Children of Japan

Children of Japan
Courtesy, R. John Wright

Hinges and Hearts

Hinges and Hearts
An Exhibit of our Metal Dolls

Tuxedo and Bangles

Tuxedo and Bangles

A History of Metal Dolls

A History of Metal Dolls
Now on Alibris.com and In Print! The First Book of its Kind

Alice, Commemorative Edition

Alice, Commemorative Edition
Courtesy, R. John Wright

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Emma, aka, La Contessa Bathory

Emma, aka, La Contessa Bathory
Her Grace wishes us all a Merry Christmas!

Annabelle

Annabelle

Emma Emmeline

Emma Emmeline
Our New Addition/fond of stuffed toys

Cloth Clown

Cloth Clown

Native American Art

Native American Art

the triplets

the triplets

c. 1969 Greek Plastic Mini Baby

c. 1969 Greek Plastic Mini Baby
Bought Athens on the street

Iron Maiden; Middle Ages

Iron Maiden; Middle Ages

Sand Baby Swirls!

Sand Baby Swirls!
By Glenda Rolle, courtesy, the Artist

Glenda's Logo

Glenda's Logo
Also, a link to her site

Sand Baby Castaway

Sand Baby Castaway
By Glenda Rolle, Courtesy the Artist

A French Friend

A French Friend

Mickey

Mickey
From our friends at The Fennimore Museum

2000+ year old Roman Rag Doll

2000+ year old Roman Rag Doll
British Museum, Child's Tomb

Ancient Egypt Paddle Doll

Ancient Egypt Paddle Doll
Among first "Toys?"

ushabti

ushabti
Egyptian Tomb Doll 18th Dynasty

Ann Parker Doll of Anne Boleyn

Ann Parker Doll of Anne Boleyn

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Tin Head Brother and Sister, a Recent Purchase

Tin Head Brother and Sister, a Recent Purchase
Courtesy, Antique Daughter

Judge Peep

Judge Peep

Hakata Doll Artist at Work

Hakata Doll Artist at Work
From the Museum Collection

Japanese Costume Barbies

Japanese Costume Barbies
Samurai Ken

Etienne

Etienne
A Little Girl

Happy Heart Day

Happy Heart Day

From "Dolls"

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A Favorite Doll Book

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Jenny Wren
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Baby Boo 1960s

Baby Boo 1960s
Reclaimed and Restored as a childhood Sabrina the Witch with Meow Meow

Dr. E's on Display with sign

Dr. E's on Display with sign

Dolls Restored ad New to the Museum

Dolls Restored ad New to the Museum
L to R: K*R /celluloid head, all bisque Artist Googly, 14 in. vinyl inuit sixties, early celluloid Skookum type.

Two More Rescued Dolls

Two More Rescued Dolls
Late Sixties Vinyl: L to R: Probably Horseman, all vinyl, jointed. New wig. R: Effanbee, probably Muffy, mid sixties. New wig and new clothing on both. About 12 inches high.

Restored Italian Baby Doll

Restored Italian Baby Doll
One of Dr. E's Rescued Residents

Dolls on Display

Dolls on Display
L to R: Nutcrackers, Danish Troll, HItty and her book, Patent Washable, Mechanical Minstrel, Creche figure, M. Alexander Swiss. Center is a German mechanical bear on the piano. Background is a bisque German costume doll.

A Few Friends

A Few Friends
These dolls are Old German and Nutcrackers from Dr. E's Museum. They are on loan to another local museum for the holidays.

Vintage Collage

Vintage Collage
Public Domain Art

The Merry Wanderer

The Merry Wanderer
Courtesy R. John Wright, The Hummel Collection

The Fennimore Doll Museum

The Fennimore Doll Museum

Robert

Robert
A Haunted Doll with a Story

Halloween Dolls Displayed in a Local Library

Halloween Dolls Displayed in a Local Library

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Long-faced or Jumeau Triste

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GAHC 2005

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A Little PowerRanger
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The Island of the Dolls
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A lovely dress

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Fennimore Doll and Toy Museum, WI
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Little PM sisters

Little PM sisters
Recent eBay finds

Dressed Mexican Fleas

Dressed Mexican Fleas

Really old Dolls!

Really old Dolls!

Thursday, February 13, 2020

Ribbon Cutting at American Doll and Toy Museum February 12, 2020


Ribbon Cutting at American Doll and Toy Museum February 12, 2020

Not only was it Lincoln’s Birthday and my grandparent’s 93d wedding Anniversary Yesterday, but it was our ribbon cutting and hearing date for approval of the zoning for our doll museum.

My grandparents, Steve and Marie Fanakos were married in Paris.  He sailed to meet her in Paris, and she traveled there with the best man, who was the Mayor of her hometown, Kalamata, where the olives are from.  Later, the Communist guerrillas would hang the poor best man from a lamppost during the Civil War, but Feb. 12, 1927 represented happier times.  My grandpa was considered an expatriate, and he could not return to his birthplace to marry Marie.  It would be years before he and his family could return to settle real-estate matters and to visit.  Unfortunately, it was 1938, and the two month vacation became an 8 year occupation until they could all be liberated and returned home safely.

Feb.12th was also the date my first fiancé and I broke up rather fantastically.  His mother wouldn’t give him a permission note to get married.   As he said, if I’d minded his mother, none of that would’ve happened, and she would have allowed us to get married.  Hmph!  

So, it was time for a good Valentine’s/Lincoln Birthday holiday of sorts.

Yet, we were not without our poltergeists.  Fifteen minutes before the mayor and other visitors arrived, I locked myself out of the museum.  It was around twenty degrees, and even my Talbot’s grey wool dress, boots, and snake print Ruby Rd. cardigan couldn’t keep all the cold out.

I ran next door to Tim’s Corner, and we tried phone calls, keys, prayers, etc.  Jason, our wonderful organizer for the event, gallantly offered me his jacket and called lock smiths, fire chiefs, and police chiefs.  Some of my family arrived, including my 90 year old aunt. 

Just in the nick of time, as people were lining up outside the door, my friend drove home to get the extra key from my husband, who wasn’t answering the phone for some reason.  I’d also called the landlord, my friend Michelle from Vintage Rose, who also came running with a key. 

Alls well that ends well, as the Bard might say, and we proceeded.  I’m also posting separately my comments.  Aunt Connie helped to cut the ribbon, and everyone signed it.  We are going to display it very proudly.

Mike Thoms, our Mayor, was gracious and enthusiastic, and honored us by mentioning that we did indeed have some items on display from the collection of his late mother.  

The local press was wonderful; our thanks to Bryan Bobb, camera man, and to Jonathan Turner, and the other reporters from our local stations who gave us wonderful coverage in print, on the Web, and on TV. 

The day was a celebration of our entire community, and of all the people who helped make this museum possible.

Later, we were approved by our local zoning and planning commission to use our future building as a museum.  Angela Campbell, director of our library was awesome.  She attended the ribbon cutting and the hearing later to speak for us.

It just goes to prove that dolls and toys bring people together in love, friendship, and community.  Our museum promotes diversity and culture, and honors the history of the dolls, their makers, the artists who designed them, those who collect them, and the children who love dolls and toys.

Dolls are humanities historians, and they also give us pleasure and happiness.

Happy Collecting!










Link to our Ribbon Cutting Ceremony Story; https://qconline.com/photos-ribbon-cutting-ceremony-for-the-american-doll-toy-museum/collection_7de66041-6915-5667-af3d-03bb696ff182.html#6

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