Maiden Lane Market Feature Friday
A love of history can express itself in many ways, and for Cara of Maiden Lane Market, her passion for the 18th century takes the form of exquisitely researched and reproduced dolls. With their detailed period clothing and beautifully carved faces, Cara’s dolls are a charming window into the past!
Cara’s fascination with craft started early, influenced, like so many of us, by the older women in her life. “I would give the credit of my ‘creative gene’ to my mother and grandmothers and even my great-grandmother,” Cara explained. “I was raised surrounded by creative women who devoted their time and energy to making things by hand. I was influenced by the years of experience they developed through sewing quilts and clothing, making dolls and teddy bears, crocheting, basket making, and painting!”
“I was learning from them my whole life,” she continued. “I was given little scraps of fabric by my ‘Granny’ and a sewing needle, and one of my first projects was hand-stitching tiny pillows for my dolls.”
Unsurprisingly, some of her first creative projects were in miniature, but her delight in carving came about quite unexpectedly. “Carving 18th century wooden dolls actually started as a small project for my youngest daughter,” Cara shared. “I had been learning to hand sew and had made her an 18th century gown. I have always admired the gorgeous 18th century portraits, like ‘Portrait of Ann Proctor’ by Charles Willson Peale, showing little girls holding their English wooden dolls. I tried carving a doll and found that I really enjoyed it! So, I made another and another, slowly becoming more comfortable with the process!”
Still, the 18th century as a whole had long been a source of artistic inspiration. When asked her biggest creative muses, Cara replied: “So many things inspire me! I grew up, like so many girls, reading the American Girl books and falling in love with history. I’m especially inspired by the 18th century textiles, art, furniture, gardens, and music. I enjoy finding a beautiful 18th century portrait and letting that image guide my inspiration for the next doll!”
Her work reproducing and creating these iconic dolls has led to some truly exciting collaborations, which have allowed her to really embrace and explore her other love—teaching.“ Last summer, I worked with a local museum, Bethabara Historical Park, on a project to create two dolls representing the authentic Moravian dress from two different time periods,” Cara shared. “One doll represented the 18th century and the other represented the 19th century. I had so much fun researching the clothing and working with the museum staff to make sure each doll was historically accurate. Knowing that these dolls would become part of an educational program, possibly for children (including my own) and others in my community made the project meaningful.”
“I love working with museums and collaborating with them on ideas and projects,” she continued. “Knowing that one of my dolls might be seen by someone who learns something new about the 18th century and becomes curious enough to want to learn more is incredibly rewarding. I think that is the elementary teacher coming out! Teaching was my first career, and I think that desire to educate and spark curiosity is still very much a part of who I am.”
You find out more about Cara’s work on her website, www.maidenlanemarket.com, see her current offerings in her Etsy shop, and you can follow her on Instagram (@themaidenlanemarket) to see the latest of her beautiful dolls!