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Monday, December 20, 2021

In Memoriam Anne Rice and bell hooks

 Those of us who are writers have lost two giants this past week, Anne Rice and bell hooks. I studied and taught both in my college literature classes. I wrote critically about Anne Rice, and received a gracious note from her regarding my work and a class I devoted to her. I wrote poetry in her honor and published it, and she appears in my essays for The Gothic world of Anne Rice and the Virginia Woolf Miscellany, and in my book The Subversion of Romance in the Novels of Barbara Pym, and in my dissertation.

Rice was also a passionate doll collector, and like me, student of Tudor history and Anne Boleyn. I have a couple of her dolls, and several of her books from her library.

bell hooks, too, was an influence on my graduate work and dissertation. She defined creativity, and was a trail blazer for women's and marginalized voices.
It's hard to keep going when you lose your muse,, and these two left us far too soon. To paraphrase FDR, every time a writer dies, part of the vision of humanity passes with her.





Saturday, December 11, 2021

Christmas Dolls

 Christmas and dolls go hand in hand, and dolls are one of the great icons of Christmas.   I like to display my dolls by theme and category in the museum, along with the toys, games, and books we also collect.  I don't always like to segregate the dolls.  They are a microcosm of how the world's people should get along, but often don't.  Here are some photos of Christmas dolls and toys, humanity's true historians.   May you find peace, love and happiness this Christmas and always. 


Vintage Blow Mold Santa and Yellow Submarine Memorabilia

1968 China by my aunt Rose Mustacchio, dressed and assembled by
the Brandmeyers, 18th Ave. Doll Hospital, red shawl by my mom.

Did our stint for Toys for Tots

Icon of the Holy Virgin and Child

Vintage angel, china, crystal and South American Doll

Vintage Hummels and Christmas Figures

Vintage Creche figures, china, Xmas items

50s/60s Vinyl, including Kewps, a recent gift

Christmas at the Station; our building was once a fire station

Christmas and International dolls

Vintage Santa, Strawberry Shortcake case and friends

International dolls with a vintage candle

Great Water Puzzle

Tins with Xmas Plush

Christmas Past

For St. Nicholas Day

Detailed vintage angel

Vintage Xmas pail and Pez

Delicate tree topper and friends, 1980s

Angel 1980s with Avon Flapper bottle, 1960s

Old Cloth Santa

Tinsel Tree with Vintage Ornaments

Soaky Santa, former Stauduhar collection

Vintage art Santa

The Mouse King

John Deere Christmas and gourd snow men

Vintage papier mache and my snow globe art

Cloth and felt Santa, vintage

French Fashion Poupee in green silk

Space Christmas

Small FG and mignonette

Holiday Cloth

Holiday at the doll house

Holiday Tinies

Joyeaux Noel



Mr. Wolf gets a New Christmas Sweater



Neighborhood Christmas

Festive Centerpiece

    
                                                                    Brass Angel 1980s

German Nutcracker

Mercury Glass Snow Man

Beautiful Flowers

Holt Howard


Fifties Santa

Fifties Silvestri Automaton

FAO Doll

Xmas Plaid and a Woven Coverlet, antique

A Prince, a Caroler, a Crystal Tree


The Dolls' Christmas