JUST crazy for dolls

J ust cray for dolls!

Monday, February 28, 2011

DAY 49

I was looking for a new direction found a cute rag doll in the toy bin at the local thrift store.  I got it.  I immediately came home and started searching everywhere for rag dolls.  Some (yes you guessed it) are shamelessly expensive.  Some however are awesome and cool unique and just plain clever.  Check out this doll I found.  Although his demeanor tells it all, mean dolls need love too.
Go to etsy.com.


 Type in"rag doll mess you up"

and make sure your tab to the left is on all items.
CLICK SEARCH


 THEN CLICK ON HIS NAME.......
He is very cool and apparently has friends.
I love this doll because he reminds me of some of the kids I have taught, all hard on the outside but soft and lovable on the inside.

Sunday, February 27, 2011

DAY 48

I watched a Berenguer in an Eeyore costume wave to me as it drove away.  I wanted so much for our company to stay, but all good things come to an end.  Like my blog.  I am hitting dead end after dead end on information about Berenguer, the doll and the company, that I am losing inspiration and knowledge.  Alas I am out of ideas, starting to sound redundant and  tired of researching as my hand is beginning to hurt from clicking the mouse.  Where do I go next? I guess we can dress up Rosa Parks on a virtual paper doll site.  http://www.stardoll.com/en/dolls/970/Rosa_Parks.html

Saturday, February 26, 2011

DAY 47

Looking for more dolls today to collect for MYMUNECAPROJECT.  No luck today.  But on the brighter side of things I was able to give two away and made someone smile.  YEAH, my project is working. http://www.wix.com/wangariwanabe/mymunecaprojectcom

Friday, February 25, 2011

DAY 46

The doll project is going well.  It is not as time consuming as I thought and successful in a cleanliness scale.  I can wipe them down and switch out their clothes in no time and the extra reading is not a hard task as it really gives me insight on how imaginative the kids can be.  I love it.  You can see in the photo the yellow journal the kids write in. All is well in doll world.  Don't forget to play everyday!

Thursday, February 24, 2011

DAY 45

Playing with dolls has a whole new meaning.  To me it has taken on a life of its own.  I now use it as a relaxation tool, and looked froward to coming home and redressing my two new favorite dolls.  JOJO and Lemoncello or Kahuna or Kaysa, I clearly have not decided on her name as of yet.  At any rate I was able to score some clothes for each of them at a thrift store at a very in expensive rate.  And because I also scored appropriate school colored polos for my son I was able to rationalize buying clothes for inanimate objects.  JOJO really looks great I must say.  Ah relaxation.  I say in this stressful world you have to do whatever works.  Right?  PS thank you to my one and only follower! 

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

DAY 44

DOLLS.... wow! You would be surprised who has dolls and why they collect them.  I love talking about dolls with everyone.  Some people I have talked to for years and I had no idea they had a doll collection.  One elderly lady told me how she had four reborn dolls, all of which look like the four (surviving)out of eight boys she had and then went on to find four female dolls that look like their brides.  Now that is doll collecting.  Another women shared with me details of her collection and her gratefulness that she had no husband to tell her what she could and could not buy.  It astounded me that she bought a $225 reborn in a NY minute. Only to say, that this was one of many.  And I thought I spent a lot when I bought my $100. American girl doll Kirsten.  Some people have found dolls at yard sales like me and one lady told me she found two in an old cedar chest.  Others have said they found dolls in the houses they buy.  Those dolls were creepy and looked haunted.  Another lady expressed her sad story as she attempted to sell a doll for a friend that lost his wife.  I am just beginning to explore dolls and the public and how they warm up to the doll itself or the topic of conversation when I bring it up.  Amazing the impact dolls have on humanity, if you only ask, you too will find a doll secret about someone you know.  Like a fellow teacher that would instantaneously become infuriated when someone called his G.I. Joe a "DOLL"! Shame on them.  :)

THIS JUST IN....My on Significant other just said he too has a doll.  Of course it is Michael Knight.  HA, see I told you. 

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

DAY 43

DOLLS!  Today reluctantly, but all for the sake of the children, I brought in yet another doll.  This time I brought in JOJO.  I love this little guy but I have to say I am thinking of changing his eyes.  Not sure who does that, and with the in-law countdown, no time to find out.  I carried in JOJO to the classroom and talked about him and modeled what not to do in public speaking as I described how I found him.  The kids enjoy a fresh new experience and like to hear about their teacher and her spending. Not to mention (but I have to now) that they love giving me constructive criticism on my ability to speak publicly, now that they know the rules. 
    JOJO went for a ride after school to watch me loose money as I mailed out a doll to someone in OHIO.  Yeah.  E Bay is not user friendly for me.  At any rate here again is another pic of JOJO and I am excited knowing that the Lakeland doll show is coming up and I am already saving my allowance for it and printing coupons to get a discount on the entrance fee.  

