Paper Doll Studio Issue 107

The latest Paper Doll Studio is a honey of an issue! More than 30 artists took on the theme of Queens, and Jenny did a great job of organizing the submissions. David Wolfe provided the doll of Queen Elizabeth that artists costumed in everything from traditional robes to modern dress. Below is a selection: 

Pretty fabulous, and that is just two of the  64 pages. Other Queen-themed paper dolls were also included: Queen bees (Linda Hoerner and Carol Peters); Tom Tierney's Drag Queens; Jim Howard's Nefertiti; Evie Fullingim's Queen of Hearts; Kwei-lin Lum's take on all the Queens in the card deck; Brenda Sneathen Mattox's Empress Eugenie of France -- to name just a handful.

I also loved reading the article by artist Anita Barbour, whose Queen Lili'uokalani of Hawaii is featured on the cover. David Wolfe provides a thoughtful analysis of how Elizabeth I's life has been rendered in film and TV over the years, and the liberties that have been taken with her story. David will be working this year on "Elizabeth I in the Movies," something for us to look forward to. Brenda Mattox, a longtime chronicler and collector of vintage fashion, gives us the lowdown on the wardrobe of Elizabeth II, the current British monarch that we feel we have known all of our lives. 

Judy Johnson's tribute to Johana Gast Anderton -- one of the founders of the Original Paper Doll Artsist Guild -- is very moving. 

Reading Sharry O'Hare's article about the 2013 convention was thrilling -- I heard her and her husband Micheal sing a medley of Broadway tunes at the Los Angeles convention, but had no idea how this fantastic couple came to connect with the paper doll world. Well, she is a collector, L.A. was her first convention and she and Micheal have signed on for Richmond this year. Sharry's delight in meeting the artists she knew only by e-mail or the web reminded me of what a special community this is. And how lucky we are to have Sharry and Micheal join us once again. 

Subscribing to Paper Doll Studio is a great way to support this community of artists. Click here to order online.  Or click the image below for the snail-mail address:

McLaughlin's Coffee sleigh ride cape doll, c. 1880s

An exquisite premium from McLaughlin Coffee.

Tucocon by the Jones Sisters

A Pacific Island Girl, 1987, by the Jones Sisters. Barbara Barnett and her sister collaborated on these beautiful sets which incorporated vintage wall paper for costumes and folder. 

Paula Hill's Open House, 2014

Paula's Open House in Harriman this year coincided with her birthday and Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. One of Paula's friends gave her a vintage piece of costume jewelry (which of course I didn't think to photograph!): a long necklace with a small glass orb for a pendant. Embedded in the glass, on one side, Dr. King; on the other side, Robert Kennedy.

Whimsical ornaments on multiple trees...

 A lovely scrap of a Punch and Judy show, beautifully framed....

 Dennison made tree ornaments....

 Inside the Dennison envelope.

 1920s-1930s, for sure...

 A lovely tradition, one I look forward to every year. Thank you, Paula! I look forward to seeing her and many other friends at the Morgantown luncheon on April 5.

Nan C. Moorehead 2014 Sales List #1

Nan's back with more paper dolls, this time including original art from Sandy Vanderpool. As always, there's a discount on some items that were listed earlier. Don't forget to call Nan first to make sure the item is still available.

The 2014 Morgantown Paper Doll Luncheon

The Morgantown Paper Doll Luncheon will be held Saturday, April 5, 2014 at the Morgantown, Pa., Holiday Inn. Invitations will go out via e-mail before the end of January. If you don't have an e-mail address, we'll make sure you get an invitation via snail mail. Not on the list? Send your name, address and e-mail to sheryljaeger(at)comcast(dot)net

For this year's theme, we once again found inspiration in one of our favorite TV shows. Attendees are invited to channel the fabulous midcentury style of the women of Mad Men. It's a good excuse to haunt a few thrift stores in search of the perfect frock.

Shari Lewis Standing Dolls and Puppets, 1958

This Saalfield paper doll from 1958 has wonderful cover art. It's one of the small number of vintage celebrity paper doll sets I've seen with an excellent likeness of the star on the cover and in the dolls as well.

Get Well Wishes for Tom Tierney

We're sending a ton of love Tom Tierney's way. The King of Paper Dolls is facing a challenge.

His niece Kathy O'Tierney posted the following message on Facebook:

Dearest paper doll family,

I am sorry to say that we are going to have to cancel the Texas Paper Doll Party scheduled for this March. As some of you know or may not know Tom has been diagnosed with lung cancer. He has decided not to receive chemo. Due to his age it is not recommended. He continues to have a positive attitude but as you can imagine has some pretty rough days. Please continue to send him well wishes and prayers! Please don't hesitate to come visit if you wish. Just let me know, but sorry I just can't handle a party right now! Thanks to you all. 

Kathy

You can send a note or card to Tom at the following address:

Tom Tierney
P.O. 269Smithville, TX 78957  

Kathy just lost her husband -- Tom's nephew-- last year. Our thoughts are with Kathy, too, as she helps our beloved Tom through this difficult time.

Dutch Regional Dress Paper Doll, c. 2002

From the collection of Mirna Rodriguez, one of the newest members of the NYC paper doll group. Mirna found this at a flea market, and was kind enough to let me scan it in for the blog.

Even the folder it came in was cleverly designed. It is likely still for sale in the gift shop of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. The cost was 6.50 euros, which places this item no earlier than 2002, when the currency was adopted by the Netherlands.

Johana

Johana Gast Anderton (1930-2013) was one of the founding members of the Original Paper Doll Artists Guild, and was a prodigious artist, writer and educator. "How Slim I Was...in 1978" was Johana's witty contribution to the Paper Doll Artists Gallery book, edited by Jenny Taliadoros.

Judy Johnson has written a wonderful tribute to her dear friend, which you can read here.

Old Man 1933 by Laura Brock

80 years ago Old Man 1933 shuffled off the stage.  I learned about Laura Brock's newspaper paper dolls from longtime collectors, and just purchased this one yesterday from Carol Carey.