Sasha, Sasha, Sasha

Merry Christmas

2011-12-23T20:48:00.002-05:00

I wish I had the time and energy to set up a small tree for the dolls this year. Instead I made do with posing Adeline by our big tree for a Christmas picture. She is wearing a new dress that Marti Murphy made from a vintage baby dress. C'est Magnifique!

Little Princess

2011-11-14T16:28:00.038-05:00

Sometimes I stumble across one of Boo's dolls and have to smile. Here is Princess Kitty perched on her "throne" in the family room. The crown is child-sized (part of Boo's dress-up collection), and was simply wrapped around Kitty's head. Her sweet outfit was made by Norvell Jones, and is one of Boo's favorites.

More Happiness

2011-11-06T21:28:00.006-05:00

My Doucet pram has arrived, and I'm very happy with this purchase also. It is in great condition, and I really like the texture of the black and how it contrasts with the white. I love, love, love it! Allegra is the first to play with it, and I think she feels the same way.

Meet Allegra

2011-11-06T20:09:00.088-05:00

The eBay situation with Annabel left me feeling unhappy, but I cheered up when I found a 1968 blonde fringe girl for sale on Shelly's site. Since her descriptions are always accurate, I knew I wouldn't be disappointed again. Allegra is just as described, and oh so much nicer than Annabel. And she's a blue cord, like most of my other early English blondes.

The weather wasn't great for picture taking today and I didn't have time to mess with lighting, but I managed to find a spot of light coming through a south-facing window. It was so bright that I was having problems with shadows, but I like how this picture turned out.

Luckily I also wound up with a decent shot of Allegra's spectacular pale blue eyes. If you're curious, she's standing in front of Boo's doll armoire.

Doucet Pram

2011-10-30T12:23:00.002-04:00

I made an online purchase today, and am so excited that I can't wait until it arrives to share! I have been searching for one of these for ages -- when I find one it's already sold or I get outbid. The seller had misread the label as Doucer instead of Doucet, which is probably the reason no one had snapped it up already. I'm doing a little happy dance, awaiting its arrival next week.

Happiness is ...

2011-08-17T21:51:00.000-04:00

... getting a bed for your Sasha baby. This was the part of the auction we didn't win that made Boo most disappointed about losing.

I have one overjoyed daughter (with one very cozy Sasha baby). Thank you Dawn!

♥ 2012 Sasha Festival ♥

2011-08-14T23:04:00.001-04:00

The 2012 Sasha Festival is happening June 21-24 in Stratford upon Avon, England.

I know that seems like a long time away, but it's time to start planning now. Here's a message from Dawn Law, the festival organizer:

Owing to the Olympic Games and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee there will be a large number of overseas visitors next June, and hotel rooms in England are filling up fast. I have been contacted by our Hotel, The Grosvenor, about our likely demand for rooms, as some Hotels in Stratford upon Avon (one of England's top tourist towns) are already full.
I had provisionally booked 40+ rooms, at the Hotel and more could be made available if we act quickly. There are only about 70 rooms in this hotel. However, owing to demand they cannot hold them for very long.
In order to secure a room here for the Festival, it is advisable to book NOW.
I have negotiated the following prices:
Thursday, 21 and 22 June 2012 - Double room with breakfast £99 (this is for 2 people, not per head).
Saturday, 23 June 2012 - (price is £20 lower than Best Western's fixed rate for Saturday nights) Double room £140.(for 2 people, not per head).
Sunday, 24th June 2012 - (for anyone staying over) Double room with breakfast £79 (for 2 people).
If you need accommodation at The Grosvenor, you can contact the Hotel on (tel) 01789 269213, (fax) 01789 266087, (email) res@bwgh.co.uk Website address is www.bwgh.co.uk . They will need a £50 deposit at time of booking.
If you are planning to stay at other hotels in England during your visit, I suggest you contact them now as rooms in London, particularly, are becoming scarce.
In view of the urgency to book rooms, we shall have to change our proposed registration system. Please let me know if you are planning to come to the Festival and have booked your room a.s.a.p. via email, and I will put you on the list, and also let me know if you wish to come but will not be staying at the hotel.
I will then be able to send out registration forms which you can return to me.
The cost of our Festival will be £150 per person, and we are limited to 100 full participants (meals only may be possible, depending on numbers - cost later). The fee will include three meals, 1 x dinner, 1 x lunch and 1 x brunch., and includes 1 outing.
Confirmation and payment will be required by 1st September 2011. Paypal details later.
If you need further information, please contact me.
The website will be available very soon.
Looking forward to seeing new and old friends again.
Dawn Law.

Sasha Festival 2011 - post 7

2011-08-11T21:58:00.110-04:00

Since there were no table hostess gifts or gift swap this year, and I didn't win any auctions or buy anything for myself in the sales room, I didn't bring home much new beyond the festival souvenirs shown in my last post. I did buy a copy of Anne, Ann, and Susanna's new book (which is fabulous - everyone needs a copy!) and a set of the bookmarks they are selling to help fund their future books.

And Boo brought home a quite a few additional new things, first and foremost being a baby waif who she's tentatively named Kitty. Kitty is a sexed girl with raised eyelids, from the early-to-mid 70's.

Of course Kitty needed more to wear, so Boo picked a few pieces to start her layette. Notice I said I didn't buy anything for myself in the sales room.

Calla and Rose also have more to wear, thanks to the generosity of Dorisanne and Jackie. Boo was amazed how nice people were to her. Calla is standing with items from a special children's workshop, including a child-sized Sasha wrist tag that Boo made; Rose is standing with items that were given to the kids with helped with the raffle.

This concludes my posts for the 2011 Sasha Festival. Let the countdown to the 2012 Sasha Festival begin ... 10 months and 10 days to go!

Sasha Festival 2011 - post 6

2011-08-08T21:11:00.082-04:00

I finally found time to take pictures of all the official festival souvenirs. Hopefully I didn't miss anything; searching my bags and my memory, I came up with the following:

Registration -- tote bag, festival booklet, auction booklet, auction paddle, and nametag
Friday Workshops -- quilted pillow and fishing pole
Friday Luncheon: "An Afternoon at the Sangamon River" -- overalls and straw hat
Saturday Dinner: "An Edwardian Garden Party" -- dress, dress stand, and pinwheel
Sunday Brunch: "A Farewell to Springfield" -- gingham bag, Lincoln Logs, tights and shoes

Here are Desiree and Adeline wearing the outfits Boo and I received, which consist of a dress, white tights, and black shoes.

The dresses were on wooden stands, with a different fabric at each table and alternating colored ribbon sashes. Thus each dress was five-of-a-kind, with 18 different combinations. Boo and I sat side by side, so we have the same fabric but different sashes. The other 16 combinations are pictured below (click on a picture to see a larger version).

Here's a close-up of the bodice, showing the pintucks and buttons at the throat. I'm not sure if each button was different or if there were duplicates, but I saw a wide variety. I guess taking the buttons into account, that really makes each dress one-of-a-kind.

There were no table hostess gifts this year, but Boo and I did get a nice surprise from another mother/daughter pair: a floral headband for Boo, and Sasha notecards for me. I couldn't resist including them in this picture with the dresses and pinwheels, since they go so well with the "garden party" dinner theme.

We received overalls and a straw hat at our luncheon for the boys, and the fishing pole made at the workshops is the perfect accessory for an afternoon on the river. Now that Gregor Hiker has found a new home in Switzerland(!) my lone "male" is Sigmund, who makes a perfect fishing lad. Boo and I made the pillows at the workshops too (fortunately they were already pieced, though hand quilting was a challenge for both of us). The pastel boxes contained the shoes, while the gingham bags contained the tights and Lincoln Logs.

These tote bags are so large that they are tough to photograph. One side has a picture of a Gotz brunette in farm pants, while the other side is embroidered with "2011 Sasha Festival"; both sides are shown in this picture. Boo and I chose different fabric combinations so we wouldn't get our bags confused -- hers has the pink stripes.

And lastly, the paper goods from registration: the festival journal, auction catalog, auction paddle, and our nametags (there was also some Springfield literature which isn't pictured).

Eye Candy

2011-07-20T21:43:00.031-04:00

Sheila Foery took amazing close-ups of the faces of some of the studio dolls that were exhibited at the Sasha Festival for the debut of the new book Sasha Dolls: A History. She has graciously allowed me to post them here on my blog.

A big thank you to Sheila for sharing her photos!

And a huge thank you to the owners of these studio dolls for allowing them to be displayed and photographed.

Sasha Festival 2011 - post 5

2011-07-19T23:42:00.008-04:00

NOTE: captioning is still in progress, but should be complete by this weekend. A million thanks to Meg Richardson for helping me put names with faces!

I uploaded almost 475(!) Sasha Festival pictures to an album on Picasa. There are pictures of Sasha dolls and Sasha doll enthusiasts, group meals and gatherings, Dress-A-Sasha contest entries, and Children's Fund Auction items. There are also pictures of two special displays: dolls and clothing in conjunction with the release of Sasha Doll: A History, and a Doll Quilt Display. The lighting wasn't always great, and my hand wasn't always steady, so please excuse any blurry photos. Here is a slideshow of the entire album:

Clicking on the picture below will take you directly to my Picasa album. There you can see all the photos from this slideshow, along with descriptive captions. Feel free to email me or add a comment if you know of corrections or additional information for any of my captions.

Sasha Festival 2011

Sasha Festival 2011 - more posts coming

2011-07-18T08:42:00.007-04:00

Boo and I are safely home (and very tired).

It will take a few days to get my pictures organized, uploaded, and labeled. Once I do, I will post a Picasa slideshow as in past years. Until that is ready, you can look at my photo albums and relive the past two festivals: 2009 in Rochester and 2010 in San Francisco. Clicking on the link will take you to the pictures, which you can peruse individually. If you'd like to view them as a slideshow, there is a "slideshow" button on the upper left of the album page.

Sasha Festival 2011 - post 4

2011-07-17T18:32:00.003-04:00

Boo slept until after 7:00 this morning, while I dressed myself and the dolls then attempted to finalize our packing. Not an easy task without knowing what our brunch table favors would be, and whether we'd win any helper raffle items. Here's Boo with the girls once she was awake and dressed. We headed down to brunch shortly afterwards.

Fortunately the festival table favors were relatively small in size: gingham bags with the Sasha logo, containing socks & mini Lincoln logs, plus boxes with black shoes to go with our festival dresses from last night. As usual, there were lots of dolls at the tables, many wearing newly purchased or won attire. This blonde trio is wearing the festival dresses we received last night.

After brunch, Charla thanked people who helped with the festival, Jackie announced the Dress-A-Sasha winners, and Dawn Law spoke a bit about next years festival in the UK. Lastly, Heidi supervised the helper item raffle, with Elliot drawing the tickets and announcing the winners. Boo and I didn't win anything (though Dorisanne gave Boo an knit outfit, and Charla gave her some Sasha-sized toys for helping with the raffle). I was able to get everything from brunch into our suitcases easily, so we had a bit of free time for saying goodbyes before taking the shuttle to the airport.

