Thursday, February 29, 2024
Japanese Girls/Doll Festival
Happy Japanese Doll Festival March 3d. Once, it was hard to find Hina Matsuri festval dolls, now it is easier Mitsuwa Shopping Center in Arlington Heights offers miniature food and other items to celebrate the Girls Day or Doll Festival. Read Miss Happiness and Miss Flower by Rumer Godden to learn more. Huguette Clark also had a wide range of Japanese Doll Houses made for her. See also previous post on this blog.
Monday, February 19, 2024
American Doll and Toy Museum: Our Purpose
American Doll and Toy Museum: Our Purpose: The more I run the American Doll and Toy Museum, the more I realize a lot of people of all ages have no clue what a museum is. “What is the...
Sunday, January 21, 2024
American Doll and Toy Museum has many new pins of our museum. See also boards on Dolls around the World and African American Heritage Dolls. These last two are new.
Thursday, October 19, 2023
A Life in Dolls; my Resume
Here it is October, the month I live for all year. We’ve had at least two months of assorted disasters which have detracted from writing and from the museum. Sometimes, I sit and ponder how long I’ve been involved with dolls. I thought I would give you a timeline of my life with dolls and toys. I hope you enjoy it, as it is also sort of my resume.
• My fist doll is a Dreamland rubber bunny with a human face, wearing bare bottom yellow pajamas.
• Age 3, my mother hands me two Greek dolls that were part of her family’s collection. I sat on the Kitchen floor holding them, and declared I would collect dolls.
• I see my first antique German bisque doll at Fantasy Land, Gettysburg, PA.
• Age 5, we visit Edison’s home, and I see my first Edison Phonograph doll. Years and years later, I get one for the museum collection. I begin collecting dolls and related objects on family road trips all over the US and Canada.
• Age six, my babysitter gives me a bisque Nancy Ann Storybook doll, my first vintage doll. My first grade uses life sized dolls to portray Dick, Jane, and Sally, but she makes me a sock doll for my collection.
• Age 7, my mom and I begin attending the local antique show. We find my first antique doll, a frozen Charlotte. That year, I also attended the San Jose Flea market for the first time.
• Age 8, I give my first talk on dolls for the Girl Scout’s collecting badge. I did dozens of talks on dolls and toys between ages 8 and 22. My Aunt Rose begins making porcelain reproduction dolls for me. Her husband, Uncle Tony, buys me vintage dolls from auctions.
• Age 9, we visit Europe; lots of dolls come home.
• Age 13, our first doll show comes to the area. I’ve been attending them since.
• Age 22, my first article on dolls was published in National Doll World. I received the prestigious Tweet Award, carved by my teacher, mentor and friend, Dr. Roald Tweet.
• I’ve written by now hundreds of articles on dolls online for About.com, Flossie’s Newsletter, and Ruby Lane. I have written articles for Western Doll Collector, Hope and Glory; Midwest Journal of Victorian Studies, Doll Reader, Antique Doll Collector, National Doll World, Doll Designs and other publications.
• Circa 2014 to 2018, I worked for various employers creating Pinterest boards and blog posts, as well as curating descriptions for objects on eBay.
• I’ve set up at doll shows and had an Etsy shop.
• Worked antique shows and in antique shops.
• Appeared in podcasts, radio, and in local TV news shows, been interviewed by Irish talk show host, Shawn Moncrieff. Was approached by The Today Show and Inside Edition. Interviewed by Atlas Obscura. Had a story done on me for my work network by a reporter who worked for Newsweek.
• Have written several books on dolls, including works of fiction that include them. I have an author’s page on Amazon, and a page on Facebook.
• I’ve worked as director of social media for a doll magazine, and created numerous blogs and social media accounts on dolls.
• I spent twenty years bringing this museum to fruition, not an easy task.
• Still give talks and do displays at other museums, at libraries, for clubs and groups.
• We are nowhere near finished.
• It isn’t just a hobby; this is my vocation, and it’s been my whole life.
• Also make dolls and paint them, repair my own not others’.
and, I developed courses and mayerials on dolls. Also presented several papers on dolls at the Midwest Modern Language Association conventions.
Happy collecting folks. But it doesn’t just pop up overnight.
Thursday, September 7, 2023
Review, The Christmas Reindeer by John Donald O'Shea
The Christmas Reindeer by John Donald O’Shea tells the story of two children who set out to save Christmas by finding Santa’s lost team of reindeer. Lest anyone wonder, Rudolph is definitely one of the reindeer, and he would lead the sleigh.
The book alludes to the tradition of stories where toys come to life, often to save the day. The author has channeled such classics as The Velveteen Rabbit, The Nutcracker, Coppelia, Pinocchio, Toy Story, and The Dolls’ House with his blow mold Christmas characters who live in Santa Land and who come to life after hours.
The two heroes, Jack and Mary, are six year old twins. As modern children, they email their letters to Santa. Mary receives a reply from Santa that Christmas is cancelled because his reindeer have disappeared. Santa’s reply refers her to an app and their heroic journey to Santa Land to find the reindeer begins.
Along the way, they encounter the cleverly named Poo-lár-is, who is a small talking polar bear, a wizard named Warnock, and an evil witch named Maladonna, who is, perhaps, just an ancient, misunderstood child. Dragons and elves, even pirates take part along the way as well.
The plot alludes to timeless Christmas TV specials, but incorporates the modern world of email and computers. The illustrations are colorful and engaging. Their primary colors will attract juvenile and adult readers, but also enhance the story. They have the glow of Christmas bulbs. The dialog is skillfully done and fast paced; it seems to increase the action that drives the plot.
Here, it takes a Christmas community to save Christmas, and with other stories of its genre, The Christmas Reindeer shares a heartfelt message that Christmas is more than “stuff”, that its spirit of generosity and happiness is truly worth saving.
Tuesday, September 5, 2023
Memoir; Writing your Life Story: Fall is Coming
Memoir; Writing your Life Story: Fall is Coming: Fall is Coming It’s in the air; even if it’s 90+ degrees, the breeze is cool, the days shorter. Some trees have already started changing l...
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