Halloween Dolls

I've become a devotee of Facebook this year, so blogging has definitely taken a back seat...more like been run off the road for me. I do keep in touch with my fav blogs via e-mail, which is great! Anyway, it appears that there will not be any Halloween Peekaboos this year :-( Kelly is still running strong for 2009 with Miranda as the bride of frankenstein; Kayla as a green zombie; and Kelly as a cute vampire-ess.

I'm a virtual assistant/bookkeeper/girl friday by trade and one of my clients is in the exhibits and tradeshow industry. I travel with her for shows and there is a chance that we might go to Toy Fair (TIA) in February! I've researched the show and there are several exhibitors from Colorado who might need some assistance. I hope so as I would adore going to NY for the infamous show "ToyCon"!

New Doll Home

Decided to move the dolls from the open bookcase, to the bookcase with glass doors. Started to be a bit concerned about dust.

Went to Santa Fe Folk Art Market last weekend and bought some darling little dolls from Georgia and Uzbekistan (top photo, bottom shelf, towards the front).

Kiddles, Kiddles, Kiddles

Here's a picture of my new adoptees. They should arrive by Monday. I've been following the kiddle market recently and have been able to snap up some deals again...yay! I've also fallen in love with the Etsy shopping site. There are many talented doll artists out there!

It's Spring and It's Apple Blossom Time!

It's my lucky day! I was missing two Kologne Kiddles; now I'm only missing one--Bluebell. I used to visit ebayland every day and as a result happened across many bargains. But even bargains can pinch one's pocketbook, so I swore off and haven't bought any kiddles since November of last year. The seller today not only had an excellent price for Miss Apple Blossom, but threw in these two vintage kiddle clones as well! There are actually many clone collectors, but I'm not one of them. However, I do have a few that were all thrown in with various kiddle purchases. There really is no comparison between a clone and a kiddle--the genius designers at Mattel made each Liddle Kiddle face absolutely perfect!

Paper Dolls!

A very dear friend found a set of Lucky Locket Paper Dolls and gave them to the other day. So nice...couldn't have been more suprised. Karen is also a collector, not so much of dolls but of beautiful china and fun kitschy stuff. We both do share a love of vintage barbies, though.

My grandmother always saved the Betsy McCall paper dolls out of McCalls magazine for me. I absolutely adored paper dolls because it meant that you could have lots of clothes and accessories. Real doll clothes and accessories were luxuries back in the 1970's and many of us made our own, which was fun and creative in it's own right. However, when that Sears Christmas catalogue came in the mail, I couldn't help but lust over sequined gowns and fabulous "fur" coats and muffs.

Cinnamon Girl

So excited yesterday to get a surprise gift of Miss Cinnamon Girl. I think she is just beautiful, but mostly I wanted her because I love the Neil Young song.

Blythe Fans

Here's an e-mail I just received from Gina. There's still time left, and it's for a good cause. I don't know how to stream this page directly to my blog, so here's the old-fashioned, copied & pasted, links: http://www.thisisblythe.com/shop/cart.php?target=category&category_id=159

http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid=m38.l1313&_nkw=manna+energy&_sacat=See-All-Categories


Hey everyone,

Just wanted to give you an update on the dress drive. To date we've raised close to $3000. THANK YOU to all who have made and/or bought dresses. I'm so, so grateful for your participation. The ebay portion of the drive comes to an end at 11 am on Friday, May 1. To see and bid on those dresses please go here. I've also lowered the prices of the remaining dresses in my shop to $30. There are so many incredible designs left, all of which can be seen here.THANK YOU again and again for your support on this! I really appreciate it.

xo
gina

P.S.-- Here's a cool link for the coloring page image: http://princess-coloring-pages.blogspot.com/2008/10/more-free-princess-coloring-pages.html

Hello Kitty! Hello World!

Dial back to 1987--First "real" job at Baskin Robbins, cash in my pocket and change in my new Hello Kitty coin purse! Got a little ribbing from my friends, but they weren't the ones with the 1st real job, 1st real boyfriend (an actor...so cute in "South Pacific!"), and a summer full of theater parties!

