This
past weekend was the annual Chapter BL, P.E.O, rummage sale. Sisters
worked hard and had a good time, returning to their respective homes Saturday
afternoon to put their feet up.
I
always come home with junk – er, stuff – er, wonderful finds! This year I just
had to have this basket. If it wasn’t a sewing basket before, it is now. And I
also “bought” a Mr. Coffee Iced Tea Maker, which son Milo deems the most
superfluous appliance ever invented. Apparently a lot of folks agree with him
because no one bought it, despite the fact it was new in the box. However, I’ve
consistently used one for more than 20 years, and so when it was left over, it became mine.
And
something at least mildly embarrassing happens to me every year. This time someone
called my attention to a book of doll clothes patterns. “Oh!” I said, looking
it over, “I have to have this.”
“But
Kathy,” said my friend, “I thought this was in the stuff you brought.”
“Probably,”
I said, trying to sound cool, “but I have to take it back. Things have
changed.” And they have!
And
then, “Mandy,” a Fisher Price “My Friend” doll from 1977, stood looking over
the edge of a cardboard box full of old toys calling my name each time I passed
by. “No,” I told her, “I just can’t take you home. I’m already sewing for
American Girls and Toni, and I also have a ‘patient’ in my doll hospital.” Her
smile never changed, but I knew she was crying.
Old
dolls seem to come in three general categories:
· Pristine, new in
the box, never played with. Much sought after by collectors, they nevertheless
lead dull lives, in my opinion.
· Gently loved.
These dolls have been carefully played with, like my “Shirley Anne, American
Farm Girl,” aka AG Kit. (Shirley Anne is pictured here with another of my
rummage sale finds, a ‘distressed’ wooden chair – just her style.)
· Much loved. Into this broad category, my favorite, fall all dolls that have had really good lives
as someone’s favorite companion.
So,
at the end of the sale, Mandy was in my car with my other treasured finds. I
figured if nothing else, she would provide an opportunity to practice doll cleaning
skills. These dolls were designed to be washed in the washing machine, and while
some might not have chanced it due to her age, I had nothing to lose. I sprayed her with Oxy, wrapped
her in a laundry bag, and put her in the washing machine with a few towels. Mandy
is/was in bad shape, her fabric body stained by liquid, her vinyl parts showing
“ground in” dirt, her facial features faded.
 |
| Still dingy |
 |
| After Zout treatment |
Well,
she was still smiling bravely – and still stained – when she came out of the
washing machine, so my next step was to massage “Zout,” an enzyme cleaner, into
her body and then let her soak in a solution of hot water, dish detergent, and
white vinegar. With that we made progress! Then she went outside to sun
herself. She’s looking better all the time. KW
4 comments:
It is so fun to get a "find". People pass things over that just need a teensy bit of care to be beautiful again. Although at my house, we often say, "We don't need another project," we can't resist a good bargain! For instance, we recently purchased a solid bronze Art Deco chandelier that needs to be rewired and was missing a shade. It was about a quarter of the price of one without the aforementioned needs, but for a small investment, it can be made perfect.
Glad you've found something to save!
I'm sure that chandelier will fit nicely into your house -- or you can fix and flip -- whatever appeals to you.
Used to be we fixed toys and donated them to charity. Any more, toys must be new. They don't even sell well as rummage.
When Mandy finished sunning herself yesterday, I could still see the outline of the stained places on her body, so I treated her with Zout and soaked her again. Then I tied her in the laundry bag and put her through the "rinse and spin" cycle, thinking that would be a good way to rinse out the soap and also get her as dry as possible. It worked well. I didn't have any conditioner for her hair, but I found I could comb it anyway.
Ann had the Mandy and Jenny dolls and I loved sewing for them. I have patterns!! Unfortunately, Ann's dolls were the victims of a sewage backup in their basement a few years ago. The city had lost track of a cleanout in a neighbor's yard and said yard was full of willow trees. At least the city paid for all the cleanup including new drywall and carpet, etc. Sadly all her dolls were lost. I think I cried.
Your Mandy looks good! They are such cute dolls.
That IS sad about Ann's dolls. I know the situation in her basement was overwhelming, and I suppose tossing was the best idea.
They are cute play dolls. Their body type is that of a rag doll, as you well know, and I picture her in old-fashioned dresses and nightgowns.
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