Black Doll Collecting: February 2023

Tuesday, February 28, 2023

Ideal's Kissy A Dye and Paint Job Redone

A dyed and painted Kissy by Ideal

During the late-1990s, I pined for a non-existent 22-inch Black Kissy by Ideal. After realizing that one was never made, I decided to dye a white Kissy. Before dyeing the doll, I did not realize that hard or rigid plastics would not absorb regular Rit clothing dye. At one point, I was going to sell the doll as is. I did regretfully sell the original clothes and shoes and stored the unstrung doll that I had experimented on.

Watch the video to see what I did with the doll almost 25 years after my failed attempt at dyeing it.

Read more about the different versions of Ideal's Kissy doll here, none of which were Black.

©Black Doll Collecting/dbg

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

__________

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Thursday, February 23, 2023

More Impressive Fashions by Shasarignis

This post showcases additional hand-sewn clothes for both male and female playscale fashion dolls by Shasarignis. If you like what you see in this post and in my previous and/or subsequent posts about the designer, please visit Shasarignis' social media site links at the end of this post to offer encouragement and support for the creativity involved.

Mix and match athleisure pieces by Shasarignis; the long pants are detailed with a linear silver metal strip along one pant leg.

See the pants detailing better on Shasarignis' models here.

Fashionista Ken #162, Emoji Fun Barbie, and So in Style Darren model athleisure pieces that can be mixed and matched.

Not only does she sew, but Shasarignis also knits playscale fashions as well.

Fab Fringe Barbie models the knit sweater and matching scarf.

This maxi-length black knit coat has many appealing features.

Worn with other pieces and modeled by Fab Fringe, this coat has a wide lapel collar.

It has three-quarter-length sleeves and two appealing side slits.

One of the side slits is illustrated in this close-up.

Here is another full-length view from a side angle...

... and a full-length view from the other side. Can you tell that this is one of my favorite pieces?

Both side slits and the wide collar are visible in this view from the back.

That's it for now. More hand-sewn (no sewing machine used) pieces by Shasarignis will follow. See my previous post here if you missed it.

Visit Shasarignis' Instagram page, blog, and YouTube channel where her fashions are modeled by other dolls in still photos and stop-motion animated videos.

©Black Doll Collecting/dbg

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

__________

Tuesday, February 21, 2023

Impressive Fashions by Shasarignis

Sewing was never an acquired talent for me. The extent of my sewing is hemming and mending by hand. To machine sew requires skill. To sew garments by hand with such precision that they appear machine sewn is skillful genius that few people possess.

Shasarignis is among those who can sew by hand with such precision.

Recently, I received several samples of her designs for mostly playscale dolls that I will feature in a few blog posts. This is the first of the planned posts.

Exercise leotards, headbands, leggings, and open-finger gloves are shown here.

These three outfits and the silver lamé bodysuit and leggings in the photo immediately below rewind back to the 1980s "Let's Get Physical" era when donning exercise leotards, leggings, headbands, and wristbands and/or fingerless gloves was the trend.

A silver lamé bodysuit and leggings are shown here. (All of the bodysuits can be worn with other clothing items.)

These dolls model four different bodysuits and accessories.

Fab Fringe Tall Barbie models the pink stripe bodysuit and lavender mesh top, fingerless gloves, and leggings while Janay models the pink bodysuit worn with a Barbie logo'd top, headband, and leggings.

This close-up of the fingerless gloves illustrates the thumb section they include.

Emoji Fun Barbie wears the silver lamé bodysuit and leggings. A rope-belted yellow bodysuit and matching headband are modeled by Teen Nikki.

Many of the pieces from Shasarignis can be mixed and matched. For example, the pale lavender mesh top can be worn with the silver lamé bodysuit or the pink bodysuit as illustrated in the next two photos.

The lavender mesh top is worn with the silver bodysuit here and...

...with the pink bodysuit and pink striped leggings here.

These two bodysuits can also be worn with other Shasarignis fashions as illustrated next.

The pink bodysuit can be worn with a pink pantsuit sewn by Shasarignis (see it modeled a few pictures below). The silver bodysuit pairs well with silver lamé pants, but the pants also have a separate strapless top as illustrated next.

A strapless top, modeled below, was made to be worn with silver lamé pants.

