Dolls and Ducks!

On Saturday we went back to the doll hospital to collect my restrung doll (circa 1949). And I was in doll heaven walking around this Centre with dolls lined up floor to ceilings. Jan, who has been in business here for the past twenty years has quite a collection of museum pieces, hand made dolls, costumed dolls, and dolls in need of repair. Look closely and see if you can find one or two you had as a child. I did. (click on photos to see greater detail if you like) She talked about them explaining their origins, histories, etc. She also teaches classes in specialized doll making that people come to from all over the world to attend. Painting porcelain dolls eyes can take a nine day process. Or was that nine times being put through the glazing process?

She made these lace costumes all by hand using laces found in thrift and antique shops and dyed with coffee and tea set with vinegar.

That is Jan in the far right bottom row holding my repaired doll. I bought her a new pair of black Paten shoes there. She still needs a new dress. I will knit and crochet clothes for her before giving her to my grand daughter for her next birthday, or maybe Chanukah. If she takes good care of her and saves her for her own daughter one day this doll will have become a true antique.

Jan told me my doll is an unsigned Madame Alexander doll and that her hair is still in its original form. She said I took excellent care of her. She said it is now worth several hundred dollars and will probably appreciate in time. I of course find it most valuable in it's sentimental components.

On our way to eat lunch DH found these pretty mallard ducks hunkered down in the sand. I hope they weren't as cold as I was by then. I warmed up with a hot Avocado burger smothered in grilled mushrooms and onions. Delicious!