Honey-Chile and Mandy; Our Gang, Too

Honey-Chile and Mandy paper dolls by Whitman

Until acquiring them recently, Honey-Chile and Mandy paper dolls had been on my paper doll wish list for years.

The dolls and their descriptions are included in my book, Black Dolls a Comprehensive Guide to Celebrating, Collecting, and Experiencing the Passion (2008).  The book-documented dolls were photographed and described for me by their owner, Bonnie Lewis. It was Bonnie's dolls that enticed the black-paper doll enthusiast in me to desire the pair. 

Because of the black-doll she holds, this is my favorite of Honey-Chile's four outfits. Mandy came with three extras.

Bonnie shared, and I documented in Black Dolls, this pair's 1930s origin.  After receiving my dolls and their outfits, I wanted to pinpoint the exact year they were made.

Results of an Internet search for additional information on the dolls leads me to believe Mandy and Honey-Chile were possibly included in the paper doll book, The Paper Doll Family, by Queen Holden (Whitman, 1937).  A copy of  Holden's paper doll book sold for $200 in a June 2010 specialty auction of fine and rare paper dolls.  The book is described as follows: 

17" x 12" Featuring a blue sedan on the front cover with die-cut windows that allow the faces of the paper dolls on the inside to show through as though seated in the car. The auto has the license plate of "Yourtown". The paper doll family ranges from 3" baby to 9 1/2" father and also includes mother, boy and girl, along with black servant in uniform named "Mandy" and black child "Honey-Chile". The back cover has toys including Hurdy-Gurdy, along with dog "Mickey". Inside are four pages of costumes, accessories and toys. Whitman, drawn by Queen Holden, 1937.

In the absence of the book, I am content with Honey-Chile and Mandy and their extra fashions.

Queen Holden's paper dolls are said to have been popular playthings in the U.S. in the 1930s through 1950s.  Holden also drew an Our Gang paper doll book of characters and outfits based on the film shorts and TV series.  Farina and Stymie are included.  Their cut versions are also featured in Black Dolls courtesy again of Bonnie Lewis.  Farina, Stymie, several clothes for both boys, along with Petey (the dog) were eventually added to my paper doll collection.  They documented their arrival on Thursday, May 14, 2009, which was recorded and published in my third book, The Doll Blogs:  When Dolls Speak I Listen.

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American Idols...

... as paper dolls by Gail. 

Second and third-season American Idol winners Christopher Theodore Ruben Studdard and Fantasia Monique Barrino were captured as paper dolls by Gail some time ago.  View the dolls here and here. 

Thanks again, Bonnie Lewis, for sharing the links, which are located on Gail's Rock Star - Pop Star paper doll page.  Among others,  Kimberly Locke (a 2003 American Idol contestant) and Bow Wow are also included on the Rock Star - Pop Star page.

My 3-dimensional dolls are begging me to resume blogging about them.  I will soon.

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Catherine "Katy" Ferguson Paper Doll by Gail

Fellow paper doll enthusiast, Bonnie Lewis, shared the link to the Catherine Ferguson paper doll by Gail.  I had overlooked this one at Gail's paper doll website, where I found the Condoleezza Rice paper doll shared in yesterday's blog, because, until now, I did not "know" Ms. Ferguson and her remarkable story.  Now I do and you can, too.

The paper doll.  Herstory.

Thanks again, Bonnie, for the share!
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Once Upon a Child

"Once Upon a Child" paper doll by Diana E. Vining is also available in light skin tone.

Paper doll artist, Diana E. Vining has utilized her artistic skills to create a paper doll depicting the various stages of gestation.  The paper doll includes an expectant mother with outfits illustrating baby's development during the first, second, and third trimesters of pregnancy.  Each stage includes a few milestones/facts about the baby during the pregnancy.

According to Diana and her website,

This is a special piece because the proceeds from this paper doll will benefit the Option Ultrasound Program, which provides ultrasound machines to Pregnancy Clinics / Resource Centers across the country. PLUS the first 30 purchases of "Once Upon A Child" paper dolls will include a FREE GIFT!

The paper doll is only $5, just in time for Mother's Day, and will make a perfect gift for an expectant mother or paper doll enthusiast.
 

