The Mayflower Doll Club Poster

The Mayflower Doll Club Poster
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Dear Doll Lovers:
This edition brings to you The Mayflower Doll Club of Nova Scotia and some of
its talented members. The club celebrated its 20th Anniversary on 17 February 02 at
Debbie Parrott's home in Lakeview. The club consists of 26 members, two are chartered
members of the original ten who founded the club in 1982. Many new members have
joined since then and the club enjoys a wide range of doll interests.
Our next issue will be October and I would like you to consider the future of our
newsletter. January is the last issue to be funded by the Mayflower Doll Club so if there
is another club who would like to be the next sponsor please let me know.
As always, thank you for your support and looking forward to more doll news.
Editor
Shirley Gogan (inspired by Jean Francis)
Waverley Road Dartmouth, N S B2X 2E8
Distribution List:
Marion Field (Powell River BC)
Trillium Doll Club ON (Jean Francis)
Little Treasures Doll Club ON (Irene van Horsen)
Ottawa Doll Craft Guild ON (Jan Belcher)
Dorothy Fockler (Don Mills ON)
Bernice Tomlinson (Huntsville ON)
April Katz (GreenRiver ON)
Margit Wechsler (Lake Charlotte NS)
Yvonne Richardson (West Hill ON)
Linda Peters (Morden MB)
Mary Slauenwhite (Bridgewater NS)
Canadian Doll Guild (Hamilton ON)
Manitoba Doll Club MB (Sylvia Grantham)
Calgary Doll Club AB (Wendie Spitzer)
Deborah Brennan (Victoria BC)
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Mayflower Doll Club NS-Rebecca Douglass ([email protected])
Doll Study Group of NS-Lyn Millward (ay72 I @chebucto.ns.ca)
Victoria Doll Club BC-Phyllis McOrmond ([email protected])
Marg McKinnon-Thamesford ON ([email protected])
Josie Wellwood (Victoria BC) [email protected]
Marjorie Lister (Fergus ON) [email protected]
Joan McMullen (Corunna ON) joan@porcelain -dolls.com
Doll Treasures of Yesteryear - Vancouver BC (Dale Humphrey)
Saskatoon Doll Collectors Club SK (Elaine Penn)
Les Amis Des Poupees - Point Claire QC (Diane Gartner)
Les Amis Des Poupees - Pierrefonds QC (Lise-Anne Caron)
Friendship Doll Club - Pembroke ON (Edna Plath)
Doll Club of Edmonton AB-Lorraine Chapman ([email protected])
Gail Sulek M.D.M. AB ([email protected])
Lisa Healy (Regina, SK) [email protected]
Marjorie Marchant (Cherry Valley ON) [email protected]
The Mayflower Doll Club History
By Rebecca Douglass
A group of ten ladies with common interest
and love of dolls met in February 1982. The first
meeting was at the home of Dorothy Brooks in
Fall River, Nova Scotia.
Thus began the
Mayflower Doll Club. This name was chosen
because the mayflower is the provincial flower of
Nova Scotia. As we were a small group and had
no funds when starting, we decided to meet at
the members homes.
This gave us the
opportunity to see and admire other doll
collections.
After about four years, our
membership had grown and it was necessary to
get a central place to meet.
The purpose of our club was to create,
stimulate and maintain an interest in all matters
pertaining to dolls and doll collection and to share
st
ideas. Dorothy Brooks was the 1 President in
nd
1982 and Margaret Hayes was the 2 President
in 1983, both are no longer members. Rebecca
rd
Douglass was the 3 President in 1984 and is
still a member and one of the last remaining two
(including Rolande Strand) from the original
group of ten.
Our meetings are held on the first
Tuesday of each month, September to June,
at the Sobeys Clayton Park, Halifax. We have
a Christmas Party in December and a
Summer Picnic in August. Our meetings
consist of some business, a program either
by one person or by the entire membership
participating, a Sale Table, Show and Tell, a
Raffle and of course tea and sweets along
with lots of dolly chat. Each year we have an
in house Doll Auction supplied by the
members which is open to the public. Our
membership consists of Doll Lovers who
collect antique bisque, cloth, composition,
vinyl, hard plastic, Barbie, reproductions,
modern, teddy bears, miniatures and craft
persons who make dolls. We have a vast
range of collectors within our membership be
we all Love our Dollies.
