"The Women" paper dolls for sale

 

Those of you who attended the last paper doll convention (or follow my 2009 convention archive blog) recognize this set. It's based on the fashions by Adrian that were featured in the 1939 classic film, "The Women." The set won a first place ribbon at the convention competition for owner Dee Radcliffe.

Now it's possible for collectors  to purchase a copy of this set directly from artist Kristina Lenss, who left this message on the convention blog:

Hi There!
This is the artist of the set. I still have the originals so if anyone would like to purchase a printed set of this collection please email me at: kalenss(at)hotmail(dot)com

Thanks!

Paper People at Edmonds Museum.

 Nan C. Moorehead is co-curator of an exhibit on paper dolls and their history at the Edmonds Museum in Washington state. Go to the museum web site to read an essay by Nan and to download a pair of vintage paper dolls. Congratulations, Nan!

 

Golden Opportunities, January 2010 issue #58

Nan Moorehead's current issue of G.O. is devoted to handmade paper dolls--a real treat to see selections from the collections of Elaine Price, Carolyn Thompson and others. Also in the issue: a lovely remembrance of artist Marianna Martin by Barbara Bigelow.  The next issue will continue the handmade theme.  Subscription: $24 for four issues. Sample $7. Nan C. Moorehead, Golden Opportunities, P.O. Box 1831, Edmonds, WA 98020.

The Brooklyn Sanitary Fair

 
I'm a big fan of the Antiques column that runs in the Friday New York Times. In today's edition, I learned about a long forgotten poet named Mary Webb; the closing of the Roy Rogers-Dale Evans Museum in Branson, Mo., with its contents to be auctioned in Arizona and New York within the coming months; and these dolls, created by young women during the Civil War to raise money for wounded soldiers. Their 1864 fundraiser was called the Brooklyn Sanitary Fair.

Ruth Slifer Scrap Book VIII

Ruth filled 85 pages of an old notebook more than 90 years ago. I hope you have enjoyed the selection I posted these past few days.

I don't know if Ruth was making a commentary on boys or not, but facing this burro is an illustration she carefully folded to fit on the page. It's early Norman Rockwell, no less--celebrating the American boy to sell a product, perhaps Wheaties or some other Kellogg's cereal:

I think Ruth had a sense of humor! I hope she grew up to be and do all that she wanted.  

Ruth Slifer Scrap Book VII

A surreal touch: a black child inspects an exotic bloom.

 

When I saw that tin of Log Cabin Syrup, I knew I had to post it for Tattered and Lost, who has found some  funny (later date) syrup ads.  

Ruth Slifer Scrap Book VI

 

A warm breakfast, bright oranges and kittens to cuddle. Who could ask for anything more? The sketch of a little girl with a black kitten has been hand-colored by Ruth, I assume. And that white cat in the corner is felt--perhaps stitched by Ruth as well?

Ruth Slifer Scrap Book V

Every age has its own celebrity culture. In Ruth's day, pianist Josef Hofmann was at the height of his popularity.

Here is a strange juxtaposition! The powerful and the powerless: President Woodrow Wilson and a baby.

Ruth Slifer Scrap Book IV

 

Everytime I browse through Ruth's scrapbook,  I see something else. Not just cozy domestic scenes, but whimsical layouts, such as the two facing pages showing a boy strapping on his roller skates and appearing to glance up at a charming little girl in her Carter's union suit.

Ruth Slifer Scrap Book III

 

 

Of course, little Ruth Slifer would have been a Dolly Dingle fan. Here are some of the characters from Grace Drayton's color comic strip in the newspapers, as well as a small paper doll (top right) that was part of a larger page from Pictorial Review. The little striped dress was partially glued down on the doll.

Ruth Slifer Scrap Book II

I'm so glad to hear people are enjoying these pages from the Ruth Slifer Scrap Book. As I browse through its pages, I realize it is truly an ode to motherhood, babies, childhood, little girls and little boys and their dreams.  I should note that, on the title page posted yesterday, Ruth had carefully printed "Edited by Ruth L. Slifer."

 

Ruth Slifer Scrap Book

Ruth Slifer put this scrap book together c. 1914. (There's a picture of Woodrow Wilson in the book, a solid clue to the time period.) Two years ago at the convention, I found it for sale in Cynthia Wuthrich's room. These are pictures carefully cut out of popular magazines of the era, likely The Ladies Home Journal and perhaps The Delineator and Pictorial Review. I would guess Ruth spent a lot of time with her mother's help selecting and cutting the pictures for her scrap book.

 

Audrey Hepburn by Tom Tierney

 

 

 

Another free preview from Dover. And don't forget to check Tom's own website for many paper dolls you won't find anywhere else.

Drifting song sheet

1920 sheet music from the Duke Digital Archive.

A visit to Harriman, NY

Christmas always lingers at Paula and Blaine Hill's annual open house in Harriman, NY. It was a treat to visit the 1860 stone schoolhouse on Sunday, and marvel at her various collections and decorated Christmas trees (yes, that's plural).There was also a ton of food. It felt like an old-fashioned New Year's open house -- at least how I imagined that tradition was when it was more widely followed 100 years ago.

 

 

These photos don't convey the number of people who were there, the plates and dishes Paula made, or neighbors and friends brought over. You can catch a glimpse of the old house's many fascinating corners, and Paula's knack for decorating with her collections. 

 

Of course, we made our way downstairs to her first floor shop, and browsed cabinets, shelves and boxes of vintage scrap, paper dolls, paper toys, postcards and childrens books. Joan Burke and I found many interesting things.

 

Karen Ham and Carol Carey also found treasures. Paula had pantins of Santa Claus and other interesting prints on the wall.

 

This was my special find: a page of cut-outs, possibly British. Or German, perhaps?

Paper Dolls: A Group Exhibition in L.A.

Sneak preview here. If anyone has seen the show, which opened Thursday, I'd love to hear about it.

Vintage birthday greetings

What a lovely sentiment. A delicate illustration, quite ethereal, unusual for a son's birthday card. Not the usual dark, masculine sporty thing you usually see. From the Chester Thorpe scrapbook.

Corona Candy

From the Duke Digital Archive.

Glitter Fairy by Darcy May

 

 

Another free preview from Dover.

All-leather sandals

More from the 1951 Wards catalog: a colorful display of summer sandals. Most of the pages are black and white. And Wards is Montgomery Ward, of course (no apostrophe in catalog, maybe a misprint or just a style choice by the store).

Wards catalog, 1951

I've always been fond of peter pan collars. The print I'm not so sure about...

Trixie Belden paper dolls, 1958

 

 

More from the Random House web site: free paper dolls from the archives.