What exactly does Mary Colmer Do for a living? Well...

1. Cornshuck Dollmaker
2. Song Writer
3. Musician/Performer
4. Shaklee Distributor
5. Washing Service
6. Bed & Breakfast Owner
7. Spinner of Threads
8. Weaver of Rags
9. Baker/Chinese Cooking
10. Newspaper Writer for
    Berea Register- 'Berea Notes'
11. Elf House Maker
12. Teacher
13. Motivational Speaker
14. Story Teller

As you can see it's just about everything!

     The most noticeable difference is the use of a band of ribbon stitched through the skirt of the doll. This can be one line of ribbon or several woven together in intricate designs. The neck of a Ritchie Traditional Doll is wrapped, as are some of the European styles, but the hands are much more complicated, some even having individual fingers. The waist is held securely in place with a special knot beneath the skirt, that keeps the doll together when being played with by small children.

     The dolls are completely tied together with fine linen thread, the only glue being used is to attach the hair and any objects held in the hands. (The glue is a new tradition to replace straight pins

     All of Mary's dolls are signed, dated and numbered by hand, and as of 9/15/2000 she has made 8347 cornshuck dolls in 29 years. She has also written a book on how to make the dolls, entitled .... "Oh Shucks".