Rag Dolls and Memories(Crafts/hobbies)

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I like dolls, especially rag dolls. marthastewart.com has a printable pattern for a small rag doll. click crafts, then click Nov 27. Do you ladies like dolls? I know our forum friend and super seamstress bwilliams made beautiful doll. I don't think a woman is ever too old for a doll. Do any of you have a special memory about a doll(s) that you'd like to share?

-- Cindy (atilrthehony_1@yahoo.com), December 06, 2000

Answers

Cindy, its so wierd you posted this today. My girls and I were looking through old pictures of me and they saw these dolls I use to have called the Sunshine Family{hippy form of the Barbie}. Well I started to think back to them and really thought it would be cool to get a set again,well make along story short I GOT THEM! I went to ebay and there they were!!! I got a played w/ set for the girls for Christmas and a "new"set for me. My husband thinks I am nuts but boy I cant wait til they get here.

-- renee oneill{md.} (oneillsr@home.com), December 06, 2000.

This is my first time to respond to the forum. I have "read" for some time. .... I had an great aunt who was born in 1892. She was given a porcelain doll as a child. When she was older, the doll was passed on to her younger sister. About 20 years ago and after the death of the younger sister, an estate sale was held and the doll was sold. As time went on, family members realized what a mistake it was to let some of the family herlooms go. We found out that a doll collector purchased the old doll. My mother and I went to visit the doll at the ladies house a couple of years later. The lady had done a nice job in fixing up the doll with a new body and new clothes. Some years later, my Mother was on a bus trip and heard some people talking about a lady who had a doll collection and after some investigation, the lady was found. It was the same lady, who had bought the doll at the auction. (She had moved.) My mother talked to her on the phone and she was interested in selling the doll. We went to her home, a "deal" was made, and the doll is back "home" in the family. My husband bought the doll for me for my birthday.

-- Janet (whiperingpines68@paxway.com), December 06, 2000.

Renee, it must be a good day for dolls. Shortly after I posted the thread, a friend stopped to show me something. It's a crocheted doll, looks lik Heidi. She is adorable! She will eventually be holding a goose and her brother will join her holding a bear. Can't wait to get the pattern. If anyone is interested maybe I can send you the pattern when I get it.

-- Cindy (atilrthehony_1@yahoo.com), December 06, 2000.

Would love the pattern for the crocheted doll that looks like Heidi, my granddaughters would love it. Thanks - diane

-- Diane Green (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), December 06, 2000.

Stuffed toys.Stuffed animals to be specific.That was my passion as a child.

We'd get easter candy from the relatives at the big egg hunt our extended family had.It was when everyboby got together.Sister ate hers all up quickly.I saved mine.Then when she wanted more.I'd trade her candy for a stuffed animal. Side note, she had a number of cavities as a child.I had none.

My favorite was a huge pink dog I got for Christmas one year.I even gave it rides in the wagon hooked up to the bike.It got pretty dirty!

My stuffed animals were given to nieces and nephews to play with.Good use for them

But a few years back I started getting stuffed animals again.Told siblings I was reliving my childhood.Had them arranged on little willow chairs.Dressed them up in beads and kerchiefs.One was a horse, of course, but not Mr. Ed. Called him Rowdy,after our horse,because they looked alike.So the "guys" were on onr chair and called All my Rowdy Friends.The "gals" were on another and were my Ladies Sewing Circle And Revolutionary Thinkers Society. Had signs there to this effect.

Boy on reading this I think I was maybe out of my gourd!I really didn't have that much free time, really, I swear.But you understand, don't you?

Even got me one of those sock monkeys.Remember making them?

Anyway,now they're packed away bc I have bad allergies,but I got a kick out of them while it lasted.

-- sharon wt (wildflower@ekyol.com), December 06, 2000.



I am a doll fan and am planning to get a My Twinn doll for myself sometime. Look at www.mytwinn.com

-- R. (thor610@yahoo.com), December 06, 2000.

My favorite doll (and I had a SCAD of them) was my Raggedy Ann. Dolls that talk and eat and burb and deficate take away something very precious for a child...their imagination. When mine crew were babies, I cried because I couldn't provide the kind of toys my sister- in-law could give her babies. Now that both sets of kids are grown, I like the way that mine turned out a whole lot better; mine turned into imaginative, creative people who had loads of fun in the woods and read stacks and stacks of books. PLEASE, don't ever feel guilty because you can't buy the latest toys for your crew. Buy the most creative ones you can find (and yes, yard sales are just fine as sources!!!!), and turn 'em loose.

-- Leann Banta (thelionandlamb@hotmail.com), December 06, 2000.

