Natural Materials
   |
Deb Willoughby Young is a Jessamine County native, who now lives in Berea, KY. She began crafting at an early age and has been manipulating corn shuck for over twenty years. She is a juried member of the Kentucky Guild of Artists and Craftsmen and the Kentucky Photographers Association. Corn shuck doll-making is one of the oldest known forms of folk art . In Native American cultures, toys were made from raw materials that were available in nature. This art form was later taught to the people of Appalachia. Over time, the primitive corn shuck doll has evolved into the shaped character dolls made today A corn shuck doll starts from shucks that have been bleached and dyed with fabric dye or other natural dyes. After dampening the shucks to make them pliable, Deb Young creates her dolls by forming a head made from a tissue paper ball covered with a corn shuck, twisted to form the neck and base from which the rest of the body is attached. The arms and skirt are then created from shucks and wire. Deb takes pride in the fact that her dolls are made using all natural materials, much as they were originally made, but with more character given to the doll. Her dolls are all made faceless, ‘to keep them from becoming vain’, as told in the old Native American legend of the faceless doll. Her dolls are all sold with a copy of this legend. Her dolls range from the 8“ pilgrim style doll she designed for Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, to her 10” angel doll with wide spread wings, and curls formed entirely from corn shuck, to her 20” tree topper angel made during the Christmas season. In addition to dolls, Deb also creates flowers and ribbon from corn shuck. Her flower arrangements can be seen and purchased at the quaint gallery , ’I Love My Stuff’, which is located in the Old Town Artist Village in Berea, Kentucky. Deb takes custom doll orders and can be reached by email or phone. |
 |
|
|
Deb Willoughby Young |
|
