My Buddy Doll

Kid Sister and My Buddy Dolls

What started out to be a story on all dolls, turned out to be one on this duo, instead. I remember when My Buddy and Kid Sister first came out. The theme song still plays loud in my mind, like it was yesterday. Oddly
enough, I never owned them but I wanted to. My Dad probably thought they were ugly, like he thought the Cabbage Patch dolls were.



Hasbro, the original manufacturer for the My Buddy doll, initiated this duo back in 1985. Later they made the Kid Sister doll. In the 1990's, Playskool took over. The My Buddy doll was made for mentally challenged children.

Before the change in it's looks when Playskool took over in the 1990's, My Buddy had his own unique characteristics. He had the My Buddy logo on his blue overalls. Then there was red baseball cap over his brown hair. Don't forget about his cute little button nose and his freckles. He wore a red/white/yellow and blue striped shirt and all but his head was stuffed material. Kid Sister had a pink overall set with blond shoulder length hair.

They both shared all the other qualities. There were even an African American set. The original look soon became a look of the past when Playskool changed them in the 1990's.

In the 1990's when he and Kid Sister were modified, Playskool made them with the clothes sewn onto the bodies. Many were not to happy with the modifications. Playskool was trying to keep down the extra cost of buying clothes.

Many people thought that the My Buddy doll inspired Chucky on Child's Play since they resembled one another so much. Actually, according to Tom Holland (writer and director), the movie was inspired by the Cabbage Patch dolls. Apparently, he was tired of seeing them on commercials.(http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/513249/kid_sister_and_my_buddy_dolls.html)

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German Dolls

Antique German Dolls - 4 of The Best

Collecting antique German dolls is a very popular pastime and many of the best quality dolls come from Germany. You will need to read up on each manufacturer to decided what you want to buy and how much you spend. Luckily there are many dolls to choose from you should be able to find something to suit your budget and is especially easy now thanks to internet auctions.




Kewpies - These German dolls have been produced since 1912 and are based on illustrations by Rose O'Neil. The sizes vary enormously from 1" to 3 feet. In the early days Kewpie dolls were made of bisque but are now made from vinyl. There are number of companies producing Kewpie dolls however the largest is Charisma Company, owned by Marie Osmond

Armand Marseille - These dolls were produced from approximately 1885 until 1930. In general, the head is made of bisque which is attached to a stuffed body. When looking for a makers mark, you will find it very clearly on the back of the head. You will see a number (eg 370 or 390) which indicates the model number.

Kestner - Kestner dolls were made in Germany between 1805 and 1925. They originally manufactures toys but then moved into making dolls. When buying Kestner dolls you will have to look out for model numbers as they typically don't have names.

Kathe Kruse - Kathe Kruse has been manufacturing dolls for over 90 years and continue to do so today. The modern dolls they make are handmade and not mass-produced. An amazing amount of work is put into each doll and items of clothing and feature hand embroidery, knitting or crochet. Even the human hair is hand knotted into the doll's wig cap! Therefore, even if you purchase a brand new Kathe Kruse doll, you so should consider them antiques of the future.

If you are plant to spend a lot of money (many dolls can sell for hundreds or even thousands of ££s) it would be a wise idea to buy books or subscribe to magazines on the subject. There are many available due to the fact that doll collecting is so popular.(http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Linda_Kerr)

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Collectible Doll

Collectible Doll are the Passion of Many and Some Great Deals Can Be Found Online

Almost every little girl loves dolls, but many of us carry the love of dolls into adulthood. Collectible dolls are for those of us that still love dolls, despite our age. Dolls come in all shapes and sizes, and a good many of them aren't for little girls. In fact, some of the most collectible dolls are not made for children at all. Every little detail makes the doll special, and one of a kind. If you have depleted your local source of collectible doll, you can turn to the Internet and find some fabulous limited edition, one of a kind, and simply beautiful dolls.

Porcelain Dolls

Porcelain dolls are one of the most widely collected dolls. The reason for this is that real human characteristics can be replicated with porcelain so that the dolls are very beautiful. If you have a great collection of porcelain dolls and you can't seem to find anything that will compliment your current collection, you should get online. So many online retailers and collectible doll dealers have some great items that are only available online. Many of the retailers online have one of a kind items or dolls that are completely different than the dolls that you currently have because they have resources that your local dealers do not have. Whether you are simply waiting for the collectible porcelain dolls that speak to you, or you want something that will take your collection in a new direction, the Internet is the place to be.

Baby Dolls

Baby dolls are a great collectible as well. Baby dolls come in a variety of materials and have been popular among little girls and collectors since the beginning of time. If you are looking for some new baby dolls to add to your collection, you should turn to the Internet for some great options. The Internet can also be an affordable way to start a collection of baby dolls for your daughter, granddaughter, or someone that you care about. Many baby doll dealers can offer you a wide selection of baby dolls so that you can purchase one that is perfect for you or the new collector in your life. The Internet can hook you up with all of the great baby dolls and artist dolls that you can imagine, and you'll find that there is a lot more selection online than you'll ever find locally.

