Hey, Good Lookin' . . .

Whatcha got cookin'? 

How's about cookin' somethin' up with me? 

Hey, sweet baby 

Don't you think maybe

We could find us a brand new recipe?

Hank Williams, 1951

This Cissy by Madame Alexander is certainly cooking up some trouble for Halloween. She wears an elegant coat and gown made by member and talented seamstress Jan Irsfeld. Jan says that this hauntingly beautiful outfit was inspired by an ensemble from Paris luxury fashion house Balenciaga, originally founded in founded in 1917 by designer Cristóbal Balenciaga in Spain. Cissy certainly seems to have her rival in a stew.

Fresh From the Pumpkin Patch. . .

Halloween is just a few days away, so it is time to carve a festive Jack-o'-lantern. This posse of precious peddlers is prepared to provide you the necessary pumpkins. They belong to member Sylvia McDonald and were all designed by German doll artist Annette Himstedt in 2004. Sylvia explains that the boy, Anton, has on his cat hat that he may use for Halloween, but that the girls are still deciding what to wear! (Isn’t that just like girls?) Miki is the long-tressed blond dressed in blue and Liri is the big sister in the family. The littlest sibling is Lottchen. Sylvia says that the three larger dolls were made for collectors, but Lottchen was designed as a play doll.

 

Fire Burn and Caldron Bubble

Double, double toil and trouble;

Fire burn and caldron bubble.

Fillet of a fenny snake,

In the caldron boil and bake;

Eye of newt and toe of frog,

Wool of bat and tongue of dog,

Adder's fork and blind-worm's sting,

Lizard's leg and howlet's wing,

For a charm of powerful trouble,

Like a hell-broth boil and bubble.

William Shakespeare, Macbeth

This wicked witch, her grinning green-eyed black cat, and her rapacious raven are no doubt boiling up a big batch of toil and trouble for Halloween. The 9-inch tall witch is Hexe from the German company of Simon and Halbig. Her fiendish feline familiar is by Gebruder Heubach and their foul feathered friend was made by Hertwig and Company. They are all from the collection of member Sharon Weintraub.

Devilishly Bewitching

This darling devil and wonderful witch are ready for an evening of trick or treating. The pair belong to member Bette Birdsong. The 26-inch tall witch is a Jumeau and the 24-inch tall devil is by Simon and Halbig. Bette says that her mother made the devil costume and that she rigged the witch one out of an antique doll skirt. The Jumeau was Bette's first and she admits that she refused to leave a woman’s kitchen until she sold her the Jumeau! The adorable devil was purchased in Galveston and someone had made her earrings by threading tiny seashells on string.

 

Trick or Treat, Me Matey

With Halloween just around the corner, it is time to start searching the closets for costumes. Pirates are always a favorite disguise for dress up. This sweet swashbuckler is Riley, "The Tiny Pirate," who belongs to member Jenell Howell. By doll artist Helen Kish, this 7.5-inch tall petite privateer is a limited edition made for the Kish Luncheon at the 2011 United Federation of Dolls Clubs cConvention in Anaheim, California. All she needs is a Trick or Treat bag for her Halloween booty. 

These stunning Madame Alexander Cissy dolls belong to member Jan Irsfeld. In the center is Captivating Swashbuckler, a 2007 limited edition. The two lovely ladies being escorted by the buxom buccaneer were dressed by the talented Jan. She explained that she loved Alexander's version of Morgan LeFay, but did not care for the colors, so she created her own beautiful versions.

 

Going (Pennsylvania) Dutch

Member Gail Simpler shared an exciting serendipity. Gail explained that a couple of years after she moved to Boerne, Texas, she stopped at a yard sale. She spotted a hatbox she wanted to purchase. Inside were a miniature rocking chair, matching bed, and a doll dressed in traditional Amish clothing.  Gail bought them as well because she thought they were interesting. She had just received Fall 2020 edition of Doll News, the publication of the United Federation of Doll Clubs, and discovered an article by Kari Gluski on Pennsylvania Dutch doll furniture produced in the 1950s and 60s. Gail had no idea there was an extensive line of furniture made and now will be on the lookout for more pieces.