Last weekend our little town had a flea market! Imagine my surprise?! Things like that never go down around here. This was actually the first flea market I have ever been to, and it was fun! My score? There was this little old lady who had a table stacked high with vintage doll clothes. I asked her what the prices were and she hmm'd and hawed. She obviously had the same haggling skills as me. She told me $1 a piece, which I thought was a total steal. After I had given her my bounty to be counted, she said (in that adorable little old lady voice) "oh I didn't know you wanted so much!, I'll give them to you for a quarter a piece."
Ok, I can deal with that.
I spent the weekend carefully Biz-ing each piece to remove yellowing and stains. Then I really looked over each item to see where they need repairs. I'm going to work on it over the next few months and give them to Eliza for Christmas. (This will be supervised play, don't worry. No jam stains on the gorgeous doll clothes. ;)
You guys know how I feel about people throwing out treasures, again and again.. It was so cool to actually meet the lady who had collected these and to hear her story. She seemed delighted when I told her I planned to clean them up and present them to my daughter as a Christmas present. Relieved it seemed, to know they would be loved. Of course, now I have to track down a doll. Confession-most dolls kinda creep me out. "Wanted: Pretty doll that does not look like it will wake up during the night and come after my family."
Now tell me, is there anyone out there that wouldn't wear this if it came in your size? I mean, I know there are, but seriously-how cute is this coat? See you all soon. :)
Sandi, I seriously am starting to wonder if we were separated at birth. I find dolls creepy and have those same "Poltergeist" freak outs about them. Miss L looooooves them, so I'm have to give in.
Posted by: Mary | October 04, 2007 at 06:25 PM
Sandi, I seriously am starting to wonder if we were separated at birth. I find dolls creepy and have those same "Poltergeist" freak outs about them. Miss L looooooves them, so I'm have to give in.
Posted by: Mary | October 04, 2007 at 06:26 PM
Vintage Effenbee babydolls are great, but expensive. I still have mine from 1974... she's a collector's item! LOL I do like the American Girl Bitty Babies. :) What a wonderful find! Congrats! Holly
Posted by: Hopscotch Design | October 04, 2007 at 07:03 PM
Beautiful finds! LOVE the colors....my daughters love their Corolle dolls....and then there's these: http://thetoyshoppe.com/alexander/displayItem.asp?prodID=31294
Posted by: Laurie | October 04, 2007 at 07:06 PM
Have you ever thought of a Waldorf doll? They are not creepy at all and can be custom made.
This is one of my favorite makers
http://hyenacart.com/HillcountryDollmaker/
Here is another one
http://hyenacart.com/MissNairnes/
There are many many more makers out there though.
Posted by: Offshore Wife | October 04, 2007 at 07:26 PM
Honestly- HOW DO YOU ALWAYS GET SOOOOO LUCKY!!! Let's go shopping again, maybe your luck will rub off!!! Such cool finds! Yay for Eliza on Christmas.
Posted by: Melissa | October 05, 2007 at 12:12 PM
another great find!! I bet she was "pleased as punch"(as my grandma would say) to know you were giving them to your daughter. And I'd like to think I would totally wear the blue coat, maybe not in real life, but I would say I totally would. he-he
Posted by: summerallen | October 05, 2007 at 01:46 PM
As usual, I haven't bothered to read the post before leaving a comment, too amazed by your beautiful photography and perspective.
Posted by: Tanya Whelan | October 05, 2007 at 05:16 PM
I am not sure if they are the right size or not, but Pottery Barn Kids has some cute little dolls.
Posted by: Sarah | October 07, 2007 at 02:04 PM
I, too, like the Pottery Barn Kids dolls. They are sweet and soft and cuddly and looked like baby dolls, not scary little people!
Missy
Posted by: missy | October 12, 2007 at 07:02 AM
Though quite pricey, my mom's friend makes the most adorable and realistic babies you will ever see. They would probably be very well deserving of those beautiful dresses. :)
http://kbbees.zoovy.com
Posted by: Andrea Osiek | October 12, 2007 at 11:15 AM
I just found this post from your newest post (I'm making a bunch of doll clothes for my daughter for Christmas so I had to click that link). You've probably already found a not-creepy doll, but just in case you're still looking I wanted to let you know about Bamboletta dolls. They are gorgeous - handmade by what seems like a lovely woman and some Mom friends of hers. They definitely have a Waldorf look to them - but with a little more. . .something. Love the trunk for the doll clothes!
Posted by: Wendi Gratz | December 03, 2008 at 03:49 AM