The Story of the BHS Class of 1960
50th Reunion Mascot

 Kit Taylor, a recognized felt doll maker, made a special edition, one-of-a-kind doll for the fiftieth reunion.  Many of the doll’s admirers at the reunion’s events wanted the story behind the story revealed.  So here is the rest of the story.

Kit began making dolls as a cancer therapy in 2001.  He started making chair dolls – where the doll is the chair in which you actually sit.  Here is Polar Bear:
bear
 When the house began to overcrowd with chair dolls, Saunie, Kit’s incredibly tolerant wife, said, “You have got to start getting rid of these dolls.  Sell them, give them to charity, whatever, but give me back some house space.” Following that ultimatum, Kit learned the 15th century technique of making felt.  Whereas arsenic and mercury were common ingredients in making felt in old times (“mad as a hatter” and “The Mad Hatter” in Alice in Wonderland), Kit used Ivory soap and water.  With Kit one might suspect that he doesn’t always use just pure soap.  You yourself may well have made felt unintentionally.  Ever had pair of old wool camping or hunting socks that has gotten crusty and matted on the bottom after extended use?  That crust is actually felt made from water (your sweat), heat (hot feet), and pressure (your weight).  The dolls start as forms of merino wool that are shaped and molded using special, extremely sharp felting needles with little grooves and notches that bind the fibers together:
needle
 After a number of steps of felting, the resulting doll is shaped by pulling and pushing the wool into its own form. 
features
 Features and expressions are added.
head
The resulting doll is anywhere from 4 to 9 inches in height.  No glue or thread or paint or any harsh chemicals or materials are used.  The dolls are fun and friendly and are meant to be touched.  Every doll is unique and each has his or her own personality and identity.  The few of the dolls that Kit has sold have fetched hundreds of dollars, but Kit generally just makes them for special people or special occasions.  That tradition carries on to the 2010 exclusive edition of the BHS class of 1960, 50th class reunion mascot.  Decked out in BHS crimson and gold school colors, and sporting a jaunty cap and devilish smile, BHS as he is called by his friends (the H is silent), is ready for the next reunion. 
bhs mascot

bhs mascot
Dan Biggs, our Alumni President, has agreed to be guardian and keeper of BHS and promises to help him attend any functions or occasions where the spirit of the class of 1960 is needed.  And there is the rest of the story.
 
Kit
Kit Taylor, class of 1960