Why We Collect What We Collect: Your Favorite Dolls

Hi, everyone. I thought I'd start at the beginning: why we collect what we collect. Do you focus on dolls from a particular era, a certain country or region, made from a specific material or, simply, those you loved as a child? And how did this begin for you...inheriting a beloved family heirloom, an unexpected gift from a friend, a fascination with costumes? In my case, I was an art history student (long, long ago) and my love of period portraits lead to an interest in antique bisque dolls. Looking forward to hearing from you!

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Permalink Reply by Sunday Dolls on February 14, 2012 at 11:51am

Happy Valentine's Day. So glad you're back! I love these dolls. If you do restore them, please consider sharing your techniques and new photos. I'm always interested in learning more about restoration. In fact, next month we'll have a forum specifically devoted to doll repair. I think many of us have wrestled with making decisions about if and when to restore these old beauties...your thoughts?

SolAnge said:

Happy Valentines Day Everyone !

This is a couple of very old marionettes offered to me from friend.

She asked me if i could do someting with them even on that bad condition...

They made me laugh at the instant and i hugged them with much love.

Now they are naked, i am thinking about washing their body and repaint their face just the way they are. :)

Much love for today.

Solange

Permalink Reply by Barbara Kull on February 14, 2012 at 12:10pm

Happy Valentine's Day to all!

Love this pair of dolls! What a perfect couple for this day that celebrates love! :-) Dolls bring to life the images that we have in our minds! This is demonstrated so well by this couple! Who ever made this couple, conjures up different emotions, in each of us, I am certain! They also make me smile!!! Thank you for sharing them with us Solange!!! Seeing them, inspires me to want to make dolls! The idea of doing this, is intimidating on some levels, just like when I stare at a white sheet of drawing paper, before making a mark with my colored pencils! That first step, getting going, is the daunting one! Once I get going, though, I can lose myself in my project! Can't wait so see where this group goes!!! This is going to be fun! Wishing you all a joyful day! Barb

Sunday Dolls said:

Happy Valentine's Day. So glad you're back! I love these dolls. If you do restore them, please consider sharing your techniques and new photos. I'm always interested in learning more about restoration. In fact, next month we'll have a forum specifically devoted to doll repair. I think many of us have wrestled with making decisions about if and when to restore these old beauties...your thoughts?

SolAnge said:

Happy Valentines Day Everyone !

This is a couple of very old marionettes offered to me from friend.

She asked me if i could do someting with them even on that bad condition...

They made me laugh at the instant and i hugged them with much love.

Now they are naked, i am thinking about washing their body and repaint their face just the way they are. :)

Much love for today.

Solange

Permalink Reply by SolAnge on February 15, 2012 at 11:19am

Hi Barbara, I am glad that my dolld inspire you to make some on your own, that's the best.

I called Denice my friend to ask if she knew something about these dolls story.

She sais that for many years these 2 dolld were hard workers in the local theatre in Berlin as marionettes artists.

Denice is 71 years old and she believes that these dolls are much older than her.

I am happy to have brought this image up and discover some more about it. So now i am wondering if the artist was also from Berlin.

I am lookinf forward to see a doll make by you. ;)

Permalink Reply by Sunday Dolls on February 15, 2012 at 11:29am

Hi. How large are your dolls?

Permalink Reply by SolAnge on February 15, 2012 at 11:41am

Thank you Sunday,

I restore dolls body but i've never tryied to restore their faces, this is the only one i have which's in need of it.

I just love dolls and they make part of my artistic life, it's one of my inspirations to other projects.

If you are interesd on learning tecniques to restore dolls, there's a Ning group called MAIDA , they work with Izannah Walker, most wonderful artists. They have a free workshop or PDF teaching about repairing dolls face. It may help to get a start. ;)

Permalink Reply by SolAnge on February 15, 2012 at 11:45am

They are 60cm tall x 12cm wide (whitout chothing).

Sunday Dolls said:

Hi. How large are your dolls?