Fab Fringe wears the silver lamé pants ensemble. (These pants can be worn with the silver lamé bodysuit, but that combination is not shown here.)

The pink pantsuit and pink bodysuit are modeled by Janay, who holds a Barbie Hello Kitty shoulder bag and wears black ankle boots.

Still wearing the pink pantsuit and body suit, Janay went for the monochromatic look by adding pink high-heel sandals and discarding the Hello Kitty bag.

This silver lamé gown is beautiful.

The final fashion piece in this post is a silver lamé strapless gown modeled above by Barbie Looks Model 10. Doesn't she look stunning?

I appreciate the attention to detail in these fashions. The use of snaps, hook-and-eye closures, and even zippers makes them look like mini replicas of adult fashions and very reminiscent of the 1960s Barbie fashions I owned as a child. None of these pieces use Velcro!

The Shasarignis label adds a special distinguishing feature to these fashions.

Several of the pieces bear the Shasarignis label, too, which adds to their appeal.

Additional Shasarigns designs will be the focus of subsequent blog posts. Stay tuned.

In the meantime, visit Shasarignis' Instagram page, blog, and YouTube channel where these and other pieces are modeled by other dolls in still photos and stop-motion animated videos.

Thank you, again, Shasarignis for your generous gift!

Related Links:

More Impressive Fashions by Shasarignis

©Black Doll Collecting/dbg

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

__________

Thursday, February 16, 2023

Do You Like/Love Baby Dolls?

The Official Journal of the United Federation of Doll Clubs Doll News Winter 2023

The theme of the Winter 2023 issue of UFDC's Doll News is baby dolls. I contributed an article which is published in this issue. Would you like a copy? I have extra copies, one of which is currently on eBay here.

The Official Journal of the United Federation of Doll Clubs Doll News Winter 2021

One of my edited articles for Doll News written about the exquisite doll artistry of Goldie Wilson was published in the Winter 2021 issue. It is also on eBay, here.

Either or both of these can be purchased directly from me, and I will autograph them by request. Postage for one or both is flat rate USPS priority mail which is around $8.

Email me if you'd like to purchase one or both. Thanks!

©Black Doll Collecting/dbg

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

__________

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

Barbie Looks 2023

Barbie Looks 2023 #14

Barbie Looks #14 was unavailable at the time I realized the listing was up on Amazon. I'll keep checking. Some of the others are also unavailable, but a few were available at the time of this post.

NOTE: Be sure the doll you cart is sold by Amazon and not an independent seller. The price should be around $22 for all of these. If it is more than that, you're purchasing from an independent seller, which is okay if you want to pay more.

**********

Lee-Lee is a Leo-Moss-Inspired doll by Tutu, donated to DeeBeeGee's Virtual Black Doll Museum specifically for this special doll waffle.

Reminder: For US residents only, until February 28, 2023, slots for the Leo-Moss-inspired doll waffle are still available. At the link below, click "see more" and scroll down. Choose an available slot number. Follow the PayPal link to pay $25 and include the slot number you are purchasing in the memo/note section on PayPal and complete the payment. After I know your slot number, your name will be added to your selected slot. Be sure to choose a slot number that doesn't have a name filled in.

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=600723612065988&set=a.488032733335077

Thanks and good luck!

©Black Doll Collecting/dbg

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

__________

Tuesday, February 14, 2023

Madame Alexander's Pocahontas Redressed

A former Madame Alexander mystery doll

In 2009, I found a 14-inch all-vinyl mystery doll by Madame Alexander on eBay for $20 + shipping. Neither the seller nor I knew the doll's identity. The seller made the doll's red and white striped dress, white satin panties, added vintage-style white socks, and Mary-Jane-style dark red shoes.

I was writing my second book when the mystery doll arrived. Because that book allowed dolls in my collection to tell their stories of provenance and share their experiences as chosen dolls in my collection, the mystery doll was allowed to blog her experience as follows in a few entries:

Sunday, April 26, 2009

For Debbie, I am a mystery doll. I am one of the 3 or 4 dolls she won on eBay last week. The seller described me as having been redressed and probably being a more recently made doll by Madame Alexander. Debbie watched the auction until the final day and placed the winning bid. I arrived yesterday, but Debbie did not know I was here until today. I sat outside on her front porch until this afternoon after Debbie and her husband returned from an outing. After she opened my box, she examined me and discovered the marks, Alexander 19©72 [1973], on my head and, Alexander, on my back. Surprisingly, my body is the soft rubbery vinyl the company used for the 1970s Leslie doll. I, however, am 3 inches (7.62cm) shorter than Leslie. All this information—my height of 14 inches (35.56cm), my back marks, and the fact that I was redressed was included in the eBay description.

