Happy Baby Restoration: Invasion of the Barnyard Mice !!

These HAVE to be one of the most popular and adored Baby's of the 40's

Unfortunately, this little lost soul was accidentally placed in the family's barn for many years.

I don't know if this would EVER make the pages of " Where Women Create"..Do You?

Happy Baby is Happy once again and so is her owner. She was a complete restore from the Compo repair to an exact duplicate body taken from a pattern of her old one.There was enough left of her original dress to replicate it AND she was still able to wear her original shoes...

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

 Well, another year has come and gone before we had a chance to blink twice. Our Holidays were fun and fattening..But, most of all it was fun with Family and Friends. These are the presents that can't be purchased for any Dollar amount. Isn't that the most WONDERFUL thing about Family and REAL Friends? Their love is simply yours for the taking..Pretty cool...
 Now, is also the time to reflect and count our blessings. My blessings revolve around the constant chaos that is created by 5 Grandchildren and 1 Great-Grandson...My 3 daughters ,little girls who grew into caring and beautiful women...Blessed with our Health and the ability to get up every morning and move forward...Last, but not least,The magnificent creatures that I call my co- workers , compassionate ,dedicated to their patients and to each other......
 As to my New Years Resolutions ? It is to laugh, to believe that if I write something down,AGAIN, that I will resolve to follow through and accomplish said tasks... Oh ! H-ll No ! LOL !! This year, I am simply going to view the New Year as a Blank Sheet of paper...I am the Pencil . ( a pencil with a VERY large eraser) New adventures, New dolls , New Friendships....
  I sincerely want to wish Each and Everyone of you the VERY Happiest and Healthiest of New Years...May it be full to the brim with excitement and fulfillment  in all that this WONDERFUL life has to offer...One thing that you learn quickly in Hospice is that we only get one shot at it...at life..make it count !!! God Bless !!

Stone Clay Baby..The Continuing Saga

Clay Baby is at the "body shop" stage..

Nice to see her with her head on..As I have said before, I am the slowest scultptor in the world.I can occasionally peek in on her during the week...Would love to be able to work on her non-stop but I have an aversion to poverty ( lol) so it's " Ho, Ho, It's Off to work I go" ..Stay Tuned

DyDee Baby Save

Dydee Catastrophe.Years of being stored away unprotected from the elements of time.

Put our newly airbrushed head on an original body of mine and limbs from vinyl..(airbrushed to match her head)
 

All put together, even has crocheted booties  made by my daughter, Mary Jr.

DyDee ..All ready to go home to her owner...I made her a brand new little outfit ..Of course, her "value" isn't there , but she is still "priceless" to her owner for she belonged to his Mother...

Work in Progress Stone Clay Baby

 It has been a very long time since I have had my hands in clay.As long as you keep it damp you can work it almost forever. I also find that I tend to "Paint" with the clay for my detailing.
  This little baby ..when completed will be a full sculpt to be molded ( by my daughter) and cast in Ecoflex 20 ( or 30 )...I do the sculpting and my daughter, Mary, is the engineer in all this..( which works for me)
   Again, as I have mentioned before, when in the "doll business" there is always something for everyone. I continue to do my doll repairs and bjd's but really wanted to try my hand at the baby end of it...I did'nt want to do any reborns ( although I think they are wonderful)...I just wanted to create something that would have never existed unlesss I purchased that 10 lb. block of clay....
     Will keep everyone posted....      

Wendy Feidt Handmade Mohair Wigs

   






       In the wonderful world of dolls we are fortunate enough to work with some of the finest people in the world. Passionate about their art and their willingness to share.
        The doll makers, restoration artists, wig makers, cobblers, clothiers..so on and so forth...
        Among this delightful group is the creator of these wigs...In my opinion, they are among the finest mohair wigs anywhere...This amazing artist is Wendy Feidt....She has many sizes, colors and styles to chose from..Each and everyone is meticulously handmade using the finest English Mohair....But as with mostly everything creative and handcrafted there is one minor drawback... There is a waiting list...She does have some immediately for sale but the larger and more intricate styles are mostly made -to-order ...Please treat yourself to a visit on her web site..www.mohairdollwigsbywendyfeidt.com

     

Original B.J.D. " Little Fingers" series

           This is one of our " Little Fingers" series of fairies...Only 6" tall with 11 points of articulation...She has found her way to her new home.... 

Antique S.F.B.J. "Pouty"

          Found these gorgeous examples of this doll on Pinterest..(www.Pinterest.com)...I have her mold and sooooo looking forward to pouring her...( need to wait for the temps to cool a bit..Kiln in family room ) She is a VERY rare treasure, indeed.....Have a Blessed day..   

Cassandra Restoration....Composition

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Opening Our New Etsy Shoppe

   After putting everything off until tomorrow we are, finally, opening our Etsy Shoppe under the name "Marys Little Memories"..My daughter ( the other Mary) and I have so many ideas..It is a collaboration of talents, tastes and techniques....Our dolls will be our primary feature (  vintage dolls and new one of a kinds)..There will be clothing created for dolls of all sizes and shapes...I primarily focus on the collectable's and antique's  while Mary Jr. is more "up to date" and has a VERY modern vision.... We certainly won't be forgetting our furry friends....bears for every age and taste....

 Please stop by and visit...Truly hope that you will enjoy our shoppe and while you are there, please take the time to visit the other amazing Etsy artisans and merchants...There is something for everyone in every price range...

 

 

 

    

Composition Bride Repair



 

Beautiful composition bride from the late 40's...Original box.. 

Porcelain Repair of 32" German Head # 171

 

This is a prime example of what happens to Porcelain when it is dropped...It is NOT fragile BUT it is breakable....Her owner was given the doll by her mother and did not wish to have the head replaced....Unfortunately, her monetary value has vanished into thin air but her sentimental value is there....beautiful as before.....So much of her face was missing and needed to be sculpted ,her eyes were broken as well... This is why Doll Doctors " Do what they do"..LOVE before and afters!!!!

Vinyl"Mama" Baby Repair

                           
                            Popular "mama" doll of the 50's..early 60's...One of the many types
                    of damage that can occur to these vinyl dolls. I reinforced the tear with muslin
                    permeated with silicone...Then applied thin layer upon thin layer of "Liquid
                     Sculpey"...heating the vinyl ( EVER SO CAREFULLY) between applications.
                     Tear is still mildly visible but the repair is cosmetically acceptable and very
                    strong....Her momma is pleased ( and so am I)

Trio of Forever Friends

      
                  She is the last of my customers trio of antique dolls. She was in remarkably good
            shape (aside from her neck socket disappearing into her body) and required what is
              considered to be "maintenance" repairs.

                       
                          Her sleep eyes were perfect and her mohair wig only needed mild
                      cleaning...Of course, she spent a few days with perm rods in her hair to
                       achieve a lasting curl...

                               
                                                                Pretty in Pink