We've had a long layover in Chicago where I've been composing this post around trying to keep Boo entertained. Our final leg home starts boarding in a few minutes. It will be nice to be home with my husband and son and back to our usual routine, but I'm sure I'll be suffering withdrawal from all my Sasha friends for a few weeks. I'm already looking forward to attending my next festival, hopefully in 2012.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Sasha Festival 2011 - post 3

2011-07-16T22:18:00.003-04:00

Boo slept in until about 6:45 this morning. I think she would have slept even later if I hadn't been rattling around, but we needed to get breakfast and have my sales table set up by 9:00. I brought 10 dolls from my collection to sell, plus lots of clothes, shoes, and accessories. Only one of my dolls found a new home, but I managed to sell a lot of the smaller items that make less sense to sell online. The sales room was open until 11:30, so that filled most of our morning. Here's a picture of Heidi's table; I was so busy checking out everyone else's tables that I neglected to take a picture of my own.

Boo found herself a baby, which made up for yesterday's auction disappointment. She is a 70's sexed girl, temporarily named Kitty. I also let Boo buy her several outfits, so baby Kitty's layette is well underway.

We were on our own for lunch, with free time for sightseeing built into the afternoon schedule. Boo and I toured the Old State Capitol and also visited the Lincoln home. Lots of walking in the heat with surprisingly little whining.

We had just enough time for ice cream, another trip to the hotel's pool, and some preliminary packing before the special Doll Quilt Display and dinner.

We received festival dresses and pinwheels as table favors, with a different fabric for the dresses at each table. Boo and mine are a pink print, one with a pink sash and one with a navy blue sash (this picture is from a table with a slightly different pink print).

The after dinner program was a slide presentation about the Dana Thomas House, which was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and is currently being renovated. I tried to stick around and chat for a while afterward, but Boo was tired and impatient and I was losing my patience too. She has been asleep for over an hour now, while I've tried to do more packing in the near-dark. Hard to believe it will all be over tomorrow after brunch.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Sasha Festival 2011 - post 2

2011-07-15T21:55:00.005-04:00

Today was a busy day! Boo woke up around her usual time, 6:42, which was unfortunately 5:42 here in Springfield. Fortunately being up early was beneficial; after enjoying breakfast here at the hotel, we helped Sheila set up the items for the Children's Fund Auction. It want relatively quickly, and I was able to take pictures before there were lots of people around. Here's a picture of the item I donated, smocked sister dresses made by Kath Barnett from Australia.

We then spent a couple of hours in workshops: patchwork pillows (fortunately the top was already pieced), and fishing poles. Boo and I still need to finish our pillows, hand sewing the edge where we stuffed and adding a button to the middle. I might have finished mine, but I got distracted by a display of Studio dolls and clothes that was set up in the same room. There will be more pictures eventually, but here is a sneak peek: the center of the display.

Next up was lunch, where everyone received a straw hat and denim overalls as table favors. Then Anne, Ann, and Susanna spoke a bit about their new book (and three! more planned books) and it was available for purchase. Finally! I've only had a chance to skim mine so far, but the pictures alone are worth the price.

We had some free time in the afternoon, so Boo and I voted in the Dress-A-Sasha contest, bought tickets for the helper raffle, and went swimming in the pool. We had a quick pizza dinner with Tina before the Children's Fund Auction, which raised $8470 for Oxfam and Save the Children (actually double that thanks to matching programs). Boo was a bit upset that I didn't win her this baby with layette, but the person I was bidding against outlasted me.

I'm sure there are people socializing in the hotel, but Boo and I are back in the room. Once again it's three hours past her usual bedtime, and she is just dozing off in front of the TV. Time for a quick shower then I'm off to bed too, since setup for the sales tables starts at 7:00 tomorrow morning.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Sasha Festival 2011 - post 1

2011-07-14T22:26:00.053-04:00

We made it safely to Springfield! We checked in to the hotel, spent some time in our room unpacking and unwinding, headed to registration, then mingled in the lobby for a while. Boo was hungry, so we found a couple of other people interested in an early dinner - a nice meal at Cafe Andiamo up the street with Dawn Law and Elizabeth Mizerek.

After we ate, we had more downtime in our room while I priced some of the items for my sales table, and we changed Calla and Rose into their pjs for the "Route 66 Drive In" themed Meet and Greet. Lots of people were there! I enjoyed chatting with old friends, meeting new people, and taking pictures of "girls" and their dolls. Like my dear friend Tina:

And our hostess-with-the-mostest, Charla:

While I socialized and wandered around taking pictures, Lea-Frances kept busy playing on my iPad ... and made a new friend in the process

Now she's falling asleep in front of the TV, which might not be good parenting but cured both the mania and whining that happen when she's overtired. After this quick blog post I'm off to bed too, as we're helping to set up the CFA items early tomorrow morning.

So far, so fun. :-)

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Summer Frocks

2011-07-13T22:13:00.000-04:00

Since Adeline and Desiree are for sale at the festival this weekend, this may be my last chance to take pictures of them - and of the dresses I made for them. I love how they look in their new summer frocks, like a couple of schoolgirls headed to a party.

They're both "late 60's blondes", but they are far from identical. Adeline has a wider face than Desiree, and her eyes are smaller and a darker blue. Almost all the paint has rubbed off Adeline's lips leaving them nude, while Desiree's lip paint has whitened. Sisters, cousins, or just friends?

Springfield Or Bust!

2011-07-13T21:41:00.000-04:00

I was so pleased with how Desiree looks in her new dress, that I decided to make a new dress for Adeline too. I had some fabric in my stash with just the right shade of blue for her eyes (which are much darker than Desiree's). I also decided to remedy her encounter with a junior hairdresser many years ago, by arranging a visit with a senior hairdresser. Fortunately the woman who cuts my hair is a good sport.

Here's how Adeline looked before, with her hair shorter on her left side.

And here's how she looks after Miss Amira worked her magic, evening up the sides without sacrificing much length.

Now she's just as cute as can be in her new dress and a pair of red cat shoes.

Boo and I fly out tomorrow morning, and we're all packed and ready to go. I'm not bringing a computer, but I will have my iPad, so I may try to do a bit of blogging while we're on the road. Notice I said "may try" not "definitely will", as I have no idea what it will be like traveling with Boo.

Meet Juliette

2011-07-11T21:58:00.014-04:00

I can't believe it's almost time for the 2011 Sasha Festival. My how time flies! Even more unbelievable is that I still haven't formally introduced the doll that I bought at last year's festival. I gave a couple of sneak peeks here and here, but haven't made the time since then to take photos and write up a blog post.

Nancy Miller of Let's Play Dolls wrote this description of her: "Early rare no-philtrum girl, 1966, beautifully hand painted and extremely rare dark navy eyes with dark liner and white eye shadow, pretty pink lips, near flawless complexion, beautiful blonde hair has just a hint of dryness, but this is not obvious, no missing hair plugs, complete original blue cord dress outfit, panty elastic has stretched, clothes are otherwise excellent, navy leather Mary Jane shoes are absolutely mint except for a bit of paint missing from one snap, I don’t remember if I added the vintage hair ribbon or if it is original, doll has been re-strung to the correct tension, original striped elastic is tucked inside, doll is in excellent to near mint condition. She was reluctantly taken from my personal collection; she is gorgeous!"

She is indeed gorgeous. And her eyes are absolutely amazing! She is the Jewel of my collection - often referred to as Jules as a nickname for Juliette. Not the best light for photography today, but it will suffice.

Meet Chandra Opal

2011-07-08T21:39:00.070-04:00

I know I said I was going to introduce my Sasha Saris in alphabetical order, but I decided to save the one I'm keeping for last. The other three will be sold, but Opal is going to become one of my "Amigos" -- an assortment of late 80's girls who I dress and display. Since the others all have names that start with the letter C, she has become Chandra Opal (pronounced Chuhn-drah).

It wasn't easy to choose, and there isn't a solid reason why she is my choice. I like the rose pattern on her red, white, and blue sari, yet I think the color is the least flattering of the four. I like the shape of her bangs, yet they all have nice hair now that it's been washed. Perhaps it's that she appears to be more petite than the others, though appears is the operative word here. I even hesitate to say she is my "favorite". They all call to me in different ways, yet she spoke to me the loudest.

While my Sasha Saris are all quite photogenic, Chandra Opal seems the most reserved.

Meet Ruby

2011-07-08T20:53:00.014-04:00

Since I'm introducing my Sasha Saris in alphabetical order, third up is Ruby.

Ruby wears a red sari with a black, white, and blue pattern that looks somewhat Oriental (both the color and the pattern). I think she has the straightest bangs/fringe of the four, though she also has a piece in the center that wants to stick up.

While my Sasha Saris are all quite photogenic, Ruby seems the most serene.

Meet Iris

2011-07-08T20:07:00.039-04:00

Since I'm introducing my Sasha Saris in alphabetical order, second up is Iris.

Iris wears a purple sari with a black and grey floral pattern. I love this vivid shade of purple, and think it looks lovely with her black hair. Speaking of her hair, it looks slightly longer than the others, though that may be because it has slightly less curl.

While my Sasha Saris are all quite photogenic, Iris seems the most aloof.

Meet Beryl

2011-07-08T19:21:00.009-04:00

It has been so long since I bought my Sasha Saris that I don't recall the order in which they were purchased. I've decide to introduce them in alphabetical order, so first up is Beryl.

Beryl wears a blue sari with a pink and white floral pattern. I think she has the thickest bangs/fringe of the four, and also appears to be slightly taller than the others. Her sari is damaged, with a piece missing along one edge, but it isn't particularly noticeable when wrapped.

While my Sasha Saris are all quite photogenic, Beryl seems the most feminine.

Sasha Saris

2011-07-06T19:27:00.012-04:00

I currently own four Sasha Saris, each wearing a different color sari. I have been holding out on introducing them on my blog because I wanted to wash their hair first, and with four of them that's a time-consuming project. Each of them had bangs that stuck out in several directions, and their hair seemed clumpy in back. I finally dug out my mild shampoo last week and made time to wash and dry their hair. Wow, what a difference! I was planning to sell all four as part of my consolidation, but they look so lovely now that I've decided to keep one as my sixth Amigo.

When I redressed them I wrapped their saris differently, to go over the shoulder and not the head. This is more in keeping with how I've known people to wear their saris, plus it keeps their hair from getting so mussed.

Isn't their black hair gorgeous?!

They are from 1986, the final year of production for the English Sashas, and only around 400 were made before the factory closed. That means these are roughly 1% of all the Sasha Saris made. They lack the hand painting of the earlier dolls, but they still look slightly different from each other.

I will introduce them individually shortly.

Later Gotz Moderns

2011-07-01T21:03:00.079-04:00

I am consolidating my Sasha collection a bit, so that my dolls can have more room (and hence more visibility) in the space available. It was a difficult decision, but I've decided to part with my four pale-skinned Later Gotz girls. I will miss them, as they are lovely dolls with their fair skin, rosy cheeks, and long straight hair. Still, I'd prefer that they be enjoyed elsewhere rather than hidden at the back of a cabinet here.

They will be available at my sales table at the upcoming Sasha Festival in Springfield. Since I'll be packing them for our trip soon (is it really only two weeks away?!), I decided to take some group pictures today. It was a bit of a rush job, but I think these turned out okay.

First the two brunettes together, Stella and Anika:

Next the two blondes together, Carmen and Wibke:

Then the two with braids together, Wibke and Anika:

And finally, a couple of pictures with all four: a close up ...

... and a full-body shot.

Parting is such sweet sorrow.

Sleeveless "Migros" Dress

2011-06-29T21:17:00.040-04:00

I had some blue and yellow floral fabric that I thought would look nice on Desiree, so I decided to make her a new dress. I used the sleeveless version of the classic Migros dress pattern, which was challenging given my limited sewing skills. It's not perfect, but I'm pleased with how it turned out.

