Black Doll Collecting: January 2022

Friday, January 28, 2022

Stranger Appreciation

A Facebook memory

The above screenshot came up in my Facebook memories on 01/27/2022. Reading it made me smile. It serves as confirmation that this blog is serving its intended purpose—sharing the wonderful world of Black-doll collecting (and doll-collecting, in general) with others, even those who aren't particularly interested in dolls.

dbg

There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.
__________
Thank you for reading. Comments that are not spam are appreciated. Spam comments will not be published, so don't waste your time. To contact me directly regarding dolls or any of my posts, please use the contact form on the right of the home page, which is visible in "web view." A link to web viewing should be visible at the bottom of this page.

If you're not already a subscriber, visit, "like" and follow the Black Doll Collecting Facebook page or bookmark the Black Doll Collecting home page and visit on Tuesdays and Thursdays when typically new posts are published.

Check out what I am selling here.
Check out my eBay listings here.
Please follow my sister blog Ebony-Essence of Dolls in Black.
*New*Visit/Follow DeeBeeGee's Virtual Black Doll Museum
Donate here to support this blog. Thank you!

Black Doll Enthusiast

I am a Black-doll enthusiast, doll historian, freelance writer, author of The Definitive Guide to Collecting Black Dolls; Black Dolls: A Comprehensive Guide to Celebrating, Collecting, and Experiencing the Passion; and The Doll Blogs: When Dolls Speak, I Listen.

Founder and curator of DeeBeeGee’s Virtual Black Doll Museum at virtualblackdollmuseum.com Please visit and become a contributing patron. Black dolls are my passion, my drug of choice. They renew my spirit!

Tuesday, January 25, 2022

My Mini-me Doll

Little Debbie was ready to come home.

During the latter part of 2021, I commissioned doll artist, Karen Oyekanmi of Kissing Kousins Dolls to make a felt doll using a picture taken of me at age 3-1/2.

At favorite cousin's birthday party in February 1959

The photo she used is my favorite remaining childhood photo taken at my favorite cousin's 1st birthday party in February 1959. I've always wanted a doll fashioned from this photo, and I chose Karen O. to make it.

Karen sent several photos of the doll before shipping it to me, some of which are shown in the collage photo above.

After the doll arrived, I took the following photos, the captions of which describe my mini-me that Karen appropriately named, Little Debbie.

This is Little Debbie's first picture after I opened the shipping box.

Little Debbie is 20 inches, made of felt, with painted facial features.

My mini-me wears a pastel blue/pink/white plaid dress that has a drawstring neckline and white ribbons at the shoulder closure. The undies match the fabric of the dress. A light blue crinoline half slip, white sandals, and a birthday hat made of the dress fabric accented with pink felt circles and a ribbon tassel complete her costume.

Made from black mohair, the hair is pulled back into a tiny curly pigtail. She holds a wired pink heart in one hand and a blue felt gift box in the other. She also has a K&K hangtag. Little Debbie is able to stand with support or sit as illustrated in this picture.

She has a sweet face that captures the innocence of a 3-1/2-year-old child.

With the picture Little Debbie is fashioned after visible on my monitor, I sat her on my laptop and took this "side-by-side" picture.

This photo was taken from a different angle.

She found a dolly to hold.

Close-up of dolly

These are Little Debbie's toys.

A chipmunk and four miniature brown babies were inside the blue felt gift box. Too cute, right?

Certificate of authenticity

Little Debbie's certificate of authenticity states she is a Kissing Kousins Dolls one-of-a-kind creation handcrafted by artist Karen Oyekanmi. The certificate is signed by the artist and dated January 15, 2022. She shares the same month and day of birth as Dr. Martin Luther King.

I love my mini-me!

About the Artist: Karen Oyekanmi is a professional doll artist and designer with over thirty years experience in the art industry. In 1983, she founded Kissing Kousins Dolls, a nationally recognized company, specializing in handcrafted limited edition dolls. In 1984, Karen founded the American Black Beauty Doll Club, now known as the American Black Beauty Doll Association. It is the oldest Black doll-making organization in America.

