Sasha Shangri-La

Hello all, remember me? I’m Gracie and I live at Sasha Shangri-La with my Mummy and Daddy and brothers and sisters too!  Mummy is downstairs and really busy now. The postman came to the door and rang the bell. So Mommy was off in a flash and she was very excited too! I wonder what is happening??

So much is going on here today that Mummy left her blog wide open and I know she will not mind if I post a photo or two. Don’t you agree? I really, really want you to meet, and I cannot wait on Mummy, my biggest sister, Abigail Lynn.  She is Abby to me and I love her so much!

Look, here we are, me and Abby. Mummy said that Abby is a very special girl and I do have to agree. Dear, sweet Abby is a Studio doll made long ago in the 1950’s in Switzerland where I was born. Mummy taught me that Abby has an “A” body (like a Course Doll) and a I face mask and her head does not move. Mummy explained that Abby is a “AI” studio doll and one of the earliest true Sashas.  I told Mummy that I know that to be true because Abby is an “A #1” sister to me! 🙂

Abby loves to hold me and she reads stories to me all the time. Mummy reads to me too. She read to me that Abby was probably made from a kit. This means Abby’s head, wig, and face painting were done by Sasha, and the rest of Abby was made by a person using patterns and materials supplied in the kit. Don’t you think it is wonderful that Sasha looked for so manys ways to put her dolls into the arms of children?  Abby’s wool yarn wig and the cork shavings in her arms and legs helped to identify that she is from Sasha’s early years in dollmaking.

This photo of Abby shows her wearing a beautiful studio dress. It is not original to her and Mummy bought it for her. Mummy told me that Abby’s outfit was used in at least one Sasha exhibit. It is made from used linen fabric and decorated with braids, ric-rac, and ribbon. I like it because it is so soft and pretty. 🙂

A Sasha label is nice to see!

Mummy is talking to someone downstairs and she sounds so happy! :). I love her so very much and she always has hugs and kisses just for me, Gracie. :). So, while Mummy is still away, Abby and I are going to play dress-up. Abby has a new dress to try on that Mummy found on Shelly’s site and I do too. Are you ready? Off with my red shoes and here we go!

My white dress is off and I have put on my leather shoes made by Jean Jensen. Mummy brought them to me as a present from Phoenix. How special they are–I love Mummy gifts! 🙂

They are a bit snug but I don’t mind! The label tickles my foot and that makes me laugh! 😉

Hi Abby, you look so pretty in those bloomers! Mummy said that one reason Abby is so special is that she was so very, very loved before she came to Sasha Shangri-La. So much so that her arms and legs just gave out over the years of hugging and giving so much love to others. 🙂

The good news is that Abby has been beautifully restored and now has brand-new arms and legs.  Mummy read to me that Abby’s new arms and legs were made in Switzerland by Sasha’s assistant Trudi Lőffler. Trudi used the original patterns and fabric that are used for all of Sasha’s cloth-body dolls. Abby’s new arms and legs are stuffed with the original stuffing from her old arms and legs. How very special to have limbs that Trudi made.  So, she is good as new now!  Mummy advised that Abby is better than new because she has been loved for a very long time and has a big heart.   And Mummy is right because when Abby holds me close, I can hear her big heart beating! 🙂

Abby likes to show her new, well made arms and legs and she is happy to have them. Her face, hair, and torso were cleaned and are original. I love her yarn braids. Mummy promised that she will braid my hair when I get older! 🙂

Here we are wearing our new outfits! Abby is hugging me tight.  Gee, this feels so nice. 🙂

This flannel outfit was made by Christina Meatyard and Abby’s shoes and socks are by Ruth’s dolls.

I think this outfit fits Abby perfectly. Do you see the little tuft of hair on Abby’s neck?  I tug on it often when I give her my big Gracie hugs!

Another tag that is nice to see!

I am so happy that Abby is my big Sister. Her arms and legs are just right now and we can play for a long time!  My pretty dress is by Passion for Sasha and fits very well if I don’t get bigger. 😉

Look, I am taller than Abby in this photo!  Well…..

…maybe not really taller. Abby with her new legs is a whopping 21 inches tall, slightly taller than the Course Dolls, and I am 13 inches tall–but still growing! 🙂

Abby up close. I love her beautiful, brown eyes.

I think I hear Mummy coming but one last thing for you before I go. I want to share this photo.  I am not certain that Mummy would want you to know about this story but I think it is special and worth telling.  Mummy kept this photo as a reminder of an ebay auction she lost years ago and she was very sad to lose out on.  She said she fell in love with the face but did not know that she was a studio doll.  Mummy thought it was a Course Doll with incredible eye painting and an unconventional yarn wig.  Mummy’s first doll was a much loved Raggedy Ann doll that had yarn hair too and that childhood memory warms Mummy’s heart even now.  So…..

