Vintage Dolls With A Story To Tell

Here are the dolls from my childhood all wearing new clothes thanks to the Virus and me with too much time at home. The two medium size dolls are wearing hand knitted outfits from eBay, so much choice and such good prices and knitted by other knitters with time to spare and sell on eBay'

My large celluloid doll at the back is wearing an outfit from Big W baby wear department. Small doll in front has had her outfit from eBay for a few months.

My large celluloid doll I was given one christmas when I was about 12. My mother had to buy and dress 3 dolls as I have 2 sisters. My doll was dressed in pink, my younger sister's doll was dressed the same in yellow and I think my older sister's doll was dressed as a bed doll in a silver grey taffeta. All had beautiful hats long since lost, original shoes and socks also lost, we all still have our dolls.

Here is my doll in her original outfit. the dress is made from georgette and is starting to fall apart so I don't dare wash it again. Matching satin underwear of course.

Over the years one arm has discoloured and her face and eyes have faded. Her arms and legs have been restrung once.On her back is stamped Palitoy 55 Made in England. I found out only recently that these dolls are called Princess Elizabeth Dolls. Did my mother know when she bought them?For a celluloid doll of this age she is in great condition.

Now to my oldest doll which I received in 1945 and hers is a great story. At that time in 1945 I had been in bed for months with a serious illness. ( an illness now almost eradicated and fixed with anti-biotics and a few days off school) My father had a shop and in the window he had this doll on display and was selling raffle tickets for the doll as a favour to the local church. Every night when the shop closed he gave me the doll (still in a box) to hold. I really wanted that doll. The day came, the raffle was drawn my father gave me the doll and told me I was the winner. Only found out a few years ago from my older sister I didn't win the doll, my lovely father had bought the doll from the winner. My father and all the customers knew how much I wanted that doll. My mother later dressed the doll in a school uniform (pictured) for a Brownie doll show. She dressed my sister's doll in a brownie outfit. My sister's doll won. I still havn't forgiven my sister for winning. (but don't tell her)

The back of her head is marked A M Germany for Armand Marseille famous for many years for his doll heads. The celluloid arms and legs are stamped made in Japan and I know nothing about her stuffed body. She used to have some teeth and I think I remember a tongue, she also used to say mama. These things have gone now and her eyes are a bit strange. One arm has broken off at the elbow and is taped together and I know if I ever dropped her her head would break.

Australia was at war with both Germany and Japan in 1945 so I wish I knew where the church got the dolls from. There were 2 identical dolls both wearing orange crocheted dress one small and one large doll. I think it was the large doll I wanted and got. My generous father usually made sure I got what I wanted. Hope he didn't have to pay the winner of the doll too much.

My Patsy doll in her new outfit. Marked on her back Patsy by Palitoy Made in England. Patsy came wearing just a nappy but my mother had what she called a patch box, a tea chest filled with leftover fabric so I could always find something to dress my dolls. Also my best friend lived across the road and her mother made and knitted lots of doll clothes for the church fete so I always had a preview and first choice of doll clothes on offer.

Sorry Big Ted I know you have nothing new to wear and I havn't forgotten you but you are a difficult size to buy for. I will look on eBay again later and check the shops tomorrow. Or I could make you something if you don't mind choosing from the cat fabric I have in my fabric stash.

I still have the cane pram(seen on a previous post) I pushed my dolls around in and sometimes a cat and once only (never again) I let my friend push her dog in the pram.
 

Roecliffe and Chapman 1953 Coronation Party Dress

 A very exciting find for my collection. This dress made from coronation fabric perhaps to be worn on The Day for a lunch or party? Made by the prestigious company Roecliffe and Chapman of Grosvenor St London (label still in back of dress). A company known for its high couture and made to measure service in the 1940s and early 1950s. The company is mentioned in the book 'Cutting Edge - 50 years of British Fashion'.

 Not sure what the fabric is-could be silk? Wish this dress could talk so I could know where it has been and what it has seen. I tried the dress on, It would be a perfect fit if only I could close the side zip!!!

 Another new item a child's coronation tea set. This might have been played with while Mother was out at a party in her new dress. The box is in bad shape with no lid but the china is perfect.

 Had to leave my coronation wallpaper behind when I moved but lucky for me I had more. This time I had no help putting it up so cut the strip into 4 pieces to make it more manageable. The plantation shutters were installed by the previous owner and now I have come to like them. Wasn't sure about them at first as I am a lace curtain type of person.

 The other side of the room.

 And opposite the bed. Previous owners had a large TV up there but I like to read in bed so more 'Royal Stuff' Up there.

 Cross stitch on Cut-Thru Buckingham Palace is finished but now LOTS of backstitch to be done to make sense of it all.

Have been looking for a Queen Victoria kit for a while and this Mini Cushion design by Sheena Rogers is perfect. Too good for a cushion so I will frame it when finished.

Shibella has been to the Vet. this week for her summer hair cut and refuses to appear in this post. She will have lots of opinions to share next time.

Teresa Gil Queen Cross Stitch Update and More

 Still a long way from being finished but I hit a bit of a slump with the skirt. Thought I would stitch the face and hair to encourage myself. I am very pleased with the result, the face wasn't as difficult as I thought it might be. No unpicking was involved. Remember this is 14count Aida and not the linen or evenweave Teresa recommends. Anyone thinking of stitching in 14ct, this proves it can be done. Now I must get back to the skirt and face the French knots.

My new rug, perfect in front of my large cabinet. No label stating where it was made or what it is made of but it does look good quality. It came from America and was very inexpensive. The post cost was-well I won't talk about that. I rarely buy from America because of the cost of postage and the length of time parcels take to arrive. This one took 10 days. Not bad America.

 Plastic spoons from the Royal Visit 1954 with Elizabeth and Philip on the top. Very unusual item to have in my collection.

I think I must have been a magpie in a previous life. If something is shiny, sparkly and cheap then I must have it. Two brooches from the op shop for only a few dollars I've decided to display them on my latest tea cosy.
Well I always did prefer quantity over quality. Now on the lookout for more sparkle.
Thursday is half price day at my local Salvos. store. I will be there.

Sad story and advice needed. Christmas before last I decided to dress up my old Patsy doll and placed tinsel around her neck. This is the result. I have tried every cleaning method I can think of but the marks can't be shifted. 'Patsy by Palitoy' Made in England was released about 1952 and I have had her since then. She is made of an early plastic/vinyl and the red seems to have soaked in and is all the way round her neck.
I have ordered her a smart new outfit and will show her again later, dressed and with the marks hidden.
No more tinsel in this house.

doll club day

Doll club today and the only category I entered was "bear going to the beach" but the competition was just too good and my old bear did not win. Never mind Ted, when the sun shines you will be ready, sunscreen and all. Tonight you can sleep in my bed with Charlotte and Emily as a treat but tomorrow you must go on display again wearing a crown and royal tee shirt.
I took my newest apron (previous post) for show and tell as I am so impressed with the stitching.

doll club wins

Doll club again today and a very lucky day it was. The categories were doll in any uniform, a coloured bear and a postcard. I won second prize for my doll in school uniform dressed by my clever mother years ago, first prize for coloured bear which is a merrythought brand bear to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Queens coronation in 1993 and first prize for the coronation postcard of GeorgeV in 1911.

dolls

Went to my doll club today hoping to win certificates in the competitions. The categories were-doll holding pet, bear holding doll, and a scarf. Thought my old celluloid doll dressed years ago by my mother and my old bear stood a chance but the but the rivals were too good, but I did get second place for my Charles and Diana scarf. Also won a prize in the raffle, the pretty doll standing on the right in photo.