Madame Alexander Babydoll

I know, I just posted about getting Kendall, but 

I was SO excited to share about my newest

Babydoll, I couldn't wait!!

Here she is!

She is a 1965 Pussycat Doll

by Madame Alexander. 

She is 19".

You can see her cloth body is 

in good shape.

I can feel her crier in her back, but it is silent.

Even as a girl, I didn't like criers, so

I won't be trying to fix it.

What I really want to get to work on

is that hair!

Left side and...

Right side.  YIKES!

Her eyes are very cloudy.

She also has scrapes in her whites 

and her lips are much too bright pink.

Thankfully, her cheeks are nice and rosy.

Before I go any further, I wanted to test

to see if this cloudiness could be fixed.

I made a cone of paper and directed a

warm hairdryer into her eye.

After about 10 minutes you can see 

a big difference. Her left eye is

slowly clearing!  This means I may be able

to save her existing eyes!

I was afraid I'd have to replace them!

I continued for another 25 minutes!

Switching from one eye to the other.

When baby's eyes were clear, it was 

time for a hairwash. I used  

Revlon Shampoo for

synthetic hair.

This shampoo is available in most beauty

supply stores. Sometimes called 

"Wig Shampoo" And sometimes 

"Synthetic Hair Shampoo".

Don't be discouraged if a salesperson 

has no idea what you are talking about.

If they sell synthetic hair, 

they should have this. 

You may find a different brand!

The important thing is, it is 

shampoo made for synthetic hair.

Then I poured "Heads Up!" styler conditioner

into my palm and worked it all through her hair.

I did not rinse, just left it in her damp hair.

I added a bit more on the tips as I brushed.

These products are available online.  Just do a search

for "Heads Up!" doll shampoo. 

All these products are good. I do really like the

styler conditioner and use it the most. 

I always use a metal tine brush for all doll hair.

Always keep your doll brush JUST for dolls.

The oils in human hair can cause 

dolls hair to hold onto dirt.

I keep these smaller doll brushes for styling.

I used this small comb to work through curls

as I brushed them around my finger.

This is how to finger curl.  Brush the damp

 hair around your finger until you are

satisfied. These dolls had a kind of 

curl perm when they were manufactured.

Cleaning and brushing can bring back 

curls that were already there.

Due to a doll's age, her hair might not 

be perfect. I always shoot for 

best improvement I can. I think

her hair is looking pretty good!

Her hair wanted to stand up in front and on

the sides.  A couple bobby pins can hold

hair until it is dry.  Her hair is still a little

 frizzy on the ends, but I can accept that.

Next I wanted to make her lips a

 more natural color. I gathered a

few colors I thought might make a 

good mix.

This is brown, melon and light

flesh tone. I mixed them and played 

with the colors until I found 

something I liked.

I was NOT very successful!

This little girl's lip color was a struggle!

I redid her lips so many times!!

I just kept washing off with a damp

paper towel and trying again!

I also repainted the whites of her eyes

using a very tiny brush.

I eventually used a mix of 

"Real Brown", "Burnt Orange"

and "Wild Berry".

Next I decided to replace her lashes.

I wanted to experiment with

human false lashes.

I cut the lashes into small pieces

that would be easier to manage.

I made a small glue spot on my paper.

Using tweezers, I swished the lash lightly

through the glue, then applied

 to lash line on her eyelid.

There were a LOT of attempts.

I'm happy with the results!

Next I selected this 3 months size vintage 

baby dress.

You may recognize this dress from...

My first Pussycat Doll. Bonnie was 

wearing this dress when I found her!

BUT, the elastic in the sleeves is all stretched 

out. My sewing supplies are still packed!

So, what did I do?

I used a tiny hairband wrapped around

the sleeve and pulled the sleeve into place.

This will be a good temporary fix until

I find my sewing supplies.

Want to see her now??

HERE

SHE 

IS!!

I think this dress looks better on this baby.

Looking a little sleepy.

Before and After.

Before and After face.

Here she is with her new sisters.

Here are my two Pussycat dolls side by side.

SO, This little girl still needs a name!

These are the suggestions I've gotten:

AMIRA

NYAH

ZARA

MAVIS
LORELEI

AMELIA

and

BEVERLY

Please welcome...

Almira Mavis!!

Kendall Wellie Wisher!

 

Kendall arrived! 

This is how she would look

absolutely new.

This is my Kendall.

Not bad!

She is just missing her hairband,

but not to worry....

Through the magic of eBay I have

a hairband and an extra shirt

on the way!

The first person who wanted to see Kendall

was Willa! Hello and hugs are great, but, 

now you both need a hairbrushing!

Kendall: Is that really necessary?

