Wednesday 29 August 2007

Paper Doll Dresses

Paper Doll Dresses are a huge hit in Blogland at the moment. Lots of ladies missed out on getting into the swap, Mum and I included, but we are all flat out making them anyway.

Mum and I are turning them out on a nightly basis! We have a funny, friendly little competition going on where we pretend not to like the other one's. We have got Stella involved in it. I thought my first 'collection' were pretty good really until Mum started! We now have Stella saying Mummy's dresses are gastly and Nana's are beautiful!

There is some truth to that actually! Nana's dresses, like Nana's personality are totally over the top.


I actually got a bit worried, so have revisited mine, (telling Mum and Stella that I hadn't actually finished them) and am foofing them up - dramatically! I can't be outdone in my very own home!

Karla mentioned in her post that she loved her paper dolls as a wee girl. Paper dolls have a long history in my family also.

My Granny was an incredibly talented woman. She made her own paper doll as a girl which was a 1920's movie star. The doll looked like a flapper girl and she had the most glamourous wardrobe that Granny had designed and hand painted. I remember this soft dove grey coat that had a pink fur collar and cuffs. Also a long slinky silver evening gown. She had day wear, night wear, accessories etc. I loved playing with her and Granny made me a little sister to go with her that I would paint clothes for.

Mum also loved paper dolls and as a little girl I used to play with hers also. They were in a brown cardboard box and divided neatly into compartments, as only Mum would do, even as a kid! They were 1950's dolls and even as a little girl I loved the vintage-ness of them.

As a little girl in the 1970's I had my own paper dolls. My best friend Corienne and I each had a family of them and we would fashion clothes for them from an old Simplicity Sewing Pattern Book, Mothercare Books and magazines. We would just pop our dolls down on the garment we wanted, trace around the doll and cut it out!

Hours and hours were spent playing with our dolls. We would take over entire living rooms and make houses for them.

My Princess Stella also loves paper dolls. She has a box of them (now organised into plastic bags by Mum!) that she loves to play with. Her's are mostly fairy paper dolls!

If anyone would like to do a Paper Doll Dress Mini Swap with Mum and I, leave a comment with your email address.






10 comments:

Jen and family said...

well I think your both clever
LOVE the dresses

I use to have a book in the 70's that had a doll and she came with paper doll dresses too :)

jen at http://jenz.wordpress.com

bluemuf said...

Hi Rachael,

I would like to do a swap with you and your mum. I will write you later to firm up.

Karen

Anonymous said...

Those are just adoooooorable!!

karlascottage.typepad.com said...

I don't think you can have enough foof! so cute and it sounds like you are having such fun with them as a family! your littel girl will always remember these evenings making paper dolls with her grandma and mom!

Natasha Burns said...

They are so so so sweet Rachael!

ShabbyInTheCity said...

I love the bodices on those wee dresses! And how you strung them together...

CatieAn said...

hi karen from bluemuf sent me over to join in all the fun! when i was growing up in the 50's---yeah am that old----paper dolls was THE BEST every one played with paper dolls!
please count me in the swap
catie

Aimz said...

I use to love paperdolls when I was little but it wasn't fun when they ripped though lol

a Bohemian Market said...

Oh Rachel:
You are too hot with your adorable little paper dresses. Ruffles and such!!!
Just delightful. I too remember making them as a child in the 50's
: ) Yep, I am a Grandma now : )
Peace
carole

Artifax said...

What a beautiful blog you have! And your paper dresses are SO cute! I love the foofing you gave them :)

I have been bitten by the paper dress bug too. If you are looking for happy swappers, I have a bunch over at my blog -- I am also hosting a little paper dress swap :)

http://jeweledelegance.blogspot.com/