From what we hear when we get eMails, we get a chance to learn how important a doll or toy may have been to our customer. Some of them offer words of wisdom that are more profound than philosophers down through the ages.
What a nice surprise getting your email. I have fond memories of sending my Daughter's old Patty Playpal to you for a leg replacement and receiving her back so rapidly ....Guess most little girls born in l925 and fortunate enough to have a doll; like I found under my Grandmother's bed with a bran new croched cap and sweater she had made and hid for me for Christmas) seem to appreciate them more. It was apparent staying with Grandma so much brought us very close, even tho finding her hiding place for gifts under the bed never stopped her from loving me till the day she died in my arms. She told me stories about her mom in Norway and that when my Grandma died she'd see her mother coming to meet her. She opened her eyes, looked into my eyes and said "Dorty" and her arm went up like she was reaching out to her mother.
I'm 96 now and that seemed like yesterday. I've felt her prayers following me all through my life. God is love and she taught me to love not only dolls, but everyone. By the way, under the bed was Patsy doll about 10 inches with her short molded hair and long straight composition legs. Haven't a clue what ever happened to her thru the years and have tried to find the '"antique" Patsy. Wouldn't want a replica tho I've seen one or two. Now that I'm a Great Grandmother, I no longer "collect" dolls.....but have 19 great grandchildren ranging from 1year old to 20 that teach me even more about love.
See what a great matter your email stirred up....God bless you all.
Dorothy
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The Following is a Doll Stroy for Loie-May By Lois
I purchase a doll from ebay reborn dolly i name her chloe i love her like a real baby that the only thing i had to remind me of my babys i took her everyplace with me even to walmart and other places the ones that not make me look foolish i had her in my grandaughter car seat went in to the store was there about fourty-five min and when i came out from shopping someone had broke my window in the car and stoled my chloe my heart was broken i cryed for days it was like stealing one of my kids will the person that made her i email her and asked her if she could make me another like her she told me it was a retired one just like me and told her of my flight she look around on ebay and found me one it took her about a month to search for one but she did and she made me one just like my chloe i name her Chloe two but love her the same i don.t take her out of the house never enjoy her at home when i feel down i take chloe and hug her and make the world much better thank-you for letting me tell my story.
Loie-May
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The following entitled DOLL SHOP REVERIES is a collection of writings made by Judy Bolyard of Judy's Dolls & Things of Jonesborough, TN. This is a warm look into someone who has been around dolls and doll owners all of her life.
DOLL SHOP REVERIES
After 23 years having a doll store, I thought it might be interesting know what things stand out in my mind as 'unusual' during those years. One thing that ALWAYS STANDS OUT is the 'people contact'! People are much more interesting than one realizes until you get into a store of this type.
One thing I remember distinctly is the little girl who paid for her doll herself, with her allowance! She picked out the 'baby' she wanted, and then very diligently came in regularly with her payments....which might be $5, $10, something like that, at a time.. Oftentime she would come in with a lot of CHANGE, which we would put out on the carpet....and count out carefully in order to give her proper credit on her layaway. What joy when she had made the last payment, all by herself, and she could take the doll home with her! A child who has paid for her own treasure values it so much more than one who is merely given a gift!
Another interesting time was when another little girl came in to select her Middleton baby which turned out to be a newborn boy since she had so few little boys in her collection. In this case, her mom came in to make the payments on the daughter's account, with the daughter's money, since the girl was in school. Before the doll was paid for, the mother came in to PAY OFF THE BALANCE as she wanted to surprise her daughter and let her have the doll on a family trip they were making to another state. I kept thinking how surprised and thrilled the little girl would be when she discovered she was able to 'bring her baby doll along' on the trip when she thought it was not even paid for....Mom had finished making the last payment so Mindy could have her treasure along with her!
There are so many human-interest contacts in a doll store! I remember the adult lady who came in to look for a special doll for her mother who would have been in her 50's. The mother had lots of dolls and was very particular, so this was a major purchase, not a 'cheapie doll'. But how interesting to see the daughter give the 'pros' and 'cons' as she thought through which one of the dolls would please her mother most!! To me it is the personal contact that is far more interesting than the actual selling of the dolls!!
There was another lady who was so torn between two composition dolls since 'vintage dolls' were her thing! She would seem to have the decision made and then would backtrack, leaning toward the other doll. Actually I offered her a discount if she wanted BOTH of them, but after she and her husband conferred, they chose another doll or two...as HE WAS ALSO A DOLL PERSON....and by then she had also made her decision towards the 'baby doll' she leaned toward in the beginning. When something like this happens, I can 'affirm' her decision as I thought, all along, that she wanted the 'baby doll' vs. the girl doll.
But I try very hard NOT TO INFLUENCE a buyer's decision as I feel it should be ALL THEIRS, and not mine at all. However, it is very interesting 'seeing the wheels turn' as the decision 'evolves' for themselves. Of course, I do try to answer all questions concerning a doll, very realistically and honestly, as I do not want to be guilty of a person feeling they might have been hood-winked or misled in any way. I want a customer to know the 'faults' of an older doll, as well as its attractions so I do spend time with the customer pointing out any areas that need discussion.
Having a 'mom and pop' type of store is very interesting as one is never very busy, and each customer is given a lot of attention. It is a way to 'get to know people' and to be thankful one can have the opportunity of serving people in this 'fun way'!
When the economy is in such bad shape, I am always thankful that I do not have any debt on my store or my stock of dolls. I can wait for the inevitable and eventual 'rise in doll prices', and an increase in demand....as things always 'cycle' with time. Meanwhile, I do not need to be fearful that I will lose my store or my adjacent home on the same premises...just 10' away. It is a very INTERESTING WAY to live, without pressure, while I still have the enjoyment of 'looking at' a my 5000 dolls whenever I want to walk across the porch and go into my 2200 square foot shop!!
Judy Bolyard
Thank You, Judy For sharing your "Memories"
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Merry Christmas from all of us at the Doll Hospital!