In November 1982 we held out first public
display of dolls at the Mic Mac Mall,
Dartmouth, NS. In 1983 our Club had its
second and third Doll Show & Sale at a hotel
in Dartmouth. From 1985-1990 our Doll Show
& Sale was held at a hotel in Halifax, NS.
The Mayflower Doll Club gives dolls and
teddy bears to church charities each
Christmas.
We also give monies to
Christmas Daddies, a charity for children,
and to the Canadian Breast Cancer
Society.
The Club members have displayed their
dolls too many seniors groups, museums,
church groups, children's groups and in malls
over the past 20 years. We also are the
proud sponsor of the Canadian Doll Clubs
United newsletter which is edited by Shirley
Gogan. Our hope is that our Doll Club will
continue to display, share, teach and grow
with new members into the new century.
Rolande Strand
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The Mayflower Doll Club
20th Anniversary
The beautiful Victorian home of President Dr.
Debbie Parrott was the perfect setting for the 20th
Anniversary Tea of the Mayflower Doll Club which
took place on 17 February 2002. The members
were asked to dress like a doll or wear a vintage
hat. What fun it was!
Debbie greeted us in a Dutch outfit from the
authentic lace headdress to the wooden shoes just like her little Dutch doll she carried with her.
Grand Mom Ellie was ready for dream-land
dressed in the same bedtime outfit as her doll,
Buoy. Of course, she told us one of her famous
Newfie stories that we look forward to at our
meetings. Sheila carried two of her lady head
vases and wore an elaborately flowered hat; drop
pearl earrings and pearl necklace and
White gloves - just like her "ladies". Rebecca
arrived with her fashion doll from the 50’s and she
was dressed in spike heels, full skirt, tight sweater
and hair in a ponytail - hard to tell which one was
the doll. "Dame Shirley" wore all authentic antique
clothes - hat, long cape, blouse and long skirt even had a parasol. She could get lost standing
with her antique dolls.
"Lady Rolande" strode in with her large
brimmed hat, antique long skirt and huge
diamond ring over her gloved hand. Louise
didn't disappoint us - being an artist, she fit the
role by dressing like her Jem doll - sparkling
gold fishnet stockings, dyed orange and red
hair, massive eye makeup and retro clothes "truly outrageous".
June M, Ellie, Debbie P, Dale, Rollie, Louise, Rebecca, Shirley, Sheila
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Dale was a walking, talking do everything
doll with a banner telling us her abilities
across her chest and looking like an Eaton's
Beauty. June MacDonald was dressed in
her jogging outfit exactly matching her doll,
which was strapped to her wheelchair - both
even had sweatbands.
Those who weren’t able to “dress” wore
vintage hats or hats they had decorated in a
Victorian/doll theme. We all brought
sandwiches, sweets and enjoyed our treats
with tea, coffee and hand-made, toe
stomping backyard grape juice.
Rollie, our doll maker extraordinaire, was
commissioned to make commemorative pins of
porcelain doll heads, which were absolutely
fantastic. There were 6 different types of antique
doll heads attached to pins and marked on the
back 20th Anniversary Mayflower Doll Club.
Debbie Parrott and Shirley Gogan assisted her in
attaching the accessories. They were giftwrapped and "Lady Rolande", assisted by "Dame
Shirley", handed them out to each member.
Pictures were taken and can be seen at the
following website. Plus rj30a,rj30b,rj30c to rj30h
http://community.webshots.com/user/rj30
The Members of the Mayflower Doll Club
Back Row: June MacDonald, Terri Clare, Linda Geary, Shirley Gogan, Florence Hayes, Louise
Baker, Lorraine Dunn, Debby Walker, Linda Walker, Cheryl Hartlen, Ellie Parrott, Bev Martineau,
Rebecca Douglass,
Middle Row: June Clark, Rollie Stand, Joyce Pretty, Debbie Parrott,
Front Row: Christine Rock, Linda Lewis, Dale Forgeron, Diana Bywater, Sheila Folk
Missing from the photo are: Lorraine Traynor, Sandra MacLeod, lea Beazley
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Mayflower Doll Club Workshops
20th Anniversary Porcelain Pins
Wire Doll Pins
Ten club members met at Shirley Gogan's under
the creative eye of Debbie Parrott to fashion a wire
doll pin. The ingredients for a successful pin are:
floral wire, embroidery floss, tacky glue, shear
fabrics and a talented face painter. These pins are to
be token mementoes to visiting guests or as a thank
you for those who have had special contact with the
club.