By the time my daughter was born, Sanrio had taken Hello Kitty into the marketing stratosphere. Hello Kitty was everywhere, and of course, I wanted Jill to have Hello Kitty everything! (I did the same thing with dolls for her. We laugh now because she really wasn't ever into dolls.) I do think she liked Hello Kitty, though, because she still has calendar cut-outs in her room. And, what's not to love? Hello Kitty has her own restaurants, shops, friends, and is rich, rich, rich! It's the American dream Japanese style.

Back to Kiddles

I love to visit doll blogs and the doll groups on Flickr because there are so many great pictures! I have never been a great photographer, a quality I must have inherited from my parents. In fact, I recently had to borrow a magnifying glass to look at one of my childhood pics. (Albeit, I was cheekily holding a Liddle Kiddle in front of my face! Even with the magnifying glass I am still not sure, but think it is Shirley Skediddle.) Anyway, that's the way all of my childhood photos are: a bit out of focus and lacking detail.

One of my best clients, and very good friends, is a photographer. She owns an incredible studio in downtown Littleton called Element One Photography. I think I'm going to take her up on her offer to photgraph some of my collection. In the meantime, any photo tips would be greatly appreciated!

"Art is only art when it is synonymous with living."-Alexander Girard

Went on a lovely trip to Santa Fe this weekend. Fell in love with the International Museum of Folk Art, especially the Girard collection. Actually, I had seen the collection about 16 years ago and was so amazed at the size and that Alexander and Susan had collected all of these treasures themselves. I got lost inside each diorama; every scene escape worthy.

I particularly like this quote I found on the museum's website:

Toys represent a microcosm of man’s world and dreams.They exhibit fantasy, imagination, humor and love.They are an invaluable record and expression of mans ingenious unsophisticated imagination.-Alexander Girard

Just Chillin'

Oh, to have the life of a doll! Sure, they are plastic, inanimate, and only capable of a couple of expressions, but then so are a lot of people I've met.

I actually didn't like original Blythe dolls back in the 1970's. I thought they were ugly and scary with their weird changing eyes and dark circles. However, if I would have bought a couple of them back then I would have enough money today to go on a trip to Europe. Yep, Blythe's are worth thousands of dollars because they are so scarce. Apparently, alot of other children didn't like them, either.

Anyway, I love today's Petite Blythe...much cuter and more approachable!

Basket 'o Barbies!

I rescued these Barbies, and their friends, from a thrift store bucket. I dress them in vintage Sindy and Barbie outfits. Anytime I need a lift for the day I get out the clothes, and little hairbrush, and spend an hour in play. Actually, I read a true story about a Barbie collector whose collection helped her get through a tragic event in her life. And Stuart Brown is in the news lately with his new book, Play: How It Shapes the Brain, Opens the Imagination and Invigorates the Soul. I haven't read it yet, but I have it on hold at the library. His contention is that we all need play every day, especially during times of economic stress.

I am reading Johan Huizinga's book, Home Ludens: A Study of the Play Element in Culture. Huizinga contends that all culture comes from play.
I just know that spending time with my dolls takes me out of myself and allows me time to just be for the moment.

Cuties of the Day

Tori Tulip is doing her best Vanna showcasing these darling chocolates today. I bought them for my son's Easter basket and then immediately rescued the froggies and snail once he talked about actually eating them! Don't feel bad for the kid--he's 17 and basically eating eating me out of house and home.

Mint Chip Madison and Miss Dorothy

Of the entire Peak-a-boo Petities Ice Cream Cutie line, Mint Chip Madison was the most difficult to find. In fact, only two were listed on ebay. The week before Easter I was driving around quite a bit on different jobs, and kept running into Walmart stores. So, I stopped at each one and found Mint Chip and the entire Wizard of Oz line. (A couple of notes about this line: so strange that Toto is nowhere to be found not even as a charm; and the remaining characters, Tin Man, Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion, and Glenda all have the exact same charms as Dorothy. If it were up to me, I would have different charms on each one like an oil can, a wand, an apple, a broom, etc.) Anyway, I really wanted to find two Dorothy's, one to give to Jill and one to keep. Jill has always adored The Wizard of Oz. No dice, but at least they all get to live in Jill's room.

