Doll & Toy Repairs, Mending, Replication, Restoration, Conservation, Preservation

2020-11-01T11:45:00.000-08:00

POLICIES

Preserve as much of the original doll or toy as possible.
Do only what the customer wants done.
Provide a written estimate.
Keep broken, removed, or replaced parts & return them to the owner.
Provide a dated & signed list of work done, products used, and parts added.
We never refuse to evaluate a doll due to age, type, brand, current value, or condition. If for some reason we can't fix it, we'll refer you to someone else who can.

2011-12-13T10:28:00.000-08:00

Dog attack.

2011-12-13T10:22:00.000-08:00

He cracked one too many smiles...

2010-07-02T23:36:00.000-07:00

This little vintage monkey was cracked and coming apart at the seams. His family wanted him restored for Father's Day. He was taken apart, cleaned, restuffed, and his celluloid face was mended, patched, and sealed on the inside.

Here he is, re-assembled and ready to go home.

Shirley just kept on smiling...

2010-07-02T11:36:00.000-07:00

This series of images shows before and after photos of a large composition Shirley Temple doll from the 1930's.

Images below show Shirley's face and wig, before and after.

She definitely enjoyed her stay at the dolly spa!

Sweet Patsy

2010-07-02T00:44:00.000-07:00

This little composition Patsy doll from the 1930's was in pretty good shape, with a very nicely preserved surface under all that dirt. She just needed a little work on her fingers, cleaning, and restringing.

And now...what a doll!

Knickerbocker Beloved Belindy (White Chocolate?)

2010-07-02T00:38:00.000-07:00

Here is the only white Knickerbocker Beloved Belindy rag doll that I have ever seen. She needed cleaning, mending and rehab, and her photos are shown below.

Alexander Sonja Henie Doll

2010-07-02T00:24:00.000-07:00

This Madame Alexander Sonja Henie had been hanging out with the Shirley Temple doll for most of their lives, and they had lived fast and wild together! Sonja's owner wanted only conservative care for this doll, so some of her condition issues were left as-is. Nevertheless, she looks very nice and is certainly now display-worthy!

Joan Walsh Anglund Doll

2010-07-01T11:36:00.000-07:00

This is a 14-inch Joan Walsh Anglund doll from 1962. She has a large, heavy head, and was very firmly stuffed. Her body fabric was too fragile to withstand traditional mending, and the stuffing was beginning to push its way out. Her new face and portions of her body were made separately out of new dyed to match fabric, without disrupting the originals. After fabrication, these pieces were appliqued on top of the originals. The rotting ends of her legs were clipped off, basted shut, shoes saved, new legs applied over the remaining originals, and sewn in place. The original shoes were then applied to the new lower legs, made of vintage linen hankies. Of course, her clothes were also removed, cleaned, and mended.

Here she is, looking very much like her original self.

Minnie Gets a Makeover

2009-09-22T18:43:00.000-07:00

Minnie was brought in by a woman in her late 20's, quite distressed over the condition of her lifelong best friend. Minnie was clean, but in serious tatters. I was never told what happened to her, but it looked like the results of a commercial washing machine. Minnie's owner wanted her restored as much as possible, but wisely decided to keep all Minnie's original clothes, even if they were quite faded. Both hands needed attention, and her bloomers were coming apart. Minnie's ears were floppy, and there were many areas where stitching had given way. Her bow had seen better days. The thread in her dress had disintegrated, so it was now in pieces. Minnie's eyes had paint loss and scratches, and her felt eyelashes were torn and partly missing. The photos below are paired up so that you can see the "before" image and the "after" result:

Minnie when I first met her.

Having trouble seeing the eyechart...

Whew...better.

Left palm, before...

...and after.

Upper surface of left hand, before...

...and after.

Not the best undies to go to the doctor....
...but now they're presentable.

Minnie ready to go home (or shopping)!

Wooden Disney Mickey Mouse

2009-07-11T22:42:00.000-07:00

This early wooden 3.5" Disney Mickey Mouse, probably distributed by the Borgfeldt company, was about to lose his arms. One hand was still with him, but not attached. His old papery ears were about to go. When he was new, he sported an oval gold paper label on his chest, which read, "Reg. U.S. Pat Mickey Mouse, Copr. Walt Disney."

This is the same little guy after his makeover. The arms were replaced, his original hand re-attached, and a second hand, made of old wooden beads, was attached to the other arm. His original ears were salvaged, reinforced, and are still visible from the front.

More Restorations

2008-12-06T21:22:00.001-08:00

Ginnie's wig was torn up by shoppers carelessly ripping at her wig, trying to find her I.D. marks. When I first got the wig, it was filthy, and I could not tell the front from the back. This is her wig before and after, and all dolled up, below!

Raggedy Ann's rehab was mostly cleaning. She also got more hair and a new ensemble.

Polish peg wooden nurse doll. I restore any doll that appeals to me, even if her current value is minimal.

Lenci Mascotte had a facial. No fluids were used.

This mama doll had her old latex and foam

arm decomposing on her face. I don't know if she was relieved, but I felt a lot better!

I don't think these arms are Grumpy's original arms, but that is how I bought him. I designed and assemble his new hands and a new crier. All reversible.

Lenci felt boy - moth damage repairs, cleaning, & new costume. Months of intermittent work.

Miss Debutante needed a spa visit.

Tickletoes rescued from the dumpster! His "flirty" eyes make me laugh every time I look at him. He also has a new crier. All my baby dolls get new criers, if they have one that isn't working.

1940's Baby Doll Shoes

2008-11-09T13:50:00.000-08:00