They were a totally unplanned purchase, which you can put down to my having reached my second childhood, I guess. Thanks to January Sales, they were almost half their original price, and I shall secrete then away (eventually) until smallest granddaughter has grown to the same size as them - which could take a few years!
But in the meantime, I intend to enjoy myself to the full, by making/acquiring/collecting alternative costumes for the Sam and Sally dolls I'd have loved to own when I was young.
The clothes they have now are trendy to look at, but poorly designed. The hoods are too small to pull up over their heads, and the Velcro fastenings at the back stick like glue to the doll's soft bodies when you undress or dress them. And why give dolls clothes that are difficult to take off and put on?
I was horrified, too, by the wire and plastic restrainers that held each doll in their box. Neck, torso, arms and legs were shackled with lethal looking bonds, that took me, an adult, a fair amount of effort to remove. No child could have coped. So, in the interest of preserving the original boxes to store the 'twins' safely, I have replaced plastic with good old fashioned string, which I can untie whenever I want to try on a new outfit for either of them! I shall have a lot of fun with these two, before they get handed over for good...
Oh! they're lovely Jinksy. I have two dolls of my own and love them lots. I only had two dolls when I was little (vinyl dolls had only just come out) so I, like you, am now in my second childhood.
ReplyDeleteYou will have such fun playing with them.
I intend to!
DeleteThey look a bit bigger than the dolls make clothes for. I've just finished a Rupert outfit for a friend's 8" teddy bear.
ReplyDeleteThey're about 25" tall, and I've discoverer that 3-6 month baby clothes fit them a treat. Thank goodness for sales - I've bought one outfit already that cost me less than the fabric would have done to make myself...
DeleteThere's an 'I' missing from that sentence. I blame my keyboard.......
ReplyDeleteNo problem, my brain inserted one, never mind your keyboard...
DeleteSounds like a great project. I'm not doing anything with dolls but I'm enjoying working on my old dollhouse. Must be the time to revisit interests of childhood with adult skills.
ReplyDeleteI never had one of those, but did enjoy making one for my daughter when she was tiny, plus one for my Mum, who also never had one as a child. I know for a fact, Mum 'played' with hers often, too!
DeleteI have always fancied buying an empty dolls' house and furnishing it Jinksy - I think I have reached my second childhood too. Enjoy the lovely job you have set yourself.
ReplyDeleteWhat are you waiting for, Weaver? Join the club! ♥
DeleteSo do you have a sepia photo of you with a dolly? C’mon we’d love to see it. Alan take note for a new theme please (as I have several) :)
ReplyDeleteNo pictures of me with a doll of any sort - I didn't have a 'proper' baby doll until I was 11. My sailor dad did bring me back a tall, stiff doll from his travels that 'walked' and turned her head from side to side as you held and manipulated her shoulders, but she couldn't sit down, and certainly couldn't be cuddled... Not much of a plaything! I've no idea what happened to her.
ReplyDeleteFrom the age of seven, I had real baby cousins to 'play' with - better than any dolls. LOL.
Oh how wonderful. I also like dolls! Any excuse to dress them & play with them. I am disappointed that my granddaughters seem to have grown out of them. I'm sure I went on with dolls for very much longer.
ReplyDeleteI agree that wrapping & packaging has got very silly!
Maggie X
Nuts in May
I don't think I ever grew out of them, Maggie, for once I was beyond the 'playing mum' stage, I enjoyed making clothes for any doll that happened my way. I've also restored a few that had been treated roughly - including a set of rag dolls from the local primary school, that had seen better days... Once a doll fan, always a doll fan I think. ♥
DeleteYou're never too old to enjoy a second childhood. Or a third. Or a fourth....
ReplyDeleteGuess not! LOL...
DeleteWhat fun..there is no age limit on enjoying the freedom of childhood. I can just see the adventures and costuming the two dolls will have. Perhaps even their own blog. See you have my imagination churning. :)
ReplyDeleteThe blogs I already have churn my imagination, Susie! Don't think I could cope with any more...Maybe a post or two, some time? LOl
DeleteOh, Jinksy, I'm glad to find another doll lover. Little Nell posted a doll last week and I succumbed and bought the pattern (which she so generously found for me online). I suggested that making doll clothes is a way for an adult to "play" with dolls again. I enjoy the process of making both dolls and doll clothes and have a grand-niece anxiously awaiting some more clothes for the doll I made for her several years ago. I hope you thoroughly enjoy your dolls and the process of improving their wardrobes.
ReplyDeleteI noticed several comments above about doll houses. If any of you know of Tasha Tudor, perhaps you also know that she had a doll house with several residents. She made the dolls and their wardrobes and they interacted with each other. She was such a creative lady. She was interested in dolls and stuffed animals her whole life.
Those are great fun! My best friend had a My Twin doll made for me many years ago. She even had a little dress made that matched one I wore in the first grade. I look at her and see myself and think, "Oh you poor sweetie. You have no idea what's ahead for you."
ReplyDeletePerhaps that's the reassuring thing about dolls? We can predict a peaceful existence for them if we choose, and know it will be so...
DeleteDolls are not really a topic that most men will relate to. I just know it was over 35 years before we were allowed to pass on 'Tiny Tears' from our loft to another young owner. Now we just left with a collection of cuddly toys.
ReplyDeleteI suspect your granny rating has just shot through the roof. A lovely investment for future fun.
ReplyDeleteWhat a good Grandma you are, thinking ahead like that.
ReplyDeleteWoman with doll theme coming up next week. Your wish ... and all that.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea!
ReplyDeleteI love dolls.... I have 3 Granddaughters, and I know that they would love for me to do what you are doing!!! What a splendid idea!!!
Love you,
Jackie
Will there be a Spring collection?
ReplyDeleteI bought some old GI Joes last year on eBay, but I keep their wardrobe pretty basic: boots and camo!!
;)~
HUGZ
When the time comes to pass them on they'll have enormous suitcases full of outfits. What fun!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, what a WONDERFUL gift to pass down - all with their own tailor-made outfits? How clever are you? Kiddie-heaven on a stick!
ReplyDelete