October 2010, Issue 9
Featured Dollhouses
Page 63
Continue Magick Street dollhouses of Deb Roberts
"In the hills of the Ozarks in the late 1800s, printed words of any kind were rare. My family considers books of any kind to be something to treasure, even today, and that philosophy was born in a house where books were a luxury seldom afforded. Sarah Ann did know how to read and passed that knowledge on to her children and grandchildren.
"But the knowledge of farming, healing and herb lore was passed down from mother to daughter, father to son, as natural as teaching a child to walk and talk. If they needed it, they found a way to make it. Among other things, Sarah Ann made onion and cornmeal mush poultices for pneumonia, elderbloom tea for fever, catnip tea for nerves, and mullein and wild cherry bark tea for almost anything else. Between her knowledge of herbs and her 'special touch,' Sarah Ann saved many lives," said Deb.
Understandably, despite her evident passion caring for others, Sarah Ann never remarried.
"She was a strong and independent woman during a time when those qualities were simply not seen in women. Even though she had long crossed over before my birth, she has always been my inspiration and my guide through life. There is a Sarah Ann (or Sarah Anne) in every generation of our family to carry on the craft and I am one of them. My father and my aunts made sure that I was given enough of Sarah Ann's legacy to "know" her and I believe Sarah Ann herself guides me.
"Wise Ways Emporium is my tribute to the strongest wise woman I ever knew. While she practiced her craft from her home, I think she would have liked to have a store like the Emporium. I also think that she would have loved to see herself immortalized with a doll made in her likeness."
The store resided in its temporary abode for about a year until the laser cut Brimbles was finally released. After that, it was only two months until Sarah Ann moved into her new shop.
Custom Dolls, Houses & Miniatures / CDHM