(Valerie Zeitler – Val’s Rag Patch)

Shades of Beauty

by Pam North

Valerie Zeitler’s dolls have a haunting, smoky-eyed look that sets their faces apart; she is very much a consummate artist. “I do the face-ups, and partial body blushing (hands and neck area), along with total styling of the dolls,” she explained. She uses mostly Dollstown Dolls from South Korea, and she designs and makes all doll clothing, shoes, and accessories. “I enjoy working with cotton fabrics most of all, as they can be aged and dyed to my liking. I also enjoy hunting for vintage fabrics and lucky finds such as lace, trims, and flowers to incorporate into my designs.”
Her earliest training was from her mother, who taught her how to use a sewing machine when she was 11 years old. Later came art classes in school, and after high school she studied at and graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology, where she studied art, fashion history, pattern making, and draping fabric on a dress form. There were detours before she could utilize her art training, however. She worked as a bank teller for a few years before moving to North Carolina; she and her husband owned video stores; she raised a family. She worked in a doll store for 11 years as well, and that’s where her interest in dolls crystallized. “Working at the doll shop was where I met many doll artists in person, and that exposure to the world of doll art really inspired me.” 
“I started In the 1980s working with cloth dolls, then with paper clay, and then I got bitten by the BJD (ball -jointed dolls) bug in 2003. I started using the same style I use for my cloth dolls in designing my clothes for BJDs; thus the name ‘Rag Patch’, which are vintage-looking, worn, torn, and well-loved working costumes. I like to call my doll clothing ‘Thrift Shop Chic’, and they’re collections of what-nots that all go together; one can mix the outfits up to create all kinds of new looks with the same clothes. It’s just fun to play with them, and see how you can create your own style.”
What she finds most enjoyable and satisfying is bringing a doll to life. “I totally enjoy that process, especially the end result. What makes me happy is when someone really connects with a doll I have customized. I’m so grateful to all my loyal and wonderful followers for all their support and love over the years. If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t have the passion that I do for working on dolls.”
Inspiration comes from either old movies, or from vintage and historical photos focusing on the 1800s to early 1900s. “Tim Burton’s wonderful artistic visions also are a go for me, as he portrays the darkness I always have loved in fashion - anything back streets of old London, worn and tattered, vampires - you never know what I will combine with mixing various colors, patterns, and textures together to create my next fashions for the BJD world.”
Valerie finds the most challenges are managing her time to prepare for shows, and meeting deadlines. She has her own workplace, about which she commented, “Well, let’s just say it’s an organized mess that only I understand where things are. It’s crowded, and filled to the brim with things I love for inspiration. I also like working outdoors when the weather permits, especially on doll stuff such as painting shoes and dying the doll clothes; it is a very peaceful way to work for me.”
“I’ve always loved dolls as long as I can remember,” she continued. “At the age of eight I promised my grandmother that I never would stop playing with dolls, and now I’m in my 60s and I’m still having fun playing with them.”
Asked how she views the future or direction of dolls, she replied, “We need to keep the younger generation interested in dolls by finding new ways to introduce to them our world of imagination and wonder. As a doll enthusiast, I would love to see other new ideas and creativity come from our youth, and by engaging them and bringing them into our world, we can keep the art alive.”
As for what’s next for her, she commented wryly, “Well. I have been saying for years that my next step is to sculpt my own doll; I just  need to stop procrastinating!”
Contact Information:
Valerie Zeitler – Val’s Rag Patch
Email: valzeitler@hotmail.com
Website: www.vjvalzdesigns.com
Address: 2701 Beaconwood Drive, Greensboro NC 27455
Telephone: VZ cell (336) 340-3889