Thursday, December 28, 2023

Christmas 2023 Doll Gifts

I love beautifully wrapped gifts and these did not disappoint.

Santa and his helpers were very good to me this Christmas.  I believe I received more dolls and doll-related gifts than ever this year thanks to thoughtful friends and family. The dolls shown are listed in the order they were photographed and not necessarily in the order of the person or persons who gave them to me. They know who they are and they know how much I appreciate their generosity. 

This paper was used for one of gifts I received.


Souvenirs

This is a 12-inch Topsy Turvy (reversible) souvenir doll from Antigua. One of my well-traveled doll friends purchased dolls and non-doll souvenirs for me from every place she traveled to this year. This doll from Antigua and the figurine from Puerto Rico are two such gifts.

4-inch sassy lady souvenir from Puerto Rico
Princess Tiana Dolls/Items

Disney Designer Collection Premiere Series Princess and the Frog (Princess Tiana)--the box graphics, the doll, the costume, and the entire presentation are exquisite!

Designer Collection Princess Tiana's box opens up to illustrate a red-carpeted stage on which Princess Tiana stands.


Disney 100 Tiana celebrates Disney's 100th anniversary.

This is a close-up of the lovely Disney 100 Tiana.


Two Princess Tiana ornaments were included in my well-thought-out gifts.

I also received a zippered Princess Tiana pouch.

Barbie and Related Items

2023 Holiday Barbie ornament and 2023 Holiday Barbie doll

The Holiday Barbie ornament is seen in a separate photo.

The lovely 2023 Holiday Barbie represents the 35th anniversary of this doll theme.


Chelsea (Barbie's younger sister) has a wheelchair and stickers to decorate the back of her personalized wheelchair.

One friend heard my desire to own this vintage Barbie in the City tapestry (throw) that I believe was sold through Avon a few years ago. She found one for me and included it with other gifts she sent. :-) 


Not made by Mattel, these Christmas sweater ornaments will fit petite Barbies, Skippers, and similar-size dolls.

More Dolls

Brilliant Girl Sugamama is a relatively new 18-inch doll with an adorable face.

Here is another photo of Sugamama. She'll be back in a separate blog post sometime next year. :-) 

Fresh Beats Loxx Rockstar, created by Dr. Lisa of EPI, is a 10-inch multi-articulated doll with Bantu knots. The back of the box describes Loxx as a second-generation American who is proud of her Afro-Latina heritage.

#20562 Golden Holiday Celebration Wendy by Madame Alexander was introduced in 2022. I am thrilled to add another Holiday Wendy to my collection of several others.

Sasha #518 Little Flower is a non-anatomically correct 1980s, 12-inch all-vinyl baby made by Trendon Toys of Stockport, England for the Sasha doll brand. "From 1970 until 1978 the baby dolls were slightly sexed, the dark and black babies were girls, the blond babies were boys. From 1978 until the closure of the factory in 1986, all babies were unisex." Source: Sasha Baby Trendon


Elf on the Shelf Dolls and Things

I've wanted Elf on the Shelf dolls for several years, but I never expressed this to anyone until this year when one of my longest doll friends asked. She came through with a boy, a girl, and an Elf on the Shelf stocking filled with goodies as illustrated next.

The Elf on the Shelf boy has pink lip color and the ends of his bangs are pointed. Both packages include the children's book, The Elf on the Shelf a Christmas Tradition.

The Elf on the Shelf girl has rounded bangs and darker lip color than the boy.

A change of clothes for The Elf on the Shelf Boy and Girl, a tin of hot chocolate mix, and The World's Smallest Elf on the Shelf figure were included in a colorful Elf on the Shelf knit stocking.

Another Beautiful Gift Box

The Christmas sweater ornaments and Princess Tiana ornaments were packaged in this beautiful gift box.

Doll-wise and otherwise, I had a wonderful Christmas. I hope you did, too, and I hope blessings will flow in your direction in 2024.


©Black Doll Collecting/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
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*New*Visit/Follow DeeBeeGee's Virtual Black Doll Museum
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Thursday, December 21, 2023

Doll Purchases in Review 8

eBay doll purchases from August 15, 2021, through December 22, 2021

There appears to have been a lull in my eBay doll and doll-related purchases after August 15, 2021, as indicated by the dates of the above purchases.

1950s Athena-marked, Fata, Milano-tagged Hard Plastic Flirty-Eyed Doll

The August 15, 2021, purchase of the above 1950s hard plastic doll made in Italy was refunded because it arrived without pupils. The seller issued a refund for that reason and allowed me to keep it. I fabricated eyes for the doll as documented in a blog post here.


19-inch vintage Heidi Ott doll

Because of its realistic facial sculpt, this doll by Heidi Ott had been on my doll wishlist for a while until this one was found. As I documented here, I was horrified and disgusted after the doll arrived.

I needed black leggings for an outfit creation for one of my dolls and found a pair on eBay in this auction that ended on October 28, 2021.

Girly Fashion Doll Kayla is the doll that needed black leggings as described here.


Play Wonder Layla is an 18-inch doll by Madame Alexander.

I was contacted through this blog by a woman who lived outside the U.S. and desired but could not bid on the above auction for Play Wonder Layla by Madame Alexander. The eBay seller only shipped to U.S. addresses. I could sense from our email communication that this woman truly desired the doll and needed my help in acquiring it. After we agreed upon the details of my bidding and winning on her behalf, I did, in fact, win this auction and shipped the doll to her after the U.S. seller shipped it to me. All was well that ended well after an extended wait for the eBay seller to ship the doll to me and for the buyer to confirm receipt of the doll. 


Links to Previous Posts in This Series About Past Doll Purchases

©Black Doll Collecting/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!

