1937 McGuffey Ana Doll

This is a pristine McGuffey Ana doll

from the 1930s. 

She is 13" tall made

of composition 

by Madame Alexander

This doll is named after children

who appearred in the 

McGuffey Reader series.

These reading primers were used

in schools from the 1850s through 

the early 1900s.

Written by William Holmes McGuffey.

This is my 1937 McGuffey Ana doll.

It took me a little time to figure out who she was.

Finding Ana

This barely visible circle shape is

what's left of her neck mark.

I found this photo showing a much clearer 

image of the McGuffey Ana marks.

A "13" on her back and a 

"circle +" on her neck.

While I am pleased with my Ana and

happy with her transformation,

She still has some issues.

(don't we all?)

Someone in her past had painted her feet brown.

(I know, what were they thinking?)

And, her right eye had no lashes.

I sanded her legs and feet, until I felt

they would accept a coat of paint.

On a close inspection it was obvious

her legs had a lot of repair work.

(I didn't want to pry)

I painted her legs and feet, and

finished with a coat of glossy varnish.

Not perfect, but an improvement.

ON TO LASHES!

A helpful reader Frieda, suggested this

paintbrush technique for lashes.

You use a paintbrush with similar

color bristles to your doll's 

lashes.

You swipe a thin line of white glue

along the brush and press into

the lash crevice. 

I was nervous about where the lashes would

end up, luckily it all worked pretty well.

But, I still needed to fill in each side.

For fill-ins for each side I trimmed

the brush so it was much thinner.

Then I wisped the bristles in the white 

glue and let it dry creating a line

of bristles held together with glue. 

 I trimmed the bristle/lash from off the brush.

Now I could trim a very straight line

while holding all the lash hairs together.

I pulled apart the lash I had made

into small sections. Using tweezers

I carefully glued these into 

the lash crevices on each side.

If I ever do this again, I'll start with this.

Here are the fill-ins on each side

while they were drying.

WHEW!

I used tiny cuticle scissors to 

trim her new eyelashes.

I'm very pleased!

Thank you Frieda!

Want to see Ana in a couple more outfits?

I DO!

This is a little playsuit that I have

had in the doll dresser for awhile!

It suits Ana and her cherry hat looks cute with it.

Ana borrowed this little dress 

from her Mary Hoyer sisters.

McGuffey Ana dolls are usually shown

wearing a puff sleeve dress with 

a pinafore and matching hat.

Until I get some sewing done for her

this is an adorable look for her.

While McGuffey Ana dolls are usually

shown with  braids, my Ana said

she likes her new curls.

Look what else I found for Ana.

A lovely nightgown.

Welcome home Ana!!

OH WAIT!!

Look what I found on Etsy!

A tiny McGuffey reader for Ana.

It is on it's way right now!

Little Things of Interest

Thanks for stopping by!

A Little Compo Girl

I went back to the Antique Barn the other day.

I had seen a  little Compo girl on a shelf

and could not stop thinking about her.

Here she is! She was still there!

OH! But she was SO sad!

She was sad at the condition she was in.

She must have whispered to me the first time

I saw her, "Please take me home!"

She was wearing a funny fur collar, but

underneath was this adorable little dress!

Her feet had been painted brown!

It looks like she had extensive leg 

repairs in the past, but 

we all have scars, right?

This is her maker's mark.

This indicates she is 13" but I have not found

anymore information on her.

I believe her to be from the 1920s 

or early 30s.

She is missing her eyelashes on her right eye.

She has sweet little teeth.

I used wood filler to clean her body.

At this point I realized her head was immovable!

Someone has glued her head to her body.

I quickly and gently washed her hair.

This is her first brush out.

AHH! A sigh of relief.

This is my first attempt

to curl her unruly locks!

While her hair dried I repainted her lips and cheeks.

I always mix a skin tone with a melon color

  for cheeks.

I use a make-up sponge dipped and patted

nearly dry and tap onto cheeks.

I then use the melon color for lips.

She looks better with some fresh color!

As you can see, after the curlers failed

 I put her hair in tight pin curls.

She came wearing these clothes.

The dress just needs a little refresh and

her bloomers need new elastic.

I didn't like this ribbon, so

it had to go.

Here is her dress all cleaned and pressed!

Want to see her now!?

HERE

SHE

IS!!

She looks SO happy!

Yes, definitely happy.

BUT, every girl needs more than one outfit!

I found this playsuit ages ago.

It never suited any of my dolls til now.

It's like it was made for her.

This is a little dress I made for

my Mary Hoyers, but it looks sweet on her.

Such a bright happy face.

BEFORE  AND   AFTER

BEFORE  AND   AFTER

After a little research and a more magnified

 look at her neck mark, I found that this is a

 1937 McGuffey Ana doll by

Madame Alexander.

Welcome home Ana.