Fashion Dolls 101

    Kathputli Puppet Doll from Rajasthan Indian Recently I came across this beautiful Rajasthani  Kathputli puppet doll from India dressed in silk and playing a golden wind instrument.   Kathputli  is a type of string puppet theatre, native to  Rajasthan ,  India .  This string  marionette  performance  art is  the most popular form of Indian puppetry.    Putli  means a doll made of wood, and indeed, the head appears to be carved of wood and painted   The doll is slightly over two feet tall, dressed in green silk with a metallic pattern and trim. He wears a red silk turban and plays a golden instrument.  This  Rajasthani  Kathputli puppet doll is quite elegant and an example of a cloth doll with a wooden head    

Haunting thrift stores and yard sales can yield unexpected treasures. Today I found this whimsical 10 1/4 inch tall vintage cloth doll from House of Hatton.   This cute rag doll is a country girl dressed in calico overalls, an off-white blouse with red trim, cloth hat, boots with two pearl buttons, and has auburn yarn hair  her face is printed on. The doll was made in the Philippines and has a bit of a Holly Hobby vibe. She may have been part of a pair with a matching boy doll. There is no date on the doll, but House of Hatten was founded in 1892  and appears to have announced their closing the end of 2005 , so this doll would probably have been made sometime prior to 2005.   I hope to find out more about this doll and will post updates here when I learn more. Related Articles: Irish Rag Doll Annie a Cute Thrift Store Find Everyone Loves Holly Hobbie Dolls--a Piece of Americana The Intriguing History of the Holly Hobbie Doll Why Rag Dolls Are Fun and Historic to Col...

  Michael’s just keeps getting in cuter and cuter lawn chairs that are the perfect size for 14 inch and 16” fashion dolls to enjoy this summer.  Earlier I reported on the colorful striped lawn chairs Michael’s first got in. Then these two new small chair collections came in.  First, a set of ornate metal furniture with a chair that could seat a Moxie Teens doll for $14.99  and a bench that could hold two Barbie dolls for $16.99. Then came the red, white and blue Summer Heritage and patriotic chairs for $9.99 that are wide enough for a Gene, but have shorter legs than the smaller chairs. Here is another photo for scale  You decide! Which metal lawn chairs will you be getting for your dolls? Related Articles: Great Striped Lawn Chairs for 14” (and 16”) Dolls at Michaels Irish Rag Doll Annie  a  Cute Thrift Store Find Sweet Doll-Sized Carrying Cases at Michael’s

~ Annie the Irish Babe Rag Doll from Dublin ~  I know it isn’t St. Patrick’s Day, but I just found this rag doll Irish cutie at the thrift store and couldn’t resist. Her name is Annie, and she is part of the Kiddie Fun line of Irish souvenir dolls from Dublin.  Wearing a Kelley green shamrock  t-shirt with “Irish Babe” on it, a matching green and white shamrock skirt, green and white stockings, and red tennis shoes, Annie is definitely an Irish lass. Her vivid green eyes and red yarn hair with green bows complete the look. 

  Michael’s has become my go-to spot for doll shopping. Not only does the craft store offer adorable miniatures, but it also has small potted plants perfect for decorating doll spaces. But one of the cutest offerings from Michael’s are these sweet striped metal lawn chairs in their summer section, perfect for a vintage or modern doll display. They come in four color combinations! These colorful metal lawn chairs are great for 14” dolls and will also seat a Gene or other 16” doll if you don’t mind the slightly smaller scale. The same goes for Barbie— the colorful chairs work great for Babs if you don’t mind them being a little large.  You can find other miniatures and tiny plants for your dolls while you are there, as well as some patriotic bears for Memorial Day, Flag Day and July 4.  Summer days are here! Make sure your dolls are ready! Related Articles: Sweet Doll-Sized Carrying Cases at Michael’s Cute Patriotic Bears, More, at Michaels

  Look what’s on the shelves at Michael’s now! These cute carrying cases are the perfect size for smaller dolls like Tiny Betsy, Madame Alexander Wendy, and other 8” dolls   The case sports Monet’s Garden on the lid, with a pink base and white handle. The price is $29.99. Carry your small dolls in style with this cute floral carrying case from Ashland on the shelves at Michael’s now. Related Articles: Cute Patriotic Bears, More, at Michaels

  Michael’s is ready for Memorial Day, Flag Day and the 4th of July with red, white and blue decor. These cute little patriotic bears will appeal to any collector of stuffed bear an d patriotic figures.  A boy bear dressed in a blue vest covered in white stars and striped red and white pants holds the American flag, while the girl bear wears a matching dress.  If that’s not enough figurine cuteness overload, take a look at the Chicita banana vase! This tropical ceramic lady wears her fruit stylishly in her head  whatever you put in the vase, just adds to the look   Both are now available at Michael’s