Ellowyne and Ann Estelle Luncheon At Kathy's May 17, 2014

After a long, Maine winter, Kathy invited club members to help celebrate spring with Ellowyne and Ann Estelle.  Although it was a dreary, rainy day, members who could attend were treated to a fun filled day with games, door prizes and a fantastic program about Robert Tonner and his dolls. Kathy also made each Ann Estelle a party dress and bracelet to take home. Featured were Ellowyne and Ann Estelle, club members brought theirs dressed for the occasion. Additionally, some club members brought other Tonner dolls to share, including Betsy McCall and Kripplebush kids to name a few. Kathy’s husband, Deane, provided us with a very tasty assortment of sandwiches, horderves, veggies and desserts. In spite of the rainy weather everyone enjoyed the opportunity to see Kathy’s dolls, learn more about Doll Artist Robert Tonner and his line of dolls.

I had the pleasure of meeting Deane's mother Mary.  While sharing conversation about what a great luncheon Kathy and Deane, hosted, Mary asked me where I lived.  When I told her I lived in Bradley, she informed me she was born in Bradley.  I told her my husband's father was also born in Bradley and I asked what her maiden name was (I was curious if I might know some of her family).  To my surprise she said her maiden name was S. I couldn't believe it. I said to her, "So was mine." and asked her if she was from the S family in town.  She advised yes, and I told her although to my knowledge we were not related it was nice we shared the same lastname.  She told me she went to school in Bangor with a boy named John S., one day he was absent, the teacher asked her where he was and she said she didn't know they weren't related. It seemed at the time the teacher thought they were siblings.  That took me by surprise so I asked her when she graduated from High School, when she told me the year I exclaimed, "That's my father!" She then said there was a nice young girl in her crowd named Trudy W.  I almost hit the floor!  I once again exclaimed, "That was my mom!  She passed away a year ago."  Mary had tears in her eyes as she told me she always wondered what happened to Trudy, they had been friends for a long time but over the years they had lost touch. She wondered many times what happened to Trudy, she was sorry to hear she passed on but it was nice to meet her daughter.  It sure is a small world and it was so enjoyable to meet Mary.  I hope I get to see her again sometime.

I had such a great time at Kathy's party which inspired me.  For quite a while, actually since just before my mom's passing away, I have been a little disinterested in the doll collecting hobby. Then when Mom passed,  a big part of the doll collecting went with her.  It no longer was fun to collect and make things, especially since she was no longer here to participate with me.  At Kathy's I realized there were a lot of women who collect dolls who I can have fun with and the reason I was disinterested was that I was trying to collect the same dolls and do the same things that I shared with my mother. Hitty and small dolls are still my favorites but I now know it's OK to find a new avenue in doll collecting and share with my doll club friends.  I'll be sorting my doll collection, selling some of them as they just don't appeal to me any longer and packing some away.  Mom's dolls that I kept have found a home on the shelf in the spare room, the smallest have been put into a display box to keep them safe and of course the Hittys have their own space on the book case in what was once Mom's bed room.  Today, on the first anniversary of my mom's passing, I'm able to say good bye, let go of the past and begin a new venture with the doll collecting hobby.  I will always treasure the years I enjoyed collecting with Mom but it's time to move on and enjoy collecting with friends.

I want to thank Kathy for a wonderful program on Robert Tonner, Deane for the delicious assortment of party food and Mary who brought back some fond memories of my parents. And thanks to my family and friends who stuck by me through this difficult time. To those who didn't ask questions, who supported me through my many moods and accepted me for who I am.  And to my Mom, who on her dying bed told me to have no regrets and to be happy. 

 Kathy's Ellowyne and friends.
 Peggie's Ellowyne in summer dress made by Peggie.
 Joyce's Ellowyne in a dress purchased by Joyce.

And my Ellowyne that I purchased after the Luncheon.  She may not have a wardrobe but she has a great chair!

Maine-ly Dolls Club Meeting 05/10/14

Today the nominating committee announced the slate of officers for the next two years:

President-Vicki, VP-Debbie, Treasurer-Kathy, Secretary-Pru

We welcomed another new member, Lorraine from Penobscot.

As part of our Care abound Share Project sixty baby dolls have been donated to various facilities caring for Alzheimer’s patients. (This is a continuing program and we are always in need of dolls).

Our annual meeting is on June 14 which coincides with World Doll Day.  I passed out flyers and asked members to report any activities they may have done for this event at the June 14 meeting.  For more info on World Doll Day click here http://worlddollday.com/

Cindy presented a wonderful program on Ballerina dolls. In preparation for the program Cindy purchased additional Ballerina dolls which she cleaned, repaired and made new costumes for.  Some of the dolls are from Madame Alexander, Horseman, Ashton Drake and Valentine.  The Valentine dolls were promotional dolls used by various businesses during the 1940′s through the 1960′s. The two dolls in the very front are Sweet Sue dolls that Cindy redressed as Ballerinas.

From a ragged looking doll to a beautiful Ballerina

The finished doll, looks just like new.

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Lots of Ballerinas ready to dance.

Club Ginnys some dressed in today’s theme.

Maine-ly Dolls Club Meeting 04/12/14

Our meeting was held at Carolyn’s home in Bangor.  Guests included Anne’s two daughters, Kimberly and Beth, who were visiting from out of state. Lorraine H from Penobscot who may be interested in joining our club and Achsah’s mom, Christine C.

