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| Auction photo of Madame Alexander "Thank you" ensemble |
Doll collectors usually suffer from a chronic and incurable condition of want-itis. I-am-no-exception. After seeing a fellow collector's African American "Thank You" doll from 1997 by Madame Alexander, I wanted to purchase one. Initially, the doll was going to be a gift for a friend as a "thank you" for all she does. However, (or 'what had happened was')...
I saved an eBay search for "Madame Alexander Thank You Doll." The only notices received were for newly listed white versions of the doll. Finally, eBay sent an email announcing an auction for a near-complete "Thank You" outfit only. This was a buy it now or best offer auction. I made an offer that was countered by the seller. I countered the seller's offer, which was accepted.
As shown above, the outfit includes replaced shoes (the original shoes are pink). The doll's thank you card and flower bouquet were also not included. The seller sent along an unmarked purple bike with an attached cart described as being part of a Madame Alexander doll display.
With the outfit on its way, all I needed was a doll to wear it.
The person who owns the original African American "Thank You" doll sent me a link to an eBay auction for Madame Alexander's 1991 Welcome Home African American girl. She shared that these dolls show up often and usually have low beginning bids. I watched the auction until the last day of the listing when I found an identical doll in an auction with a lower beginning bid and less expensive shipping. Within a couple of days, the auction ended with me as the only bidder.
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| Auction photo of "Welcome Home" Wendy |
After undressing Wendy (the name by which most refer to the 8-inch dolls by Madame Alexander), I noticed her loose stringing. She visited the resident doll doctor for restringing before I dressed her in the "Thank You" fashion which had arrived a few days before.
As illustrated above, African American "Welcome Home" Wendy is now my creation of the elusive 1997 African American "Thank You" doll from the Occasions Collection. I changed her original hairstyle from one pulled back ponytail with curly ends to two side ponytails.
The missing thank you card was replaced with one I made using white card stock and pink construction paper. Wendy was given a little doll with a bear of her own to sit in the cart of the bike.
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| Wendy has been restrung and her one ponytail changed to two side ponytails. |
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| Redressed in the "Thank You" outfit, Wendy posed with the purple bike with cart the seller sent. |
As illustrated above, African American "Welcome Home" Wendy is now my creation of the elusive 1997 African American "Thank You" doll from the Occasions Collection. I changed her original hairstyle from one pulled back ponytail with curly ends to two side ponytails.
The missing thank you card was replaced with one I made using white card stock and pink construction paper. Wendy was given a little doll with a bear of her own to sit in the cart of the bike.
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| Wendy poses wearing her new clothes and her doll-and-bear-filled cart. The thank you card had not been made when the photo above was taken, but I wanted to share this cute pose. |
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| With her doll and the doll's bear in the cart, Wendy wears the "Thank You" ensemble and holds a thank you card. (By the time this photo was taken, Bear had fallen asleep.) |
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Shortly after I published this post, a doll friend recognized that the shoes the seller sent with my Thank You Wendy outfit were not the original pink shoes that the doll should wear. She kindly purchased the above pink faux suede Madame Alexander shoes for my doll.
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| Madame Alexander Thank you Wendy (formerly Welcome Home Wendy) models her new pink shoes and sends her love to her shoe donor. |
I will continue to watch for the authentic African American "Thank You" doll to carry out my original plan to purchase as a gift for a friend. (But this one is mine... all mine!)
dbg
Debbie, your rendition of Thank You Wendy doll is great. She looks so adorable and perfect with her outfit, her dollie and her bear.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Arlette! I enjoyed putting her together for a "little bit of nothing" money-wise.
Deletedbg
She's very cute. I have a soft place in my heart for Madame Alexander dolls, especially the little Wendy sized ones. I remember going to a toy store as a child and wanting so many of them. They remain my favorite size of doll- just right to slip into a pocket and take on an adventure.
ReplyDeleteShe's very cute. I have a soft place in my heart for Madame Alexander dolls, especially the little Wendy sized ones. I remember going to a toy store as a child and wanting so many of them. They remain my favorite size of doll- just right to slip into a pocket and take on an adventure.
ReplyDeleteThank you, RLC. Wendy is the perfect size doll to collect. I own several.
Deletedbg
Your OOAK Welcome Home/Thank You is really cute. I love the little cart. It is just right for her little toys. I am sure you will find one to carry out your purpose.
ReplyDeleteThank you, GG. It seems the AA ones are difficult to find, but you're right, I'll find one eventually.
Deletedbg
Mine, all mine! She's a cutie. I love your recreation. Sometimes we have to get creative to get the things we want. That doll in the cart is adorable. Who is she?
ReplyDeleteCreating it on our own makes it extra special, right?
DeleteThe doll in the cart is a reproduction of a Hertel, Schwab & Co. "Our Fairy" doll. This company made their original dolls from 1910-1930s. The repro is by Jeannie DiMauro, sold through HSN during the late 1990s. She is 5 inches tall and full-body porcelain. She came with the little teddy bear companion. I have always loved this little girl whose given name by the artist is Shellie.
dbg
She's adorable - those pigtails are just too cute.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of making your own version of "Thank You" - I think that's sometimes more fun than hunting down the actual official release!
I agree, jSarie. It is also often less costly than the manufactured version to create a custom version. I am not a purist so I don't have to have the box, certificate, and other extras. I love the doll not the stuff.
Deletedbg
Hi Debbie,
ReplyDeleteI agree with jSarie...sometimes it's more fun to recreate your own version and it can feel even more special. What a beautiful doll, I just think she's so adorable!
Farrah
Thank you so much Farrah Lily!
DeleteWhen my mother saw her this past Saturday for the first time, she said the same thing. "What a beautiful doll!"
dbg
LOL, this doll reminds me of myself as a kid. My mom tried so hard to make me a proper young lady. She would put me in dresses like these with a daisy hat and afro puffs on the side. I'd end up looking like a total ragamuffin, so she reserved this look for church and Easter. If this doll is any indication, I looked pretty darn cute!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you did look cute, Muff, but it was just not you.
DeleteI hated frilly dresses. My mother soon realized this and stopped buying them for me. I didn't mind dresses and looking girly but the frills and ruffles just had to go. Too over the top for me.
dbg