been a long time

another civil war era china head doll, repaired, rebodied and dressed

a doll with badly broken shoulder plate id repaired using heavy twill fabric,super glue and paperclay.

estate sale finds !!!

Those Three Sisters Estate Sales

recently posted on their facebook page an estate sale in the town where  I work Hillsboro Texas.
i jokingly asked ( oh how i really  would have loved the morning off ! ) my boss for a day off.
But  arrived at the sale around 2 pm and walked off with a ton of goodies !! i was so excited and a month later am still reeling over all the goodies i picked up.
just a few of the things i got that day.

box filled with dolls 

Francie, Barbie

antique body with lower legs made of bisque

 and a bisque Simon and Halbig head with a cracked face 

antique underpinnings

Japan made bicycle

unidentified composition fashion doll

madame alexander baby doll 

with rubber limbs and cryer box

Flip hair Standard Barbie 

cleaned and wearing a dress found at same estate sale

the Simon and Halnig head is ery pretty

Three tiny China heads

oh i was so thrilled !

Make Do Black Bru French doll

I have a deep love for Bru dolls. What doll collector wouldnt ? and for most of us to own an authentic antique Bru is what dreams are made of as they are arguably the most collectible of all antique dolls often fetching several thousands of dollars.
 I recenty aquired the pieces to make a black Bru 11 replica, she had been previously painted and my intention was to redo her features to hopefully get a more authentic look.
  Keep in mind i do not claim any rights of greatness when creating a dolls but i enjoy the process and have made dolls for many years.

Here is my Black Bru dolls journey.

before 

after reworking her features using chalks

sitting on the day bed with her new Bru friends

the doll on left made by mom mother several years ago

Civil War era China head doll

repaired and rebodied

poor dear is all broken up and glued years ago

in her old body she was 19" long

superglue the pieces to secure them for more 

agressive reinforcement

air dry sculpey was used to fill in missing pieces

epoxy glue to strengthen the underside

with patches and 4 layers of  epoxy glue

 

new body with tea stained arms

she is now 25"

ready and waiting for new clothes

working on a pinner apron pattern.

Doll completed

new body and clothes.

fabrics used were Civil War era replicas.

she is holding a sweet  vintage doll hat.

Ive named her Fran.

the value of my doll is greatly reduced due to her damage.

but it fun to see her sister on Ruby Lane

http://www.ebay.com/itm/c1860-German-Antique-23-CHINA-Head-LADY-Doll-Original-Cloth-Body-Pretty-/231014134816?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35c983f420

"Bebe Modele" Bru Doll & Accessories, ca. 1880 | Roadshow Archive | PBS

"Bebe Modele" Bru Doll & Accessories, ca. 1880 | Roadshow Archive | PBS

Marie Antoinette Automata , automaton ,

Marie Antoinette Animata playing the dulcimer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OMoo3y5WIQ&feature=player_embedded