Willa: Well, maybe it's a good idea.

Kendall: I think you may be right.

Willa's pigtails were easy.

I just brushed her hair around

my finger. 

Kendall has very tight curls.

I took out her hair ties and worked

with small strands of her hair.

Using the Heads Up styler conditioner, I
worked some conditioner directly into the

ends of her curls.

I comb the conditioner through each strand

until it is softened and no tangles.

Then I twist into curls.

Kendall's hair is too curly for finger

curls, but I have used a pencil in the past.

As each side was done I pulled her

hair back into a pigtail.

Kendall's replacement hairband has arrived.

Now she is all complete!

Willa and Kendall are now besties!

They have all kinds of plans for the summer!

WELCOME KENDALL!

My dolls and their Times

I have frequently said that dolls 
are a small piece of history. 
Dolls remind us of how our 
grandmothers played and dressed.
Dolls allow us to hold a little bit of
 history in our hands.

I wanted to share my current dolls and
the eras they come from.  Starting with my 
oldest dolls to my newest.

The 1920s and 30s 

A big reason I grew up loving dolls

 was my grandmother.

This is my Grandmother in 1931.

She was 10 years old.

This is my Grandmother's tiny china head doll.

She is 6.5" tall. She has lived almost all

my life in a china cabinet.

Now she is a very special member 

of my doll family.

Clara 1925, 15" tall.

Restoring Clara

My grandmother had a larger china head

doll, possibly similar to my Clara. My 

grandma's doll's head was broken by 

her younger sister.  My Grandmother

never forgot her lost doll.

This is my McGuffey Ana from 1937.

She is 13" tall. I found her in an Antique shop.

This is how she looked when I found her.

She was SO sad!

Finding Ana

This is my American Character Sally 

from the 1930s, she is 19" tall.

Sally is wearing a vintage 1930s doll dress.  

I love this fabric with children 

playing with hoops and balls!

This is my Patsy baby from the 1930s.

She came in her original christening dress.

Finding Patsy Baby

These are my two Patsyettes, 9" tall.

Helena and Lillibet also from the 30s.

The 1940s 

My Patsy Joan (Joan) is from the 1940s.

She was fully restored when I found her.

My 2nd Patsy Joan (Charlotte) also 

from the 1940s.

This is how Charlotte looked when I

found her online. She just needed

a little cleaning.

Finding Charlotte

Also from the 1940s are my two

Georgene Raggedy Ann and Andy.

The Georgene dolls were the last dolls

commissioned by the family of 

Johnny Gruelle,

the author of the Raggedy Ann stories.

Always check the label of those old 

Raggedy Ann dolls!!

The 1950s 

I am begining to realize a large portion of

my dolls are from the 1950s.

This is my Madame Alexander Cissy.

Cissy is 20" tall. She is wearing a

mom-made dress which is vintage 50s.

I found Cissy in a thrift store for $20!

She was wearing her original dress too!

Finding Cissy

My Miss Revlon, Marylou, is also from the 1950s.

She is 17" tall. Marylou is wearing

a vintage Revlon Kissing Pink dress.

I found Marylou in a thrift store.

She was one of the dirtiest dolls

I have ever restored.

Finding Marylou

Little Miss Revlon at 10.5" tall was the small

version of Miss Revlon. My Little Miss Revlon,

 Julia, is wearing a Revlon yellow school dress.

My brunette LMR Lauren.

My Ideal Crown Princess Doll, Viola.

She is actually a precursor to the Little Miss

Revlon dolls. She is 10.5" tall.

There is disagreement if she was

supposed to be a model of Queen Elizabeth II

or Princess Grace of Monaco.

My daughter found Viola in a

thrift store for me. I obviously

raised my daughter right!

Finding Viola

This is my American Character Toni, also 10.5".

She is a contemporary to the Little

Miss Revlon Doll.

These two fellows are my Uneeda Bob dolls.

They are John and Chris, twin brothers.

They are 11" tall.

John and Chris both got a makeover

when they came to my house.

Uneeda Bob makeover

This is my Vogue Jeff, named Thomas.

He is 10.5 " tall like the girls.

He is a brother doll to the 

Vogue Jill and Jan dolls.

This is how Jeff looked when he arrived.

Jeff was repainted as well.

This is my 16" Tiny Tears Doll. Lara, from the 1950s.

She not only is a drink and wet baby, but she

cries tears!

Lara is another thrift store find.

So glad I brought her home!

Finding Lara

This is my 1950s Madame Alexander Maggie.

She is 14" tall. She is wearing a 

vintage Mary Hoyer dress.

Maggie was a thrift store find, well

actually she was in a box of doll

parts in a used book store!

