Buying a reproduction doll....

[Miss Lucy Martel]

Hello Everyone,

I need some advise.

           I really want a porcelain doll.

Yes, I know I am 19, and "too old for dolls" at events, but I will fib and say she is for a (nonexistent) favorite niece if I can only set her on my lap and sew for her.

So, here is my question. Where do I buy a good reproduction?
I have found several web sites, but I do not really know anything about them or their merchandise other then the pictures they give.

Here are the sites I have found...

http://www.anabellsworld.com/doll/Jenny%20Lind.html
http://www.anabellsworld.com/doll/Fancy%20doll.html

http://dollsetc.net/75-CP_JennyLind.html

I also do not know exactly how to read the specifics of the different dolls on the third link, so any help with that would be much appreciated
I was saving up for a sewing academy doll, but I do not think they are being sold anymore, so I am looking for another option.

Thank you all so much!
                        ~ Lucy Martel

[Ms. Jean]

Be sure to link over to the main ESC site and take a look!

http://www.thesewingacademy.com/the-shop/patterns-publications/

Scroll down for a pattern to sew the doll, too.



Jean
Route 66

[Liana W.]

I'm fourty-mumble and bought myself a reproduction china doll back around Christmastime, so you're not too old!   She was one of the ones from the main ESC site. I don't see any there now, though.

[Miss Lucy Martel]

Miss' Jean and Liana ,

Thank you, I definitely want to buy the cloth doll pattern at some point!

I am asking about dolls now because I would like to buy a 'yay-I-finished-the-first-year-of-colege-and-only-have-to-live-through-3-more-years' doll for myself, even if I have to live through my little sisters' teasing. They enjoy reminding me that I am "too old" for dolls

Thank you God for summers, because now I finally have time to sew some clothes for a Miss Dolly!

Happy Tuesday!
                 
             ~ Lucy

[Donna Rowan]

Well I'm a "tiny bit" older then you . Ive been collecting dolls sense...well sense I got my 1st one. Lots of people women and men collect dolls. If by "code" you mean SFGW,bisque,china painted. SFGW means soft fired greenware...soft fired usually means it has only been fired once lightly/and or/in some cases it ha sent been fired at all. bisque is what it is made of. can also be used to mean a blank kit. means it isn't been painted. china painted means it has been painted and is done as the pic. on there child doll page they list this info: "Soft-fired Green ware (SFGW), Bisque (B), Painted (P) and Completely finished(F)." Seriously don't go SFGW.unless you want to paint her and unless you know someone local who will refire for you. [some local ceramic studios will for a small fee.] Unless you want to do it all yourself go with a finished doll head arms and legs.You can make a body yourself from a pattern a small amount of muslin and some stuffing. About the 1st 2 links the prices seem more in line with most sellers I've seen, but I cant find a finished size for the dolls or even a size in inches for the head. Which ever you chose, good luck with it, enjoy. Don't let you sis tease to much.She'll probably want one when she see's yours.   If I can help you at all on it pm me.

[Stormi Souter]

I have the doll from the first link (Annabell's World) and love her! She is quality and looks great:

http://whynotthen.com/Main/Drucilla

(I have made her clothes now)

I also can recommend, from owning, ESC's cloth doll:

http://whynotthen.com/Main/Charlotte

As well as the frozen Charlotte from the Steamboat Arabia:

http://whynotthen.com/Main/Alice

And, if you can paint better than I can, the reproduction Greiner Heads are nice:

http://whynotthen.com/Main/Pheroby


There are a few other repros I've been eying but haven't bought yet. I really want a Tuck and Comb doll next, if anyone knows of anyone doing good repros right now!

[Donna Rowan]

Stormy,I'm interested,how big is Drucilla? I dont have a Jenny Lind.

[Mother Dean]

Oh how fun!!!

Stormi - I adore your dolls and don't you dare offend that beautiful Pheroby!! You have done a wonderful job and I would be proud to have any in your collection...... I'll just give you my address and you can send them right over. LOL

Miss Lucy - I can't paint at all myself and would follow the advice given to purchase a finished head. Anabellsworld also had a link to a patterns page with patterns for all of her clothes for $2/each.... Now that "dress dummy" I want to see and I am loving the gentleman doll.

[Stormi Souter]

Drucilla is 18" IIRC. A good sized doll.

Hehe. Thank you! It's when the two dolls sit next to each other you can tell who was painted by a professional and who was not, though!

[Miss Lucy Martel]

Hello Ladies!

Well, I have not bought a doll yet, but I do have some interesting news.

My mother was speaking to some friends at a party, when one woman just happened to mention that her mother makes reproduction china dolls
Now the problem is, my mother can not remember which lady it was....
She is going to try and find out, and I think it would be very fun to have bought a doll made by someone I have a connection to

A new question is, does anyone know if E.S.C. is still selling the lovely clothing patterns that used to come with her china dolls?

It is so nice to be able to come to this site and see what new tidbit you all have left for me.
Thank you so much for your help thus far

Wishing a lovely Sunday to you all,
  ~ Lucy

[Elizabeth]

We'll be releasing the china patterns in a new format hopefully this fall.

[Miss Lucy Martel]

Oh My Goodness! That is really exciting
Thank you so much
~ Lucy