Tuesday, December 19, 2023

Doll Purchases in Review 7

The above dolls were purchased on eBay between August 9, 2021, and August 15, 2021.

This is a Rheinische Gummi und Celluloid-Fabrik, circa 1920 baby.

The above 16-inch celluloid character baby boy with brown intaglio eyes, black sculpted and painted straight hair, arrived from Bournemouth, England wearing a white knit undershirt, a light blue hand-knit romper, and white nylon socks. The facial sculpt (which was used for both white and black dolls) and the intaglio eyes interested me. The period in which it was made was also a deciding factor for adding it to my collection. See his museum installation here.

Dollie & Me AA Denim

It had been my desire to add one of each Madame Alexander's 18-inch doll sculpts to my collection. This doll completed that attempt. This doll was a Kohl's exclusive and received the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Best Toy Award for the year it was released. The copyright year on the box reads 2119; it should read 2019. This error might make the doll and the box more valuable on the secondary market. She is a keeper for me, however. This doll was first introduced in a blog post here. It is also installed in my Virtual Black Doll Museum along with other 18-inch Madame Alexander dolls here.


Fashionista Barbie 105

After using my first Fashionista Barbie 105 for a doll Christmas tree dress project in 2020, I replaced the doll with this August 15, 2021, eBay purchase. It took me a while to replace the doll that was released in 2018 because prices on the secondary market were as much as $40 for a doll that originally cost $10. This doll, because of its damaged box was only $12 + shipping. View the doll Christmas tree Dress blog post here


Links to Previous Posts in This Series About Past Doll Purchases


©Black Doll Collecting/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!

Thursday, December 14, 2023

It Looks a Lot Like Christmas

An Advent Nutcracker Santa lets us know as of today, there are 11 days 'til Christmas.

I began decorating early this year, the earliest that I recall ever decorating for Christmas.

It was the day after Thanksgiving when I retrieved a 5-ft cone-shaped pop-up Christmas tree and a few other decorations from the shed. Most of the other decorations are kept inside in my "Christmas decorations" closet which also serves as a coat closet.

A table of Santas (click or stretch to enlarge this and other photos)

This year's theme is Black Santas. From my Black Santa collection, I chose Santas with accompanying children or dolls and placed these on my formal dining room table as illustrated above. A few other Santas are in other areas of the house as well. Individual pictures of some of the table Santas are shown next:

One of my oldest Possible Dreams Santas is from 1993. He holds a doll in his left hand (on the right of the photo), and I added a mini Bratz doll for him to hold (on the left). In the back and to the left is Lighting the Way Santa. I placed a miniature doll into this Santa's bag.

Giddy Up Santa is another Possible Dreams Santa with a child in tow. The child is playing giddy-up horsie.

Night Before Christmas Santa is a vintage (1990s) Possible Dreams Santa. He is reading "The Night Before Christmas" to a little boy seated before him on a gift box.
 
Thank you Santa bends over to read the little girl's "Thank you" note. He has a doll for her.

Twinkle Twinkle Musical Santa includes a baby in a cradle. The cradle plays Twinkle Twinkle Little Star.

Daddy's Long Legs Santas

My two Daddy's Long Legs (DLL) Santas are also part of this year's Christmas decor because they are among my favorite and largest Santas. Unfortunately, I have somehow misplaced the 1996 DLL Santa's hat and bag of toys. Hopefully, I will find these later.

Next, I redressed a few of my dolls in Christmas clothes as illustrated below.

1940s Mama doll and Jamilla by Wendy Lawton

A 1940s composition Mama doll and Jamilla by Wendy Lawton are usually the first dolls I redress annually for Christmas. This year that tradition did not change. Jamilla, however, is usually held by Himstedt’s Matoka when dressed for Christmas or when dressed in her original clothes. The Mama doll holds her for the first time this year.

Jamilla is seen in a close-up photo.


Cecelie by Heidi Plusczok is dressed for Christmas and holds a paper doll of Gladys MacDowell's doll, Tuesday.

Curly Girls United, Honey, wears antler barrettes. She holds a resin ornament dressed in a reindeer costume complete with antlers, too.

Elle, Tamika, and Jon are ready for an Ugly Christmas Sweater Party. It is Tamika's opinion, however, that her hooded sweater "isn't ugly!"

Create Your Dream Doll, Mila, wears a Santa jacket dress while decorating a mini Christmas tree.

I created and ordered two different batches of Christmas cards using photos of dolls that were at my mother's house that had been dressed for Christmas a few Christmases ago. The Christmas cards were mailed to family and friends last week. 

This is a draft of the front of a Christmas card order that I did not purchase. These same dolls, however, were used on the Christmas cards that I ordered and mailed.

There are currently 11 more days before Christmas. I hope everyone enjoys a stress-free holiday season and that all who celebrate will have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. 



©Black Doll Collecting/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!

Tuesday, December 12, 2023

Meet Jazzy

Jazzy by Gloria Y. Rone

Jazzy is a 14-inch one-of-a-kind painted cloth doll by Gloria Y. Rone. When I saw Gloria's Facebook post about Jazzy's availability last week, I knew I had to make her mine. 

Right in time for the Christmas season, Jazzy wears a gingerbread boy and girl printed dress. Read more about Jazzy here where she is permanently installed in Dee Bee Gee's Virtual Black Doll Museum.

Read more about Gloria and some of her dolls at the following links to previous blog posts.






Of note... Jazzy also came with a surprise gift from Gloria who is always so thoughtful and generous to me. Jazzy is seen with a handmade polymer clay angel that has Psalm 118:24 printed on the front of its stocking body.


This angel was a surprise gift from Gloria.

Jazzy and the polymer clay angel.

Close-up of the angel's stocking body.

©Black Doll Collecting/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!