The Gotz Gang

Most of my dolls have all been introduced at one stage or another over the years on my original 'Sewing for Sasha' blog.  Now that I have changed to just this one blog I thought I would introduce some of the Sasha and Gregor dolls again for those who may have missed these various posts. Plus I decided I would take new photos of them all...so this post has been a while in the making!

Starting with the 'Gotz Gang', as my main Sasha collection is the English Trendon dolls.

All dolls are dressed in clothes I have made them, unless mentioned otherwise.

I have five older Gotz dating from the early sixties.

My very first was Amber, she is an large head, yellow eyed pony tail girl from the early sixties.  She was one of the first three dolls my husband bought for me.  We went down to see Shelly of Sasha Doll UK to buy her.  I had a wonderful time there and Shelly was amazing, so helpful and friendly.

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That same day I also got Emily whom I had also fallen in love with on Shelly's website, but my husband wanted me to be certain as she had an 'injury' or rather scar on her chin.  For me it didn't detract from her charms in any way.  She too is a pony tail girl, from the sixties. Emily used to be Henry's main sidekick, and travelled to Germany with him back in 2012.

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Marcia is a 'No Nose' blonde girl from the sixties as well and has nice even features.  She too has been with me a long time.

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Liebe, is a slate eyed sixties brunette who is also a long standing resident of Rose Cottage.  I almost sold her at one stage, but couldn't bear to part with her in the end.  She too has nice even features.

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Spencer, is one of the newer members of the Gotz family, having arrived only a couple of years ago. He is a rare 60s redhead boy.

He is wearing his original outfit but is still looking for navy shoes!

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My other Gotz are the later ones.  I did have quite a few at one stage but sold most of those and just kept a few...although I was surprised how many I do still have!

Ziva - is a Limited Edition 2001 Yamka

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Barbara/Babette is from 1997 .  Barbara is still in her original outfit and she currently lives in my display cabinet with my other later Gotz.  Like Yamka (Ziva) she didn't have any shoes and came barefooted.

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Alberto - I first saw this boy in a magazine article.  I think he is one of my favourite lads.  He also has his original slate board, stylus and sponge (not shown).  He was produced 1998/99.

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I have three Gotz babies.

Linda - whom I have redressed in a sailor dress made by Vicky.  She is part of my Sailor Display.

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Lena in her original sailor outfit and as such is also part of my sailor display.  She is from 2000/01

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Meike, is also in her original outfit and is from 2001.

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I am lucky enough to have four Gotz toddlers, bought before the prices for them went crazy!

Bonnie (an Iona)  has been redressed in an outfit that came with her.  She dates from 2001.  She does have her original outfit.

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Erica Michelle (an Esther), who is my sister's 'Mini Me' and dressed in replica outfit (that my Mum made my sister and I when we were young) made by me for one of the 'Dress a Sasha Competitions' I also have a matching 'Mini Me' Sasha dressed in the same outfit. She has been named after NZ Sasha collector Erica, to whom she belonged at one stage, and also after my sister.

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Claudius (one of the Sailor gang, and Rory's younger brother) is from 2001

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Ollie (2000) who is Henry's younger brother.  He has been redressed in clothes by unknown maker.

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So that is my Gotz Gang!

The Sailor Family.

Plus a few extra photos for those that are interested.

Three girls in their New Zealand themed dresses made by myself in 2012.

The Letter

After admiring his new pocket watch, Lewis retrieves the letter from the side where he had left it safely.  

He can't believe he actually has a letter addressed to him.

He checks out the stamp to see if it is one he already has in his stamp collection, or a new stamp.

Carefully he opens up the envelope...

...and starts to read.

Dear Lewis,

Now you are living in England ‘on the other side of the pond’ as some might say, I thought it was the right time to send you this little pocket watch.  It was made in the early 1900s and still keeps time today. You do have to remember to wind it carefully and not over-wind it though. You have probably heard people say “They don’t make things like they used to” and that is quite right too.  I wonder how many things that are made today will still be around 100 years from now.  Time waits for no man, and the time is right for you to become its next caretaker. 