Collectible Bears, Oh My!

Collectible bears are simply and extension of collectible dolls. The teddy bear is as historic as the baby doll, and that is why many of us begin to collect bears as well as dolls. There are collectible bears that come onto the market all the time; the hard part is getting your hands on them. When you get online you can find some great bears that you cannot find anywhere else. Many websites offer email updates and close up photographs of the collectible bears so that you can buy some great bears to add to your collection.

Collectible bears and collectible porcelain dolls are both things that many of us feel passionate about. One of the things that every doll and bear collector has in common is the constant search for their new addition to their collection.


Many of us go months or even years without adding a new doll or bear to our collection, because we can't find anything that speaks to us. When you get online, you have instant access to collectible doll from all over the world that are limited in number and can make a great addition to your collection. When you get online you have great access, as well as access to some great prices.(http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chris_Robertson)

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Dress Up Doll

Dress Up Doll

You've been doing it since you were a baby. First were the floppy soft dolls, and then you progressed to Barbie. Dressing up dolls is a favorite pastime for many girls, and if you still dress up Barbie occasionally in secret, it's okay - there is an entire community just like you.

As the internet has grown, websites have been developed that appeal to all kinds of people. We think of games online and message boards, but did you realize there are also dress up dolls online
? And not just a few basic dolls - these girls put Barbie's Dream Closet to shame.

Dress Up Dolls

Originally dolls were developed for use as plain images, but since girls enjoyed them so much, many websites began to allow girls to dress up dolls on their site in much the same way they would dress up a Barbie or traditional paper dolls. The difference is, these dolls don't just come with big blonde hair and a few clothing selections. There are literally hundreds of outfits in all manners of fashion designed to complement dolls of every skin tone and hair style.

You pick the base. Skin tones range from pale to dark just like we do in the real world. You then add hair to your doll in practically any style you can image. Next comes clothing and it may take awhile to get the clothing selection just right. After all, you are able to design everything from goth to punk to preppy to pirates on The Doll Palace. We know an outfit is never complete without accessories, so you have plenty of choices there as well.




Once your dress up doll is finished, you can put her on an available background and use her for any number of things. You can print her out. You can make her the subject of a good story. You can enter her into any number of contests sponsored by the site, or you can use her as your avatar. Your avatar is your online picture when you're chatting with others in the chat rooms or message boards inside the doll community.

An Entire Community

Dressing up dolls in one thing you can do on The Doll Palace. You can also read through fashion or teen related articles, write your own articles, create stories, join groups who love making dolls, visit on the Doll forums, and even just chat. There are plenty of dolls already created that you can use as inspiration or avatars and tons of doll makers as well. New makers and dolls are released all the time, so there is always something new to do on the site.

Finally a game that appeals to you is available online. No more silly shooting games or hearing about how dangerous other websites are. There is a website that has lots to do, parents approve of, and best of all - is plenty of fun to play on.(http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alex_Syrov)

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Doll Carrier

Doll Carrier/Moses Basket

After finding the little Mose's basket style doll carrier on etsy.com last night I decided to search for a tutorial to make one. I searched high and low. I just knew someone had to of made a free tutorial explaining how I could easily make Kaitlyn's doll a bed. I can't tell you how long I looked before I finally turned to the most frustrating kind of patterns known to man... paper, store bought patterns. I get so lost trying to use those. I finally found it. Maybe the woman who made the ones on etsy.com came up with her own pattern, but it looked just like the carrier Vogue has a pattern for. For a whopping $9.99 I can have my own pattern or for under $15 I can have someone make one for me. Hmmm...




EDIT: Many people pull up this post searching for Moses basket patterns for doll carier. I don't want you to walk away empty handed. A commenter left a link to a pattern. I haven't tried it yet, but it looks like it would work. Feel free to pop on over to the doll Moses basket tutorial.

I've almost finished the gown for Kaitlyn's doll. I would have the elastic in the neck by now (only the bottom ruffle remaining), but I realized the neckline I was pinning down still needed to be zig-zagged. =( I took the pins out and laid it aside. I think dinner is calling me.

