dolls – Ruth E. Hendricks

A Found Dollhouse

Sunday afternoon I drove to pick up my 8+ year old granddaughter to come and spend the summer at Grandma’s house. It was a long drive and we were almost home. I had just photographed some patio furniture left on the curb for pick up and in the next block I saw a big dollhouse.And I mean big!
I parked and went to the door and knocked. Is this for the garbage? Yes, you can have it. Oh my, Well we hauled it across the street and it was sooo big (which I didn’t realize before we carried it, that it would not fit into the back of my Subarau Outback which can hold a twin mattress!

So we put it back on the curb, disappointed for sure. I told Steve, after we unloaded the car with suitcases, that we saw the most amazing dollhouse but we couldn’t get it in the car.

Then he disappeared.

In about a half hour he returned with the dollhouse, He dragged it on a big cardboard until a lovely neighbor saw him struggling and assisted with a wheeled scooter.

And what a doll house it is A luxury mansion. Two hours of dusting cleaning cleaning cleaning and my finding some furniture and Laura’s dolls from her childhood and we have a terrific play place for the summer.

I brought out the little rug playmat for cars so she can sit on the porch without touching the chilly tile floor.

June 20, 2024 by Ruth Categories: PhotographyTags: childhood, dollhouse, dolls, family, garbage, neighborhood, photography, play, postaday, toys 28 Comments

What’s on Your Wish List?

What’s on your wish list?

Anything hard to find?

Something you’ve had on your list but never received?

My son Mark recently remembered his longed for toy (thirty + years), best gift ever. You might remember that post of his receiving the Millennium Falcon. It was my top post in 2011, the most viewed.

Not to confuse Star Wars and Star Trek but how about this Barbie and Ken Star Trek set? It’s probably gone now but I saw it a couple of weeks ago.

December 17, 2018 by Ruth Categories: Photography, vintageTags: Barbie and Ken, childhood, dolls, Enterprise, gift, photography, postaday, present, space, Star Trek, wish list 10 Comments

He is Still Here

On a different shelf.

I blogged Baby Jake. four years ago (see below)

Looks like he’s on the WWII shelf now.

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—from Blog May 2014—

WHAT I SAW ON MY SON’S BOOKSHELF IN HIS OFFICE

First Communion Weekend in my son Mark’s home office I saw his old Baby Jake from 1976.

I believed little boys should have a doll to love and care for when they were growing up. Preparing for fatherhood.

Now he has his own family of four, but it touched me when I saw his old doll Jake on the bookshelf. Jake has a soft body that has been recovered and filled with fluff, his rubbery arms surgically reattached by me.

You might have seen Mark’s 38th birthday post from Monday.

There is something about a toy or a doll with a face.

One that’s been well loved.

If you want to see a doll well loved, his wife Erika’s childhood doll (now named Baby Doll) adopted by their daughter Anna- really illustrates LOVE!

https://rutheh.com/2009/10/20/baby-doll-born-c-1979-her-sister-trapped-in-someones-closet-all-these-years/

old rubber doll from 1976 with home sewn clothes I made for him

January 25, 2018February 8, 2018 by Ruth Categories: PhotographyTags: books, bookshelf, childhood, Columbus OH, doll, dolls, family, memories, photography, postaday, WWII 7 Comments

Paper Dolls Found in Downtown Pittsburgh

The other day I took a bus downtown (Senior Citizen perk= free bus pass) and went to S.W, Randall Toys Store on Smithfield Street. I climbed to the the doll floor on three, looking for a fresh doll outfit for a 14 year old doll when I came upon a two sided display of a variety of paper dolls.

I remember cutting out paper dolls when I was young. So careful not to ruin them and cut off the little white tabs you needed to fold over to hold the clothes onto the doll. Sometimes tape was involved.

A looooong time ago. I had no idea all these different paper dolls were available in 20I asked the sales clerk if I could photograph them and she said sure but now I’m wishing I opened them up and peeked inside and photographed the dolls and clothes. Going to have to plan a return trip downtown.

I considered buying a book of them- many choices. Wondered who is playing with paperdolls nowadays.

Do kids even know about paper dolls? I talked with a friend today and she said she cut out magazine fashion and made up clothes out of the magazines. I relied on the printed and dotted lines to cut around. I can picture a little doll with a full white slip on- waiting to be dressed. Modest!

September 26, 2017 by Ruth Categories: PhotographyTags: bus, bus pass, childhood, doll clothes, dolls, downtown, fashion, iPhone photography, nostalgia, paper dolls, photography, Pittsburgh PA, play, postaday, retro, S.W. Randall Toys, toy store, toys, vintage 18 Comments

TOYS of the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s Exhibit

Heinz History Center- downtown Pittsburgh

A sampling of the exhibit. I went with the Retired Teachers after a luncheon at Lidia’s.

Memories of childhood in America.

Here are a few-Erector sets and Tinker Toys. Lincoln Logs. Slinky and Etch-a-Sketch, Pac Man and Star Wars. Barbie dolls and GI Joe. Mr. Potato Head and trolls. Spirograph and Cootie. Howdy Doody, Hopalong Cassidy and Roy Rogers.

Maybe you’ll recognize one of your toys from your childhood.

March 11, 2016 by Ruth Categories: PhotographyTags: cootie, dolls, history, iPhone photography, nostalgia, Pittsburgh, postaday, retro, slinky, toys, twister, vintage 16 Comments

Ohio River Antique Mall Sampling

There is something for everyone. Three floors of all kinds of items.

