Barbara Steiker

It's never easy to lose a dear friend and the loss of Barbara Steiker to me is especially painful.

When I was a novice doll collector (I hadn't sculpted my first doll) I met Barbara at New York City's National Toy and Doll Collectors club. In a sea of intimidating expert collectors, one friendly person welcomed me-Barbara. She was a force in the club, having been President numerous times and she was extremely knowledgeable about all kinds of dolls. She immediately made me feel welcome and our friendship developed.

Barbara was the first person I showed my orginal dolls to-and I knew she would be honest in her critique. She liked my dolls and encouraged me to become involved in the organization that would change my life, NIADA. She had a love for artist dolls like no one else I've met-she loved the artist just as much. We would spend hours talking about the work of her favorites.

All of us who knew Barbara experienced her passion for NIADA. She took the organization very seriously and her role of Patron Chairman was a highlight of her collecting life. She truly lived and breathed NIADA; and along with the UFDC convention, the NIADA convention was something she looked forward to all year long.

As supportive as she could be, she could also be NIADA's strongest critic. If at any time, she felt that the organization was taking a wrong turn, she would be vocal about her disapproval,-just like a mother trying to guide her child.

I'll never forget our trips to doll shows, the anticipation of the NIADA convention, her interest in doll art and the doll artists and her absolute and complete loyalty to her friends. She was so proud of her family-anyone who knew her knew about her children and grandchildren (how she loved to talk about Tara and Lisa).

The doll world has lost one of its greatest champions and I've lost a dear friend. Barbara will be missed.

Robert Tonner

Mirren Barrie

Mirren Barrie was a creator of fine fabric dolls. She was elected as a NIADA artist member in 1970 and, as the first International artist, was an active member for thirty- five years. She served as President of NIADA from 1986-1988 and as it’s Treasurer for 25 years and Historian for a long period. She passed away in her sleep in Waterbury Center, Vermont on June 20, 2004.

Mirren was born in the ancient royal burgh of Ruthenglen, Scotland. From an early age she studied art, fashion and fine embroidery needlework. Many years of research at the Mitchell Library in Glasgow, Scotland enabled her to create authentic Scottish women in occupational costumes for the Scottish Craft Center.

Given the opportunity to submit a doll for a British Craft Exhibition at Olympia in London she chose to create “Rob Roy MacGregor”, a Scottish Robin Hood of the 18th Century. She wove Rob Roy’s tartan to scale and her husband Tod crafted his sword and shield in sterling silver. She was quite pleased when her Rob Roy was chosen to be one 200 items displayed out of some twenty thousand submitted, and was the only doll to make his bow before royalty.

Midsummer Eve in the Rose Garden, c. 1998

Mirren continued to create ethnic and royal dolls based on meticulous research. They are constructed on a felt-covered metal armature which is pliable enough to be naturally positioned and free standing. The torsos and heads on the 12” dolls are formed with a series of methods using cotton, muslin and glue. The laminated materials are formed over a low fire clay sculpture. The doll is then painted with acrylic paint, given a fine hair arrangement and dressed to perfection.

She and her two daughters reluctantly left Scotland and came to America when her husband was transferred to Detroit, Michigan. In 1973, the Barrie’s retired to a cottage overlooking a wooded Vermont valley where they busily began creating dolls. In 1987 Mirren created NIADA’s 25th Anniversay Banquet souvenir doll. She was a delightful 12 inch Fashion Doll from the 1830’s named Diana and there were 200 produced, all hand sewn and dressed in NIADA’s colors of red and black. A wonderful certificate for the doll can be found in a small pocket under the skirt.

During the 1990’s Mirren spent her time perfecting her art in 3 dimensional paper and created many needle art embroidery pieces for Needlecraft exhibitions.
I first met Mirren in 1970 at the NIADA conference in Detroit, Michigan and found her to be fascinating to listen to with her light-hearted Scottish brogue. Her sharing of her knowledge of history, fashion and fabrics was the highlight of many conferences for me. She had a dynamic personality and I will miss her.

An admiring friend,
Diana Lence Crosby NIADA artist 1968

Mirren’s early dolls and dioramas have been displayed at the Children’s Museum in Detroit, Michigan and recent work from 1993 in the Museum of the Embroiderer’s Guild of America, Louisville, Kentucky.

Wee “Betty “ Paulson

In Memory –

Wee “Betty “ Paulson, creator of Wee-Did-Its®, past president of NIADA, and member for over 20 years, died on April 6, 2004, in Las Vegas, Nevada

“A Weedidit® is an original scene inspired by a true to life experience. I use no patterns. All figures and animals are individually hand made, as well as all accessories, including miniatures, furniture, and landscapes. My basic art training was received at Iowa State University and the Minneapolis Art Institute. Over the years I have experimented in many media. In 1965 I began creating, in felt, little elves, angels and elfin children and placing them in happy settings. Because my childhood nickname was ‘Wee’ they became known as Weedidits®.”
Betty “Wee” Paulson

Wee, an internationally honored doll artist was born and raised in Boone, Iowa. She and her husband, Quentin Paulson, moved to Madison, Wisconsin, in 1956 to raise their three children, Heidi, Lisa, and John. She moved to Las Vegas in 1979. Her children knew her as an exceptional, well-loved mother and grandmother.