Debbie used several doll reference books to try to identify me today. She could not find a doll like me in any of her books. The only thing she determined is that my face mold is called “Louisa.” Madame Alexander used my face on dolls in the “First Ladies” series of dolls that were made in the 1970s. Of course, none of the first ladies back then were African American, and because of my hairstyle of two Pocahontas-style braids, I must have been fashioned as a little girl doll. Debbie sent the following email to the eBay seller:

Hi Sharon,

My mystery doll arrived yesterday. The poor baby had to sleep outside all night on the porch. I thought my husband brought the mail in yesterday. Therefore, I didn't check the box or my porch for packages. We returned from an outing this afternoon and I discovered the box on the porch in a basket I keep there. I love her. She is a really nice doll. Can you tell me where you acquired her? Was she part of your collection or did you purchase her elsewhere? Was she nude when purchased? I apologize for so many questions, but I like to know as much information/history about my dolls as possible. Thanks, Sharon!

Debbie wonders whether or not I am a prototype of a doll intended for manufacture that never was manufactured. Hmmm…

Until further information surfaces, I remain,

Debbie’s Mystery Madame Alexander Doll

******

Pocahontas from the Storyland series #24613 by Madame Alexander (photo courtesy of eBay seller chuckdav)

Sunday, April 26, 2009

I did not think I would have another entry so soon, but the second that Debbie typed the name, “Pocahontas,” she thought maybe that’s who I am. She conducted an Internet search and found a page with a thumbnail picture that looks like me dressed in Native American garb. The description and Debbie’s picture of the picture are below:

14" Storyland “POCAHONTAS” Original issue #24613 with labeled box and wrist tag. She is so pretty in her original long skirt, suede fringe jacket and turquoise belt and tan lace-up boots. Her value is $90.00

This information was dated 04/17/2007. The described doll sold in an eBay auction. Debbie thinks she may have solved the mystery. She hopes to hear from the seller soon. Either way, Pocahontas, or mystery doll, I will remain African American in Debbie's Collection.

Pensively,

Debbie's Mystery Madame Alexander Doll

******

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Debbie received the following reply from my eBay seller:

Hi Debbie, I'm so glad you like the doll. I thought she was a really nice quality made doll. I did find her at a resale shop and she was nude. I used to collect dolls and I surely would have kept this one, but I am selling most of my collection now, since we are in retirement and downsizing. I just don't have the room for my doll collection… Sharon

Debbie concludes that I was probably manufactured as Pocahontas by Madame Alexander. She has named me Louisa Pocahontas or Louisa P, for short. She plans to allow me to continue wearing the dress she believes the eBay seller lovingly sewed for me.

Fondly,

Louisa P.

******

eBay seller, chuckdav's pristine Pocahontas is seen in a closeup of the face.

Some 14 years after Louisa P. arrived, I continue to believe she is Pocahontas from the Storyland series, stock #24613. I also still believe she was a great find.

Recently, a member of my doll group shared a picture of a similar-looking doll and wanted to know her doll's ID. I shared that I believe that her doll, too, is a redressed Pocahontas.

The group member thanked me and wrote,

Since you collect for the history of dolls, I would love to donate her... Let me know if you’re interested.

Of course, I was interested, and Louisa P. #2 arrived swiftly. The girls took the following photographs alone, together, and with other Madame Alexander dolls.

Louisa P. #2

Close-up of Louisa P. #2

The two girls posed together for a full view and...

... for a close-up headshot. The headshot illustrates their different eye colors. Either Alexander used two brands of eyes for the Pocahontas dolls or some of the dolls' eyes turned amber. I have seen online images of Pocahontas with both dark brown and amber eyes.

The two Louisa P. dolls are joined by Madame Alexander Stilettos Sami (dark hair) and Keke (the redhead), and an FAO Schwarz Doll Factory doll. The Doll Factory doll wears the original fashion of Madame Alexander's 10-inch Hannah Pepper.

