Hello, Friends! 

Are you ready to “talk dolls”?  What would YOU like to talk about? Restoration? Proper care of a vintage doll? Options for display? Clothing for the doll? How to wash and reset the doll’s hair? What’s a fair price when purchasing a doll? Where is a good place to purchase dolls?  How to safely wash/clean those old clothes without harming them?   I want to hear your ideas.  I have gotten messages and emails from several of you about restoring your doll.  I certainly don’t know all there is to know on the subject, but it would be fun to explore it together! After all, that’s why we visit this blog – to talk dolls!  And what better place? I was reminded just this week that dolls is not a subject that you bring up with just anyone without being looked at as if you might be from Mars.  Not everyone loves and admires them like those of us. (I can’t imagine WHY NOT!)  

In the meantime, please share one of your favorite doll memories.  Perhaps you have a favorite doll? Share her picture with us.  I would love to see pictures of your dolls and read why she is so special to you.  

This is one of my favorite dolls.  She is a Vintage Cissy. She is probably one of the very few dolls I own that I didn’t do anything but have her outfit made to my specifications, dress her, and place her in the doll case. 

As you all know, I am a fan of the baby boomer era dolls. I know there are those of you who like Barbie.  I like Barbie, too, but I really don’t know much about her. I want to learn from you!   Anyone restore composition dolls? I know very little about the process, but would like to know more. I see your posts on IG and y’all are so talented in so many different areas. I’m curious…

Speaking of Barbie…I shared my memory of Barbie and my Granny last week.  Had that Barbie not been a Christmas gift when I was a little girl, chances are I would have never taken an interest in sewing. I, like most children, was too busy to sit for very long!  I quickly figured out that a lot of dreams could come true with the craft of sewing and that craft could be used in so many different applications.    Through that Barbie, I spent time with Granny and learned all kinds of sewing techniques from tailoring to sewing with fur.  And as the years passed, I developed many of those skills she kindled in me.  She was creative and very good at using the materials she had to create the look I was wanting for my Barbie.  I remember we had made an extraordinary party dress and I wanted her to have a corsage.  At the time, there was no such thing as silk flowers. She picked up a tiny piece of lace and gathered it into a small circle making it look like a carnation.  She then proceeded to stitch a small embroidery thread bow to the lace and then attach it to the shoulder of Barbie’s dress.  TA-DAH! Barbie had a corsage for her dress.  I have never forgotten that.  For more reasons than I can number, my Granny has always (even though she has passed) had such a big, positive influence on my life.

Please share your doll memories and pictures and let yourself be a child again, for just a few minutes….

Let’s Talk Dolls,

Lynn

Hello!

I’m GLAD you’re here!  I’m hoping you have told others about this blog! It is something I have been excited about for quite some time and I’m so happy to see it taking shape. I would love to see your comments or pictures on anything doll related.

For those of us that are old enough…do you remember the SEARS WISH BOOK arriving in the mail about this time of year with all the newest dolls and toys pictured?  Oh my goodness! This was a BIG thing at our house.  There were three of us girls and each had to wait their turn to hold that precious book in our lap and carefully mark the things you were wishing would show up under your Christmas tree in a couple of months or on your next birthday, etc.  The book was good until mid-summer so you could make your list a little longer in case grandma and grandpa or auntie were interested in sneaking a peek.  Oh! The excitement and anticipation of the possible arrival of one of those beautiful dolls from that book! 

I remember wanting a Chatty Cathy doll.  I was totally amazed that you could pull that little white ring on a string from her back and she would TALK to me!  As I recall, she was THE only talking doll at that time.  And her hair was long enough that you could brush it lightly.  She was just perfect with those big blue eyes and that spattering of freckles across her little button nose.  The scene you are picturing in your imagination right now was close to perfect…except I have not one but two younger sisters.  Of course, they wanted to hold the pretty doll, make her ‘dance’ and make her talk.  OH NO! Please don’t pull that string so hard, she might break! So go the perils of being the oldest sister….I’m sure some of you have been in a similar situation. 

I loved that doll and kept her in good condition for a child of my age.  However, there was one small detail that I thought the toymakers could have improved upon.  Seemed to me that every doll made had blonde hair.  I am a redhead and I couldn’t understand why there were no red-headed dolls.  They did eventually make the doll in both a brunette and a redhead.  I guess they must have heard me bemoan their overuse of blonde hair on the bulk of their dolls. LOL!

I remember the Christmas I received a Barbie doll! She had red fingernails and toenails and long hair and the possibilities of all these beautiful outfits.  It was enough to make your mouth water, and it could all be stored for safekeeping in this wonderful black “leather” case bearing Barbie’s image. While Barbie was a magnificent doll, she was the start of something considerably bigger in my life.  

I was with my Granny at every opportunity.  She was an accomplished seamstress and often had scraps of material that were of a size to make Barbie a dress.  I would sit beside her for hours and we made doll dresses from the scraps.  My doll was so well dressed! So many of the good things I remember and still experience might not have come about without that one Barbie doll.  This is a blog, not a book, so we will continue with that another time. 

For now, do you have a favorite WISH BOOK memory or a story to share?  I would love for you to share a recollection of a childhood doll.  I look forward to hearing from you!

Let’s Talk Dolls, 

Lynn