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.