Mama's Tribute Dress

Note card received from fashion designer, Sara Bunn of The Bunn Funn Collection illustrates a little girl handwashing clothing.  The back contains a handwritten note that reads, "... Brown paper packages tied up with string these are a few of my favorite things.~"

In 2016, after seeing photographs of Sara Bunn's exquisite fashions with collages or individual images of historic African American greats, I inquired about having a child-size dress (size 2) made for one of my largest dolls.  Seeing a photo of artist Leroy Campbell posed with a little girl modeling a dress that replicates his painting, Still Standing, prompted the inquiry. My idea was for the doll-size dress to be a tribute to my mother that would illustrate images of her dating back to the 1940s to the present.  It would also have several statements my mother has expressed throughout the years.

When the opportune time presented itself to Ms. Bunn, her work on the dress commenced.  Using the photographs, phrases, and doll's measurements, she created the perfect photo collages for the sleeves and skirt of the dress with one image of my mother in the center of the bodice.

Several photographs of the dress to document the unboxing, individual pictures of the front, back, other areas of the dress, and the doll modeling it are included below.

Unboxing

Inside the corrugated cardboard shipping box was the brown-paper-wrapped dress tied with string and a note card from Sara.

A piece of Bunn Funn logo tape was used to seal the brown paper.  I held my breath before breaking the seal...

... and exhaled upon viewing the bodice of the long-awaited dress.

Images of the Dress

Full-length frontal view of the dress

A closer look at the bodice illustrates the velvet Peter Pan collar, a 1940s photo of Mama to which Sara added a faux pearl necklace.  Some of the phrases Mama used when we were growing up and even to this day are on the bodice.  Trust God; Put God first; The Spirit told me...; Our day will come; With God everything is possible; Where there is life there is hope, are some of her routine statements.

A closer look at the skirt of the dress; these images extend to the back of the skirt.

This image and the next two are the expanded center pleat of the skirt of the dress.

Another photo of the center pleat of the skirt.  The seated woman in the top image is my maternal grandmother.

The final image of the expanded center pleat of the skirt

A picture of Mama with me and my sister is on the left sleeve.  Above this image is the phrase, I don't have any favorites.  This is what she would say when one of the two older boys would accuse her of favoring one of us younger three.  She would follow this with the phrase that is on the other sleeve.

Mama and my brothers are on the right sleeve of the dress.  Above their images reads, All of you came out of me.  

The back bodice is black and white paisleyfabric.  The images from the front of the skirt extend to the back.  Two velvet waist ties are not visible in this image.  The sleeves are trimmed with black velvet.

Booklet and Numbered Certificate of Authenticity

Sara created a photo booklet printed on cardstock that has six black and white images of the dress taken from different angles.

The signed and dated certificate of authenticity provides the details of the dress to include the title "Mother's Doll Dress," the medium used, edition (1 of 1), ID number, dimensions, and specifications.

Smiling Debbie Models the Dress

Smiling Debbie by Woelfert-Puppen is the doll the dress was custom made to fit.  She is shown above in a full-length color photograph.

This is the same picture as above in black and white.

Smiling Debbie poses for a close-up photo.

In this final photo, Smiling Debbie poses from the back.  The velvet waist ties create a small bow.

I am very pleased with the dress which will serve as a beautiful, long-lasting, tangible tribute to my mother, who has only seen the photo booklet.  She will see it in person soon.  Greatly pleased with the concept and the dress itself, my mother thanked me profusely for honoring her in this manner.

(Today is my mother's birthday.  Happy Birthday, Mama!) 

If interested in having a collage photo dress made for yourself or a doll you own, feel free to visit The BunnFun Collection Facebook page.

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Matoka Gets the Yellow Dress + Body Comparison

Yellow dress sewn by Betty A.

I redressed Matoka in the yellow with red circle-print dress that doll-friend, Betty A. sent me.  Initially I thought I would prefer the yellow dress on Deb (my birthday doll).  As it turns out, the brown and gold African print dress is the one I liked best on Deb (for now).

Deb joins Matoka to show off the African print dress made by Betty A.

It may be that Matoka's sandals, that Deb wears, were the deciding factor... not sure.  I think they both look adorable in their new clothes.

While I had the girls together, I wanted to do a body comparison for those Himmie lovers who may have been on the fence about Woelfert-Puppen dolls or for those who are unfamiliar with these dolls. 

Stripped down to their birthday suits, the girls illustrate their similarities and differences.

Height-wise, the dolls are the same, 33-1/2 inches

Deb's head is larger than Matoka's... not disproportionately larger because her body has more girth than Matoka's.  Both dolls have human hair wigs and mouth-blown glass eyes.  Additional comparisons are outlined below along with additional pictures:

Deb has:                                                      Matoka has:

Jointed arms at shoulders only                       Jointed biceps, shoulders

Jointed waist                                                  Non-jointed waist

Jointed knees                                                 Non-jointed knees

Full (soft and supple*) vinyl body                   ¾ rigid vinyl body; cloth waist-to-thighs

Longer/wider foot, 5 inches x 2-2/8 inches     4-1/2 inch x 2-2/8-inch foot

Great toe and 2^nd toe separate only              All toes are separate

7-inch arm circumference                              6-inch arm circumference

12-inch arm length                                         12-1/2-inch arm length

Longer torso; 16-1/2 inch actual waist           17-inch waist

18-inch waist at the waist joint

15-inch leg length                                          15-inch leg length

Deb is standing without support while Matoka is leaning against the door.

