Sweet Winter Home

When winter comes- be it with rain or snow- little beings stay dry and warm indoors. This year, to begin its annual celebration of wintertime, Dolldom features a humble and most welcoming folk art dollhouse, circa 1936.






It's the sweet home of several porcelain mignonette dolls by Swedish artist Katarina Karsberg and one big and fluffy Abominable Snow Monster by Liz Retros.


Poc (Secret Summer Chibi doll) is the self-proclaimed homebody of the group. He likes to stay indoors and daydream.


Liz Retros' Abominable Snow Monster guards the entrance and keeps Puli and Tipi (two mini Myling dolls) company as they enjoy the side garden.


Wico (a micro Myling doll) welcomes you at the entrance. His tiny baby doll has been sitting on the vintage bench outside waiting for you too.


Puli pouts...


...cause Tipi taunts her.


Little snowman Casper hides behind a vintage bottle brush tree.


But wait! Who are these two peeking out of the side windows?

It's Memen and Tomori (two Marbles dolls) playing hide and seek!


And nearby, under the Christmas tree, Jesusa (a medium Myling doll with closed eyes) sleeps the afternoon away.

Katarina Karsberg's magical world, where Myling, Marbles, and Secret Summer dolls live.
Liz Retros' boutique, where Beauty and Glamour reign supreme.

Halloween Twins: Memen and Tomori

Meet Memen and Tomori, the Halloween twins.


They do love to play with decaying leaves' skins.


Memen and Tomori give smiles a tad chilling,
Tomori sure loves that her hat is so thrilling!


"Tomori, are you ready for All Hallows Eve?"


"Bien sur, dear brother! I always believe
In ghouls, bats, and spiders! I'm not that naive!"


"Soon, in pure darkness, I'll play you a tune."


"Will it be the wail of tonight's lonely Moon?"


"Tomori, it's time to go back to the ground!"


"Deep down below, that's where we were found!"

Dolldom wishes its readers 

a spine chilling All Hallows Eve!

Boo!

Memen and Tomori are skeleton mignonette dolls made by porcelain doll artist Katarina Karsberg.
Ms. Karsberg also designed and executed their clothing.

Hemlig by Katarina Karsberg

The Elf Himself

Katarina Karsberg, creator of the beloved Myling doll, continues to expand her wondrous world of characters. Born from a quick doodle, Secret Summer, in its 3D form evolved considerably when the porcelain artist and illustrator sat down to sculpt.

 

Ms. Karsberg explains: "I wanted to create a fun little fairy-sprite sort of character, just a fun and friendly little creature! I was experimenting with the face a lot, trying to find something I hadn't seen before."

Dolldom thinks that the goal was attained masterfully as Secret Summer (shown in his Chibi version) brings a most unique point of view to the realm of porcelain mignonette dolls.

Dolldom's Secret Summer Chibi, a boy elf who goes by the name of Poc, enjoys hiding behind books, only to come out when one least expects him to, but when he does come out, it's nothing short of magic!

Dear Santa...

And so begin many letters this time of year. Children kindly asking Santa Claus for that desired toy that will make Christmas day truly special. Doll and toy collectors, regardless of their age, know this feeling very well for they derive the same pleasure and sense of amazement. Is it due to the fact that they maintain the inner child alive and well? Possibly.

As time passes and kids become more mesmerized by the digital world, one wonders if the children of the future will still long to take to bed a much yearned for plush dog or fall asleep anticipating a day devoted to dressing up their elegant new doll? Dolldom believes that they will, for it is impossible for humankind not to be seduced by the pleasures of that which is sensory, and most of all, tangible. At least, that is our hope.

To celebrate the season, Dolldom explores the tradition of writing to Santa Claus. Here's to all who wish!


"Dear Santa, I would very much like a Linus doll, as Linus carries a blanket around, just like I do."
(Linus doll, circa 1962, by Boucher, San Francisco.)


"Dearest Santa Claus, would you bring me a pretty Misty doll? She's tall and fashionable and wears mini dresses so well."
(Glamour Misty doll by Ideal, circa 1965, wears a Poppy Parker dress and a glittery cap by Maryann Roy.)


"Santa! Love you! I am hoping for a glamour queen this year - Ivy Jordan is her name- and she will be styled by Pink Bubbles Doll Spa!"
(Mel Odom's Ivy Jordan doll, manufactured by Integrity Toys and restyled by Bobby Taylor of Pink Bubbles Doll Spa. Dress by JAMIEshow.)


"Hello, Santa Claus, I have an empty dollhouse! Would you be so kind as to bring me a Twinkie doll by Marx? She comes in a set with many plastic dresses, wigs, purses!  Thank you for being kind!"
(Marx Toys' Twinkie doll, circa 1965, originated the concept carried on by Polly Pocket.)


"To Santa: I would like a Tressy doll with a perfect do - styled by Pink Bubbles Doll Spa! One day, when I'm big, I'll also be a star hairdresser!"
(American Character's Tressy dolls, circa 1964-1965, restyled to perfection by Bobby Taylor, wear a Marirose dress and a leopard coat by Rowena.)