This watch actually belonged to your Great Aunt Lucinda, who originally bought it in France while on one of her expeditions when she was a young lady, but don’t let that put you off, it can easily be a young boy’s, sorry young man’s watch, it just needs a short chain and a pin to attach it to a waistcoat or jacket pocket.   It is not magic like some of the watches you read about in stories. It doesn’t hold any secrets; it is just a special heirloom to remind you of times gone past and family. 

He turns to the second page.

Don’t dwell on the past too much though as we can’t change the past, but hopefully learn from it. Rather it is the future we need to be more concerned about, too many young people nowadays just live in the present without much thought to the future, and our future is in threat. But I don’t want to go into such a deep conversation about that in this letter to you my Dear Lewis, time enough to worry about that another time.  There I go again talking about time, perhaps it is a feature of my age, as time seems to go so much faster the older I get. 

Now back to it being an heirloom. Don’t be afraid to use and wear it. If things are hidden away they are no joy to anyone.  Watches were made to be worn and used and hopefully this watch will guide you through your days when you need to know the time, and perhaps when you look at it, you will remember us with affection.

Take care young man,

Yours affectionately

Great Uncle Stan.

Gosh he does think his Great Uncle Stan is a bit of a funny one.  But what intrigues him most is the thought that his Great Aunt Lucinda might have actually been an explorer.  After all it is explorers who go on Expeditions!

He puts the watch close to his ear to see if he can hear it ticking.

I am sure this watch must be magic, Lewis thinks to himself.  It is just that Great Uncle Stan didn't know how to discover it.  Wait until I tell Peggy Sue and Henry all about my letter, Great Aunt Lucinda and this watch.

Fashion on Friday

I have been working on a wardrobe for Lewis.  Some of these items have already been shown and some I have made the last couple of weeks.  Knitting is the one thing that is keeping me going at the moment as I can at least feel some sense of achievement when I finish something.  My plan is to try and make his wardrobe as 'mix and match' as possible, both practical and stylish.   

So far I have made:

Fairisle sweater and a grey cotton sweater.

Sweater, cap and socks set in brown and blue.

To the brown sweater set, I have also added a sleeveless sweater/vest with owls.

Green vest, socks and cap, and variegated vest with newsboy cap.

Oh dear Lewis, you look a bit dishevelled here! 

I still want to make some matching socks for the variegated vest. 

Loving these two sweaters, especially the rust one which I think suits Lewis especially well.

I am hoping to make him a v neck sweater as well.

Of course shorts are needed...  In the photo above Lewis is wearing a pair of grey shorts which will go with a variety of sweaters.  I have since made him a pair of rust brown socks.

Two more pairs of shorts to make.

I need to make some shirts to go with these as well.  I have been working on a shirt pattern as my usual Gregor shirt pattern doesn't work for Schoenhut due to their larger and shorter necks.  I have drafted a pattern that still needs a bit of tweaking, but have made two shirts so far, a green striped shirt and a red checked shirt which Lewis is wearing with a pair of dungarees I have made him, shown below.

I plan on making seven shirts for him and he will also need some trousers/pants in various styles;  'School trousers', jeans, going out/'posh' and general play.  

I of course have his jackets made that have been previously shown in other posts.  

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The first pair of dungarees I made were a little tight on Lewis, but a perfect fit for Gregor, so I will add a photo here of him wearing them tomorrow.    They go nicely with this shirt and will probably go into my Etsy shop.  Donny wearing the dungarees...he looks real cute in them and ready for anything!

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I have also managed to fulfil some commissions/orders.

Plus a few newsboy caps not shown.

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Gosh looking at all this makes me feel a little bit better about things.  My month has not been as unproductive as I thought.  I may have only been sitting around a lot of the time, when I have not been in bed, but at least I have kept busy when I have been sitting.  The beauty of all these things is that they also fit the Gregor dolls!