In South Central Los Angeles, California, the intersection between Central Avenue and 61st Street, the location of the Shindana Doll Factory, was officially renamed Shindana Toys Square on February 12, 2026.
The dedication ceremony for the new honorary street sign took place to honor the legacy of Shindana Toys, a trailblazing company that produced ethnically correct Black dolls and toys in the area during a pivotal chapter in Los Angeles history.
Founded in 1968 as a division of Operation Bootstrap, the factory served as the central manufacturing hub for what became the world's largest Black-owned toy company. Baby Nancy was Shindana's first doll.
Read and view more about this honor and Shindana Toys at the following links:
There are countless items to collect and write about. Black dolls chose me.
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Visit and follow DeeBeeGee's Virtual Black Doll Museum for detailed installations of antique, vintage, modern, and one-of-a-kind black dolls.
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Barbies and other dolls from the collection of Lisa Jacobs-Watson
If you are in the Buffalo, NY area or plan to be in the area before the end of this month, the annual Black Doll Exhibit curated by Lisa Jacobs-Watson is open at the Buffalo Museum of Science through February 28, 2026.
Address:
Buffalo Museum of Science
1020 Humboldt Parkway
Buffalo, NY 14211
Phone:
(716) 896-5200
Read more about the exhibit here and about the curator here.
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All photos and text are copyrighted and cannot be used elsewhere unless permission is granted by the author.
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 Spam comments will not be published. To contact me directly, go to the About page (visible in the web view mode); find and use the email link.
Visit and follow DeeBeeGee's Virtual Black Doll Museum for detailed installations of antique, vintage, modern, and one-of-a-kind black dolls.
http://virtualblackdollmuseum.com
Made of hard plastic in England for the British market, this 1950s 12-inch Rosebud Baby looks like she's whole, but her head rests on top of her body, and her arms and legs are quite loose, as illustrated in the video below.
I used forceps and elastic cord, cut to fit, to restring Rosebud
After undressing Rosebud, I snapped the above photo and watched the following restringing video tutorial to refresh my how-to restring memory.
Following the video illustration, the head and arms were restrung first using one long doubled elastic cord to first reattach the head after which the legs were reattached using the same elastic cord.
The arms were reattached last.
Before restringing began, I hand washed Rosebud Baby's dress and matching panties. This is when I discovered an Amanda Jane B12 cloth label attached to the inside back of the dress. Amanda Jane, Ltd. was a manufacturer of high-end doll clothes and later dolls. In the world of vintage British toys, discovering an Amanda Jane tag on a Rosebud doll's clothes is a bit like finding a vintage designer label on a classic mannequin.
After restringing and redressing, I used OpenAI to place a photo of Rosebud Baby in a 1950s nursery setting and to gather additional details about the company.
Rosebud is in a 1950s nursery setting, which is appropriate for her time of manufacture.
Origin and the "Rosebud" Name
The Rosebud Doll Company has a fascinating history that
perfectly matches the era of the nursery setting when the company was at
its peak.
Founder: The company was started by Eric Smith in
1947. It was originally the brand name for Nene Plastics Ltd, based in Raunds,
Northamptonshire, England.
The Name:Legend has it that the name was inspired by a
schoolgirl visiting the factory. When asked what she liked most about a doll,
she remarked on its "rosebud lips." Eric Smith registered the
trademark shortly after.
Evolution of Materials and Fashions
Late 1940s: The first dolls were made of composition (a
mixture of sawdust and glue).
Early 1950s (my doll's era): Rosebud became pioneers in hard plastic moulding. These dolls
were famous for their "sleeping eyes" (which closed when laid down)
and hand-painted features.
Mid-1950s (1954 onwards): Rosebud was one of the first
British companies to move into vinyl and polythene, which allowed for
"rooted hair" rather than the moulded hair or wigs seen on earlier
models.
