaker
Capturing the Classics - The Classic Plaything Collection of Wendy Lawton
The Story of Marjorie Tudor
Behind the Scenes - Regional Director Training
Isn't It Romantic
In a More Romantic Time - A Paper Doll
I is for Inspiration
Judging Dolls in UFDC Competitions
Club Notes
Reviewing Resources
Region Director Candidates
Donations
In Our Memories
News & Notes
Doll News Spring 2014
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