"Dear Santa, a pretty Bleuette in a Retros knit set is the doll of my dreams!"
(OOAK reproduction Bleuette doll by Raven in a knit set by Liz Cole for Retros.)


"My dads say it's okay to get a dog, as long as he is made of plush! I'd prefer a living one but we won't be able to adopt one until I'm older. In the meantime, dear Santa, this vintage Kamar, will be my best buddy!"
(Vintage Kamar Bulldog, circa 1967, was made of velvet plush in Japan.)


"I'm in love with old Hollywood actresses! Bette, Joan, and Mel Odom's Madra Lord! I'd love, dear Santa, to play movie drama with my own JAMIEshow Madra Lord in a James Bogue dress!"
(JAMIEshow-produced version of Mel Odom's Madra Lord, circa 2014, in a set by James Bogue.)


"I'd like a mini me doll. This Effanbee 8-inch Mickey looks a lot like me! Thank you Santa!"
(Effanbee's "Most Happy Family" Mickey, circa 1959, was produced in 8-inch size." 


"Skipper is Barbie's sister. She is a fun loving girl from Willows! Dear Santa, please, could I get one with pale lemon blonde hair?"
(Mattel's Skipper, circa 1964, in her original swimsuit is ready to take photos with her Tammy camera.)




"Dear Santa, I'd like a Silkstone Francie doll to look like Twiggy cause she's been styled by Pink Bubbles Doll Spa! Twiggy is the best fashion model in London and Francie wants to look like her!"
(BFMC "Kitty Corner" Francie doll, circa 2012, wears a vintage Francie clone fashion, made in Hong Kong. Her hair, styled by Bobby Taylor, reproduces the iconic style of the iconic Twiggy.)


"I dream of  a little girl and her Yeti friend! The little girl is a Myling doll and the Yeti friend is by Retros. They are an unlikely pair but they have fun together!"
(Mini Myling porcelain doll by Katarina Carlsson, circa 2014, is protected by Liz Cole's Yeti plush doll.)

"Dear Santa, I've been a very good boy, I've done all my homework, fed the cats, and taken care of the vegetable garden. Would you bring me a glamorous Séverine doll? One that looks like Carmen Dell'Orefice in a Sylvia Campbell beaded gown? I'll be on cloud nine!"
(Platinum white Séverine doll by Julian Kalinowski wears Sylvia Campbell's reproduction of a Japanese market exclusive beaded dress.)

Happy Holidays!

A Little Morning Rhyme

Faint apparition, diffused by light,

Who are you, what's your plight?

Hair alight, of a tiny fungus the height, 

My eyes, dazed, of you catch sight. 

 





Credits:
Micro Myling doll by Katarina Carlsson
Mushroom specimen by Cody Foster
Words by Manuel de Campo y Prado

Under The Tree

What will be under the tree? Many children, past and present, have toyed with the idea of waking up on Christmas morning to find a much desired plaything under tree. "Santa Claus read my letter, he knew what I really wanted!" - exclaimed many a child or child at heart. The echo of such expressions of happiness may still heard by the kind of heart. To celebrate the holidays, Dolldom brings an exclusive portfolio of possible Christmas morning scenes spanning the decades.

May your child, real offspring or the one nurtured inside your soul, enjoy the delight of a new doll on this wonderful time of the year.


"Zippy the Chimp" by Cosmopolitan may have been a much desired playmate the Christmas of 1957.


 Perhaps a sailor "Mickey" by Effanbee also in 1957?


Dolldom goes farther into the woods of time. A rare set of composition wolves by Freundlich, circa 1941, begs for a Little Red Riding Hood doll to keep them company.


This vinyl Patsyette, made by Tonner owned Effanbee in 2004, could have also delighted a child in 1934  in her original composition incarnation.


Daisy, by Jung Hee Park, made children's eyes sparkle in 2011.


The classic film A Christmas Story is all about getting a much desired toy. In the case of Ralphie, it is a BB gun. Doll by Tonner Doll circa 2012.


Licca and Wataru graced many a tree in 1967! These reproduction dolls wear INOMI and MforMonkey fashions.


Vogue's Brikette! The impish red headed gal, circa 1959, must have been quite a sight under the tree. Remembered by many as Talking Tina from The Twilight Zone, the doll does enjoy good popularity.


American Character's 14-inch Betsy McCall was the doll to dream about in 1958. She still is!


What about a Troll doll? They were all the rage for many years in the 1960's. This one by Daum, has a soft mohair wig and tortoise shell eyes.


In 1937, this Effanbee Charlie McCarthy composition ventriloquist doll was a sight to behold! His Renwall doll dates back to 1952.


The Flying Nun!  Sally Field's adorable character in doll form, created by Hasbro, dates back to 1967.




What about 2014? Well, for good little children, there may be a tiny and a micro porcelain Myling dolls by Katarina Carlsson's Hemligast line of handmade dolls.

Dolldom wishes you a Christmas filled with the wonder of childhood's reverie.