DAY 42

Today was a busy doll day.  I took one of my new favorites to school to model show and tell for the kids as they begin to practice public speaking. I also managed to get even my die hard doll haters to agree that she is very cute.  She is so cute in fact I searched the internet until I found another one and put a bid on a possible new one.  Then the business end of dolls was a hurried call to a mentor and friend that advised me to go non-profit with my idea.  Very exciting.  Next home to organize who is staying who is being resold and who is being given away plus painting because my in-laws are coming for the weekend.  Quite a busy day all around so busy that I forgot to blog.  Thank you for reading. 

Sunday, February 20, 2011

DAY 41

I did a home visit today and played with dolls.  I helped an avid doll collector dress her latest addition, big girl that she is.  After that washed another baby and dressed her as well.  The next thing we did was head out to buy more clothes for her new doll as well as mine.  The amazing time we had was short lived as we were still exhausted from the glorious day of doll hunting 24 hours prior.  I continue to work on dolls everyday and am in the process of starting a new company related to dolls.  The one thing that I am grateful for is the awesome times I spend with my mother and my friend(one in the same).  Having a co-worker recently experience her mom's death, I am suddenly reminded of how lucky I am to have my mother with me still.  I have had some great times in the past two months discussing and reliving doll tales with my mom, and I look forward to more days as we ready ourselves for more upcoming doll shows.  I believe we are headed to Lakeland next.  Here is the one doll of many I bought yesterday.  I did go through them all to decide which I am keeping and which I am giving away.  But this guy I am keeping.  He is an anatomically correct Jesmar boy.
MY SHINING STAR!
         

Saturday, February 19, 2011

DAY 40

...And on the fortieth day of blogging about dolls I actually get to go to a doll show.  I was successful in all I wanted to accomplish and networked, chatted, learned and even added to my doll collection.  After the most extraordinary day I got to babysit.  I got to play with a doll of a boy and he even let me rock him to sleep.  I can tell where some artists get the motivation from. A sleeping baby looks like an angelic gift from God.  More to come in upcoming days of what I learned.   

DAY 39

GET TO BED EARLY SO I am well rested for doll show on Sat.  Prepare objective and possible accomplishments.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

DAY 38

The New Colossus
By Emma Lazarus, 1883
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
MY DOLL CREED
    
 BY DARLENE M. CUMBE'
Toss me you tired doll, your poor unwanted, 
its huddled mass of hair yearning for shine.
The unsightly refused of further use and play.
Send these, to the homeless, after I clean them up.

I shall practice the 3R's and place a doll in everyone's hands.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

DAY 37

Elinor asked me recently where do you buy clothes for the Berenguer dolls.  Up until today I was finding them ( along with the dolls) at yard sales and rummage sales.  That is until this evening when I took a chance on buying 16 to 18 inch doll clothes from Wally world.  The outfit is very cute and fits the B doll well.  Plus so cute and stylish.  I am not one for assuming all my dolls are female so the hunt is still on for boy clothes but for now I have something cute for my girls... here is the pic (above), poor thing is still nameless. 

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

DAY 36

The doll I bought and received  just yesterday was to go to a woman who suffered from dementia.  After a quick couple days in the hospital and telephoned goodbye she passed away before I could get the doll to her.  Today I proposed her daughter take it in memory of her.  And gladly she accepted the gift.  We will dress her in a smocking gown if we can find one and lavender or white booties to match.  The doll will reside on the matrimonial bed of the deceased and in her honor we shall call the doll "Edward".  GOD BLESS YOU ALL IN YOUR TIME OF SORROW.

Monday, February 14, 2011

DAY 35

BE a doll and ship your first two packages to us from eBay!  OK so while everyone is raving about eBay I just went into debt.  With not charging enough for shipping for a doll and stressing over not getting things perfect for my buyers I was not happy.  Not to mention that the listing fees for the item and the the final sale fee and the pay pal fee? Really?  So for shopping yeah but selling, :(unless you got the item for free you may wind up paying them... I am sure others already knew this but I am just getting into new things and happy just for the experience.  How exciting!  At any rate, BE A DOLL AND TELL SOMEONE you love them or spread love whenever possible, please don't wait for one day a year, do it everyday.  BE A DOLL....and get me... MORE DOLLS.  YEAH LARGO DOLL SHOW THIS SAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!So excited.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

DAY 34

RED RED WINE. oh wait it's wh(burp) ite
DOLL HUMOR.....

Saturday, February 12, 2011

DAY 33

There are some dolls that just don't make the cut.  When I am dressing them, cleaning them/ and preparing them for their new homes and their hair falls out, that is a good indication that they are not a quality product thus in the trash they go. 

Sorry honey, nothing personal.

Friday, February 11, 2011

DAY 32

What is it about dolls that comforts some of us? Even boys are excited about the baby project we have in our classroom.  Girls today may be growing up too fast?  Look at the picture below.  What do you think it is?  What could it possible be?  Would you believe there are baby dolls?  Of course they are!  Girls in fifth grade turn their hoodies (in my day we called them sweatshirts or sweat jackets) into baby dolls and carried them around that way and were so eager to show me their creativity.  Since I started this project kids have been eager to show me the dolls they have or talk about stuff that is important to them.  I think that is great.  SO great in fact, we are going back to old school show and tell, what a great intro into public speaking.    Check out the pick...


