Whimsical Elegance

Book excerpt: "Doll artist, Helen Cohen, has created a cat fancy in Whimsical Elegance like no other! A self-taught doll maker and passionate costume and fashion aficionada for over forty years, she has made and sold numerous dolls, many of them during her twenty-two years as owner of The Doll Lady, a shop in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Bringing fresh approaches to the creation of each figure, 20 of her miniature dolls were displayed in a custom-made dollhouse at the White House in 1981. Sophisticated and adult dolls in human proportions are shown in this collection, but with a twist -- CAT faces grace the pages along with a primary emphasis on historical fashion, representative of the 1500s through 1920. Each figure is unique, reflecting 31 variations on a theme. She focuses on her skill and experience in working with a wide variety of fabrics and generously imparts and shares helpful tips. The artistic color photographs by David Gehosky bring to life and into sharp focus her dazzling details, exuberant adornments, and embellishments, in concert with amazing fabrics on beautiful cat dolls. This exciting Cohen collection displays theatrical qualities, designed to offer a treasure trove of ideas and inspiration for anyone who enjoys costuming for dolls, puppets, marionettes, stuffed animals, or people"--P. [2] of cover.