I guess I must be in my second childhood. When I was a pre-schooler, one Christmas I got a composition baby doll, the size of a six month old baby. Her body was cloth. She had an open mouth with 2 teeth. The next Christmas, my mom made a complete wardrobe for the doll ( who never had a name!). She didn't survive my childhood. Several years ago, my mom bought at auction a brand new doll exactly like my old one, except the mouth was open. Mom mentioned selling her doll collection and I told her I wanted first dibs on that doll--she gave it to me for Christmas! Probably eight years ago, the Gramma and Grampa dolls were popular. I don't do ceramics, so purchased the bisque heads, hands and feet. Made the bodies and clothes. Now they sit in upstairs foyer at child size ice cream table set with toy china. She has my white nurse Bible (which I carried at our wedding), he has a cane, fiddle, and stuffed dog. The old folks are 30+" tall. After Dad died almost 18 years ago, Mom made me and each of the 4 brothers teddy bears from Dad's bib overalls and stuffed the pockets with little trinkets he liked--pocket knives, pencils, etc. One other doll story: I graduated from nurses'training in 1957 and still had one of my old uniforms, almost worn out but still starched, in the cedar chest. In '97, just a few weeks before our 40th. yr. reunion, I got the idea to make a nurse doll. I ordered the doll ready made, since I wouldn't have time to make the body. I wanted her to look as much like me at age 18-21 as possible, so sent a color copy photo. I was amazed at the likeness! She's 34" tall. Mom and I cut down the striped dress, white apron, white bib, white collar, white cap. Made seam up the back nylons (no panty hose in late 50's) used original buttons, cufflinks. Had to buy shoes from walmart, size 4 child white tennis shoes. She was the belle of the ball!! I didn't care much for dolls as a child--maybe living with 7 brothers had something to do with that--but I'm kinda goofy about them now.

-- (bobtravous@email.com), December 06, 2000.

Sorry about the answer with no name--accidently hit submit too soon.

-- ruth in s.e.illinois (bobtravous@email.com), December 06, 2000.

Sharon, I was a nut about stuffed animals too. I still have my favorites from childhood. Did you ever read "The Velveteen Rabbit"?

I collected a bunch of teddys and rabbits and misc other a few years back. I got over the collecting fever, but I don't want to give up any that I did get!

I played with dolls too. My first favorite toy was a doll I received when I was pre-verbal, so my mom named her "Curly Kate". That doll got dragged through a lot. Her face was some kind of vinyl that if you left her lying face down, her nose would turn green from the contact with the chair or the rug. Mom had to scrub her quite a few times, and she always had a greenish tinge to her nose. My sister was given a life size baby doll, just the size of her, when she was born. That doll was SO life like and had rubber skin that felt almost like skin -- I was only about three and was a little scared of that doll. I didn't know when it might come to life!

One of my most memorable birthdays involved dolls. Mom always asked us what kind of cake we wanted (and she was very creative -- one year my brother got a castle!). I wanted a bride cake I told her (I have NO idea what I had in mind, I was about six). What she came up with was an 8" plastic doll set into the cake (after baking), which formed the skirt of her bridal gown, and the frosting extended up onto the body to make the bodice of the dress. There were other 8" dolls to form the wedding party, all in appropriate clothes, and one of my presents was an actual wedding dress for the bride doll so that I could play with her afterwards. When we went to eat the cake, the doll was removed and cleaned off. Wow! Mom sure went to a lot of trouble! My great-aunt helped her with the clothes.

-- Joy Froelich (dragnfly@chorus.net), December 06, 2000.



Wow joy-what a mom!Yes, I read all sorts of animal stories,still do! Black beauty, old yeller,one abt a cocker spanial who's name I don't remember.Loved dogs,horses,rabbits,cats and chickens & ducks & esp.nanny goats.All I wanted in the world was a nanny goat.

Took care of the poultry and rabbits for my mom.Loved it.Fond,fond memories.Thanks for this trip down memory lane.

-- sharon wt (wildflower@ekyol.com), December 07, 2000.


I was pretty much a tom-boy but I do have a special memory about one doll, she was "The Chrissy Doll" who had long, long auburn pull out hair, you pulled it out and made it long or let it go back in for a shorter hairdo!! I've made our girls homemade dolls out of unbleached muslin, they love them.

-- Carol in Tx (cwaldrop@peoplescom.net), December 07, 2000.

I can remember vividly going to grandmas house as a little girl and playing with the rag dolls she made for us girls. Usually they were made from material she saved from her old feedsacks. The sacks were soft as could be and felt so good when you snuggled up to them. Our dolls always had stitched eyes and faces with sweet little smiles. Little calico dresses and bonnets finished them off, oh! and little bloomers too. The pattern was handed down through the family from my grandma's grandma. I know I still have it somewhere. Kathy

-- Kathy Linger (plinger25045@yahoo.com), December 10, 2000.

Hi Cindy, I would be interested in buying the patterns for the Heidi and brother doll patterns as I love to crochet. Let me know. Michelle

-- michelle (tsjheath@ainop.com), December 11, 2000.

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