Some Christmas Goodies

Japanese all bisque, an SFBJ gypsy girl, and a 3 1/2 inch repro mignonette.

Sharon Dressman Artist Bear - Clown

So happy to see him under the tree!  He is a sparse mohair "one off" named Picadilly Panda, made in 1998.  Sharon Dressman is an American bear artist.

Sharon Kirby's Carved Articulated Hitty

Our own member Sharon Kirby's (barbiesr@mindspring.com) hand-carved articulated Hitty doll.  She is carved from bass wood and oil painted.  I bought this smocked handkerchief dress for her at convention.  The dress is by Honey Bee (nancy@gmail2.pvco.net).

Secret Santa Gifts, Christmas 2012

Don't forget to double click on photos to enlarge.  Enjoy!

 Michelle's felt Annalees

 Doll chair for Billye

 A cat for Jill

 Little Genius for Debra

 Hand Painted Carolers (on goose eggs) for Dorothy

 A wax bowl with butterflies for Sharon

 A 1940's composition baby doll by Arranbee for Lydia

Barbara's Maude Bogart (mother of Humphrey Bogart) lady fashion doll 

 Beverly's mohair Whisper Bear made by a bear artist

JoAnn's pretty red handmade scarf with teddy bear wearing similar scarf

"An Evening with Miss Iwate & Alan Pate"

SAVE THE DATE!

"An Evening with Miss Iwate & Alan Pate"

2/21/2013

6:00 PM

Miss Iwate – Alabama’s Japanese Friendship Doll

She was a gift along with 57 other dolls from the Emperor of Japan in 1927 as a good will gesture between Japan and the United States. Since her arrival from Japan, she has been kept in the Birmingham Public Library. Unfortunately, she is not on display and can only be seen by appointment.  During the UFDC Convention this past July, some of the Birmingham Doll Club members became interested in Japanese Friendship Dolls and began research. We were pleasantly surprised to find that we had our very own doll right here in Birmingham.

We made an appointment and went to see her, and as you can see from her picture, she is quite beautiful. However, she needs some renovation and a display case so that all visitors to the library can meet and enjoy her.

We began discussing the situation with the librarians and with their help are beginning a campaign to raise funds to help Miss Iwate become an active part of our community.

We began discussing the situation with the librarians and with their help are beginning a campaign to raise funds to help Miss Iwate become an active part of our community.

As a result, well-known Asian doll specialist, Alan Pate will be coming to Birmingham, AL, on the evening of February 21^st to speak about Miss Iwate and all of the Japanese Friendship Dolls. We are hoping to raise awareness of her plight and also to begin fund raising. The evening will begin at 6:00 PM at the Main Library for light refreshments and at 6:30, Alan Pate will make a presentation and entertain questions and discussion at the end.

The public is welcome to join us for the evening

How to Display your Small Collectibles

You can find hanging display pieces like this at antique shops, flea markets, or Hobby Lobby.  It is fun to fill them with tiny treasures and hang them on the wall.  You can use gallery putty to hold them in place or if you can't run a wire through the back, you can wire the items to a push pin pushed into the wall of the house or display case.

Parian with Fancy Hairdo and Lustre Ribbon and Molded Necklace

Here is a 20" parian with fancy hairdo I found on ebay.  She is unusual in that she has a blue bow in her hair with gold lustre trim, and having molded jewelry on the shoulder piece is unusual.  She has a cloth body, red leather sewn on boots, and brown leather arms (patched with darker brown leather).  Her underclothes are correct - pantaloons and petticoat with lace trim, and an all lace bustle petticoat; she wears a wonderful silk dress with rusching trim and tie-on panniers, stuffed with tissue paper and cotton.  This word is from the French word paniers, which means wicker baskets placed on the back of pack animals, hanging from both sides.  There is a tag sewn to her pantaloons that says, "Charlotte Annette Cheney 1840," which could be the former owner or the person who dressed her.  These dolls were popular in the 1860's and 1870's.