Dolls, Dolls, Dolls!My friend Anita and her little girl Mandy are just crazy about dolls. I went to a dinner party Anita's house the other night and both of them were eager to show off their new cuties. Anita buys collectible dolls that sit in a display case and look pretty, but Mandy receives all of hers as gifts--and they do anything but sit on a shelf. She plays with her dolls constantly, drags them to pre-school and sleeps with the cuddly ones. I was only slightly surprised to learn that their newest additions came from none other than The Lighter Side catalog! We've always had a good selection of famous name, collectible and snuggly dolls for all ages. So when I sat down to write this week's blog, it seemed only natural to talk about our delightful darling dolls. This personalized baby doll is cute and soft and the absolute favorite among Mandy's new treasures. Anita even let Mandy personalize the doll herself.  She named the baby after her Aunt Olivia and calls it Livy for short. Watching her cradle the doll, pretend to feed it and call it by its nickname is just about the most charming thing I've ever seen. Even though she's too young to remember the TV show Family Affair, she loves her Mrs. Beasley doll, too. Because a portion of the proceeds go to Childhelp USA, Anita bought two of them--one to display among her treasures and one that Mandy plays with just like Buffy did in the original sitcom. The only difference between this Mrs. Beasley and Buffy's version is this one talks, just like the one I had when I was a girl. And what doll devotee doesn't love Barbie? Anita's newest collectible is My Favorite Barbie, a re-creation of the original model that was first released in 1959.  She comes ready for the beach or a night on the town with the famous black and white knit swimsuit and the 1960 fashion ensemble "Solo In The Spotlight." She's on display in her window box on a shelf right next to the Barbie Elvis & Priscilla Wedding Doll Set. That historical and very romantic moment is remembered forever with our set of two collector-quality dolls, dressed in replicas of Elvis & Priscilla's wedding outfits. Another favorite doll maker is Madame Alexander, who also remembers Elvis with this wonderfully made vinyl Blue Suede Shoes recreation. He has rooted black hair, big beautiful eyes and, of course, blue "suede" shoes.  With his handpainted features, fully articulated joints for posing and eyes that open or close with eyelashes, he's a dreamboat! He even comes with his own guitar. Fancy Nancy is one of our most popular offerings from Madame Alexander. She's just as fancy as the character in Jane O'Connor's popular series of books. Her curly red hair is adorned with flowers and bows and she even wears an embroidered crown. She's ruffled and ribboned right down to the last detail, including her soft furry slippers.We also have an ever-changing and always cute assortment of Precious Moments™ dolls. With their unmistakable cherubic faces and their darling little outfits, they make great gifts for collectors or little girls. Among my top picks is the Frog Doll. Dressed in a vinyl, lime green raincoat, galoshes and froggy rain hat, this little amphibian is as cute as can be. The Playful Pansy Doll is another of my favorites. She's posable and very detailed with a lace petticoat and thick yarn hair. She even has a sweet little flower nose! Mandy and her mother love Raggedy Ann dolls. So when I saw this set, I knew I'd found the perfect gift for Mandy when her birthday comes around this fall. The brother and sister pair have soft yarn hair, shiny button noses and embroidered appliques. They even have their characteristic "sewn on" smiles.    Like Anita, I still have my first Raggedy Ann doll. Ann's hair is unraveling a little, her skirt is a little stained and worn around the edges, but she still holds a special place in my heart. That's why dolls make such great gifts for both collectors or children-it's a gift you know will be loved for years to come. Your "Dolled Up" Gift Guru, Linda Posted by Linda at
5:00 AM | Friday, September 4, 2009
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