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Saturday, June 5, 2010

Where are all my toys and dolls?

About a year ago I began the long process of packing up my dolls and toys. I was about to get married and move across the Atlantic with someone of the opposite gender who wasn't fond of having my plush toys and dolls decorating the apartment. Thus began the packing and selecting which 3 or 4 dolls or toys I could take with me.
I was actually heartbroken. Each doll or plush or toy had a story and I loved each story. I even had a plush toy that my husband to be gave me when we were teenagers!
My mother of course was NO HELP. She's a very old school Hispanic woman. She would say "Bota toda esa mierda! Ya no eres nina". Translated nicely it was "Ger rid of all that stuff , you are not a little girl anymore". I KNOW I'm not uber young, but I like my stuff, and I wanted to store it so in the future, if I had a daughter, I could share these stories with her.
I know, I know, it sounds like I have some sort of disorder and need to be brought up on National TV to exploit it, but bear with me, it's not that bad. So, I ended up getting rid of a few things, packed the bulk of it and brought 3 with me.
Fast forward to last week, my mom calls me. "Michelle, I have bad news".
"What happened" I asked with my heart rate already through the roof.
"It's the dogs."
"WHAT? Are they okay?What happened? Did Roxie bite Pudge?WHAT?"
"Nooo. It's that, well, the dogs got into the garage, into your boxes and there was an incident with your plush toys and dolls" my mother said nervously then added "There is a massacre in the backyard and your plush were the victims"
I didn't know if to laugh or cry. I think I ended up laughing. Apparently Roxie (Pit Mix) and Pudge (Shit Tzu) took solace in the fact that if I was not returning home, they will eat all my stuff for revenge. Great dogs eh?
Well, since I no longer have me entire collection and I'm too scared to ask what they exactly ate, I'm going to handpick a few items from some great Etsy artists and maybe, just maybe, I can convince my husband to start up my entire collection again.


SALE -Matching Crab Human and Cat Softies (was 18 dollars)

SALE -Matching Crab Human and Cat Softies  by heartfeltwool 

Whats better than a toy for you? A toy for you and your furbaby...VOILA!
Last night I was lurking around the etsy forums, which is something I rarely do, and I was lured into posting on  a thread about blogging. Long story short, I ended up getting 4 more followers on my blog (which is always appreciated), I'm now following 5 new AMAZING bloggers AND I found heartfeltwool shop. Now, not only is the artist ridiculously talented, BUT, 15% of cat toy and catnip toy sales benefit the Oshkosh Area Humane Society. With each toy looking like it's about to spring into life, you really can't lose in picking up a toy for you and your kitty. This shop has truly unique and cool looking items. Check them out...gooo...what are you waiting for? Oh, yeah. Okay finish reading this blog then go to the shop. 

Skeleton Sock Monkey With Argyle Tail and Arms SMALLER SIZE 

Skeleton Sock Monkey With Argyle Tail and Arms SMALLER SIZE by OutlawHeartCreations

My friend, Nicole, is a collector of all things weird, random and obscure. She is also about the sweetest person with black nails, colored bracelets and spiked collar that you will ever meet. For all the years that I have known her (I've known her since high school), she has had this weird obsession collection plush toys, naming them, changing their clothes and then carring them with her in her car. Now, she has stopped putting them in her car (her favorite place was to pin them from her car ceiling), but she still dresses them and names them. If I know Nicole, which I do, I think this will fit right in with her collection. This monkey looks like such a scary delight that you can't help but fall in love. Created by "twenty-something, tattooed twins", each piece is sewn with lots of patience and love, and we here at Handpicked Etsy and RememberLoveJewelry is just what we like to see. Keep up the amazing work ladies. Nicole, as soon as you graduate nursing school, this sock monkey will be waiting for you, so STUDY!
Mac the super man bunny 

Mac the super man bunny by zeropumpkin

There is all sorts of cute going on here. I can't look away...must be strong! He's a super hero bunny who likes to fly around with his lollipop. If this isn't absolutely freaking adorable then I don't know what is. If you aren't hitting that "Buy Now" button to buy it for me then you are not my friend. Just kidding, we're still cool...but really this is adorable . The shop clearly states "your kids will love me"...PFFT! I have no kids and don't intend of giving this to them when I do have them. They will probably slobber all over it when I give it to them. Isn't that what kids do? Poop, eat and slobber? Either way, they can't have it, IT'S MINE! Zeropumpkin, you are doing some fantastic stuff here. Keep up the good work!
Art Doll ADELINE one of a kind

Art Doll ADELINE one of a kind by PearlMoonArts

My very first "doll" was a porcelain doll my mother bought for me. She was a toddler with a frilly tutu on, blonde hair tied up in a tiny cascade held together with a pink bow. She is actually one of the dolls that I brought with me to Prague. She was a surprise gift from my mom, whom at that time was a single mother, working in a factory making ends meet for 2 kids. Buying dolls was certainly not in our budget, but she surprised me with it after I had seen it in a catalog. I loved my doll and still do. She is a constant reminder that any bad moment is only temporary and even in the bad moments, staying positive with ourselves and those around us, is always important. 
After my first doll I began to appreciate the craftmanship of other porcelain dolls. My grandmother, years later bought me a few, my mother a couple more. I ended up making up stories about the dolls and learning new stories about others to then scare the bejezus out of my brother and cousins. My favorite story was the girl with the ribbon around her neck. I was particularly sly about telling this story to them. I only told it to them at night (to scream at the end and add that extra effect) and when no parents were within ear shot (so I wouldn't get in trouble). 
Looking at this beautiful doll reminds me of that story and how I wish I would of had her to scare the living daylights out of those kids. Don't think I'm mean, but since I was the oldest between my brother and my cousins, it was my duty to make sure their childhood was riddled with WTF moments. If you ever see my cousin Kim, ask her how I convinced her that there was a pirate living in a construction site near our house...LOL it was classic! Thank you PearlMoonArts for reminding me of my childhood. I have a tear in my eye from laughter. By the way the Art Doll Bust Bird Lady RESERVED looks a lot like my aunt (sans the birds of course). You are truly a talented artist! Thank you!

Well, thank you for taking this journey with me down the doll and toys section of etsy. I appreciate your company while I stroll down memory lane. Stay tuned next week. Also, thank you to all the shops for letting me share you with the world. Lots of LOVE to you guys!

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