Happy Mother's Day

Lettie Lane's Mother and Several of Her Costumes, by Sheila Young.

Ladies Home Journal, February 1909

Dover reprint

The Littlest Angels

Flower Day by Diego Rivera

(1925)

Covenant House and Hurricane Sandy

Covenant House is sheltering children displaced by Hurricane Sandy, and you can help them by a simple text donation.  From Director Kevin Ryan's Facebook page today:

"We are feeding breakfast to 1,100 kids in the storm region right now. Please - we really need help - please text KIDS to 80888 on your phone to donate $10 to help us feed and shelter all the homeless kids hurt by Hurricane Sandy."

I interviewed Kevin last month; you can read more about the work of Covenant House here. 

The angel clip is from a vintage college of scrap images published by Dover Publications.

The Golden Age of Hollywood by Gregg Nystrom

Congratulations to Gregg Nystrom on his first Dover book! This is a sneak peek of the cover; the book will be out in February. Love that this book of paper dolls comes with glitter. Gregg's likenesses of the stars are absolutely remarkable. Bravo, Gregg!

Halle Berry paper dolls by Bruce Patrick Jones

Just one of "16 sexy stars packin' heat" in "Action Stars," a 2010 paper doll book by Bruce Patrick Jones. Available from Dover Publications. Included: Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, and Hugh Jackman. Bruce is a phenomenal artist, and his intelligence and wit shine through in all kinds of details.

Mermaid paper doll by Eileen Rudisill Miller

The latest from Dover Publications. Eileen attended last year's convention in Kansas City, Mo. You can order her paper doll book here.

And a big thank you to our friends at Dover for contributing paper doll books for the convention. Three boxes packed with goodies arrived yesterday.

UPDATE: Make that 4 boxes! Another arrived yesterday. Thank you, Dover!

"Belle of the Ball"

The two illustrations are from the Dover clip art collection, "Women Advertising Cuts of the 20s and 30s," one of my favorite Dover compilations. It includes a CD-ROM with 607 vintage graphics. 

 

As you will see, these illustrations are perfect companions for the latest convention update:

 

Early Convention Registrants to receive "Belle of the Ball" paper doll book.

Those early birds who registered for the 2011 Convention in 2010 not only got a discount, they will receive a Bonus Paper Doll book by artist David Wolfe. The book will be distributed to those who qualify at the Convention.  

 

"Belle of the Ball" features a classically beautiful paper doll and her handsome male escort.  Twelve breathtaking gowns from 1860 to 2004 are included. The first is from the legendary House of Worth and the last from scandalous designer John Galliano at Christian Dior. Other extravagant gowns include creations by Charles James, Gianni Versace, Arnold Scassi, Balenciaga, Ungaro and Yves Saint Laurent.

Inside Voodoo Paper Dolls by Kwei-Lin Lum

Congratulations to Kwei-Lin on the publication of Voodoo Paper Dolls. She did an outstanding job on the artwork and the research. You can order your copy from Dover.

Dover Publications Secret Sale

 Well, not THAT secret. $20 off orders of $40 or more, if you use the coupon code. That's the best book deal I've heard of in a long while. The sale ends Nov. 30.

I love Dover's enormous selection of paper doll books, copyright free vintage graphics (like the one above), stickers, stationery and wrapping paper. And of course classics of world literature. 

Here's a sample of what I ordered tonight:

A beautiful alternative to traditional Christmas wrapping.

Here's Halle Berry in Bruce P. Jones' excellent Action Stars. Bruce is a regular at paper doll conventions, and his souvenirs are highly coveted. 

Kwei-lin's paper dolls, now on postcards! Kwei-lin is also a regular at conventions, and it's always exciting to see her perspective on a familiar topic, whether fortune cookies, West Side Story or the Day of the Dead. Her work is prized among collectors.

The Glitter Snow Princess by Eileen Rudisil Miller, new to me. I think her work is absolutely lovely.

Darcy May's enchanting artwork, another artist I'd love to meet at convention.