Cornhusk Dolls:
Dee Kronau Works Her Magic
by Marguerite Lyons
Feet," the friendly spirit who watched
over children at play. The faces of these
dolls only included eyes as the Indians
considered it bad luck to paint an
entire face of eyes, nose and mouth.
Indians also used husks to make elabo
rate ceremonial masks.
Once Europeans arrived at Amer
ica's shores, it was not long before
they, too, were manipulating the husks,
also called shucks, into miniature
people and animals for their children.
Although records of the cornhusk
dolls are sparse in Indian history first,
because native Americans had no writ
ten language and second, because the
dolls were not saved, the toys are
mentioned frequently in the oral histo
ries, diaries and letters of the settlers
and their descendants. In southwest
Virginia, Lizzie Steele remembers
Christmas in the mid 19th century: "At
times there were puzzles or whistles for
the boys which had been whittled out
of wood by my father or perhaps a
cornshuck doll or some other pretty
for each of us girls." As Americans
moved west, the cornhusk dolls went
along, too.
By the late 18th century the dolls
had become quite elaborate in design
with husks carefully shaped into beribboned, flowered bonnets along with
parasols and purses. It has been sug
gested that seamstresses may have made
Illustration 1. Two young cornhusk dolls enjoy a stroll and ice cream cones.
these. It also has been noted that the
elegantly dressed dolls may have served
as milliners' models who presented
Cornhusks are one of the world's
humblest materials. In millions of acres
of farmland, their sole purpose is to
protect ears of corn. Yet a creative
hand, guided by a touch of magic, can
turn and twist the husks into beautifully
delicate dolls.
Making cornhusk dolls, a truly
American craft, has been around prob
ably since Indians discovered the grain
centuries ago. Easy and simple to
230
make, the tiny figures were among the
first toys Indian children enjoyed. They
were made with a corncob body and a
them to ladies who purchased expensive
butternut head and were dressed in
mothers.
fringed husks. Frequently the husks
were colored with berry and vegetable
juices and the dolls decorated with
husk dolls has never been lost. Today
dried flowers, beads and feathers. These
toy dolls were called "gaga" which
meant they were used for amusement.
The dolls also represented "Loose
hats. Lucky were the children who
were gifted with the dolls by their
Fortunately the crafting of corn
cornhusk dolls are made all over
America and in foreign countries, too.
One of this country's foremost corn
husk doll artisans is Dee Kronau who
creates her delicately detailed dolls in
August I September 1986 • DOLL READER • The Ultimate Authority
her log cabin home in Cropseyville,
New York. Dee began making her
dolls more than ten years ago. Her
interest was sparked when a lifelong
friend gave her a pair of mother and
daughter dolls. The child was reaching
up to her mother and reminded both
"Some people think my dolls are
too finished, too fussy. They seem to
want what they call a more basic or
Dee and her friend of the close relation
dyed the husks with berries and used
ship Dee has with her youngest daugh
ter, Missy.
Dee immediately was taken by the
dried flowers in the field for decora
traditional cornhusk doll. I do not
know what a traditional cornhusk doll
is. Historically, the Indians used corn
silks for hair, acorns for heads. They
"Children are the hardest to do,"
she said. "I like getting their attitudes.
They do the most interesting things;
adults get inhibited. Who but a child
would walk along and then put her
head down between her legs and have a
look?"
Getting the dolls to strike such
interesting and familiar poses is the key
to capturing a special feeling. "I can't
paint a face on it." Dee uses only two
tiny black dots for eyes.
Her reputation as a cornhusk doll
artisan has grown because of the
complex scenes she creates with groups
of her dolls in hopes "of telling a
story." In one scene, for instance, a boy
cornhusk doll making was a colonial
craft. She also was intrigued by the
way the dolls' bodies can be posed.
After taking some classes in corn
husk doll making, Dee, who has had
no formal art training, began experi
menting on her own. Her first simple
dolls have now evolved into elegant
creations carrying her trademark of
tions," she explained.
Life, history and the people around
her inspire Dee. "All my dolls look like
someone. Maybe its their position or
hair. People always say 'My God, that
looks just like so-and-so.' That makes
me feel good. I know I have come
across with something," Dee remarked.
"I am a people studier."