To celebrate the Mayflower Doll Club 20th
Anniversary, the club commissio ned Rollie Strand
to make each member a doll pin. Six different styles
of antique porcelain doll heads were selected and the
work began. After pouring, firing and hand painting
the faces; the work of decorating began. Debbie
Parrott and Shirley Gogan joined Rollie in an
afternoon of creative splendor which included lots of
tacky glue; a wonderful lunch and great
conversation. Louise Baker designed and printed a
paper tag which was distributed with each pin.
Hat Making
The Mayflower Doll Club has
enjoyed many workshops this
year due mainly to our talented
Debbie Parrott who can make
anything out of nothing and it
always turns out like a well
orchestrated plan when really
she just “wings it”. She arrived
on “the fly” with her bag of old
fabrics and as night fell we all
had “haute couture” hats to take
home.
Sandra, Debbie P, Linda G, Lorraine T.
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Dale, Shirley, Lorraine D.
Linda Geary Bear Maker
Linda, after retiring from 31 years of teaching in 1994, looked forward to
spending more time on her lifelong joy in crafts. After inheriting a mink stole in 1997,
she attempted her first fur teddy bear. Advice from another maker gave her the
confidence to try. Armed with a pattern, the first bear was a success. A search for more
patterns turned up the best ones in books.
Bibliography
Making Teddy Bears - Joyce Luckin Dover Publications NY ISBN 0-486-29209-6
Making Adorable Teddy Bears - from Anita Louise, Crane's Bearlace Cottage, Sterling
Publishing Co. Inc. NY Sterling ISBN 0-8069-0992-7 Trade
Making Lovable Teddy Bears & Their Clothes by Marion Thielmann & Beate Franz,
Sterling Publishing Co. Inc. NY Sterling ISBN 0-8069-9712-5 Trade
Magazine: Better Homes and Garden Special Interest Publications: Teddy Bears 1993
Buying old fur coats at the Salvation
Army and Value Village, Linda began
making many gifts. Soon friends began
to ask her to make bears from their coats.
Initials (from the coat lining) are a nice touch
on the soles. Eyes close together and near the
nose give the most pleasant face. Cut a
template from black felt and glue on for the
nose. Sew yarn over. Ears are difficult to
To date she's made over 400 bears sew on fur, so she uses fabric glue; hold the
from furs such as mink, raccoon, beaver, ears in place for 24 hours with glass headed
muskrat, rabbit, Lynx, Persian lamb and pins. Sign and date the foot.
mouton. Her favorite is pastel mink. The
most difficult was beaver because of the
thickness of the hide. She uses plastic
joints and eyes. She has used glass eyes
on occasion and tried cotter pins but
found they did not give a tight joint.
Linda makes her bears entirely by
hand because early on she learned that fur
can be sewn on a machine but it is
slippery and hard to control. It has
become her "keeping my hands busy"
occupation while watching TV. It takes
about 7 hours to complete a bear.
Hints: Make the paws from old suede
coats or skirts or the coat lining. Family
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Linda and one of her bears
"How Did I Fall In Love"
By Rebecca Douglass
Let me think, in the mid 1970’s, I was living in the USA for 6
months. To keep myself from getting stir crazy, I took classes in
Ceramics and Porcelain. In the porcelain course, we learned how to
make a porcelain doll. When I returned from the US, I purchased a
kiln, molds, everything to continue my new found hobby. I loved the
porcelain dolls. My Mother remembered that she had put an old
Composition Ideal Shirley Temple doll away that my Grandmother
sent to her for me. In the letter he said that someday this doll might
be valuable and Rebecca should have it. Thus I became a Doll
Collector and Restorer of Dolls .
One day my great aunt asked me to fix her old doll. I thought if I
can make one certainly I should be able to repair one. I did. She
gave me this old doll, as she had no girls to pass on this heirloom. At
that time, I was working and traveling the Maritime Provinces. I
stopped one day at an antique shop; saw an old black bisque
Germany doll. I purchased my first doll and fell in love with
ANTIQUE BISQUE DOLLS. I was only interested in antique bisque
dolls and black bisque (sort of narrow minded at that time). I soon
expanded my collecting to look at Canadian composition dolls, vinyl,
hard plastic, and cloth. Thus I was hooked on dolls and their
accessories. The dolls had to have dishes, clothes, furniture, etc.