I don’t need a single thing and yet I enjoy looking.

Instead, I should be signing up for the attic or basement clean-outs offered.

My friend and I were driving back from the yarn store. I was stocking up for the winter.

We’d seen this colorful place on the way out to Sewickley and made a stop on the way back.

The huge ornament is from Kaufmann’s Department Store Santa Land and the giant cage belonged to Mrs. Kaufmann’s tropical bird (which outlived her)

santa land ornament

Bill the owner told us the story about the bird and the ornament and you can see how this scene caught our eye as we drove by.

Too bad I didn’t have this photo for the WPC Ornate- Kaufmann’s Christmas Tree

You know these suitcases (valises) each have a story. Not sure where they’ve been.

You know the dolls look at me….or in this case, look away from the lens.

Not sure if bride dolls are still manufactured but they were popular at one time.

Self portrait. There were two more floors but we didn’t have time today to explore.

I bought a handkerchief. Has a little nursery rhyme in the middle. Another post just for it another day.

So free consultations for Estate Sales, on site and home appraisals, a licensed precious metal dealer,

if you need a cleanout of attic, basement and or garage or need to rent props for a movie or a play

William Cox is the owner. 4331 Ohio River Blvd. (right near where you turn to go to Bellevue)

If you’re looking for something specific, email him

antiquemallohioriver(at)yahoo(dot)com

November 17, 2015 by Ruth Categories: PhotographyTags: antique mall, Antique Mall Ohio River, antiques, birdcage, bride doll, Christmas decorations, Christmas Tree, dolls, head vase, Kaufmann's Department Store, photography, Pittsburgh Photography, postaday, tropical bird 10 Comments

Shirley Temple Still in her Box, Toodles, a Nun Doll. a Yo-Yo Doll and Other Childhood Friends

My friend Barb collects all kinds of dolls, most from her childhood, There’s a photo of her in one of the pics, holding her doll. She has a glass and wooden cupboard filled with her collection. The reflection makes it tricky to get a clean shot, I looked up Toodles and she is definitely a contemporary from our childhood years in the ’50’s. What do you collect?

January 6, 2015 by Ruth Categories: PhotographyTags: childhood, collection, doll collection, dolls, photography, postaday, retro, Shirley Temple, Toodles, toys, vintage, yo-yo doll 14 Comments

Their gaze isn’t always direct, but can be felt sometimes

This weekend I shared Maura’s bedroom in Ohio and Anna joined us, too. We shared some laughs.

Turns out there were more “kids” in the place than just the granddaughters.

The happy boy doll with the open mouth is Baby Michael and he is ALWAYS happy like you see him in the photograph.

If I heard right, he was a score in the Consignment Store.

The tiny baby was Anna’s first doll but she’s almost 11 and so sister Maura has taken over her care now.

September 23, 2014 by Ruth Categories: PhotographyTags: baby doll, boy doll, childhood, dolls, family, granddaughters, photography, play, postaday, toys 4 Comments

A Photo Shoot Idea Results in a Teeth Clench, a Grimace and a Bobblehead Shot

Eight years ago I created a homemade book for granddaughter Anna for her third birthday. You know those blank white books you can buy in an art store or school supply? I photographed Baby Doll doing all sorts of things around the house and yard and swing set. I even had the photos printed on PAPER and mounted them on the pages and wrote a caption for each shot.

Anna wasn’t a collaborator then as it was a surprise for her.

The cover

Easy to pose just Baby Doll

You get the idea of the book I made. And I thought I could make another one, no problem. HA!

Today her sister Maura (5+) thought it would be a great idea to make a book together, starring her Bitty Baby and Chelsea baby dolls and her AG Clare. I thought it sounded like a good idea, too.

Only problem, Maura suddenly got into some unnatural poses and grimaces and it didn’t look right to me. Also the dolls seemed to have more vacant stares than good old Baby Doll (originally belonging to their mother Erika) who seemed MUCH more cooperative and responsive to my direction (plus it was my direction alone previously)

But I can learn from the experience of the photo shoot. The results did not match my vision. But Maura had a blast and likes the pictures and we all had a great laugh. Erika thinks my efforts are funny. I think it is good to show the outtakes sometimes, too.

I showed today’s pics to her mother Erika and she said she loved them all. Her brothers and sisters are the one who said that Maura looks like a Bobblehead in the one (due to Grandma’s angle and perspective)

Maura liked the photographs, just fine by her.

So here is what we came up with and for me it is back to the beginning and reworking the shots and getting Maura to ease up on the posing. Will see what we come up with on the next attempt.

Maura arranging her”kids”

Ooops down one subject

And the Bobblehead shot.

August 13, 2014 by Ruth Categories: Childhood, PhotographyTags: baby doll, backyard, childhood, children's book, dolls, granddaughter, photography, summer, swingset, toys 12 Comments

Windows With Signage and/or Things in Them – Gallery 5

They said it was a Weekly Photo Challenge so I turned it into a Week-long Photo Challenge

Today I’m posting Windows with signage or things in them.

When I went to the external hard drives looking for the Infant of Prague in a window (thanks Jack) I saw quite a few windows photos that could fit in several categories. Categories with windows pictures reminded me of that old 25,000 Pyramid Game show hosted by Dick Clark.

-Windows with Things to Eat in Them

-Windows with Fashion

-Windows with a View Through Them

-or this time of year could be Looking Through a Dirty Car Window

Tomorrow will be a new challenge so squeezing in one more gallery of windows.