December 14, 2025, Meeting

The meeting was the club's holiday party as well, held at Jan Irsfeld's beautiful home.  Several members brought dolls to share in the festivities. Jenell Howell displayed this serene Sasha doll in her new nutcracker-themed Christmas outfit made by a friend, complete with her own mouse king, nutcracker, Christmas tree, and crown. 

Also appropriate for the holiday theme are these two composition Santas brought by Myrna Loesch. The pair were made by the American firm Freundlich Novelty Dolls between 1929 and 1945. This Santa wears his original, if faded, outfit and and his bag of toys contained a clipping from a Jacksonville, Illinois, newspaper dated December 22, 1948. The jolly old elf has brown painted eyes and is jointed at the neck, shoulders, and hips

Myrna replaced this second Santa's faded grab with a bright red suit. He has blue painted eyes and is jointed only at the neck and shoulders.

Kenneth Reeves explained that to him the holidays brings up images of Charles Dickens and Victorian festivities.  This lovely porcelain lady doll dressed in Victorian winter finery was produced in 2020 by Fingerhut. Kenneth has named her Fannie Dickinson Burnett in honor of Charles Dickens’s older sister. 

He also shared this porcelain doll, representing Tiny Tim from the Dickens classic A Christmas Carol, produced by the House of Lloyds. Kenneth noted that Fannie had a son, Henry, who was a sickly child and it is speculated that he was the inspiration for Tiny Tim. He told the club that he always displays these two dolls together. 

 

For a more modern take on holiday cheer, Kenneth brought this American Girl doll from the Truly Me – Street Chic line. He said that he named this doll Violet and she is garbed in her best purple and gold Christmas attire. 

Jan shared her Pompadour Winter Cissy by Madame Alexander. She noted that she did not like the original outfit, so she made her own lavishly-beaded gown

Pam Hardy brought this charming child by the German firm of Schoenau and Hoffmeister that was purchased by her mother in San Francisco in the 1940s. Pam stated this is one of the few dolls left from her mother’s collection as the others, which were packed in a suitcase, had been accidentally donated to the Salvation Army.  The doll still had her original tag attached to her chemise identifying her as "My Darling."

Thanks to Ann Meier for the pictures and Myrna for the information about the dolls!

December 8, 2024, Meeting

Our last meeting of 2024 was our annual holiday party, held at member Jan Irsfeld's beautiful home. She had decked the halls with all sorts of merry and bright holiday cheer.

 

Members brought a number of darling dolls to share. 

Member Myrna Loesch shared this cute composition Santa doll made by Ralph A. Freundlich in the 1930s. She had replaced his original faded cloth outfit and he certainly seems pleased with his new gay apparel. 

Member Jenell Howell displayed this petite Pukipuki BJD she dressed in festive holiday attire.

Member Sylvia McDonald shared this wistful all-bisque baby by doll artist Rebecca Clay Stewart, a gift from Jenell. Stewart was a preschool teacher who also not only made dolls, but also taught doll-making in her studio, for some 20 years. A skilled seamstress, Stewart also dressed her creation. Sylvia named the doll "Becky" after her maker. 

Member Pan Hardy brought this pretty porcelain angel garbed in white and gold. She said that she has had this angel for some 10 to 15 years.

Her Santa was a later acquisition. Pam said that she bought this nifty St. Nick because he matched the angel. 

Member Elaine Jackson shared this interesting ethnic doll in a wooden sleigh. The doll may represent a member of the Sami, an indigenous people found spread across Scandinavia and Russia. Traditionally, the Sami were a nomadic people, surviving by hunting, fishing, and herding reindeer. 

At the last holiday party, Jan had introduced this Madame Alexander Cissy she was dressing in an outfit inspired by the fashions of the early 1900s. The doll's elaborate ensemble is now complete.

Jan also shared these bedazzling bead-encrusted Christmas creations she had made.

December 3, 2018, Christmas Party

The club held its annual potluck holiday bash at our usual meeting place.

Member Myrna Loesch helped bring in the holiday spirit by sharing her collection of collectible vintage Santas by the Harold Gale Santa Company. In 1946, Harold Gale and his wife Viola began making department store display Santas at their home. Their Santas were successful and eventually their enterprise expanded into a 3,000 square-foot factory. The company produced a wide variety of Santas, ranging from large motorized Santas for store displays to smaller versions for home decoration. The company ceased production in 1988.

In addition to the traditional red  and white outfit, there were Santas adorned in colors such as gold, pink, and white.

The Santas came with a variety of expressions.

Members did not have to wait for Santa to come down the chimney to bring them presents, as they exchanged doll-related gifts.  Looks like no one got coal!      

Thanks to Ann Meier for acting as photographer!