Dee especially likes the feeling she
gets when she can fashion a particularly
difficult doll just as she has pictured it
"Dee." The dolls are so impressive, in
fact, they frequently fool people who
in her mind. "I don't often make a
second of it because I know I won't be
school books, of course, are lying in
the snow, while the girl keeps hers in
cannot believe they are made of so
able to capture that feeling again."
hand.
humble a material as cornhusk.
It is important to Dee that a doll
"says something, mean something
special to the person who buys it. I
want it to be more than just another
cutesy doll." Many of Dee's dolls are
custom-made for people wanting a
unique gift or a doll to commemorate
life's special moments.
Admittedly Dee remakes some of
her more popular dolls yet each one is
still unique because "I just can't get
In another scene a group of children
crowd onto a double lawn swing.
feel of the dolls and the fact that
Dee's dolls are made totally of
cornhusk except for the tiny styrofoam
ball used to stuff and shape the head,
and the wire inserted to position the
arms and body and a cotton ball to
form the bodice. Oftentimes the small
figures are embellished with ribbon,
lace, embroidery floss and so forth.
The female dolls are 6'/$in (16.5cm)
tall; the males 7in (17.8cm) and the
children, 4'/$in (11.5cm).
them the same."
waits behind an old fence with a snow
ball clutched behind his back while a
girl climbs on a crate over the fence to
ambush him with her snowball. His
Meanwhile a mother tries on an elabo
rate hat while her daughter peeks at her
from behind a mirror. At Halloween, a
mother makes last minute adjustments
to her child dressed as a witch. Another
mother strolls down the boulevard
with her daughter holding a balloon,
while baby rides in an extraordinarily
elegant pram, also crafted by Dee.
0
Illustration 2. Dee made this one-of-a-kind
doll for her husband, Larry, who is a New
York State Trooper. The cornhusk uniform
is exact in detail down to the patch on the
trooper's left arm.
Illustration 3. This Indian couple clearly displays Dee Kronau's love of historic figures.
August ISeptember 1986 • DOLL READER • The Ultimate Authority
231
One of Dee's most impressive single
efforts is a quilting bee which includes
seven ladies and three children. Each
doll is actively engaged in the old-time
social occasion.
Dee's desire to tell a story with her
dolls is epitomized at Christmas time
when she captures life itself in a snowy
village in her living room. The minia
ture village, with a population of about
two dozen cornhusk dolls, has become
a community event. Each year scores
.«»»«»^fw,y
of friends and neighbors and their
friends and neighbors stop by to view
the town and see how it has expanded.
The village consists of a barn, farm
house, treehouse, covered bridge,
church, parish house, bakeshop,
lawyers' office, hat shop, toy store and
a frozen pond. All the shops are stocked
with the appropriate tiny goodies and
the town is decked out in holiday
finery. The townspeople are enjoying a
sleigh ride, caroling, playing ice hockey,
chatting, strolling, baking, shopping
and so forth. Each of the buildingssome of which were made by Dee's
sons, Tim and Greg—has personal
meaning for the Kronau family.
In spite of the growing demand for
%y*
Illustration 4. A puppeteer manipulates marionettes. The doll and the tiny puppets were
made by Dee Kronau.
her dolls, Dee still makes each one
completely by herself in her basement
work area. What started as an at-home
hobby has grown into a very timeconsuming business. During the past
Illustration 5. These twoladies represent Shakerswhoonce lived in upstateNew York.
Dee Kronau enjoys doing research on period costumes for her cornhusk dolls.
decade Dee has created in excess of
2500 cornhusk dolls and is still eager to
try out new ideas. "I get ideas in the
middle of the night and I just have to
get to it. I can make dolls do things
now that I couldn't when I started.
Recently I made a doll opening a toy
chest with surprise on its face. I finally
got it just as I was seeing it in my
mind."
The cornhusks Dee uses come in
80-pound bales of which she discards
about half because of mildew, stains
and tears. The husks are washed with a
little bit of bleach and some liquid
detergent and thoroughly rinsed. She
then selects the very best pieces and
dyes them.
Brown, orange, yellow and greens
work well. Light blue is impossible and
pinks take a lot of work. It also is hard
to get pastels, she added. Every batch
of husks is different. Following the
dying, the husks are rinsed eight or
nine times.