In addition to the regular items for discussion it was noted that we need more babies

(soft vinyl 16″-20″  dolls with stay open eyes and no hair) for our Care and Share project (http://mainelydollsclub.org/care-share-project/). Used ones that we can clean and redress are acceptable.  K-Mart sells the smaller 16″ size for a reasonable price of $16.99 if anyone wants to purchase new to donate. We have plenty of clothes and blankets for the project.

 

The program was presented by Carolyn who provided us with a delightful DVD presentation on Martha Armstrong Hand.  The DVD is one of the programs available through the UFDC Library and Shop.  Martha began her career making dolls and figures for View Master toys, moving on to making numerous dolls for Mattel.  Alot of the dolls she made for Mattel were familiar to many of us, Drowsy, Baby Secret , The Sunshine Family and Love n Touch Baby to name a few.  She later moved on to produce artist dolls of her own design.

 

We also welcomed some visiting dolls.  Vicki’s Myrtelle, Sheila’s darling baby and Ruthi’s newly acquired antique doll were available for us to ooh and ahh over.

 

Myrtelle’s story.

  In the 1980′s Vicki and her grandmother, Myrtelle were shopping when Grandmother Myrtelle spotted this adorable doll. She wasn’t a doll collector but she liked this doll so she bought it. She kept her in a chair and called her Vicki. After her passing the doll went to live with Vicki who changed her name to Myrtelle after her grandmother. Since Myrtelle can wear infant clothes she has acquired a wonderful wardrobe. On occasion, Myrtelle visits our meetings. She attended our April meeting dressed in her Easter finest.

 

 This is Sheila’s baby. She is unmarked. Sheila’s baby originally was her Aunt Phyllis’s childhood doll. She left her in Sheila's care, after her passing at age 85.  The doll's head and finger needed repair and thanks to club member Cindy, the repairs were done. She’s in wonderful shape for her 80 years. 

This beauty belongs to Ruthi who recently acquired it at a doll auction. 10" 1900's German, Simon & Halbig, mold 370, Composition body, Bisque head.

A friendly meeting

Recently, I had the pleasure of meeting a very sweet lady in Corinth. The circumstance was due to her husband's death and her desire to downsize and move to Southern Maine to be closer to family.  When I was contacted via my doll club's website about her wanting to sell her husband's small porcelain doll collection I replied that I would share the information with other members of the club if she could provide more information and photos of the dolls.  She explained that there were 15 dolls from her second husband's collection, she knew nothing about them and she did not have the means to send photos. 

This is not something that I or other members of the club normally do, but for some reason I felt compelled to help this woman. Curious as I was to find out what type of dolls she had and if there were any I wanted for my own personal collection, I offered to stop by one evening after work to take photos.  

On the day I was scheduled to visit I began to feel anxious. I asked my husband, "What was I thinking? Why would I tell a stranger I would go to her house to look at her dolls by myself?" Yet, why did I also have this uncontrollable urge to visit this woman? I told him that if the outside of her home made me feel uncomfortable in any way I would not go in and that I would not do something like this again.

I arrived at her place, the neighborhood looked nice, her home, along with others in the area, looked nice and well kept.  I knocked at the door (with my cell phone in hand ready to make a quick call if needed) and was met by the sweetest, tiniest, 79 year old lady.  What a relief!

Before she took me to the spare room to see the dolls, I told her she needed to understand  that I was not a doll dealer or a doll appraiser.  I would give her an opinion based on what I have learned over the past two years while downsizing both mine and my mother's collections. She said that was agreeable and took me to the room where the dolls were kept.  After telling her some history about the dolls and what I felt a fair price range would be I offered her some money for two of the dolls.  She then asked if I would just take the dolls, if I sold any I could send her a check, if I didn't sell any to donate them to someone. She wanted to get them out of her home so that she could continue with her packing and to clear out the home in preparation to sell it this spring.  I agreed saying that if I didn't sell them in a reasonable amount of time I would divide them up and donate them to two of my favorite places.

We spent an hour and a half talking about our lives. How her first husband developed Alzheimer's and died a slow peaceful death.  I told her about my great aunt who also had Alzheimer's. We shared Alzheimer's stories.  She told how her second husband died of COPD, about the last four years of being mostly homebound, and the slow, painful death of the disease.  I shared my story of my mother's recent death and how grateful I was that she had a peaceful passing.  She shared stories of her life, children and her accomplishments.  I shared the same.  She told me she moved to the area after meeting her second husband and has spent 16 years here. Southern Maine was her home, that's where her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren are and she just wants "to go home."  As I said good-bye I wished her well and hoped that her home sold quickly.

On the drive home, I knew in my heart that I was meant to visit this woman.  If I don't sell the dolls, they will go to a good cause (maybe that's where they belong).  It was good for us to share stories that needed to be shared in a way only we could understand.  I was meant to take those dolls off her hands so she could move forward with her life.  Things do happen for a reason.

Below are photos of the dolls.  They are in good condition. Even though they were kept in a glass display case they still need some cleaning as many of us know that dust does get into these types of display cases.

Two Angel Dolls By The Georgetown Collection and a doll by Seymore Mann.

Most of these are unmarked or unidentified.