I wanted it and loved it all. I knew
that I could restore the dolls that
needed tender loving care into my
loving home.I do Restoration on
dolls for customers, friends, and
museums.
I have a large collection of
miniature all bisque dolls, dollhouse,
vintage miniature doll furniture and
designer miniature doll furniture. In
1984, my niece was born, her name is
Crystal.
That was the 25th
Anniversary of Barbie by Mattel
“Crystal Barbie” was born.
I
purchased this doll for my niece.
Thought she would like it when she
was of age to play with dolls. Later
that year I met someone who wanted
to sell her 1960's Barbie's; I knew
nothing at the time about Barbie. I
purchased the lot of dolls, clothes and
house, theatre for my niece. Thus
Barbie was added to my collecting
field.
I belong to two Doll Clubs:
Mayflower Doll Club 20 years
Chartered Member/Historian. I have
held every position in this Club. I
also organized our Doll Shows for 6
years. The other is The Nova Scotia
Barbie Club–President 2002/03. I
have personally displayed my dolls
with The Clubs and I have displays
separately for Groups and Museums.
Evelyn Strahlendorf pictures many of
my dolls in the book “Canadian
Dolls”. Do I Love Dolls & related
items? YES! HappyDolling,
RebeccaDouglass,Dart.NS
Rebecca”at” RJDouglass.com
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SHEILA FOLK
THE COLLECTOR
I began collecting dolls about 15 years ago when I was
shopping for my sister's birthday. She was a doll collector at
the time. I found a doll for my sister, but I liked it so much I
decided to keep the doll. I was hooked! I have many favorites,
but to name a few: Swaine & Co Lori; Comp Shirley Temple;
Simon-Halbig 26" all original clothing (including matching
lace on a wide brimmed straw hat); Flirty-eyed Kley & Hahn;
Heubach Kopplesdorf character baby and Columbia Special by
Gerbruder. I have a few modern Madame Alexander, Kewpie,
"mama" comps, and Nancy Ann Storybook Dolls but prefer
the antique. I also have a collection of pincushion dolls; Lady
Head Vases and snow babies. I get a lot of enjoyment out of
these collections and spend many hours "playing dolls" and
reading doll / antique books. I have participated in many doll
shows and have been on radio and television with my dolls.
My latest additions are the two Eaton's Beauty Dolls shown in
the accompanying picture. Hopefully I'll be able to pass on
these dolls to my family for their pleasure.
My interest in dolls started later in life
when my boys were older. My sister
Debby and I joined the Mayflower Doll
Club in 1998. We heard about the club
from a friend and decided to go and see
what it was all about. I really do enjoy the
topics that are discussed and most of all
the interesting dolls that members bring
in.
I have only one doll from my
childhood. This is the Pullan walking doll
that I am holding here in the photo.
I hope to be collecting dolls for a long
time to come.
Linda Walker
Shirley Gogan
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I am a new doll collector of almost four years but in that
short time I have had many wonderful contacts with the doll
world. In June of 98 I joined the Mayflower Doll Club of
NS; in Sept I traveled to Toronto to visit with my sister
Eleanor who invited me to the home of Jean Francis and also
to the Trillium Doll Club auction night. Upon returning
home, I joined the Doll Study Group of NS and by Oct 98 my
husband was designing and building me a doll room. In
2000, I was the Newsletter Editor for the Mayflower Club and
with some encouragement from Jean Francis carried on the
following year to be the editor of the Canadian Doll Clubs
United Newsletter. Since then, I have been enjoying my doll
contacts and also joined a miniatures club. My greatest
enjoyment comes from making doll clothes and trying to
beautify dolls that have long been discarded.
Debbie Parrott
The truth is; I can’t remember a time without dolls or
making dolls and doll clothes. I remember playing with my
mother’s huge old composition headed, frog cloth bodied baby
doll. While that particular one didn’t survive childhood, most o
my dolls did. I still have my brunette bubble cut Barbie and th
exquisite wedding dress I made for it. At the time I could only
hand sew straight. I couldn’t gather things by sewing on elastic
But, heh…, white cotton underwear comes with the elastic
already on it. Cut, stitch, and add tulle and you have a straples
wedding gown! My grandmother made much grander clothes
for my dolls. She even made me a pink satin bassinette out of
peach basket. Ingenuity runs in the family!
Now that my four children are grown, I have more time fo
making and collecting dolls. The picture here shows me and a
few of the cloth dolls I make plus my favorite china head dol
given to me by Linda Mactier of Montreal.
