Minou's Christmas Dress

   Minou was one of the first Himstedts I ever saw at Bear Trax near Borders in Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, in the nineties. They had her and Tara, who I had ordered from Florida a year later and was my first and only Himstedt for twenty years. Minou is the Corsican girl. Ron got her for me a couple of years ago, and she looks darling in her handmade Christmas dress and hundred-year-old leather booties. 

Dreams 5/3

 I dreamed that Ron had gotten me a couple of Himstedt dolls off of Ebay, a Children of the World and a smaller older one. When they arrived, however they were not the dolls that he had ordered. Neither of them were even Himstedts. They both resembled dolls from the seventies. One was big and plastic, about the same size as a Himmie, only not the quality, more like a big walker doll with sleep eyes and artificial hair. The other looked like a soft doll with a red yarn top knot that I had as a toddler and had forgotten only it was much bigger, maybe three times the size, and her gingham printed body was more muted. I gave the seller one star and said I'd be returning them as they were not the dolls we'd bought. I was upset. 

Pauline: Annette Himstedt (2004 Play St)

Get Pauline

 

Gypsy Redressed

 Gypsy in a beautiful silk handmade hundred-year-old christening gown and a cute sweater to keep her warm. Ron doesn't like her. He also thinks the Hawaiian, is "hideous" though, so he doesn't like any of my Children of the World. They're my favorites. No accounting for taste. He also thinks Tori Spelling is hot. He does like horses. 

Thirteen Makes A Coven

 

Aw, I got my first Himstedt in my twenties while I was waiting tables. Paid for her in a week. That church crowd rocks. She's still my most expensive, a German, I've got three, and have willed her to my Best Witch. Anyways, I'd wanted Munira for awhile, now. No wonder, she's adorable! I've always had a thing for gypsies, anybody who knows me, knows. Probably because Grandma said the gypsies used to camp where my high school was. She said that was the only time they locked the doors. Cher isn't really a gypsy or an Indian. She's just another faker as usual. Munira is a hunky Sinti gypsy. Like Shireem, (Mirth), Maniloa, (Ginger), Tacuma, (Crazy Horse), Panchita, (Esmerelda), and Anila, (Deva), I've changed her name to Gypsy. Like my Darcinians, she is my last Himstedt. I've also got: Tara, Pauline, Liri, Morgana, Aura, Thabi, and Minou. Not saying I'm not planning on buying them as gifts, though. I am. Only a big diamond trumps a Himmie in my book. She's having a good time with Mr. Hoo-doo De'Voo-doo. 

Dreams 1/16

 Dreamt I'd gotten a new old Himstedt doll. She was an Asian, similar to Shireem, but taller and thinner, more like An Mei. She wasn't either of them, though. Her hair was shorter, like Shireem, and she had a velveteen body. She was naked. She came along with a case, something like an old plastic sewing machine tote. When I opened it I was surprised to find a doll house, just like The Magic Shoppe in every aspect including a Vlad doll, only smaller. There was also a jumble of things in the bottom like a square gold locket and a pair of crystal earrings like you'd get at Claire's Boutique as well as a beaded top for the doll. I went into the den to show Ron. 

In the next dream Ron and I went to the mall for a Christmas craft show. It was strange: dark and all the shops were closed. A lot of the craft tables were covered with sheets. There were scores of school aged kids there as if on field trips. After walking around for a bit Ron went home, but said I could stay. There was a woman with stuffed polar bears wearing big pine cones, red berries, and sprays of winter greens like helmets. She was using one like a puppet trying to sell me. Soon I became lost. I couldn't find the shops that I knew were by the entrance where I came in. A woman put a tiny red plastic circle, big as a link on a chain or a pen top, in the bottom seam on the back of my jacket. She said something like, "for safety, in case you become lost." I had met with a blonde young man and was coming out from behind a sheet when I woke. 

