Clara Cribb Dolls
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These hand-crafted dolls are
made and dressed by myself
Beryl Nightingale.
The dolls are dressed in the finest fabrics i.e. pure silks, old fabrics,
exquisite laces [old and new] and the finest cottons. Their costumes hats and
accessories
are from books and prints of yesteryear and my imagination.
My dressmaking and millinery skills were taught me at the Woolwich Polytechnic
school of needlework London [from 1947
onwards]. After finishing my
apprenticeship I worked
in London for a high class court dressmakers helping dress society
ladies and film stars.
I had my own dressmaking business dressing ladies for the Ascot
and Epsom lady day races, also other society and day events.
The beautiful laces and old fabrics are hunted for in the antique
markets, lace shops and fairs. I get a great thrill dressing my dolls
in these wonderful finds.
My dolls, hats and accessories have been sold in shops all over the world ie. The Burlington Arcade,
Hamleys and the Cumberland
Hotel in London, Leeds Castle, Eton, and York.
I exhibited at the Kensington International Doll fair for many years.
My company name is that of my great, great grand-mother Clara Cribb
who I found while researching my family tree.