The Help Brought Out What Has Been

Hello Dear Ladies this is going to be another one of my long blogs so please hang in there with me.  I was so excited to go see The Help on Wednesday I must say it was the best movie that I have seen since The Color Purple.  I can remember as to date of watching The Color Purple I know at least if not more than 482 times.  It inspired me, it lifted me it motivated me.  The Color Purple was everything when I was down and all the things it could be when I was flying high.  I would sit cut fabric, stuff dolls, sew and dream.

Even then I was so driven to make Mammy Dolls you see this has not been something that in the last few years I thought about doing it has been in me for a long time and it's been a long time coming that I have finally got it all right.  I wish that I had pictures to show of some of the first attempts of making Mammy dolls.  Oh my Lawd they was some big Ol Girls.  I even had made one standing fully out of cloth holding a child size Silver Tea Set it was beautiful I sold it at one of my first doll shows.  Then these also were the times that I was frowned on, laughed at and even questioned many times why would I make such slave like dolls.  I have always had an old spirit and I have always been a day dreamer.  I would sit back at times and dream of clothing women wore when a real Lady dressed up not for going out but to carry on with daily life.

Yes I am one of those women of today who still love carrying a nice Vintage bag, who loves to keep a hanky in my purse, and you know Big Momma always got a piece of hard candy in her purse.  Oh I must say my life would not be complete if I did not have my aprons.  You know the funny thing about that is it all some how is trying to be new again.  Now there are patterns everywhere to make a apron.  Yet you could never catch me not wearing one and I have been doing that all of my adult life. My friend Joyce is always trying to make fun of me and tell me *You is Mammy* well darn it I be Mammy then cause Mammy is one Loved Woman and she got a lot of Love in her to pass around.


I know right now I seem to be all over the place trying to get it all out but some times you just have to take the long road in order to get to where your trying to go.  Which brings me back to my Mammy dolls you see if I could count the number of times I have been asked why do I make them *kinda dolls* and *you know folk don't want no dolls like that* well guess what I don't care what nobody wants I just know that it is in my heart and soul to make Mammy dolls and yes there are a lot of primitive doll artist out there who have there versions of making Mammy dolls and that is wonderful.  I just didn't want to make one which such a strong primitive look about it yet I still wanted to make Mammy with a soul without a face because she doesn't need one you can look at her and see the vision and the story that Mammy wanted to tell but couldn't.  So in my heart I wanted to tell Mammy stories.

After having to move my seat in the theater because some one had the bright idea of bringing ill mannered kids with them.  I mean really they were loud and one even started kicking the back of my seat.  I had to move because nothing was going to interrupt me from enjoying this movie.  During the movie I laughed I cried and then as if it all made even more sense my reasons why I Love Mammy and I am a Mammy Doll Maker.  Sew with every stitch I make to bring Mammy to life I know now even more My Mammies have stories to be told and bring memories back to those who have them. 

Right now I am working on a very Special Mammy Doll which will be in collaboration with my 100th follower and Wannabe Quilters http://www.sewwequilt.com/  In October I will be giving away this very special Mammy.  I will give updates as I get everything together. 

Sew I hope that I have not lost any of you with my long post.  Have Wonderful Evening
Peace and Blessings
Cheryl...Snatch JOY~!

I Love My Mammys

Hello Dearies today is not as hot it is going to be a productive day for me.  Here is another Sneak Peak of what I am working on today.  This another one of my Mammy Kitchen helpers.  Maybe I shouldn't call them all kitchen helpers for some of these Gals did more than cook.  Most worked out in the field or did laundry.

I enjoy making them often times I get so full of stories that each one of them wants me to speak out for them and share with you.  I really can't give you one or even two reasons for my love of making these Mammy dolls each one come to me as a gift that I must produce and share.  I can remember when I first started making dolls of this type I caused a bit of controversy.  Not to mention the negative feedback that was given to me.  One I will always remember is of a young woman who thought I was White and how dare me call myself Mammy Stitches.  She went as far as to form a group of others to have my Etsy Shop shut down.  I got the last laugh. She didn't realize I belonged to the same Art group I Introduced myself to her that I am Mammy Stitches.

