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A doll rstored will be treasured for lifetime.
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Greetings!
It is always a pleasure being of service in the repair or restoration of dolls, Teddy Bears or other Toys for our Customers. Our newsletter serves a means to keep in touch. We are here ready to serve anytime we are neded by any of you or your friends or neighbors. If we can be of service, Give us a call or if we can help someone else, give us a referral.
Diane & Dave Trumbauer
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| Moving Grandma's doll from storage to heirloom! |
| Grandma's doll spent years in an attic storage chest, now she stands in the Living Room.
Every day, someone discovers a long lost doll or Teddy Bear stored away in a trunk or box hidden in a closet or maybe the attic. We often see these when a daughter or granddaughter decides that it would be wonderful to display Grandma's doll. As you think about it, so many things in life are changing. They may not be changing totally for the better...More often than not it is changing to live in the minute. Life just seems to come at us faster with the decisions and experiences more and more requiring INSTANT consideration or an INSTANT decision. One of our customers wrote . . . .
What a comfort something as simple as Grandma's doll, standing over there on her shelf in the living room, gives me. It reminds me of a time when things must have been so much simpler. It reminds me that she too was a little girl at one time, looking forward to growing up and having children of her own. Thank Heaven she did or I might not be here.
She told me once that she had four dolls, but "Emma" was her favorite. That always made me feel a little warm inside wince my middle name is "Emma". She always made me feel like her favorite. When I found Emma in a box that was moved to a closet after Grandma was gone. She was still lovelingly wrapped in a tiny blanket. She still had most of her clothes. She was a little dirty, partly because of the may hours of play that she survived and then the years of storage that followed. Her hair was matted but was still there. I know that at least one of my other dolls had received a "haircut" or two. Emma still had all her hair.
When I decided to have Emma restored, I told myself that I was doing so as a tribute to my Grandmother. I know, even now gone for quite a number of years, somehow I felt that she would know and would approve. I wrapped Emma up and shipped her off to the Doll Hospital. Several days later, I received a call from them asking what I wanted to do with her. I told them that I wanted to fix her up...not necessary like new but looking more like she would have when she was Grandma's daily companion.
They said we should start with a re-string. The bands that held her arms, legs and head into the body. A general cleaning would be in order for her body, hair and clothes. Her eyes were a little cloudy, but they felt that they could be cleaned. It was remarkable, but er paint was in pretty fair shape. They suggested that we might want a new dress, but one that retained the "look" and style of her original. All that decided, I told them to proceed.
Three weeks later. Emma came home. I cant' tell you how much pleasure this project has given me. I am not ashamed to admit that when we are alone in the house, I talk to Emma. From her place on the shelf in the living room, she watches everything going on in our family life. Her new position will assure that her make-over will last. My daughter has said that Emma is welcome at her house whenever she is ready to move on. That is going to be a while, she and I have a lot of years ahead befor either of us move to the next stem of retirement.
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| Tell your story for Cash! |
 Do You Have a great Doll Story?
The story above was relayed to us by one of our customers. We find the story behind the story is usually the best story. If you have a story about a doll or a Teddy Bear that has been in your family, write it up and send it to us. If we decide to use it in a future newsletter, we will pay you cash for your story. Ever wanted to be a writer or a blogger. Here is your chance. Just put doll story competition in the subject line of your email and we will take it from there. thye email address to use is....
Click here to compose an email about your doll story. If you have a digital picture in .jpg format, attach it to your email.
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| Displaying Your doll! |
| When You spend money to restore Your doll, consider how to display her right!
What do you mean, "Display her right?" Well it may be as easy as adding a doll stand. One of the things that takes a major toll on a doll is improper storage. Even decent storage can leave the dolls clothing wrinkled, the hair matted or crusthed. Heaven forbid their getting wrapped in plastic to spend the next 10 to 20 years in a chest or storage box.
A simple doll stand will only cost a few dollars and will mae it possible to stand the doll on a shelf or table and become a part of your life again. The hair and clothing will stay fresh and looking nice. A glass or plastic dome can also to add an element of dust protection to keep the prestine look she now has.
If you have questions about these cases, call us for more information on adopting one of these couples from the "home". You can reach us at the Dolls by Diane Toll free number - 800-813-3052. |
| Custom Doll Clothes |
 A major part of a makeover can be
new clothes custom made for You!
When we restore a doll, it is always fun to see the progress as each step in the repair takes place. The cleaning away of years of scuffs and marks from all the play. Fixing or replacing the hair or wig. The tightening up of aging joints by restringing the limbs. But last of all is the step when we get to add that new dress and pinfore or new gown. Nothing does more for creating that brand new look than new clothes. We have shoes, socks and about any foot appear; that you can think of.