I've always wanted to use my artwork to do some good in the world... and this is the idea I came up with! -- Diana E. Vining

For more information or to purchase, visit Diana's paper doll shoppe.

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Rosa Parks Sample Paper Doll...

...courtesy of Dover Publications in honor of National Women's History Month.

Sampled from Famous African American Women Paper Dolls by Tom Tierney, Dover Publications, 1994

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Please adhere to copyright notice (see bottom of blog).

What Are You Doing with a Leroy Paper Doll?

Gene Anthony Ray as Leroy Johnson in Fame

My daughter asked this question after noticing my most recent paper doll acquisition, which was on my printer tray at the time.  It had been behind my keyboard as a reminder to enter it on my doll inventory spreadsheet.  After my 4-year-old grandson requested the use of my computer to go to NickJr.com ("Hurry up, Granny," he urged, after I had forgotten his earlier request), I moved the paper doll to a safer location, the printer tray, prior to entering the URL for NickJr in my browser.

Gene Anthony Ray ((May 24, 1962 – November 14, 2003) was one of the original cast members in the 1980 movie Fame and went on to star in the TV series of the same name (1982 – 1987).  Remember him here. 

The paper doll, according to the seller, was originally printed in a 1980s Swedish publication (Hemmets Journal).  It is precut with Swedish text on back of the doll as well as on the oh-so-80s clothing. 

What are you doing with a Leroy paper doll?  I never answered this question because I knew it was really my daughter's affirmation that she recognized who the paper doll represents. 

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Please adhere to copyright notice.

Fabulous Fashions! An Inexpensive Doll Fix

As a paper doll enthusiast as well as three-dimensional doll enthusiast, I have wanted to add the Fabulous Fashion (Barbie Paper Doll Book) to my collection for several months.  It arrived yesterday.  The book includes Barbie, Theresa, and Nikki and over 150 outfits and accessories that each doll can share.

Teresa and Nikki paper dolls

I was quite amazed to find that this is truly a paper doll book with a spine width of nearly one-half inch to accommodate 64 pages of heavy card stock with colorful illustrations printed on one side of each.
Laura B.'s five-star Amazon.com review prompted me to order the book along with another doll-related book.  The other book did not wow me, but this inexpensive, $8.99 paper doll book did.  Published by Golden Books in 2008, it provides a very inexpensive doll fix. 

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Please do not copy images or text without my permission.

A Long Awaited Paper Doll Book +Confession

Approximatey two years ago, I began a diligent online search for the Crissy and Velvet Paper Dolls book by Whitman, © 1971.  Finally, I found an unpunched book complete with intact "Change-a-Hairdo-Wheel" at a price I was willing to pay.  I cannot count the amount of times I was outbid on eBay for this paper doll book or the amount of times I gasped at a seller's hopeful astronomical price.

The unpunched, psychedelic-colored mini-to-maxi length fashions are so reminiscent of 1970s attire.  As I flipped through the pages of my new find, the knee-length vest worn over a turtleneck sweater with bell-bottom pants, knee-high lace-up boots, poncho; and oversized, round, rose-tinted shades or "nodders" (as we used to call them) enhanced my visual trip back down memory lane.

It feels good to remove a long sought-after item from my wish list and to have paid a few dollars less than the maximum I was willing to pay.

This paper doll book complements my collection of three-dimensional Crissy family dolls.  Most can be seen and read about here.

Confession:  I left this blog in draft mode with intentions to publish later.  This paragraph and the text that follows is an edit to the original draft.  After photographing the paper doll book, entering the information about its purchase on my Excel spreadsheet, and finally placing the book in the file cabinet where my other paper doll books are stored, I saw the edge of a paper doll book that looks identical to this one!  Guess what?  I already had the Crissy and Velvet Paper Dolls book!  The first one was purchased in August, only two months ago!  I reopened my Excel spread sheet, filtered the columns, and found the entry for the original book, which is almost identical to what I wrote about the second one:

 

Image of filtered Excel 2010 Doll Inventory spreadsheet

Obviously after receiving the first book, I did not flip through its colorful pages.  I did not take a trip back down memory lane.  I must have only documented the purchase and stored it.  This duplicate purchase is irrefutable proof that I need to slow my buying roll/role and that my long-term memory is better than my short-term memory.