The husks are then hung to dry
before being fashioned into a doll. Dee
designs each new doll on paper, work
ing out the pose and deciding on
232
August I September 1986
DOLL READER • The Ultimate Authority
needed accessories that will be made
and added later. The whole doll is
made totally wet. While wet the doll is
positioned at play, running, sitting,
working, fishing, whatever. Once it
V•
dries, that is it.
Dee starts with the head and works
down. There are 21 different steps in
making just the basic doll. The body,
its position and the clothes are all
created at once. The painting and other
details are added after the doll is dry.
Although Dee makes a great many
Illustration 6. Dee
of her dolls to sell, she also has a
Kronau frequently
private collection she keeps under glass
makes bridal cou
at home. "Always protect your corn
husk dolls from light, dirt and house
ples for weddings.
-3
. i
pets. Animals love to eat cornhusk
dolls," she warns.
If properly protected, Dee's en
chanting cornhusk dolls will last for
generations becoming prized heir
looms.
Illustration 7. A fashionable young mother takes her children for
a stroll. The elaborate pram was made by Dee Kronau along with
the dolls and other accessories used to create this familiar scene.
August/September 1986 • DOLL READER • The Ultimate Authority
233
Directions For Making A
Child Cornhusk Doll
Step 1. Compress the styrofoam
ball to 3/4in (2cm). Insert a 3in (7.6cm)
piece of wire into ball. Cover ball with
lin (2.5cm) wide piece of cornhusk and
tie at top of "neck." Trim thread close to
knot. Insert push pins to hold and
mold husk to styrofoam ball. Let dry.
Ribbed side of husk is visible. (See
Illustration 9.)
Step 2. Tightly wrap a 4|/2in
(11.5cm) piece of wire or pipe cleaner
with cornhusk. Tie off l/4in (.65cm)
from each end to form "hands." To
form puffy sleeves, cut two pieces of
cornhusk about 2in (5.1cm) wide. Over
lap the length and secure (SMOOTH
SIDE SHOWING) where the hands
were tied at each end of wire. Pull back
the tied husk towards center of wire
revealing the ribbed side of the husk.
Overlap the sleeve husks at the center
of the arms. Tie and trim. The sleeves
will be puffy at the "wrists." (See
Illustration 10.)
Step 3. l/4in (.65cm) from the head
on the neck, tie two pieces of husk.
First tie one 2in (5.1cm) wide piece to
the front. A second piece, lin (2.5cm)
wide, is tied in the back. The husk
sticks up above the head, SMOOTH
SIDE SHOWING. It is important that
both pieces are tied in exactly the same
place to define the length of the neck.
(See Illustration 11.)
Step 4. Center the arm piece in the
back and pull the back husk piece
down over it and tie the arm piece
securely. (See Illustration 12.)
Step 5. Stuff the wider, front piece
of husk with one small cotton ball. Pull
the husk down, carefully covering the
cotton ball and tie. This stuffed husk
Illustration 8. Dee Kronau at work in her basement workshop. She has fashioned more
than 2500 cornhusk dolls.
SUPPLY LIST
forms the bodice. (See Illustration
13.)
Step 6. To form the doll's body,
attach about 20 pieces of husk l/2in
(1.3cm) down from where bodice was
First soak the husks in warm water
tied. The husks will encircle the doll
to make them pliable. If you want to
and stick up above the head, SMOOTH
Cornhusks
color the husks, follow the directions
SIDE ON OUTSIDE. When the husks
Push pins
lin (2.5cm) styrofoam ball
Wire or pipe cleaner
on the dye package. Rinse thoroughly.
Dry the dyed husks and then soak
again when ready to create a doll. The
are tied securely, pull down and secure
with a rubber band. (See Illustrations
Cotton crochet thread or heavy duty
ribbed side of the husk is the right side.
sewing thread, ecru color
Cotton balls
Permanent black marker
Scissors
Sobo glue
Plastic paperclips
Rubberbands
Commercial dye
Embroidery floss, mohair or corn silk
Large container for soaking cornhusks
234
14. and 75.) This is called filler. The
rubber band will be removed later
The smooth side can be used for the
Next, measure from head to bottom o
dress of a doll for a satin finish. Tiny
flowers also can be painted on with
filler 4l/iin (10.9cm). Trim excess fille.