The skirt is very wide, just like the early cord dresses, which makes it easy for Desiree to lift it up and show off her matching pants.

This sweet 1969 girl is for sale, and will be available at my sales table at the upcoming Sasha Festival in Springfield.

Gotz Scouts

2011-05-04T20:34:00.062-04:00

While the "old" uniform has a few more details (like a shirt pocket, belt loops, stripe-topped socks, and tie-able shoelaces) I think the "new" uniform does a great job of capturing the same feel. Natasha and Alice seem like girls in different age groups, and thus wearing different colored neckerchiefs. Of course they are in different age groups, with one being almost 30 years older than the other. :-)

I think these two look amazing together ...

... so amazing in fact, that I was second guessing my decision to sell Alice. I had to remind myself that I'm selling some of my later Gotz to make room for my expanded group of early Gotz. She might not have another Scout to hang out with now, but Natasha has seven no-navel friends. And while I no longer own Alice, I still have a later Gotz with blonde braids -- Lilly.

Meet Natasha

2011-05-02T16:16:00.044-04:00

Before I packaged Alice up to mail to her new home, I took some pictures of her with my other Gotz scout. She hasn't been introduced yet, so I decided to do that before sharing the comparison pictures. Meet Natasha, an absolutely stunning 1970 no-navel. She's a brown-eyed redhead who came with her complete scout uniform (including the pennant!). The color is a bit off in these pictures thanks to uncooperative weather, but I didn't want to wait for a sunnier day to create this post.

She is my fourth no-navel from 1970 (with more subtle eye paint than those from 1969), joining Liesel, Muriel, and Miranda in my collection.

Linger

2011-05-01T10:55:00.000-04:00

This seems like a fitting song for saying farewell to Alice -- it's what we used to sing around the campfire on the final night of Girl Scout camp. She's heading north to a new home tomorrow, and I must admit that I'm going to miss her.

Mmm Mmm I want to linger,
Mmm Mmm a little longer,
Mmm Mmm a little longer here with you.

Mmm Mmm it's such a perfect night,
Mmm Mmm it doesn't seem quite right,
Mmm Mmm that this should be my last with you.

Mmm Mmm and come September,
Mmm Mmm I will remember,
Mmm Mmm our camping days and friendships true.

Mmm Mmm and as the years go by,
Mmm Mmm I'll think of you and sigh,
Mmm Mmm this is goodnight and not goodbye.

Good night, Alice.

Meet Annabel

2011-03-20T17:37:00.067-04:00

Since my last few posts have been about dolls that I don't own anymore, I decided to introduce another doll that is no longer part of my collection. She was purchased in a very negative eBay experience, but enough time has passed that it's not particularly upsetting now. Plus I learned two valuable lessons: early blondes can have major hair problems, and avoid sellers who appear mentally unstable. Since my 1968 blondes all have names starting with A, I thought it would be fitting to call her Annabel.

This poor girl's hair was very stiff and matted, and started falling out and/or breaking off before I was able to shampoo it. My assumption is that the hair was damaged by some sort of hair styling product which was used on it years ago (hence the stiffness). Her eyes were lovely, but it's my opinion that a fringe girl has lost most of her cachet if she's balding. I had to get Customer Support involved, but fortunately I was able to return the doll for a full refund.

These pictures were taken after her hair had been wet, so it looks quite smooth and silky here. But if you look closely it's broken off in places, especially a big chunk of her bangs.

You can see lots of shorter hairs from this angle, and also a ding on her hand.

Her face is quite lovely, though also quite grubby.

The cost was too high (both financially and emotionally) for me to regard her as a waif and fix her up. Alas, I can't save every doll. She was sold again on eBay for a lower price, so hopefully someone else did/will save her.

Vive la France!

2011-02-10T09:31:00.000-05:00

If only Grand-Pere were here to give these girls a quick French lesson. Yes, Luisa, Laura, and Sarah are off to a new home in France.

Taking their picture together, I realized what a nice trio they make: a brown-eyed brunette, a green-eyed redhead, and a blue-eyed blonde, all with a similar hairstyle. As far as I can tell from their tags, they each come from a different year too: Luisa from 1997, Laura from 1996, and Sarah from 1998.

Part of me hates to see them go, but now there is a bit more room in my doll cabinets for the other girls to spread out and be seen.

Royal Duo

2011-02-04T19:45:00.002-05:00

A modern fairy tale starring Prince Gregor and Princess Sasha (who make a very cute couple).

Boy meets girl ...

... they fall in love ...

... she borrows his clothing.

Meet Prince Gregor

2011-02-02T20:40:00.011-05:00

When I bought Princess Sasha, I also bought Prince Gregor from the same seller. His outfit might seem a bit silly (though it coordinates well with Princess Sasha as you will see in my next post), but his haircut and blue eyes are adorable. Unfortunately I didn't warm up to his wig either, and he was sold on to a new home as well. He is also a limited edition, though far less rare since about 3000 were made in 1985.

I don't plan on buying any more wigged Sashas, though I may change my mind someday. I love my two re-roots though, and have already been discussing a potential third with Bettina.

Meet Princess Sasha

2011-01-31T19:39:00.012-05:00

Like many Sasha collectors, I longed to own a rare Sasha Princess from 1986. She was intended to be a limited edition of 3500, but fewer than 400 were made before the factory in England closed. She has such a sweet look in all the pictures I've seen, with her distinctive blonde wig and brown eyes. I was thrilled when I found one for a reasonable price, complete with her box and certificate. When she arrived, I was surprised by how little attention I gave her. She and I just didn't connect -- a first for me with regard to Sashas. I finally concluded that it was her wig I didn't like (yes, that beautiful wig). I love wigged dolls in pictures, but apparently not so much in person. After months of contemplation I decided to sell her on for another collector to enjoy, but not before taking a few pictures.

Her outfit is elegant yet understated, and I love how all the pieces pull together. The pale pink and navy blue contrast nicely, and the hooded cloak and jeweled neck ribbon are perfect accessories for a princess.

I still think Sasha Princess looks sweet in pictures, but I also think I made the right decision for me when I sent her off to a new home.

Visitor Map

2011-01-31T19:14:00.009-05:00

I use a stat counter where I can see how many visitors my blog gets each day. One of its features is a world map showing the location of recent visitors (or at least the location of their internet service providers). Here is a snapshot from this morning:

It's nice to see that people around the world are viewing my blog. I know that some people stumble across it while searching for a non-doll Sasha (keyword activity is another feature, so I can see how people found my blog -- scary sometimes), but hopefully most viewers are enjoying the pictures and information presented here. Feel free to comment on any of my posts, even anonymously, as I love the interaction and feedback.

Hobby Day

2011-01-30T21:01:00.101-05:00

Friday was Hobby Day for the second grade, and each child was asked to bring something related to one of their hobbies. Boo decided her hobbies were dolls, nature, and "screen time" (wii and computer games) -- and brought her dolls. I was thrilled! Calla and Rose were dressed in their fancy gowns, with name cards, a printout of blog posts featuring Boo, and information on the upcoming Sasha Festival. Alas, I didn't get to see it all set up on her desk.

I was lunchtime reader for the class though, and decided to bring some of MY hobby to share -- four of my Sasha dolls. I contemplated bringing a doll-themed book to read, but instead I brought "The Legend of the Old Man of the Mountain" by Denise Ortakales. I explained the doll connection to the class, but it was perfect in other ways too; they're studying Native Americans now, and I grew up in Maine and saw the Old Man of the Mountain on a Girl Scout trip roughly 35 years ago.

I enjoyed talking about doll collecting, reading the book, and answering questions about Sasha dolls and the Old Man of the Mountain. Several girls asked if they could touch my dolls before I left, and they gravitated to Giselle in her beautiful blue tutu (they were awed that someone made it for me). Kids are so much fun at this age.

I don't have any pictures from school, but here are the dolls that I brought with me. I figured they were a nice representation of the variations. And Sara, Lucinda, and Chloe are all shown in blog posts with Boo.

Since we'd been discussing hobbies, Boo and I worked on her Brownie Hobbies Try-It (badge). She brought the same doll items to her patrol meeting today. The Sasha London is on a bag from The Sasha Wardrobe which she carried everything in, and she had a picture of my doll cabinets as well.

♥ 2011 Sasha Festival ♥

2011-01-24T21:21:00.003-05:00

The 2011 Sasha Festival is happening July 14-17 in Springfield, Illinois. This year's theme is "Pieces of Time". The registration deadline is May 1, so there's still plenty of time to send in your registration if you haven't done so already. Registration information can be found at the official website.
Boo and I have already registered!

Here are some additional details from Charla McGuire Neal regarding this year's "Dress-A-Sasha Contest".

Theme:
"Children of the White House"
Many of our Presidents have brought their children to live in the White House over the years, including our two Presidents from Illinois, President Lincoln and President Obama. Dress Sasha, Gregor, and/or baby Sasha to represent any child or children of a President, who has lived in the White House. The contest is open to registered attendees only. Entrants are asked to provide their own doll stands. Space for each entry will be limited to 18 in. by 18 in. Please include a photograph of the White House child or children your entry is meant to represent.

Entry Categories:
Youth - Age 8 to 17 years
Adult - 18 years and up - Outfit made by entrant. Entrant must make all items except for shoes, socks, underwear, and accessories.
Adult - 18 years and up - Outfit assembled by entrant. Clothing may be purchased or made by someone other than the entrant.

Happy New Year

2011-01-01T20:42:00.192-05:00

My posts have been sporadic lately, but I came close to meeting last year's goal of blogging weekly -- I almost averaged once a week, with 49 posts for the year. I also succeeded in sewing a bit, making 10 tote bags and three pinafores, as well as starting (but not finishing) a Swiss dress. I still have about a dozen dolls to introduce, and lots more clothing, props, and display ideas to share. With a new job keeping me busy, I'm going to try and maintain the status quo rather than make new blogging goals for this year.

In addition to the pale blue tutu, I received two other boxes with Sasha goodies in the mail the week before Christmas. The first box contained a baby walker that I'd won from Shelly on eBay. I'm so glad that I won this because it is the perfect size for Cleo (who's wearing a Dollydoodles sleepsuit here). She's hard to photograph, but oh so adorable.

The second box contained eight pairs of DollyBlue boots (plus a surprise pair of bright pink shoes!). Here is Chloe wearing a pair of pink boots that I won on eBay, along with a Sharon Clancy outfit that deserves it's own backstory. I'd seen this outfit for sale on eBay back in the spring of 2009, and thought it was really cute. I noticed the dress and bits for sale this past fall, but decided against buying it without the cape. Then a few weeks later the cape was offered for sale. Oh how I wished I'd bought the dress when I had a chance. Fortunately I knew the seller, and was able to contact the new owner of the dress to see if she would be willing to sell it to me. As a reader of my blog she offered to give me the dress; I felt awkward being given something that I'd asked for, so we agreed on a trade: a pair of purple DollyBlue boots that I'd bought with the cape. Thank you Chris, and Nikita too -- I love this outfit!

