As a young wife and mother during the 1950s, I was intrigued by art and craft exhibits at the county fair. With the aid of books, I began exploring arts and crafts. I taught myself embroidery, knitting and other crafts. I entered my projects at the fair and won with a cable knit sweater and an argyle vest.

Prizes were only $1, $2 or $3 then, but they added up. My hobbies supported themselves. I began making and exhibiting other crafts including acrylic carving, wood carving, jewelry and crafts.

Ceramics soon became my best-loved craft. In order to sell to gift shops, I had to duplicate my pieces. I made molds, both simple and complicated. After a few messes, I finally succeeded.

I continued to exhibit at the fairs. There was a miscellaneous category I couldn’t seem to win. Challenged, I decided I was going to make something so different and so good that the judges would have to award me the top prize. I decided to make a china doll.

I modeled a bust — head, neck and shoulders. I then modeled a pair of hands and forearms with grooves at the top. Finally, using a mirror, I did the same for calves, feet and even shoes.

Next, I made sets of molds for the head, arms and feet, then cast them as well. I bored holes in the lower corners of the bust so I could fasten it to the body when all the pieces were completely dry. I fired all of the pieces in my kiln. I colored the greenware a nice skin color, then painted on the hair, features and black shoes. I glazed the pieces, and fired them again.

Next, using what I had learned about human body proportions in art books, I planned the body, arms and legs with muslin that I shaped and stuffed. I sewed the bust to the body using fine wire and the grooves on top of each arm and leg to secure them to the muslin so they moved about freely. I made a pretty dress of red dotted swiss with matching panties and a white slip. I put these on the doll and she was finally ready to go to the fair. My doll brought home the blue ribbon and now decorates our living room. More people should enter the fair. It’s fun and very satisfying.