T. J. Robinson's Gingerbread House, specialized in gourmet Cajun cuisine and was located in Oakland, California and open for business, circa 1974 through 2007. |
Thanks to a member of my doll group and founder of her own Facebook group, Laverne's Original Holiday Festival of Dolls, I learned about restaurant owner and doll maker, T. J. Robinson, who sold dolls through the gift shop of her restaurant.
After I posted information about the Festival of Black Dolls Show and Sale to be held in Oakland, California on November 12, 2016, Laverne recalled the following:
Years ago, I attend their doll shows in Oakland. I will have to check it out. Auntie Grace belonged to the club and was a collector. We would meet for dinner at T. J. Robinson's Gingerbread House in Oakland for dinner. This was a restaurant that was completely decorated with T. J. dolls and you had to make reservations weeks in advance. There were dolls all over the restaurant and the food was delicious. I will try to go through my photographs and look for this group and hopefully photos of Auntie Grace. Thanks for the Festival information. I did Holiday Festival of Black Dolls in Oakland and San Leandro several years running.
The second doll from the left, in the article image, resembles the one I located online. |
T. J. Robinson doll has embroidery-stitched face and star-shaped pupils. |
After the doll arrived, I was rather disappointed with the condition of the white dress, which required an immediate hand washing to remove years of grime and to hopefully brighten the concentrated area of yellowing under the right arm of the dress. This was not clearly noticeable in the seller's photos and was not mentioned in the item description. Soaking the dress in a basin of hot water with a mixture of liquid laundry detergent and OxyClean, rinsing it, and allowing it to hang dry resolved my disappointment.
After the dress dried, I ironed it with a warm iron and straightened out several of the ribbon accents with the iron. After redressing, she looked as good as I imagine she looked the day she was created. Because of the poor fit and their newer-than-the-doll's appearance, the white patent-leather sandals she was wearing did not look original to the doll. I removed those and will replace with white knit booties. For now her feet are bare.
Before redressing the doll, this photo and the next were taken to illustrate how her body is constructed. |
One last close-up of Tee-Jay, which is what I named her. |
It must have taken several hours to create the multiple looped yarn braids and to hand-tie the multitude of white ribbons onto each. The love, patience, and devotion in making this doll are very evident in all the extra touches.
Unfortunately, I will never have an opportunity to meet or speak with Ms. Robinson, who passed away on June 12, 2011. Patrons of her gingerbread house*, which opened in the mid 1970s and remained open until 2007, will undoubtedly remember her fondly. Those (like me) who own a Gingerbread House Original doll, will remember her fondly too.
*Musician, songwriter, Chuck Mangione was so enamored by T. J. Robinson's Gingerbread House that he wrote a song about it, the lyrics of which can be read here. (The song mentions her dolls!)
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Unfortunately, I will never have an opportunity to meet or speak with Ms. Robinson, who passed away on June 12, 2011. Patrons of her gingerbread house*, which opened in the mid 1970s and remained open until 2007, will undoubtedly remember her fondly. Those (like me) who own a Gingerbread House Original doll, will remember her fondly too.
*Musician, songwriter, Chuck Mangione was so enamored by T. J. Robinson's Gingerbread House that he wrote a song about it, the lyrics of which can be read here. (The song mentions her dolls!)
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In a Facebook message dated 02/24/19, Noelle Cabral wrote:
Hi so I just stumbled across your Gingerbread House blog and I wanna give u a big virtual hug from Mama TJ. I just know it made her smile in heaven. That style of doll in particular was named Fauna. Fun fact she had mini dolls of herself produced dressed in white lace. It’s been so long, but if I can ever find mine I will send u a picture. I’m her only granddaughter
God Bless LOVED the article, warmed my soul. Thank you
God Bless LOVED the article, warmed my soul. Thank you
So, my doll's name is Fauna.
Wow that was the best story!! All of it. Just to think that there was a whole restaurant that had great food and dolls! That is the best combination ever. So inspiring and so literally fairy tale like. I love all the different articles and info you post, but something about this specific tale really resonated. Thank you Debbie. 😊
ReplyDeleteThank you Julius. I suppose there was a reason for me to share the notification of the upcoming Oakland Festival of Dolls Show information with the FB group members and that reason being for Ms. Hall to read the post and share her experience attending past shows and eating at T. J. Robinson's Gingerbread House. Ms. Robinson's story is a dream come true. That's probably why her story is so fascinating. After I read her delightful story, I knew I must own one of her dolls (even though I don't actively collect this type doll). I wanted one because 1) she made it and 2) it comes with such a rich history. The only thing better would be to have either met Ms. Robinson or visited her establishment. Since neither are possible, I have the next best thing, Tee-Jay.
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My mom made these dolls for Tj. When we were younger we live in Oakland and always come visit Tj and her beautiful and fun gingerbread houses it's like a wonderland I can still taste the delicious juicy cornbread that melts in your mouth . She's our God grandmother. I love her.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing that your mom made dolls for T.J. what is your mom's name?
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