Unlike the popular cliche, I don’t “hate to say I told you so”. But in this case, I regret that I was right (see How Do You Doll Show?). The September Gaithersburg doll show has been cancelled. Many years ago, when I sold my wares at the show, many dealers complained that the September show was their worst show. Since I didn’t find that to be true for me, I … Continue reading
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Supergirl is on vacation with her parents this week. I had plans. Silly me. I forgot about reality for a minute. Of course, reality slapped me in the face. Over the weekend, though, I conquered my mini table saw. All it took was a crosscut sled. When I was buying the wood to make the sled at the hobby store, the cute, nerdy cashier asked me what I was making. … Continue reading
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Earlier this week, I said that I would try to get to sewing this week. Oh well (sigh). SG and I made fairies to give to some of our friends. We took a trip to DC with DH. I met with a dear friend for a long, chatty dinner. I learned that my affinity for power tools does not extend to table saws. I own and can operate my scroll saw, band saw, … Continue reading
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I’ve been busy, but I don’t have any finished work to show for it. Supergirl and I have had a few adventures. One day we went to the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley in Winchester, VA with my daughter. On another, we drove to Alexandria, VA and rode the water taxi across the Potomac River to the National Harbor in Maryland to ride the Capital Wheel (ferris wheel). Both were … Continue reading
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If you search on eBay for Kestner in Dolls, you may be surprised by the number of dolls that come up. Some of them were not really made by the Kestner firm; this is especially true of the all bisques and small dolls. In 1998, Jan Foulke’s Kestner King of Dollmakers was revised and republished. What followed was a spate of “Kestner” dolls flooding the market. If Kestner was King, then … Continue reading
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My doll collection contains caucasian dolls almost exclusively. Why? I have owned and sold many black dolls, but so far, none have made the cut for my permanent collection. Since bisque dolls during the late 1800’s and early 1900’s were made predominately in France and Germany, they reflected the population. When ethnic dolls were made, they were often made as novelties and were of poor quality. Several firms made limited numbers … Continue reading
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There is a miniature doll/toy shop that lives on a shelf in my dining room. Many years ago, I purchased a set of 8 wooden plate chargers that I was going to paint and decorate for dinner parties. I still own 8 unfinished chargers. One of them lives under this display. Just click on any of the pictures to enlarge them. At the back, there’s a hutch that holds tiny … Continue reading
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The second dress is done and even though it is silk dupioni, like dress one, it is completely different. My first step was to cut one more piece out of both the fabric and lining, the back pleat. I decided that it should be 1 5/8″ high and cut at a 60 degree angle. I used a plastic lid to draw the curve with my mechanical chalk pencil onto the … Continue reading
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Supergirl turns 8 tomorrow. She has taught me many things. I’m turning 60 in two weeks. I should’ve learned most of this stuff many years ago. But, I’ve admitted to you that I can be a slow learner. Here are the two most important things I’ve learned: I’m okay just how I am. The first time I held her up to a mirror as a baby, I was distressed to … Continue reading
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My dolls love their dogs. So do I. We have lots of them. The French Mignonettes have a porcelain French Bulldog. Of course. Two German bisque dolls tend an antique German fur dog. The tiny mignonettes share a tiny metal bulldog (and a bear). A plush French Poodle and a black pug (painted like my pug, Lily, by a dear friend) live amongst the tiny dolls. A black French poodle watches over … Continue reading
