Being the behind hand person that I am, I never thought to save and dry my corn husks this summer.  I was reduced to gleaning corn husks a week ago after several days of rain.  They were spotted with black, raggedy, and thin feeling, but I collected a dozen anyway.

This evening I decided to make my first corn husk doll.  I brought the husks up from the basement where I'd set them to dry, clipped them off their stalks, and put them to soak in a basin of warm water.  They looked less than prepossesing, but I thought 'What the hell.  How bad can they be?".  I learned.

After soaking for a bit, they were limber to the point of limpness.  I chose the best ones to make my doll's head and body, gathered them into the requisite clump, then used a strand of husk to tie them.  The strand broke.   I tried another, yellower strand.  It, too, wouldn't stand the strain.  I finally used string.  

OK.  I turn the husks over to make a head.  So far, so good.  I braid arms.  They break.  I braid legs.  They break.  I say bad words.  Many bad words.  I try again.  This time, I have arms and legs.  I attach them as per instructions and tie them in place with string (I'm dim but I can learn).  

I make a fluffy (hah) skirt for my dear dollie.  She has a speckled, sneering face but I don't want her nekkid.  She still sneers at me. 

When she dries, I hope she'll fluff up a bit.  No matter how well her skirts fluff, she's going to be a tough looking cookie.  I'll post a pic when she's dry and presentable.

Perhaps some vagrant Goth will want her. 

You can wait.  Believe me.  She is thin, ragged, speckled, and other-worldly.  I created her so she's mine, but you will be sad and sorry when you see her. 

Thanks, all, for the kind words.  My sister believes that my corn husk doll was the inspiration for The Blair Witch Project.  My SO asked me to make a bunch for him so he can nail them up on his property line trees instead of Posted signs.  My daughter was horrified/enchanted with Dolly, wanted to take her to school, then decided not to as she was afraid she'd be expelled for practicing sorcery.

Sigh….

I'm gonna make some more!