Lottie Dolls: Sammi, Branksea Lottie, and Mia

Lottie dolls, L-R:  Sammi, Branksea Festival Lottie, and Mia
Lottie fashions:  Raspberry Ripple and Flower Power

Back in June, blog reader, Cynthia, informed me about the soon-to-be-released, deep complexioned Mia, friend of Lottie.  I have always wanted a Lottie doll and had considered buying Branksea Festival Lottie. Last year I did purchase a Lottie fashion during the time I hosted my doll group's travel doll, Janet.

The Lottie Blue Velvet fashion was part of Travel Doll Janet's Texas loot.

Janet went to her forever home with the Lottie fashion along with several other items.  I appreciated the quality of that Lottie fashion and expected the same quality for the dolls, which are manufactured by Arklu (Ireland) Ltd., imported by Arklu of London.

After reading their online description when the fashion for Janet was purchased, I knew Lottie and/or a friend or two would eventually enter my collection.  

·         Nurturing individuality and creativity through play, Lottie's a wholesome, age appropriate, fashion doll, she's perfect because “she's just like me"

·         A positive, healthy role model; she doesn't wear makeup, jewelry, heels or suggestive clothing, she's the girl next door; cute, fun and adventurous

·         Lottie wears wonderful, age appropriate clothes with great attention to detail; her long flowing hair is silky smooth, comb-able and resists tangles

·         At 7.5 inches tall, Lottie has moveable arms, bendable knees and can stand on her own two feet (a useful skills for all girls big and small)

·         This Lottie doll comes with everything pictured; for ages 3+

Last week, a Facebook ad about Mia prompted me to visit the Lottie website where I also discovered Sammi.  As a comparison shopper, I visited Amazon to see if the dolls were available for free Prime shipping.  They were along with a special discount from Arklu (which has now expired):  buy three and get 15% off the fourth item.  That is why my three were purchased along with two extra fashions for the girls.

Because I have not removed the dolls from their beautiful, house-shaped packages, in addition to my photos, I have shared stock photos of each doll and the separately-sold fashions.

Mia is a photographer.  As described on the website,“Mia wears a cochlear implant, which is part of her story rather than a focal point; as reflected in the Lottie chapter books. Mia is a collaboration with 'Toy Like Me' a UK non-profit who campaign for diversity in the toy-box and for better representation of disabilities so that differently abled children can see themselves reflected in the toys they play with.”  The back of her box, illustrated below, reads:  From birds and butterflies to all kinds of creepy-crawlies, I'm just mad about wild life  Everywhere I go, I carry my camera with me.  Because who knows when -- or where -- a brilliant photo opportunity will pop up?

Mia's description continues:  A beautiful photo can tell its own story.  I hope that my pictures will inspire other children to love wildlife as much as I do and to take good care of this wonderful planet of ours!  PS:  Look out for winning entries from our Wildlife Photography Competition inside!

Branksea Festival Lottie has a tan complexion.  The back of her box is shown next.

Text from Branksea Festival Lottie's box reads:  Summer has arrived at last!  The sun is shining and the sky is blue as Branksea prepares for its annual Festival.  Lottie is excited and is looking forward to live music, face painting, storytelling, and arts and crafts.  Will the good weather continue or will the celebrations be spoiled by rain?

Sammi was a pleasant surprise.  Until visiting the Lottie website looking for Mia, I had no idea he existed.

Sammi is a writer!  His back story from the back of the box reads:  Branksea School's Sports Day is a Sports Day with a difference.  We have athletics and gymnastics and team sports like football.  But -- because we're so close to the beach -- we have lots of water-based activities, too.  There are swimming and surfing and canoeing events.  There's even a kite-flying event near the sea cliffs!  I write about everything for the Branksea School News!  PS:  Look out for winning entries from my School News Competition inside.

The front of each doll's box has a cardboard "Winner" medal attached with a ribbon.  The front of Branksea Festival Lottie's medal reads:  Positive Role Model Awards Winner.  The back reads:  What makes Lottie special? Lottie has a 'childlike' body developed by British academics; she doesn't wear makeup jewellry or high heels.  Best of all, she can stand on her own two feet -- an invaluable life lesson for all girls, big and small.

The two Lottie fashions I purchased are Raspberry Ripple and Flower Power.  Raspberry Ripple includes a sundress, ice cream swirl tote bag, and raspberry pink ballet flats.  Flower Power has an apple blossom spring dress, cherry-pink cardigan, socks, and pink ballet flats.

These all-vinyl dolls have brown painted anime eyes and rooted hair.  They are jointed only at the neck, upper arms, and upper legs.  Their feet are flat, which allow them to balance and stand without the assistance of a doll stand.  The quality appears as expected, exceptional, but I won't know for sure until I open their boxes. 

Thanks again, Cynthia, for the heads up about Mia.  

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Travel Doll Janet's Final Destination

Photo courtesy of J. Bush

Travel Doll Janet's first appearance here was on March 21, 2016.  As noted in that post, the doll was purchased last year to be used this year for a travel doll event for my online doll group.  Janet remained with me until the end of March when she traveled to the next host's location.

