The Toys We Played With...

I have found the older I become, the more I am drawn to the dolls and items I played with or collected as  a child. In short, I am spending more money to collect what I played with as a child , especially if it comes 'mint in box' or with the box. :) 

For instance, though I love Integrity Toys, I am more drawn the the vintage looks of Poppy Parker and the Victoire Roux dolls than the bitchy looking Fashion Royalty or NuFace dolls of the 21st century with their over-edgy looks of today. I find I long for gloves, hats, pencil skirts, suits, spectator pumps, zuit suits, and especially fur stoles to go with those evening gowns. gasp!  Ok, kill me, I'm a fan of  the 40's, 50's and the 60's fashion. 

I recently picked up this gem of a toy in a bin of toys at an auction- a Marx Johnny West Geronimo Indian Chief with two war bonnets. He's in great working mint condition. The kid next door had an army of these action figures, including Jane West, who I wanted but my mom wouldn't buy them because they were 'boy's toys.' :(  The horses are the coolest things about these sets because they are so detailed, especially the covered wagons. We would play them with the barbies and the GI Joes and the Sunshine Family. 

Then, one day while idly browsing through one of my favorite antique stores, I found a lovely hexagon mint Francie case. I had never owned one of these. 

I think my quest now is to own a vintage Francie, her clothing fits Poppy and going through my childhood dolls, I have found several pieces of Francie clothing. I don't remember owning Francie, as a child, so I either must have traded for it, because the outfit is not complete. 

And here is one of my childhood dolls still intact, Walk Lively Barbie . 

She still walks on her stand, but she is fragile, so I am very careful with her. As a kid she was one of my favorite dolls besides PJ and Sweet Sixteen and Miss America. 

Hopefully it is my plan for my birthday this year to maybe treat myself to a vintage lovely , but I haven't decided which one yet. I have been looking at different items. There were several things I owned as a kid, that I haven't re-collected such as the Beach bus. It is hard to find intact. I really want to get a few outfits. Other items I want to collect are the sleep n' keep cases. 

All for now. Enjoy your vintage finds! Lisa

Va. Fashion Doll Club Titanic Tea

Today I joined some of my Va. Fashion Doll Club members for our club outing at the Historic Hanover Tavern  for the White Star Line R.M.S. Titanic Tea 
It was a traditional English High Tea with a historic program on the history of the Titanic, what happened when the Titanic crashed , the sinking, and the passengers, and some facts. The program was interesting, and many of the attendees attended the tea in full Edwardian /Victorian era dress, as we all attempted to do. 

My Va. Fashion doll club also brought dolls dressed in the era of the Titanic at our two tables. 

My doll is to the right, a Moods Poppy Parker, dressed in a replica of Rose's tea gown from the movie, smoking a cigarette. I made the gown and the cigarette. Barbara Carter brought the actual Mattel Rose doll to the left. 

Below is our first course  of tea sandwiches, 

Waldorf Chicken Salad on Pumpernickel

Shaved asparagus and Saffron cream on white

Virginia cured ham and mushroom tart

Below are

Chocolate painted eclairs with french cream

Raspberry sherbert iceberg

Cocoanut Sandwich

Don't let your dolls drown! Barbara, my tablemate, made all of our dolls lifejackets. So at the proper moment, all of us at our two tables put the life jackets on our dolls at the point in the program. 

My Teacup, all the invitees had different patterned teacups and saucers

The ladies to the left of us had full Edwardian costume, their hats were outstanding and HUGE. Their skirts, jewelry, coats, shoes were all historically accurate. They loved our dolls and our outfits. 

The ladies serving table were dressed in maid outfits that looked like they were from 1912. It really set the mood for the tea.

Throughout the program, we had historically costumed actors like the Captain, the typographer, the Countess, and some of the key wealthy personages of the Titanic walking about and talking to us at table. Their costumes, hair, jewelry were amazing. 

All in all, it was a wonderful day to step back in time. 

Richmond Spring Doll & Teddy Bear show

Today was the Richmond Spring Doll and Teddy bear show. It usually runs from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm. My friend Karon was selling some of her dolls and had a table at this show this year. The Doll club didn't reserve any of their tables because of the Titanic Tea tomorrow. I got alot of photos. It was a great show.

First up was Sylvia Butler's booth of Tarheel Creations. My Annabelle was created by her. She does exquisite period work. 

Then there were some other booths with antique dolls...

Isn't this doll in red gorgeous? She was one of the largest antique dolls at the show!

And of course, some Cissy dolls...oh the Cissy dolls! 
sigh......