Hi everyone and Happy Friday,
I received an email from Debbie and thought I would share it as a reminder of World Doll Day! Thought this might be a fun way to remind you if you wanted to participate!
Hi Jeanne,
I hope George’s recovery is going well and he is getting stronger everyday. The following was an email from our local doll museum in North Carolina. Hugs, Debbie
Special thanks to our friends at Art Dolls Magazine for reprinting this letter for everyone to enjoy:
“So, you have not heard of World Doll Day? This is not surprising as of an hour ago, I hadn’t conceived the idea.
To make it happen. I need cooperation of every doll collector, every magazine editor, doll newsletter, doll shop, library, doll maker, mother, grandmother, father, grandfather, and all the stray aunts and uncles.
The first World Doll Day is the Second Saturday of June 1986. Give a doll to a grownup, child in the family or just a friend. If you don’t have a child to give a doll to – find one. There are many children with no dolls.
Think of it this way and ship a doll to another country: I have always felt that the common doll could be an instrument of world understanding. From the first time I started writing books on doll making, I had the hope that dolls would help make friends all over the world and develop a little love among all.
World Doll Day will also be a day for doll exhibits. It is my hope that all libraries will have a special doll exhibit. Museums will publicize their doll exhibits and have special doll exhibits at this time. Magazines will put out special editions. Doll stores will put on campaigns weeks ahead. Doll makers will make special dolls for World Doll Day. There will be doll competitions with World Doll Day awards, plaques and trophies.
The logo is made from artist Boots Tyner’s doll representing a child. The child carries a German bisque doll to represent this doll collectors gift. Feel free to copy the logo or have one made.
Everyone can enjoy the fun as there are no fees, no permission needed, no obligations, nobody owns the day, no club, no company. It’s a free- for- all, take up the day, its ideas and fly with it. Let’s do it now. World Doll Day.
If you think World Doll Day is a good idea, then appoint yourself a committee of one to do something about it–only then can it become a reality. Would you tell five people, ask them to tell five people, and each of them tell five people and so on?
World Doll Day’s birthday is June 14, 1986.
Sincerely,
Mil and Vernon Seeley
After Debbie sent this to me, I looked up a little bit more about World Doll Day and found this list…
How to Celebrate World Doll Day
World Doll Day is built around one straightforward gesture: give a doll. From there, the possibilities open up for collectors, families, crafters, and anyone who appreciates these small companions. Here are some ideas to mark the day.
Give a doll to someone you love – This is the founding tradition of the day. Choose a doll for a child, a friend, or a fellow collector, and pass on the idea that they should give one to someone the following year.
Donate dolls to children who need them – Gather dolls in good condition and donate them to a children’s hospital, a women’s refuge, an orphanage, or a local charity shop so that a child without much can still have something to hold.
Make a doll by hand – Sew a simple rag doll, knit a small figure, or build one from spare fabric and buttons. Handmade dolls carry a personal touch that shop-bought ones rarely match.
Sew new clothes for an old doll – Refresh a tired doll with a new dress, coat, or hat. It is a relaxing afternoon project and a lovely way to revive a childhood favourite.
Visit a doll museum or exhibition – Many museums hold collections of antique and cultural dolls. Some, including dedicated doll and toy museums, offer special access or free admission to mark the day.
Research the dolls of different cultures – Spend time learning about traditional dolls from around the world, such as Russian matryoshka, Japanese kokeshi, or Hopi katsina figures, and discover the meanings behind them.
Host a doll gathering – Organise a small show-and-tell with friends or fellow collectors, either in person or over a video call, where everyone shares the story behind a favourite doll.
Share your collection online – Post photographs and stories of your dolls on social media to introduce others to the hobby and connect with collectors around the world.
I’ll be back Monday, hopefully!
Have a nice cool weekend :o)
Blessings, Jeanne
I have been aware of World Doll Day for quite a few years, as I used to belong to a doll club, and it was well publicized at the time. But I thank Debbie for sharing all the information. World doll day is on June 13th this year–it’s always the second Saturday of June.
Of course, for some of us, Every day is “doll day”!! 😂
I have a very busy few days. Since I didn’t get up to the church yesterday I went today. I did my share of the cleaning, and then worked on my music for a while. Had dinner and trivia at IHOP as usual; my son joined us, although he was a little late getting there. Tomorrow I need to run some errands, including getting a graduation gift for a friend’s daughter, and stopping by the library for a bit. Saturday I meet Elizabeth at church–cleaning (although mine is done already) and getting things set up for a graduation party on Sunday after church for the granddaughter of one of our members. I will probably also bring the fruit along and arrange the fruit try while I’m there so I don’t have to worry about transporting it on Sunday morning. And of course, more piano practice.
