Gigi's Dolls and Sherry's Teddy Bears 2018 Dolly Jaunt

It is with great pleasure that I dedicate this blog post to our friends at Gigi's Dolls and Sherry's Teddy Bears, Chicago, IL.  I have been buying dolls from this dynamic duo for many years, often from doll shows.  Many a doll has been repaired and outfitted from their wonderful stock.  All photos courtesy of Gigi's Dolls and Sherry's Teddy Bears. Gigi's Dolls and Sherry's Teddy Bears is now, also, on Rubylane.com. (https://www.rubylane.com/shop/gigisdolls).  You may read about them in April 2018 Ruby Lane Newsletter on Dolls. 

In September 2017, I boarded the Illinois Zephyr and took a train ride to The Windy City herself, Chicago.  I have to say that I love Chicago, and it is still one of my all time favorite cities, even those I have been privileged to visit overseas.  The train trip alone would have been enough of a thrill for me; I always feel like I’m living “Murder on the Orient Express” when I ride one.  I definitely think there is an advantage to being “the girl on the train!”

 

The destination, however, made it even more of a good time. I, and my friends in the West Central Illinois Doll Club, were headed to the legendary Gigi’s Dolls and Sherry’s Teddy Bears, doll store, doll museum, toy store, and doll hospital all in one location. This is the third year we have taken the trip, and it won’t be our last!

 

The gracious mother/daughter team of Gigi and Sherry open their shop on Monday just for us.  Waiting for us are home-made cookies, goodie bags, and a free doll or doll artifact that needs a good home.  One highlight was a seminar on restringing dolls.

 

Doll repair is another specialty of the house, and Gigi’s and Sherry’s ship all over the world.  One entire room consists of doll clothes form every era in every price range.  Another section consists of international costume dolls.  There is an entire library of books on dolls and related subjects and yet another area filled with doll houses and miniatures.

 

Gigi’s and Sherry’s feature Steiff and magnificent antique dolls.  Their own unusual collection is on permanent display.  Those who love artist dolls won’t be disappointed, and vintage doll collecting interests are well represented, too. If you love dolls and miniatures, you have to visit this wonderful place!!

Why We Love Dollhouses (And You Should Too!) - Ruby Lane Blog

Why We Love Dollhouses (And You Should Too!) - Ruby Lane Blog: The first dollhouses on record are probably the Dutch cabinet houses and Nuremburg doll houses, meant more for adults as cabinets of curiosities than for children.  The novel The Miniaturist is based on these. One great example that still survives is Mon Plaisir, from the 18th century. The Nuremberg House open, 1673 via Victoria and... Read more »

RIP Mr. Lazarus, RIP Toys R Us

The last two weeks have proved to be very sad for the retail world of toys and dolls.  Toys R Us announced they would be going out of business completely, and their founder,   Charles   Lazarus, died at age 94.  How Ironic that this Saturday is the feast day of  Lazarus, and that  MGM Inc., and CEO Larian are stepping forward with a $100 million bid to save Toys R Us.  As they said there is still a lot of value in the name.  See the link at the end.

Founder of Toys R Us with First President Bush.

A good age, to be sure, and he saw his dream come true, but at the same time, I can't wonder if all the negative excitement hastened the poor man's death.


Where have all the toy shops gone!  We had a local chain called Toy Fair for many years; my mom bought me Furga dolls, Shackman porcelain reproductions, now vintage themselves, Sasha, Madame Alexander and more.  I can't even find a local store any more that carries Alexanders.  Then we had KayBee, which may be coming back to the malls.

Public Domain Images

In California, where I first wandered into Toys R Us, there we also had King Norman Toys and The Magic Kingdom.  Grants had phenomenal dolls as did Woolworth's.  Our department stores all had major doll and toy departments, but these have disappeared, too. Oh, you can find a few plush dolls, some Alexander 18 inch type dolls, Thomas toys, a few Beanie Babies, but it isn't the same.


