Meet Patsy, A New Tonner Effanbee Doll

Hi Doll Friends!

I'm back today to introduce you to another new doll in my collection. I'd like for you to meet Patsy, a new 10" doll currently available from Tonner.

The new 10" Patsy
Sculpted by Robert Tonner

The new Tonner Patsy is Robert Tonner's re-imagined version of the original Patsy doll.

The Original Patsy

The original Patsy was a 14" tall doll that was produced from 1928 to 1946 by Effanbee Doll Company, also known as F&B. She was made of composition and had molded, painted hair and side glancing eyes. Effanbee also produced a whole line of Patsy family dolls in sizes ranging from 6" to 30" tall.

An Original Patsy

This is an ad from old 1928 Wards mail order catalog.

Robert Tonner purchased the Effanbee Doll Company in 2002.  In 2012, Tonner released his newly sculpted version of Patsy in vinyl using the Ann Estelle body. As you can see, she looks quite different than the original Patsy.  The new Tonner Patsy has big, inset eyes and applied lashes.

Since Patsy has the same size body as Ann Estelle, I thought she would make a good friend for my new Ann Estelle, whom I introduced to you recently (click here to go to my Meet Ann Estelle, A Tonner Mary Engelbreit Doll post). Patsy and Ann Estelle can even share clothes.

Here she is, the new Tonner Patsy, as she arrived in her pink box with Effanbee printed on the lid.

I love how easy Tonner dolls are to remove from their box, just untie a couple ribbons and they're free.

Tonner makes several versions of Patsy with different hair and eye colors, and dressed in a variety of outfits. My doll is called Patsy Play Date, and she has big brown eyes and a brown bob style wig with bangs. She comes wearing a blue denim dress, a yellow and orange stripe shirt and matching tights, an orange hooded coat, and a brown faux leather belt and shoes.

Here's Patsy with her new friend Ann Estelle.

When Tonner released the first reissued Patsy dolls, they used the Ann Estelle body. My Play Date model uses a "New Patsy" body, which is exactly the same as Ann Estelle's body but with newly added joints in her elbows and wrists. Notice how nicely Patsy can hold her baby doll thanks to her wrist and elbow joints.

Patsy is showing off her posability.

Here is a close up of Patsy and Ann Estelle without her glasses, so that you can see the differences in their eyes. Both have inset eyes, but Patsy's eyes are much larger. Ann Estelle has painted lashes while Patsy has applied lashes.

I was happy to find my Patsy Play Date doll on Clearance at Cherished Friends, an authorized Tonner distributor. At the same time, I ordered Patsy's Table and Chairs Set, which was also on Clearance for $29.99 ($100 off retail). I thought this set would be perfect for Patsy and Ann Estelle's house. This little wooden dining set is painted a fresh white, but I'm thinking about repaint it, Mary Engelbreit style. What do you think?

The girls are ready for their tea party.

With so many Mary Engelbreit teapots to choose from.

I think these girls are going to be fast friends!

What are your thoughts on Patsy? Do you think she will fit right into Ann Estelle's little Mary Engelbreit style home?  Please leave your thoughts and questions in the Comments below.  I love to hear from you!

Hugs ♥ 
 - Lisa

Meet Ann Estelle, A Tonner Mary Engelbreit Doll

Hi Doll Friends!

I am pleased to introduce you to Ann Estelle, an adorable doll sculpted by Robert Tonner based on Mary Engelbreit's whimsical Ann Estelle character. Since I am such a big fan of all things Mary Engelbreit, a little Ann Estelle doll was destined to live at my house!
And here she is...

Mary Engelbreit is famous for her designs that include cherries, checkerboard, flowers, and of course, Ann Estelle. According to her website, maryengelbreit.com, Ann Estelle was named after Mary's maternal grandmother, and she has been drawing her since she was a little girl. Mary gave Ann Estelle the title "The Queen of Everything".

Ann Estelle dolls were made by Tonner for 10 years, from 1999 - 2009. Over the course of those 10 years, Tonner produced many versions of Ann Estelle and her friends, Sophie, Georgia, Gracie, and Michael, along with many outfits, furniture, and accessories.

Ann Estelle dolls are no longer available from Tonner, but a quick eBay search reveals that they have quite an active following there, with many artists designing custom-made outfits for these little cuties. I was able to purchase my little Ann Estelle from a doll collector friend on Facebook. She sent her to me in the original box.

If you notice, her box says Effanbee Doll Company. In 2002, Robert Tonner purchased the Effanbee Doll Company, which was one of America's oldest doll companies, manufacturing dolls since 1908.

Ann Estelle dolls are 10" tall, making them the same size as Tonner's new Patsy dolls. Patsy dolls have been produced by Effanbee since the 1920's. Since Tonner now owns Effanbee, he has re-imagined Patsy with an adorable new face sculpt. The new Tonner Patsy is currently available from tonnerdoll.com/patsy. Patsy would make a great friend for Ann Estelle since they are the same size.

My doll is known as Birthday Queen from the 2009 release.

Ann Estelle wears the most adorable little wire framed glasses.  These little hinged glasses are very well made too, nice and heavy.

Here is a close up of Ann Estelle's face, without her glasses, so you can see her adorable inset blue eyes. Her sweet smiling face just makes me happy.

Earlier Ann Estelle dolls came with straight legs, but later versions had hinged knees, like my doll.

Here is 10" tall Ann Estelle with my new 11 1/2" tall Bleuette that I recently introduced in my last post.

I love the size of these smaller dolls. They fit perfectly in my doll cabinet, and it's so much fun to look for accessories for them. I found these adorable Mary Engelbreit chairs on eBay.  They are actually pin cushions.

I can't wait to make Ann Estelle some Mary Engelbreit style dresses from these adorable new tiny print ME fabrics from Hancock Fabrics.

I'd like to design a whole Mary Engelbreit theme room for Ann Estelle. There is definitely some Mary Engelbreit style going on in my dollhouse, as you can see here. Don't you think Ann Estelle needs her own Mary Engelbreit style kitchen? :)  The wheels are turning now...

Facebook Group

If you're on Facebook, check out the Mary Engelbreit Collectors & Fans Group. It is a place to chat about Mary Engelbreit products, past and present like Tonner's Ann Estelle dolls and more.

I hope you enjoyed meeting my new little Ann Estelle!

Hugs ♥ 
 - Lisa