Thursday, December 1, 2011

Playing With Dolls

I never was much for playing with dolls. 

At the Museum we had a naked doll.  I shivered every time I passed her case. I was tempted to cover her with some kind of blanket.  I wished I could sew…alas I cannot.

However I have a Board Member who is a kind gentle soul who can sew!  Her name is Alice!  Alice has her own Schoenhut Doll. She told me that her name was Margaret or Beverly or some such name..all really good doll people name their dolls.  I have never named a doll in my entire life.

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This was the poor naked doll, one foot is a little longer than the other.  I am showing you this for a reason.  Notice the joints.

Albert Schoenhut was a German Immigrant that settled in Philadelphia, PA in 1911.  His family was well known for wooden toy making.  He made this doll completely out of wood. The doll heads were carved from basswood.  Then they were put in a mold of some sort and heated up to make the head all smooth.  Now for the joints. Albert designed and patented a steel spring hinge tension technique. The joints were flexible and allowed the doll to be posed.

Alice sewed. We test fit the new outfit..Alice didn’t like the color of the muslin she used, it was very white.  I suggested that she mix up some tea and let the fabric soak up the color.  The next day there was a package for me on the Museum steps.

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Inside the package was tea stained clothing and tiny little shoes.  I sat at my desk and dressed the doll and took some photographs of her.

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I emailed Alice a photo.  She called me back..and said cut the shoe laces..please!  So I did. This doll looks pretty good for being 100 years old.

Some days at the Museum I get paid for playing with dolls.   I am working for the Museum part time over the winter..from home.  I can work in my jammies..and sometimes I do! :)

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24 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well, you know my love for antique dolls and this is so sweet! Wow, I wish I had Alice's talent. Beautiful dress and I love that she tea-stained it. A great addition to the museum.

Rae said...

There are a lot of adults that collect dolls. I played with a few of them when I was a kid, but never had the desire to collect them. This one in your pic is undoubtedly very valuable. Good to see her dressed now.

DJan said...

That's an adorable little dress. I had dolls when I was little and probably named them, but I don't remember even one. Maybe my sister Norma Jean does, I'll ask her next time we chat.

LindaG said...

What a talented friend!
And a very lovely doll. :)
If I could work from home, I'd do it in my jammies all the time! ;-)

Changes in the wind said...

The doll looks so much better dressed and it fits her to a "tea"

EBet said...

What a cute doll......You are so nice to have put some cloths on the poor dear!!!

Nancy said...

I had a three favorite dolls, but none of them had names that I remember - just "Dolly."

SparkleFarkel said...

Followed you here via Leenie's sidebar (at Side Trips). What a lovely, comfy-cozy blog you share! Might I set a spell? *cLiCkY-cLiCkYs Far Side of Fifty's "Follow" button* Thanks!

SparkleFarkle~~~~~*

Dreaming said...

I wasn't much of a doll person, either.
Alice did a fabulous job with the dress. It is so perfect for the period. How wonderful!

Anonymous said...

What a cute doll!

L. D. said...

It really is a great restoration. The clothes do make it look authentic. Tea staining was a new one for me but it was really a natural dye. My wife has a large ceramic doll head but no body.

Muffy's Marks said...

She did a wonderful job making the antique little doll some new clothes. I wonder if we will look so good at 100?

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

How very precious that little antique doll is.

My Granny Walden had a china head doll I would of loved to have but all went to my 'boy' cousins 'cause they'd keep the Walden name. Booger!

May God bless your day sweetie!!! :o)

linda m said...

That is a cool story. Glad the doll finally got some clothes.

Judy said...

When we can't do it ourselves, it pays to know who can...she looks much better with clothes...

Country Gal said...

I am not a fan of dolls either never was, when I was a kid they freaked me out lol have no idea why !
Great photos and info of the doll though and the dress is pretty what a wonderful job ! Yup I love being in my jammies sometimes when I am blogging as I am fully retired now heck you can find me in the yard taking photos in my jammies lol yup the nutty country gal ! have a wonderful day !

walk2write said...

Fascinating doll history. I still can't believe that I gave away my dolls years ago, before I married and had kids. Your friend is a jewel for dressing the doll.

Leenie said...

Margaret or Beverly thanks you and Alice!

Terry and Linda said...

She is beautiful! The dress is perfect. I don't collect dolls, but as you know I do have one I've kept forever.

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com

Rita said...

I only had one cloth doll I eventually named "Cookie" that was a present from my uncle on my first birthday. She was as big as I was, they always told me. I still have her. But normally I was not a doll or stuffed animal girl at all. The dog chewed up my Barbie doll. I was only slightly annoyed. ;)

That really is the perfect little dress for her. I am glad you finally got the poor thing clothed, though. Dolls seem like they should be dressed. She did an excellent job! :)

Pauline Persing said...

What a nice story. I'm going to send this blog to my sisters.

Nancy/BLissed-Out Grandma said...

That doll looks much lovelier now that she is dressed, and the dress is perfect! And good for you, working from home in your jammies!

Red said...

Now Chance quite often blogs. I'm sure this doll could blog as well. There must be a great biography on this doll.Now I'm giving you some more work!

Pamela said...

just... awwww!