I hope peekaboos come out with more storybook sets, especially Alice in Wonderland, just like the little kiddles, kelly, and barbie lines all have!

Anzi Dolls

I have fallen in love with Anzi dolls. I like that no two dolls are exactly alike, each are poseable, the face detail is excellent, they can wear Kelly clothes, and who wouldn't love the price--each doll is only $1.00 to $1.50!

My kids discovered that on the back of every "Lovely Anzi" package there is a cryptic message:

It is happy to Swim to

Round me

Everyday

You also may

Be happy

They thought this was simply hilarious, one more thing for two teenagers to tease their mom about. However, I say this could be the secret to life. We could all do worse than to live by these words.

Snowy Day in April

Last month I posted that March started out just beautiful, spring-like, and sure enough, it ended like a lion with lots, and lots of snow. April will be our snowiest month here in Colorado this year, which really isn't unusual.

I wish I could just stay home and write today, but I have to go to of all things, a spring-themed business tradeshow. I was at set-up last night and the irony of the theme put a wry smile on my face. In fact, the news just said that we should have two to three feet of snow here! Freezy Sliddle loves to look out the window and watch the snowfall.

Dream Wish List

This morning I went visiting in EbayLand. I didn't buy anything, but oh man if I had money...! It was fun, though, because I made a list for my kids of possible Mothers Day presents. Yep, I'm one of those moms that has finally woken-up and started asking for what I want for the few holidays I have. When Jill and Steven were little, they delighted in going out and shopping for something "special" for Mom. It was always fun to see what they thought I just couldn't live without, which, by the way, were very close to things they wanted--like stuffed animals, plaques with butterflys on them, "stained glass" window displays, boxes of candy, etc. Jill was the first to really start trying and asking me what I might like, plus she is an artist and made me several things that I still treasure today.

The list I made today was comprised entirely of Liddle Kiddles. The prices are such that I only expect one, but it sure is fun to dream.

The Psychedlic Experience

Jill and I went to the Denver Art Museum's Psychedlic Experience this weekend with John. I know she feels displaced having been born into this time period and not the "Summer of Love". However, I don't think she would have liked the 60's, or even the 70's. First, things were not really that great for girls (read The White Album by Joan Didion). Secondly, the first time some guy called Jill his "Old Lady" and told her to go bake some macrobiotic bread for his "band", well, it would be the last time for sure!

I did buy a trippy set of dolls from the Smoothie Pop Girls line--$5.00 in the Easter section at Walmart. (Hmmm...note to self...maybe they are half price now :-)

Holiday Dolls

I have a ficus tree in my bedroom that I have been decorating with dolls for each holiday. I have always had twinkle lights on the tree, but never really thought of decorating it. Then the Halloween Peekaboos came out. I wanted to display them without taking them out of the package. At first I put them in my daughter's room, where incidently, I display many of my dolls because she is away at college. Although, I felt kind-of bad about putting dolls in Jill's room, but when she came home for fall break I offered to take out the Kellys and Peekaboos and Tuttis, but she wouldn't let me--so sweet! Anyway, we decided that the ficus tree would be the perfect place to hang the Halloween dolls.

I noticed that both Kelly and Peekaboos came out with Christmas dolls. I had seen Barbie holiday dolls in the past, but not really being a Barbie collector hadn't paid much attention. So, I had a sweet Christmas display on my bedroom tree. Same for Valentines Day, and now Easter...the little package the dolls come in are perfect for hanging. Now, if I could just take a good, clear picture of the tree! Jill is coming home for Easter so maybe I'll ask her to bring her fancy camera and have her take a pic for me.

People who collect dolls are GREAT!

I can't believe that I haven't posted to my blog for over a month! Actually, I've been working on a novel about a news reporter who rediscovers her childhood love--dolls! Yesterday a friend called and was just wondering how my business was going in this economy and also how my doll blog was going. I'm like, oh yeah, I have a doll blog. I originally started it to meet other doll collectors and find out how they went about it, etc, and just share this great love of all things adorable, cute, and enchanting--all things dolls!