Black Doll Enthusiast

Thursday, January 20, 2022

Buy Black Features a Chapter on Black Dolls

Aria S. Halliday, assistant professor in the Department of Gender and Women’s Studies and Program in African American and Africana Studies at the University of Kentucky, has written a book that includes a chapter on Black dolls. "The second chapter is all about Black dolls, including Shindana and Mattel!"—Aria S. Halliday

Buy Black: How Black Women Transformed US Black Culture "examines the role American Black women play in Black consumption in the US and worldwide, with a focus on their pivotal role in packaging Black feminine identity since the 1960s. Through an exploration of the dolls, princesses, and rags-to-riches stories that represent Black girlhood and womanhood in everything from haircare to Nicki Minaj’s hip-hop, Aria S. Halliday spotlights how the products created by Black women have furthered Black women’s position as the moral compass and arbiter of Black racial progress" (University of Illinois Press).

This 216-page book contains 34 color photographs and has a proposed publication date of 03/22/22. It can be preordered now.

In a personal note from the author dated October 14, 2021, Ms. Halliday wrote:

Hi Debbie!
I hope all is well.
I just wanted to say thanks again for your help with my research on Black Barbie! The cover is still being finalized, but the pre-order link for my book Buy Black: How Black Women Transformed US Pop Culture is available now: https://www.press.uillinois.edu/books/?id=83zmd7ed9780252044274
Be well,
Aria

I left this post in draft mode until the cover image was available. Here again, is the buy link. I look forward to receiving my copy.

dbg

There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.
__________
Thank you for reading. Comments that are not spam are appreciated. Spam comments will not be published, so don't waste your time. To contact me directly regarding dolls or any of my posts, please use the contact form on the right of the home page, which is visible in "web view." A link to web viewing should be visible at the bottom of this page.

Check out what I am selling here.
Check out my eBay listings here.
Please follow my sister blog Ebony-Essence of Dolls in Black.
*New*Visit/Follow DeeBeeGee's Virtual Black Doll Museum
Donate here to support this blog. Thank you!

Black Doll Enthusiast

Tuesday, January 18, 2022

Mattel Creations Has Your Doll

Ida B. Wells Barbie is in stock at Mattel Creations.

There is a limit of three. Here is the buy link. Go get your doll!

dbg

There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.

Black Doll Enthusiast

A Special Thank You

Little Miss by Madelyn McCraney of Kuumba Art Design Studio

To thank me for my love and support of her art, I received Little Miss (shown above) from doll artist, Madelyn McCraney. Madelyn's Kuumba Art Design Studio dolls were installed in my virtual black doll museum in October 2021 (see the link at the end of this post).

Little Miss has waist-length black yarn hair.

Little Miss is an 11-inch handmade doll with a wooden head that is faceless. The black waist-length hair is made of yarn. The permanently attached clothing includes a dress made of black leaf-print fabric and an orange felt full-length coat. Little Miss also wears turquoise gloves and a matching turquoise turban accented with a turquoise gemstone over an orange felt circle.

Included with a doll was a beautiful handwritten thank you card wherein Madelyn shared, "I originally created her to teach a group of after school girls. But they couldn't do it. So I make her as my gift of love from God!"

Little Miss has a curvaceous body.

The artist dated and signed the base of the doll.

Curvy Little Miss, the first doll to arrive in 2022 is a beautiful gesture of thanks and will be treasured always.

Madelyn's card also included the following sentiment that really warmed my heart, "Thank you so much! Your love for Black dolls gives my work purpose."

See Madelyn’s virtual Black doll museum installations here.

Visit Kuumba Art Studio Design to see Madelyn's other dolls and art here.

Feeling blessed,

Black Doll Enthusiast

Thursday, January 13, 2022

Mystery French (?) Doll Followup #3

Illustration of an unknown doll purchased in Paris, France in approximately 1976—a doll that could have been made in Italy, Belgium, or another country in close proximity to France

Readers are referred to two previous blog posts written in an attempt to help a Nod Bureau of Investigation (NBI) reporter help a woman identify her childhood doll (based on the illustration above).

The first post about this doll was published on June 1, 2018, where I solicited help from blog readers to help with the doll's ID. That post can be read here.