The Mammy name can cause so much of  a stir for some.  Others it brings back memories, I know the past of Mammy has not always been all good, but I believe in my heart are some precious moments that need to be shared.  I want to share those stories of the unspoken Mammy.  Some stories who knows may even be true and some just the stories that jumps out from my imagination.  Either way I hope you enjoy the Journey as I take you back to a simply time.  This also will explain to some why my Mammy's do not have faces as you learn the life of each one I create you will be able to envision that person faces will appear I know they do for me. 

I am not a writer nor am I great with putting together proper sentences and paragraphs etc. etc.  I am just a woman who Loves Mammy and want to share my gift to the world.  Thank you all who have continued to follow me and Hello and thank you to all my new followers.  Have a Wonderful Day

Peace and Blessings
Cheryl....Snatch JOY~!

This is Going to be a Long one!

Hello Dearies this is going to be a long post so you might want to grab something to drink put your feet up and relax.  I have so much to talk about I figured I just get it all out right now.  Well let me begin with showing you a sneak peak of my Newest Mammy that I have been working on now for 2 weeks.

So far as you can see she is almost ready.  I still have a little more things to do with her and not sure if I am going to make her an apron.  Which brings me on to the my next subject for so long I have felt unsure of myself, my art and my life in general pretty sad huh? but that is not what this is about nothing sad here I just decided to stop trying to be the Crowd Pleaser and as the saying goes Be True To Thy Self with that came an awakening. 

I have met some wonderful people through Blogging some personally and some just through sharing words in Blogging.  The other day I was doing some Blog Hopping I seem to do a lot of that lately lol sometimes it just can't be helped.  Well this is where it all starts to get even longer so if you haven't grab your cup of coffee yet maybe now would be a good time. 

First I found this Blog here http://olabelhe.blogspot.com/ Let me tell you I was stop dead in my Hop I couldn't travel on to another blog after being there on hers.  Dawn is a wonderful seamstress and her story on how she started sewing reminds me of a little of myself.  I adore the dresses she makes and she did one in particular that I have the very same fabric here and didn't know what to use it for and now I do you will see in a few weeks.  So later on in the week I ended up on my Friends Sams Blog http://sewdollswhosnext.blogspot.com/2011/07/when-i-am-not-bloggingi-actually-stitch.html#comments Here she shares her Beautiful Cozies and tells a heart warm story which brought back memories how her and I connected a few years ago.  She is such a delight and always brings me up out of any down moment that I might be having.  I have been making Mammy Dolls for many years now through trial error and many tears often just saying the heck with my passion for wanting to make this doll would not allow me to give up.  Sam did all the creative work to my blog I can never thank her enough for taking out the time for doing this for me. 

It is because of these two Ladies and My Muse  that I am driven to focus to never give up and not try to be the Crowd pleaser.  I had to find myself  to tell the Stories of  Mammy and give her a voice.  I had drawn away from that and try doing other things or making my dolls in a way I felt they would sell.  Well as you can guess most never sold and in my basement tuck away in a corner packed away are all my past creations of unwanted dolls.  Why because I was not being true to Thy Self I was too busy trying to be a Crowd Pleaser. 

I want to also thank Christel http://christelhutson.blogspot.com/ ,Deb http://debsvintagesoul.blogspot.com/ ,DessaRae http://dessaraeartdolls.blogspot.com/ Amy http://bumblebeelanecottage.blogspot.com/, and so many others for your kind words and taking out the time to follow me even though at times I haven't been the best of a blogger.  So again I want to say THANK YOU!! and I am still also working on my 100th follower giveaway to all my new followers thank you so much. 

Let your Spirit within shine through let your heart touch another share patience to another give thanks to everyday you take a Breath of Life
Peace and Blessings
Cheryl.....Snatch JOY~!

Sometimes Two is Better

Summer and Rain are preparing for a journey that they both wish will keep them together.  You see they are twins born 1893 in the middle of August during a hot steaming rainy night.  During the time of their birth their mother and father Effie Mae and Jim Hill worried about whether or not if the two would be taken and separated from not only them but the sisters as well.  The multiple birth was hidden from the plantation owner for he only knew of the one twin Rain.  She was the first to be born Summer came minutes later.  As they became older it became a game the family would play when ever strangers would come around not letting anyone see the two together at the same time.