Fashions: Rosebud was known for high-quality, detailed
clothing. They frequently partnered with women’s magazines of the time to
provide knitting and sewing patterns so children (and parents) could make
custom outfits for their dolls. (As indicated, my doll wears an Amanda Jane fashion.) Amanda Jane outfits were often sold in high-end department stores like Harrods and Hamleys. They were frequently displayed on "counter cards"—stiff cardboard stands with a doll wearing a featured outfit. The floral print on my doll's dress is very characteristic of the 1950s "Liberty-style" prints that were popular in the UK. The yellow, red, and blue floral dress is a classic example of the high-quality, dense cotton prints Amanda Jane was famous for. The molded blue shoes are also a great indicator of the transition from the soft "booties" of the 40s to the more structured plastic accessories of the 50s. (My doll's shoes are marked "Cinderella," another British manufacturer of doll clothing and accessories.)
Cultural Impact
The Black Rosebud: In the 1950s, Rosebud produced a variety of dolls in different ethnicities, though the Black versions are considered much rarer and highly sought after by collectors today.
Marks
"Rosebud" is in raised cursive letters on the back of my doll's head. In block letters on the upper back is, MADE IN ENGLAND. The head mark is the classic "signature" of an authentic doll. According to Open AI, "Finding that cursive Rosebud script on the back of the head is
like finding a painter's signature on a canvas—it confirms your doll is a
genuine product of the Raunds or Wellingborough factories."
What Those Markings Indicate:
The
Cursive Script: This specific font was used prominently during the late
1940s and throughout the 1950s. In later years, as the company moved
toward mass production and after the 1967 Mattel merger, outlined below, the branding often shifted
to a more standardized block-lettering style.
The
"MADE IN ENGLAND" stamp: During the post-WWII era, Britain
had an "Export or Die" policy to rebuild the economy.
High-quality toys were a major part of that effort. The stamp
on the upper back is typical for the assembly style of the time, where the
torso and head were molded separately.
The Mattel Era and Marks
In 1967, the company was bought by the American giant Mattel (the makers of Barbie). For a few years, dolls were marked as "Rosebud Mattel," but by the early 1970s, the "Rosebud" name was largely phased out as Mattel consolidated its brands.
The Amanda Jane & Rosebud Connection
The "Haute Couture" of Dolls: While Rosebud (Nene
Plastics) was a giant in doll manufacturing, Amanda Jane Ltd (founded in 1952)
was the premier specialist in doll fashions. They didn't even start making
their own dolls until later; for the first several years, they exclusively
produced high-end, "Made in England" outfits designed to fit the most
popular dolls of the day—especially Rosebud, Pedigree, and Roddy.
The "Undressed" Market: In the 1950s, it was very
common for dolls to be sold "nude" or in just a simple diaper/shift.
This allowed parents to buy a high-quality doll at a lower price point and then
either sew clothes themselves or treat the child to a "boutique"
outfit from a company like Amanda Jane.
Department Store Sets: Upscale stores like Hamleys or
Selfridges often sold "layette sets" where they would take a Rosebud
doll and pair it with a boxed set of Amanda Jane clothing.
Cracking the "B12" Code (on the dress tag):
The "B12" on the tag is a very helpful clue. In
Amanda Jane's cataloging system: "B" almost always stood for "Baby"
(referring to the style of the garment—baby dolls vs. fashion dolls).
"12" referred to the size in inches. Since many classic Rosebud dolls were exactly 12 inches
tall, this dress was specifically manufactured to fit my doll's frame.
Open AI's Summary
Your doll was likely a "Sunday Best" upgrade.
Whether the original owner bought her undressed and chose this specific Amanda
Jane outfit, or she was redressed later by a collector with an eye for quality,
she is wearing what was considered the gold standard for British doll clothing
in the 1950s.
The fact that the dress is still with the doll and the tag
is intact is a great sign that she was well-loved and carefully preserved!
