war between the States

 Dolls have been around for a very long time. And it is very hard for me but exciting when I find an old doll as in early 1900s to late 1800s. That would have me jumping if I still could jump that is.  So when I got this doll she was marked a Tin Head. But when I took her apart for repair I found her to be a paper mache head and German made. And those are a bit older then the Tin heads. She would be closer to the Civil War era. I can't get over how nice she is preserved and how good she looks now.Just need to get her dressed now in time appropriate clothing

She now has a spot to shine and looks so pretty there.  The dress came of another old doll. I thought it looked better then the one she came with.  Ready to face another 100 years or so do you think?

KATHY

I had time before an appointment to walk through an antique mall.  I find some dolls there and if the price is right I buy one.  I found this little doll with trunk for just $18 and that is MY price range.
She is made like the old time composition dolls but her limbs and head are hard plastic. With the help of friends she was identified as Kathy by Madame Alexander.  Made around 1950 to 1954. So she is about as old as I am.  The doll was later made in bigger sizes and out of softer vinyl and with a solid vinyl body. Mine has a cloth cotton stuffed body.

 

 

 the trunk alone is worth the $18. I love trunks and will buy them when I can.  I plan to freshen the paint and inside of this. These dolls sometimes came dressed in Christening gowns.   She is 12" long or close to that.  She has Alexander on the back of her  neck. This one had been someone's teething ring as she has chew marks on her feet and hands. The body is dry rotted so I will make a new one using the old for my pattern.  I used the old cotton. But first I put it in a bag and washed it.I am also waiting on a new voice box. She has one of those "mama" criers but it is old and doesn't work.


Progress so far... taken apart, body emptied ready to make a pattern for the new one.  Scrubbed the parts and painted them and did a clear coat.

 

 

the voice box arrived so now she is back together. Washed and Oxied her clothes she came in, to wear while I sew her new outfits. After getting the trunk all done I had vinyls cut to label it so that there would be no trouble knowing who she is in the future.

Kathy is restored. 

Been a long time

Much has happened since last year.  I recovered from double hip replacement but then my life turned upside down. My husband of nearly 49 years died suddenly.  I am devastated to say the least. So I turn once more to my dolls to fill in the time and keep me busy till the Lord calls me home.  I have had a heart valve replaced and soon to have cancer surgery.  When it rains it pours.  Time for me to tie up the loose ends and get my dolls in order. 

Back in the Saddle!

Between running, starting into tax season, helping with my dad, I just have NOT had time or felt like working on my dolls.  Well yesterday while killing time waiting till it was my doctor appointment, I stopped in a small antique mall. In one of the booths I found this little beauty.

So today I started to take him/her apart. I lean towards girl dolls. I guess raising 4 girls is why. So this will in all probability become a girl. 

one bag contains the body parts and the other bag has the stuffing. The stuffing is a combination of excelsior and fiber. Not sure I will use it or find something else. Have to do the smell test and how well it fluffs.

 the onesie will be soaked and repaired. Will probably make a pattern from it too.

 the legs and arms are attached INSIDE the body with wire wrapped tightly around the ring made into the the top of the leg. The body fabric is in good shape so I will try washing and soaking in OxiClean to brighten. Works great on old stuff like this.

The composition is in great shape but it needs repainting. Decided not to duplicate the old face but do my own.

 Before clear coating

all ready to assemble

Done, she needs shoes but that can wait. Same size as a Bitty Baby. I assume she was originally made in the early 1930s.

Playing dollies is fun.

I really miss it when I can't get to sew and work on my girls.  Trying to downsize the ones I have. So need a good venue in which to list them. Trying local first.

Found this Cyndee doll in a local thrift store. Has body stains I am not going to touch. I just cleaned as best I could and added the wig. She was bald.

 

After I got done dressing her. She turned out really cute but some people call my dolls creepy. I only think creepy when someone corrupts a doll with faux blood and gore. Not my bag. Dolls are for fun and love and sentiment. 

Found in a local Antique mall. The case would have cost more then I paid for all of it.

the wig is not original. She is an Alice in Wonderland doll. So will have to find the right wig and do a dress that fits the image of what she was. But her shoes are original.

Finally!

I can't believe this is my first post of 2018!  Where did the year go? Between this time last year and spring of this year I had two total hip replacements, now helping to care for my 93 yr old dad. Time slips by. But I am making slow inroads into my fun stuff...ie sewing room.  Got a couple of girls done and wanting to rehome them.

this little girl was part of an estate sale and came with two old compos. She has defintely seen better days.

 After stripping off all I could I had to resew the arms and then painted the whole body. I painted the face to suit ME and then clear coated, repainted the "shoes" and clear coated them then dressed her from the bottom up. She has a nice pretty dress that is now removable instead of sewn to the body.

 

 KATE GREENAWAY DOLL BY HORSMAN

1977

 

This is a picture I found on the net. Mine did not have the boots or the hat. Only the dress. What made it hard to find was the quality of the dress. Atrocious. Bad sewing and ill fitting. Might have looked good when new but did not stand the test of time as to how good it held up.  So I thought she should have a new outfit. Kate Greenaway was a clothing designer for children's clothing when children dressed decent. Frills and lace and really elegant styles for all classes of the populace. 

Coraline

This prescious little compo girl was sent to me by a lady named Marva.  I just love her. So when I can sit down and just give her all my time I will work to restoring some of her beauty. She is in excellent shape but has some bad crazing and atleast one place where the compo is in danger of flaking off...I hope to stop that and then dress her.

I did some searching and thought I had found that she was called "The Incubator Baby"

the original box was shaped like a hospital incubator with a plastic "window" to see in. This blanket is  made of wool and washed up beautifuly.She is 7.5" long if measuring by bent leg length. So tiny but so sweet. If anyone knows for sure her maker  can you please drop me a line?