This past week has been gorgeous and so I managed to get a few photos of Bronson outdoors with the ferns. 🙂
Bronson is wearing a wonderful knitted creation using a mini Kaffe pattern. It is perfect for these cooler days. ❤
A close up photo. 🙂
Bronson is very happy outdoors and he did take a tumble but all is well…Bronson said “Mom, don’t sweat the small stuff!” 😉
A couple of photos of mushrooms close by. 🙂
Lovely. 🙂
A waterlogue image of Bronson. ❤
Now, a story of a different doll’s journey to Sasha Shangri-La. 🙂
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I was on ebay and looking under the category, “Gotz dolls” when I came upon this very sweet Sylvia Natterer doll. She had only what you see…no socks, no shoes, no pants, no box, no tag and was a bit rough, a waif, no doubt! She is signed and numbered on her tummy but I am not very familiar with these dolls. Well, my heart engaged with this dear one. ❤
Another ebay photo. She is 19 inches tall and wears a human hair wig. I thought she looked lonely and sad. So, no longer being able to resist this sweet face, I bought her! 🙂
The seller took ages to send her but she finally arrived and to my great sadness, I lifted her from the box and immediately saw that her right eye was damaged. 😦
I thought it was a blob of paint or something on top of her eye but the magnifying glass showed that the eye paint was gone. 😦
I took photos of her and this photo shows her with the bad eye lying next to the Ipad which shows the ebay photo of an undamaged eye. 😦
A close up of the poor dear’s eye. The seller had bent her in half, put her in a too-small box and wrapped her in heavy brown craft paper. No tissue paper, no bubble wrap, no peanuts, well you get the picture! Obviously, the seller is not a doll lover. My husband Rick inspected the craft paper and found the spot where the paper was folded creating a sharp edge that rubbed away at her eye during the shipping time. I was very upset and wondered what to do. Ultimately, I just could not send her back and the seller agreed to offset the price to allow me to have her repaired. Afterwards, Rick encouraged me to say that he thought we could repair her eye. Well, an interesting idea so I contacted Janet Myhill-Dabbs and shared the story and she encouraged me plus told me what to buy in terms of paints and brushes. I decided to give it a try! 🙂
So, this past Monday, Columbus Day and a holiday, I went to Hobby Lobby and purchased these paints and brushes which were as close as I could find to what Janet recommended. 🙂
Using a paper plate as protection from spills, I removed the black tray from the box and shook the paints I planned to use and poured out samples in the tray. The box came with cheaper white handled brushes that I used to stir and blend the paints. I used a sable brush, red handle, to apply the paint. 🙂
Here she is and I had already redressed her in the 2013 Cincinnati Sasha Festival studio dress. She looks ready to regain her eyesight don’t you think?
Here she is again up close. Time to get to work! 🙂
Drum roll please…………TaDa!!! Her eye is re-painted! My first time ever attempt at re-painting!!! What do you think??? 🙂
I was so surprised but mostly really happy that she is repaired. I think she is smiling now and happy too! 🙂
Here she is before the re-painting and wearing the festival outfit with hand knitted socks and leather boots. A nice fit though most Sasha clothes and shoes will not fit her since she is a bit larger and taller. She is like an older sister to the resident Sashas. ❤
Now, here she is today looking so happy! I added a wool shawl to keep her warm. Her basket holds her Hermann bear and the local piglets just love her. I have named her “Mamie” after my favorite great Aunt Mary and all of the children used to lovingly call her Mamie. ❤
Mamie and I both thank you for visiting with us today and reading her tale of woe but, fortunately, with a very happy ending. 🙂
A waterlogue image of dear sweet Mamie. We are sending you happy hugs and happy wishes for the week to come. 🙂 xxx
Sasha Shangri-La 
What great photo’s of Bronson he looks so at home out in the countryside. He is such a handsome lad.
