We took a class together; but the "teacher" obviously didn't want competition.  We learned very little from her; so we struck out on our own.  I wasted an awful lot of slip and ruined several molds that first year, but we did learn.  And although it's heavy work (the molds weigh quite a bit and add slip to that, it can get very heavy), I found I absolutely loved it.  And Kathy did a wonderful job painting and putting together the dolls.  A local gift shop owner saw our dolls and asked us if we would like to be in her shop (it was a shop which featured handcrafted items and also items purchased for resale).  Of course, we said yes.  We were there for 6-1/2 years...until the shop closed.   During that time, we branched out into many, many items; but all are poured in porcelain.

Over the last 50 years, I've also been collecting dolls.  I have all kinds...porcelain, composition, Barbies, etc., etc.  I turned 73 this year (2009), and I've decided to sell a large number of these dolls because I have no place to display them.  I was hoping to have a large display case built, but never seemed able to get the money together.  I've given my daughters, granddaughters, and great-granddaughters the dolls which they wanted, and the rest have to go.  I have many beautiful dolls.  However, I know I will not be able to get the amount out of them that I paid for them because of the influx of items from China that are much, much cheaper...but something is better than nothing.  And they're certainly not getting seen or used stored in my lower level room.  If you're looking for something specific, let me know because I just might have it.