If the Shoe Fits. . . .

Continuing our virtual doll meeting, one member shared this story regarding how she acquired both this beautiful Bru and her fancy footwear.  Several years ago at a National Doll Convention, she said that she discovered that if you wish hard enough it sometimes can come true. One hour into the three-day event, she had already spent several hundred dollars on doll shoes when her roommate (knowing her weakness for doll shoes) ran over and excitedly told her about some she’d seen that our member had to buy. Although our member demurred that she already spent too much on shoes, the roommate responded with the magic word, “rosettes!"

That evening in their room, our member mused as she held the recently purchased rosette-adorned doll shoes,“You know what would look really good with these - a little Bru Brevete.” After which they both threw themselves onto the beds in hysterical laughter knowing the chances of getting a doll that pricey were slim to none. The next morning, our member headed over to a different salesroom at a satellite show and there purchased a doll that was half off due to a practically invisible crack near the wig -- a Bru Brevete!

She returned to their room and when she heard the door to the room open, she hid the doll (now clad with the perfectly fitting rosette shoes) behind her back. As soon as the roommate appeared, our member whisked the shoe-clad Bru out and exclaimed, “Look what I found!” Her roommate, a speech and language pathologist, was rendered speechless as she bounced up and down screaming! 

Gimme Shelter

With Austin under shelter-in-place because of the coronavirus, we are using our blog to hold a virtual doll meeting.  Although the shelter-in-place rule does not apply to member Michele Thelen, who is considered essential personnel, she still had found time to organize her doll displays and is sharing this picture of two of her six cabinets.

Member Sharon Weintraub has used her time sheltering in place to organize her doll room in her new home. She turned the entire front room (no doubt meant to be a formal living/dining room) into a setting where she is finally able to display all her dolls, bathing beauty collection, and ephemera in one place.

A Terrific Trio

Another contribution to our virtual doll meeting is this threesome of fashion dolls from the collection of member Jenell Howell.   The dolls were created by Integrity Toys, which makes several different lines of 12-inch collectible fashion dolls. The standing doll with blond pigtails is a 2019 Poppy Parker wearing a 2020 outfit. According to the Integrity website, Polly is teenager from the Midwest who has traveled to New York City to become a fashion model.  The seated doll is Violaine Perrin from the 2019 NuFace line.  Jenell redid her lips because the original color was too bright purple. The brunette doll is Jade from the 2019 Industry line (the "Industry" being the fashion industry, of course). Jenell says that she really likes these dolls because the quality of the clothing, including the shoes, is absolutely outstanding. There is no Velcro on any of the clothes and everything fits perfectly. They remind Jenell of the early Barbie dolls with tons of accessories.

Pretty Petite Patsyette

The club's virtual doll meeting continues with this contribution by member Michele Thelen‎, an  Effanbee Patsyette she recently restored and dressed.  In 1928, the American doll company Effanbee introduced Patsy.  The all-composition doll with her full face with large side-glancing eyes, plump childish body, and slim legs became one of the company's most popular dolls.  The Patsy line grew to encompass an entire family of Patsy dolls from the six-inch tall Wee Patsy to the 30-inch high Patsy Mae.  Patsyette is nine inches tall.

Patsy's endearing cherub-like face was based on the 1922 character doll "Just Me" by the German doll maker, Armand Marseille.  This nine-inch tall Just Me is shown for comparison. She is wearing her original dress, shoes, and socks.