A Busy New Site for Doll Goods

I wanted to write a quick post to let you know about a new site for doll enthusiasts.  Where can you find a last-minute swimsuit for your dolls trip to the beach next week?  Where can you find a deal on a mint condition, very hard to find, now retired Felicity?  Well, Dollabee, of course!  Cinnamon from Liberty Jane has created a new site for all things doll.  Dollabee is now up and running and is intended to function"like Craigslist, but for dolls."  I am eager to spread the word in hopes of seeing more and more of you posting and purchasing dolls and doll goodies you find on Dollabee.  I hope to see you there soon!
-Whimsy

Dolly Diy: Farmhouse Bed

Do you have a crafty brother or a handy daddy around your house?  If not there is no need to worry.  Thanks to the lovely ladies at Ana White you can build anything you need to outfit your home.  This includes fashioning furniture for your dolls as well.  This post will feature her lovely Farmhouse Bed project.

 I will have to say that our doll bed was not completed by me alone.  This was a well-written starter project for my Scout to help out with.  The instructions are clear and require only a basic understanding of tools and woodworking.  This really doesn't require any special carpentry skill.  This bed was completed in two full afternoons working after lunch until 5:30 each time.  We sanded and stained ours rather than giving it a coat of paint.  We put the finish on the following morning.  We had most of the scrap wood here in the garage and had to purchase only a few pieces for this gorgeous bed from the local home big box store.  All in all, we spent closer to 10 hours on this in stead of the 6 hours the project estimate suggests.  Ours was made and given as a gift.  It was much-loved and shown off by its recipient.  Since we have multiple dollies here, we will be attempting a bunk or trundle bed to keep next time.  With so many dolls around here, we should stay busy for quite some time.  Now go play with your dolls!
-Whimsy

Dolly Travels

Once you have a few friends in your collection you will want to bring them along with you when you go places.  Proper dolly care does not allow for dolls placed on the floorboard of your car or strewn about carelessly.  Here I have sewn a Dolly Take Along Tote using McCall's Pattern M5019.  This pattern was easily cut out and constructed fairly quickly.  The pattern markings and terms were clear.  I would rate this an intermediate project since you are working with interfacing and turning requires proper strap and lining placement.  A girl could sew this with much assistance.

 Here I've taken my embroidery machine and embellished the pocket with a wand applique, some ribbon, and her name.  As you can see, once constructed the tote is huge!  Both Samantha and Fancy Nancy are standing up inside with plenty of room to spare.  My model girly is 7 and the tote is about as big as it could possibly be for her to carry around.  This would be great for a slumber party or a play date with friends.  Let me know if you try this pattern and need any help along the way.  I'd love to help.

Now go play with your dolls!
-Whimsy

Getting Fancy with Nancy

Ask almost any 5-7 year old girl what "bonjour" means and thanks to "Fancy Nancy" she'll be able to tell you.  Nancy is the loveable, round bellied doll that the younger set adores.  With her books and outlandish fashions how could any little girl resist her charm?  You can find Fancy Nancy and her wares adorning the toy aisles at your local T@rget.  Wait for her to go on sale or pick one up secondhand on eBay.  She will be a hit when you introduce her to her new dolly friends. 
For some reason, this doll manufacturer thought Nancy needed purple hair highlights.  My 6 year old thinks they are "yuck," but thankfully has not yet tried to cut them out!  Nancy's hair is of some concern for another reason too.  Her wig is curly.  As cute and lively as it makes for a children's storybook character, it is never as carefree in real life.  Curly doll wigs are difficult for young dolly lovers to care for as it is hard for them to resist brushing it.  Soon the pincurls and ringlets are all askew and frazzled.  If you decide to bring Nancy home to your little gal, consider yourself warned.  Take some time to visit my Dolly Hair page and pick up all the tools and tips you'll need to make life with a curly-haired doll a success.
Also note that Nancy's hair is rooted, not a wig and her body is all-vinyl.  Many girls prefer a soft-bodied doll for cuddling but Nancy is so loveable your dolly lover may not be able to resist offering her a squeeze anyway!  Her eyes are a vibrant green and are full of twinkle and charm.  At bedtime Nancy will need a sleep mask since she does not come with sleep eyes.  You will be able to trade clothes with some other 18" dolls just be careful as Nancy's hard plastic tummy is a bit round.  Shoe fit will be hit or miss as well.  All in all, the Fancy Nancy doll is a great find for the fanciful little girl in your life.  Now go play with your dolls!
-Whimsy 

