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

Doll Show Shopping Finds

Hi Doll Friends,

We had a fabulous day at the Bayou Bebe's Doll Show recently. The fun and excitement of going to a doll show is almost indescribable! I took some pictures so that I could try to share a little of that excitement with you.

Imagine walking into a grand hall filled with all kinds of dolls as far as the eye can see...

There really was something for everyone there. Dolls from antique to vintage to modern, and everything in between. 

There were so many bargains at the show, that I couldn't possibly have bought everything that was an amazing deal or even everything that I wanted. If you love bargains, you need to go to a doll show... prices were so low, it's unbelievable.

I realize now that a lot of my pictures are of the wonderful antique dolls that I saw, but there were tables full of brand new dolls too, including Barbie, Monster High, and even whole booths dedicated to reborn dolls. I wish I could have gotten pictures of everything.

There were also lots of accessories at the show, like furniture, miniatures, doll clothes, and shoes. There were also booths with every color and type of fabric that you could possibly want for sewing doll clothes. Fabrics, silk ribbon, tiny trims, and beautiful lace... 

So I guess you're wondering what we brought home. Well, here's a sneak peak of our huge haul...

Now, I went to the doll show with my 3 daughters. When we got there, my oldest and middle daughers wandered off together, while my youngest and I slowly looked at the first table, just trying to take it all in. A few minutes later, they came back with my middle daughter (11 years old) carrying a Giggles doll.  

I've been looking for a Giggles doll for a long time because I grew up with Giggles. I was so excited and completely shocked that they had bought this precious doll for just $10. Giggles is an 18" doll that was made by Ideal from 1967-1969.  She tilts her head from side to side and giggles when you move her arms. She has "flirty eyes", which means her eyes move from side to side when her head tilts. My sister, who was 8 1/2 years old, got a Giggles doll for Chrismas when I was just 5 months old.  This picture is from my first Christmas, and my big sister is holding her new Giggles doll. You can even see the Giggles box on the floor behind me.

Another doll from my childhood was Holly Hobbie. She is a 16" tall ragdoll made by Knickerbocker. I found her at the doll show in clean, excellent condition for just $2.

Not long ago I posted about my new Bleuette doll (see that post here). As I mentioned in that post, a nice antique Bleuette doll could cost around $5,000 or more, and the artist made reproduction Bleuette dolls usually cost around $250 and up. I was so excited to find this little wooden trunk with a beautiful Bleuette head and mohair wig for just $20.  She is a reproduction by doll artist, Laura Kelley from New York.  She is marked SFBJ 247 Paris Laura Kelley 12/05. I have already ordered a wooden Bleuette body, and I can't wait til it arrives to put her together.

I also bought these two adorable Bleuette dresses, so once she's all put together, she'll have something to wear.

I found this adorable shabby chic cabinet that is about 15" tall for just $15. The seller also threw in the china tea set for just $2.

And this miniature metal doll carriage with bedding and doll for $3.

I got this sweet Mammy doll from Gone With The Wind for $5.

  

She even has her rustling red petticoat.

I just fell in love with these two antique China Head dolls, so they came home with me.

My youngest daughter got a My Little Pony Equestria Girl doll.

My two younger daughters are definitely doll collectors already. My oldest daughter, the book-loving school teacher, doesn't collect dolls for herself, but loves to help us look for dolls. But, even she found a doll for herself at the doll show, a book related doll of course, Harry Potter.

The tall doll in the back is a 30" tall walking doll from the 1950's. She is marked AE on the back of her neck, indicating she was made by Allied Eastern. If you hold on to her left arm, she walks with you. One foot on the floor causes the other foot to swing forward. 

Here is a close up of her sweet face. She appears to be wearing her original dress and matching hair bow. One of the vendors gave her to my 11 year old daughter. Doll Show vendors are so generous, and they love to see the younger generation interested in doll collecting. Junior collectors are the future of the hobby after all. 

These two little dolls are 11" Baby Mine dolls made by Ideal from 1951-1954. They have all hard plastic, fully jointed bodies with blue side-glancing sleep eyes.

My younger daughters like Kewpie dolls, and they got these two little vinyl Kewpies and this 1972 Cameo Kewpie Gal doll.

I got this Wee Patsy made by Effanbee. I think she is either Alice in Wonderland or Mary Had a Little Lamb. She is just about 5" tall, and she came with a little lamb. I don't know if the lamb came with her originally or if someone added it. I'm not sure what year this reissue is from, but probably before 2002 when Robert Tonner purchased the Effanbee Company. 

I bought some 100% silk ribbon and a pink flower trim. Did you know that craft and fabric stores don't sell 100% silk ribbon anymore? I was looking for some recently, but I could only find polyester ribbon in stores.

I also picked up some vintage cotton lace.

This little framed 5 x 7 Cream of Wheat dolly picture was just too sweet not to bring it home.

I picked up some back issues of Doll News Magazine for just $1 each. This is the official magazine of the United Federation of Doll Clubs, and is sent out to members only. These wonderful thick magazines are packed with beautiful full color doll photos and informative articles, not ads like other magazines.

Just above the magazines, you can also see a couple of cute dollhouse rugs that a vendor gave to my daughters. Doesn't the braided rug look just perfect in Hitty's house?  ♥ I love it! ♥

I strongly encourage you to search for doll shows in your area. Check the United Federation of Doll Club's Event Calendar to search by location. You can also search online by typing "Doll Show and your state or location" into your search bar to see what comes up.

We are planning a trip to Fairhope, Alabama this Saturday, March 14, 2015 for the Eastern Shore Doll Study Club's Annual Doll Show and Sale. Looking forward to another exciting doll show!!!

Hugs ♥ 
 - Lisa