….years later, Mummy was so surprised and so happy to find this beautiful girl again on Susanna Lewis’ site last year and so lovingly restored too!  Susanna really helps Mummy to learn more about Sasha dolls and especially more about dear Abby.

Lastly, Mummy told me that things generally turn out for the best and I do agree because I now have the “very bestest” sister in the world, my precious, A#1 Abby.  I love happy endings, don’t you?  I am sending big hugs and many kisses to everyone!   Have a beautiful weekend and week to come!    I, little Gracie, am so happy to be alive and to love, and be loved, by Sashas :). xxxooo

I wanted to  introduce the subject of Course Dolls. Course Dolls were made in Sasha Morgenthaler’s studio between 1970 and 1993. These dolls were made by students and under the guidance of Sasha herself or her assistant.  I bought these three course dolls some time ago from sellers in Switzerland.

Growing up with dolls, and with a wonderful Mother who collected dolls, I have a love for many types of dolls. My favorite dolls, before discovering Sasha dolls, were early cloth dolls. So, it was only natural that my first Sasha doll, Gwennie, was a cloth doll with a gypsum head. Soon after Gwennie, I discovered Course Dolls on Shelly’s site and on ebay.

On the left is a sweet boy with a human hair wig. He was bought from Shelly.

A closer look at their painting and wigs. They all have human hair wigs and I do not know who made these lovely dolls.

Well, well…sweet Gracie has joined the doll gathering, of COURSE! :). Gracie is certainly the darling here at Sasha Shangri-La and she is particularly fond of the Course Dolls. It is easy to see why Gracie is comfortable around them considering their similar cloth bodies with sewn hinged legs.  It is notable that they all have the same birthplace and they all have spent time in Sasha’s studio in Switzerland.  As a studio bebe, Gracie’s arms are disc jointed and they pose nicely plus her face was painted by Sasha, herself. Still, she feels a kinship with the Course Dolls and loves to spend time with them. 🙂

Lovely children with Gracie.

I really like the outfits on the Course Dolls and they are very well made with mostly soft, vintage fabrics and knitted treasures to be found here and there.

Undergarments are very well made using fabrics such as cottons and linens and trimmings of lace and eyelet. The boy’s undershirt and pants are hand knitted.

A close view of the brown eyed Course Doll.

A full view of her outfit. Her collar is a very nice tatted creation. Her shoes are wool felt and worn. I really like her apron.

I was surprised today when I removed the apron to discover that there are two different fabrics used in her dress. With her apron covering most of the dress front, I was certainly unaware. I have to say that I greatly appreciate the economy of fabric used in these outfits. I also noticed that her white blouse was plain cotton on the body and linen was used on her sleeves! The sleeves show much more than the rest of the blouse.

A close view of a light strawberry blonde wig and different eye painting with straying paint on her face.

Lovely outfit made of coordinating fabrics with a fine apron and a crocheted pocket. She has very nice socks and shoes. 🙂

Gracie is about 13 inches in height and the Course Dolls are about 20 inches in height. There is some variance in my doll’s heights within 1/2 inch (plus or minus).

A close view of this lovely Course Doll. Her eye color does go well with her studio style outfit.

Her lovely hair is very, very thick and a nice color too!

I thought you would like to see her beautiful collar up close. Again, I am impressed by the practicality of this collar which by its design can be used to “dress up” different outfits or, by removing it, to “dress down” the outfits.

Gracie especially loves this girl and she calls her “Sissy”. 🙂

Gracie brought to my attention that I almost forgot the boy! His eyes also match his turquoise outfit. I love his leather shoes!

This dear child is a Course Doll that is dressed as a street child. Her wig is a pale reddish color and made of raffia. One of Sasha’s studio dolls shown on the cover of the book “Sasha-Puppen, Sasha Dolls” is so very similar to this Course Doll that I like to think that studio doll inspired this Course Doll. 🙂

The wool coat is oversized and frayed and the scarf is vital to keep out the cold of winter while living on the streets. The dress is greatly faded but warm.

The slip provides warmth too.

The pantaloons are plain and cinched at the ankles to keep the cold air out. They remind me of a re-purposed man’s shirt.

Nice view of the back of the coat.

