Clarke County
Porcelain
Dolls
On a whim, Annie Lou Downey took a ceramics class in the early
nineties. She enjoyed the creation process so much that she moved on to doll
making. After many seminars and classes, she now holds a master’s degree in
doll making from Seely Porcelain Studios and is a certified Seely instructor.
She has opened her own studio in the home where she was born and raised and
teaches classes in porcelain doll making to students ranging in age from eight
to eighty.
Annie Lou creates a piece by first pouring slip into molds thus
creating green ware. After a soft fire in the kiln, she uses a wet cleaning
method that eliminates flying dust. Each piece is placed on silica sand for
firing to the bisque stage. The piece is china painted and fired again. Then
eyes, wigs, and body parts (either porcelain or fabric) are attached to create
the finished doll. Annie Lou uses her childhood seamstress training to make
fine clothing for the dolls that match the high quality of workmanship in each
of these little girl’s treasures.
Annie Lou’s dolls are
also available in her studio by appointment only.