Can stand without support                             Requires a doll stand for standing

More distinctly sculpted navel and breasts
Made completely in Germany

I would rate the quality of the Woelfert-Puppen dolls as high as that of Himstedt dolls.  The only difference is the type vinyl used and jointed areas.  *The vinyl used for Woelfert-Puppen dolls is comparable to that used on the 1990s dolls by John Nissen; it is a pliable yet very sturdy vinyl.

The service provided by Woelfert-Puppen was excellent and transit time from date of purchase to arrival took approximately 17 days which included the Memorial Day holiday.  I am thoroughly pleased and honored they named the doll I purchased after me. 



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She's Here! She's Here!

Who's here, you ask?  My birthday doll from me to me.  The doll that traveled from Germany to America.  My smiling beauty, who was formerly unnamed (I thought), for whom I solicited name suggestions was picked up from my PO box this past Saturday, June 1st.


In my haste to examine my smiling beauty and to try on the three dresses that doll friend, Betty A sent me for no particular reason, I did not take a full-body photograph of her in her original fashion, a deep coral colored, butterfly print, silky sarong.   A full-view photograph in the sarong was really not necessary because she looked exactly like the full-view picture shared in my original post.

As indicated, initially I thought my lovely girl was unnamed, but her accompanying certificate bears the name given to her by Woelfert-Puppen, "smilling beauty Debbie."  So that is her name.  (Smiling is spelled with two l's on the certificate.) 

My birthday doll holds her certificate from Woelfert-Puppen, which bears her company-given name and other vital information.

Before her arrival, I had settled on the name Destiny Zipporah.  Destiny was suggested by doll friend, Janice Larsen-Tyre, which seemed appropriate to her and to me because I was destined to own her.   I wanted to use a biblical name as her middle name.  Zipporah, was inspired by Moses's wife.  As it turns out, Debbie is a short form of a biblical name (Deborah).   

The two Debs

I love everything about Smiling Beauty Debbie.  Her human hair wig has a beautiful texture and feel.  Her mouth-blown brown glass eyes are beautiful!  Her broad-like-mine nose is adorable as is her toothy smile.  What I love most is her soft and supple, but sturdy all-vinyl composition.  I initially imagined the vinyl would be rigid like that used for most artist dolls.  For those familiar with John Nissen dolls, Debbie's vinyl is comparable, making her less weighty than a Himstedt.  She is jointed in the usual areas in addition to the waist and knees. The only thing I would change about my namesake would be the addition of elbow and wrist joints.  That would increase her pose-ability. 

Debbie and I spent most of Saturday afternoon deciding which of the three dresses from Betty A. she would wear.  I also tried one additional outfit on her.  Surprisingly, the dress I thought I would enjoy most on her has now changed to another.  Her photo shoot is below.

First we tried on the brown and gold African-print dress.  The brown suede sandals belong to Matoka by Annette Himstedt.

Since she already had on Matoka's sandals, I tried Matoka's original fashion on Debbie.  The wrap skirt is a little big on her waist, but it can be adjusted.  I think she wears it well. 

Next we tried on the brightly colored yellow dress with red circle-print pattern and red and white polka dot sash.   The child's size 6 white sandals are a little long (but this gives her some "grow" room.)  She looks ready for a warm day of play. 

Debbie looks adorable in the red and white polka dot sheer dress.  I used the sash from the yellow dress as a headband and added a white satin ribbon waist sash.  The white sandals also pair well with this dress as will white or black patent-leather Mary Janes that she can borrow from Matoka's shoe stash.

Debbie poses with Himstedt's Matoka.  The two dolls are about the same size, 33-1/2 inches and actually could pass for sisters.  Matoka remains my favorite doll by Himstedt and now Smiling Debbie is my favorite doll in this size range.

I love her!  For me, she was well worth the wait and the cost.

Which of these dresses is your favorite on Smiling Beauty Debbie?  Did I write that I love her?  Well I do!

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Coming to America

 

All photos courtesy of Woelfert-Puppen, but the doll is mine!

This smiling beauty, handcrafted by Woelfert-Puppen, will travel to America from Germany this week with an unspecified date of arrival, but soon, I hope.  She is my happy birthday present from me to me.

Upon their recent request for name suggestions for another doll, I submitted the name, Nya Imani, which they accepted.  I cannot, however, think of a name for the doll I purchased.  Like Nya Imani's name, I'd like for my doll's name to have a special meaning.  Nya means purpose and Imani means faith.  Both names are of Swahili origin.

Nya Imani's sister is all vinyl and stands 33-1/2 inches tall.  She is jointed at the head, shoulders, hips, legs, and knees.  Her brown eyes are hand-blown glass from Lauscha.  This smiling beauty has a handmade human hair wig.  Made in Germany, she will arrive wearing a butterfly embellished sarong. 

Below are more pictures of my unnamed smiling beauty.   

As Stevie Wonder wrote about his first-born (Aisha--a name I have contemplated), "Isn't she lovely?"  

I am open to suggestions and solicit your help in selecting a name for her.  Thank you in advance.

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