A reason why

There are more reasons than I could ever mention as to why I love dolls so much: interest in social history, in childhood memories, children's fashions, past and present. But the main thing is inheritance. I do believe I was predestined to be a doll lover; it is in my genes. My mother Elsa;

Rosalinde

....she is sleeping soundly in her blush pink romper wearing Nicoles little gold bangle. And looking much like an old 1940's print by Maud-Tousy-Fangel...

Filling an empty cradle

The time came for my Lorna Miller Sands babies to go to a new home. A sleepy little girl has come to stay in their place. Lullaby's Gracie Amelia made by Janet Paulger is the name of this sweetie:

Gracie is wearing my baby-bracelet with little pink enameled hearts and my silver napkin ring from my christening. Both popular gifts for new babies way back.

Blonds have more fun

Maybe it is so. While I cannot claim that rooting with blond mohair is fun, I do like the finished result. So Rosalinde did get her hair - finally. Her she is; my little blond baby

This is how it looked during the process. As you can see she is rooted with only one hair at the time and directionally as it would grow naturally. I used beautiful, shiny hair from Delta Dawn and finest #46 crown needles. The blue lines you may see is the blue eyeliner I used to map out my rooting (I had blue eyeliner at hand and it does wash off after her rooting and hair cut is completed).

Christmas at Easter

Her name is Eve. She is my little Christmas girl but instead of carrying Christmas gifts she has a paper cone filled with Easter eggs.

She was made by Pierotti, my little blond angel. Although only 17 inches she is easy to spot in the doll cabinet. She is also a memory doll for me as her collar crochet and her apron sewn so lovingly by my mum, from fabric and embroidery Anglaise lace from my grans sewing box. I know that both mamma and mormor would have loved Eve and her sisters. Her halo is a piece of swans down from a cardigan Nicole, my daughter, used when she was little.

M - is for Mystery

My beautiful and illusive Bebe M. She was always a mystery, but maybe not anymore... In the past, dealers and collectors has referred to her as Bebe Mascotte (May Freres). I once saw a reference to her identifying her as made by Francois Marseille: "Sold Date: 09/23/2006 Channel: Auction House Source: Proxibid, Inc. Category: Toys, Dolls, Games & Puzzles 16 (41 cm.) Bisque socket head, dark blue glass inset eyes, long painted lashes and brows, closed mouth with outlined lips, pierced ears, brunette mohair wig over cork pate, French composition and wooden fully jointed body, nicely costumed in antique dress and bonnet, undergarments, antique shoes, stockings. Marks: M 5 (doll) Bebe Jumeau Diplome d Honneur (body). Excellent condition, body not original but appropriately sized and of the same period, original body finish. Attributed to Francois Marseille, circa 1888". A doll friend did some further research and found a reference to this maker in "The Encyclopedia of French Dollsw" and so graciously sent me a copy:

Here is my Bebe; one of the prettiest I have seen. She is early and is on her original straight wristed body. Her clothing and shoes are all antique and her straw hat is spectacular:

Rosalinde - my version of Solid silicone Little Miracle

A few WOP (work in progress) photos of my Little Miracle. A sweet silicone kit sculpted by Lilianne Breedwell. Poured by Jennifer Sussman. She is my second (silicone paint work) to date. Painted with Psycho Silicone Paint Base part A and B and Genesis. The tutorials written by Wendy (Dickison) and Donna Lee was invaluable help as well as a reborn paint tutorial by Nicole Russel. Although this is silicone and vastly different (both in method and result) to that of vinyl, part of a reborn paint tutorial can be used. I have given her the name Rosalinde; Lilianne's beautiful OOAK clay sculpt to the right, Jennifers silicone double to the left;

During the process of painting her;

Here she is all ready for showing. As you can see I took many photo's. She is a beautiful newborn sculpt;

She is still a WOP as she is in the process of getting rooted with beautiful light blond mohair from Delta Dawn.