And thank you Carrol, for making me all those boots. After winning the pink pair on eBay, I contacted her about buying purple boots to replace those I'd traded, plus boots to match my three folk outfits (blogged about here and here). My original thoughts were black for the central European, brown for the Bavarian, and white for the Swedish, but with custom boots I wasn't limited by those colors. Unable to decide, I bought multiple pairs; these are great boots and I know they could/would be worn with lots of other outfits. I also have a fourth folk outfit now, which needed no boots since it came with wooden shoes. I was made by Helena in Canada, AKA the eBay seller dolliepatch, and modeled after an old picture that I believe is of Dutch girls. Don't these four look stunning?!

Any thoughts on which color boots look best: red or white with the Swedish outfit, green or brown with the Bavarian outfit? Here's a close up of the five boot colors being worn by the dolls in the photo above.

Pale Blue Tutu

2010-12-27T19:02:00.003-05:00

Sue at the Sasha_Mart Yahoo group posted a picture in November of "Sasha's ballet class", with a blonde Sasha and several other dolls all dressed in tutus. I contacted her through her Crissy doll website, and was pleased to discover that she made the tutus herself and would gladly make one for me. We settled on blue, as I thought it would look nice on Giselle (who already has several pink tutus). Sue even made matching blue ballet slippers and a floral headpiece to complete the outfit. Now Giselle is ready for another production of Sleeping Beauty, but this time as Princess Florine instead of Princess Aurora. I think she looks really sweet in this ballet outfit, and couldn't wait to share some pictures (click on any photo for a larger view).

Thank you Sue!

PBK Doll Kitchen

2010-12-16T14:06:00.000-05:00

The kids are home for a snow day today (basically just slush), so I'm playing instead of working. I'd had my eye on some cute doll kitchen pieces at Pottery Barn Kids, which I ordered when they went on sale recently. They arrived in yesterday's mail, so I unpacked the box today and let Giselle try them out.

In my opinion they're too small (and too pink) to be real kitchen appliances, but they're perfect for a little girl's play kitchen.

Pinafore Challenge

2010-12-12T21:06:00.002-05:00

Ted at the Sasha Street blog hosted an online Pinafore Challenge this summer, with an entry deadline of September 15th. I decided that I was up to the challenge now that I have a sewing machine, and created three entries. Since all the entries have been posted (73 total!) and favorites voted for, I am now publicly sharing which are my designs. These are my official entry photos as compiled by Ted (and included here with his permission):

Cameo - pink dragonfly

Cindy - blue duck

Cybil - green rabbit

We were supposed to submit two full-length photographs of each pinafore, so I took pictures both with and without a coordinating blouse (which I made using a Peggy Trauger pattern). I took pictures of all three together as well; I'd always envisioned these as a trio, and think the pinafores look even nicer when they're grouped together. I'm really pleased with how both the pinafores and the pictures turned out.

And now, a bit of behind-the-scenes information:

I was inspired by jumpers at The Trendy Tot (which are far cuter than mine). I knew nothing about how to make appliques, so I contacted my friend Megan at Bellflower Textiles. She walked me through the process, which was easier than I'd though it would be -- gotta love double-sided fusible interfacing. That was the only thing I purchased for this project, along with buttons; I limited myself to choosing from the fabric that I had on hand. The pinafores themselves were cut from a sleeveless chambray shirt that I no longer wore and was planning to donate to Goodwill.

I decide to blanket stitch around the appliques, since I wasn't sure I could maneuver my machine accurately to stitch them down. It's only decorative anyway, as they're stuck down well.

The pinafores are fully lined in white muslin, except for the straps which match the appliques. They pull on, with closed sides and buttons at the straps. These are my first-ever attempts at buttonholes on a sewing machine!

I certainly challenged myself, and had a lot of fun in the process.

Meet Gemma

2010-10-31T16:04:00.030-04:00

When I stumbled upon my first "no philtrum" on eBay, I figured she would be the only one I owned. But then a blonde np was listed for sale on Shelly's website. And lingered. And had her price reduced. And ... I decided she should come live in NC. I almost named her Caitlyn (for some reason she reminds me of my sister's childhood friend), but decided she should be called Gemma instead.

I grabbed a few minutes here and there this afternoon to take pictures, so my photo session spread over several hours. The light angle changed quite a bit over this time period, taking her from icy to glowing.

As you can see from this close-up, her lips are quite rubbed but her eyes are fabulous.

I'll try to remember to take comparison photos of Gemma with some of my other 1960's Blue Cords. It might not be for a while though, as I have a new job and even less free time for blogging right now.

1969 Dungarees

2010-10-12T13:49:00.065-04:00

I just snapped some quick pictures of Hannah with my other 1969 Dungarees. Hayley, Hannah, and Harlow are in the back row, while Hedwig and Hester are in the front row. I had my flash on by mistake when I took this picture, but didn't get as bad a reflection from the eyes as I usually do with a flash.

Here are the three "dark" dungarees together. Hayley's vinyl is so shiny compare to the other two, that it was hard to get a picture without glare on her cheeks. Hannah's hair is still in the original braids, and thus looks quite sleek. Harlow's wider face is very apparent from this angle; she seems a bit aloof to me.

Hannah and Harlow both have nice matte vinyl, so I could get a good close-up of their faces without much glare. As you can hopefully see, they have lovely eyes. Harlow's are a darker brown, the darkest of the five I think.

If you were shopping for a Sasha doll back in 1969 and saw these two dolls on a shelf, which would you choose? I think that would have been a difficult decision.

Meet Paloma

2010-10-05T09:08:00.002-04:00

I love how the early English brunettes look, but resisted buying them at first due to concerns about falling hair. I managed to find a few with stable hair, and then added a few more who only lose a hair or two when combed. Paloma is in the latter group, so I pretty much leave her hair alone. It is quite thick, with very deep bangs, and a part way over on her left side. I decided I could handle minor hair issues on such a gorgeous girl. From Susanna's charts, I'm almost certain she's a 1968 Brunette Gingham.

She looks so different in this picture to me, even though they were all taken at the same time. Her face appears wider from this angle, and her hair appears lighter, almost highlighted in the sunlight from the window.

And finally a couple of close-ups, so you can really see her beautiful big brown eyes.

Dollydoodles

2010-10-01T08:42:00.000-04:00

I saw in the latest issues of Sasha World that Dollydoodles had a new website scheduled for launch at the end of September. I've been checking the link, and Dollydoodles is now up and running! She makes some adorable clothes, so I can't wait to see what will be offered in her online boutique. I've added it to my LINKS section in the left sidebar for future reference.

Check out her contemporary outfits for Sasha, Gregor, and Baby!

Grocery Shopping

2010-09-25T15:02:00.064-04:00

I purchased a Sasha-sized shopping cart for myself last year. Boo fell in love with it, but I didn't want to give it up. Instead, I bought a second cart and gave it to her for Christmas, filled with groceries (mostly from Lovvbugg on eBay). I also found her a couple of miniature shopping baskets (in the dollar section at Target - such a bargain!), one containing plastic fruits and the other containing plastic vegetables. This means she has plenty of supplies for her Sashas to go grocery shopping.

Boo with Rose and Calla, showing off some of their goodies:

Rose fills the cart while Calla pushes:

Rose and Calla are both wearing retro print dresses made by Fung Hicks, one with kittens and the other with Scottie dogs.

Meet Hannah

2010-09-22T21:18:00.003-04:00

I've introduced four 1969 redhead dungarees so far, five if you count my rerooted "sneak" (who started life as a brunette). I wasn't looking for any more, but couldn't resist this girl when she was searching for a new home. Like Miranda, she came from the collection of Audrey Femmer, though I purchased her indirectly. She is unique in that her dungarees have black snaps instead of the more common silver. Her face paint is perfect, as you can see in these pictures.

Hannah is a stunning girl, with her own unique look. I love how different all of my dungarees girls are from one another. Hopefully I'll have time to take more dungarees comparison photos soon.

Busy As a Bee, Again

2010-09-22T16:41:00.000-04:00

After all my festival posts, I was only planning to take a break from blogging for a couple of weeks. Then the school year started, with changes in routine, and settling my kids in to not only school, but soccer and scouting as well. Then I got caught up in Ted's Pinafore Challenge, and spent whatever time I could sewing. I can't wait to share my efforts, but am waiting until the entries have been posted on Sasha Street.

I've finally found time to take new doll photographs, and will create a new post with them this evening.

Instant Princess

2010-08-08T12:58:00.000-04:00

Since returning from the festival, I've been "chatting" with lots of Sasha folk via email and facebook. I mentioned to Sheila that Muriel was wearing one of the outfits she made (which I'd purchased with Muriel in mind), and of course she wanted to see a picture. I hastily snapped a few shots, and she looks so cute that I decided to share one here as well.

I love how the addition of a tiara (a table gift I received at the festival) turns her into an instant princess.

Village Blocks

2010-07-25T16:16:00.013-04:00

I took many of the pictures for today's festival post yesterday afternoon. I was putting them on my computer after dinner, when my nine-year old son noticed the picture with the village blocks and asked what they were. I told him they were doll-sized blocks that I'd won at the festival, and that they were on the dining room table (where I'd been taking pictures) if he wanted to check them out. He set up a village scene to show me, then shifted it around to create another scene. Ah, boys and blocks. Then he surprised me by asking if he could make the baby play with the blocks (Cleo was still in the stroller, also on the table). I helped him get her out of the stroller and sitting among the blocks. According to my son, "The baby is eyeing the purple man."

Sasha Festival 2010 - post 6

2010-07-25T09:34:00.014-04:00

This will probably be my last post about the festival, though I'm sure many of the clothes and props pictured here will show up in future posts. After four days at the festival and almost a week organizing my pictures and documenting the festival online, it's time for me to focus my energy on non-Sasha stuff for a while. Here are the remaining items that I brought home, things I purchased directly or indirectly. How did I get everything home (including three dolls) without checking a bag?

I went shopping by myself in San Francisco on Thursday. I bought some fabrics and notions, a crafter's iron, a little Chinese doll, and three doll-size parasols (two are for Boo's dolls, Calla and Rose).

The gift exchange was Friday afternoon. I brought a gift bag containing a smocked dress (like this) made by Patty at The Sasha Wardrobe, velvet hair ribbons, and a little Chinese doll. I wound up with this cute outfit, a green Scottie sweater and cap with white corduroy pants, made by Beverly Schacht.

The Children's Fund Auction was Saturday afternoon, and raised a total of $6874 for two charities: Child Help and Save the Children. I was the high bidder for two items, a purple and white sweater and cap from Switzerland (made and donated by Amei Walder) and a Boneka smocked dress (donated by Bonnie Jean Kennedy).

The sales room was open on Saturday evening. I bought some clothes, a stroller, and ... a doll. Clockwise from upper left: a Boneka dress that was a gift from Nancy Miller when I purchased my doll, Boneka shoes that I bought from Nancy to go with my auction dress, pink and yellow wool sweaters knit by Erica McLeod, a pink commercial babygro resized by Sheila Foery, a red check smocked baby dress and panties tagged Millie Dingham, a blue floral smocked dress and panties tagged Laura Lindberg, and a swing-top and plaid capris made by Sheila.

Dawn Law had strollers and baby carriers for sale, made by the Spanish company Diset. As Chloe and Cleo demonstrate, the stroller is small enough to be pushed and large enough to be ridden in. And it even folds for storage or travel, which made it easier to pack in my carry-on bag.

