International Toys in Space: Introduction- The 21st Century

Promise Dolls

Keeping Doll Promises

 

We collectors are like elephants [another collection of something I don’t collect], we never forget a promise someone makes to add to our collections.  Alas, if that promise is not kept, we suffer.

 

I remember promises of dolls made to me when I was a toddler.  A relative who promised to give me a Greek costumed doll bought on a long ago trip, another aunt vowing to take out her storybook dolls to show to me, these doll dreams never materialized.

 

At age 10, someone told me Mom he’d brought me a doll from Africa.  Needless to say, I’m still waiting for it.  Along with the ruby glass vases that were supposed to be my birthday gift 12 years ago.  No rose colored glass for me J

 

I’ve heard tantalizing tales of vintage Barbies, maybe even No. 1, all bisque beauties with glass eyes, mysterious antique dolls living in suitcases, all just rumors of phantom poppets.  The most glorious myth of all involved the doll collection of my grade school principal, bequeathed to me, but before I could take possession, I was told the dolls had disappeared from our school basement.  Woe was me!

 

Polite mother and child that we were, my mom and I never called anyone on these broken Bebe promises.  Our philosophy was, there will always be another doll.  Besides, it isn’t like I don’t have any J

 

I dedicate this post to those who kept their dolly promises, as I have tried so hard to keep mine.  Many of the dolls in our museum collection were the gifts of dear friends, like our own Kimmee, Steph, our talented paper doll artist friend, Mikki, my doll soul mate, and many others.  A lot of doll articles and even small collections have come to me through my wonderful readers, particularly those who were loyal to me at About.com Doll Collecting.  

 

Generosity and collecting go hand in hand.  I love to find things to add to my friends’ eclectic collecting needs, and over the years, I’ve learned a lot about dirigibles, CPKs, icons, salt and pepper shakers, Dept. 56 houses, paper dolls, paper airplanes, and costume jewelry.   Promises are meant to be kept, and when they are, that kindness is paid forward, and, do I hear a bell ring—another doll has just found its way into a great collection!

 

An American Girl Story

The moral of the story is that I am definitely not smarter than a fifth grader.  The backstory is that I received a Girl of the Year, featured at Kohl's, for a Christmas gift from the lovely women who take care of my dad.  I had one of these, but not the doll I received.  I have a lot of American girls dolls, mini dolls, books, paper dolls and accessories.  I love American Girl Place, and I love the other 18 inch dolls that can share wardrobes. 


The ten or eleven year old daughter of one of my friends saw the doll, and fell in love with it at Christmas.  A week or two ago, she told me how much she had loved and wanted my doll.  Here is where I proved how not-smart I am.  "Oh, don't worry", said I, I have another one similar in a box; I will find it and give it to you


Well, this very bright young lady held me to my promise.  I tired to find the doll I bought, but in the stress of everything else, I don't remember where exactly I stored her. What to do!!!  Her mom told me they were going on a short vacation, and I had about five days to find the doll.


To make a long story short, I couldn't find mine in time, bought another one at Kohl's.  The little girl was thrilled beyond thrilled, but I swore everyone to secrecy.  "Just let her think it's my doll", I said.  Little did I know that kids know what copyrights are.  My little eleven year old Miss Marple was reading the book that came with the doll, as well as all the literature in the box.  I think I have a curator for my future museum.  "Mom", said she, "The copyright date is 2017!!  This couldn't be the doll from Fall 2016!!"


Busted!!!


So I had to confessed, but all's well that ended well.  The new doll will be an heirloom, and there may be a new doll collector in our midst :)

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