My mother, Helen C Johnson, is a talented designer with a specialty of cutting pretty papers and forming those pieces into amazing costumes for paper dolls. This is a sampling of her work. She has made another batch to sell at the 2010 paper doll convention...the last batch. She is 85 as of May 2010, and says she is done making these costumes now. So this is a way to preserve and share them.
Text of Helen Johnson's Paper Doll Costume Stylings
The Paper Doll Costume Stylings of Helen C Johnson
Collected and Arranged by Judy M Johnson
Helen Johnson is my mother, whose talent for paper cutting and design is stunning, considering her age of 85 and arthritic hands.
My goodness, its stunning even if she were 45 with perfect hands!
Well, Im proud of the work she does and its here to share with you.
* By the way , she will be selling some of these at the Kansas City Paper Doll Convention July 2010. She says as this is her last paper doll convention, these are the last paper doll costumes she will be making.
Some Ballet Designs The center costume is cut from a seed/bulb catalogue
Some Ballet Designs Costumes at left are from scarves, at right, is from a wallpaper book
Who would have guessed that lovely costume is cut from paths in sand made by heavy earth movers?
I love these yellow floral costumes!
Look at that fine cutwork! Both cut from wallpaper sample books.
L: Cut from wallpaper, R: Cut from seed catalogue (or calendar)
Cut from greeting cards
Cut from catalogues
L: Cut from a vintage paper napkin R: Cut from seed catalogue
Left, Judys Carmen in Wallpaper Flowers. Right, a doll I painted for Mother to dress.
Costumes Cut from Wallpaper Books Doll is Claire from 50s Paper Doll Set
Dolls Painted by Judy, Dressed by Helen
Cici, and DeeDee Painted by Judy, Dressed by Helen
A Touch of Glass Costumes made by Helen from Art Glass found in catalogues
Costumes made by Helen from Art Glass found in catalogues
Pin-Ups in Cut-Work Costumes by Helen C Johnson
Egret costume cut from Dick Sutphens book & CD catalogue
Sonja Henie Looks Great in Helens Costumes
Sonja Henie Looks Great in Helens Costumes L: Flowers cut from a Kleenex box R: Cut from Wallpaper
Movie Stars Look Great in Helens Costumes L: Elizabeth Taylor R: Gene Tierney
Movie Stars Look Great in Helens Costumes L: Greer Garson, classy in classic wallpaper R: Elizabeth Taylor, costume cut of wallpapers
Movie Stars Look Great in Helens Costumes L: Gale Storm, in wallpaper R: Charlize Theron, costume cut of wallpapers
Most Any Paper Doll Looks Great in Helens Costumes L: Art Deco Dolly by Judy, in wallpaper R: Bride paper doll, in mixed papers
Most Any Paper Doll Looks Great in Helens Costumes L: Golden Girl in wallpaper R: Bride paper doll, in mixed papers
Most Any Paper Doll Looks Great in Helens Costumes
Most Any Paper Doll Looks Great in Helens Costumes: Arlene Dahl, & Ballerina
Most Any Paper Doll Looks Great in Helens Costumes: L: Pert & Pretty R: Doll by Judy M Johnson
Most Any Paper Doll Looks Great in Helens Costumes: L: Pert & Pretty R: Doll by Judy M Johnson
Most Any Paper Doll Looks Great in Helens Costumes: L: My Twin Babies by Avis Mack R: Career Girl Doll by Davi Botts
Most Any Paper Doll Looks Great in Helens Costumes: L: Joan Collins doll by Berta Fredsoe of Denmark R: Career Girl Doll by Davi Botts
Most Any Paper Doll Looks Great in Helens Costumes: L: Sassy Doll by Judy R: Career Girl Doll by Davi Botts
Thanks for Visiting!
With appreciation to the artists, known and unknown who have painted such lovely dolls for Helen to dress.
Helen encourages you to use these for ideas and inspiration; to try your hand at cutting costumes from a variety of papers:
* Art & craft papers
* Wallpapers from old sample books
* Pretty envelope linings
* Catalogues, Magazines, Calendar photos
* Greeting cards
* Wrapping paper
* Any papers with shape and direction to the pattern which can suggest moving about the form of a figure, and details which can be cut and pieced on for decoration and details.
HAVE FUN!
Some of Helens originals, and some printed compendiums of her art are available at www.papergoodies.com
All costume images here are copyrighted by Helen C. Johnson and not to be duplicated in any fashion (in print, digitally, or online) without express permission of Mrs. Johnson.
