Roseline et Danielle

From the sublime collection of Agence Eureka. 

For many years, Patricia has posted vintage illustrations and paper dolls. Once you click on an image, it takes you to a Flickr site where you can download various sizes of the image.

Thank you Patricia for your generous postings over the years! 

Thank you, Joan Homann!

Joan Homann posted the following message on the Paper Doll Bulletin Board last week:

"After going on 18 years as Administrator of the Board, I have decided that it is time to retire. I cannot express the pleasure I have experienced since creating the Board for fellow paper doll collectors. I hope that the Board has increased knowledge of the hobby, advised as to availability of various sets, provided social contact, answered questions, and encouraged others to join in this wonderful hobby. 


"As of now, the Board will go on under the supervision of the webmaster. Thank you for many wonderful years. Joan Homann"

In addition to administering the board, Joan also put together a nice guide to Magazine Paper Dolls, pictured above. I believe you can still order it directly from Joan at her website.  It's indispensable if you collect Lettie Lanes, Dolly Dingles and Betsy McCalls.

I first learned of the New York City paper doll group via the bulletin board. Thank you, Joan, for connecting me to so many wonderful people!

Updated: Flow Magazine

I've been plagiarized in a magazine! And I feel awful about it, because it is a lovely magazine.

First, this:

Last year at the 14th St. Barnes & Noble bookstore, I found a copy of Flow's thick 5th anniversary special -- the Dutch & English edition. The Flow Book is a feast for the eyes: colorful pages filled with wrapping papers, stickers, postcards, stationery, a garland and even pop-up scenes. Gorgeous. People who love paper created a magical book for like-minded people.

So I was happy to find the magazine today (in the same bookstore). It has articles about slowing down and living the mindful life, and other stories about creative people and how they do what they do. There's a lovely little booklet insert about how to do hand lettering, with space for you to practice. 

And... there's an article about paper dolls! Including paper dolls by contemporary artists!

But first, the article. It's not signed. I think it borrows liberally from things published elsewhere. Would have been nice if the anonymous author had cited sources. 

It's hard to copy the entire thing because the 140-page magazine is so nicely bound:

I think this is an image from an auction website. 

We all copy images from the web, so what's the big deal, right?

Oh look, a little story about Fluffy Ruffles...hey wait a minute, they took my research and used it without even giving me credit! Unless someone spent time as I did a few years back, researching old newspaper articles at the New York Historical Society. I doubt it. That insipid "bunny wabbit" line is not mine, but the research and analysis is all mine:

Not cool, Flow Magazine. I first wrote about Fluffy in a small handmade zine that I gave out in my presentation at the paper doll convention in San Antonio in 2007. Last year, I wrote a new version of the story for Paperdoll Review. 

...I just realized they probably read this interview I gave to Collectors Weekly back in 2013. Ah well.  

Check out their website, http://www.flowmagazine.com/ 
to see images from the latest issue.

Update: RLC is right, and there's no two ways about it!

Springmaid advertising paper doll c. 1954

Convention Update: Workshops

Above: a scene from a 2013 convention workshop: Ralph Hodgdon draws a paper doll and talks about Hollywood, fashion and shares some interesting behind-the-scenes gossip!

Garth Lax has been sending out  e-mail updates about the convention, and they are filled with important information. 

Yesterday's e-mail let us know which workshops were filled, among other things. I'll post the rest of his email this week -- it has important information about the Competition, the Sales Room and the Tour.

Take it away, Garth!

There are four limited-attendance Workshops, and I told you that they would fill at a brisk pace. While you still have an opportunity for some, you'll need 
to get the sign-up form sent in quickly.

Let's check the status of those four as of this morning.

THURSDAY, JUNE 18

9:00am - 12:00pm
Nancy Drew themed Altered Book Workshop
THERE'S ONLY ONE OPENING LEFT.
After that, you'll go on the Waiting List, and you can hope. 


9:30 am - 12:00 pm  (2 groups, one hour each)
PAINTING (AND GOSSIPING!) WITH RALPh
THIS IS OVER 75% FULL. ONLY 7 SPOTS REMAIN.
This one will be full before you know it.


1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
CRAFTING WITH PAPER DOLLS
THIS ONE IS FULL, AND THERE'S A WAITING LIST.


3:00 - 4:00 pm
MAKE A MINNIE PEARL HAT Workshop
ONLY 4 OPENINGS REMAIN.
In a few days, it will be full.



            2015 INTERNATIONAL PAPER DOLL CONVENTION
                               June 17 - 21, 2015
                            Embassy Suites Hotel
                              2321 Lifestyle Way
                      Chattanooga, Tennessee  37421                                                  
******************************************************************************
                          CONVENTION REGISTRATION

NAME__________________________________________________

ADDRESS_______________________________________________

CITY_______________________STATE_______ ZIP/PC__________

EMAIL_____________________________________

PHONE____________________________________

Registration:  $285.00 USD

Absentee Registration:  $100.00 USD
  (Souvenirs and Goodie Bags)

Guest Registration (Meals, access to all events, but no souvenirs) $150.00
  GUEST NAME:__________________________________________

Make Checks payable to:  Paperdoll Review 
____ Check/money order enclosed

____ Credit Card #____________________________Exp.Date______
        (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx accepted)
        (charge will appear on statement as "Paperdoll Review")

Mail to:

Paperdoll Review
P.O. Box 14
Kingfield, ME  04947

(If you prefer to register by telephone with a credit card,
call Paperdoll Review at 800-290-2928.)
**********************************************************************************

Diane the Bride, c.1880s

From my one winning bid at the Letty Schwarz auction: Diane the Bride was part of a small lot of cut paper dolls. Isn't she lovely?

Happy Easter

Two from 1936, Children's Playmate

c. 1938

Letty's Auction II

At Letty's Auction

The Letty Schwarz Collection

Letty Schwarz at the 2009 Paper Doll Convention in Las Vegas. 

She was smart, funny, sharp. I didn't know her half as well as I would have liked. We always had a lot of catching up to do at the convention. I was so looking forward to seeing her last year in Virginia. I will miss her.

Letty collected antique paper dolls, and she had a keen eye for 19th century hand-mades -- delicately drawn and painted, rich in detail. She also collected contemporary paper doll artists, especially in the silent auctions for original artwork. 

On Friday, April 3, the Rhoads Auction House in Pennsylvania will be auctioning off the lifetime collection of Letty Schwarz's paper dolls. Online bidding has already begun. 

You can find out more about the auction by clicking here. 

Morgantown Dress-A-Doll III

Here's the third and last batch of entries in the Morgantown Dress-A-Doll contest. Thanks to all who participated!

Lisa Keller Johnson

Carol Carey

Carol Carey

Valerie Keller (Jayne just corrected me!)

Margaret Brown