A Precious Moments Doll

 My daughter has discovered "Precious Moments" 
figurines. She loves their soft pastel colors and 
sweet childlike features.  

Precious Moments were created by artist
Samuel J. Butcher as a way to share his 
Christain faith with family and friends.

Samuel J. Butcher

1939 - 2024

Later he worked with the giftware company 
Enesco to turn his 2D art into 3D figures.

Precious Moments figurines were first released

in 1978, their popularity grew throughout 

the 1980s and 1990s. 

These figurines are having a comeback 
among younger collectors.

Recently my daughter found a 

Precious Moments doll in a

thrift store.

She sent me this photo asking
"Can you fix her?"
Does she know me at all!?!?

She is in good condition, just dusty. She

just needs some freshening up.

As you can see, she has these weird puffy

bows that were glued to her hair!

Her neck says "Tell me the story of Jesus"

and the number 3849 A.

The dolls were made by 

The Hamilton Collection

for Precious Moments.

The dolls were a later addition to 

the porcelain figurine collectibles.

Her hair has lots of glue spots holding

her style. Some of the glue was white, 

some was this brown glue.

(ICK!)

Her hair appears to have been 

styled in a chignon.

Her head and hands are porcelain.

Her body is cotton stuffed with wires for posing.

She has a wig cap. The hair is so filled with 

glue I removed the wig for washing.

The wig is being soaked until the glue

is released. I keep soaking and rinsing so 

the glue does not reattach to the hair.

Here she is de-wigged.

Her clothes all got washed, including

the puffy bows that had thick glue.

And laid out to dry.  Yes, that is my daughter's 

'Hello Kitty' towel.

The puffy bows remind me of Hello Kitty.

This is a dress and bow I made for one of

my daughter's Hello Kitty 'Build a Bear'

 plushies that came without a dress.

Find the Hello Kitty Pattern Here

Finally all the glue is soaked out.

I laid the wig out to dry after 

conditioning and brushing.

Look how pretty this wig is!

When regluing a wig, turn it out like this.

I always use 'Tacky Glue'.

Using the Tacky glue make a spiral

pattern on the topmost part of the wig cap.

Place the glued part onto the back of the head,

then adjust the wig position while the glue is wet.

Very carefully add glue along both sides,

underneath in back and along the forehead.

I hold the wig tight with a large ponytail 

holder until the glue is dry.

After her clothes were dry, I removed all the old elastic.

I stretch the elastic and zig-zag.

Everything has been pressed.

And now all is ready.

Want to see her now?

HERE

SHE

IS!

As you can see I added some details to

her apron.  I liked her hair down, so I

didn't try to recreate her original style.

Bloomers with new elastic.

I'm very happy with her hair.

It's silky and full of curl.

Here is the back. So pretty!

So sweet!

Before and After!!

My daughter loves her doll.

She says she feels lucky to

Have such a crafty mom.

Love you Sweetie!!

Cecilia's Journey

Dearest Cousin Cissy,   

I hope this finds you in good health.  I'm so sorry 

it has taken me so long to write.  I arrived in 

New Zealand, tired, pale and exhausted from 

my trip.  Even though all my luggage went 

missing I was determined to make the

 best of my journey."

This kind sailor directed me to my cabin.

My Cabin was very nice. Very spacious!

I was a bit dejected about my missing luggage.

There were many onboard activities.
I enjoyed wandering around the ship
looking at all the views.

Here I am in the dining room seated with

 a very nice family.

Here we are going through the panama canal.

When we finally arrived one of the first things we

saw was the Auckland Harbor Bridge.

"As soon as I could, after arriving in New Zealand,

I looked for a dressmaker to make me a new dress. 
She also offered to spruce up my old dress 
which I thought might be past its best after 
wearing it every day of the voyage! "

I put the pattern in my case and started walking.

Thanks for the pattern cousin!

I found the right mall and...

Patsy's!  That's the place.

Patsy finishing the hem on my new dress.

I feel like I am ready to face my new life!

The family took me to see the sights of my new home.

This is Bastian Point. 

My favorite place was the Winter Gardens.

Inside is a beautiful greenhouse!

You know how I love flowers.

This is Shakespear Regional Park.

Just look at that view Cissy!

But, the best views are the ones 

we share with family. 

My new home is in Pukekohe.

It is South of Auckland.

This is me in the garden of our home.

Just look at that wisteria!

So many flowers. So lovely and peaceful.

But who is Cecilia?

Cecilia is my friend Anna's new arrival.

She is a Madame Alexander Cissy doll!

Here she is just after she had arrived.

She did look pale and exhausted!

Anna lives in New Zealand and purchasing

a doll from the U.S. and having her shipped

all that way is a harrowing experience.  

Anna has had at least one doll already 

who never arrived!! 

Here is Cecilia after Anna restored her!

So BEAUTIFUL!

Before and After

As soon as I heard about Anna's new doll I wanted to 

send her a gift, but was afraid it too might go missing.

Instead I shared this pattern with Anna by email.

I knew Anna was an avid doll seamstress.

Anna didn't waste any time sewing

some new clothes for Cecilia!

Anna made this Sundress and...

This swing coat and pillbox hat. 

I think Anna also added some pretty 

flowers to Cecilia's shoes.

Anna also made this lovely

Bandeau hat for Cecilia and

added the flower detail to her

waistband.

So Anna has been VERY busy. 

I am SO happy for my friend Anna 

and her new doll 

Cecilia.

We decided my Cissy and Anna's

Cecilia would be cousins and send

letters and photos to each other.

So stay posted!