I first saw Wee and her work when I drove to a Plainfield, Wisconsin, doll show and sale, where she was selling her felt creations of children, depicting scenes of childhood. I was impressed, but too shy to talk with her about her work, except to say I loved them. I remember that I didn’t buy anything that day, but I have kept a picture of my introduction to her lively felt children in my mind to this day.

When later I was introduced to Wee, I felt an instant connection, and I have always considered her to be one of my dearest friends. She created many Weedidits ® for me that I will always treasure. One is of me, as a little four year old girl, carrying my Jane Withers doll, a bouquet of bleeding hearts, with our collie dog, Pal, mischievously standing beside me. I can almost hear him panting! When she created that funny little girl that I was, with long curls, homemade clothes, wearing dirty high-top shoes and striped gray knee socks, I think she saw exactly that hopeful, trusting look that a little girl often has. Wee could truly capture the essence of childhood. Another creation of Wee’s was for my daughter, Michelle, when she graduated from high school, which included her as a 6 year-old playing with two younger brothers. Wearing matching plaid shirts and pulling a red wagon, the scene is a wonderful depiction of child’s play. My daughter still has that work in her home.

Wee was exceptional in her depictions of children, but she was also especially adept at creating the animals and other creatures that accompanied many of her scenes. She told me that because her husband was a veterinarian, she was aware of the bone structure of an animal, and was always determined to get it just right

Wee Paulson was known to be a devoted mother, a talented artist, and a great friend to many. While she was diminutive in size, she was large of heart, with great determination to live in the present moment. There was nothing like her hearty laugh to always spark a cheerful note. She was able to take charge, to make her presence felt in many ways. As president of NIADA, she helped the organization incorporate in Wisconsin. Her thoughts and concerns were always for the artist, the doll artist.

I think that the way she saw her work was that her heart led her hands, to re-create in her Weedidits® the joy of childhood, the celebration of innocence to be born in her many, many works of doll art. There were times when she was asked to create an adult figure, which she did. but it was not what she preferred to do. When Wee moved to Las Vegas, her work reflected the children she saw there.

At the end of Wee’s life, she was unafraid. She expressed great happiness at having had a wonderful life, “grateful for every minute of it.” Her unrelenting philosophy, through good times, rewarding times, and through many struggles and loss, was: “Don’t worry, be happy, let go and let God.”

By good friend of Wee Paulsen, Gloria Laundrie
Past member of NIADA, having served as Newsletter Chairman and Secretary In the 1970’s.

JOHN DARCY NOBLE

He was, he will always be an original - a delight on both sides of the ocean. Born in England, John acquired a love of things antique, but most especially toys, paper creations, and anything with an air of fantasy. He pursued this love with talent and dedication, and it led to a long-term appointment as Curator of Dolls and Toys at The Museum of the City of New York. Here he could meet with doll artists and other creators of magic, and here he created a magic of his own. Another facet of John's character was a deep religiosity and together with his lifelong partner he conducted a ministry in the city.

A visit to his office in the museum was an honor and a treat. There were always new objects to be admired. And there was John's inextinguishable enthusiasm for the works of other artists and creators of fantasy such as unique and imaginative doll houses. Unforgettable was the large central exhibit he mounted in the museum in conjunction with the United Federation of Doll Clubs annual convention in New York City in 1979, with many rare and wonderful French bisque dolls strolling and playing in an extensive park scene complete with ponds and bridges. Equally unforgettable was the delightful manner in which he verbally danced through a slide program at that same convention after his slides had been upset and haphazardly replaced by the projectionist. No one ever had such flair!

John continued to work with other museums and exhibits after his retirement and the move to California, and here he did much of his writing for all the major publications in our field. His love for antique dolls was equaled by his love and appreciation for the work of the top doll creators of our time. He also found time to put all his artistic talents to work in creating treasured paper dolls for publication. He was a man of wide talents and tastes, and also possessed a wonderful and wicked sense of humor. All of these aspects endeared him to his many readers and friends throughout the world. We have lost a very special person in our special world.

~Estelle Johnston

CAROLYN COOK

The Artist membership of NIADA was pleased to posthumously elect Carolyn Cook an Academic Member of NIADA at the 2003 Annual Meeting in New Orleans. Carolyn was formerly managing editor of Doll Reader Magazine both for Hobby House Press and later for Cowles Publications. She was especially instrumental in the concept and editorial work involved with Hobby House Press's publication Doll Artistry in the early 1990s. She has also authored numerous articles and published a journal for antique doll collectors. As a NIADA patron for many years she attended many conferences and worked diligently to further her own knowledge of original doll art and to share her knowledge of the art of the doll in all publications she was associated with.
Carolyn passed away on April 29, 2003. We will miss her.