Before I even start this post, let’s remember  . . . “to each, his own.” What one person thinks is grand may be questionable in another’s eyes. Or a different way I’ve heard it said, “Y’all leave her alone and just love her the way she is.”
Okay. Here we go . . .
Some people like dolls. I like dolls and still have mine stored away at my Mother’s house. Other people like to play with dolls, and I’m cool with that. Other people like to buy and sell dolls and that seems like it would be a fun hobby, but there’s one part of the doll world that reminds me of the Seinfeld episode where George thinks a doll looks like his mother . . . EEK!
I attended the Eastern Shore Doll Study Club’s annual Doll and Toy Show a few weeks ago at the Fairhope Civic Center.
 The annual show always has fascinating things to see and most of the items are available to purchase. There’s also a table where you can have your antique doll appraised.
My Mother has a collection of bride dolls I’m itching to use as decorations for a bridal shower, so I snapped this photo of these beautiful brides to show her. The one in the center against the wall was over $3,000! That’s more than my real wedding dress cost!
I just loved this doll. So adorable. I think I related to her chopped off bangs.
This is the kind of doll that you either love or  . . . not. I wouldn’t have minded it so much, but there was a woman who was holding one like this and cooing, patting and swaying with it excessively, to the point of  . . . hummm. “Don’t you think she looks real? Aren’t you precious? Yes you are! Yessy-wessy you are!”
What did I tell you? We love her the way she is. *BHH.
But now these Liddle Kiddles are AWESOME! (love me the way I am). I played with these as a little girl and still have a few at my parent’s house. I also found out the Donald Duck Liddle Kiddle I STILL HAVE is worth a small fortune! Yippee! (small).
And this . . . is what I call a doll. It’s a replica of what I looked like at my senior prom, except picture blue. I look sickly in yellow. There were also a ton of Barbies of every kind you can imagine.
These international dolls were drawing a big crowd.
And although I never had a Kewpie Doll, I had a son who looked just like this when he was a baby. He’ll be so happy I told you that.
See? The Doll and Toy Show always has something for everyone!
*Bless Her Heart.
Sharing this show with the fabulous: Dwellings and Coastal Charm.
It was so interesting to look those Liddle Kiddle dolls up on Etsy. They had lots of them. What fun! Thanks for this post – I was planning to go to the show but something got in my way. Next year though!!
Oh my, some vintage dolls are just plain scary!
We’ve got ‘Childhood museum’ here in Edinburgh (Scotland).I was left alone in the room with more then 100 vintage dolls. One of them was doll on a music box and the music box suddenly went off. I almost peed my pants 😀
xx
Mila
I rushed over from Amaze me Monday to see the dolls. I’ve never been to a big doll show like this but I would love it. I collect dolls and even have a doll room! I collect a variety of dolls and love them all. I hope you love me too! haha! Enjoy your week and thanks for a fun post! Hugs, Diane
I think it would be awesome to see your collection. I hope you write about it sometime. I love to see people with a passion! Thanks for stopping by and reading, and enjoy your dolls.
I have a sister who is (now retired) a master dollmaker, meaning she is certifiably skilled to recreate antique dolls with mold forms made from the originals. In finest detail, she would pour the slip, fire the kilns, string the dolls, hand paint the facial details, fashions wigs of mohair or human hair, and make clothes with the tiniest stitching with materials sourced from Europe and other antique venues. Incredibly talented, and she taught classes also, as well as repaired many a ‘dead’ baby from the past. Having said that, a lot of people who stay in her home get totally creeped out by the “doll room” – full of creations and vignettes, lol.
Interesting to read your perspective on the doll show. 🙂
Your sister is truly an artist. I would love to see her work. I don’t think I would have the steady hand it takes for all those tiny eyelashes and other details. The old antique dolls are beautiful and I have a great story I’ll share someday about how happy we made my husband’s grandmother when we had her childhood doll restored. Thanks for reading and writing!
I’m going to look this up. One of my personal favorite stories I’ve written for our newspaper was about when I had an old antique doll restored for my husband’s grandmother as a surprise. But you must be talking about something different — and I agree, the realistic looking dolls are just a bit too much for me! Thanks for filling me in!
Have you ever heard about “reborning” dolls? I ran across a blog about this, and I wanted to back away slowly before hoping to scream it out of my head. This is how I guess it happens: One finds a doll that has been very well loved and attempts to bring it new life. If I remember correctly, and I’m not saying I do, it involves painting the body, if necessary, and restyling the hair by cutting or whatever. Repairs are made to the torso and joints. In essence, it is made to look like new, and I might add, in a creepy unrealistic sort of way. I don’t want to point at a site in particular, but maybe you can search “reborning dolls”. Apparently, there are tutorials on Youtube. Enjoy!
Here’s an article from Wikipedia: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reborn_doll
Very interesting, indeed! Like the article mentions, there are therapeutic purposes for these dolls, which is wonderful they can be used to make someone feel better, but I’ve never seen one that was even close to being as pretty as a real baby. As a matter of fact, they remind me of yet another Seinfeld episode where Kramer sees his friend’s baby for the first time and basically gives a Kramer, “YIKES!!!”
Thanks for sending the link!
Oh how I gazed at the Sears Christmas catalog and wished for one of those new dolls. I was a doll fan as a young girl until I discovered sports…dolls were moved to the back of the closet and replaced with high top sneakers and a basketball.
The American Girl Dolls are the ones I wish had been around when I was a girl. They have “sports” dolls with soccer balls and everything-— just what you would have loved!
You know you are a good writer when you can make me smile so many times about creepy dolls (I love ya anyway) (some were not so bad). I especially loved when you embarrassed your son…..good job mom….I understand because I have two sons also and all I have to do is breathe to embarrass them..:) And although you may not can tell I’m trying to compliment you on your great post….it just may not sound like I am. Have a great Easter weekend! God is good!
Thanks for the nice words, and encouragement in the universal quest to embarrass our children! Happy Easter to you!
My Mother was kind enough to save my dolls for me too. I’m sure she could tell how much they meant to me since I also took good care of them.
What? You never cut their hair? (I never dreamed of it either!).
Same here!
I have some of my childhood dolls too, wouldn’t let go of them for anything! I have a few collectable and one antique. Always a little girl at heart I guess, but no rocking and cooing them these days like that lady…hmmm.
Blessings,
Cindy
Thanks for sharing the doll show. Would have enjoyed being there. I was raised with sisters but was the only one who loved dolls.
How can you not like dolls?