Has this ever happened to you... I mean, have you ever unintentionally duplicated a doll purchase?

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Please do not copy images or text without my permission.

Collecting and Giving Paper...

... paper dolls, that is. 

I recently ordered several items from Diana E. Vining’s Paper Doll Shoppe for myself and a few extras as gifts.  Yes, I collect paper dolls, too.

Coloring book and Happy Birthday card designed by Diana E. Vining (prettypix4u.com)

My young niece, who will be 5 later this month will enjoy Diana’s new paper doll coloring book, which has several pages to color with fashions and dolls to cut out for the paper doll.  A cute, Happy Birthday paper doll greeting card will accompany the coloring book and other items I plan to ship my niece.

For a close, non-doll collecting friend, who recently mentioned, “They don’t make paper dolls anymore,” I ordered two of Diana’s paper doll sheets, Roselle and Edie Mae. I know L. will enjoy owning these.

New to the shop are standing, "Glittery Greetings" paper dolls fashioned after Victorian-era paper dolls.

Because I love sending and having all types of greeting cards on hand, my order included paper doll greeting cards.

Two boxed sets of blank note cards

Through paper doll play, girls are allowed to use their imagination. The gesture of sending handwritten notes of gratitude and paper greetings is a tangible way to illustrate to the recipient that the sender cares.   A girl is never too old to play with or collect paper dolls, and the tradition of sending paper greetings should never become passé.

Adorable bookmark

Check out Diana’s new paper doll offerings here. There is something for everyone--birthday and holiday greeting cards, thank you notes, boxed note cards, and other items, most with a paper doll theme. The cute-as-can-be bookmarks have yarn hair!

Frame-worthy personal hand drawn greetings from Diana, cut out from envelopes/mailers and saved from prior orders (the art is just too cute to discard!)

For the paper doll collector, Diana’s paper dolls are “dollightful” to own. They are also excellent gifts for family and friends!

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Diahann Carroll as Julia Paper Doll Books and Boxed Sets

Top-Bottom, Left-Right:  Julia Paper Dolls book #4472 Artcraft/Saalfield 1968-1969; Julia Dress-up Kit Colorforms boxed set 1969; Diahann Carroll as Julia Paper Doll and Julia Paper Dolls boxed sets (both numbered 6055:150) by Saalfield 1970

Paper dolls of black entertainers and celebrities emerged in America during the late 1960s. One of the most popular 1960s black celebrity paper dolls, produced in several different book and boxed sets was fashioned after actress, Diahann Carroll's role as Julia (based on her 1968-1971 television show of the same name).

Julia paper dolls (known to me) were published as books and boxed sets by Saalfield and Artcraft (a division of Saalfield) from 1968-1973.  Colorforms/Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (1969) produced the Julia dress-up kit (shown in the first image).   The Colorforms set only includes Julia while the Saalfield/Artcraft books and boxed sets include four paper dolls and fashions for each:  Julia, her son Corey, his neighbor-friend Earl; and Earl's mom, Marie. 

It appears that Saalfield was the first publisher (1968) followed by their subdivision Artcraft, who later republished earlier Saalfield versions.  Even Saalfield republished their own paper dolls during the same year (1968) but presented these in different packaging.  The first image shows two boxed Saalfield paper dolls, #6055:150, wherein the paper dolls and fashions are identical, but the box graphics differ... a clever way to increase profits from the same merchandise.

Julia paper doll book #1335 by Saalfield 1968, photograph courtesy of Ruth Manning

Saalfield's #1335 Julia paper doll book from 1968 was republished with the same title, same cover, same dolls, and same fashions in 1973 by Artcraft as paper doll book #4435. 

Diahann Carroll as Julia boxed set by Saalfield #6055, 1968 Photograph courtesy of Ruth Manning

Another 1968 Diahann Carroll as Julia boxed paper doll set by Saalfield, #6055, illustrates Julia (headshot) wearing a red turtleneck, a smaller headshot of Marie holding a bouquet of flowers, head-to-torso shots of Earl (wearing a green plaid shirt), and Corey (wearing a red, yellow, and white striped shirt, holding a baseball).   (This description preceded my acquisition of the above image.) Are the paper dolls and fashions the same in this set as the other Saalfield boxed sets?   Probably with perhaps some slight differences. 