We Welcome a Boy to our 18" Collection

I don't know why but it seems that dolls of the male variety are steeper in price than female dolls are.  Perhaps their scarcity leads to their premium price.  I don't know.  We had looked online for an 18" male doll to add to our adventures but were dissatisfied with the sparse offerings.  Providentially, a trip through our local junque store led to a remedy for this situation.  There in a booth, amidst other treasures and trinkets of varied description sat Jack.  Jack is the no-longer-in production Our Generation boy doll.  He is collected far and wide by doll enthusiasts looking to add a little male influence to their cadre.
He is definitely a play doll.  At the risk of giving him an inferiority complex I will have to compare him gently to the others.  The adequate sandy blonde wig is no real disappointment, as boys tend to make fewer trips to the hair salon anyway.  His vinyl limbs and soft-bodied trunk are not nearly the quality of My Twinn or Karito Kids dolls, but it is adequate for our purposes.  He has brought much inspiration and adventure to our play as boys tend to do.  With proper training and discipline I am sure he will fit in quite well here for years to come.  Now go play with your dolls!
-Whimsy

Meet Our Life of Faith Doll Elsie

As a young girl I would say that I played with dolls a lot.  As a Mama, I am hoping the same time will be spent by my little girls enjoying their playtime with their beloved dolls as well.  When my eldest daughter was still too young for her first real doll, I couldn't help myself when I saw this beauty.  I met Elsie Dinsmore while combing the aisles of a favorite Christian bookstore.  There she stood quietly in her box waiting to go home with some girl and help her find her way through the struggles of life.  Elsie came home with me and stayed in her box until my daughters 6th birthday.  She was allowed out, but only to be displayed.  Finally after much cajoling I gave in to allowing her to be handled and carried about the house.  Today her lovely curls are a bit displaced but mostly intact as is the rest of her outfit.  Elsie sits on her couch in all her loveliness awaiting her bedtime prayers each night.
My now 10 year old daughter would say that she is still the prettiest doll she has ever seen.  These dolls are no longer in production but can be obtained via eBay and collector sell-offs.  Some of the harder to find dolls from the Life of Faith collection sell in excess of $325 in New In Box condition.  Their clothing detail is exquisite and historically accurate for the period they are set in.  Their skin is a lovely tone and has been given life-like detail by blushing on the tops of the hands and knees.  Elsie's curls make her hair a no-no for play and styling.  I would have to say she is best left in her original clothing and hairstyle in order to preserve her beauty.  She is all-vinyl therefore not too cuddly for sleeping and hugging.  Perhaps this is the reason that this gorgeous doll line is no longer in production.
We benefited greatly from Elsie's book series as a read aloud.  It was captivating and historically rich.  She is now reading through it on her own as well.  We are even in the process of collecting the entire series from the original author just to enjoy the beautiful vocabulary.  Through their website your daughter may enjoy, as mine does, an interesting forum for growth and encouragement as a young lady of faith.  I am not certain how long they will keep this resource available so go visit while you still can!
-Whimsy

American Girl Doll for FREE, yes FREE!!

If I believed in luck, I would say my six year old is lucky.  Put her in a random drawing of any sort and she wins many times.  This time was no different.  I entered all three of the girls, even the baby, in a drawing for a Just Like You doll that the bookstore, Borders, was having.  I filled out the entry forms, looked at what we had stopped there for, and left.  At the end of the week my phone rang and the caller ID displayed Borders.  I looked at my daughter and said, " I bet you won that American Girl Doll."  I was right.  We went down there to sign a few release papers, bring home our newest dolly family member, and were dazzled!  This was our first experience with and brand new, fresh-from-the-box American Girl doll.  I believe she is known as G1940 (how cold) but we call her Maeve.  Her soft body is just right for hugging and holding, her blue eyes sparkle when she's awake and close when she's asleep.  We will spend many hours combing and styling her soft, shiny hair.  She will be right at home in this doll-loving place.  Now go play with your dolls!
-Whimsy

A Doll for Mama

Isn't she cute?  I play dolls with my girls alot.  Usually I am asked to be the hair-stylist but many times they just want me to play family or act out a favorite story from Little House on the Prairie with them.  Thanks to eBay I now have my own vintage American Girl doll to use when we play together.  Isn't she spunky?  This is a Pleasant Company Lindsey and she is perfect.  In fact, I can't believe how tight her limbs are for her age.  We usually buy from the historical line but Lindsey is not from that genre.  She is special because she is the first American Girl of Today doll they issued and is known as Lindsey Bergman.  I like her just because she is cute and full of spunk.  Just look at that unruly hair and the sprinkling of freckles across her tiny upturned nose.  What a doll!  No more time to post, I've got to go play!!
-Whimsy