Then, in August 2018, I published a follow-up post that included a link to a podcast interview of the woman who was seeking the doll's ID. That post can be read here.

Last week, I saw an eBay auction for a male doll that looks quite similar to the illustration of the mystery doll. I emailed the NBI reporter to share the link to the auction hoping the reporter could share it with the woman. My email to the reporter remains unanswered. With the eBay seller's permission (oldmancotton), I am publishing two of the auction photos in hopes that the woman will find this blog post and can determine if the doll in the auction is like the one she owned as a child.

Oldmancotton, an eBay seller offered this doll on eBay.

Full-length view of eBay seller, oldmancotton's doll.

Oldmancotton, the seller, identifies the doll as "Vintage 1950s Brev doll Italy." The doll might have been made later than 1950 and there might have been a female counterpart. The illustrated doll and the actual doll look too similar not to be the same. Additionally, Brev usually is the abbreviation for brevetatto, which means patent in Italian.

I hope the woman sees this post or the eBay auction before it ends.

Black Doll Enthusiast

Tuesday, January 11, 2022

Video: The Lack of Representation of Black Dolls in UK Toy Shops

Illustration of a brown girl in a doll shop gazing at the store's stock of dolls that do not represent her ethnicity.

Press the play arrow to view Cristina Cabral's 01/06/2022 research seminar that discusses the lack of representation of black dolls in UK toy shops.

Black Doll Enthusiast

Saturday, January 8, 2022

Ida B. Wells Barbie 1st Pics, Updated

Ida B. Wells Barbie from the Inspiring Women series

Earlier this week, I called Target, provided the stock number 086-060-126, and the associate found and held the Ida B. Wells Barbie for my brother to pick up for me. These are the first pictures I took.

Except for the hairline shading, which I read can be removed with acetone, I love her.

Before I write a detailed description, I wanted to share this Amazon preorder link with readers who have not located the doll in their areas. Go get your doll!

I'll add a description later.

The later addition:

Several hours have passed since this post was published. Preorders have been exhausted on Amazon. If you desire this doll, use the stock number above and call Target stores in your area to see if the doll is in stock. Most stores have the dolls but are waiting until 1/9/22 to put them on the sales floor. If you ask for it and it's in stock, they'll get it for you if you're shopping in person, or they will hold it for you at the customer service desk.

Additionally, you can visit the Amazon link shared above to see if the doll is restocked. I haven't seen the doll on any other websites, but I would also check other sites such as Walmart.

I have written the doll's installation for DeeBeeGee's Virtual Black Doll Museum. The description that I promised for this post is copied from the description cell of my Excel spreadsheet.

Part of the Inspiring Women Series, Barbie Signature Collection, 11-1/2-inch vinyl doll inspired by journalist, activist, suffragist Ida B. Wells; is not an exact portrait (said by Mattel Creations to use the Ida B. Wells sculpt, sculpted to likeness, but the copyright year is 2011, looks like a modified So in Style Grace/Mbili sculpt); has texturized black hair styled in an upswept bun with an unnecessarily painted hairline, brown painted eyes, closed mouth; dressed in a late 19th century full-length, long-sleeved dark blue two-piece dress with lace-trimmed collar, dark blue lace on the bodice, sleeves, and skirt hemline; black mock-side-button, high-heel ankle boots; holds a Memphis Free Speech newspaper. The box backdrop is an illustration of an office with a typewriter, desk, chair, books and newspapers in a bookcase, and a Memphis Free Speech newspaper wall hanging. Includes a doll stand and certificate of authenticity.

In these Internet-captured photos, Ida B. Wells Barbie is compared with So in Style Grace. Their heads bear the copyright year of 2011. Their noses and mouths are the same shape. Ida's more subtle facial screening and different eye size and shape (achieved with paint), give this doll her unique look. But Mattel calls the sculpt "Ida B. Wells sculpted to likeness." (It does not look like Wells, but ok.)

Additionally, the doll has extra articulation at the elbows, wrists, and knees and uses the Curvy Barbie body that appears to be the same body used for the Maya Angelou Barbie.