DAY 31

I was very busy yesterday comforting myself from the news of the beginning of the week.  One friend's sister in law passed away.  Another couple that I looked to for marital representation announced their separation and my co-worker lost her mom.  So I locked myself in my room and dressed and redressed all of the dolls I have and finally laid on the bed holding one of the dolls in the air thinking of just how grateful I am of all I have. What I learned is this, to have sadness for one's losses is humanistic to deny the depth of the loss is to deny mortality.  Don't forget to seek the things that make you smile go back to the time of innocence and embrace it.  Don't be afraid to enjoy toys, dolls, music that brings you back to when things were easy, because let's face it we all could use a little more "easy" in our lives.


Wednesday, February 9, 2011

DAY 30

The doll came back in one piece the student wrote in the Journal. No parents complained yet and the doll went to a different home tonight.  Very interesting.  In the meantime I secured a mentor for mymunecaproject.  Because in any business adventure you should always have a mentor.  Now I just have to learn to listen.  At the same time I met up with an old friend that works with foster kids, Yeah.  Now I have my in to get the dolls to the kids that can benefit from them, except she needs to talk to her supervisor.  But on the lighter side of things aside from the constant reminder that we are growing older and our  friends and relatives will pass on...I got a new baby in the mail.  See photo...






There is nothing more to say.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

DAY 29

Today I sent one of my dolls home with a student with the following rules...
  1. Don't damage it.
  2. Keep it with you at all times.
  3. Where ever it goes you need to write about it in the journal entry
  4. Do Not write things too personal that you wouldn't want a classmate to read.
  5. Bring it back the next day.
I am interested to see how this pans out and if it actually encourages students to write about their experiences through the eyes of the doll or not.  When I suggested the project I was surprised at how many boys wanted to do the project as well.  I wonder how the doll will hold up.  I wonder if it will come back abused in some way.  Well I may be on to something here.  I know there were similar project done with teddy-bears but the threat of lice and bedbugs makes a vinyl doll the obvious choice for sanitary reasons.  I also found a hat for sleepy baby that is so cute, here is his pic.....He is for sale on eBay for a low BIN of $3.00...Check it out under Lissi 12".

Monday, February 7, 2011

DAY 28

REBORNS, oh so cute.  I would like to have one.  But where would I put it?  Do you dust it off?  Do you put it in the crib?  I am gearing up to get questions like this answered on the 19th at the doll show.  But responsibilities are threatening to take me away from the one thing (for me) I have been looking forward too.  So to prevail I keep searching for more knowledge.  And alas time for me.  A woman's luxury.  image 2202060517-0

Sunday, February 6, 2011

DAY 26

http://www.wix.com/wangariwanabe/mymunecaprojectcom

 

And just like that I started something.



Saturday, February 5, 2011

DAY 25

     I bought more dolls today as I ventured out just for an hour to some yard sales.  It was a small after thought as I was working on my other project Reason 2 Change.  I am excited to clean up one of the dolls I found at a thrift store.  She is a Batatt doll and must be an older one her face is so cute.  She has seen some better days, and because of this will take time to clean up. I can't wait to get to that task.  I listed many dolls on eBay for the first time and even sold one.  This is only day 25 and I have learned so much and met some neat people.  I really can't wait for the Doll show in two weeks. 

DAY 24

Today I did more research on doll therapy.  Having a coworker with a mom who has dementia, I suggested the help of doll.  There is much research out there to support the positive concept of doll therapy and I was amazed and curious.  I wondered if there were nursing homes around here that practiced doll therapy.  The problem is I was stuck at work and responsible for 22 children therefore I couldn't just leave and do more research.  So, I am tabling that idea and it will need to rest until time allows for more.  http://ageing.oxfordjournals.org/content/35/4/441.full

Thursday, February 3, 2011

DAY 23

Doll therapy.  What a concept?  I wonder if people do that around here?  Read more about it.  http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/970766/doll_therapy_for_alzheimers_disease.html?cat=70
I am busy doing a lot of research these days and curious what else can be done with dolls.  My brain is reeling from the ideas that began surfacing the minute I woke up this morning.  I must go forward and not be sidetracked by fear or failure.  I must push on.

DAY 22

Which was actually yesterday.
Doll Realization 1! " What?  I have been going to this store forever.  I didn't know they sold dolls here?"
As I revisit the same old world, the places that I always go, the stores I visit when redecorating the house...I find there are dolls everywhere.  And the idea breathes an air of freshness across me.  Knowing I am bound to live in this state until my son turns 18 I have awaken to the surroundings as I discover the newness this project has brought to me.  The dreaded department store hanging on to its last breath of consumerism before it disappears under the economic pressures can even strike a beat on the drum of doll extravaganza.   There are dolls everywhere and anywhere.  Dolls are in places I had no idea existed.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

DAY 21


My inventory has increased to the point I can find the dolls in my own little house and it looks like the gremlins stuffed in every corner of the local bar and swinging from the fans.  I am ready to go live on Ebay Thursday.  Yeah