Joining the Mayflower Doll Club has felt like coming home.
I have been a doll collector for the past thirty years.
started purchasing dolls at flea-markets and yard sales.
became very interested when I was given my first bisqu
doll which turned out to be a Grace Putnam Bye-LO bab
that was found in the bottom of an old trunk, purchased a
auction for twenty dollars.
I also became interested in mechanical and batter
operated toys somewhere along the way. I joined th
Mayflower Doll Club in 1983. I am also a member of th
Doll Study Group of Nova Scotia. My doll collectio
consists of a wide variety, however my favorite would b
those made of cloth.
Christine Rock
I have always loved dolls. I spent countless hour
playing with them as a child. Part of the “Magic o
Christmas” for me was finding a new doll under th
Christmas tree with my name on it. My favorites are bab
dolls, but I find all dolls interesting.
Now that my boys are grown and I have a little mor
time to play again, I am so grateful that I managed to hol
on to a few of my dear old friends from my childhood an
they are once again being held and loved. I also loo
forward to finding a few new favorites for my collection.
I am leaning a lot about dolls from my new friends a
the Mayflower Dolls Club.
Debby Walker
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A Doll Club by Mail
Dear Doll Lover,
I want to start a doll club by mail for people who are interested in any aspect of
doll collecting, repairing, dressing or making the entire doll! I need HELP from all you
doll lovers. Who wants to join?? What would you like to see in our doll club
newsletter??
What do you wish to contribute??
Some of my ideas are to have an original pattern designed by one of the members
in each newsletter. Some other ideas: doll stories by member; doll repair hints; questions
and answers (as one of us can find them); pen pal column; etc. Since there will be
printing and postage costs involved I ask you for a contribution of $7.00 for the year
2002. (The year is already half over!) Please send a personal cheque or money order
made out to Linda A. Peters.
I am hoping to have at least 20 pages to start with if this will work out for the
postage cost/weight. SO, PLEASE SEND YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS, IDEAS AND
MONEY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. I am anxious to get to work at setting up our
newsletter so we can start to share ideas and get to know other members of our club!!
Fill my mailbox.!!! Then, let's see how soon I can send you a newsletter in return!!!
If you have any questions and wish to phone me, my number is 204-822-3305
Your new doll friend,
Linda A. Peters
R.R. 2, Box 230
Morden, MB R6M 2A1
Edmonton Annual Doll Show
Winnipeg Doll Show
Date: Sunday, October 6, 2002
Date: Sunday, October 20, 2002
City: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Place: Victoria Inn
City: Edmonton, Alberta
Club: Doll Club of Edmonton
Place: Mayfield Inn, 16615-109 Ave
Time: 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Price: $3.00
For information, please contact Lorraine
Chapman, @ 780-465-3249
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Time: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Price: $3.00
For Information, please contact Irene @
204-694-0667 or Connie @ 204-257-0989
Classified Section
Book For Sale:
Dolls & Toy Bears on Stamps
Marjorie Totten
PO Box 310,Townsend TN 37882
$9.95 + $2.00 postage/handling
($11.95 USA & Canada)
A limited number of these books are available
Wanted: Dionne Quintuplets 6" teaspoon
"Annette", will trade for "Yvonne" or buy at
asking price. Contact June Clark, 294
Radcliffe Dr, Halifax NS B3S 1E8 Ph: (902)
445-5694 (collect)
Books For Sale: written by Jean Francis.
Doll Collecting Canadian Style
Dolls I Have Known and Loved $20 each
postpaid.
A Treasury of Eaton's Beauty Dolls
$10.98 + $2 postage.
You may send cheque or money order to
Jean at 5 Deanvar Ave Scarborough ON
M1R 2N2
Wanted: Ashton Drake, Yolando Bellos,
Jacob, 12", plays Silent Night. Contact
Linda Lewis at (902) 465-7721.
Artist Dolls By Yvonne Richardson
There are still a few Artist Proof 16" "Anne of Green Gables TM" and "Diana Barry TM"
dolls available at a special discount price of $350.00 plus shipping and handling. For
more information about these and other Artist dolls by Yvonne Richardson please send
SSAE to: 872 Sparrow Rd, Newmarket Ontario L3Y 5P9 or email me at
[email protected]
Anne of Green Gables
by Yvonne Richardson
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Diana Barry
by Yvonne Richardson
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