In 1974 I was in the 3rd grade.
That's me with the ponytails and the knobby knees.
All I wanted that Christmas was...
A Growing Hair Crissy Doll!!
I got a Crissy like this one that Christmas.
Then I got a Baby Crissy, which was
a REALLY large doll, for my birthday.
Baby Crissy's are 24" tall.
Lastly, the following Christmas,
I got a Cricket doll which I loved!!
SO, a couple weeks ago when I saw this Velvet
doll, in a thrift store, I was transported back to
1974!
In my last post I shared all about this
thrift store Velvet doll.
Velvet is the younger cousin of Crissy.
I would love to find these two original dresses!
I did this makeover on my Velvet's corduroy pants
and made this matching top.
BUT
She really needed some original shoes.
So I went online to find some shoes.
No big deal, RIGHT?
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Instead of shoes I found this
African American Velvet!
I started this dress while I was waiting
for my new Velvet to arrive.
Teal looks so good on her.
The girls are already besties!
I also made this little A-line mini.
Very pretty!!
Here is the dress Velvet the 2nd came in.
This dress was inspired by the Gunne Sax dresses
that were wildly popular in the late 70s and early 80s.
I wore a Gunne Sax dress like this for my
7th grade graduation.
Gunne Sax dresses were inspired by...
Holly Hobbie
Which was inspired by...
The "Little House on the Prairie"
books
by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Our dress is an Ideal Crissy dress from 1982.
She is a "Velvet" doll but with auburn hair.
Our dress needed new elastic in the sleeves.
I opened the sleeve and removed the old elastic.
Then I stretch and stitch the new elastic.
Here is the dress with new elastic.
If you didn't grow up in the 70s and
your wondering why I chose yarn ties
for her hair. This is why...
All us girls wore these yarn hair ties!
Since I can't keep calling both these
girls "Velvet", please welcome...
Shawna and Cheryl.
Just one more thing...
I found a Holly Hobbie doll!
22 comments:
So awesome! Love them and love Holly Hobbie! Jennifer
Hi Brenda,
Your girls both look lovely in their dresses and they look like such good friends. I remember the yarn hair ties. I never had any but my friend did. I always thought they were so neat. I loved Holly Hobbie and have a small collection of crockery and an embroidery I found in a second hand shop.
My Mum made me a Holly Hobbie doll which is long gone, but I have found the pattern she used, with the intention of making one the same one day!
Shawna and Cheryl look so happy together and Holly fits in well too!
Anna
Hi Jennifer,
Thanks! I have had fun going down this memory lane. The Holly Hobbie was another great find! She's in such good condition.
Hugs
Brenda
Hi Anna,
Thank you! I have had fun creating this post. It really took me back to my childhood. I really went down a 1970s rabbit hole looking for images from my memories. I can still see my bedroom, in my minds eye, where I played with these dolls. I hope you do make that doll! When you do I want to see the photos!
Hugs
Brenda
Hi Linda,
Wow! those yarn ties really got around! Haha! I wore a different color each day to match my clothes. I remember my dream was to have a pair of bell bottom jeans that completely covered my feet! I think I might need to make an outfit with yellow top and blue dungarees!
Hugs
Brenda
Hi Linda,
Thanks for the details about the outfit! I'll be looking for some yellow stretchy fabric very soon. I loved Holly Hobbie too, I never had a doll either - until now!
Hugs
Brenda
Shawna and Cheryl look so cute! You did such an awesome 70s job on their outfits, and I definitely remember the yarn hair ties! I'm *cough* *cough* several years older than you, but it seems that Crissy was around even before 1974 (when I was much, much too old for dolls...) and I remember wanting one with that awesome growing hair!
Anyway, yours are too cute and I absolutely love that you found a Holly Hobbie doll for them!
Hi Brenda,
You recreated the era so perfectly! Yarn hiaie ties and short A-line dresses! And of course, for special occasions - Gunne Saxe dresses!
I remember Holly Hobbie - I didn't have one but my Mom made bedding, and I think, cafe curtains for my daughter's room, '
I am older than you!
Your made some very lucky finds !
Janet
Hi Maryn.
Thank you! Yes, Crissy came out in 69, I think, so you were right, these dolls were available before 74. I had a similar reaction to the "My Little Ponies" that came out in the 80s when I was in high school. I thought they were adorable, but I was much too old for toys! Haha!
I am so pleased with these 3 dolls. The Holly Hobbie I actually found on the same day, so it was meant to be a 70s kinda day!
Hugs
Brenda
Hi Janet,
Thank you! I have been having so much fun reliving those days of my girlhood. I remember spending hours brushing my Crissy doll's hair and making it get short and growing again. I have been very fortunate in my doll finds lately!
Hugs
Brenda
So cute!-Gaela
Hi Gaela,
Thank you!
Hugs
Brenda
I'm too old to know about Krissy. :( I guess if I had daughters I would have known. It's always fun to acquire a little something special from your past. I did know about Holly Hobbie because I made Holly Hobbie dolls for my nieces one Christmas. My brother-in-law worked for American Greetings and they carried some Holly Hobbie things. I'm so glad Shawna and Cheryl found each other! They sure look cute together. Betty
Hi Betty,
I have been having fun going down memory lane. It is nice to find a doll from my childhood. Holly Hobbie was a big deal with me and my friends. We all wanted Holly Hobbie lunch boxes! I am so happy with Shawna and Cheryl.
Hugs
Brenda
Hi Brenda;
I am not familiar with the Velvet dolls. They are lovely. Welcome Shawna and Cheryl. The outfits are beautifully done.
Brenda we had to find your blog since we have not received the few recent posts.
Marion
Hello Brenda;
This is a wonderful and learning post for me since I have never heard or seen the Velvet dolls. Shawna and Cheryl welcome you two pretty girls. Brenda made pretty outfits for you. Brenda the wool ties we had and still have them.
Have not received your posts recently.
Marilyn
Hi Marion,
As you saw I played with these dolls as a girl. I loved them then and now I am seeing a rise in their popularity. I was fortunate to come across Velvet.
I'm sorry you haven't been getting notified of my posts! I think the blogger is not being maintained as carefully as it's gotten bigger.
I'm SO glad you found me!!
Big hugs
Brenda
Hi Marilyn,
Thanks! I'm so glad you enjoyed learning about these dolls. I played with them as a girl and now they are having a resurgence in popularity. I feel lucky I found the Velvet doll!
I'm sorry you have not received notices of my posts. I will look into it. I have had other people say that they can't sign up to follow my blog. So I need to contact Blogger and see what's happening.
Big Hugs
Brenda
I love everything you show you are very good and inspiring Thank you
HI Anonymous,
Hopefully you'll come back and let us know your name! I am so glad you enjoy my blog. I love sharing all my projects with you. COme back again soon!
Hugs
Brenda
Hello Brenda,
I just love reading your blog all about dolls! I am especially enjoying all of your posts on the vintage Ideal Crissy family dolls. I grew up playing with a Velvet doll, my sister had a Crissy doll. I have recently started my own collections of these dolls and I am having a blast sewing clothes and searching out accessories for them. Thank you for all the sewing tips and tutorials. I am so impressed by your creativity! Thank you for inspiring us all and I am looking forward to seeing more of your incredible content!
-Eileen
Hi Eileen,
Thank you! That is why I started this blog. To show others how easy it is to create accessories and clothes for any doll. I too grew up with Crissy. I had Crissy, Baby Crissy and later a Cricket. When our family moved all my dolls disappeared! But I have restarted my collection.
Hugs
Brenda
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