A Bibliography of Doll and Toy Sources: Print-Mixed Media-Electronic-Musical-Artistic

After 17 years of work, my book is out! It looks lovely, and has a photo of my Goodyear Rubber Doll on the front, and more of my dolls on the back cover. There is a Table of Contents, and an index. I have a preface and introduction about the history of dolls and doll collecting, and there are good black and white illustrations throughout, many of dolls from the museum. Even as I type, there is a doll on an old Maude rerun, along with a doll house and other toys, and Harlan Coben frequently mentions dolls in his novels. I keep finding more good URLs, and even Kojack had a doll or two on. So, I will have a second edition! There will also be information for where you can buy the book, soon.

The Barbie/Lilli exhibit is up at a local museum. I finished the PowerPoint and will try to figure out a way to post it for everyone to read.

I've had a few days off to search for dolls, and have found some treasures. I found a nice 6 in. parian head, blonde, painted blue eyes with molded collar and gold trim. It is in the so-called "low brow" hairstyle, and it is one of the nicest heads I've seen. I also found some modern fairy fashion dolls and Blythes, and a tiny Nippon doll in original dress. There was a lovely resin doll, one of a kind, with a winsome, wistful face, and several handmade Easter dolls or Effanbee 7 in. babies in crocheted outfits. I also found a vintage ideal baby, 8 in., with its original dress. All of these were five dollars and under, even the head. It pays to look in far off places, and new antique stores and junk shops.

One shop did scare me; it is hardly ever opened, so I went in. The spring weather influenced me. It was dark, long, and narrow, and filled wall to wall with piles of things. It was a hoarders episode in the making, except all were collectibles, even antiques. But, there was no room to look, or walk, and the owner was standing chatting in the middle of the only passable isle. He had good ideas, once. I found the two little dolls I bought displayed in an old popcorn machine filled with vintage mass manufactured porcelain dolls and Barbies. But, hardly any were priced. He had no change, and no bags. He was full of clever comments, like, "those are sharp shoes; are you a tap dancer?!" Hardly. He apparently complains to the other shops in the area that he can't sell anything. Well, I don't criticize, but here are my tips: market, organize, have change, have bags and boxes, have a huge yard sale for the excess, donate more to charity for a tax credit, advertise, and keep your sense of humor to yourself. Just a few ideas. I felt sorry for the guy; he was helpful and knowledgeable about his things, but I don't think even the boys from American Pickers would have had a lot of hope in that place.

A moral to all of us who collect? Collect v. Hoard? Since when is store inventory hoarding, and since when is collecting in that category? Who knows?

I only know I never met a doll I didn't like, and the hunt is on . . . .

To the People of Japan, hit so hard and tragically just days after the Hina Matsuri Festival, The Museum sends its thoughts and prayers. Take care.