THE BIRTH OF THE DITZY DOLL TARTS

CLOTH DOLL CLUB

& IT’S GROWING PAINS

by Sandi Wheeler - Founding Member

A friend and I decided we wanted to make cloth dolls. A notice was placed in the Dallas Quilters’ Guild newsletter asking for those interested in cloth doll making. Our first members came by word of mouth, the Quilt Guild, from the Fiber Artists of Dallas and the Sewing Guild of America. Our club's listing in various doll magazines, elinor peace bailey’s Newsletter and cloth doll web-sites brought us members from as far away as Oklahoma.

Our name ‘The Ditzy Doll Tarts” was chosen during one or our beginning meetings. We wanted something that went with Doll to identify us. We just had to look at ourselves when “Ditzy” came up. Then I remarked we should be the DDT’s and that is when ‘Tarts’ evolved. When I announce our name to people I explain, “It is Tarts as in sweet and juicy not the pavement princess type.” The pavement princess refers to an old Johnny Carson joke.

The first meetings were held in members’ homes. As we grew we needed more room. We progressed to many meeting sites; Singer Sewing center, recreation centers, JoAnn’s Fabric store and the Plano Library where Anne Marie Brombal taught us her original doll with the paper clay mask. Our present meeting place Town Village North meets all of our needs.

Our club members are mostly self taught or by members in our group exchanging ideas and techniques. We have sponsored classes by national teachers, a brown bag challenge, and a grab bag of body parts challenge, as well as by all members using the same doll pattern.

The DDT’s first doll show to the public was in Olla Podrida in Los Manos. Dolls were displayed at the Dallas Quilter’s Guild annual show for 10 years. We have had as many as 78 dolls on display, never repeating any doll that had been previously shown. It was fun to observe the public laughing and pointing at dolls in our display. A man reached over the ribbon barrier to pick up my’ Sun City Hunk’ for a closer look at his Speedo, meanwhile Wouida (a DDT’s member) spotted him and came rushing down the isle to tell him to put it BACK!.

Within our membership there are many different styles of dolls being made. We have made cloth chickens, Altoid box dolls, puppets and felted bears to widen our knowledge and techniques.

I use my 70 some dolls for giving programs to Retirement Homes, Garden Clubs, Book Clubs and Study Clubs. Their first perception of a cloth doll is a play thing so they are really surprised and delighted to see dolls that can make them laugh and admire their beauty and construction. I give the dolls names and share stories made up about them.