I’ve been on a decluttering kick due to a recent course I’m taking. It’s supposed to be an emotional and also a mindset decluttering, but I find it much easier to declutter stuff. So I started in the attic. Creating new homes for your childhood doll collection may inspire you to turn your passion for dolls into a business. If you're living in the Empire State and this strikes a chord with you, learning about llc filing in New York could be a crucial step in making your entrepreneurial dream a reality.
Our attic is filled with so much stuff - from old suitcases (we had 6 for 3 people and I got rid of two) to artwork, to bins and bins of Emma’s artwork and classwork from the last 17 years, as well. There were several bins of christmas ornaments and I decluttered at least one box of those. And among the boxes and boxes of stuff, was a box full of my childhood dolls. The box has been up in the attic for at least 10 years I think, or more, after my mom, gave my dolls back to me after having stored them for eons, herself. Emma had no real interest in the dolls so up in the attic they went.
I decided it was time to let them go. There is no way, I’m going to ever have the space to properly display them, AND, I don’t want to become that “Doll Lady”, if you know what I mean. Not that I don’t have incredible potential for that outcome, but I feel that I need to contain that bit of myself, just a little bit.
Thankfully, I’m married to an amazing photographer who was willing to photograph my collection for me. This actually, made me FEEL much better about letting these sweet dolls out of my life. I now have an amazing documentation of their existence and that takes up much less space.
The bisque doll, above, was given to me by my grandmother, when I was 8 years old. It was given to her when she was 8 years old (in 1912). The doll is a lovely example made by the German Doll Company - J.D.K . (Kestner, King of Dolls) Her head is bisque (porcelain) and her body composite. She was redressed and re-wigged in the 1970’s by a friend of my grandmother’s, Louise Chapeneaux.
The clothes are completely hand sewn, with a little glue (ha ha!). I can’t believe she used glue, but it was the 1970’s. I think my grandmother might have made the little felt shoes that were embroidered. The whole ensemble is just very sweet, with lace and beads and ribbon and dot plisse fabric. And the bonnet is so cute too! Her clothes were definitely my favorite, growing up.
This next doll was my mom’s growing up. She was also redressed by Ms. Chapeneaux around the same time. It’s funny, but her stockings were two different lengths. I wonder how that came to be? Her bonnet was velvet trimmed in fur, ribbons, lace and vintage appliques and she has little gold painted canvas shoes and plisse bloomers. The doll itself is from the Ideal Doll Company and she is the Deanna Durbin model with golden eyes. She is entirely composite.
These two porcelain dolls were made by my mom and myself in 1981. The standing doll was made by my mom and the baby doll by myself (I was 11 years old) . We took a doll making class with our local pottery painting workshop and learned how to paint the dolls with lifelike skin tones and eyes. My mom’s doll has jointed arms and legs and looks like her eyes were added later. It’s truly a lovely example and I’m actually going to keep her. I made the clothes at the time. Not so bad for 11 years old. It might be time to give her a new wig, however and perhaps a new, more sophisticated ensemble.
My baby doll is amazing considering I was just 11 when I made her. She is, however, kind of creepily sad with a tear welling up under her eye. She is still available for purchase if you are looking to adopt a new doll.
These dolls are from Poland and were apparently purchased by my great aunts during their travels. Some of my dolls came with these notes, which were somewhat informative. I don’t remember these dolls from my childhood AT ALL. I think that’s because they didn’t have fancy outfits on. I was all about the FANCY OUTFIT at the time, so these dolls wouldn’t have seemed very special. Now, however, I can totally recognize their darlingness. I love their little cloth bodies and mismatched outfits. Don’t they look like sisters?
This doll appears to be a Caribbean doll from Haiti. I think my mom brought her back from a cruz she took to Haiti with my step-dad.
This grouping of native dolls is quite special. The Inuit dolls from Alaska are made from fur, felt and leather with hand painted faces. The Seminole Indian dolls came from Florida and are made from Palmetto fiber with colorful tiered dresses and dramatic black hats. The Navajo doll has gray mohair hair and is made from plastic with sleeping eyes.
So fascinating how the dolls are so different, yet nostalgic in similar ways. I’ve found good homes for some of these, but the Alaska Dolls still need homes.
Story Book dolls! I had 4 of these. Two had sleep eyes and the other two hand painted faces . The only one left is the brunette. She is still so cute and has such a pouty face.
These two beauties are from the Pont-Aven Bretagne region in France and were acquired by my great Aunts during their travels. Their velvet gowns are bejeweled in metallic lace and satin with white lace paper head dresses similar to traditional costumes worn in this region.
This celluloid doll with lace corona and floral dress is so tiny (Less than 5"“ tall) and adorable. No one has claimed her yet, but I have someone in mind if she doesn’t sell.
I remember playing with this doll as a child, but only very delicately. I LOVED her fancy costume, but especially her lace crown and hair ribbons . She seemed VERY fancy to me at the time. It’s funny to look back at her and realize that the doll itself is made from plastic (not so fancy) but she does have separate shoes, stockings and a very fancy dress and apron.
From a note included in the package with this doll, it looks as if my mom made her outfit. The outfit appears to be a communion dress, which would totally be in line with my mom’s upbringing. There is quite a bit of staining from glue, but she is still quite cute and will hopefully get a lot of love, from someone else in the near future.
And these two I call my Rainbow Pride dolls. They are both winking! I didn’t notice that until Mark pointed it out. Someone made these yarn dolls by hand, embroidered their faces and crocheted their clothes. My first impression was unimpassioned , but I’ve warmed to them and adore their winking eyes.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this foray into my past. It’s been a delight to reach back and remember my time with this collection. If you are interested in seeing what’s still available, you can click here:
https://www.ebay.com/usr/bonjour_teaspoon_by_jennifer_serr
Until Next Time, xoxo Jennifer