Sunday after the morning service is the graduation party/lunch. We are all helping Robin by bringing various items for the lunch. It will be a fun day!
I agree, every day is Doll Day.
This is great news. I will make (another) cake
Enjoy your day, Charlotte
Sounds like you have a few fun days planned. I agree that for some of us every day is doll day and I’m sure glad to be getting back to celebrating mine again. Maybe I’ll take World Doll Day tomorrow to make that jumpsuit I keep talking about. Hmmm
We are heading out to the other Y because we have to take the car in for it’s checkup. After our swim, we go there and wait and wait and wait for our car to be done. It is always cold in there and I am tempted to take a blanket!! I will check you ladies out but am not good writing on my phone.
See y’all later.
Good luck Sissy. I hope you brought a blanket!!!
I hope your car passes the exam!
Thank you, Debbie for reminding us about World Doll Day! I think it was from Dorothy, who made me and many of us aware of it through the blog. By the way, where ARE you, Dorothy?
I wish I knew of some little girls who I could give a doll to, but all the little girls in my life have grown up, and sadly, aren’t interested in dolls anymore. No neighbors here that are little girls either, although the one I had moved away just two weeks ago. I did give knee a Madame Alexander Storybook doll for her 9th birthday last year, so that might count!
So it will just be me with my dolls tomorrow, I guess!
When I received the email from the museum I thought of Dorothy who always kept us up to date on World Doll Day.
No children here either but I do get my fix at the doll museum which is just a little over an hour away. As a member of the museum I get very regular emails from them. Great staff, great volunteers, great dolls and doll’s houses.
You are fortunate to still have a doll museum there, Debbie. We used to have the wonderful Rosalie Whyel Museum of Doll Art in our area, but sadly it closed a few years ago and as I recall most of Rosalie’s wonderful dolls were auctioned off. I read that she passed away about 2 years ago, I think.
I was a member of that museum, and took friends and visitors to it fairly often. I also knew Rosalie, and remember when she was planning to open it, and she came to a doll show I was doing and handed out little sticky notepads with “opening in 1997” (or whatever year it was) and the name and address of the museum.
Good morning dear ones. Friday, AGAIN! How did this happen?
Jeanne, I love you and George. I hope both of you are resting and recovering.
I am happy to celebrate World Doll Day.
I wish all of you a happy Friday and a perfect week-end.
now, I am have
ing a tricky time here, typing. I have a very warm purring cornish rex kitty resting on my shoulder and I am typing with one hand.
I will zip out this morning and pick up a prescription from CVS and probably come straight back home. It is hot as blazes and humid too. I will, as usual, keep this page open and check in later❤️
Well, we hit 101 yesterday, so we were cooking. Did the unending watering and gave Callie Cat, cold wet food which was appreciated. After an early walk, we headed to Kohl’s. Nice and cool inside there. I found a couple of tees and other person some Armor tennis shoes. Then, we stopped by El Pollo Loco, picked up lunch, and headed home. On a later trip to the other house, we were met by Coco the cat who happily ate her kibble. Surveyed all we need to do there, but it was so hot outside, I just watered and we headed back. It is supposed to be slightly cooler today, but still in the high eighties. We so love the fog here.
Nice to hear of doll day celebrations. Here, I celebrated early and placed an order for the latest Ruby Red 121/2 inch Jolli dolls. They are simple with only standard joints but only cost $47.00, so I went for it. I kind of want to compare them to other dolls that size. They are really only two inches smaller than the regular Ruby Reds and close to the Siblies too. So, another doll headed here soon. Yikes.
Time to close the windows and brace for more heat today. Can’t wait for it to cool off. 🙂
Get well soon George and Jeanne. We’re pulling for you both.
Here’s the link to the Jolli Ruby Reds, should you want to take a look. 🙂
https://rubyreddolls.com/pages/about-jolli-buddies-doll
Thank you for sharing the link abut the new Ruby Red Jolli dolls! I hadn’t seen these yet and their size sounds good and they would be okay arranged with the 14 in. RR dolls and the Siblies too. Price is a bit more affordable for me! I’m drawn to the doll named Iris…her blue eye color, and her dark braids would be a plus when sewing and trying on outfits! I wouldn’t have to anchor the hair up like I have to with dolls whose hair is long. I can’t tell if her smile might be a little wider than the other dolls or if its just my imagination! I also like the doll named Joey…although I would need to put her hair up for sewing purposes. The dolls body and head shape remind me of the Wellie Wisher dolls…only smaller and not so “chunky” in the arms and legs. Let us know what yo think of her “in person” once you receive her!.
