We have only two weeks left to go until the doll show where my mom and I will be offering some of our dolls for sale!
We still have a lot to do before then. We need to buy supplies (price tags, stickers, receipt books, etc.), write out price tags, and pack everything up. I'd like to post pictures of more of the dolls and outfits we're selling on this site, and I'm also thinking of having some last-minute business cards made to market my website and ebook.
So exciting!
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Saturday, October 11, 2008
The construction of Active Miss and Sweet Violet
A couple of days ago I blogged about my Madame Alexander Active Miss, one of my luckiest finds and among the rarest dolls in my collection.
One of the things I think is so interesting about Active Miss and Sweet Violet is their construction. A year or two later it became common to put vinyl arms with jointed elbows on walker dolls, but Sweet Violet and Active Miss both have hard plastic arms. Moreover, instead of having springs holding their jointed elbows together, as in the vinyl arms, their arms are fully strung — that is, a rubber band goes down into the wrist of each arm.
The result is a fully poseable doll that can achieve some pretty lifelike poses.
My doll does not need restringing, but eventually I hope to get my hands on an Active Miss or Sweet Violet that does, so that I can take pictures and create an instruction booklet for restringing more complicated dolls such as these.
One of the things I think is so interesting about Active Miss and Sweet Violet is their construction. A year or two later it became common to put vinyl arms with jointed elbows on walker dolls, but Sweet Violet and Active Miss both have hard plastic arms. Moreover, instead of having springs holding their jointed elbows together, as in the vinyl arms, their arms are fully strung — that is, a rubber band goes down into the wrist of each arm.
The result is a fully poseable doll that can achieve some pretty lifelike poses.
My doll does not need restringing, but eventually I hope to get my hands on an Active Miss or Sweet Violet that does, so that I can take pictures and create an instruction booklet for restringing more complicated dolls such as these.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Madame Alexander Active Miss: One of my luckiest finds
One of the best parts about being a collector — of anything — are the occasional lucky finds. My Madame Alexander Active Miss was one of those.
Active Miss was only made for one year, 1954. She was made using the exact same body and face as Sweet Violet, a highly desireable doll for collectors that was made between 1951 and 1954.
Active Miss has the lovely Cissy face that was also used on Winnie Walker and Binnie Walker. The really interesting thing about her, though, is that her body is fully jointed: In addition to be jointed in the usual places (neck, shoulders, and hips), Active Miss is also jointed at the elbows, wrists, and knees.
Active Miss and Sweet Violet were the only dolls with this body, which is probably why the dolls is so sought after by collectors — not to mention so valuable: It's unique. A mint Sweet Violet doll can sell for $900 and up, and Active Miss is worth $850 and up.
Of course, my Active Miss is nowhere near mint, but she is the best example I have ever seen. I have only seen Active Miss on eBay two other times, and both times the doll was missing substantial parts of her outfit. My Active Miss doll's flaws are few: She is missing her hat, her hair has been combed, and the elastic on her half slip has relaxed over time. Still, her organdy dress retains its sizing, her original stringing is tight, and she shows only light play wear.
The best thing about my Active Miss was the phenomenal price I got her for. The seller had listed her so that the auction ended at about 3:00 am, and on top of that had no idea what she was. As a result, I won her for about $207 — less than half of what the other Active Miss dolls have sold for on eBay (even missing half their outfits).
Active Miss was only made for one year, 1954. She was made using the exact same body and face as Sweet Violet, a highly desireable doll for collectors that was made between 1951 and 1954.
Active Miss has the lovely Cissy face that was also used on Winnie Walker and Binnie Walker. The really interesting thing about her, though, is that her body is fully jointed: In addition to be jointed in the usual places (neck, shoulders, and hips), Active Miss is also jointed at the elbows, wrists, and knees.
Active Miss and Sweet Violet were the only dolls with this body, which is probably why the dolls is so sought after by collectors — not to mention so valuable: It's unique. A mint Sweet Violet doll can sell for $900 and up, and Active Miss is worth $850 and up.
Of course, my Active Miss is nowhere near mint, but she is the best example I have ever seen. I have only seen Active Miss on eBay two other times, and both times the doll was missing substantial parts of her outfit. My Active Miss doll's flaws are few: She is missing her hat, her hair has been combed, and the elastic on her half slip has relaxed over time. Still, her organdy dress retains its sizing, her original stringing is tight, and she shows only light play wear.
The best thing about my Active Miss was the phenomenal price I got her for. The seller had listed her so that the auction ended at about 3:00 am, and on top of that had no idea what she was. As a result, I won her for about $207 — less than half of what the other Active Miss dolls have sold for on eBay (even missing half their outfits).
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
New pictures of Margot
My very first post on this blog was about my 1961 Madame Alexander Margot, my sister's gift to me last Christmas. The pictures I showed on that first post weren't very good — just pictures of Margot on display in my doll case — so I took a few new ones:
Her face paint is beautiful, with Margot's elaborate eye makeup and gorgeous soft pink blush on her cheeks:
Her hair is in the original set, not a single strand out of place.
Her beautiful purple satin gown is tagged on the inside, so that there's nothing on the outside to mar its elegance.
You'll remember I also posted a link to a stunning — and expensive — example of a Margot. With the exception of my doll's missing hang tag, I think she is every bit as perfect as the one in Lia Sargent's catalog!
Her face paint is beautiful, with Margot's elaborate eye makeup and gorgeous soft pink blush on her cheeks:
Her hair is in the original set, not a single strand out of place.
Her beautiful purple satin gown is tagged on the inside, so that there's nothing on the outside to mar its elegance.