The one thing that I have found out for sure is that people who love dolls are just plain nice. I bought my one and only, never-removed-from package, liddle kiddle--Pretty Parlor--on ebay. As I communicated back and forth with the seller, I realized that I was talking to the lady who wrote THE BOOK on Liddle Kiddles. When Pretty Parlor arrived she came with lots of extras from Paris, along with a hand written note. So special!

Then, when I ordered my Kelly books I got a note from the online store that the books would be shipping directly from the author. I sent a quick e-mail to the author after I received these beautiful books and her response was just so genuine and lovely. Not to mention, all of the notes, and extra gifts, I've received from fellow doll collectors.

I'm reading a book about "play" in human culture and it has really opened my eyes to the innate need in all of us to play every day.

Miss Velvet and the Bears

My neighbor, Michelle, and I used to play with our Velvet dolls pretty much every day up until 6th grade. Her doll's name was Hillary and my doll's name was Hayley. I loved the Parent Trap and I loved Hayley Mills. For Michelle it was all about the hair; for me it was all about the clothes, especially sewing the clothes. When we went into junior high, Michelle's hair was a perfect Farah Fawcett do and mine was the stick straight Marcia Brady do...but I had the clothes! In 7th grade I saved my babysitting money and was a regular at the fabric store.

Comes in like a lamb...

No snow here in Colorado. Darn! I was really hoping for snow so that our spring would be more like a real spring this year. You know...if March comes in like a lamb, it goes out like a lion. This aphorism generally holds true for my native state. What's more is that April tends to be one of our snowiest months. Oh well, nothing to be done.

Dollcena is so darling dressed in her little Kelly outfit. She came to me in a Winnie the Pooh costume that covered up her lovely lavender hair! I myself have never died my hair purple but, come to think of it, as a kid my favorite Liddle Kiddle Kologne was Miss Lilac with the lovely purple hair.

I received my set of three Kelly Green Books on Friday. Perfect timing as I had just come down with a knock-down-drag-out cold and looking at pictures of Kelly dolls was about all I could do Friday evening. The DDI World Kids Dolls are included in one of the books and apparently they were distributed to KayBee Toys in the year 2000. I'm still hoping to find more of these cuties, but at least I have the pictures to look at now.

Betsy Goes Visiting

Betsy borrowed cute pink flower boots from the petite blythes' closet and went visiting yesterday.

Homecoming

Betsy arrived this weekend! To prepare, I had already picked-up some darling dresses at the local doll store. My son, Steven, Betsy, and I all watched the Oscars last night. The whole evening we floated names about--Isabella, Bella, Paige, Cynthia, Casey, Amelia--but none have stuck yet. I'm a bit partial to just Betsy, but we'll see...

Little Mermaid and Friends

My first lot of Kelly dolls included some miscellaneous, tiny, disney-type dolls. One for sure is the Little Mermaid, then the other one is Belle, and the other two I christened Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella. I had recently purchased a hang-on-the-wall Christmas tree from one of those "Everything $19.99 and Under!" catalogues, with which I was very impressed. So, I ordered their barbie-type storydolls and paired them with my little sister counterparts, added some peekaboos, and they are all very content and have promised to live happily ever after. The End.

World Kid Dolls Update!

Yay! Miss DollyMad was right with her information that World Kid Dolls are somehow related to Kelly. Apparently, my little beauties are foreign Kelly dolls. The Amazon book reviews are very complimentary, but the book is $89.95! And, alas, no copies at my local library, or on prospector. :-(

Kelly

One of the things that I noticed when I found Kelly dolls on Amazon is how inexpensive they are, even new-mint-in-box. I went over to ebayland and saw large lots of Kelly dolls starting at $10.00. Hmmm...maybe I should get some of these dolls and practice fixing their hair, cleaning, etc., and then I could do the same for Liddle Kiddles! And maybe I should get one of these large lots of shoes and clothes, too, because all of that is less than one good Liddle Kiddle, I reasoned. So I did and as soon as I opened the packages I fell in love with Kelly. I must say that I don't like the Kelly with the round, open, mouth for bottle or pacifier. It's not so cute and it brings back bad memories of trying to get my son off of the "binky" many years ago!

Here is a nice website page about Kelly dolls: http://www.lilfriends.net/guide/basic/kiddle.html