The two girls often would laugh at  how well they played the family game.  Now that they are at the age of 10 it is time the family secret will have to be disclosed, mother has taken ill and father has left to work the land elsewhere left now with a sick mother and grandmother who now knows they need to be cared for by someone else.  Mammy had two outfits made to make sure they both looked their best and prays that a new family will accept both girls.  They sit now waiting for hair ties and Mammy to finish packing the surprise items she wants them to take along.

Whew okay call me crazy but for some reason I gave it a try to do two dolls at once.  I have been working on these every since our no peeking week and still have a few more touches to do to them before they are complete.  They will be up for sale as a set or individual. I am offering them as a set for 150.00 and sold separate for 85.00 if you are interested in Summer or Rain contact me by email.  The price includes shipping and insurance here in the states.  I will have to calculate travel fees for them elsewhere. 

Peace and Blessings
Cheryl....Snatch JOY~!

Aunt Rebecca

Hello I am Aunt Rebecca the oldest living relative of the Whaley Family I was told I was born 1751 not sure my birth it was documented in the Bible left by the woman who raised me on Mista Whaley Plantation. Mista wanted all of us to have proper names so he gave us him last name. I born 10 children some left me soon as they was able to work the land. So I guess that make them be around 8 or something. One day I pray before I leave I see my children again. I still can remember the cries as I had to stand and watch them be carried off somewheres. There cries stay in my dreams at night. That was many years ago. Now I just sit and rest while dreams come to me how life was back then and now. I don't have much but Miss Lilly, Mistas second wife she gave me my papers tell me I am free to go live in my own place now. Mista gave us this house it set just below his big house that sits on the big hill with promise that we still be willing to work his land. It not big but room enough for me and rest of my kin who stay here with me, there is Seven of us here now. Today Willow my sistas, daughter youngest left for schooling it is a proud day.

Willow

Hi my Name is Willow I am the 7th child of Hattie Mae. The youngest born from what is told January 20, 1892. I sitting waiting patiently while Mammy Sara finishes up my dress. For I will be the first to go off to get schooling. Everyone is so happy and proud that I was offered this oppertunity for not many get that chance. This is the first time I had a new dress that was not worn by someone else I know I am going to look as fine as the girls who live in the big brick house that sit up on top of the hill. Mammy Sara been working on this dress for two days now she says everything is almost done. Mother thought shoes would arrive but none came Mammy Sara said dont worry child your going to be prettier than any picture ever taken.

So I sit and wait..

I am soooooo tired but I must keep on working. I am still waiting for some wool to come in. Today I am going to working slips and bloomers, can't have the girls going around without the proper undergarments. I love the fabric I have made this dress from it is a reproduction coloinal fabric. I was so happy when the fabric arrived I brought several different colors. The brown I am using now is almost 3 shades darker than what I have been using before and I like this much better. I need to get busy will show the finish doll later
Peace and Blessings
Cheryl..Snatch JOY~!

TIME IS GETTING AWAY

I need 4 more of Me's lol my this month is flying by so fast and it just don't seem to be enough hours in a day for me to get done with all I have to do. I manage to make another doll and from the looks of things I am no way going to meet my 30 doll quota. It took me all day yesterday to finish up one doll. Today I am going to be cutting out another doll and getting it stuffed it will be another Mammy. My new fabric came yesterday and the brown that I ordered is a much deeper brown than what I am using now for the bodies, can't wait to see how one turns out from it.

I still have to make slips and bloomers for all the dolls which I will do this weekend. The doll I made yesterday dress is made from a light denim fabric. The pinafore I used a yard and a half of fabric. I purchased this polka dot fabric last year sometime never knew what I was going to use it for because it seem to look a little too updated for the style of my doll but I think it look great on her.

I still clearing out things in my workspace, that is another job I will be so glad when it is over. Gosh I just have too much STUFF. Let me start dinner now before I wait till it's too late and get it over with. Until tomorrow Peace and Blessings
Cheryl...Snatch JOY~!

Mammy is a busy woman

Lookie Lookie

Today is My Birthday yippee!! I am whole 53 years young bursting with energy of a young woman lol whew lawd me. I did manage to almost finish up a doll today I thought I give you a peek at her before I leave out. Can you imagine I am actually leaving out the house today escaping from my sewing machine I hope it doesn't try and follow me lol. Everyone have a great day until later Peace and Blessings
Cheryl...Snatch JOY~!