Season's Greetings

 Of course my thirty-five Christmas cards have been sent, (everybody isn't dead), and I had some internationals, (The Pony Hexpress now charges $1.50 to send one small international Christmas card), so next year... I've been on the wrong side of Christmas the past couple days. Besides Queen Ann Ron had also gotten me my subscription to Antique Doll Collector this year, and I was in the batrhroom pouring over this month's issue when I came across an article on Christmas dolls that is so darling I just know I'm going to be cutting it up and making special holiday cards for my doll friends with those pictures next year. I also enjoy photographing my dolls and making cards, calendars, and charms. I do dress my dolls seasonally as well, but mostly stick to the Himstedts with that anymore as the paint chips off the antique dolls' bodies the more you dress them. I did discover Heidi, my Otto Dressler, however, has a solid wooden body, though, that way. I presumed it was composition, but through the paint flaking I am able to see beautiful wood grain. Anyways, Dodi and Mistraldespair don an old chair in the foyer greeting us. Both are handmade. I'd gotten Mistraldespair, the snowman, first. There is a grand old sprawling dance hall looking house in the next town over where I first lived when I moved to this corner of the state. I'd walk past, admiring it, imagining what might've gone on there, back in the days of Scrooge. After we moved a shop had set-up, there, The Primitive Barn, which sold primitive things from candles to soap made by local artists. I would drive past for years, like I do, (stubborn), and think I was going to stop in there sometime. A couple of years ago, right about this time, I finally did, and discovered rambling old rooms with creaky floors, garlands of dried herbs, and even an old cupboard which held witchy things like crystals and incense. I didn't know what to get, but Mistraldespair was on sale, half off, and my favorite, although there were a couple of Santas who were also adorable. I've inherited a lot of Christmas stuff, and although I lost most of my original city stuff I first bought in my twenties when I ran away, I've gotten a lot of gifts, too; so it now takes me all day to decorate, and I don't even bring everything down from the attic. It's just too much, and I prefer simple hassle free old-fashioned holidays to the new commercialized screaming headaches. Anyways, I had gone back to The Primitive Barn again around Valentine's Day and got Ron Incense Matches for Mardi Gras, a stuffed rabbit for his Easter basket, and a little bird house for his birthday. I returned in June looking for an Uncle Sam, only to find it closed. That was sad, and I've been working on my Uncle Sam ever since. I'd drive past, (it's along the way to The Pony Hexpress which I still have to use occasionally, unfortunately UPS charges a FORTUNE to post internationally over here: they must work on that), seeing the empty house was for rent. Looks like somebody must've rented it recently as it has a new coat of paint and is looking spiffy. It's a beautiful house, wonder what will open there next. Dodi came from Christmas at Joanna Furnace last year. She was five dollars, and when I bought her from Mr. Glass he said, "Look how surprised she is." He had an antique this year, some church dolls, and an antique doll bed. I'm going to have to bring more money next year. I spent it all on homemade cider this year and could only afford a knit elephant who sleeps in my bed with my other elephants. These two look like they're made for each other. I'm usually not into primitive things as they're mostly crappy, made in China, but my two lovelies are very well made by Pennsylvanian artists. Dodi stays out year round, but I'm always sorry to put Mistraldespair away for Valentines Day. 

Holiday Card

More Doll Stuff

Dreams 10/18

Dreamt I had just come home, here, with my ex, his little sister, who was actually an old student of mine, a black girl, and not his sister at all, and his mother, who was not present in the dream, but she lived in the house. We were in the den, the three of us, and it was daylight. His sister had cancer. There was a big broken doll of mine in the corner of the room against the wall. She had strawberry blonde hair and wore light denim overalls. I was trying to reattach her vinyl limbs by means of hooks and pins, and was somewhat successful when I looked up and saw a big dark haired headless doll stretched across the top of the wall. She had blue jeans and a rainbow top. The girl told me she put her there. 

In the next dream I lived in a big old house with a wrap-around porch. I was having a birthday party for myself, and loads of my old students were there. I was baking all sorts of cookies and stacking them on round tin party trays at the crowded tables. I was also baking cookies for them to take home. The ones I remember were sticky pastry types, knotted like pretzels. They had some fruit like pineapple. The cookies were only the first course, but I was so busy that I woke before getting to the food. 

Happy October

 

Minou

 Today is Ron's birthday, and he has only opened his first gift, a little birdhouse I was lucky enough to find at The Primitive Barn in Sinking Spring before it closed forever, so sad. So, I'll have more about that later. Baked him a carrot cake from scratch using my Candlelight and Wisteria cookbook from the girls' academy down south. But, he got me Minou, Annette Himstedt's little Corsican girl I've wanted for thirty years. She and Tara were the first Himmies I'd ever seen at Bear Trax in Bethel Park, next to BORDERS, and they are gone too. Tara was my first Himstedt, now I have a dozen. Ron had asked if I was finally satisfied, and I told him not, I wanted a proper coven. I have the Spanish gypsy, Aura, but I want the Hungarian, Munira, too...  For now, I'm delighted with the gorgeous Minou! 

Dreams 5/14

 

First, dreamt that I was here with Ron. Where my Ginger Himstedt doll is in the doll room, Maxi, another Himmie, fairer, with kinky blonde hair, dressed in blue, was, and Ron had given her away to an older woman with long strawberry blonde hair, just like my first Himstedt, Tara. I wasn't upset, but was thinking how this meant I'd need another one, probably that Hungarian gypsy, after all. 

In the second dream I was working in a bright white city ice cream parlor with a couple of other girls. It was late at night and we were getting ready to close when Ron's friend, John, from school, came in. He sat down for a bit, then, said, he'd take me home, which he did. Home was in Clover Crest, though, where I grew up, and he parked the car on Gina Dive, and we had to walk the rest of the way around the bend and over the hill. When we got to the house it was a dark bar. A guy I used to work with at BORDERS, Drago, was there, behind the bar, with a couple of other guys. Some girls were sitting at a little round table, one, I think, was Laura, a girl from school. John and I sat at the table next to them for a spell. John said, "Hold on...", referring to one of the girls, with curly brown hair and her yellow tee shirt. Supposedly he was a fan of the band, or singer, Tammy something or other, I think. He said that Tim and he had seen her, and I said, "U oh...". I think I even spoke it aloud from my sleep, and the bar became silent. I told John that he could not mention Tim around these parts as everybody thought he was a real motherfucker. Then, I told him, goodnight, that I was going to bed. 