The helper item tickets were drawn on Sunday. There were lots of lovely items, and I wound up winning two of them: a set of wooden village blocks made in Germany, and a lace collar knit by Erica McLeod. The lace collar came on a card that reads: "Lace collar for Sasha knitted in fine merino wool. The original of this pattern was inspired by one seen in the Swiss Village Museum in Wisconsin. The pin represents the edelweiss flower."

Here's a picture of my new doll, taken as the festivities were winding down on Sunday. She's wearing the dress I won in the auction, and the lace collar I won in the helper item drawings. She still hasn't told me her name yet, though perhaps I haven't been listening closely enough.

UPDATE: After lots of contemplation, she and I have settled on the name Juliette.

Sasha Festival 2010 - post 5

2010-07-24T10:18:00.002-04:00

Like last year, I came home with a whole lot of Sasha-related stuff. In this post I'll show the festival souvenirs and other table hostess gifts that I received, saving the items I purchased or won (gift exchange, Children's Fund Auction, sales room, and helper items) for my next post.

At check-in I received: a festival bag containing maps and information about Switzerland, the Festival Journal, and a booklet with auction item pictures and descriptions; my auction paddle; and my name tag on a Switzerland lanyard. Also in this picture is the card with information about next year's festival that we received at brunch on Sunday; the theme is "Pieces of Time" and it will be held July 14-17 in Springfield, IL.

The festival outfit was spread out over the three meals. At Friday dinner we received a little beaded bracelet and a raffia-tied package containing a Bauernkind (farm child) outfit - underskirt, skirt, apron, shirt, and kerchief. Each outfit was one-of-a-kind, with coordinating pieces made from second-hand men's shirts. My outfit has a blue and tan color scheme, with a chambray apron. At Saturday lunch we received a box containing a little basket of eggs, and at Sunday brunch we received another box containing leather boots and Glorex Swiss doll socks.

I changed my mind about bringing Muriel at the last minute, so to compensate I'm letting her model the festival outfit:

And here are some pictures from the festival, showing the variety of colors and patterns:

There were several other items on the tables at various meals that I'm almost certain were received by everyone at the festival: a bucket, bandanna, stuffed bunny, cow, and ice cream cone, plus Swiss flags on toothpicks scattered about. There were little Lindt and Toblerone candy bars as well, but I ate them before I even boarded the plane for home. Also in this picture are the floral wreath and hair clip that I made at the workshops on Friday.

Tina and I hosted a table for Friday dinner, so I have the little tote bag of Swiss souvenirs that she and I created (I gave my special Lindt bar to the festival hostess). I sat at very generous tables for the other two meals, receiving clothing from the hostess as well as gifts from other people at the table (including saltwater taffy from Maine, which was eaten instantly and thus not pictured). The dress on the left uses a vintage handkerchief for the skirt, while the pinafore on the right is made from vintage linens. I love them both!

Sasha Festival 2010 - post 4

2010-07-23T09:18:00.023-04:00

I previewed bits of Table Hostess gifts (here and here), and want to share all the details now that the festival is over. In keeping with the "Return to Switzerland" theme, I'd come up with the idea of a bag of Swiss souvenirs. My plans were more grandiose than my skills however, so I enlisted the help of my talented friend Tina to be my co-hostess. She made Swiss cheese wedges out of Fimo, cut and sewed bandannas from some original dealer replacement fabric (an eBay find), and gave me lots of encouragement and positive feedback as I worked on my projects.

I persuaded my husband to make miniature Toblerone bars in both regular and dark chocolate versions, scanning the original packages and reducing them to 1/3 size (he has patience with X-Acto and glue from working on his RC Airplanes). Here's a picture of Calla and Boo checking the size of his prototype:

I went shopping online and found alpine bell keychains and edelweiss charms (from Germany), and small Swiss flag patches (from Thailand). I removed the keychain portion from the bells, and made Sasha-sized necklaces from the charms. I created little cards on my computer explaining the significance of the bandannas. And I started sewing totebags using Peggy Trauger's pattern. This was the hard part. I recently purchased a sewing machine, but haven't done any sewing (other than simple mending or craft projects by hand) in the past 25 years. I was thrilled with how well they turned out, even though they were finished with little time to spare. Here's how everything looked as Tina and I put the bits together at the hotel on Thursday evening:

There was a second portion to our gift as well. I had been mulling over some sort of card with our names and the bandanna information, but I separated the two ideas after some brainstorming with Tina. She suggested we make Lindt bars instead of the Toblerone due to their connection with Sasha. I liked the distinctive Toblerone shape, but thought Lindt bars would be nice if I had one of the old labels to miniaturize. That morphed into creating modern versions of the labels, and using these to identify ourselves. I selected my 1968 dolls to use as models, and set up a "photo studio" with a solid color background and decent lighting to photograph them. My husband is a whiz with Photoshop, and helped me figure out enough to create the labels I'd sketched by hand on a piece of paper (modeled after the originals, which Tina emailed me scans of from a magazine article). Once they were complete, I used them as sleeves around Lindt bars. Here's a picture of the five versions, which all have the same back:

I hope everyone who sat at our table enjoyed receiving these gifts as much as we enjoyed creating them.

Sasha Festival 2010 - post 3

2010-07-22T13:35:00.108-04:00

The dolls and clothing are marvelous and the festivities are entertaining, but to me the Sasha Festival is all about the people. Nowhere else can I hang out and socialize with so many other people who understand my love of Sasha dolls. I met or became reacquainted with so many fascinating, friendly, fun people during the long weekend in San Francisco, far too many to mention them all individually.

Last year I was eager to meet people who I'd been communicating with online. This year I discovered that there were people who were eager to meet me because they read my blog. Pretty cool. Victoria (from Australia) felt like an old friend, since she knew so much about me and my dolls from what I've shared online. I'm already looking forward to seeing her again. She joined in with Michele (left) and Tina (right) when we took a post-workshop picture like last year.

Ai made me feel like a rock star for a moment. She came bouncing up to me at the workshops and introduced herself, then told me she reads my blog and asked if she could take a picture with me. Again, she felt like an old friend when we socialized during the weekend. I hope to see her and her daughter again at future festivals.

Something else struck me when thinking about people I met at the festival: there were quite a few couples I had fun talking with. I enjoyed meeting the husbands as well as the wives, and it was nice to see such supportive and loving couples.

Tom and Carol

Mary and Hans

Erica and Ian

Jackie and Sammy

Sasha Festival 2010 - post 2

2010-07-21T13:12:00.007-04:00

I uploaded almost 300 Festival pictures to an album on Picasa. There are lots of pictures of Sasha dolls and Sasha doll enthusiasts, group meals and gatherings, Dress-A-Sasha contest entries, helper raffle items, and all of the Children's Fund Auction items. Here is a slideshow of the entire album:

Clicking on the picture below will take you directly to my Picasa album. There you can see all the photos from this slideshow, along with descriptive captions. Feel free to email me (franberry at aol dot com) or add a comment if you know of corrections or additional information for any of my captions.

Sasha Festival 2010

Sasha Festival 2010 - post 1

2010-07-19T23:05:00.001-04:00

I wasn't planning to buy a doll at the festival, but this lovely girl came home with me. I am still so excited about her that words fail me. Other than perhaps yipee, or woo hoo!

The Festival was fantastic! I have about 300 pictures, and lots to talk about ... but it will have to wait until I get some sleep (and deal with some of the more mundane aspects of life).

UPDATE: After lots of contemplation, she and I have settled on the name Juliette.

San Francisco Or Bust!

2010-07-14T13:23:00.000-04:00

Well, I haven't finished the Swiss dress that I planned to sew for the festival (though I did start it). Unfortunately I was too busy working on various projects for Table Hostess gifts. I said I was going to keep the gifts a surprise until after the festival, but I'm so excited that I need to share another part. I just finished sewing 10 tote bags (with three hours to spare until I pick my kids up from camp then head to the airport!).

Now I need to get packing!! I won't be blogging from the festival, as I don't have a portable computer I can bring. I will attempt to post a slide show of pictures shortly after I return, similar to my second festival post from last year. I'm sure I'll create a few themed festival posts as well, but I don't have anything specific planned as I'm going to let the experience dictate my posts. Not only will it be different event from last year, but I won't be viewing it as a newbie this time.

Early 70's Friends

2010-07-14T00:02:00.000-04:00

Most of my English dolls are from the late 60's, but I do have three from the early 70's: Enid, Esme, and Cleo. Cleo is only a baby, but Enid and Esme appear to be fast friends.

They're pleading with me to come to the festival, but I've already decided to bring Muriel again and only have room for one other doll in my suitcase.

Table Hostess

2010-07-11T21:40:00.024-04:00

Only three days until I leave for the festival, and I'm still busy working on various projects. Tina Gross and I volunteered to be Table Hostesses together, and I've been pushing the boundaries of my creativity. I'm going to keep the gifts a surprise until after the festival, but will definitely share pictures when I return. For now here's a sneak peak at part of one project, a montage of my 1968 English Sashas.

Meet Esme

2010-07-11T15:38:00.089-04:00

I set up a "photo studio" on my dining room table yesterday, to take pictures to use in a table hostess project for the festival (more on that later). Since I had a space set up with a solid background and lighting, I decided to utilize it for pictures to introduce another of my dolls.

Esme is a Brunette Gingham, most likely from 1971 (that was Shelly's opinion from her stringing, clothes, eyes, tube, tag - the standard clues). Her hair may fall in the future, but seems to be holding for now; she lost a couple of hairs when combed by Shelly, but none when I gently brushed it today.

From my recollection, Esme is like the doll(s) I coveted as a young child, which belonged to sisters who were friends of mine. I'm certain that those dolls were from the early 70's, when they were being sold in the US by Creative Playthings. I would have been seven in 1971, which is close if not right on the mark. I believe my friends both had Brunette Ginghams, though one may have had a Blonde. They were like no other dolls I'd ever seen, with their cafe-au-lait coloring and serene faces. I remember thinking they looked a bit like Indians (we didn't refer to them as Native Americans back when I was a child), with their long brown hair and dark skin. My childhood wish ...

... has come true as an adult (on a much larger scale, since I only dreamed of owning one or two).

UPDATE: Memories involving these sisters are an integral part of my childhood. The younger sister was my age, and my best friend in grade school. The older sister was a year ahead in school, and was my close confidante in high school. I eventually lost touch with both of them after we headed off to college, but have been back in touch with the older sister through facebook for a while now. I hadn't told her about my Sasha collection, or my coveting of their childhood dolls, so I feared she might consider me daft when I sent her a link to this post. If so, she kept that to herself in her reply. She no longer owns her childhood doll, but confirmed the accuracy of my memories; she had a brunette gingham and her sister had a blonde. She remembers buying them at the Creative Playthings store in Boothbay Harbor. I usually give my dolls a single name, but have decided my 70's girls should become Esme Elizabeth and Enid Katherine in recognition of my childhood friends.

Blonde No Navel Trio

2010-06-28T13:03:00.002-04:00

Here are my three blonde no-navels, all wearing Check Repro Smocks from Ruths Dolls. Wow!

Lucinda is in fuchsia, Lynde is in mustard, and Liesel is in blue.

The two 1969 girls, with their heavier eye paint:

The blue-eyed sisters (thank you Ellen!):

Meet Lynde

2010-06-26T15:49:00.085-04:00

Hard to believe it's been three weeks since my last post. My summer days are anything but lazy, and there just isn't time to get everything done. I took pictures of Lynde a week ago but wasn't satisfied with how they looked, even after editing. I finally found some time to try again today, this time outdoors, and am much happier with the results.