It’s truly a wonderful "marriage" of three great
British toy companies. Your doll has the craftsmanship of Rosebud, the
high-fashion flair of Amanda Jane, and shoes manufactured by London-based Cinderella (sometimes found as "Wilkinson & Grove" on markings). Cinderella was the leading producer of high-quality PVC and vinyl
doll shoes in the UK.
It’s fascinating to see how your doll is a true
"All-British" collaboration from the 1950s: This combination suggests your doll might have been sold as
a "premium" dressed doll in an upscale British shop, where every
component came from the top specialist in its field.
Rosebud Baby's need for restringing prompted further research into the companies that made the doll, her clothes, and shoes.
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All photos and text are copyrighted and cannot be used elsewhere unless permission is granted by the author.
Thank you for reading. Comments that are not spam are appreciated. Spam comments will not be published. To contact me directly, go to the About page (visible in the web view mode); find and use the email link.
Visit and follow DeeBeeGee's Virtual Black Doll Museum for detailed installations of antique, vintage, modern, and one-of-a-kind black dolls.
http://virtualblackdollmuseum.com
Recent doll gifts: Talking Tamu, Eatin' Fun Kelly, and a cloth craft doll
I received the above shown dolls from their previous owner (the same person who sent her Baby Nancy to me recently). In this package were Talking Tamu, Eatin' Fun Kelly, a white cloth doll to customize, and a heart-print fabric swatch, which is not shown.
Eatin' Fun Kelly
Eatin' Fun Kelly is from 1997.
Barbie's little sister, Eatin' Kelly, a 4-1/2-inch vinyl doll, has dark-brown rooted hair styled in two side pigtails with bangs. Her bangs were not lying flat when she arrived, so I placed an elastic band around her head to "train" the bangs.
Kelly wears a white bib, a red top with ruffled sleeves and a cherry-print fabric bodice with light blue food-print pants and red shoes. She has a white high chair, a sippy cup, and a spoon. Her divided bowl is missing.
This is a close-up of Kelly's sippy cup and spoon.
Extra Goodies
These three doll dresses were also in the gift package.
Talking Tamu
Talking Tamu, upon arrival, wore a red floral-print dress.
Talking Tamu arrived wearing the floral-print dress illustrated above, but at some point, she wore the packaged turquoise dress, so I redressed her in it because her original dress was also turquoise.
Tamu's body, arms, and legs were originally a bright yellow, which has faded over the years. I covered these with white cuffs to freshen her appearance.
Before redressing Tamu in the turquoise dress, I created arm and leg cuffs using a white knit scrunchie. I cut the scrunchie into four pieces to fit the length of Tamu's arms and legs, and I removed the elastic from the inside. After the cuffs were in place, I folded under the raw edges of each to prevent raveling—no sewing required.
Talking Tamu wears the turquoise dress from the doll clothes package I received.
Feeling at home, Talking Tamu is surrounded by two Baby Nancy dolls, Shindana Little Friends dolls, and others.
My new-to-me Talking Tamu was first seen here in 2019, along with a video of the 17 phrases she still says when her string is pulled. Although I have an NRFB Talking Tamu, that one is mute, so this one that still talks is very special to me.
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. To contact me directly, go to the About page (visible in the web view mode); find and use the email link.
Visit and follow DeeBeeGee's Virtual Black Doll Museum for detailed installations of antique, vintage, modern, and one-of-a-kind black dolls.
http://virtualblackdollmuseum.com
Images of Dr. Opal Lee are featured on the box of her portrait doll.
Except for the drawn-on nasolabial folds (wrinkle lines), I am inspired by Mattel's inclusion of Dr. Opal Lee in the Inspiring Women Barbie series. Mattel's honor of this nonagenarian, soon-to-be centenarian, during her lifetime is to be applauded. I have already prepared an installation for the Virtual Black Doll Museum, but it will not be published until later this month. So I am sharing a few actual pictures and additional information about the doll here first.
The doll has brown painted-on nasolabial folds, a beauty mark above her upper lip, and wears black-rimmed eyeglasses.