Happy Cinco de' Mayo

                                  Any excuse for margaritas works for me. 
 

My Thabi

There, we go: her original hair style. This is the second Himstedt I've gotten with a new hair style. Some people even add make up, which is a crime: as if you might improve upon a Himstedt. I'm keeping her name, now, too, as Thabi is a nice name. 
 

Thabi by Annette Himstedt

I don't have Tulani, I've got Thabi. She was listed as Tulani, and they have the same face sculpt, are the same size, and both have the same material used on their vests. Somebody just removed her pigtails. Thabi's gown is pinker than purple although you can't tell so much from my photo, here. 

 

Atlanta

Gave Atlanta Mummy's and my old beach jewelry. The coral crown was Mummy's, she got it in Hawaii when I was nine. The shell crown and bracelet were mine. I either got them in Maryland when I was a kid or more likely in South Carolina when I was in high school. Not certain, but I remember wearing them. The seahorse is from Station Square in Pittsburgh, pretty sure I got that in junior high. Ron got me the mermaid charm. A lady in Jim Thorpe makes those. She also has a Lemurian crystal for Doll Magic. 
 

Tulani by Annette Himstedt

Looks like I might've finally gone and done it: scored the doll to end all dolls. Four Himstedts ago I was feeling pretty bad, and thinking I'd wanted some more. I really wanted an Atlantean from 2006, never imagining I'd get the best one for nearly what it cost to ship her. She's enormous, by far my biggest doll. I thought she was only a few inches bigger than Maniloa, (Ginger), the Hawaiian from the previous year, but she's way bigger. I figured I'd have to wash her clothes, but I only had to wipe her hands and face and comb her beautiful hair. The only thing she's missing is her net. I was thinking I'd probably pick-up Minou, the Corsican, and Munira, the Hungarian Gypsy, sometime, and make it a proper coven, but I don't know if I will want anymore dolls, now. I might be cured. I'm calling her Atlanta. I think she's my new favorite doll. She's amazing.  
 

Anila by Annette Himstedt

I first saw Anila some time ago. The lady I'd bought Pauline from had her, and I was so taken with her face I had a hard time deciding whether to get her or Pauline. That lady wanted as much for her as Pauline, and unlike Polly, she did not have her original garb, hairstyle, box or certificate. Anila is from 1999, Polly is from the 2004 Play Street line. I also have her older sister, Liri. These dolls are very limited so bring more money where the older Himmies were produced for a year, meaning there are three times as many, so you see them a lot more often, and they usually command less money. Like all of my Himstedts I am more pleased with her than I ever might've imagined. I didn't think I cared for her clothing so much and thought that I'd want to get her a new silk sari. I was wrong. I wouldn't change a thing about this beautiful doll. Her clothes, like all Himmies clothing, is very well made, and the fabric is posh. Her braids in the back of her gorgeous human hair wig are exquisite. Besides her darling face, and I do not have any, really, that resemble her; although, she makes my tenth, unlike my older dolls, only her bottom is velveteen, like the later, more expensive dolls. The rest is sculpted vinyl. In fact, she might be my most pose-able, because she has a special wire armature for dance. She's such a nice size, too: bigger than the older dolls, but not so large as the 2005 World Dolls like Maniloa, who I call, Ginger. I'm so impressed. I love her. I'm calling her Deva. I was going to put her at the foot of the stairs, but I think I'll save that for an Atlantean, and put Deva in my bed with my elephants. I said I wanted some more Himstedts, and I've scored three since then. I think, one more might do me. No idea how she got here in less than a week from a wonderful bloke across The Pond named Ron. I love UPS, too, but they charge a fortune to ship international over here. Not the case, over there. They're way more reasonable than the God forsaken Pony Hexpress, and they don't steal. 

 

Esmerelda

I love my beautiful birthday doll from Ron. 

Dress Up

I think this first beautiful dress is a bit too big for all of my dolls, but I love Maniloa in this antique gown I'd gotten on a trip to Maryland in the nineties. The overdress belonged to a friend of mine's daughter, and the TIKI is from Hawaii, and what's more, the shell beads came from our family trip there when we were children. Maniloa is a great doll for dress up. She's my biggest Himstedt yet. She's only three inches taller than Liri, I think, but Liri is more slender. I'm not sure if Liri and Pauline have nipples and a navel, either, like she does. FYI: I would not use them on a doll's face, as I know, they take the finish off ceramics, but she had a spot on one arm that I feared was mold and a scratch on the other, and Mr. Clean Magic Eraser took both right off. 

 

Maniloa by Annette Himstedt

Oh, my Ra, Ron had gotten me this traditional dress in New Mexico for Christmas, and it's perfect for Maniloa, who I've wanted for some time. She's the Hawaiian girl, and the latest Himstedt for me: 2005.