Valentine's Day for Doll Lovers

To me, this day is about friendship and devotion.  The story of St. Valentine is that he was a devoted teacher, imprisoned for being a Christian and other contemporary offenses.  His gaoler's little girl was blind.  There was not braille, no talking books.  Valentine taught her the best he could.  The night before he was martyred, he wrote her a letter, signing it, "Your Valentine."  After he died, a miracle took place, and the little girl could see again.  So, gift giving, friendship, and miracles, are the real theme of the day.  What will you give to your doll collecting friends!

Tiny Valentine Doll with assorted miniatures, books, doll related objects.

Collectors are special gift recipients; it is easy but hard to find gifts for them.  What if we buy them what they already have?  What if it isn’t good enough?  Valentines Day is full of possibilities for buying doll collectors presents. 

1. Stuffed animals in red and pink; these were staples when I was growing up.  I love especially the red monkeys and pink poodles.  Some, like Snoopy, come on candy boxes. WebKinz and Beanie Babies have special characters for Valentines Day.  I find they are still popular as small gifts.
2. Antique valentines featuring children and cupids: The antique shows start up again in February, and that means sales of vintage and antique valentines.  Price ranges I’ve noted range from $.25 to over $100.00 for the elaborate honeycomb style.  Modern boxes of Barbie, Care Bears, Monster High, Bratz, Strawberry Shortcake, and other doll themed valentines are for sale nearly everywhere.
3. Cupid and Angel figures.  Just as I display snowmen for January, I  display angels, cherubs, and cupids for February.  Vintage mechanical cupids that move and play music might be in antique malls, along with Enesco cupids mounted on red heart boxes.  Doll Charms and jewelry made with vintage doll parts is popular online, at Michael’s and Hobby Lobby and in local boutiques.  Angel figures are popular everywhere, and there may be fantastic deals on angels leftover from Xmas.  Jewelry is also popular with these motifs, as are framed prints, paintings, books, soaps, fingertip towels, and pillows. If you are near Beloit, WI, visit The Angel Museum, and shop the local antique malls.
4. Buy someone a subscription to a magazine.  Doll Castle News is my favorite.  Another I like is Antique Week. Somerset Studios includes free vintage papers and features handmade art dolls, as does its sister publication, The Art Doll Quarterly. Etsy and eBay often sell vintage copies of Kimport’s Doll News, National Doll World, and Doll Designs.  My friend, late collector and author Mary Hillier, wrote articles on old valentines. All her books and articles about dolls are searchable on The Internet.  Try Amazon, Powell’s Books, Alibris, and Barnes and Noble online.
5. Crafty folk will find valentine fabric for sale.  Create doll fashions, doll pillows, or valentine dolls.  Or, just buy a few yards for someone to drape in an exhibit or fold into table runners and cloths.
6. Vintage or new candy boxes often sport dolls on top of them.  I used to love getting candy Kewpie dolls, complete with wings.  These can be preserved with a coat or two of clear nail polish.  You can also pint them with acrylics.
7. Hankie couture is popular with doll collectors.  Hankies are perfect for dressing small dolls.  Buy some new or vintage hankies as a gift; look for those embroidered in hearts.
8. Order some stands, doll supplies, wigs, shoes, socks, for collectors refurbishing their dolls.
9. Is there a museum exhibit featuring dolls in your area?  Take a collector friend and yourself.  Have lunch and make it a day.
10. Make your own valentine candy box.  Buy a box of your friends’ favorite candy; top it with a DVD about dolls, a Beanie, PVC character figure, small bisque or celluloid doll, and tie it all together with a red satin ribbon.

Vintage Valentine, Public Domain

Valentine Display, Bears and 20th c. Porcelain, PD

A.T. with Puppies.  Courtesy, Theriault's

 

Happy Valentines Day!!