The Dolls' Advent Calendar Challenge - Days 8 - 15

Although I have been taking the daily photos for this challenge, I haven't gotten round to posting them, so am just going to post the last eight days today!

Day 8: Madeline

This sweet little doll featured a lot in 2017 and I did quite a few stories with her...she hasn't seen as much action the last year!

Day 9:  Bobby

This lovely lad is known as Henry's older brother... he has often in the past got up to some antics with his friend Hamish.

Day 10:  Hamish

Hamish is also a Kidz n Cats doll.  He is friends with Bobby and is Rory's cousin.

Day 11: Gigi

Is a little Ruby Red Galleria doll that I found by pure chance when searching UK Ebay a year or so ago for a Perfekta Gigi Doll.  Knowing that this dolls virtually NEVER come available in the UK, and having admired a Sasha friend's doll for a number of years I didn't hesitate.  I need to do more with her.  I think it will help if I give her her own name.

Day 12:  Hitty Joyful

Hitty Joyful is the proprietress of Rose Cottage Tearooms and is always cheerful.  She is wearing her new dress that she got sent ready for a New Year's Eve party

Day 13:  Melody Maplethorpe

Is a petite little lady who fits in well with the TRDs.  I think she may also work well with Muriel Singer, but I won't know until she is unpacked.  

Day 14:  Fisherman's Wife

I bought this doll a number of years ago at an Antiques Fair.  She is completely handmade.  Her face looks like it is made from a wax type material, but I am really not sure.

Day 15:  Sailor Boy

This lad was bought at the same time as the Fisherman's Wife. 

The Dolls' Advent Calendar Challenge - Day Seven

Using an older photo as this doll is currently packed away in a box... Muriel Singer is a tiny antique China Head doll.  I started a story project with her back in 2013, but never really finished it, and I have since sold the dolls house that was used in it, so she was living in a cabinet with my Nancy Ann dolls who have also been packed away.  Hopefully in the New Year, she might make an appearance again, and who knows, maybe I will resurrect her story?

The Dolls' Advent Calendar Challenge - Day Six

 Day Six: Katie

Katie Kopycat is another of my childhood dolls. Over the years her desk went missing, but I have since managed to replace that.  I remember having a lot of fun with her.  She is currently wearing a borrowed American Girl dress and borrowed shoes which are a little large.  She only has her original dress and shoes, so I will have to rectify that at some stage!  

Here is a picture of me with Katie in the early seventies.  My sister is in the front in the blue poncho.  

The Dolls' Advent Calendar Challenge - Day Five

Day Five:  Little Miss Perfekta

This little doll is from my childhood.  I can't remember when I got her, but I know it would have been before the age of six.  She featured a few years ago when I finally made her a little wardrobe of clothes after she had been stored for many years without any clothing.  Not sure what happened to her original clothing as I can't remember her having any!

She was one of the dolls that suffered the fate of the dreaded little sister scribbles.  Fortunately my Mum was able to get all the pen marks off, but unfortunately in the process her hair became very frizzy and resembles a 'brillo pad'. 

I can't remember what I called her, so she became 'Little Miss'.

The Dolls' Advent Calendar Challenge - Day Four

Day Four:  Wren

Wren is the first Makie I designed and has been quite a source of inspiration.  She helped inspire my Scooby Doo gang due to her resemblance to Velma when dressed appropriately.

She has done a series of 'Wandering with Wren' although not of late.  She has been to the USA with me as well as New Zealand and other places within the UK.

She is always out near, whether on a shelf, my desk or otherwise.

I made her her dress, but although it has a winter theme, I don't think is particularly Christmas so will probably make her a more Christmas themed dress.

She was seen later in the day in deep conversation with Hazel.

The Dolls' Advent Calendar Challenge - Day Three

Day three is my Wooden Bleuette hand-carved by an online friend of mine. I feel so very very lucky to have this doll and just love her. She is always out and never packed away in a box or otherwise. I have done a 30 day photo challenge with her - gosh probably a couple of years ago now. I followed the making of her when my friend posted the photos on a group we were both on and also on Ipernity I think it was. I never imagined that she would become mine and I am still very grateful to my friend for offering her to me. Thank you again for making me so happy!  She came with a lovely little wardrobe and two pairs of fabulous handmade shoes (actually everything was beautifully handmade), one pair of which she is wearing.

Hazel is wearing a Christmas dress I think I knitted for her last year.

The Dolls' Advent Calendar Challenge - Day Two

My Doll for Day two is the one who I believe has been with me the longest as I got her as a young child while still living in England. She is my childhood Palitoy Walking Talking Doll.  I have photos of her with me when I was a little girl. She is wearing one of her oldest dresses. I still have what I believe is her original. This dress has a few nibble holes. The bracelet she is wearing is one my Dad made her.  (I have told some or most of this story before)

Sadly she got put in a shed after I moved away from home and had her thumb chewed off by rats. I'd left her inside ready for when I could send for her, but for some reason she got moved...that will always remain unfathomable. When I first came to England I thought it would just be for a few years which is why I left my precious dolls safely in my old bedroom wardrobe,or so I thought but was sadly disappointed, and in the end devastated at their destruction. I lost several dolls and soft toys that I had had since a baby that were in excellent condition but were destroyed by rats.

It is a lovely day today although very cold!  We quickly popped outside for a photo shoot.

I've cut out a Daisy Kingdom Christmas dress this morning. Once I have made it I will see if it fits her as as to my knowledge she has only ever had just the two dresses.  

The Dolls' Advent Calendar Challenge - Day One

On a group I belong to we are having a little photo challenge for Advent.  The idea is to simply post a photo of a doll a day from our collection from 1st December until 24th December and to include some special titbits about why the doll is special to us.  Could be a childhood doll, one we have made, or other special memories, such as waited a long time, or what we particularly like about the doll. 

Today's doll is Skipper who is a childhood doll of mine.

I remember when I got her in New Zealand although can't remember exactly what age I was. I was so excited.  She came in kind of bed basket with a small bundle of clothes of which most I believe I still have.  She has had a bit of a hard life as she got chewed by one of my Mum's dogs and lost a hand, but fortunately I was able to replace it a few years ago thanks to a lady in the USA on a Skipper/Barbie FB group who sent me the correct arm for her body.  I pierced her ears which seemed to be all the rage in those days so she has greening to her face and ears sadly, but I still love her and have fond memories of the enjoyment I got from her when young.  I noticed when dressing her that the back of her head is split which is a little worrying.  Not sure if I should leave it alone or try doing a repair.

I discovered she fits Hitty dresses today so she is borrowing one.  Now I know this size pattern fits I make make her one of her own.