National Toy & Miniature Museum-Toys & Dolls

On my recent trip to Kansas City I stopped by to visit the
 newly renovated National Toy & Miniature Museum.
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This is just a tiny sampling........

Sorry for the quality of the photos, my time was
 limited.  The lighting & focus was a nightmare for my camera
that's on it's last leg...time to talk to Santa about a new one.

I have provided links to some items on the T & M 
Museum website if you would like to see better photos.
(click the tiny photo to enlarge when you get there)
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 The Coleman Dollhouse-1864
Coleman Dollhouse 

The Isabella Frazier Dollhouse-1870

Isabella Frazier Dollhouse

 Most are very grand, but

I was so drawn to this simple colorful bungalow.

Annie Horatia Jones Dollhouse-1860

So much to see in the kitchen...

Annie Horatia Jones Dollhouse

Who's the boss of the stairs?

 I am especially fond of wooden dolls so
I lingered in this section.
Wonderful Grodnertal peg dolls in Welsh costumes.

The gentlemen are so tall and properly dressed.

So tiny to fit inside this velvet lined walnut shell.

Georgiana-1750

Georgiana

This large Grodnertal Tuck Comb is 
a stunner in her exquisite silk dress.

Amazing carved detail, beautifully painted

and in pristine condition. 

Wonderful costumes on these carved dolls.

 Rooms of dolls, furniture, dishes etc.
 A full wardrobe & a fine chatelaine.

A lovely china lady.

A simple chromium yellow pleated calico 

dress with a deep hem & blue velvet trim.

A pretty paper mache with teeny tiny cartridge pleating.

Steiff dolls and animals galore.

Teddies.

Simple cloth dollies.

 Rooms of toys from marbles to pedal cars.

This handmade German Noah's ark is from the 1860's.

Some things never really change.

Hope you enjoyed the peek! 
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Next post is the miniatures.

Machine Sewing---Yuk!

Resting the needle pushing fingers has really done wonders.  However,

It's become clear to me that sewing dolls completely by hand is now

a thing of the past!  I still want to make dolls and enjoy hand sewing,

so I have compromised.  I've spent a frustrating month working on 8

 small (8 inch) simple Prairie dolls.  Bodies and dresses sewn on the 

machine, with an easy to handle amount of finishing hand sewing.  To 

make a long story short, the last dolly went together without removing 

a single stitch or uttering a single curse word.  They certainly aren't 
my best work, but it's a start.

I came across this sewing advice at

 Cutting Edge Textiles.

Seriously?
My experience with the dreaded machine is
more like this.....

Than this!

I like this version better.
Quilty Pleasures

 HAPPY SEWING!

Daisy Kingdom Doll & Sandra's Sewing Room

Repairs are finished & the
sewing room is back to normal! 
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I recently came across a Daisy Kingdom
doll dress panel, that I am ashamed to 
say, has been in my stash of projects
 since the early 90's. 

Daisy Kingdom dolls and dress panels
were sold at fabric & craft stores.
I had a panel but, no doll.  I found this
sweet little red head on e-bay.    

The panels have printed fabric
 pieces & easy to follow directions.
 Just cut and sew.

As you know, machine sewing isn't my 
favorite thing to do, but I managed to 
keep my heavy foot in check!
(Picking out those hot pink
 sneakers was my favorite part!) 
 

I packaged Daisy up and sent her to
Miss Ava to go with the antique bed
I took on my last visit.  The first thing
Ava did was remove all her clothing 
and put her to bed.........naked!
Who knew?
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Sandra at "Sandra's Sewing Room"
has a collection of the Daisy Kingdom 
dolls and their beautiful clothing.
Please stop by her blog & learn more 
about these collectible adorable dollies!
Sandra's Sewing Room
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Happy (machine) Sewing!