Lynde is my third blonde Gotz no-navel, though they are all slightly different. She is from 1969, and has blue eyes like her younger sister Liesel (both came from the same collector). Their friend Lucinda is also from 1969 but she has brown eyes.

Boo is watching over my shoulder, waiting for me to be off the computer. She says that I should say Lynde is "beautiful". She's right, though I think all of my Sashas are beautiful.

Look for comparison photos of Lynde, Liesel, and Lucinda in my next post.

1969 Brunette Parties

2010-06-04T08:31:00.049-04:00

My favorite posts involve comparison photos of my dolls. I love to see (and share) the similarities and differences between the "same" dolls. Here is my new Lorrie with Lilith, another 1969 side-part Party. That's not a ding on Lilith's nose, just a light reflection; her vinyl is far less matte than Lorrie's.

Just for fun, here are Pandora, Lorrie, and Lilith ... pretty maids all in a row. Pandora (who I originally called Layla) is from 1968, and has almost-black brunette hair. She was most likely originally a Gingham, but was dressed in Party attire by her previous owner.

Meet Lorrie

2010-06-01T10:08:00.056-04:00

Lorrie is my most recent Sasha purchase, and has jumped to the head of the blog queue. She wasn't an intentional gift as I first inquired about purchasing her almost two months ago, but she arrived on my birthday. What a fun coincidence! She is a 1969 Brunette Side-Part Party with crisp clean face paint and slightly falling hair. She still has her gold tag and original outfit, minus footwear -- I found her a pair of replacement socks and appropriate shoes in my stash.

I discovered how photogenic she is this morning, and adore her sweet expression.

Her face paint is particularly exceptional and looks brand new: no lip rubs, great coloring, and wonderful eyes with the outlined iris and pinprick pupils.

This was a Sasha birthday for me in more ways than one. My friend Tina (AKA dollydetroit) sent pinwheels for my "Five Amigos", and Boo's two dolls as well. I will try to photograph them all in a future post, but for now here's Lorrie checking out one of the pinwheels.

And my Mom surprised me with a box of handmade goodies, including clothing she knitted for my Sashas from the Golden Hands patterns (which I didn't even know she'd purchased). I will share pictures of these in a future post as well.

Festival Schedule

2010-06-01T08:52:00.000-04:00

Here are some additional details from Jan Johnson regarding this year's Sasha Festival schedule:

Thursday, July 15th, 2010
4:00pm Early registration begins, in the hotel lobby
6:00pm Meet and Greet - Hotel Library, adjacent to lobby - no-host bar, light hors d'oerves

Friday, July 16th, 2010
8:00-12:00 Registration, in the hotel lobby
9:00-12:00 Workshops - Sierra Ballroom
12:00-1:30 Lunch on your own - Chutney Grill in hotel, or downtown Burlingame
1:30-3:30 Gift Exchange (bring a wrapped Sasha-related gift, $20 value) - Sierra Ballroom
3:30-4:30 Guest Speaker - Sierra Ballroom
4:30-6:00 Free time! Shopping in downtown Burlingame, walk along the Bay, socializing
6:00-9:00 Banquet Dinner and Program - Sierra Ballroom

Saturday July 17th, 2010
8:00-5:00 Helper Items Viewing - Tiburon/Sausalito rooms
8:00-1:00 Auction Items Viewing - Sequoia/Redwood rooms
9:00-10:00 Dress-A-Sasha Contest (details here) - Sierra Ballroom
10:00-12:00 Free time!
12-1:00 Lunch Buffet - hotel courtyard
1:00-3:30 Children's Fund Auction - Sequoia/Redwood rooms
3:30-7:00 Dinner on your own - Chutney Grill in hotel, or downtown Burlingame
7:00-9:00 Sales Room - Sierra Ballroom

Sunday, July 18th, 2010
9:00-12:00 Brunch (thank-yous, 2011 festival, helper item/raffle drawings) - Sierra Ballroom

Busy As a Bee

2010-05-24T10:37:00.001-04:00

Alas, I haven't met my goal of blogging at least once a week recently. My husband has been away quite a bit the past two weeks. Between that and the extra busy-ness associated with school and kid's activities winding down, I just haven't had any free time. I'm hoping for a new post this week if the clouds part for long enough to take photos (this is our third consecutive rainy day, with more forecast through midweek).

My Swiss Dress sewing efforts have also stalled, partly due to lack of time but also because I'm hoping to buy a sewing machine as a birthday gift for myself (my birthday is Thursday, but due to the busy holiday weekend I may not shop until next week). There are still over seven weeks until the Festival, so I'm not worried yet. Though perhaps I should be, since I need to get cracking on Table Hostess gifts as well.

1968-69 Dungarees

2010-05-09T12:03:00.039-04:00

When I wrote a post comparing my Blue Cords, I noted that Audrey (my one 1968) looks delicate/dainty compared to the others (all from 1969). I feel the same way about Fiona when I look at her compared to my other Dungarees. She definitely stands out in all the groupings I tried, not just due to her wispy bangs, but also her eyes.

Here she is between my other "dark" Dungarees: Hayley (left) and Harlow (right).

Here she is between my Dungarees that have narrower faces: Hayley (left) and Hester (right).

Compared to my Redhead Quartet, I think Fiona looks most like Hayley. They might pass for cousins or even sisters, but certainly not identical twins.

Meet Fiona

2010-05-08T20:55:00.002-04:00

This doll was an eBay gamble that worked out in the end. I knew she had white stringing in her arms and flecked in her legs, so she was a fairly early doll. The seller described her as having no bangs (which I doubted), and thought there might be a groove under her nose but wasn't sure (the pictures weren't clear enough for me to tell). It wasn't until she arrived that I knew for sure that she had both bangs and a philtrum.

I forgot to take a "before" picture of her tangled hair, but I washed it and uncovered her fine fringe. This picture was taken to show the seller ...

... because while she had beautiful hair now, she smelled awful!

I showed the seller that the doll had bangs, and also complained about her very smoky odor. She replied that the doll came from an estate sale and she hadn't noticed the smell due to a cold. After checking with her doll resources/friends, she concurred that the smell would be very hard to remove, if not impossible. She had a return policy, but instead we agreed on a nice discounted price.

I then set about trying to remove the smell from Fiona, my first 1968 Redhead Dungarees. First I aired her on my screen porch for several months, then I made a leap of faith. Instead of trying traditional odor removers -- baking soda, activated charcoal, kitty litter, coffee grounds -- I decided to use Biocide. We have a camper that was also in need of de-stinking, so I took Fiona apart and placed her inside it while the Chlorine Dioxide did it's thing. I consider the treatment to be a success; it does not appear to have damaged her in any way, and even to my sensitive nose she is nearly odorless!

Here are a few pictures of her in her original outfit, which cleaned up nicely with Perk. Now I just need to see if I can repair the straps on one of her sandals.

Comparison photos with some of my 1969 Dungarees will follow shortly.

Swiss Dress Plans

2010-04-25T10:10:00.004-04:00

I decided that I need at least one Swiss-style doll dress to bring to this year's Festival, so I plan to make one. Hopefully posting about it will give me the motivation I need to complete it. Since I don't own a sewing machine right now, I'm going to have to sew by hand. Ugh! I chose the pattern, purchased fabric and lace, and am ready to get started.

Now all I need is patience, perseverance, and a whole lot of free time!

♥ 2010 Sasha Festival ♥

2010-04-24T12:44:00.008-04:00

The 2010 Sasha Festival is happening July 15-18 in San Francisco, California. This year's theme is "Sasha Returns Home to Switzerland". The registration deadline is May 8, so there's still time to send in your registration if you haven't done so already. Registration information can be found at the official website.

Here are some additional details from Jan Johnson regarding this year's "Dress-A-Sasha Contest".

Themes:
1. The Life of Sasha Morgenthaler
Base your entry on one facet of Sasha Morgenthaler's life. Your entry could represent Sasha as an artist, midwife, humanitarian (aiding refugee children after World War II), world traveler or doll maker.
2. Switzerland
Your entry can represent one of the following aspects of Swiss life:
The story of Heidi by Johanna Spyri (perfect for Sasha as Heidi and Gregor as Peter)
The story of William Tell (Gregor as William Tell and a Toddler as his son)
Clara Barton - Founder of the American Red Cross (inspired by her 1869 trip to Geneva, Switzerland)
Watch-making (Gregor would make a great watchmaker!)
Swiss Banking
Chocolate-making
Cheese-making
Mountain climbing in the Swiss Alps

Classes of Entrants:
Youth: 12 to 17 years of age
Adult: 18 years and up

Categories:
1. Outfit made by entrant.
Adults only - all clothing must be made by entrant, except shoes, socks, underwear and accessories.
2. Outfit assembled by entrant.
Adults and youth - clothing may be purchased or made by someone other than entrant.

Blue Bicycle

2010-04-20T11:57:00.068-04:00

As of this posting, there is a great picture with a blue bicycle on the Sasha "welcome" page at Let's Play Dolls. It shows a redhead no-navel riding the bike with a brunette baby girl sitting on the back rack and a basketful of toys. My Sashas wanted a bike like that to ride too, so I did some searching online and found several on eBay (turns out it's an American Girl item for Molly, which was retired in 2006). The bicycle I purchased is missing the mirror, but otherwise in great shape. It's a little bit large, but Gregor is a big enough boy that he can handle it.

His blue t-shirt came from Rosie Bloom, where I bought the most adorable pair of shoes a while back. Not only is it more appropriate for pedaling around than his long-sleeve checked shirt, but it makes his beautiful blue eyes really stand out.

That's Toto in the basket, part of the 2008 Festival Outfit (pictured here) which I won in the Children's Fund Auction at last year's festival.

Two Marinas

2010-04-07T20:19:00.101-04:00

There are two distinctly different Sasha dolls known as Marina. The Early English Sasha dolls are often referred to by their original clothing, in this case a sailor or "Marina" outfit. These dolls were produced from 1981 to 1986. The later Gotz dolls were given unique names, and their similarly-dressed girls are named Marina. They were produced in 1999 and 2000.

I call my 1980's brunette Cindy. She was purchased nude, and I have no idea of her history. She may or may not have been a "Marina" as she could also have been a "Red Pinafore" or "Dancing Dress" (the other brunettes from the same time period). I found her an original "Marina" outfit and have dressed her as such for these photos with my Gotz Marina.

The dolls themselves are quite different. Gotz Marina is a green-eyed redhead with freckles, while English "Marina" is a brown-eyed brunette who is considerably taller (as is the case with most of the dolls from the 80's). They both wear navy blue and white sailor outfits, but with the top and skirt colors swapped. Gotz Marina has a tie with long tails attached to her collar and low ankle socks, while English "Marina" has a tie with short tails around her neck and tall knee socks. Their shoes are completely different styles; Gotz Marina wears blue ankle-strap shoes, while English "Marina" wears black laced shoes.

I think they look marvelous together:

Blonde No Navel Duo

2010-04-01T20:57:00.001-04:00

I've introduced two blonde no-navels so far, and thought it might be fun to show them together for comparison. Liesel is a blue-eyed blonde from 1970 and Lucinda is a brown-eyed blonde from 1969.

It's lovely spring weather here, so they've changed into jumpers designed and made by Peggy Trauger. I won the embroidered "flying kite" jumper at the 2009 Sasha Festival, while the painted "watering flowers" jumper came from the collection of Audrey Femmer.