See better photos of the doll here where YouLoveIt . com usually adds buy links when they are available.

Good luck finding this doll!

Read the museum installation here.

Update 1/18/22

Mattel Creations has this doll with a limit of three.

Black Doll Enthusiast

Christmas 2021 Dolls Part 5 of 5

The last three Christmas dolls and the last three Christmas cards I received at the time this post was written are shown above.

I received two five-piece, hand-painted, Russian nesting doll sets. These were gifts that I asked two people to buy when they asked me what I wanted. My doll friend, Debra R. buys me the Hallmark Keepsake Barbie ornament each year, which is included in this post.

These are two sets of five handpainted, handmade nesting dolls with Afrocentric painted-on clothing.

The nesting dolls have painted faces and painted long wavy hair. They range in size from 1 inch to 5 inches.

The First Set

This set was a gift from my daughter. Their painted-on headbands match their painted-on clothing.

This is the back of the first set of nesting dolls, also known as
Matryoshka dolls. They have painted black wavy hair.

The Second Set

The second set of nesting dolls was a gift from my friend, Debra R. These dolls have painted-on headdresses that match their yellow Afrocentric clothing.

This set also has painted-on black hair.

2021 Hallmark Keepsake Barbie ornament

7th in the Holiday Barbie Ornament Series, the 2021 Holiday Barbie ornament is 4.6 inches tall, made of plastic, and is a mini version of the 2021 Holiday Barbie.

Dressed in a silver gown with a sculpted and painted bodice, fabric and tulle skirt, this Barbie ornament has black molded braids and painted baby hair. This is the first Holiday Barbie ornament with baby hair and sculpted braids.

This close-up illustrates the details of the hair and face.

I think the ornament looks better than the actual doll, but I usually have an issue with dolls with painted teeth that look like an overbite or that the teeth are resting on the lower lip.

This concludes the separate posts for the dolls I received for Christmas 2021. I had a very good dolly Christmas.

Black Doll Enthusiast

Friday, January 7, 2022

WTOP, Black Enterprise, Ebony

My virtual Black doll museum, DeeBeeGee's Virtual Black Doll Museum, has garnered a significant amount of positive media exposure thanks to an interview by Anchor/Reporter, Stephanie Gaines-Bryant of WTOP News Radio.

Read Gaines-Bryant's WTOP News online article, here. Black Enterprise re-ran the article a day or so later here. If that wasn't enough (there is never enough positive exposure for a woman on a mission to shine a positive light on the significance of Black dolls to boost children's self-awareness and esteem, and for adults to also gain the same positive vibes from three-dimensional inanimate images that are positive representations of themselves), Savannah Taylor of Ebony magazine put her beautiful spin on the story and enhanced the article with lovely vintage photos. Read Ms. Taylor's article here.

So this woman, this Black-doll enthusiast, author, founder and curator of DeeBeeGee's Virtual Black Doll Museum is feeling quite honored by the media coverage. May the exposure continue and awareness heightened that dolls are not just playthings, that there is a host of adult women and men who collect dolls designed for adult collectors, and women like me, who aim to preserve their historical significance. We are here and our dolls are, too.

Black Doll Enthusiast

Christmas 2021 Dolls Part 4 of 5

Melissa Minikane by Paola Reina

I was enabled to ask for this doll for Christmas after receiving a link to the website that sold Melissa Minikane. The link was to another doll, Nora Minikane, with Melissa being a suggested purchase. I already have a different Nora than the one the website offered, but I had been wanting a redheaded Paola Reina doll and had seen this one, dressed differently, over a year ago on Amazon. I was hesitant to buy at that time. Later, when I reconsidered purchasing the Amazon Melissa, the doll was no longer available. As they say, "you snooze, you lose."

But after I was "enabled" by the other collector who was interested in Minikane Nora, I sent my husband Melissa's link and asked him to buy the doll for me for Christmas, and he did.

Melissa wears a pink orchid (mauve) double-gauze cotton dress, white panties, and white slip-on faux leather shoes. I wanted the doll dressed in this yellow dress, but that one was sold out.

