Mold Moving Day and New Gift Items Available

Good evening everyone!!!  WOW, two posts in one day! I am determined to catch up on all my old news. So let's get started!

On Saturday April 7th, I was blessed with a wonderful gift from my long time friend and almost mother, Marilyn Hollenbach from the St. Louis, Mo. area. Marilyn is downsizing and moving into a smaller home and no longer had a place for her 30 plus years of doll molds. That Saturday morning, Marilyn's children, had arranged for a U-Haul truck to bring me the thousands of pounds of molds from Marilyn's basement and garage. ( No one but a true doll-maker gets excited over 4,000 pounds of plaster)!! Here are a few photos from the unloading process:

My husband Dennis, overlooking the situation.

Dennis and my daughter Stefanie, whose garage the molds went into.

Steve and Mary Beth Hollenbach after the long haul and unload.

My friend Marilyn, on left.

My granddaughter Mariah, friend Charles, and son-in-law Ken.

My friend Marilyn.

Oh my, where do we put them all?

The next question is what do we have here? All the molds will have to be cataloged and sets put together. This is like one big jigsaw puzzle that we will have to place together. But just going thru the shelves and writing down what is here is just like opening presents on Christmas morning. As I said before only a true doll-maker gets excited over thousands of pounds of plaster!

We already have a 10 x 30 ft storage unit completely full of molds for over 1800 antique reproduction and modern dolls. I know with the addition of these molds that will give us an inventory of over 2000 dolls to make! It can't get more exciting than that. I have found a couple treasures so far in just a few minutes of looking. I now have two Doll House Co. molds I didn't have before. One is for the Bruno Schmidt "Wendy" number 2033 and the other is for the Jumeau Princess 1938 Unis France 306. Both are wonderful molds from a great company that is no longer in business. Dennis has already poured these two heads for me, I can't wait to get started on them.

So did I tell you about how Marilyn and I became friends? 32 years ago when I was in the St. Louis area to do a doll show, Marilyn and I were standing in line next to each other at a booth in a ceramic show. The booth was called "Gerweck's Small World of Dolls". Guess what they sold? Yes, doll molds, I am sure the molds Marilyn purchased that day when we met, are in the piles in my daughter's garage. Those molds will be forever special, as they led me to one of the most important friendships in my life. For that I will always be grateful.

When I look back over the last 33 years that Dennis and I have been in the doll business, the friendships that we have made are so much a part of our lives, that we can't imagine our life without them.

This Saturday, April 28th is a doll show in Des Moines, Ia. at the State Fairgrounds. The show is from 9am-3pm with early buyers allowed in at 8:00am. Even after hundreds and hundreds of doll shows thru the last 33 years I am still looking forward to going and getting to visit with long time friends and customers. Then there is also the chance of finding that special item for my dolls that I have been searching for for years. You just never know this could be the show I find it at.

 I will be open the first weekend in May in conjuction with the MRVAD Art Drive. I will be open Saturday, May 5th from 10-5 and Sunday, May 6th from 10-5. Information on the MRVAD Art Drive can be found at http://www.mrvad.com/ . I will have some new seasonal doll display gift items. Some of the lines I will be carrying are Bethany Howe Designs, along with Primitives By Kathy and Victorian Trading Co.

View our fabulous doll displays of museum quality antique reproduction and modern dolls along with antique dolls in seasonal displays. Purchase a new doll wig or a pair of shoes for that favorite doll in need of a little repair.

I welcome doll clubs and groups to call for an appointment to set up a time to visit. Desserts and ice tea can be made available for group visits. If you have some time in the area I can also arrange for a stop by Ideas and Designs Antique Mall and Mad Hatter Tea Room in Mt. Carroll, which is a great source of high quality new silk and decorator fabrics.

Bethany Howe Designs

Bethany Howe Designs

Bethany Howe Designs

View of our front garden pond

My Potting Shed September of 2011

Blue Iris

Tree Peony

 While you are in the area for a visit, here are a few photos for Ideas and Designs Antique Mall, Mad Hatter Tea Room and Fabric Shop!!

Linda, the Mad Hatter

Well, I think the time has come to close this page on my blog. I look forward to telling you soon about The "Frenchette  Retreat" in August, showing you more doll photos, including my newest antique doll, more photos of my gift items and filling you in a little more on "Who is Lettie Lane"?

Until next time, Dolly Hugs!!! Connie