I think that the Jolli dolls should ship right away, but no tracking yet here. I really had a hard time deciding on which to order. Those ordered now, should arrive soon, hopefully, but when this order is sold out, it will be awhile before the next. At least that’s how I think it works. 🙂
Oh, I could be in trouble here, Joy! I think maybe Uma is calling my name. Or maybe Dorothy. And I see you can get shoes and extra clothing for them, too. Hm….
Oh those Jolli RubyReds are adorable!
Thank you for sharing the webpage, Joy. Stay cool and hydrated!
It is going up to 97 today and it is crazy humid outside!
Hubbs walked around the yard at the old place and got chigger bites!
Yesterday I read a weird remedy for those, I am not sure if that is true.
Some guy claimed he put nail polish on the bites 😬😁😂
I just got my teeth brushed and running out into the heat!
The remedy you mentioned was one I heard for ticks but never heard it used for chiggers. I have some friends in west Texas who go to the river a lot and chiggers are horrible there. The one time I visited they told me when we got home to add vinegar to bathwater and use a soggy washcloth and go over the tight places like where your waistband, sock tops, etc., were where they crawl and can’t go further. Worked like a charm.
Yes, Rosemary, putting nail polish on tick bites is a “thing”! I think we even did it years ago when I was a child, but you should use colorless polish.
Fortunately, we don’t have the pests here, but I’ve seen the bites and they are not pleasant. Never heard of the nail polish treatment though. 🙂
Which one did you get? I wasn’t aware of them so thanks for the link.
Well, one is a boy so no surprise there, and then, I picked a girl with reddish hair. You’ll have to guess. I’m so wicked. 🙂
And tomorrow the latest core line will be available. Too many dolls, so little time. 🙂
I ordered Uma. Wasn’t too crazy about the name but love the doll and her outfit. I also got her the pink pleated skirt and the pretty eyelet top.
Jeanne and George, hope all is well. Hope George is feeling better every day.
Thanks for the info on Doll Day. I have given some of my dolls to great nieces. The girls are quite young and don’t live near me but don’t live near me. One doll was an American Doll company Scarlett O’Hara and she had quite a few outfits including her white and green flowered gown and her green curtain outfit she had made, I’m sure the girls had no idea who Scarlett O’Hara was but I’m sure they enjoyed playing with her.
I’m still not able to contact you – I’ve tried several times but the blog contact won’t allow me to send my message.
Paula, have you tried just regular email?
I didn’t realize I had Jeanne ‘s email so I looked and sure enough I had her email address. Thank you Rosemary!
Thank you for sharing the World Doll Day information! And I agree….everyday is Doll Day for me too….whenever I walk into my art/craft room and see the dolls arranged on the two shelves! Most are Ruby Red dolls along with the Kimberly doll that I cleaned and made a camp outfit. If I had another wider shelf I would set out my Heide Ott 18in. dolls and the American Girl and Wellie Wisher doll…maybe I can recruit my daughter to help me put up one more shelf!
Cleaned out my bedroom closet recently to purge too small/unwanted clothing items and found my three 8 inch Madam Alexander dolls that I had purchased at an Indiana Thrift Shop near me when I lived up north. I couldn’t resist their adorable outfits and hairstyles (which still had the hair nets on them), and so purchased them at $8.00 each.
One doll is Anastasia and her locket around her neck has mini photos of her mother and father, another doll’s hangtag says Dancing Queen, and the third, Wisteria Flower Girl doll has a long pastel pink satin gown with an embroidered chiffon overlay skirt and she has a corsage in her hand….her hair and smile are why I purchased her….a mass of long, beautiful blond curls and waves and a sweet smile. The outfits are so detailed with ribbon, bows, tiny trims, and narrow eyelet laces. There were many other 8 inch MA dolls also for sale and it was difficult to decide on just three. I nearly felt bad breaking up the entire collection, which I figured once belonged to a lady who may have passed away and maybe her children didn’t want to keep them around. I had them on a shelf when I lived in IN, but then they were packed up for my move to Texas. So now they will be on a shelf again!