Attention to detail is an important of the clothing we make for our doll repair. Each dress or outfit is made to order for the doll we are working on. Nothing off the rack here. In many outfits we use as much fabric as you would in an outfit for a child. The whole point is to make them look like real clothes. One thing that clothing manufacturers have over dressmakers for dolls is the flexibility of the uman arm or body aids in dressing or undressing. Clothing for dolls has to fit over very ridgid ahrs and legs that only move at oneend and not at the elbow (in most cases) We often get dolls to repair where damage to the body occures when a child tries to force an arm or leg into clothing not designed for their doll.
When we make custom clothing, we can match the decore of a room or copy the color and style of an outfit from long ago. If you have an old picture or if you can describe it, we can make it. It might have been a movie costume or a doll you used to own. Custom clothing is one of the nicest thing you con do for your doll....and maybe even for yourself. Give us a call or drop us an email for any qustions you might have. We are waiting to be of service.
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| Timeless Toys of Christmas |
 By Jeremy White
There's an old adage we're all familiar with: the more things change, the more they stay the same. There certainly is some element of truth to that when discussing the Christmas holiday. The season of yuletide greetings is laden with tradition, but that hasn't kept us from celebrating in ever evolving ways. We moved from real trees to artificial, pre-lit Christmas trees. We stopped hanging popcorn and homemade ornaments and replaced those with garland and collectible ornaments.
And our gift-giving becomes increasingly lavish with each passing year. Americans dedicate more dollars to Christmas spending each time December rolls around, and our preferences as consumers have shifted low-technology items to high-powered gaming systems and other electronics. Simply put, Santa's elves get busier and his bag gets heavier.
But, alas, the adage rings true. Some things never change, regardless of the hottest buying trends. There are some gifts that are as relevant to today's children as they were 20, 30, even 50 years ago. It's no small feat for a toy to transcend the test of time, but jolly ol' Saint Nick and his ever watchful helpers keep close tabs on those that do. So, parents of America, rejoice! If you're looking to give your kids a little nostalgia that they'll actually enjoy, you've come to the right place. Because we've got the scoop on the goods that never go out of style.
Barbie Dolls - America's favorite doll has undergone massive changes over the years and has endured plenty of backlash for setting what some parents believe to be an unrealistic standard of beauty. But the reality is that Barbie, love her or hate her, has weathered the storms and is as popular today as ever before. If there's a little girl in your home, there's a good chance Barbie would be as welcome a stocking stuffer as anything else you can dream up.
Toy Soldiers - Another time-tested yet controversial option. Some say toy soldiers instill a sense of pride, patriotism and bravery in America's youth. Others fear they help foster an acceptance of violence. But, again, love them or hate them these toys appeal to our nation's boys. Toy soldiers have come a long way since the original G.I. Joe. They're more life-like and their uniforms have changed to fit the times. And their weaponry and modes of transport have become more sophisticated. But their popularity remains inarguable, and thousands of boys from coast to coast still enjoy commanding their ranks.
Radio Flyer Wagons - A timeless classic. It doesn't get more simple than this, but boys and girls from toddlers on up to eight or nine years of age still can't resist these nostalgic gifts. Whether riding in them while daddy pulls or pulling around their favorite stuffed animal or puppy dog, these wagons are
perennial crowd pleasers.
Bicycles - Admittedly, bicycles have evolved every bit as much as the Barbie Doll and G.I. Joe. The colors are more extreme, the tires smoother and the design more aerodynamic. But the feeling of freedom and exhilaration that comes with pedaling into the wind remains as irresistible as ever. Bicycles have been a holiday hit for decades, and will continue to be for decades more.
Lincoln Logs - They've been around 90 years and still haven't lost their touch.
Lincoln Logs are the quintessential building toys, and boys and girls alike still love them.
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| Take TWO minutes and take our Doll Survey! |
Would you take two minutes and participate in our doll owners survey? There is no qustion that the role that dolls play in the lives of little girls has changed. We wonder if we can gain some insite into how doll collectors and girls of all agesview dolls today and how the doll industry has changed to meet their needs or how it is missing their needs today! The results of this poll will be published in the February issue of this newsletter. TO PARTICIPATE CLICK ON THIS LINE! |
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The newsletter is our new effort to "keep in touch" with customers and others that might be interested in repairing or preserving their own dolls. As we expand the newsletter and the subjects we cover, we want to address your thoughts as well. Please contact us with your suggestions.
And here is another thing you might do. Forward this newsletter to anyone you know that might be in doll collecting, restoration or just in the history of dolls, along with your recomendation. They will not be contacted for any reason. The choice to suscribe will be theirs alone.
Thanks,
We will see you late January with the February issue.
David Trumbauer
Dolls by Diane |
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