Patsy Baby - At Last!

This box arrived just the other day.

Inside was this little baby!

She came with this Christening outfit and shoes.

Her clothes went into a soak wash.

She needed to be restrung.

All better!

While her clothes were drying I

tried on this little dress and hat.

SO SWEET!

I decided she needed a Christening bonnet.

I have a supply of vintage hankies, so I selected 

one and cut it in half. 

On the cut edge I made a wide hem.

Then I gathered the lace side and sewed it

down with ribbon.

The rear wide hem I laced another 

ribbon through to gather the back.

Tied this into a bow and....

Super easy bonnet from a hankie!

I always pick up these doll bassinets 

when I find them. Like most things

that come into my doll room it

got painted pink.

A few years ago I found this China Head 

doll in a thrift store. I made her a new dress

and had lots of this fabric left over!

I decided to make a floral doll quilt.

You can see I also covered the changing table

in the same fabric. The tall dresser is

part of a Salesman's sample set.

The big dresser is in the compo doll room.

There it is in the corner.

So here is Baby's room.

Here she is in her bassinet with Teddy.

Here is a close-up of her bed jacket

and bonnet.

There is one more item we need help with...

We don't know what to call her!

The FINAL Charity Doll!

As you  may already be aware, I have been fixing up

these dolls for Doggone Good treasures in

Pine Mountain, Georgia.

1961 Madame Alexander Kitten Doll

1955 Madame Alexander Bonnie

1950s American Character Toodles

1950s Thumbelina

I left the worst looking doll for last...

Oh my heavens...what a sad baby doll!

Even I, as a doll lover, could not see

much hope for this character!

BUT, I decided to just see what I could do.

The doll's cloth body was really bad.

I removed the baby's head since it would need

different treatments than the plastic limbs.

I am using a baking soda paste for cleaning.

After the first cleaning she was a little better.

I could see this was supposed to be a

newborn baby.

As I was moving the baby around during the

washing of her limbs this happened!

Looks like I will be making a new body!

I started taking the arms and legs off the old body.

Here's the original crier, but it doesn't work.

I made a pattern from the old body.

I had this linen in my fabric bin, so this

baby will have a light cloth body.

Stitched it together in the same way as the original.

The baby's head is really yellowish-brown.

I read that sometimes peroxide can help lighten

this early version vinyl/rubber.

I put the baby back together in the original 

fashion using wires on the limbs.

For the head I used a tie-wrap.

You can see the R&B neck mark.

Here is baby in her new body!

I started repainting eyes and lips.

This took several tries!

I finally decided this is as good as

this baby gets!

WANT TO SEE HER NOW?

HERE

SHE 

IS!!!

She is an Arranbee (R&B) Dream Baby from

the 1950s.

Let me just say, I surprised myself!

I really thought I might have a doll that

could not be saved!

Before and After

All the Charity Doll Makeovers

Another Charity Doll Done!

Awhile back my friend sent these dolls to me

that came into her thrift shop.

She volunteers at a shop that supports

her local Humane Society.

DOGGONE GOOD TREASURES, 

in Pine Mountain, Georgia

They were in pretty bad shape and she figured

I might enjoy them.

I decided to fix them up and see if I could

make a profit for the Humane Society!

First 3 makeovers!

First to get fixed was this 1950s Toodles doll.

Second was this 1950s Madame Alexander Bonnie Doll.

Third was this 1980s Thumbelina doll.

Well, I took out the next Baby Doll today!

She is a 22" Madame Alexander Kitten Doll.

She had big holes in her clot body and

lots of her stuffing was missing.

She had this white mold on her arms.

I sewed up her holes and Fray-checked them.

Then I re-stuffed her. 

 

Her head had been attached with wire, so I 

had to remove the wire and reattach 

her head with a tie wrap. This hole got

sewn closed as well.

Her hair was in bad shape, but after a wash

and a comb-out...

She looks so much better!

For doll hair I like to use Synthetic Hair/Wig Shampoo

and conditioner. I get it at my local beauty supply.

This dress came on one of the other dolls, 

but I think it will suit Kitten very well.

As you can see the flowers are no longer 

lying flat, so I sewed them down flat.

Better!

WANT TO SEE HER NOW!?!?

HERE

SHE

IS!!

Such a sweet face!

I will work on her hair a little more,

but I think it is a definite improvement!

Welcome Back Kitten!

Click her to see the last doll restored:

The Last Charity Doll