BIRMINGHAM DOLL CLUB OF ALABAMA

Sunday, January 3, 2016

December, 2015 Meeting of the Birmingham Doll Club

Our Annual Christmas Party was held on December 13th and was hosted by Debra and Jill M. After a short business meeting, we had refreshments and exchanged Secret Santa gifts. Santa was very good to us this year!!!

Dorothy received these mischievous Elves!

Janet and Lydia

Jill with her adorable boy doll.

Barbara received figures associated with a king cake and Christmas in a display case

Information on the back of the display case

Little angel

Janet and her smiling Elf

Debra opening her gifts

Janet with her celluloid girl.

Jill M. received this sleeping Effanbee baby

So sweet!!!!

Lydia with her gorgeous Hilda reproduction.

Hilda could not be persuaded to rotate 90 degrees, but she is still beautiful!!

This picture is blurry because I was trying to focus on Michelle's tiny Shirley

Shirley is so small she can ride in a lipstick case.

Shirley was hand carved by Sharon especially for Michelle-Lucky Michelle!!!

Sharon with her Russian doll

Monday, November 16, 2015

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!

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

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

Monday, September 14, 2015

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!