 Remembering
Patti Hale
 Patti Hale began making dolls
in1974. Her preferred medium was Jelutong wood which
comes from the Malaysian rubber tree. She did all
of the carving on her dolls with a simple xacto
knife. Her dolls varied in height from 6 inches
to about 21 inches. She was extremely proud of
the fact that she was a member of NIADA. Patti
was recognized by its members and doll collectors
alike as one of the foremost makers of hand carved
wooden dolls in the United States. Patti was a
very intelligent, well read person who could discuss
anything, from carpentry work to movie stars, from
doll making to world politics.
Patti Hale made
many wooden dolls during her very long dollmaking
career experimenting with several different body
styles. She created fun, charming (sometimes comical)
wooden characters with her very unique round face
style. Her subjects were either derived from her
imagination or her 3D interpretation of famous
cartoon characters or illustrations: golliwog,
Campbell Soup Kid,  Three
little bears, elves, and etc.
She especially enjoyed making
a boy and girl / brother and sister pairs which
were dressed in a similar way. She created several
dolls she called "Peppermint
Patty Dolls" which had cloth bodies made from ticking
material  with peppermint stripes.
She made well jointed wooden dolls with carved hair,
but also wooden headed dolls with cloth bodies and
wigs.
Most of Patti's dolls were one-of-a-kind
characters but she also sold a well loved edition
of "Hitty" dolls
easily identified by her trademark very round, joyful
faces.
Her tools were very simple: Xacto knives, sand paper
and paint. Patti signed or labeled her dolls in many
ways. Her name was often carved on the back of a
doll's neck. Her "Peppermint Patty Dolls" might have
had sew-in labels attached to the bodies and/or clothing.
Or she might have carved the initials, "PP", into
the wood at the back of the doll's neck. She also
labeled under the shoes or included a "Peppermint
Patty" business
card with the doll. She proudly added 'NIADA' to
her labeling system after she was inducted into this
prestigious doll sculpting organization. ~ Jean Lotz
Personal Memories
NIADA artist Diana
Lence Crosby enjoyed seeing Patti every year at the
NIADA Conventions. She remembers how much Patti loved
carving her dolls and that she was very particular
about the wood she used. She had two poodles that
were her companions.
 I thought I would share a special
photo of my grandmother that I took last Thanksgiving.
For me this photo sums up her talent, her humor and
her amazing ability to connect with us through her
eyes and smile. She made this Cupie years ago and
after I trimmed her hair, I looked over my shoulder
to see this Cupie sitting on her dresser. I think
if my Grandmother could have magically turned herself
into a doll, it might have been a Cupie. To capture
the moment, I flipped her hair, set the Cupie next
to her and snapped this photo. Forever I will treasure
that look, the one she made that very moment, the
one I have seen a thousand times, the one she made
when words were not necessary. She passed quietly
and peacefully with her family at her side. She was
well cared for by my aunt Janice Sutton who too is
as amazing as my Grandmother. I loved her more than
imaginable. I hope you enjoy this photo.
~Crystal Wells, California
See more NIADA artists who are woodcarvers ArtForm
Spring 2000 newsletter |