Because the dress color is so drab, I looked for something else on hand for Melissa to wear, and I ordered a dress from Etsy on Christmas day. Melissa tried on the following knit fashion that was made to fit Tonner's Lizette. The knit fashion better complements her skin tone, auburn hair color, and gray stationary eyes.

Melissa looks adorable in this knit ensemble of a hat, faux-fur-trimmed top, and pencil skirt.

Melissa strikes a cute pose.

She has such an adorable face with features similar to Kaavia James Union Wade's (Gabrielle Union and Dwayne Wade's daughter).

Lizette's dress looks nice on Melissa, but I decided to enhance her original dress with buttons on the bodice and a pink ribbon waist sash.

Three mauve buttons were sewn to the bodice of the dress as shown.

A pink ribbon waist sash and headband add more enhancements.

In the next photo, Melissa posed with another 13-1/2-inch all-vinyl Paola Reina doll, Maylin, a 2020 Christmas gift.

Maylin and Melissa Minikane

While this post was in draft mode, the dress I ordered from Etsy arrived. It was made for Minikane dolls and uses the same double-gauze cotton fabric.

The light blue color looks better than the pink orchid on Melissa.

I enhanced the blue dress with blue buttons and a pale blue ribbon waist sash and matching headband.

Melissa chose to wear this dress for now.

The last Christmas 2021 dolls or doll items will be featured in part 5.

Black Doll Enthusiast

Thursday, January 6, 2022

Christmas 2021 Dolls Part 3 of 5

Kelsey is a Siblies doll by Ruby Red

By the Sea Maya needed a companion. So, I asked my son to buy Kelsey for me for Christmas and, of course, he did. She is shown still attached to the box liner in the first photograph.

Additional In-the-Box Photos

The top of Kelsey's box reads: Stand ~ Pose ~ Style.

Still attached to the box liner, Kelsey is standing, posing, and styling.

Along with Kelsey, the other Siblies (Bailey, Rory, Sydney, and Callie) are shown on the back of the box.

Kelsey is 12 inches tall and has 9 points of articulation for different standing and sitting poses, as indicated on the back of the box. She has a black non-removable wig with ombre lavender underneath and lavender highlights. Her inset eyes are hazel brown with painted upper eyelashes and eyebrows.

Additional text from the back of the box reads:

Welcome to the world of Siblies!

Siblies are Sisters and Brothers and Besties!!

They love music, dancing, sports, friendship, and fun.

Siblies are 12" tall, are fully posable, and can even stand on their own.

With 9 points of articulation ~ they are ready for any adventure!!

Come celebrate with the Siblies!

Out of the Box Photos

Kelsey wears a black orchid-appliqued T-shirt, white and black orchid shorts, and purple star-printed leggings. She has sparkly purple flats and an orange belly bag.

The Siblies use a Dianna Effner sculpt.

Siblies are distributed by Music City Merchandising, LLC (Nashville, TN) / Leannie Global Limited (Hong Kong).

Kelsey poses with her big sister, By the Sea Maya. Maya is from the Ruby Red Fashion Friends collection and was a UFDC convention exclusive sold by Happily Ever After.

A close-up of Kelsey and Maya illustrates their lovely faces and how well the two display together.

Christmas 2021 dolls will continue in parts 4 and 5.

Black Doll Enthusiast

Pages

Friday, January 28, 2022

Stranger Appreciation

Tuesday, January 25, 2022

My Mini-me Doll

Thursday, January 20, 2022

Buy Black Features a Chapter on Black Dolls

Tuesday, January 18, 2022

Mattel Creations Has Your Doll

A Special Thank You

Thursday, January 13, 2022

Mystery French (?) Doll Followup #3

Tuesday, January 11, 2022

Video: The Lack of Representation of Black Dolls in UK Toy Shops

Saturday, January 8, 2022

Ida B. Wells Barbie 1st Pics, Updated

Christmas 2021 Dolls Part 5 of 5

Friday, January 7, 2022

WTOP, Black Enterprise, Ebony

Christmas 2021 Dolls Part 4 of 5

Thursday, January 6, 2022

Christmas 2021 Dolls Part 3 of 5

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