From Texas, Janet traveled to the following cities and states and remained for approximately two weeks at each location:

• Catonsville Maryland
• Upper Marlboro, Maryland

(I wrote an update of her travels after her Upper Marlboro, MD visit, which can be reviewed or read, here.)  Afterward, Janet continued her travels to:

• Mitchellville, Maryland
• Baltimore, Maryland
• Albuquerque, New Mexico
• Aurora, Colorado
• Albany, Georgia and her final hosting location was in:
• Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

While with each host, souvenirs and other goodies for Janet were purchased.  After Janet's visits, all except two hosts* sent Janet's souvenirs to me to be sent along with her to her forever home at the end of the event.  The following images are just some of the souvenirs Janet's hosts purchased:

Souvenir's from Dallas, Texas

Souvenirs from Catonsville, Maryland (photo courtesy of the host)

Souvenirs from Mitchellville, Maryland include a handmade quilt, squares of which spell out M-A-R-Y-L-A-N-D.

Authentic mini replicas of Native American items from Albuquerque, New Mexico (photo courtesy of the host)

From her last visit in Gettysburg, PA, Janet returned to me.  I hand washed her clothes and placed her back inside her original box which had remained here during her travel experience.

Janet stands in her undies waiting for her romper and socks to dry.

In this photo, she has been dressed and reattached to the box liner.

She's back in the box, all set and ready to go!

Within a week of her return to me, a number was drawn to determine her final destination. I made myself ineligible to participate in the drawing.   A video was created as the drawing took place and was thereafter shared with the participating members.  The video can be viewed next.

And the winner is... drum roll please.

Janet and the souvenirs that were mailed to me were boxed for shipping. 

The souvenirs that were mailed to me were placed in separate Ziploc bags. To help identify the hosts who sent them, a map illustrating their location was attached to the front of the bags.  Everything was placed inside the box shown above along with Janet.  She is in the tissue-paper-wrapped box.  The package was mailed on October 5, 2016.  *After the drawing was held and the winner announced, as instructed by me, the two hosts who had not yet sent their souvenirs, sent them to the final destination of Aurora, Colorado.

As an expression of my gratitude for their participation, I sent all  hosts, including the winner, a gift.

Doll pin (brooches) by Sylvia Small

Three hosts received a doll pin made by doll artist, Sylvia Small.

Doll bookmarks by Karen Oyekanmi of Kissing Kousins

The remaining five hosts received a doll bookmark made by Karen Oyekanmi, of Kissing Kousins.

Bookmark doll, photo courtesy of Cheryl B.

Upon receipt of the above bookmark, because she likes it so, the Mitchellville, Maryland host wrote, "She will never see a book as a bookmark." I own one, too, and I can't blame her!

Mini gift bag gift from one of the hosts

One of the hosts sent a mini Toys "R" Us gift bag to each host, including me, which I thought was a very sweet gesture. Both sides of the gift bag are shown in the above image.

To sum things up, this was a very doll-lightfully successful event. Every participant expressed their pleasure, which was the ultimate goal.  If Janet could talk, I am sure she'd tell you how much fun it was for her, too.

Thank you again, Alisa, Cheryl, Debbie V.,  Julia, Shawatha, Sheila, Tammy, and Teresa for participating.

dbg

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Travel Doll Janet's Journeys To Date with Video

Photograph courtesy of Julia B.

Janet left Texas in late March and has thus far visited three separate Maryland (MD) cities with one more MD city to visit before heading to the southwest.  The three MD hosts have afforded Janet with fascinating experiences and have shared copious photos, a selection from which I am allow to share.

Her first Maryland stop was with Julia B. who gave her a grand time.  Janet visited many historical sites and took many delightful photos.  Highlights of her first day with Julia B include going to work with her, a visit to the library, and a downtown visit to Bill's Music store, which Julia has fond memories of visiting with her dad.  I enjoyed the following photo where Janet prepared for bed the first evening at Julia B.'s home.

Janet is preparing for bed after her first day with Julia B.  She's such a good girl who has neatly hung her dress in the closet.

Other highlights of Janet's visit with Julia B. include salsa dancing...

Work it, Janet; work it!

...a return trip to the library to read about historical people from Maryland...

Molly Bannaky was Benjamin Banneker's mother (he later changed the spelling of his surname).

...a later visit to the Benjamin Banneker Historical Park, and...

Can you find Janet on the replica of Benjamin Banneker's rope bed?

...attendance at the Maryland Society of Doll Collections Luncheon where Janet met a host of other doll collectors.

Janet got all "dolled" up to attend the Maryland Society of Doll Collector's Luncheon, which was held on April 23, 2016.

Janet had so much fun and she learned so much about Maryland while with Julia B.   Little did she know that she was in for more fun and learning with her next hosts.

***

Because MD is so close to the nation's capital, while with her next host, Alisa W., Janet had an opportunity to visit several iconic national landmarks.  She and Alisa took the Metro/subway to Washington D.C. for a fun, yet educational sightseeing trip.  It was raining during the trip, so Janet wore her rain gear.