Pattern Resources

2010-03-15T10:40:00.014-04:00

Because members of the online Sasha community have had problems receiving patterns from a-pattern-company-that-shall-not-be-named, I thought it might be helpful to post about other pattern resources. There have been many patterns created/published in the roughly 45 years since Sasha dolls were first produced. Many of these patterns are no longer available, except in the second-hand market. This post will be limited to information about patterns that are still "in print" (or at least still available from their designers), both for sewing and knitting. I've labeled this post to make it easy to find when it's no longer the most recent. Simply find the LABELS section in the left sidebar, then click on patterns.

Most website links listed here can also be found individually in the sidebar.

Designs By Judi - sewing patterns for Sasha, Gregor, Baby, and Toddler.
The Doll Carriage / Denise Ortakales - sold as a packet of the 30 remaining patterns (US buyers only).
The Doll Works - knitting patterns for Sasha and Gregor, as well as yarn and buttons.
Friends of Sasha - at least one pattern per issue. Back issues from 1996-2005 are still available in complete yearly sets from Dorisanne Osborn. *** Click here to see Friends Of Sasha Pattern List 1996-2005 ***
Grandma's Emporia - UK eBay shop with both knitting and sewing patterns (ships worldwide).
Marcy Street Patterns - two pattern books (Knitting Patterns From Marcy Street, and Sewing Patterns For Sasha Baby) available from Ann Chandler.
Patchwork Pansy - sewing patterns for Sasha.
Peggy Trauger Doll Patterns - sewing patterns for Sasha (16" Doll) and Baby (12" Doll).
Sasha Knitting (was Cuddy Lugs) - knitting patterns for Sasha, Gregor, Baby, and Toddler, as well as yarn and accessories.
Simply Grace Designs - sewing e-patterns for Sasha, Gregor, Baby, and Toddler.
SiriKind - knitting patterns and kits, several of which can be made to fit Sasha.
Susan Kramer Free Doll Clothes Patterns - three patterns that fit Sasha: Bodysuit, Short and Long Sleeve Dress, and Sleeveless Dress. Click on the picture of Sasha at the top of the page for the bodysuit pattern and links to the other two patterns.
Susanna Lewis Knitting Kits - kits with yarn and instructions for Sasha and Gregor; patterns and yarn also available separately.
Susanna Lewis Knitting Patterns - both hand and machine knitting patterns for Sasha, Gregor, and Baby.
wee me designs - previously a stand-alone site selling sewing e-patterns, in the process of transitioning to an Etsy shop.

Peggy Trauger Patterns

2010-03-13T19:53:00.002-05:00

I received an email from Peggy Trauger's grand-daughter Danielle earlier this week. For a school project, she designed a website for her mother to help sell Peggy's patterns. The website is a work in progress, but up and running: Peggy Trauger Doll Patterns. I've added it to my LINKS section in the left sidebar for future reference.

I just visited the website and placed an order for several patterns. I may have to go back and order more, as there are plenty of tempting choices.

Meet Liesel

2010-03-07T20:21:00.003-05:00

It was late afternoon by the time I got around to taking pictures today. Fortunately there was enough light left, as I really wanted to introduce another doll this weekend. Liesel is my fifth Gotz no-navel, purchased from another collector who shares a fondness for these unique girls.

She is blonde like Lucinda, but with very different eyes. Lucinda has brown eyes in the 1969 style (with heavier brows), while Liesel has blue eyes in the 1970 style. She is wearing her original blue cord dress, which matches her eyes nicely.

While she doesn't really have a full center part, her hair styles nicely into braids. I love how innocent she looks.

Bedroom Furniture

2010-03-02T22:12:00.001-05:00

Boo received bedroom furniture for Calla and Rose at Christmas, specifically an armoire and bunk bed (that can be separated into single beds). They were handcrafted and hand painted by the folks at Buchmanns Toymaker Shop.

The armoire is now stuffed full of clothes, with shoes and socks in the drawer.

The bunk bed is more suitable than the baby doll bed they used to share, and fits them well. Here Calla wears her Nellie Rose pajamas and Dollydetroit slippers, while Rose has on a Euro Girl nightgown and slippers.

I wonder if they argued over who got to sleep on the top bunk.

Girls With Curls

2010-02-22T20:33:00.001-05:00

I didn't find time to take pictures for my planned post, so I decided to share another picture of Boo with Sara. Today was rainy, and high humidity always makes Boo's hair curl-o-rific. She was exceptionally cute when I picked her up from school, and more than willing to pose for another picture with the "soft-haired doll".

Meet Sara

2010-02-14T23:02:00.001-05:00

This adorable little girl began life as a Gotz Toddler Claudius from 2001. S/he was given a complete re-root with auburn mohair by Bettina, and transformed into Sarah. I kept the name, but changed the spelling to Sara to avoid confusion with my other Gotz Sarah (or "Sarah with an H" as she's now known). Sara came to me wearing this sweet outfit, carrying her Christmas stocking and a special bag (made from the mohair that was combed out during the rooting and styling process, then spun and crocheted).

She has the most marvelous wavy hair, like Boo's but thicker and not as unruly. I am smitten!

She agreed to put down her stocking in exchange for a Valentine ...

... make that two Valentines. She drives a hard bargain, resembling Boo in yet another way.

Speaking of Boo, she is enamored with Sara's "soft" hair. What a cute pair!

Happy Valentine's Day

2010-02-14T22:17:00.003-05:00

I printed out Ted's Valentines today, and Boo made a couple for Calla and Rose. She selected party dresses for them to wear (both are EuroGirl fashions), and insisted on their ruffled socks and black shoes. That's Boo's idea of dressy footwear (her black shoes are off in the picture, but you can see a glimpse of her ruffled socks).

She found the stick-on jewel stashed with our temporary tattoos earlier in the day. If there had been three, I think the dolls would be wearing bindis too.

Lederhosen

2010-02-02T19:39:00.013-05:00

Wow! Jean Jensen is an amazing craftsman, and I feel privileged to own two sets of her handmade lederhosen. They arrived recently and I am tickled pink. Ziggy and Star remind me of Hansel and Gretel, though Boo says Hansel didn't wear an ant shirt.

Pictures don't do these justice. Not only are they incredibly soft, but all of the teeny-tiny buttons are functional.

I'm going to have a hard time convincing them to change out of these outfits. And I think a couple of the no-navel girls that share their shelf are already envious.

UPDATE: Boo is right, Hansel didn't wear an ant shirt. Jean told me via email that the ant shirt was meant for the girl. In my excitement to get them dressed, I didn't pay enough attention to which pieces were packaged together.

School Days

2010-01-24T10:34:00.005-05:00

I'm not sure if Ziggy and Star are fraternal twins or simply siblings. Either way, I think they make a fetching duo. She looks different here with her hair pulled back by a headband.

They're wearing matching school clothes made by Helena in Canada (AKA eBay seller dolliepatch), complete with a satchel for her and a knapsack for him.

I left them in stocking feet because I couldn't find appropriate shoes in my huge stash (which is almost entirely girly shoes). I'm thinking they need new brown leather shoes: t-straps for her and oxfords for him, or boots for her and loafers for him? Decisions, decisions ...

Meet Scarlett

2010-01-20T10:38:00.001-05:00

Here's a quote from almost a year ago, the start of my Meet Lucinda post:

The Sasha dolls that I knew growing up were those that were readily available in the US, the English Sashas. Until I went searching for them as an adult, I didn't even realize that there were other different-looking Sashas that were made in Germany. Many people love them, but I don't find the Early Gotz dolls particularly appealing.

Tara from Sasha Doll Musings commented on that post: "Watch out. The 60's German girls will grow on you." She was right, they have grown on me (seeing them at the Sasha Festival helped, as I definitely like them more in person than in pictures). So much in fact, that I decided to purchase a slate-eyed redhead Gotz as a sister for Sigmund.

Her hair is a bit thin on top, but she has nice thick bangs. I especially like the way the longer "wings" frame her face.

She arrived wearing her original dress and panties, with reproduction sandals instead of blue prym snap shoes. I hope to find a pair of those shoes for her someday, so she can have the footwear she would have worn originally. I've seen them on Sasha Doll UK a couple of times, but they'd already been spoken for by someone else.

Look for pictures of "Star" with her brother in my next post.

Dressed For A Ball

2010-01-19T20:12:00.007-05:00

I believe it was Ted Menten (the illustrious Sasha Street blogger) who noted that adults like to dress dolls like children, while children like to dress dolls like adults. When I last saw Calla and Rose they were still beside the little white tree wearing their Christmas dresses. Apparently Boo decided they needed a change, as they're now standing on a chair in the family room wearing long gowns. Calla's pink dress is from Nellie Rose, while Rose is wearing a Magic Attic party dress.

I must have missed the announcement, but apparently His Royal Highness Christopher Rupert Vwindemier Vlandamier Carl Alexander Francois Reginald Lancelot Herman Gregory James is giving a Ball!

Meet Sigmund

2010-01-13T13:36:00.005-05:00

I added two dolls to my wish list at the Sasha Festival, a dark black baby girl and a redhead Unisex Gotz. I have since added both to my collection. Cleo was introduced back in October, now it's Sigmund's turn. Before I introduce him, I'd like to share a picture of Jan's redhead Unisex, the doll I fell in love with in Rochester. Isn't he a stunner!

And now here's Sigmund, as close a facsimile as I could find. He's wearing his original Apres Ski outfit for these pictures. I've ordered a lederhosen outfit from Jean, and will post pictures of him wearing it when it's finished.

In spite of his Unisex status, "Ziggy" is going to be all boy at my house.

Meet Adeline (after)

2010-01-07T11:48:00.001-05:00

I finally sent Adeline to Pat's Sasha spa in Florida, and she returned home in December (this is one of the posts I was planning before Christmas but didn't get around to creating). The lighting was bad for her "before" pictures, but even discounting that she looks so much better now. Pat cleaned her inside and out, restrung her, washed and dried her hair, and re-rooted some hair plugs.

She had 11 hair plugs fixed -- there were just nubs here at her hairline.

Her original stringing was thin white in the arms and striped in the legs, so I'm pretty sure she dates from 1968. Knowing that, she would have been dressed as Jeans (which I would call brown corduroy overalls), Brown Cord, or Blue Cord. As planned, I dressed her in a 1960's blue cord outfit with replacement socks. From a distance, she looks almost like new ...

... except that she was the victim of a young hairdresser at some point, so her hair is somewhat uneven. It's slightly shorter on her left side at the front, and has a shorter layer on her right side at the back. It's a bit dry at the ends, but has lovely shade variations.

Up close she has a graze on her nose and her lip color is pretty much gone, but just look at those beautiful blue eyes!

I was planning on keeping Adeline as part of my collection, but have decided to offer her for sale at my bonanzle booth instead (I have plenty of late-60's blondes already, and am saving for a special doll I've found). I should have her listed there sometime this week.

Happy New Year

2010-01-01T20:23:00.002-05:00

Muriel would like to join me in wishing everyone a Happy 2010! She's still wearing her Christmas outfit, a nifty Rudolph dress made by the very talented Helena in Canada (AKA eBay seller dolliepatch). Sometimes I see one of her creations and I just have to have it, as was the case with this dress. I think it's just perfect for Muriel, who tends to look best in "big girl" clothes.