I love Mamie! I cannot believe how some people pack dolls! with no care for them reaching the person who’s just bought them in one piece! Fancy bending her in half to transport her! Definitely not a doll lover.
She is such a rare example of a Natterer doll with such a sweet face, I am not surprised you could not let her slip by! 🙂
Her poor eye you must have been so upset when you saw it and realised it was damaged due to the poor packing!
But it appears she arrived at the right door for you have made a fantastic job of repairing her eye, looks as good as new! Congratulations 🙂
She looks perfect now with her repaired eye and lovely new clothes to wear a treasure indeed ! :)xxxx
Thank you Dee! I am trying hard to keep up with Bronson as he is a go-getter! What a remarkable boy and there is no hill too high for him! 🙂
I had an instant connection with Mamie when she was on ebay and when she arrived, my emotions ran from extreme disappontment, frustration, then I went quickly on to acceptance and trying to find the best way forward for the sweet girl. I would not have dreamed to try re-painting her myself if it had not been for Rick and Janet telling me I could do it! Who would ever dream of a paint brush in my hand??? Except one to paint the kitchen walls! 😉
So Mamie has helped me as much as I have helped her! She was born in 2003 so still a little girl and I am loving that she is here on the farm with me and the Sasha family! ❤ xxx
Wonderful photos of your Bronson Ginger. He has such gorgeous eyes! And his knit sweater is awesome with those shades together. What is the pattern called? I also enjoyed the photos of your yards with the ferns and mushrooms. But most of all I enjoyed your story of your newest addition, Mamie. I too have had dolls shipped to me in this same manner, I also find it disturbing that someone would ship a doll this way. Congrats on fixing her eye. I can understand why you did not way to return her, she has such an endearing expression. And now I want my own Fanouche doll. The hunt goes on.
Hi Cathy and thank you for the lovely comments. I am not certain of the sweater pattern title other than school house. Diane Duke is so talented! Bronson’s eyes grab my attention every time I come into the room, like a magnet! 🙂
Mamie is like a rescue doll. I knew from the ebay isting that she was not loved and had scratches and had been sadly discarded but her face was good and that is what captured my heart. I could not return her to a place that might just throw her away with her eye damage so I was really happy to repair her and she is fine now. Good luck on you Natterer quest! 🙂 xxx
Just love the photos of handsome Bronson amongst those field ferns. So natural and shows him living an outdoor life to the full.
I bet your ‘heart was in your mouth’ as the saying goes, when he took his little tumble? So worrying when this happens but I couldn’t bare to think of any of my Sasha Brood being stuck (and probably feels more like trapped to them) in a wooden cabinet behind closed glass doors when they could be running freely outside in the fresh air so I’m always game to take that risk and see them happy and carefree.
Just adore Mamie. What a beautiful and sucn an attractive face she has with her hair styled in that old fashioned but stunning ‘off the face’ look, perfect to top that scrumptous velvet jacket over her silk? box pleated skirt.
How could her seller treat her so roughly with packaging like that. It isn’t as if these modern soft and protective tissue/bubble wrap materials are either hard to locate or rare to come by…. BUT having said that you have done really well (under Janet’s superb and trusted instructions) to repair her poor damaged eye, giving her back her almost full and perfect sight again with which to see and admire her new family and beautiful home with.
Many thanks to you all for your kind week’s good wishes leading up to our special CnS event.
(PS for you. Guess who’s hopefully arriving here tomorrow BUT in soft, protective and careful packaging and the right sized full length sturdy box? Can barely wait although it is a Christmas present and so will have to be put away after the brief meeting and introduction.)
