Category Archives: Dolls

Too Many… Dolls!

For me, that is. In the course of one day I suddenly decided that I NEED to get rid of the dolls that I am not making outfits for. Well, some of the them anyway. I guess the ones that I know I will never make anything for really should find new homes.

A couple of (maybe a few) years ago I sold the first 14″ Kish Chrysalis doll (Grace), two of Ann Estelle’s friends (Gracie and Georgia), and Marley Wentworth; it was fine. Of course it was fine. Look at the dolls I still have! I still have three other 14″ Kish Chrysalis dolls, 10″ Ann Estelle and Sophie. I also have a large Ann Estelle and Lilah (10″ Ann Estelle’s sister). I have lots of other Kish dolls: Tamsin, Alisha, four Riley sized: Riley, Tulah, Zsu Zse, and Avery, three of the small babies: Ellery, Jessamyn, and Miki, a Lisbet (who needs a new lip repaint). Two BJD dolls, a Bo Bergemann Dream Doll and a Pamela Macy Remy are also sitting around. These are all dolls that I do not actively sew for.

In addition to these dolls, I have huge cartons filled with NRFB Barbie, Skipper, Stacie, and Kelly dolls. Most of these are from the 1990s.

I am not a collector in the sense that one thinks of as a collector because I just don’t like to have a lot of things around. (And, it’s taken me many years to learn this about myself.) The one exception to this is my creative supplies: fabric, yarn, beads, etc. Having those “things” around sparks, not saps, my energy. These extra dolls are sapping my creative energy.

Really… already! I need to destash, declutter, downsize, or whatever it is called.

I snapped this photo yesterday of my 18″ Ann Estelle whom I’ve had since 2003. She is the largest in my “doll collection”. Poor, poor Ann gets no attention whatsoever. She has such a sweet face, doesn’t she?

Comments, please! Any thoughts you might have will help. Please! I need words of wisdom (or just simple words) on how to start, so I can move on.

This Past Week

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Here are a couple of shots from inside my studio this past week. My desk photo shows my two projects that I had going on towards the end of the week. Patience’s outfit is finished, but I am still knitting the dress for the Little Darlings; lots of stitches in this one. Amelia Thimble and Izzy have been hanging out with Bella (my Bo Bergemann Dream Doll). She is happy to have the little ones to keep her company.

This weather this past week in northern Illinois was quite perfect. Some days were a bit warmer than others, but all were sunny! Since yesterday felt like summer I had to get out for a nice long walk. I brought along my iPhone to capture spring’s progress out and about.

This weeping willow looked so pretty with its yellow green buds against the blue sky. I found clumps of squill growing along the side of the road; they’re so tiny and blue.

These are our daffodils in full bloom.

Our largest magnolia tree looks snowy when in bloom.

I love our pink magnolia tree, the blossom’s colors are gorgeous. Today I finished Patience’s outfit and thought the tree would be the perfect backdrop for a couple of photos.

Hope you enjoy the rest of the weekend!

My Favorite Doll Books

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When I go into a bookstore I almost always browse through the childrens books looking for delightful illustrations. Illustrated childrens books are one of my favorite things and if it is a sweet story that includes dolls I am hooked. I only have two in my collection, but am always looking for more.

The Story of Holly and Ivy by Rumer Godden was originally published in Ladies’ Home Journal in 1957. In 1985, illustrations were added to the story and this is the book that I discovered at my local library years ago. After checking it out for a few years in a row at Christmastime I wanted my own copy. Lucky for me it was republished in 2006. It is now in my collection and one I look through every Christmas season. I love the magical old world story and looking at the cozy illustrations by Barbara Cooney.

The other doll book in my collection is one that I had as a child and loved so much. I forgot about this book, but stumbled upon it online recently. Seeing the cover of this book on the internet brought back a flood of memories that made me want to add this to my collection as well. The Surprise Doll was originally published in 1949, but published again in 2009.