Some blame the demise of Toys R Us on a copycat law suit they dealt with over Gene; there doll lookalike, Hayley, had to be yanked from the shelves.  It reminded me of the Huret-Rohmer lawsuit over doll bodies 160 years ago or so.  I remember rushing to Toys R Us at twilight, just before they close, to find Hayley.  Alas, I was too late. If anyone out there has one, I'm still interested.

Public Domain Image

My mom and I loved the sales they had, and we routinely wandered Toys R Us aisles.   In Marion, IL, I watched a couple bring their chimp, a little boy in overalls, to select toys.  He sat in the cart, and held his toy as if he were reading the label 


I was in my heyday when the dolls from Mattel came in printed cardboard boxes, and the doll houses and dishes were displayed ceiling high. 

Public Domain Image

On my last visit before the announcement, I noted that the FAO Schwarz area was no more. They apparently reopened after being bought from Toys R Us.  The reopening took, place Dec. 2017, see article in links below.  None of  the FAO toys were to be seen.  How I wish I'd ought that all plush coral reef!


Sales are only 5-30%, with most in the 10% range.  I don't see any really old stock,, but there are still bigger sales than this on clearance, with no further discount.  They were not taking checks locally, but cash and credit cards.  All sales are final at our stores.    I did find what I think was an older stock Power Puff girl cloth doll with accessory for $2.90.  Some action figures were only $1.98.   Lots of people were there this past Wednesday, but not many were buying.


I bought a Toys R Us Exclusive Belle.  My advice is, by the TRU exclusives first.  I will be back in about a month.  I was told they were gearing up to close in May.


Buying on line is fun, and a great way to fill in spots of your collection.  I live by it, and by social media.  Yet, we need toys stores.  We need to get out and to walk, and to see each other and interact.  Soon, we're going to be like those flabby space cruise ship passengers in Wall-eye


The thrill of the hunt involves physical activity, and I have memories of taking our son there to choose toys, and my little cousins.  Our boy even worked there a couple Christmases ago. 


I hope KayBee comes back, and that Macy's, Von Maur, and some of the other stores that used to carry toys will again, at least go for the collectors dolls and Madame Alexanders.  We like to look at them, and you  will reach a whole new market, and encourage exercise.


I leave you with some links to read more.  If you want particulars on the court case, I'll explain them happily.


As for me, though, I will miss Geoffrey the Giraffe, and I have to say,


"I don't want to grow up; I'm a Toys R Us Kid!"


Links:


Toys R Us Champion Larian  steps up to save stores: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-23/toys-r-us-champion-larian-steps-forward-with-100-million


Toys R Us Founder Charles Lazarus dies . . . . http://money.cnn.com/2018/03/22/news/companies/toys-r-us-founder-obituary/index.html


Toys R Us Closing All US Stores. http://www.businessinsider.com/toys-r-us-stores-closing-sales-2018-3


Toys R Us Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Protection. http://www.businessinsider.com/toys-r-us-could-file-for-bankruptcy-this-week-reports-2017-9


Toys R Us Says a Perfect Storm Killed the Toy Chain. http://www.businessinsider.com/toys-r-us-could-file-for-bankruptcy-this-week-reports-2017-9


FAO  Schwarz returns after 2015 Closure. http://pix11.com/2017/10/27/fao-schwarz-returns-after-2015-closure/

Give us a Follow: Ruby Lane Dolls on Pinterest

Here is the link to Ruby Lane Dolls on Pinterest:  https://www.pinterest.com/rubylanedolls/.


Our boards cover our Blog, specials like our 30% off sale, categories like Vintage Vinyl, Madame Alexander, Vintage Barbie, German Bisque, Fabulous French Dolls, Doll Houses on the Lane, Piano Babies, Lenci, Schoenhut, Doll Shops of Ruby Lane, Cloth, Celebrity, Fashion dolls not Barbie, Boy Dolls, Metal Dolls, doll parts, doll heads, international dolls, you name it, we cover it! 


For those of you wondering, this is my relatively new gig as a Pinner for RL and as a contributor to their blog.


