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" These da 26 -- PORT PERRY stad ~ Tuesday, Jan. 7, 1985 Oh, vou beautiful porcelain dolls! by Cathy Robb She rides a rambun- There isn't too much ctious Palomino named Shirley Hudson can't do. Rebel, she feeds her guests mouthwatering Christmas cake, fresh coffée and delicate tarts = Some of the finest dolls in the world are made right here in the Nestieton area by Shirley Hudson. The 40 year old artist takes special care with each porcelain doll she makes and the results speak for themselves. Above, she poses with Michael, dressed in fine Christening gown and hand-knitted sweater set. This is the first doll Shirley made, a ceramic charmer with shiney glazed "skin." she finishes each doll with a maftte<finish glaze, giving the doll 3 more natural look. a ney y . 4 fF wd 5 ag a! J - 2 i - ~ With eyes as wide and blue as can be, this porcelain beauty looks out at the Hudson parlour, which is jam- .at a moment's notice, and every square inch of her rural Nestleton home is festooned with tasteful collectibles -- many of which she has made herself. | But the thing Shirley Hudson does best is the hallmark of the Hudson "home, a restored school- house Shirley actually attended as a child. Tucked away in front' of that schoolhouse is a parlour, possibly the most incredible parlour in all of Scugog Town- ship. Stepping through that parlour door is like stepping into a world- class toy store or a fine museum, and like a museum, it is awe- inspiring. Its beauty strikes one like a hammer blow. In a word, it's breathtaking. Inside that parlour is 'a collection of approx- Sort of reminds you of what you'd find doll. in a box of fried chicken, doesn't it? These are the pieces which eventually make up a imately . 85 antique replica china dolls, most of which Shirley has made within the last two years. Each orc is a miracle of det il, with smooth | porce.ain skin the texture of silk, bright glass or painted eyes, pink nails and curled tresses more beautiful - than a model's. An antique wicker stroller, lined with - pastel satin, nestles a life-size baby named Michael with big blue eyes and a curious pink mouth. Dressed in a hand-knitted sweater set, Michael looks and feels like a real baby, garnering all manners of oohs and ahs from visitors to the Hudson home. And perched on an elegant chair is Prince William as a wee baby, packed with dolls of all shapes and sizes. Note the ( looking just like his father, except for the bright china eyes of his famous mom. Dolls of every size and shape fill every corner of the room, balanced on rocking horses, sitting daintily on settees or just lounging around on the floor. The only thing they have in comon is their maker, a petite ~ blond artist named Shirley who believes there's no use doing anything unless you're going to do it right. The dolls she makes are top-of-the-line, and perfect in every way. Unlike mass production porcelain dolls, which can be purchased for $150 or less in many gift stores, dolls like hers are selling for three or four times as much. The Michael doll, for example, could fetch up to $450 in Toronto. The Prince William doll would be worth approx- imately $500. The difference between her dolls and the dolls many people have in their own collec- tions is quality. With porcelain doll.. its the little things that make' the difference between a good doll and a perfect doll. Many store-bought dolls have rough "skin"' compared to the silken smooth complexion of Shirley's dolls. The smoothness comes from careful sanding (with a nylon stocking) and careful attention tos detail, making sure each small bump or imperfection is smooth- ed over. Another sure sign of (Turn to page 27) It's up to Shirley to string them all together, paint them and dress them up. 4 fingers, hair and eyes of the doll ---- which point out the attention Shirley shows to each and every detail. b BR