Meet Betsy … she is not mine, she is my mother’s. Mom got her for a birthday gift when she was about 6 … she started showing her age about 25 years ago so my dad snuck her out of the house, sent her to the dolly hospital and had her repaired & restyled with some lovely new clothes and wig. Miss Betsy … meet Hayley, my irl Doll! This photo is about 20 years old.
Brucey! This is and always will be my favourite doll. Brucey is the first doll I received. I named her after the neighbour’s new baby Bruce … a girl doll with a boy name. I remember being very young … trying to nap in my crib, playing with Brucey and her arms came off … I have this recollection of standing and screaming for my mom to come fix Brucey … now I know we really don’t remember things from an early age but I do remember this … I remember feeling confused when I saw the broken elastic dangling from the end of one of Brucey’s arms …. I remember the sense of relief and comfort I felt when Mom fixed Brucey and gave her back to me …. I almost feel like I am cozying up with her now for a much needed nap. And Brucey’s clothes … all hand knit by my Grandma … I am amazed that they have held up so well over the years ... unlike her feet and hands and a bit of her head which were all chewed on by moi.
The little dolls are all gifts from my grandma … she knit or crocheted all of their outfits … again I am amazed that they have all held up so well.
Dolly …. I remember the day I found a book in the library that told you how to make dolls … I remember sitting on the library floor and just feeling like I was in some sort of wonderland … the dolls were all so beautiful … and I felt so blessed when Mom gave the nod that I could check the book out. And I remember making dolly …. I remember going through the fabric scraps looking for just the right bits of lace and fabric. I remember wrapping the pipecleaner frame with yards of fabric, and carefully knotting the hair onto her head … I was about 6 or 7 when I made Dolly … and she was one of my first real labour’s of love.
Isn’t this little pink doll cute! … I don’t have a name for her but my daughter bought her at a craft fair and gave her to me in my stocking this Christmas … she is a teeny tiny clay doll! Totally adorable!!!
Barbie … sadly I don’t have her anymore, but she was one of the originals … with the short dark brown hair … My Great Aunt was a seamstress and published author on sewing design and techniques. She would give me her left over bits of gorgeous fabrics (she only did the best) … and I remember sitting under the plum tree in the summer sewing these beautiful scrounged pieces of silk into Barbie clothes …
My other Great Aunt and Uncle travelled the world … from almost every stop they brought me a doll. I had the most amazing doll collection … some of them are so fondly remembered … I can almost feel the silk and lace of the doll from France, and the leather and fur from my Eskimo doll … Sadly this collection was lost or stolen somehow during a move … I still miss by babies …
Hayley … my daughter … more than a living doll, the best gift ever … I think I will save the details for this entry till the letter H.
28 comments:
What a perfect topic for the letter D. Thanks for sharing your sweet dolls. I considered doing the same, but decided on a valentine theme. Hope you stop by for a visit. Happy Valentine's Day!
What a wonderful, sweet post Jo! I loved all my dolls so much as a child and I was so thrilled to have a daughter ( now in her late 20's) so that I could buy dolls for her :-)
I hope to have a grand daughter one day so I can pass on those dolls to her.
Happy "D"!
PS I wish the NE USA could send our snow that way for the Olympics! We certainly have enough to spare...lol!
Oh...your post almost made me cry. My sister made and collected dolls of all kinds. Your post reminded me very much of her.
My favorite is the one you made when you were six or seven. It's so neat that you can remember the process so clearly. But Brucey is pretty sweet, too.
Actually they are all sweet and so are you!
A+ for your Alphabe-Thursday "D" post!
Your dolls and doll memories are all so sweet! Looking back, I wish I had kept more of my dolls.
All your dollies are so sweet, especially the one you made yourself. Your Dad was such a sweetheart to send your Mom's favorite doll to be repaired.
And your real baby doll is adorable in pink!!!
(my post is about my daughter too)
I love your stories, what great memories you have. This makes me want to dig out my old dollies and take a few photos to scrap.
Perfect post for the letter D. I'd call it downright delightful!
Perfect subject for the letter D! What a wonderful collection you have, and the memories that go with them make it priceless. I love your description of sitting in the library and feeling as if you had fallen into wonderland - aren't books great! Kathy
Being a doll person myself I thoroughly enjoyed your post. You're so fortunate to still have those dolls and memories.
I love dolls! I have been considering making some out of paper mache and plaster composite.
So sweet those dolls!
Thanks for sharing them with us :)
Oh my gosh! I can't believe I didn't think about posting about my dolls! They're all Barbies, though. I completely identify with your attachment to and memories of your dolls.
Very sweet! My grandmother loved dolls and had a room full of them. Oh how we enjoyed visiting with them!
Those are all lovely dolls. It's wonderful that you saved them all.
That was a cute story about Brucey and your dolls are adorable.
This is such a fun post. Thanks for sharing your memories =)
My great grandma had quite a doll collection, now you've inspired me to inquire about where it went when she passed away!
so sweet. I just gave all my childhood dolls to my niece...except for 1...my raggedy ann that I got for christmas at 3 years old. She has a new dress, but still has the "heart" i drew on her with bic pen. I cherish her.
stopping by from alphabe-thursday
I love your dolly's!!
so sweet and I have such fond memories of my dolls, that my little sister destoryed I wish I still had them all. I loved to make clothes for them and that is what got me sewing!!
they're all adorable! I like the last two dolls
thanks for your visit to my alphabe-thursday
Wonderful post. I love dolls also and have a couple from my childhood. But the real live baby doll is the prettiest by far!
Your dolls stories are very delightful. I wonder how many dolls you have.
Wow...those are very interesting dolls!
Good Morning and Happy Valentine's Day weekend!
I was reading your posts and being envious of your scrapbooking talents! The first thing that I thought of was the movie that I just watched..."New in Town" with Renee Zellweiger and Harry Connic, Jr....you gotta see if you haven't already--
I love the bright colors of your blog!
what great memories the doll post brings up and all of your dolls are wonderful...My favorite is the one you made.....Melinda
What wonderful memories! Sounds like your crafting started at a very young age!
Thanks for sharing your dolly memories! My favourite doll was called Esmerelda! Don't know how or why - I don't think it could have been my choice. I'm just wondering if she's still in my loft...
oh Jo... I loved your post about your dolls... I too am a doll person and still have my original Barbie..the one with the pony tail and the funny molded eye lashes... I love the little one you made when you were little. I made some porcelain dolls I will show you one day...if you ever get up here!!
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