A mature appearance was attempted by painting around the eyes, and both sides of the nose to below the corners of the mouth (nasolabial area) instead of using a dedicated head sculpt. The white paint around the eyes represents wrinkles, which is acceptable, but painting brown "smile lines" was, in my opinion, an easy way to cut costs. That step should have been omitted. We would still know who the doll represents, because the Asha face was a good choice. Other than that, because Dr. Lee is a living legacy whose tireless efforts led to the now national Juneteenth holiday, she deserves this form of recognition in her lifetime, and I am happy for her.
Some of the text from the back of the box reads as follows:
Dr. Opal Lee Barbie is casually dressed.
Young Opal
Flake was twelve years old when she and her family moved into their new home in
Fort Worth, Texas. Four days later, on June 19, 1939, a mob of rioters
destroyed their house and set their belongings on fire. Opal understood the
significance of the day; it was Juneteenth, the anniversary marking the day in
1863 when Union Soldiers arrived in Texas to announce and enforce emancipation,
two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. The incident would be
pivotal in the tapestry of her life.
A
determined Opal Lee dedicated her life to advocating for human dignity and
creating awareness about the history of Juneteenth. Known as the
"Grandmother of Juneteenth," she, at the age of 89, courageously
walked hundreds of miles from Fort Worth, Texas to Washington, D.C. to petition
lawmakers to make Juneteenth a federal holiday. Five years later, in 2021, the
civil rights crusader's dream became reality when legislation was passed.
Opal Lee
was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2024. Now, almost 100, she
continues to walk 2.5 miles every Juneteenth in her annual Opal's Walk [to]
Freedom events. Throughout her life as a teacher, counselor, and community
activist, she has persistently demonstrated what's possible when one uses their
voice to inspire change.
A full description of the doll, the clothing, accessories, and box details will be included in the VBDM installation. I'll add a link to the installation after it is published. In the meantime, view the following video review on Instagram by @Kendoesdolls.
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All photos and text are copyrighted and cannot be used elsewhere unless permission is granted by the author.
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. To contact me directly, go to the About page (visible in the web view mode); find and use the email link.
Visit and follow DeeBeeGee's Virtual Black Doll Museum for detailed installations of antique, vintage, modern, and one-of-a-kind black dolls.
http://virtualblackdollmuseum.com
Shipping boxes for Barbie Basics You Create Kits 002 and 001
This is a continuation of my review of the two Barbie You Create Barbie Basics Neutral Kits that I purchased. The link to my review of Kit 001 is at the end of this post.
The Tango head was attached to the Made to Move Athletic Barbie body that comes with the kit.
As with the other kits in this series, the back of the box and a tri-fold insert inside the box illustrate ways to style the doll.
This photo was taken before the doll and the packaged accessories were removed from the box.
Freed from the confines of the box, Tango posed for the camera after I fluffed out and shaped her auburn and brown curls with my fingers.
Tango wears a metallic gold puff-sleeve top, a "B" monogrammed wrap skirt, and tan flat ankle strap shoes.
The contents of the three black envelopes are illustrated next.
The Pazette and Elle sculpts were in the top envelope. Again, I had to work with the hair to make it presentable.
A tan spandex maxi skirt with a faux leather panel and a brown long-sleeved spandex blouse were in the second envelope.
The third envelope included a pair of plastic, white square earrings; several plastic hair clips, a pair of white pointed-toe mules with "B" monogrammed heels, a pair of rectangular white shades, a headband, a gold-tone cuff bracelet, and the base and waist clip of the doll stand. The doll stand pole was attached to the box liner alongside Tango.
I placed the sunglasses and earrings on Tango before swapping this head with the Pazette head.
With the Pazette head on, I removed the white puffed-sleeved top and added the brown spandex top for her to wear with the wrap skirt and shoes. The headband and the earrings were also added.
After getting her hair detangled, Elle tried on the puff-sleeve top with the maxi skirt. All dolls modeled the same tan shoes because, unfortunately, the white "B" monogrammed shoes in this kit do not fit well.