I did not make any resolutions, though I did set some goals for the year. One of them is to continue blogging at least once a week. I have lots of ideas, it's time that I'm always short of (and good weather for taking photos). I have a dozen more dolls to introduce, lots of clothing to share, more props and display ideas, dolls and clothing for sale (check out my booth on bonanza), and perhaps even details of my own sewing attempts (another of my goals).

Merry (Belated) Christmas!

2009-12-30T14:42:00.005-05:00

I was hoping to write a couple more posts before taking a break for Christmas, but my schedule just didn't allow it. There's so much going on this time of year, and the kids have two weeks off from school which pretty much eliminates my Sasha time.

There were lots of Sasha-related gifts at my house this year. Boo received several presents for Calla and Rose under the Christmas tree, including Magic Attic clothing and accessories, and gorgeous hand-painted furniture. I hope to share pictures and more information once life quiets down a bit. I purchased a new doll on eBay as a gift for myself, a 1969 Brunette Party (with "perfect" hair, that of course turned out to be very fragile). I also bought this cute white tree from Prilly Charmin (thanks to Kelly for the information), which Boo decided Calla and Rose would enjoy decorating. My 9-year old son made the star for the top.

Calla's gingerbread men dress was made by eBay seller specialdelivery2006, while Rose's gold star dress is from Nellie Rose.

Display Cabinets

2009-12-07T20:34:00.004-05:00

We're adding a puppy to our family (he'll be here tomorrow!). In preparation, I needed to make sure that all of my Sashas are somewhere safe. My sister had picked up a second display cabinet for me on a trip to IKEA, which sat in boxes for ages before my husband kindly assembled it for me. He also drilled additional holes in both of the cabinets so that I could create smaller sections at the top and bottom using the adjustable shelves. I plan to buy some archival binders and boxes to store my paper paraphernalia and special clothing in those spaces.

It took me a while to decide where everyone should stand, with lots of shuffling. Since almost all of my dolls are in the cabinets now, I decided to share some pictures. One cabinet contains my Gotz dolls, and the other contains most of my English dolls (my five "dressing dolls" are elsewhere in the house).

Here is the Gotz cabinet, grouped by age:

Here is the English cabinet, grouped by hair color (alas, poor Giselle's stringing is too loose for her to stand safely):

I'm really pleased with how these look so far. After the holidays I plan to spend some time organizing all the bits and pieces.

Meet Miranda

2009-12-02T13:14:00.000-05:00

The weather hasn't been cooperating lately; we've had rain or overcast skies whenever I have some free time to take pictures. I finally gave in and took pictures anyway.

Miranda is a stunner, purchased from the collection of Audrey Femmer. She is my fourth Gotz no-navel. Like Muriel she is a brunette from 1970, but unlike Muriel she has long uncut hair. She arrived nude, and I've dressed her in a yellow corduroy dress from Dayzees by Randall Craig.

Hopefully we'll see the sun soon, and I can take some pictures of Miranda and Muriel together for comparison. Muriel looks forlorn to me, while Miranda looks shy.

Ballet Costumes

2009-11-24T11:00:00.005-05:00

As a talented ballerina, Giselle has done a lot of dancing ... and acquired a couple of costumes along the way.

Instead of the traditional short white tutu, she wears plum when portraying the Sugarplum Fairy. This special outfit was made by Ruth at the Etsy shop from daisy daisy, and is simply stunning. Here's part of her description from the listing: "The ballet dress is made in a combination of lavender silk dupion and ivory tulle. The bodice is lavishly hand-embroidered with pure silk ivory ribbon rosebuds and hand-beaded with tiny faux pearls, and is underlined and lined with cotton lawn." It really is as luxurious as she makes it sound.

I'm particularly fond of Giselle's portrayal of Princess Aurora in the ballet Sleeping Beauty. Here she's wearing a pink sparkly Wee Wardrobe outfit that I found at Beverly's Doll & Bear Boutique, and a tiara crown purchased from ebay seller lovvbugg.

Doll, ballerina, princess ... I'm living my childhood dreams in middle age. :-)

Meet Giselle

2009-11-17T21:27:00.004-05:00

Giselle is a very special Sasha doll. She is my first "no philtrum" (this groove between the nose and upper lip was added to the mold in 1968), and will probably be my only one since they are hard to find and quite expensive. As a redhead, she started life as either a "dungarees" or a "ballet". For a change of pace from my other early redheads (who all came to me with their original dungarees clothing), I've dressed her in a Repro Ballet Outfit from Ruths Dolls.

Giselle's neck/leg stringing is fairly loose, but she can stand by herself. And I'm still working on taming her hair, especially her bangs. She's beautiful now, and with a little work I'm sure she'll be even more spectacular.

Here's a final shot of her eyes. I just love her feathery lashes.

New Fall Dresses

2009-11-05T20:59:00.003-05:00

The weather is finally cooling down here, so I've changed the "five amigos" into some lovely fall dresses made by Patty at The Sasha Wardrobe. I was thrilled to find five coordinating dresses at a reasonable price, and even more thrilled when I saw them in person. Perfect! It took a while to get all five girls dressed, mostly because I had a hard time deciding who should wear which dress, which shoes, and which tights/socks. And of course they all needed to have their hair brushed. Whew!

I wanted an outdoor picture with leaves in the background, which was easier said than done. They're all looking upward, since otherwise the sunlight overhead cast shadows on their faces from their bangs. It's as it they're watching something in the sky off in the distance -- an airplane, the clouds, or perhaps a hawk flying past.

I moved them onto the porch where the light was less harsh, but still no one wanted to look at the camera. I think they look lovely in their new dresses regardless.

Cameo (Honey Blond Silk Dress) is definitely the shortest of the bunch; she seems quite petite in comparison to the others. I'm pretty sure she's the oldest of the quintet.

Baby Clothes

2009-11-01T19:14:00.007-05:00

Like many baby girls, Cleo has quite a wardrobe. Unlike a real baby though, she won't outgrow her clothes. It would take me weeks to find enough free time to photograph her in everything, so I'm going to start with just a few of my favorites.

This shiny red satin outfit is by Käthe Kruse, and fits perfectly. I think it's a nice change from all of Cleo's pastel-colored clothes, which make photography hard since they look washed out when I have enough light to see her features clearly. I found this wicker chair for her on eBay, and she usually sits in it when she's not having her picture taken (and sometimes when she is).

I bought this pink and white dress and lace-trimmed bonnet (and the unseen shoes and diaper she's wearing) at The Sasha Wardrobe, along with several other baby items. The dress was part of the 2009 Summer Collection. Cleo has four teddy bears, but I'm keeping my eyes open for other suitably-sized baby toys.

I couldn't resist these frilly baby pants from The Doll Works. My daughter Boo had several similar pairs when she was young. The doll quilt Cleo is sitting on is from my childhood.

This white smocked dress and matching bonnet is also from The Doll Works. It is so sweet, that I'm tempted to buy the pink version too. I bought these shoes there as well, though I had a hard time keeping them on her feet as you can see. Too bad they don't make those snap-on shoelace covers (you know, the ones with the bells on top) small enough for dolls.

This three piece layette is from eBay seller misspatau, who sells "Knits by Trish". The sock monkey is Boo's (a baby for the two full-sized sock monkeys my Mom made for the kids), but she let Cleo borrow it for a photo session.

UPDATE: I meant to include another photo when I created this post. Here's Cleo wearing a cute pink babygro from Ruths Dolls. My daughter wore very similar outfits when she was a baby (only much larger of course). Very sweet!

That's definitely all for now, but I'm sure I'll be taking pictures of more baby clothes sometime in the future.

Sasha Festival 2009 - post 6

2009-10-28T11:24:00.001-04:00

I said that post 5 was my last post about the festival, but I've decided to add one more. Now that I have a Sasha baby to model them, I can share the two baby outfits that I won.

The first outfit was made by Geraldine Brodt for the Children's Fund Auction. It's a sweet pastel plaid dress with tights ...

... and a pale pink coat and bonnet. The coat/bonnet fabric reminds me of my childhood blanket.

Geraldine donated several handmade outfits to the auction, and had a table in the sales room as well. I especially admired her ethnic African outfits and jewelry (they were modeled after the clothing of a certain country, which I can't recall right now). She has a website in progress SASHA Couture by Geraldine, or can be reached via email.

I won the second outfit in the Helper Raffle. I'm not sure who donated it, but it has a tag from The Doll Carriage (a now-defunct doll shop in New Hampshire).

I think Cleo needs a different hair ribbon (or perhaps ribbons) for when she wears pastels. I guess I need to sort through my sewing supplies and see what I can come up with.

Meet Cleo

2009-10-21T21:58:00.006-04:00

After seeing all the lovely dolls at the Sasha Festival, I added two new dolls to my wish list. One was a dark black baby girl. Not long afterward, I managed to find what I was looking for on Ruby Lane. She came in her original box with a styrofoam cradle; using Susanna Lewis' charts, I was able to date it/her as being from March 1972-1974 (a type II-A box). Her arms don't want to stay up, but I know that's easy to have fixed. Otherwise she is just perfect!

I have lots of clothes for her, and will take more pictures when the weather cooperates. She needs good sunlight or her features get lost (I have similar problems when taking pictures of Chloe). I followed the same naming tradition as my other "dressing" dolls (who are from the 1980's) -- starting with C, Greek origin -- but she has four letters rather than five since she's smaller.

Marshmallow Roast

2009-10-11T18:42:00.005-04:00

I managed to find a campfire for Calla and Rose to sit around in their chairs. And some marshmallows to roast too. American Girl makes a "Campfire and Treats" set as part of their Campfire Collection. I bought it for Boo for her birthday last week. Boy was she thrilled!

The campfire lights up and plays four "classic summer camp songs" (The Bear Went Over The Mountain is one). It comes with two sticks with marshmallows to roast, pretend packages of graham crackers and chocolate, and two s'mores treats. Rose and Calla tried it out today, joined by their new cats Misty and Toby (Pawparazzi Pets, a birthday gift from her big brother). Fun!

They aren't labeled, but I'm pretty sure that both of these outfits are by Nellie Rose.

Nellie Rose

2009-10-05T10:26:00.002-04:00

Several days ago I received an email from Karon Brackley in the UK, who used to sell her "Nellie-Rose" tagged Sasha clothing on eBay as the seller maudie-mays. I own quite a few of her creations, some of which I've shown in various posts (here, here, here, here, and here). After running a shop on eBay for over a year, she's decided to set up her own online store: Nellie Rose. I've added it to my LINKS section in the left sidebar for future reference.

Check out her clothing and accessories for Sasha, Gregor, and Baby (as well as for various other dolls)!

Dollydetroit by Tina Gross

2009-09-29T09:33:00.004-04:00

My friend Tina has been working on a new project ... her own website: Dollydetroit by Tina Gross. Right now it's basically a showcase for past outfits that she's made for Sasha, but she hopes to do more with it in the future. I've added it to my LINKS section in the left sidebar for future reference.

Check it out when you have a chance!

Redhead Quintet

2009-09-26T11:04:00.001-04:00

Here are a couple of pictures of Rowena (my "redhead sneak" who started life as a 1969 Brunette Gingham) along with four 1969 Redhead Dungarees. She fits in nicely with the group, adding another dimension to the original quartet.

Height perception is a bit distorted in this picture since they are standing in an arc; the two at the ends are closer to the camera.

I think she looks most like Hester (in the light dungarees and thin green hair ribbons).