by Elizabeth Anne Cox (Illustrator), Elizabeth Anne Cox (Author)
It is the English Renaissance in the small shire of Stafford and Queen Elizabeth is due to visit on progress. Also in Stafford, Betsy, a wooden doll from the Bartholomew Faire is about to have a terrible accident, and young Anna is about to have a doll making adventure with her Grandmother Shepherd. This story is about a young girl who cares for her best friend's feelings more than her own. It is based on events that really happened, but names have been changed to protect innocent dolls. You can join in this adventure and make your own lovely rag doll just like Anna with Grandma Shepherd. The instructions are included at the end of the story. If you prefer, you can make a boy doll wielding his wooden sword instead, or make both. Once you know how, you can make as many as you like. Just remember to keep them out of the privies.
Author Biography
One of my earliest memories, from first or second grade, is of making a doll and sharing it with a child overseas. Today with a degree in fine arts from CCAD and one in art education from Ohio State University, I am still making dolls for children. As a longtime member of the Virginia Renaissance Faire, I have been spinning, weaving, dying wool and teaching children of all ages to make my rag dolls. I created my own design, with no sewing or stuffing, especially for teaching outdoors at faire. And I change them each year to make them better. But always keeping the dolls as period correct as possible so they serve as teaching tools as well as fun keepsakes.