Close view of the navy wool socks and worn, black leather shoes (with heels).
Gracie giving a warm hand of friendship to this dear street child. Gracie’s heart goes out to her because she does not smile and her eyes are very sad.  She hugs her alot! 🙂

The last two Course Dolls are very, very special and are recent finds at the Sasha Festival in Phoenix. The boy is Heiri and the girl is Laura Marie. Both of these lovely Course Dolls were made by Ann Chandler in 1993. Laura Marie is shown in the book “Sasha Dolls The History” on page 126. Ann explained that Trudi Loffler was the teacher who helped guide the students with the eye painting and the making of the clothing for the dolls. Her wig is made of raffia and the dress fabric was from Sasha’s studio.

I think Heiri looks like a young Harry Potter! His wig is made of raffia. I love his suspenders!

His bag has leather straps and holds a wonderful sweater with metal buttons. He also has his own police car to play with which is nice since there are mostly girls around him! 😉

A close view of his leather Swiss sandals.

A close view of Laura Marie’s studio style shoes and pink socks!

Gracie is right at home with this delightful pair!

Gracie, Laura Marie, and Heiri want to thank you for visiting us and they extend happy wishes to you for a wonderful week to come!!! xxx

Another beautiful day here at Sasha Shangri-La. As soon as I entered our front door after a day spent at work, I knew it was a perfect time to take photos outside with Finn and our newest arrival, Ebo. The weather is just perfect and it is early enough in the day to have good sunlight. Finn is quite the goodwill ambassador here and he is particularly fond of welcoming new boys and helping them to feel welcomed and to learn their way around the farm.  Finn is wearing a plain white t-shirt with Dolly Doodles shorts and birkenstocks by Marti Murphy.

Finn’s dog Fetch is devoted to Finn and tries hard to be at his side at all times.

Finn enjoying the day!

Finn and his dog Fetch say hello to our newest member of the Sasha family, Ebo.

Ebo is a bit nervous but Finn’s happy greeting is helping him to feel more secure.

Ebo is a delightful repaint by Shelly Baxter.

Ebo really likes Fetch too. Finn explains to Ebo that all the boys have puppies at Sasha Shangri-La since there is plenty of room to run and play.  Finn picks up a very cute spotted puppy for Ebo to see.

Finn says that the puppy likes Ebo! Ebo asked “Do you really think so?”

Finn reassures Ebo that the puppy is friendly and hands him to Ebo.

Ebo is deeply touched by Finn’s kindness.

Finn and Ebo with their friendly puppies. 🙂

Finn greets Polly and introduces her to Ebo.

Polly welcome Ebo too. She tells Ebo that she likes his puppy and his cute spots!

Ebo thanks Polly for coming outdoors to welcome him though he is quite shy around girls.

Polly is a repaint by Nikki in Ireland. She senses that Ebo is a bit nervous so she leaves him with a smile and his puppy. Polly knows that boys need their time and space alone and that she will see him later.

Ebo and pup. Ebo is wearing cute shorts and shirt by A Passion for Sasha with a hand-knitted tank top by Rosie Shortell. His socks are hand-knitted and he wears Kathe Kruse shoes.

The very handsome Ebo. I am quite fond of his large, doe-like eyes that give him an innocent and yet a strong, inquisitive expression. Just wonderful! 🙂

Ebo names his puppy “Dog” which was not surprising….

When you see that his name is sewn on his side! 🙂

Happy waves from Finn, Ebo and the puppies to you! 🙂

Have a great week everyone!!! xxx

“Oh my, where am I? It seems I have been in the dark for a while but now, I am in a well lit place. Where am I?”

“Hello there, my name is Ryder. You are most welcome to Sasha Shangri-La and I am your new brother!”

“Hi and welcome dear Sis. My name is Little Dawn. I am overjoyed to see you in person. Mommy has showed us photos of you in happy anticipation of your arrival. We loved you even before your arrival!” said the sweet, little Dawn.

“Hi, I am your sister Peg.   Ryder, Little Dawn and I are so happy to see you!”

“Hello and thank you kindly for your warm welcome wishes. I feel a bit out of place and must wonder where I am. Ryder, you said Sasha Shangri-La, is that in the UK or perhaps Germany?”

Ryder said, “No dear sister, you are in the USA. I remember when I traveled in a box like yours just last year when I came home from a visit with Auntie Lorraine and my close friend Henry in the UK.” Then Ryder climbed into the box showing his fond memory of the trip. This helped his new sister to feel much better so she sat down too.  She said, Well, I have made the same trip too. How nice that we have shared similar experiences.”

Little Dawn and Peg go to their new sister to comfort her and to show their sisterly affection.  Peg told her new sister that they were all from Germany originally.