Step 7. Now you will add all th_
dress pieces. First, tie a 3in (7.6cm)
wide piece at the neck in the front, then
acrylic paints on the smooth side of the
husk. It is important to remember the
ribbed side is the side you want to be
visible. Also, wet cornhusk tears easily.
Scissors can be used for trimming. The
whole doll is made while the husks are
wet.
tie a 2in (5.1cm) wide piece at the neck
in the back. Two more pieces, lin
(2.5cm) wide, are added under each
arm. Secure under the arm and up to
the shoulder. (See Illustration 16.) All
AugustISeptember 1986 • DOLL READER • The Ultimate Authority
4y2in(11.5cm) long
V
l/4in (.65cm)
push
pins
Illustration 10. Sleeves and arms.
Illustration 9. Push pins inserted to hold
and mold husk to styrofoam ball.
arms anchored
Illustration 13. The
stuffed husk forms
in place
the bodice.
Illustration 12. Center
\ / bodice Illustration 11. Tie
piece
tWQ pieces 0f husk
l/4in (.65cm) from
the
head
the arm piece in the
back and pull the back
husk piece down over
it and tie the arm piece
securely.
on the
neck.
Illustration
14.
To
form the doll's body,
attach about 20 pieces
of husk l/2in (1.3cm)
down from where
bodice was tied.
Illustration 15. Filler strips anchored down
with rubber band.
AugustISeptember 1986 • DOLL READER • 77k? Ultimate Authority
235
the filler. This will be trimmed again
later. Using plastic paper clips, clipthe
bottom of the dress to keep the pieces
together until the doll dries. Also, a
loose rubber band can be used to hold
the dress in place. Bend the arms to a
position you like.
The finishing touches are added
after the doll has dried completely,
usually24hours later. Trim the bottom
of the dress a bit so the doll can stand.
Glue sides and front and back dress
pieces together. Wet a thin strip of
husk and cover the thread at the yoke.
The husk strip should be tied in the
back. After final trimming, the overall
doll should be 4V2m (11.5cm) tall. The
dress will be about 1/ 4in (.65cm) longer
than the filler.
Embroidery floss, mohair or corn
silk can be used successfully for the
hair. Any hair style is appropriate. It is
simply glued in place. The eyes are
made with a permanent marker. First,
locate the eyes with tiny pencil dots.
The flowers the doll is holding are
dried star flowers.
Illustration 16. Adding the dress pieces.
Illustration 17 shows one of Dee's
favorite poses. The little girl hides
flowers in her hands behind her back.
Her head is tipped in a beguiling
position.
The key to creating children is the
positioning of the body — tipping the
head, bending the body and arms.
Said Dee, "I think I enjoy doing
children because they do so many
funny things which peoplealways refer
to as being 'typical of children.' When
people see this in my dolls, I know I
was successful in capturing a particular
mood."
If you live in the country and have
access to fodder or cow's corn, you
might like to make a cornhusk doll as
our ancestors did. Pick the corn after
the ear has dried brown in the field.
Pull away the outside husks and use
only the pieces of husk close to the cob.
Use only clean husks. For the head,
you can use rolled husk as the stuffing,
or you can cover an acorn with husk.
The bodice, too, can be stuffed with the
Illustration 17. The finished cornhusk doll
husk. Corn silk can be used for the
shown in one of Dee Kronau's favorite
hair. It is quite a challenge to see whai
kind of a doll you can make withoui
going to the local craft store. •
poses.
dress pieces stick up around head.
Remember, if you want to paint on
flowers later, have RIBBED SIDE
SHOWING on dress pieces.
Step 8. Starting with arm pieces,
pull down over filler. Then, pull down
the back piece overlapping the sides.
236
Finally, pull down the front piece.
Remove rubber band holding the filler.
Holding all pieces, tie the husks just
below the arms to make a yoke. Later
when the doll dries completely, you
Note: For additional information or
Dee Kronau and her cornhusk dolb
you may write to her at the following
address: Dee Kronau, Box 218k—RE
3, Bulson Road,Troy, New York 12180
will add a cornhusk sash. Trim the new
Be sure to enclose a self-addressed
dress husk l/2in (1.3cm) longer than
stamped envelope for your reply.
August/September 1986 • DOLL READER • 77m? Ultimate Authorh