Permalink Reply by Sunday Dolls on February 15, 2012 at 11:56am

Thank you--I'm going to do a little 'digging'.

SolAnge said:

They are 60cm tall x 12cm wide (whitout chothing).

Sunday Dolls said:

Hi. How large are your dolls?

Permalink Reply by Barbara Kull on February 15, 2012 at 12:17pm

Thank you so very, very much SolAnge for the information about the NAIDA~Ning site!!! This is going to be so much fun!!! :-)

Now, to get some routine house hold items attended to first, then time to indulge myself with this information!! As to making clothes, it sure would be helpful, if I liked to crochet and knit! To me that is just too uncomfortable to do! I can sew though! Sun is shining, inspiration rejuvenated because of your sharing! Thanks again! So glad that I get to be a part of this group!

Have a great day!!!

Permalink Reply by Sunday Dolls on February 15, 2012 at 12:42pm

Thank you--I'll have to check it out. I feel much more comfortable restoring bodies, too, but occasionally I'll have a 'project' that requires repair to the entire doll.

SolAnge said:

Thank you Sunday,

I restore dolls body but i've never tryied to restore their faces, this is the only one i have which's in need of it.

I just love dolls and they make part of my artistic life, it's one of my inspirations to other projects.

If you are interesd on learning tecniques to restore dolls, there's a Ning group called MAIDA , they work with Izannah Walker, most wonderful artists. They have a free workshop or PDF teaching about repairing dolls face. It may help to get a start. ;)

Permalink Reply by SolAnge on February 15, 2012 at 1:10pm

Hi Barbara, the site is called MAIDA with the M.

You better go with vintage fabrics, linens or muslin for the dolls chothing, styles can be endless and you can use laces and embeleshments.

I'll prepare a post to share next week, it's a few ideas of chothing desing for dolls, i just need to find the extra time.

Glad you got the sun over there, here we are covered in snow, with 20° below. Grr

Barbara Kull said:

Thank you so very, very much SolAnge for the information about the NAIDA~Ning site!!! This is going to be so much fun!!! :-)

Now, to get some routine house hold items attended to first, then time to indulge myself with this information!! As to making clothes, it sure would be helpful, if I liked to crochet and knit! To me that is just too uncomfortable to do! I can sew though! Sun is shining, inspiration rejuvenated because of your sharing! Thanks again! So glad that I get to be a part of this group!

Have a great day!!!

Permalink Reply by SolAnge on February 15, 2012 at 1:14pm

Are their faces made of papier-machet ?
Sunday Dolls said:

Thank you--I'll have to check it out. I feel much more comfortable restoring bodies, too, but occasionally I'll have a 'project' that requires repair to the entire doll.

SolAnge said:

Thank you Sunday,

I restore dolls body but i've never tryied to restore their faces, this is the only one i have which's in need of it.

I just love dolls and they make part of my artistic life, it's one of my inspirations to other projects.

If you are interesd on learning tecniques to restore dolls, there's a Ning group called MAIDA , they work with Izannah Walker, most wonderful artists. They have a free workshop or PDF teaching about repairing dolls face. It may help to get a start. ;)

Permalink Reply by Sunday Dolls on February 15, 2012 at 1:20pm

Thank you again. I sew too, so we'll have to post some photos soon. :)

20 below!

SolAnge said:

Are their faces made of papier-machet ?
Sunday Dolls said:

Thank you--I'll have to check it out. I feel much more comfortable restoring bodies, too, but occasionally I'll have a 'project' that requires repair to the entire doll.

SolAnge said:

Thank you Sunday,

I restore dolls body but i've never tryied to restore their faces, this is the only one i have which's in need of it.

I just love dolls and they make part of my artistic life, it's one of my inspirations to other projects.

If you are interesd on learning tecniques to restore dolls, there's a Ning group called MAIDA , they work with Izannah Walker, most wonderful artists. They have a free workshop or PDF teaching about repairing dolls face. It may help to get a start. ;)