Thank you again Patricia L. for sending Louisa P. #2 to me.

__________

Below is another reminder about Lee-Lee (a Leo Moss-inspired doll by TUTU.

If you're a US resident, your chance to win Lee-Lee is here (through the end of February).

View a short video of Lee-Lee shared by the artist, TUTU, below.

©Black Doll Collecting/dbg
There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.

__________

Donate here to support this blog. Thank you!

Thursday, February 9, 2023

As We See Ourselves Doll Exhibit

A member of Charm City Dolling Club of Maryland posted the above image and indented text regarding the club's month-long Black doll exhibit, As We See Ourselves.

FYI - For Black History Month, the Miller Branch of the Howard County Library System asked my doll club, the Charm City Dolling Club, to create a Black Doll Exhibit that will be on view for the entire month of February. The exhibit will feature many genres of dolls and is quite interesting and educational about the history of Black dolls.

On Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023, we are presenting a Black Doll program that will include Janice Greene, a Griot for the state of Maryland, who will do an enactment of Harriet Tubman. The program will also feature Goldie Wilson, a recognized Black doll artist, a doll talk by committee chairperson, Deborah Johnson, and comments from Barbara Stone, a representative from the United Federation of Doll Clubs. See the flyer [above] for details. Hope that you come to enjoy the exhibit and/or the program and discover the interesting world of Black Doll Collecting!

Members of the club were interviewed recently on WJZ's Where's Marty? about the exhibition. View two segments of the interview below.

So, if you're in the Maryland area, plan to visit the exhibit during the month of February or attend the February 11, 2023, program. See the program schedule and further details on the flyer.

©Black Doll Collecting/dbg

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

__________

Tuesday, February 7, 2023

Heidi Ott Little Ones

12-inch vinyl doll with stockinette body
by Heidi Ott, circa late 1990s

This is the second doll to arrive in 2023. I've vowed to decrease my doll purchases this year due to lack of space, but I'm sure there will be a few desires and must-haves like this doll (and the re-imagined Disney princesses).

The Heidi Ott doll, offered on eBay in a best-offer auction, tempted me to submit a best offer, which was accepted. I know she is probably one of the later 1990s-released Little Ones, because her hang tag reads "Made in China," but I do not know her name.

The unknown girl is shown with Charlie, another Heidi Ott Little Ones collection doll.

This doll shares the same head sculpt as Charlie, but Charlie was most likely an earlier release. His hang tag and my other Little Ones' hang tags do not have "Made in China" on them.

Unlike the other Little Ones, this doll wears socks and shoes. The others have bare feet.

A different eBay seller of an identical doll indicated the doll was originally sold on the shopping channel, QVC. I have not been able to substantiate this. The other seller also did not provide the doll's name.

I have a Virtual Black Doll Museum installation in draft mode that will include details about each Little Ones doll I own. If anyone knows this doll's name, please share it as a comment, and I will include the name in the museum post.

Thank you in advance and don't forget about the opportunity to win Lee-Lee (only if you are a US resident).

If you are a US resident, your opportunity to win Lee-Lee is here.

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

__________

Friday, February 3, 2023

The CreativeSoul Collection Update

Reimagined Disney princesses by CreativeSoul

This collection of reimagined Disney Princess dolls will be available at shopdisney.com today, February 3, 2023. Here is the direct link.

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Lee-Lee is a Leo-Moss-inspired doll by Leasa Tutu Souza.

If you are a U.S. resident, don't forget about your chance to win Lee-Lee. See the details here.

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

__________

Wednesday, February 1, 2023

Leo-Moss-Inspired Doll Waffle

Lee-Lee is a 17-inch one-of-a-kind Leo-Moss-inspired doll by Leasa Tutu Souza.

Update: At the suggestion of one participant and the artist, because all waffle slots have not been purchased, the waffle is extended through the end of March. This will be the only extension for a chance to win a Leo-Moss-inspired doll by purchasing a numbered slot or slots for only $25 each.

The doll, shown above, was donated to DeeBeeGee's Virtual Black Doll Museum by doll artist, Leasa Tutu Souza to support the museum's ongoing mission of creating an online database of antique, vintage, modern, and one-of-a-kind Black dolls.