On a completely different note Neal has run off to the coast. He really tried to play it off. He told me it was only 1.5 hours away, but they were going to give themselves 2.5-3 hours to get there. I'm no fool. We have driven there before. It took us 2 hours to arrive. On top of him going 2 hours away with the guys he works with they wanted to arrive early enough to have dinner. Maybe I should explain. One of the guys does some kind of martial arts. He is in a tournament or fight or whatever you call it, tonight. Everyone was going to watch him. Neal didn't think it was appropriate for Kaitlyn to go so of course that means we are left behind. Of course I didn't care to go see a fight. I find myself sitting her adding up the cost of his adventure: 10 pounds to get in, maybe $30 for gas to get there and back, plus about 10 pounds for dinner. You know I think his job change is going to do us in. He goes out to eat more with those in his office since changing jobs. He always tries to downplay it, but I'm starting to wondering if I need to remind him he has a wife and child. Now that I think about it, it makes since why our food budget was blown this month. It cost more to eat off the economy. We had blamed it on Thanksgiving.
(http://4purejoy.blogspot.com/2008/11/doll-carriermoses-basket.html)

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Toy Doll

The Baby's Toy Doll

The number one priority when an infant child plays is the safety of the infant. As the early development stage begins in the infant, with eager and excitement it realizes the motions in the body and begins to test the skills in the hands and feet, innocent to all its surroundings and possible dangers which is liable to strike in subtle ways, ample safety is high priority for the protection of such innocence in every respect.

The absence of hard objects, shedding elements, toxins, and any possible substance liable to affect breathing, by the vigorous touch of the infant ought to take precedent in the choice of a toy. Baby's toy doll should be absolutely free from any hazard and simple in its design.

One of baby's most sensitive ability is their taste, hence everything in their reach generally when picked up by baby goes towards the mouth, and either gets sucked or chewed on, even when the taste has no relevance to that of milk or food, it is still liable of being swallowed or find its lodging somewhere in the mouth of the infant if not caught on time. Since playing objects forms a part of their learning while growing, early education by the things they touch and toy with should be informative and relative to them.

As baby gradually familiarizes with their new world, early education is passed on by just about any and everything that surrounds their little lives, because everything is new to them the choices we make for them should contribute to their early development in every way. A child may easily learn something about herself toying with a human realism toy bearing resemblance of the human species in structure.




The introduction of a human realism toy doll is proper for baby's first toy to help them discover themselves by observing the features, being able to touch the body parts, feel the softness and the warmth of especially a cloth doll. Cloth forms much of baby's world in providing adequate comfort in so many ways, it is unlikely to find a more appropriate toy for baby than that which is made of cloth, and this is why even some animal toys are made in 100% cloth providing warmth, comfort, and safety for the infant child.(http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lucilda_Evans)

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Effanbee Doll

About Effanbee Dolls:

Effanbee Dolls were a fixture of the 20th century. Effanbee Dolls started production of dolls in 1912, right at the beginning of the era of composition dolls. The company had great success with its composition creations, most notably Patsy and her family of dolls. Later dolls were made in hard plastic and vinyl, and the company has had a series of owners since and is currently owned by Tonner Dolls.

Founders and Years of Production of Effanbee Dolls:




Effanbee Dolls was founded by Bernard Fleischaker and Hugo Baum. Effanbee Dolls have been in nearly continuous production since 1912 through to today, although the company has had a series of owners (and has faced a a few financial hurdles and bankruptcies) which caused a few small gaps in doll production.

Dolls That Have Been Produced By Effanbee Dolls:

Well-known dolls that have been produced by Effanbee Dolls include Patsy, Patsyette, Skipy, Dy-Dee Baby, Tintair, Little Lady, Ann Shirley, American Children by Dewees Cohcran, Brenda Starr and many others. Betsy McCall is being produced by Effanbee Dolls starting in 2008, as is Tiny Kitty Collier.

Sizes of Effanbee Dolls:

Effanbee dolls have ranged in size from about 6 inches (wee patsy) up to approximately 28 inches for some very large Mama Dolls and Baby Dolls.

Materials Used:

Since Effanbee Dolls have spanned nearly 100 years, materials used to make Effanbee dolls have included composition, rubber (Dy-Dee Baby), hard plastic, and vinyl.
Prices And Secondary Market For Effanbee Dolls:
Effanbee Dolls are not in a particularly hot market right now; however, pre-1960 vintage Effanbee dolls in mint, original condition with original clothing are still highly sought after. Dolls such as mint, complete, original Honey dolls or mint, original early composition dolls can sell for well over $500. The vast majority of Effanbee vinyl dolls from the 1970s and 1980s sell under their original cost. The Tonner Dolls era Effanbee Dolls generally hold their retail value and rarer items can sell at a premium.

Current Owner of Effanbee Dolls:

Tonner Dolls purchased Effanbee Dolls out of bankruptcy in 2002 and has re-vitalized the company with production of high-quality reproductions of dolls originally be Effanbee (Dy-Dee Baby), a new line of Brenda Starr dolls, and even reproductions from other well-known vintage doll companies (Toni by Ideal). Tonner Dolls has also added new dolls to the Effanbee line-up, including Fancy Nancy and their own Tiny Kitty Collier. (source article : http://collectdolls.about.com/od/dollprofiles/p/effanbeedolls.htm)

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