Thank you Kendal for your kind and insightful comments. Yes, I think it is good to get the dolls outdoors and really important to re-dress them, photograph them and just be “hands on” with them. When I told Rick about Bronson’s tumble he asked “Aren’t you glad he has that nose ding?” In other words, Bronson has seen the worst already! I relaxed some after thinking about that plus Bronson told me to not sweat it! 😉
I was surprised at the terrible packing job by sweet Mamie’s seller and I did write them and explained the painting on the vinyl and the need for tissue paper and other protective materials to use when shipping a doll. They said the always use craft paper and no problems before…oh well, I tried! 🙂
Yes, Mamie’s skirt is silk! I have stored her jacket and skirt until I learn more about her and what is missing from her original outfit. I would like to replace the missing items over time. I am pretty certain she would have had leather shoes. I think I have given her most of her eyesight back and she does not need eyeglasses yet so mission accomplished! 😉
How exciting for you to have a most special package arriving tomorrow! It is sure to be wrapped perfectly. I will be thinking of your new arrival’s happy and yet brief homecoming tomorrow. A wonderful day!!! ❤ xxx
Bronson is a handsome little fellow and I love the photos of him outside in the countryside, and his knitted jumper is really lovely too.
WOW Ginger, you did a fantastic job on Mamie’s eye, but what a shame that you had to do it in the first place. I have about 9 Natterers and two of mine have the very same face mould as your new girl, and it’s such a sweet look. I love Natterers, I think they work very well with Sasha dolls, and they’re just very endearing too! I do believe this girl of yours originally was playing a violin, wasn’t she?
I love how you have dressed your new girl too, she looks perfect!
Big hugs, Sharon xxx
Hi Sharon and I am glad you enjoyed Bronson outside. We have had great weather lately which makes it nice to take photos. 🙂
Thank you for your kind comments about Mamie. I am happy with her eye repair and am thinking about her wig now. I love the styling very much. I just posted Mamie on the Natterer fb site and a lovely lady has already identified her and provided a photo of her and you are correct! She is wearing a concert outfit with black tights, black patent leather tie shoes and she came with a small violin! Interesting because I play violin too though not very well. So she is a musician…I love it and I am glad you like her studio outfit too. I agree with you that our Natterer dolls look terrific with our Sasha dolls. It is such fun to collect them. ❤ xxx
It never ceases to amaze me how some seller package dolls…although it shouldn’t! I once received two porcelain dolls – loose in a box, no packaging whatsoever and yes they were smashed! You have done a lovely job of fixing her up and I bet she is very relieved to now be with you and I am sure she will fit in with the family beautifully. I love that she is a musician!
Your lad of course is wonderful and extremely handsome! I can imagine he will love to have many adventures on your farm.
I know Lorraine and I think it has been a very long time for me since I have received a damaged doll. It was just as emotional as the last time though! I could visualize poor Mamie just thrown on a rubbish pile if I had returned her. So, she and I are both relieved that she is staying with us. Musicians need to stick together though I am really “rusty” now and would have to practice to carry a tune today. 🙂
Thank you for the Bronson compliments and I really enjoy him so very much! 🙂 xxx
Bronson looks wonderful outdoors and seems to be having a fun time. Glad he likes his sweater too although he better be careful with it if he insists on throwing himself around. But he’s a boy!
And what about your skills as an eye painter! I’m very impressed Ginger. Could a new career be beckoning?
Thank you Diane! Bronson is a rough and tumble boy but he loves your sweater so very much and, so far, he has not taken it off! Maybe at bath time? 😉
I surprised myself wih the eye painting for Mamie. I haven’t had an art brush in my hand since high school (I was 18!) and I enjoyed the challenge. I am thinking I would try again but I am not sure about a new career….who knows? 🙂 xxx
Bronson is such a handsome boy Ginger and he looks so good modelling his lovely mini Kaffe! I am so impressed by your repair of dear Mamie. You did an excellent job, my correspondence art pupil! I am so glad she has come to live with the right person, you have saved her and she looks so content now xx
Hi Janet and thank you so much! Mamie is so sweet and appreciative of your support! She sends hugs to her Auntie Janet! ❤
Bronson is a delight and I am very blessed to have him here on the farm. I hope I can keep up with him because he is very active and moving constantly! 😉 xxx