I find it fun and rewarding, and it reminds me of the Ma Jong games I played as a kid both with real tiles and on my old 386 pc.  It is also a great way to cyber collect and learn to organize your collection :)


Please visit us and give us a follow!  Let me know what you think on this blog. https://www.rubylane.com/blog/


Doll blogs. https://www.rubylane.com/blog/category/categories/dolls/

Where's Walda?

11 Pins

Easter, Dolls, Hats- Happy Spring

Easter is named for a German fertility goddess.  She is a pagan figure, and the religious holidays, at least in my church, take their name from a version of Passover.  In my church, the names for Easter is Pascha, which means Passover.  Orthodox Easter must come a certain time after Passover, never before.


The eggs, rabbits, and many other symbols we associate with it are symbolic of rites of spring as well.  It is also the time when Persephone returns from Hades to be with her mother Demeter.  The earth celebrates with her. Spring to us is a time to regroup, for rebirth, for flowers and for planting.  It is a time we all put our best foot forward, and when dolls and humans take out their Easter bonnets and Easter finery.  Here are some photos to help you celebrate.

Plush Chick, late 90s

Ballerina in a shadow box, 80s

Assorted dolls, bears and Rabbits, 70s to 90s

Tulips for All

Posey Bear

In our Easter Bonnets, Antique and Vintage, but Where's Walda!

Ready for an Easter Parade, A.T. Vintage, old head, new body

Assorted pottery, Blue Willow, Pitcher with Greenery, Vintage Laura Ashley

Assorted Ceramics and Chicken Pitcher

Bunny

An Easter Mouse

Dolls with Orchid, Ready for Spring

Ready for an Easter Parade, mid 70s Boutique Doll

Leprechaun meets French Girl

Waiting for Daffodils

Wreathe



Short Doll Video, outfit from our friend, the late Mikki Brantley

Violas

The Gnomes are back for Spring

Fairy Garden, Early Spring

Marigold

Ready for St. Pat's

Spring Cotillion, Marin, Spain, late 80s or early 90s

Wooden Mini, 80s

The Grape Lady, Emma Clear, c. 1940s

Wax Lady under Dome with Flowers, early 19th c.  Photo courtesy
Theriault's, Dr. E's doll Museum collection



French papier mache, UNIS, Dr. E's Doll Museum, from Gigi's Dolls and Sherry's Teddy Bears

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Five Ways To Learn About Dolls - Ruby Lane Blog: Doll collecting is fun, educational, and thrilling. Before you spend your hard earned money on luxury items, learn all you can about the object of your collecting desire. Learning about dolls is exciting, and you learn about art, history, music, crafts, and culture along with learning about the dolls themselves. Here are some tips on... Read more »

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Dolls of Good Character; The Children Of The American Character Doll Company - Ruby Lane Blog: If you love baby dolls, Betsy McCall, Sweet Sue, or Tiny Tears, then you love dolls by the American Character Doll Company.  American Character was in business from 1919 to 1968, and trademarked the name “Petite” found embossed on many of the early composition dolls from the 20s.  They were known for mama dolls and... Read more »

Siobhan (Joan)

Our cat Bangles is inspecting one of our latest additions to the museum, the little girl in the pink frothy dress is named Siobhan, or Joan, in Gaelic.  I didn't name her.  She came with a story.  She is a modern porcelain doll, c. 1990, with a more expressive face than many of these dolls.  Her left hand suffers a broken finger tip, but Siobhan has her own story.

I bought her from The Celtic Shoppe in Willow Glen, San Jose, CA.  She be longed to a friend of the owner, who died young from Cancer.  The owner is a lovely lady, Irish, petite, in her seventies, yet seemingly ageless.  We talked quite a bit, and she told me she was thinking of keeping Siobhan, and I told her she could.  Yet, she said her friend wanted her beloved doll to go to a good home, and to travel where she could no longer.

So, she came home with me across the country.  She sits next to me when I write, and the sailor boy directly behind her is a gift from my friend Trisha, another talented writer.  I'm sending a St. Patrick's Day card to The Celtic Shoppe, just to let the owner know that her doll made it home safely, and that she will be part of our museum.  Dolls are so much more than the some of their marks.