Finding Maggie

This is my 1950s Mary Hoyer doll.

Also 14" tall. She is wearing a vintage 

Mary Hoyer dress.

Mary Hoyer was designed to be a model for

crocheted or knitted children's clothes. 

She is frequently shown in knit

skating or Skiing outfits.

This is my Betsy McCall doll Melanie, also

from the 1950s. These 8" dolls were 

also called "Tiny Betsy".

I found Melanie in an antique shop, but her

head was off! After a restring she's perfect!

Restoring Melanie

The 1960s 

Madame Alexander Puddin released in 1965.

Her name is Bella, but I still call her Puddin.

The 1960s was also when the tiny Kiddle dolls

were first released.

I got in trouble for bringing my kiddles to school

in my book bag. Specifically my Lucky Lockets!

I had several Lucky Lockets. They could

be worn as a necklace, a pin, or a barrete.

(This doll is not mine, just for reference)

I also had Kiddle Kolognes as a girl.

These are my two Kiddle Kolognes. I loved

these dolls because they all smelled like flowers!

This is my Florence Niddle Kiddle.

I found her in a thrift store, naked and

alone in a large bin of toys!

I found out she was a nurse Kiddle, so I

made her a nurse uniform.

I made her a travel house with this little case.

Here is the inside. 

I also have this Dainty Deer Kiddle.  I had one

like this as a child.  She was sadly eaten by....

My Grandma's ravenouse

Pomeranian, Missy Pooh.

The 1970s 

Crissy was first released in 1969, but

my first Crissy I must have recieved

around 1972.

My first Crissy looked just like this.

After I got my Crissy, Sears came

out with her little sister...

Cricket! She is 15" tall. 

Sadly, my original Crissy dolls 

were lost in a move.

(intentional? or accidental? 

My mom claims to not recall, 

she is 83, so I guess

I'll never know. heehee)

These are my two current Crissys, 

Crissy and Shea.

These three were from an estate sale.

Estate Sale Crissys!

This is my Cricket and my Mia both 15" tall.

After I didn't find a Cricket at the estate

sale, I found this Cricket online!

This is my Madame Alexander Pussycat Doll,

Bonnie, she is from 1977. She is 19" tall.

I just love MA Baby dolls. 

I found Bonnie in a thrift store.

Pussycat Restoration

The 1980s 

Tomy Kimberly came out in the early 1980s.

This is my Kimberly given to me by 

a reader, Mary N.

Kimberly is a skating doll with real

Hang Ten skates.

Kimberly 80s fashions

In 1986 Pleasant Company released their first dolls. 

I found my Molly in a thrift store covered in dust!

My Molly is most likely from the late 80s.

This is Molly after her first wash and brush.

Her hair was wild!  The first Pleasant Company 

dolls had heavy thick bangs.

Eventually I re-wigged Molly with a newer 

Molly wig. I also touched up her lips and cheeks.

 It is a huge improvement.

Re-wigging Molly

The 1990s

I have ONE doll from the 90s.

This Patsy Joan was reproduced in 1994.

I found her in a thrift store wearing

this terrible 90s style dress.

I came upon this Patsy dress online and ordered it!

The set came with panties and a slip

It also had shoes, socks and a bonnet,

To match this adorable dress!

I do love this little dress set.

I love how poufy it all is!

For comparison, here is my 1940s Original Patsy 

Joan and the reproduction 1994 Patsy Joan.

The original is 17" tall, the repro is 16"tall.

BUT, 

My repro Patsy is responsible for beginning

 my interest in composition dolls!

The 2000s and Beyond....

Our earliest 2000s doll is Tiny Betsy from 2005.

Named Sophie, she is a 

reproduction of the 1950s Betsy.

At 8" tall she is also called Tiny Betsy.

This is my Sophie, (4 years) 

you can see why I chose

to name my Tiny Betsy Sophie!

(My Sophie is now 20!)

Here she is side by side with my 1950s

Betsy,  Melanie.

Christmas 2012, Grace was Sophie's (8 years)

 first AG doll. Grace really started 

this whole doll thing going.

Soon after Grace, came Emma.

Soon after that, I saved Molly from a thrift store...

Then on a trip to the American Girl Store

in Los Angeles, we added...

Julie.

AND then...

Martin, and most recently...

Kit Kitteridge.

Last of all is Willa, found in a thrift store.

She is also made by American Girl,

but just 14" tall.

Willa is a Wellie Wisher doll. 

There were just 5 versions of the Wellie Wishers.

Just a couple notes:

Look who is coming to live here!!!

Wellie Wisher Kendall

AND....

A 1965 Madame Alexander Pussycat doll!!

I am thinking of a name for her....

Any ideas?