You'll remember I also posted a link to a stunning — and expensive — example of a Margot. With the exception of my doll's missing hang tag, I think she is every bit as perfect as the one in Lia Sargent's catalog!
Saturday, October 4, 2008
A pristine mint example of my Cissette
I blogged the other day about my Cissette in the drop-waisted floral street dress, so I wanted to share with you this link of a pristine mint Cissette in the same outfit. The doll is from Lia Sargent's catalogs, which I have linked to before in previous blog posts.
Lia Sargent calls this outfit "Cissette is Going to the Flower Mart Today" and says the doll is #811 of 1958. Good information to have!
Lia Sargent calls this outfit "Cissette is Going to the Flower Mart Today" and says the doll is #811 of 1958. Good information to have!
Friday, October 3, 2008
Madame Alexander Cissette in a pretty floral outfit
Let's take a break from the "for sale" listings and look at a pretty piece of eye candy that I have no intention of selling: a beautiful 1957 or 1958 Madame Alexander Cissette, one of my "project dolls" whose outfit I put together piece by piece.
This ensemble started with shoes. I bought a Cissette doll on eBay from a local doll store, and they lost one of her shoes, so they gave me a pair that didn't match her dress: cream shoes with green felt lining.
The next piece I acquired was a green felt jacket tagged "Cissette," but I no longer consider that part of the outfit because the dress is far cuter without it.
The dress features a beautiful drop waist, puff sleeves, square neckline, and a pretty white cotton print with green and blue floral wreathes. The correct 1950s vintage Cissette undies, half slip, and stockings complete the outfit.
The doll who wears it is lovely — a pretty blonde with perfect ruby lips, perfect hair, and original rhinestone drop earrings.
There's been a few times I've considered selling her, but as soon as I take her out and look her over I change my mind.
Isn't she lovely?
This ensemble started with shoes. I bought a Cissette doll on eBay from a local doll store, and they lost one of her shoes, so they gave me a pair that didn't match her dress: cream shoes with green felt lining.
The next piece I acquired was a green felt jacket tagged "Cissette," but I no longer consider that part of the outfit because the dress is far cuter without it.
The dress features a beautiful drop waist, puff sleeves, square neckline, and a pretty white cotton print with green and blue floral wreathes. The correct 1950s vintage Cissette undies, half slip, and stockings complete the outfit.
The doll who wears it is lovely — a pretty blonde with perfect ruby lips, perfect hair, and original rhinestone drop earrings.
There's been a few times I've considered selling her, but as soon as I take her out and look her over I change my mind.
Isn't she lovely?
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Fortune Ninette or Duchess Randi - NFS
This doll is a painted lash Cosmopolitan Ginger or Ginger clone that I have redressed in an outfit that was used for both the Fortune Ninette and the Duchess Randi. Both dolls were moderate-quality Ginger clones — that is, they used the same dolls as Cosmpolitan Ginger, and redressed them in clothing that was pretty good quality, though not as nice quality as Cosmopolitan Ginger's outfits.
A MIB Fortune Ninette wearing this outfit is pictured on page 91 of Carol Stover's Small Dolls of the 40s and 50s.
The doll itself is in fair condition, with green sleep eyes that stick a little, painted lashes with some rubs, and vivid cheek blush. Her walker works, but feels a little loosey-goosey.
The wig is the biggest problem, as it is flattened and a little frizzy. It is, however, styled into a loose rolled flip, so I haven't tried to recondition or restyle it, as these soft Dynell wigs are notoriously difficult to work with.
I put her outfit together myself, piece by piece, but it is all 1950s vintage and appropriate. The white-and-red satin dress has the Greek key "Ginger snap" and is pictured on page 91 of Stover's Small Dolls. It has been laundered. The undies are the white satin undies with loop trim that was often used on Ginger clones and other Ginny knockoffs. The socks are a touch brown with age, but the shoes are the correct unmarked Mary Janes with intact buttons and straps.
The hat does not have its flowers and has a couple of chips out of the edge of the brim, but appears to be correct. The hat alone is worth half her price, as these vintage hats are getting difficult to find!
Like the other dolls we are planning on selling at the doll show, Ninette is priced to move. I fully expect she will sell, so if you are interested in purchasing her please contact me prior to October 20th.
Please note: I've decided not to sell this doll after all, but left the pictures here for everyone to enjoy!
A MIB Fortune Ninette wearing this outfit is pictured on page 91 of Carol Stover's Small Dolls of the 40s and 50s.
The doll itself is in fair condition, with green sleep eyes that stick a little, painted lashes with some rubs, and vivid cheek blush. Her walker works, but feels a little loosey-goosey.
The wig is the biggest problem, as it is flattened and a little frizzy. It is, however, styled into a loose rolled flip, so I haven't tried to recondition or restyle it, as these soft Dynell wigs are notoriously difficult to work with.
I put her outfit together myself, piece by piece, but it is all 1950s vintage and appropriate. The white-and-red satin dress has the Greek key "Ginger snap" and is pictured on page 91 of Stover's Small Dolls. It has been laundered. The undies are the white satin undies with loop trim that was often used on Ginger clones and other Ginny knockoffs. The socks are a touch brown with age, but the shoes are the correct unmarked Mary Janes with intact buttons and straps.
The hat does not have its flowers and has a couple of chips out of the edge of the brim, but appears to be correct. The hat alone is worth half her price, as these vintage hats are getting difficult to find!
Like the other dolls we are planning on selling at the doll show, Ninette is priced to move. I fully expect she will sell, so if you are interested in purchasing her please contact me prior to October 20th.
Please note: I've decided not to sell this doll after all, but left the pictures here for everyone to enjoy!
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