Flea Market Doll & Mini Finds

It's time again to share some fun flea market finds. I love going to flea markets, thrift stores, garage sales and antique stores, even when I don't find anything that I love enough to bring home. Most of the time, I just have fun looking. These items were not found all in one day, but represent many visits to lots of different places. I don't find something awesome every time, so I just want to encourage you to keep going and enjoy the hunt.

Bonnie Chyle Babies

At a flea market last week, I found a Beautiful Babies doll by Bonnie Chyle. I fell in love with the adorable realistic expression on her happy little face.

I didn't know anything about Bonnie Chyle dolls, so I did a little research after I got home. Sadly, I found out that Bonnie Chyle had passed away on January 17, 2012. I read that she was an artist from North Dakota who had an amazing gift for sculpting life-like babies and toddlers with many different expressions.

This is Danity. The level of details in her face sculpt alone are amazing to look at. She looks like porcelain, but she is actually made of silicone. She has a weighted body, which when combined with her silicone skin makes her feel incredibly real to hold.

She came in her original box with her Certificate of Authenticy and hang tag. She is a limited edition, number 17 out of 1000.

Little Danity came wearing her original white crochet with pink trim dress, bonnet, bloomers, and booties. She can sit perfectly on her own.

Here's her dress and bonnet from the back...

... and her booties.

According to the tag on her back seam, she is from 2005.

If there is one thing I can say about my doll collection, it's that "it is eclectic". I really don't have any other babies in my doll collection, but I don't mind adding something different when it catches my eye.

Danity is a tiny little thing at just about 8".  Here she is playing with a Calico Critters Mama Cat for size comparison.

She looks adorable sitting in American Girl Josefina's lap.

I just can't resist a face that makes me smile. :)

Matryoshka Dolls

My oldest daughter was so sweet to buy this cute set of Matryoshka or Russian Nesting Dolls for me. I have always loved these dolls and I even have some Matryoshka doll fabric in my stash. She saw me admiring them at a flea market, and went back to buy them for me while I was at the next booth.

Matryoshka dolls are made of wood and come in nesting sets. Most have around five dolls in one set, but can have up to several dozen. The first Russian Nesting Dolls were carved in 1890, but they are still being produced today. Each doll opens so that the next smaller doll can nest inside. The smallest doll is made of a solid piece of wood and does not open. Traditionally, the largest doll is a woman dressed in sarafan (a long traditional Russian peasant jumper dress). The dolls inside are painted differently and may be of either gender with the smallest doll usually being a baby.

Also included with this set was an extra solid wood doll. The bonus doll on the right is the same size as the doll next to it from the set, but it does not open since it is solid wood like the smallest doll.

Toy Story Bo Peep

Little Bo Peep from Toy Story was another flea market find.

Bo Peep has a molded bonnet and hair. Her head seems to be made of a softer, hollow vinyl. She is wearing an adorable dress with puffy pink sleeves and a blue bodice with white lace overlay. The attached skirt of the dress is white with pink polka dots and white lace trim. The dress closes in the back with velcro.

The dress has an attached white tulle petticoat. She is wearing long pants style bloomers under her dress, in the same color blue as the dress bodice.

She was originally from Walt Disney's World On Ice, according to her hang tag.

She is jointed at the neck, shoulders, and hips. She has bent elbows. Her knees can bend with a click similar to Barbie. Here she is with Liv Doll Hayden for size comparison.

Disney Miniatures

While we're on the subject of Disney, another flea market find was a miniature Mickey and Minnie.  These were Hallmark Ornaments.

Next to a quarter, you can see how tiny they are. They will make perfect toys for dolls and would look great in a dollhouse. They are made of wood, twine and felt. I love that they have a vintage look to them.

Another miniature flea market find was a tiny Lucky from Disney's 101 Dalmatians.  Little Lucky with his colorful ball is about the size of a quarter. I think he is made of porcelain or resin.

Department 56 Miniatures

At Goodwill, I found this adorable miniature Department 56 Set of 5 tiny figurines. I think these are also made of either porcelain or resin.

The set is called Seasons Bay "A Stroll in the Park".  A mother pushing her baby in a Victorian carriage while baby clutches her dolly.

These tiny pieces have so much detail.

I may be able to use these somewhere in the dollhouse.

Doll Furniture

I love looking for doll scale furniture too.  This little natural wicker chair was $1.99 at Goodwill.  I may decide to paint this one.

Once home, all the dolls want to try it out.  New baby Danity likes it.

China Girl from "Oz, The Great and Powerful" poses to have her picture taken. She thinks it's comfy, although a little small.

Liv Doll Hayden thinks it's just right, but wants me to make a cushion for the seat.

This little white wooden Adirondack was another $1.99 Goodwill find. It was actually a picture frame.

Another good fit for Liv Doll Hayden.

But little Destiny likes this one too much to give it to Hayden. Destiny is a Tonner Kickits "Up To Something".  She was also a flea market find from last year. You can read more about her here.

Antique Dolls

The last doll that I wanted to share with you today didn't actually come home with me. I found her at an antique store for $175. Since I don't know enough about antique dolls, I didn't know if she was actually a good deal or not. She had a bisque head and a wooden ball jointed body. The shopkeeper said that her floral taffeta dress was probably original.

It is my dream to someday have an antique doll in my collection, but for now I will continue to research and learn more about them.

Please leave a comment below to share your thoughts about my finds, and tell us about your flea market finds too!

Hugs,

Lisa