While sightseeing in D.C., Janet visited/saw:  The National Museum of African American History and Culture (which is not scheduled to open until September 2016), the Washington Monument, the Department of Agriculture, the National World War II Memorial, and the Tidal Basin Reservoir off the Potomac River where from a distance she could see the Jefferson Memorial.  Photos of some of these historical sites follow:

Janet is at the Metro subway station -- don't fall Janet!

She made it safely to D.C. where the Washington Monument can be seen in the background.

The red arrow points to the National African American Museum of History and Culture, which will have its grand opening in September 2016.

Janet takes a break at the National World War II Memorial.

Janet is at the Tidal Basin Reservoir in D.C. where you can see the Jefferson Memorial from a distance.

One of the highlights of Janet's Washington D. C. sightseeing with Alisa W. was her visit to the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial located in downtown D.C.  See the next three photos:

Janet is dwarfed by the sculpture of Martin Luther King, Jr. at his national memorial.

Etched into the base of the stone of the Dr. King memorial statue are these words:  Out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope.

Janet took photos inside the souvenir room of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial where souvenirs were purchased of her visit.

Janet and several other dolls enjoyed a pizza party before Alisa sent Janet to her next host.

Before traveling to her next Maryland host, Alisa threw a fabulous pizza party for Janet and some of the friends she met while visiting.  Based on the following video, they had a blast!!!  (In the video Janet wears a light blue floral print top and white lace socks.)  Click the play arrow to view.

***

Janet's current Maryland host is Cheryl B., where she will remain until later in June.

After being greeted by some of Cheryl's dolls, Janet took a field trip with second graders where they visited the National Air and Space Museum in downtown Washington, D.C.

Can you find Janet at the Tuskegee Airmen and Bessie Coleman displays at the National Air and Space Museum?

As shown in the above two photos, Janet took photos at the Tuskegee Airmen and Bessie Coleman displays.

Posed in front of mini airplane replicas

She marveled at the aviation and space artifacts she saw at the National Air and Space Museum. Later during the same week, she visited the Kennedy Center with fourth graders for a concert. Unfortunately, Cheryl was not able to take very many photos at the Kennedy Center since photos were not allowed in the concert hall.  She did manage to take the following two photos to document Janet's Kennedy Center trip:

This bust of President John F. Kennedy was at the Kennedy Center in D.C.

Janet remained on the field trip bus after making it back safely to the school from the Kennedy Center to take this photo.

More is in store for Janet while she is under Cheryl's watchful eye.  Additional updates will follow.

Thank you ladies for being such great hosts to our 2016 WLBDA Travel Doll, Polly Pockets Janet. She is one lucky little girl!

dbg
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Travel Doll Janet's Final TX Outing and Departure

The car in which Janet is riding is approaching Downtown Dallas.

The week of March 27th was Travel Doll Janet's last week with me.  On March 29th, 2016, we went to the Perot Museum of Nature and Science in Downtown Dallas.  Janet enjoyed the trip where she marveled at the height of the buildings.

I could almost hear Janet saying, "Wow, these are skyscrapers!"

As a featured collector in the museum's Eye of the Collector exhibit, Janet and I went to the Perot to oversee portions of the installation of my dolls that had been transported there a day prior.  While I knew the dolls were in the capable hands of the museum's experts, I wanted to ensure each had their accessories after the handlers unpacked and removed the bubble wrap.  I was particularly concerned about the playscale dolls whose tiny shoes tend to fall off easily.   I had placed clear plastic bands over their shoes before packing a couple of weeks before transport, but these tend to break.  I took with me some extra-strength clear bands that had been ordered from an overseas eBay seller.  These, unfortunately, had not arrived before packing the dolls for transport took place.   So while at the museum, on March 29th, I placed these heavier bands on top of the others for added security.

Perot Museum of Nature and Science plaza entrance

At the Perot, Janet took photos at the plaza entrance as well as a photo of the graphics outside the entrance to the exhibit room.  We were not allowed to photograph the setup.

Two of my 85 exhibited dolls can be seen at the entrance of the exhibit room graphics.

Janet and I were quite pleased to see that two of my dolls were included in the graphics at the exhibit entrance:   a one-of-a-kind papier-mache doll (on the left) and a rewigged Barbie Basics Model No. 8 from the denim collection, on the right.

After we were assured each doll had all their accessories and after extra bands were placed over their shoes, Janet and I headed home where she prepared for her departure to her next host's home in a Mid-Atlantic state.

Janet is photographed with her loot, but she traveled without it to the next host's home.  Her loot will be sent along with her at the conclusion of her travels after her forever home has been determined. 

Before Janet departed on April 1st, she took a photo with the clothing and souvenirs I purchased for her (as seen above).  Next, one final photo was taken with me.

At this time, Janet has been gone a couple of weeks.  Based on the photo booklet to highlight her stay, she enjoyed herself as much as I enjoyed hosting her.




According to the photos her current host has shared, she's having a blast there, too.  Janet is one lucky doll!


dbg
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