Hi Doll Friends!
I'm so excited to introduce you to the newest member of my doll family. Please help me welcome Bleuette. She is a new ball jointed doll available from Ruby Red Galleria. She is also available in the US from Denver Doll Emporium. I found her at a bargain price on eBay though.
As you have probably noticed, I have developed a great interest in the history of dolls. In addition to modern dolls, I love searching for antique dolls, learning about them, and adding them to my collection whenever possible. After learning a little about Bleuette, I purchased the book "Bleuette: The Doll and Her Wardrobe" by Barbara Craig Hilliker to study and learn more about the history of Bleuette. This large book is filled with information and hundreds of beautiful color pictures, and I would highly recommend it if you'd like to learn about Bleuette.
Bleuette History
You may have heard of Bleuette dolls before. The original Bleuette dolls were produced from 1905 to 1960, as a premium for the French girls' magazine, La Semaine de Suzette. Little girls who subscribed to the magazine would receive a Bleuette doll, and each magazine contained patterns so that girls could make entire wardrobes for their dolls. Bleuette dolls were designed for interactive play and as a tool to teach girls sewing and homemaking. There were more than 1,000 patterns published for Bleuette during the 55 years that she was produced, in addition to the commercially made outfits that were also available.Bleuette dolls have a bisque head and a wooden composition body which is fully articulated with joints at the neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips and knees. The dolls range in size from 10 5/8" to 11 3/8" and there are several different Bleuette head molds.
After learning about Bleuette's fascinating history, I knew I'd love to have one of these lovely dolls, and maybe even sew, knit and crochet a complete wardrobe for her. So I began to look for an antique Bleuette. I joined a Bleuette group on Facebook, where I learned that most Bleuette collectors buy reproduction Bleuette dolls. The reason is because a nice original antique Bleuette is valued at around $5,000 or more.
My First Bleuette
My Bleuette search quickly turned from searching for an antique to looking for a reproduction. Since there are so many different head molds and different artists, not all Bleuettes look alike. That's not a problem, it just means you search for one you love. During my search, I ran across this new version of Bleuette by Ruby Red Galleria. Her head and body are made completely of resin. I thought the resin would be more durable for play and redressing than bisque. Since I have other resin ball jointed dolls, I took an interest in this new resin BJD version of Bleuette.
She came dressed in her white one piece underwear, which are beautifully detailed with lace trim and two tiny working buttons.
 |
| So embarrassing Mom, I'm in my undies. |
A fun fact about ball jointed dolls is that they can be so easily customized, and the Ruby Red Bleuette is no exception. Her wig is removable and can be changed for a totally different look. Her eyes can also be changed. In addition, she came with two interchangeable face plates, which Ruby Red calls the Bleuette face and the Charmette face. She also came with two pairs of eyes in blue-gray and brown. You can see the two different face plates with different color eyes side by side below.
 |  |
 |
| Can I have some lovely earrings please? |
She is about 11 1/2" tall and is jointed at the neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips and knees, just like her bisque and wooden counterparts. Here you can see that even though she is about the same height as Rapunzel, her proportions are very different.
Here she is with Rosalee, my Fairyland Littlefee resin BJD who is a little shorter at just under 10" tall.
Bleuette dolls love to collect lots of accessories, so she immediately started collecting things from around the house.
She decided that the Schoenhut piano and the bowl and pitcher were the perfect size for her house.
She has a great love for animals, especially the sheep and the alpaca.
HELP! She needs a NAME!
I could really use your help with choosing a name. The choices on my list are Maryette, Josette, Juliette, or Ruby. I'd love to hear your thoughts and name suggestions in the comments section below!
Hugs ♥
- Lisa
One morning you will wake up and when you first see her, she will tell you her name. But, don't be surprised if it isn't one on your list - Bleuettes are rather determined little girls - very happy, and sweet, but not mamby-pamby at all!
ReplyDeleteSince the dolls were from France, I have a preference for French names.
Thanks Janet!
DeleteI wanted a name ending in ette, since she was a Bleuette. I looked up French names too, but she just hasn't told me what her name is yet. I've been calling her Ruby, so that might stick. We'll just have to wait on her and see I guess. :)
A gal in my doll club owns one of these Bleuettes, and the thing that really struck me is how solid and heavy they feel--like it would be really hard to break one! I have my own Bleuette, although she's not really a Bleuette at all--I put an antique, Schoenau & Hoffmeister bisque head on a repro, compo body, and that is my Bleuette. Her name is Nicolette. I vote "Juliette" for yours, although I like all your name choices!
ReplyDeleteHi Angela,
DeleteYes, you're right, seems like they would be a lot less breakable that the bisque head originals and repros. I'd like to find a repro Bleuette someday, just because the antique ones are so super expensive. I'd love to see a picture of your Nicolette!!!
She is lovely and I can see she has you under her control already! I quite like the name Ruby as she looks like a little jewel.
ReplyDeleteThanks Serenata!!! Wow your name is beautiful! :) You are right, she is quite the charmer. I've been calling her Ruby, so that just might be it. :)
DeleteShe's lovely! And a fantastic reflection of the originals - when I saw the preview photo of your post, I expected her to be an antique, so they really did a perfect job of capturing that look.
ReplyDeleteThanks jSarie! Some people say that she doesn't look enough like a Bleuette to be considered a repro. I think that she looks very different from modern dolls though and looks a lot like a Bleuette. I like resin ball jointed dolls and combine that with Bleuette, and she seemed like the best of both worlds. I'm happy to have her! :)
DeleteI like Bluettes; yours is pretty! I have some original Semaine de Suzette patterns that I found online that I've thought about trying to make up, although I don't have a Bluette yet.
ReplyDeleteHi Barb,
DeleteYou're sewing from the original patterns? Are they translated to English? I've been having a hard time finding ones that have been translated. Seems pretty amazing that she has more than 1,000 published patterns. :)
Hello Lisa, I've been looking at the Ruby Red Bleuettes for a while. Thank you for the nice side by side photos of the different face plates. One of the reasons I like the Bleuettes is that I would like to sew for one. You should look at www.thebleudoor.com. They must have over 100 original Semaine de Suzette patterns posted for free. Some are in French, and some translated. I'm jealous of your lovely Bleuette. Good Luck.
ReplyDeleteson hermosas me gustaría coleccionar todas pero no es posible lo que tengo es a escala y tengo bastantes pero quiero mas y mas
ReplyDeletelos felicito de corazon