Monday, November 24, 2014

Souvenir Dolls

Whenever I travel, I try to pick up a doll from the place that I'm visiting. It doesn't always work out that way (I'm still wishing that I had been well enough or that I could have pushed myself enough to go to the American Girl store in Denver...I was RIGHT THERE). I do have dolls from other places that I've visited.

 
Atlanta
 
Atlanta
 
Atlanta
 
Bahamas
 
Paula
Hattiesburg
 
Kenya's Cousins
Hattiesburg
 
Jamaica
 
New Orleans
 
New Orleans
 
New Orleans
 
NYC

Talking Presidents
William J. Clinton
Washington, D.C.

My doll from Jamaica is a gift that my former boss brought back for me from her trip - I haven't been to Jamaica yet. The doll can be flipped and she's wearing a different colored dress on each side.

I don't necessarily restrict myself to 1/6 scale dolls when I travel, as you can see. But, some of the dolls that I've collected fit in nicely with my other dolls and action figures.

I'm looking forward to visiting a lot more places and collecting a lot more dolls!

24 comments:

  1. Souvenir dolls from places you have traveled are nice reminders of your time there.

    The doll from Jamaica that was a gift is a Topsy Turvy. I purchased one for my daughter who was 4 at the time we went to Jamaica. I wasn't a collector then. I wish I still had it. Years later, I did buy one on eBay that is similar, but similar can never be the same.

    dbg

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    1. I agree Debbie, I have such wonderful memories when I look at these dolls. Especially my Bahama Mama. I have a photo of myself holding her after my trip. I'll have to scan it and post it one of these days.

      I remember taking a trip to San Francisco with my family when I was 10, and I saw a doll that I really wanted. My mother explained to me that it was a souvenir doll, and not for play. I begged and begged for the doll, and promised to keep her in good condition. My mother bought me the doll. I kept her in the box for our entire trip. What I learned is that having a doll in a box is too big a temptation for a 10 year old. I eventually played with her, and I ruined her. I wish that I still had that doll.

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  2. Great souvenirs to remember you were at certain places! The cloth dolls are lovely, like the ones from NYC, Atlanta & the Bahamas. What does the talking president Clinton say? x

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    1. Thank you Night Owl! My President Clinton doll was a surprise from my husband when we were in D.C. together. President Clinton the doll says:

      "My Fellow Americans, I stand before you tonight to report that the state of our union is strong."
      "We are on course for budget surpluses for the next 25 years."
      "The era of big government is over."
      "We must expand NATO by 1999."
      "America is a strong force for peace."

      And 20 other phrases. He is really quite talkative. Some of the things that he says seem rather humorous now, considering what's taken place in the time since his presidency.

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  3. When I traveled a lot for work, I did the same thing. And since I worked with so many people from different countries, when I brought my daughters home from China, I received gift dolls from their country for them. I will have to gather them up and take some pictures! I know I have some from Brazil, China and Japan.

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    1. Hi Phyllis, I'd really like to see your dolls and your daughters' dolls from other countries!

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  4. Nicxe collection! I have a few from my travels also. What I also like to do is buy unusual dolls with authentic dress.

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    1. Thanks The grandmommy! I'm glad that I have these dolls to add just a little variety to my collection. When I travel, I give myself permission to stray from my normal collecting habits.

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  5. Nice collection of dolls. I see that you have three from Atlanta. :-) Nice!

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    1. Thank you Georgia Girl! I've been to Atlanta a couple of times.

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  6. Hi Roxanne, it is quite an interesting and diverse collection! I too pick a doll in every place I go, but I give them all to my niece Carlotta, the New Orleans and NYC Dolls are wonderful!

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    1. Thank you Billa! How generous of you to give your dolls to your niece! Do you keep photos of the dolls that you give away?

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    2. You see, she's the only niece, the others are all boys and they do not care for dolls at all! I did not take pictures, as I saw yours I thought I have to ask my sister to take some photographs!
      It's a thing I started doing four years ago, when I started travelling and now Carlotta has quite an interesting collection, but my sister keeps them all locked. Poor kid......

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    3. I know that it must be difficult at times for Carlotta to have her dolls locked away, but when she is older she will be so happy to have those dolls still in great condition. I wish that I still had some of my childhood dolls!

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  7. If they make you happy ... enjoy!

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  8. This is cool. I'm especially admiring New York and Atlanta #1, both for the fabric and the expressions.

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    1. Thank you Smaller Places! The one from New York really caught my attention when I walked into the shop where I purchased her, like she was yelling "Pick me! Pick me!" I found her impossible to ignore. :)

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  9. Such a great collection! I collected fabric when I travel in hopes of sewing something up for my favorite doll.

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    1. Thanks Brini! I would love to see the fabrics that you've collected and the fashions that you've created from those fabrics.

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  10. This is so cool! I do the same thing when I vacation, but I get T-Shirts instead. I still travel frequently but it's mostly for work nowadays. I always keep an eye out for Walmarts and the like to see if I can find a doll on clearance or something differently stocked than what my local stores carry but usually I'm in a rush and have to zip on by without stopping.

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    1. Hi Muff! I travel a little for my job, but not frequently. I pick up key chains and refrigerator magnets also from the places that I visit. I have many more of those than I do dolls. Those are easier to get than dolls, because I can just pick them up in the airport gift shops.

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