November 14, 2015 Meeting of the Birmingham Doll Club-Corn Husk Doll Making Workshop

On November 14, 2015, Dorothy Clark conducted a Corn Husk Doll Making Workshop and provided lunch for the Birmingham Doll Club.  Dorothy is so talented and generous to share her crafting expertise with others.  A great time was had by all!!! 

Corn husks must be soaked in water to make them pliable prior to making the doll

Just the tops of the soon-to-be doll skirts need to soak in water

Dorothy giving hands-on instructions on making a corn husk doll.  

This doll needs a skirt!

The chest is filled out with cotton balls

Dolls in progress

The natural curling of the corn husks makes stylish skirts!

Lovely hat!

Dorothy's own doll

This doll has long gorgeous curls!

This doll has a new corn silk wig (a natural blonde).

Corn husk ladies standing together

A wire skeleton allows the doll's heads and arms to be placed into life-like poses. 

Beautiful!

Birmingham Doll Club October 11, 2015 Meeting

The October 11, 2015 meeting of the Birmingham Doll Club was hosted by Linda Noland.  Linda presented the Ginger doll by Cosmopolitan.  Ginger, a popular small plastic doll of the 1950's, was a rival to Vogue's Ginny.  Like Ginny, Ginger had many additional clothes and accessories that little girls could purchase for their dolls.  Linda shared her beautiful collection of Gingers and gave pointers on distinguishing Ginger from the many look-a-likes that were on the market at the same time. 

Cosmopolitan Ginger has a side seam running down the middle of her ear

 

Cosmopolitan Ginger has molded toes.  Note the Ginger doll stand!

Many of the Ginger look-a-likes had molded shoes on their feet instead of molded toes.

 

Ginger had a variety of eye sizes and styles.  The earliest Gingers had small to medium sized eyes with painted eyelashes.  

 

Later Gingers might have medium or large eyes (like this doll) with molded eyelashes.  Early dolls had hard plastic heads and bodies.  Later dolls had vinyl heads. 

 

Pretty harlequin costume

   

This Ginger is wearing a Girl Scouts uniform and Linda's own Girl Scouts pin!

 

Lovely!

 

Baby Ginger

 

Original Miss Ginger box

 

Miss Ginger and Linda's childhood Ginger doll.  Cosmopolitan made matching dress sets for Miss Ginger and Ginger. 

Ginger's trunk

September 13, 2015 Meeting of the Birmingham Doll Club

The September meeting of the  Birmingham Doll Club was hosted by Barbara.  The theme of this meeting was "Summer Finds" and we had a special guest, Mary Beth Newbil, from the Birmingham Public Library.  Ms. Newbil updated us on Alabama's Japanese Friendship doll, Miss Iwate.  Miss Iwate is currently in Japan undergoing expert restoration.  Miss Iwate is expected to return to Alabama next spring and we will all be very excited to have her back.

Here are some of our summer finds to enjoy!

Jane Withers by Madame Alexander

Phillis Wheatly by Robert Raikes

Beautiful hand carved wooden doll

Flirty eyed celluloid baby

Dolls from the 2015 UFDC Convention and a Kathy Kruse Doll

Smiling Klumpe artisit

Dionne Quintuplets

Baps Simple Simon and the Pie man

Schoenhut

Sweet little Effanbee

What a beautiful smile!

Tom Azuma reproduction (gorgeous doll!!)

UFDC 2015 Convention Doll

Barbie!

MAY 16, 2015 BIRMINGHAM DOLL CLUB ANNUAL SALE!!!!

Save the Date!!!!

Saturday, May 16, 2015

Vestavia Hills, Alabama

Birmingham Doll Club 

Annual Doll Sale    

1809 Mission Road    

9:00 am to 2:00 pm    

There will be a variety of items including antique to modern dolls, collectible dolls, play dolls, doll magazines, and doll related items.  Some proceeds to benefit charities.  Bring your dolls for free ID and values.

February 21rst Montgomery Doll Club Luncheon

On February 21, 2015 a number of the members attended a very enjoyable Mother Goose Luncheon held by the Montgomery Area Doll Club.  Attendees each received an adorable souvenir googly porcelain doll made by Glinda Martine and dressed by Sharon Strickler.  There were numerous helper items and silent auctions of dolls.  During lunch, there was a vintage clothing fashion show by the Goodwill Industries Volunteer Services auxiliary.   A very good time!!!

 

Mary, Mary, how does your garden grow? 

February 8, 2015 meeting of the Birmingham Doll Club

Janet S. was the hostess for the February 8, 2015 meeting of the Birmingham Doll Club.  Janet presented an interesting and informative lecture on Doll Cases.  Janet displayed many cases from her collection that dated from  the 1950's to the 1970's.  The art work on these cases was often very beautiful and showcased the current fashions of the time. 

Janet is holding a Betsy McCall case that she has had since childhood. 

 

This is Janet's favorite and most unusual case, a Barbie case that was made in France. 

Later cases (example of the left), had actual Barbie fashions displayed on the cover.



This cute case was from Sharon's collection