Artcraft's Diahann Carroll as Julia paper doll book #5140, first published in 1968, has a final copyright date of 1971.  Photograph courtesy of Ruth Manning

Please share your knowledge of other Julia/Diahann Carroll as Julia paper dolls that are not referenced here.  Thank you in advance.

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Phylicia Rashad Paper Doll

Classic TV Moms Paper Dolls

Classic TV mom, "Claire Huxtable" played by the lovely actress, Phylicia Rashad, is included in Tom Tierney's Classic TV Moms paper doll book, published by Dover Publications.  The book is available directly from the publisher or from Amazon.com for $9.99. 

Classic TV Moms Paper Dolls

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Educator-Inspired Paper Doll, Edie May

After being introduced to Edie May several months ago by my favorite paper doll artist, Diana Eufrasio Vining, purchasing one had been on my to-do list until this past Friday when I took a moment to revisit Diana’s website. After seeing Edie May and several other paper doll items, I placed my order. I recalled that one of Diana’s favorite teachers was the inspiration for her creation but I wanted to know the in-depth story behind the inspiration. So, after my too-cute, adorable, precious, little paper girl arrived yesterday with her delightful, dress-like-dolly-inspired clothing, I e-mailed Diana and asked,

Can you refresh my memory on Edie May's inspiration? Wasn't she named after a favorite teacher? Thanks!

Diana replied,

Yes, she is named for Edith Mayner, who was the best teacher ever! She was African American, and since she never married or had kids, she treated ALL children as her own, regardless of race or background. She was my brother's teacher before I even went to school, so she became a family friend. I knew her since I was a toddler, and we always stayed in touch… she ALWAYS encouraged me to do something with my art [and] taught me to make sure to represent all types of God's people in my artwork.

In more recent years, I discovered that she had become a doll collector! So we put on a doll show (mostly black dolls) for the elementary school children. The last time I saw her alive was when she (and her sister Dorothy, who was principal when I was in elementary school) attended my wedding in 2005.

Everyone in my hometown of Roselle, NJ knew the Mayner sisters. They were so involved in the school system and did SO MUCH for the community. I believe they made a special scholarship in Edith's honor at the time of her passing.

Edith Mayner was such a great inspiration to me, and I love her dearly. I know she would have loved to see the "Edie May" paper doll. Sorry for the long answer, but it is so sweet to just think back on what a great person she was (is).

I was awe-inspired and compelled to share this beautiful story. Edie May, the paper doll, is a wonderful way for Diana to preserve treasured memories of this extraordinary educator.  We need more educators like her!

I am honored to own the Edie May paper doll sheet, which includes several extra outfits, dolls, and bed. I will forever treasure it and its provenance.

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PS I typed this blog in Microsoft Word before publishing it here. I attempted to save the document as "Edie May" but discovered I already had an "Edie May Paper Doll" document. I opened it and immediately understood why I knew the paper doll represented one of Diana’s former teachers. The document contains a note from Diana that was posted to my WeLoveBlackDolls message board on 03/05/09.  It reads:

In case your [March/April 2009] Doll Castle News hasn't arrived yet, just wanted to give you a heads up that they have been shipped. This is the issue with a special focus on black dolls.


The paper doll, Edie May, was created by me and is a tribute to Ms. Edith Mayner, my teacher and lifelong friend who taught me the importance and beauty of diversity. She was an extraordinary AA woman, and very beloved in the community. In recent years I discovered that she had begun collecting black dolls, so we had even more in common then. I'm so sorry to say that she passed on in 2005, but she remains one of the greatest influences in my life. So I just wanted to share that, so you know about the inspiration behind this paper doll.

If you don't get Doll Castle News, you can check it out at http://www.dollcastlemagazine.com/. You can subscribe, or just get the single issue if you like.

Amazing!  I saved this message because I knew I would eventually own Edie May.