Little Dawn explained that Mommy was so looking forward to her arrival. They showed her the outfit Mommy brought home from the Festival in Phoenix.  It was made by Norvell Jones and was just for for the new sister. “Oh, my what a lovely short set! I just love it! It will be fun to change clothes and be ready to begin my new life.”

The girls are very happy to be together and are becoming close.

Norvell’s lovely label inside the pretty blouse.

“Look, I am ready to play! How do I look?” Ryder told her that she looked perfect and ready to play!

Ryder suggested that they all climb into Mommy’s bag and they would surely be able to go outdoors to play. So, they all climbed inside and waited for Mommy to return.

Well, Mommy did return and outdoors everyone went to enjoy the day.

This is my Ryder, a 1960’s straight nose Gotz boy. He is wearing a Sashapotamas t-shirt, colorful shorts made by Auntie Lorraine and later Trendon sandals. I think he is a handsome boy.

Ryder is joined by Little Dawn, a 1960’s Gotz waif. She is particularly affectionate and kind and is the comforter of the group. I was fortunate to buy her from Dawn Law at the Sasha Festival in 2013. She is quite petite and well loved by all.

They are joined by their new sister and her name is Sarah.

Next, Peg lines up with the group. They liked playing on Daddy’s cart.

Peg is a 1960’s Gotz no nose that belonged to Jackie Hyatt. She is wearing a pretty outfit that was made by Jackie and I felt fortunate to find it at the Festival this year on Gayle Rotheim’s sales table. Peg was so happy to wear a new dress. Her shoes are made by Monica Jarpey and the socks are made by Jackie Hyatt.

This lovely girl is a 1970 Gotz no navel and it is true, she does not have a navel :). I have named her “Sarah” and she is the first no navel doll to join us here at Sasha Shangri-La. Her outfit is by Novell Jones and her red leather sandals are by Jean Jensen.

Another photo of Little Dawn. Her outfit was on Shelly’s site and I do not know the maker. Her leather shoes are by Ruth’s dolls.

Little Dawn and sweet Sarah sharing a sisterly moment.

Ryder, my only Gotz boy.

Sarah, Ryder and Little Dawn enjoying the pretty day!

Having great fun acting silly!

Close up of Sarah, Ryder and Little Dawn.

A final photo with Peg joining the group. We had a great, Gotz time today and we wish you a very happy weekend and week ahead too!  Great Gotz hugs are coming from us to you! XXXX

I love the studio dresses made by Carol Mitchell. The first time that I saw an outfit made by Carol was in 2013 at the Sasha Festival in Cincinnati, Ohio. I purchased one that was very colorful and I featured it here on the blog recently with Chloe as the model. Later I saw a photo of a studio outfit made by Carol using materials from antique christening gowns. It was so beautiful but so sold! So later on, I was able to ask Carol to make two studio dresses from antique christening gown fabrics. She finished them before the Festival this year and kindly brought them with her to Phoenix. I am happy to show them here with Ellen and Sylvia as models. We are having a full, rain soaking day here in West Virginia so the photos in this post are taken indoors.

Pantaloons from the first studio outfit. I love the detailing.

The full slip and the pantaloons. This beautiful slip is a fabulous summer dress by itself and it is hard to cover such a pretty frock but…..

…when you see this gorgeous dress, it makes it much easier to cover the slip.

Each of the three pieces has Carol’s tag.

Now we see Ellen wearing the slip and pantaloons with her gold leather studio shoes by Jean Jensen.

Ellen was made in England in late 1966 to early 1967 and is an NP girl.

A different view.

A close-up photo of her pantaloons and slip.

Beautiful Ellen in her beautiful outfit.

Ellen with her favorite stuffed animal, a bunny!

Ellen up close. I love her soulful eyes.

Next we see the slip and pantaloons of the second studio outfit. This slip has dainty ribbons as straps. So pretty!

All three pieces showing their tags, labels, or maker’s ribbons.

The lovely Sylvia wearing the slip and pantaloons. Her studio shoes are made of black leather and by Jean Jensen.

Sylvia is an English NP girl made in early 1966 with amazing brown eyes and red hair.

This is such a pretty dress for a summer day.

Sylvia looks lovely in her new outfit.

The back of her gown is beautiful too.

A bit closer view of Sylvia.

Sylvia loves her teddy bear!

Sylvia

I thought you would like to see Ellen and Sylvia together. Their outfits are similar but are different too.

A last photo of Ellen and Sylvia. I hope you enjoyed this post and all of us here at Sasha Shangri-La send you hugs and happy wishes for a beautiful week ahead!