Tutu spends countless hours on each doll she makes to perfect the hair, facial features, skin tones, and added extras to create one-of-a-kind Leo-Moss-inspired dolls. The demand and completed auction prices of her dolls are steadily increasing; they usually sell for thousands. Doll collectors worldwide are aware of how much original Leo Moss dolls command. I am deeply honored by Tutu's gracious donation to the museum.

The opportunity for a collector to own one of Tutu's dolls for a mere fraction of the cost is now available through this doll waffle.

About the One-of-a-Kind Art Doll:

Name: Lee-Lee (named after Leo Moss)
Height: 17 inches
Lee-Lee has a papier-mache-sculpted head, glass eyes from Germany, an aged brown cloth body, and painted composition arms and legs. The doll is dressed in period-appropriate clothing, socks, and shoes.
Lee-Lee is a permanent (virtual) installation in DeeBeeGee's Virtual Black Doll Museum, which gives the winner bragging rights.

How the waffle works:

Requirements: Because the museum will pay to ship the doll to U.S. addresses only,

1) You must reside within the United States to participate.

2) You must pay for a slot before your name is added to it.

3) Follow DeeBeeGee's Virtual Black Doll Museum's Facebook page and subscribe to the website.

If you are not already a subscriber of DeeBeeGee's Virtual Black Doll Museum, go to the website:
http://virtualblackdollmuseum.com
Scroll down to the bottom of the page and enter your email address into the "subscribe" box.

Follow the museum's Facebook page, which is where a numbered slot list will be posted and updated and where a live randomly picked winning number will be announced.

There will be 45 numbered slots sold at $25.00 each. Each purchaser will choose an available slot number or slot numbers (if purchasing more than one slot), submit the payment of $25.00 for each purchased slot to Paypal using this link, and include the slot number(s) desired and your name in the Paypal notes or memo section. When all slots (45) have been purchased on or before March 31, 2023, a live random number will be chosen and the holder of that number will win the doll. Disclaimer: You are purchasing a chance to win the doll. There can be only one winner, but everyone who participates is investing in black-doll history and documentation. Refunds are not applicable after all 45 slots are purchased because there will be one guaranteed winner at that time.

If all slots are not purchased by March 31, 2023, purchasers will be refunded the exact amounts submitted through Paypal.

Slots are posted on the museum's Facebook page and will appear as illustrated below before they are purchased:

1. ________

2. ________

3. ________

4. ________

5. ________

6. ________

7. ________

8. ________

9. ________

10. ________

11. ________

12. ________

The slot numbers will continue through 45. Purchasers will select the desired numbered slot(s) at the time of purchase and note which slot is being purchased in the notes or memo section on Paypal.

Each time a slot is purchased, the slot list will be modified to include that person's name as illustrated below.

1. ________

2. Jane Smith paid (example only)

3. ________

4. ________

5. ________

6. John Show paid (example only)

7. ________

8. Jane Smith paid (example only)

9. ________

10. S. Jones paid (example only)

11. ________

12. ________

(In the above example, Jane Smith doubled her chances to win by purchasing two slots.)

Modification of the list with names associated with paid slots will continue through line 45.

Announcement of the Winner

After 45 slots are purchased, a random number picker with numbers 1-45 entered in it will be activated in a *live Facebook post with all participants notified of the date and time that the live will take place. The notification will also be made on the museum's Facebook page in a Facebook post.

*A "live" is a real-time video, not a prerecorded one. All participants are invited to go to the museum's Facebook page on the date and time of the scheduled live to view it "live."

The person who holds the randomly picked number will win the Leo-Moss-inspired doll, Lee-Lee, and will be contacted using the email account through which the slot was purchased through Paypal. The doll will be shipped to the U.S. address provided by Paypal. So make sure your Paypal address is up to date. The winning number will also be posted on the Facebook page of the museum.

View a video of Lee-Lee's unboxing here.

Good luck to all participants and thank you again, Tutu, for your generous donation. (The slots are here.)

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

__________

Pages

Tuesday, February 28, 2023

Thursday, February 23, 2023

Tuesday, February 21, 2023

Thursday, February 16, 2023

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

Tuesday, February 14, 2023

Thursday, February 9, 2023

Tuesday, February 7, 2023

Friday, February 3, 2023

Wednesday, February 1, 2023