This is how the white mules in Kit 002 fit the dolls in both kits. The Kit 001 foot is on the left; Kit 002 is on the right. It will require an elastic band to hold the shoes on the doll's feet, and even with that, they are prone to falling off Kit 002's shorter foot!
I wanted to see if the shoes in Kit 001 would fit Kit 002 doll's feet. The ankle strap position is off.
So, in both kits. There is only one pair of footwear that will fit these dolls, the boots in Kit 001 and the tan flats in Kit 002.
This is the back of the tri-fold flyer, which illustrates how to build, style, and pose the doll.
This is the front of the tri-fold flyer.
My Pros and Cons for this Kit mirror those for Kit 001 with some additions.
Pros
I appreciate the three different head sculpts, one of which (Tango) is not used often on dolls with this complexion.
I am thrilled that two of the three kits in this collection have brown complexions. Thank you, Mattel.
I love Tango's natural coils and the color of the hair.
I like Elle's hairstyle, but... (see the 4th con below).
Head removal and placement are easy.
The interchangeability and creativity are pluses.
The ability to create different looks using this kit with Kit 001 is another plus.
One pair of shoes fits well.
The neutral palette is appealing.
The clothes in this kit are more stylish than those in Kit 001.
The clothes fit well.
The headband is more flexible and fits better than the one in Kit 001.
Although they are plastic, the earrings in this kit have a better design than those in Kit 001, and they fit better without jutting out.
Cons
As mentioned and illustrated above, the white mules are not a good fit for Kit 001 or Kit 002.
The plastic hair clips are useless to me.
The cuff bracelet is so oddly shaped with a narrow opening that I could not place it on either kit doll's wrist. So, it's useless, too.
Elle has layered hair with multiple double-strand twists on top of loose, wavy hair with more twists underneath the wavy section. The twists and the wavy hair were tangled upon arrival. This hair mixture will easily tangle and should only be finger-combed.
Pazette's hair is gelled on top (not really a con, but this is worth noting). The ends looked rough, were uneven and required trimming.
(This is just an observation, but it would be a con if I had purchased Kit 003: the clothes in that kit are frumpy! I'm so glad they were not included in Kits 001 or 002.)
Creating three complete dolls will require buying three extra bodies that match the complexion of the heads in this kit.
I didn't do a deep dive into body complexion matching because again, I have no immediate plans to buy more bodies for the extra heads in each kit, but I did compare this body's complexion with two dolls, as illustrated next.
The twinning Elles (the doll from Kit 2 and Barbie Looks Model #2) share the same complexion.
Elle and Barbie Looks #21 share a similar, if not the same, complexion.
Finally, I attached each head to the body and dressed each doll in different combinations of the fashions and accessories and took the following full-length and close-up photos.
Tango, Pazette, and Elle from Kit 002
And here they are in a close-up.
Initially, I thought Tango would be my favorite, and I do love her head sculpt and hair, but there is something about Elle (probably the hair, even though it will tangle easily) that I love more.
Elle is the "it" girl in this kit.
To summarize, do I like both kits? Yes. Would I love for Mattel to produce a line of doll heads and bodies with different complexions, hair styles, and hair textures that can be mixed and matched and each piece sold separately, from whichcollectors can pick and build dolls of their choice? Absolutely, just make and sell separately packaged heads, bodies, clothes, and accessories.
This style neck connector is used for the Barbie kit dolls.
A better idea is that, going forward, Mattel could use the kit doll neck connector on all future collector dolls so that heads can be easily swapped. I'm always afraid I will damage the traditional-style neck connector (like the one on the right in this image) if I remove a head. The kit dolls' long flat neck connector makes head removal a "snap."
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. To contact me directly, go to the About page (visible in the web view mode); find and use the email link.
Visit and follow DeeBeeGee's Virtual Black Doll Museum for detailed installations of antique, vintage, modern, and one-of-a-kind black dolls.
http://virtualblackdollmuseum.com
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