Doll Costuming | The Dollmaker

1470 Mary as Alice’s mother, Gaye as Alice in Wonderland

Last summer I created a massive diorama of Alice in Wonderland outfits interchanging the 1470 COD reproduction flapper dolls (Mary, Grace, and Sioux) by Doug James with my three Robert Tonner Ellowyne dolls: Neema, Bright (Bright Ideas), and Ellowyne (Earning Her Stripes). The girls all swapped wigs, outfits, accessories and creatures and had a lovely afternoon together. I found flamingo swizzle sticks at the dollar store to use as croquet mallets and used a stuffed American Girl hedgehog from Target (on sale!) as a croquet ball.

Using primarily the Alice in Wonderland pattern created by Tamara Casey, I also enlarged a Fanny pattern by Carmel Doll Shop Boutique for Alice’s mother Mary to play along. Alice always remains popular in doll world….

A little vintage bisque doll served as an adjacent character complete with a playing card apron. Engineering the apron was tricky so that it would remain removeable. A “Beanie Baby” rabbit played center stage with a fresh bow tie. Some shoes were sourced, others handmade. The 90’s tea cart was a find in an antique store. The Queen’s sceptor started with a chop stick. Alice’s hair bow was a gift from VDC. Mother Mary’s necklace was a charm I received when I was 8 years old. Alice’s apron was a repurposed tea towel. The Mad Hatter’s thread sash was a sampler from Meijer’s sewing section. Xeroxed the measuring tape for her hat. Use what you can find!

Alice and the Rabbit interrupting the croquet game Alice serving the Mad Hatter Tea