What is it about dolls that attracts us so? Maybe just because of our childhood memories of playing with them or because there is something intriguing about taking care of these “miniature people”! I read recently about a new sci-fi series called The Miniature Wife ( I think on a TV package that we don’t subscribe to) about a husband who accidently (?) shrinks his wife to doll size and she lives in a dollhouse while they try to figure out how to enlarge her! I would love to see this one someday to see how the dollhouse interior is depicted and adapted for a reduced human being!
Well, it is HOT and humid here in the middle of Texas…so humid that I can’t even have the art room windows open about 8 inches in the early mornings, for fresh air and a breeze! And the cats and I enjoy listening to the birds…some doves too, while they flutter back and forth to the bird feeder on a shepherd’s hook, outside of the window. The news predict that temps will be in the 80’s soon! Ohhhhh….the anticipation!
That’s great you’re going to display the MA’s again and hopefully your others as well. I really need to do something about mine too. I’d love to see a pic of your display when it is complete.
How nice you found your 8″ MA dolls again! Old friends, right?
Your Wisteria Flower Girl sounds like she has the “Maggie” face. That is my favorite face for the 8″ dolls. The other one is the “Wendy” face, and it’s cute too, but I just love the Maggie face best. I do have several 8″ MAs and I know some of them have that Maggie face. I also have three that I bought nude years ago and accumulated Huge wardrobes for them; they were my travel dolls (they had to take turns!) for a while. One of them even went to Africa with me in 1999!
A friend just sent some useful links:
The World Doll Day just started and I thought you might have problems finding the first video:
https://www.facebook.com/michael.canadas.2025/videos/1731446904954118/?idorvanity=164018938987547
I think most of the videos come up under “featured”
https://www.facebook.com/groups/worlddollday/announcements and also Media, Videos
https://www.facebook.com/groups/164018938987547/media/videos
The sales rooms are also under media, but go to the albums tab (the shops open later)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/164018938987547/media/albums
The schedule and the pdf downloadable treats are under “files”
https://www.facebook.com/groups/worlddollday/files/files
Thanks for the links. I just caught up on yesterday’s blog and really enjoyed your pictures. We have a bit of a conflict in this house. Hubby is a Rocky Mountain boy and I’m an Appalachian girl. A lot of competition about who has the best mountains. It’s like comparing apples to oranges since they are so different in nature, but it makes for some good discussions.
Thanks so much for the heads up on World Doll Day. Dorothy usually reminds us and without that I would probably forget. I just heard from David that they won’t be home by lunch time today so I guess I’m on my own. But they will be staying in town next week to do things around here so it will be good to have him home for a while. The job is difficult. It’s basically building tennis courts out of a swamp for a high school so a lot of draining and filling, but it would help a great deal if it would stop raining more than a day or two at a time. Unfortunately it could well be raining all week next week since there is a system in Mexico that could move into the Gulf and bring a lot of rain to southeast Texas. Not expected to be a tropical depression just a rainmaker. But I noticed that my Crepe Myrtles are not blooming and we’ve had some good rain but maybe it’s just now getting hot enough. They like the heat.
Oh Barbara we could use some of your rain. This is reported to be the longest drought since 2008. The temperatures are close to 100 every day. We might get some of your Gulf moisture but I am not counting on it. Our Crepe Myrtles have been blooming since May, way too early. Maybe they like dry heat, but I always thought it was the opposite because they went crazy in Louisiana every summer.
I forgot — one more thing—the times on the schedule are in Pacific time and comes from Carmel, California.
We got home too late to write but I do want to wish Jeanne and George a good day and weekend. Prayers still going up.
Sorry people, I missed yesterday, I watched the opening game of the World Cup between Mexico and S Africa. Mexico won in case you are interested lol.
Marilyn your sister’s photos were lovely it is a beautiful area.
To answer your question about The Southern Alps “(Ka Tiritiri o te Moana to give it its Maori name) it is a 500 kilometre range spanning the length of the South Island. They contain 23 peaks over 3,000 metres, culminating in NZ’s highest peak, Aoraki/Mount Cook, which stands at 3,724 metres” to quote Google.
There are three passes through, Haast, Arthurs and Lewis but not really many other roads except for a few that go to specific places like the ski fields.
Today is our Alice Quilt class so have to get moving as we need to leave by 9am if we can and it is already nearly 8.
Have a lovely day everyone