Viola Ruth is a vintage-style cloth-covered molded head doll made for an internet challenge in 2007. The challenge was to make an Alabama Baby inspired doll. Alabama Babies (known as Alabama Baby Indestructible Dolls) were made by Ella Smith from 1899-1932. Viola Ruth is my version of this type of doll, using modern materials and improvised techniques.

This class was held at The Calico Cat and Bernina, Too! quilt shop in Auburn, Washington. The students used face molds modeled from an old doll head to press polymer clay faces. Polymer clay was also used to form the back of the head. Gaps between the two polymer clay sections were filled with paperclay. Then the head and upper chest was covered with knit fabric.