Ladies come into my store, sometimes a bit apologetic that they are still
interested in dolls during middle age perhaps..or perhaps in their 60's,
70's or even older. I always dispel their reticense by letting them know
that dolls are now an ADULT HOBBY; there is no reason to apologize or be
embarrassed by an interest in dolls!
In fact, a few years ago stamp collecting and doll collecting were vying for
top honors as being the MOST COLLECTIBLE ITEM IN THE UNITED STATES.
Truthfully, I am not aware of present status, but I do know adults are the
MOST FREQUENT BUYERS of the weighted baby-dolls such as Lee Middleton dolls.
I have not purchased any newer Lee Middleton dolls since 2003, so mine were
all manufactured PRIOR TO THE ERA OF SHIPPING TO CHINA. Fortunately I
still have a WONDERFUL SUPPLY OF THESE EARLIER MIDDLETON DOLLS...but I find
it more difficult to part with them as time goes by! These 'babies' pull on
a person's heart-strings no matter what our age!!
You see, I too became a collector after opening my store in l988 with only
about 300 dolls. Now, with over 5000, they are crammed into every nook or
cranny...or crevice sometimes; in fact, it is getting more difficult every
day to walk through my store! But TRADING brought me quite a few older, or
compo, dolls as people did not always have the $500, perhaps, for a new
artist doll....so I would be glad to make a trade to cover about half of the
cost. I learned that this TRADING method worked well to bring me some
VINTAGE and COMPO, or ANTIQUE dolls that I would not have had if I were to
hold out for ALL CASH SALES. So it not only helped the customer, it
actually helped me!!
If you like 'hunting' and enjoy the search for your childhood doll, you
might find it in my shop as I have now about 50% older or vintage dolls.
The other half might be classified as 'new-er' but still unavailable Lee
Middleton pre-China weighted babies, ZOOK KIDS (if you missed the one you
wanted from 88-93), and others such as Judith or Virginia Turner dolls (even
the original PORCELAINS!!), Gadco child-like dolls prior to 93, and
HUNDREDS OF OTHERS, including compos, early sticky-vinyls, Toodles
babies/toddlers, as well as original Penney Play-Pals or Ashton Drake repro
play-pal dolls.
Buying a doll for your mother, perhaps someone with Alzheimers, or maybe
your 85-year-old aunt, will always hit the spot. Most of us 'older mothers'
had very few dolls while we were growing up. We might be embarrassed to ASK
FOR ONE, but remember when Mother's Day or our birthday rolls around, that
we have NOT OUTGROWN DOLLS. (We are just afraid you might think it foolish
if we ASK for one!!) So, DON'T ASK, just buy us a weighted baby...which
resembles (and feels like!!) the real thing; and we'll be OVERJOYED that you
'knew what we REALLY wanted'!!! In fact, there is even recent evidence
that giving an alzheimer's patient a weighted baby which feels so much like
the real ones, makes her feel 'needed' and slows the progress of the
disease. Mothers will ALWAYS BE MOTHERS, so nurture this instinct in moms
whose children have long gone from the nest....and they will be thanking you
FOR MANY YEARS to come!!!
Yes, mothers never outgrow their need to 'mother'!
Judy Bolyard
JUDY'S DOLLS 'N THINGS
1778 Hwy. 11-E
Jonesborough, TN. 37659
Tele: 423/753-5983
Judy is ready to "retire" if she moves on!
