Another 100 Anniversary Raggedy Ann and Andy Set

Oh, Universe, why do you tempt me so? Today, the 100th Birthday of Raggedy Ann, I spotted yet another set of 100th Anniversary Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls at Cracker Barrel!!

I will continue to practice self-restraint!

Happy 100th Birthday, Raggedy Ann!!!

Happy 100th Birthday to my oldest friend!! Raggedy Ann was patented on September 7, 1915!

100th Anniversary Raggedy Ann (and Andy) at Target

This Monday will Raggedy Ann's 100th Birthday (her Patent Date). I found these two dolls commemorating her anniversary at Target this morning.

I will be going through the process of finding new homes for many of my Raggedy's over the next several months. (But that's another story.)

With this in mind, it took some serious w'll-power not to buy these this morning!

Your Jeopardy Question of the Day

Guess who is turning 100 years old this September?!



Answer:

Raggedy Ann at WGI!!!

How happy am I that a guard did a Raggedy Ann show?! (Artistry in Blue from Canton, OH. Ind A Finalist)

I think it's safe to say that nobody was as excited as I was to watch this show!! I had a huge smile on my face the entire time!!!

My life is complete. :)




















PS: Also awesome that some of my friends who are at WGI right now just sent me photos and videos! (like the one above!)

update
Turns out, I'm not the only fan!! Artistry in Blue won WGI's Fan Favorite for Ind Class A!! Congratulations!! (they also came in 5th place!)

I found Snowden!

pssst.... I found that Snowden fella that everyone has been looking for. Turns out he's been hanging out with Raggedy Ann and Andy, having adventures with them in the Deep, Deep Woods! Shhhhh....

Welcome, Raggedy Arthur!

Raggedy Arthur, circa 1978 by Knickerbocker Toy Co.

My Raggedy Ann Collection has a new addition: Welcome Raggedy Arthur!

I've been coveting this little guy for over 30 years. Seriously.

He was introduced in November, 1978 in the Chuck Jones' animated television special, "Raggedy Ann and Andy and the Great Santa Claus Caper". He was also featured the next year in Chuck Jones' "Raggedy Ann and Andy and the Pumpkin Who Couldn't Smile". Raggedy Arthur wasn't an original Johnny Gruelle character (like Raggedy Ann, Raggedy Andy, The Camel with the Wrinkled Knees, etc.,) but he was made quite popular with the merchandising of the two Chuck Jones' animated television specials.

For some reason that I never figured out, somehow, I totally missed ever finding a Raggedy Arthur when they were first sold in 1978 and after. It boggles the mind. I would have been the perfect age (8 years old) and was already collecting Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls and merchandise. In fact, I had plenty of "things" with Raggedy Arthur on it, but never a Raggedy Arthur doll. It's possible that I never even knew that they existed until I saw one on display in 1989 at a Raggedy Ann museum exhibit at the Oakland Museum. (curated by my now friend, Andrew Tabbat.)

Although I started collecting Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls since I was two, and had quite a collection through my childhood/teen years, I became a much more serious collector after having seen Andrew's museum exhibit. It was around that time that I started to scour antique stores and thrift shops looking for vintage Raggedy items. I also started to attend the Annual Raggedy Ann and Andy Festival in Arcola, IL.

(If, by this time, you didn't realize that I collect Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls, and you'd like to know more about my collection, you can read more about it here.)

Even in the mid-90s, during the height of the Raggedy Ann Collecting Market, I never did see a Raggedy Arthur doll available for sale. They were very scarce, and if available, were very pricey.

Once ebay rolled out in the late 90s, prices of Raggedy Ann merchandise began to decrease, as collectable items were much more readily available. Even still, any Raggedy Arthur dolls that I did see were still very pricey and hard to come by.

...until a couple of weeks ago.

Well, honestly, I hadn't searched for one in a while, but when I did a couple of weeks ago, I found one, and realized that it was available and priced quite reasonably (compared to mid-90s prices, that is - not compared to what they originally sold for in the late 70s!).

Anyhow, that's the story of how this little guy came to join my collection today.

It makes me happy to have him displayed on a shelf with my other Knickerbocker era dolls - it makes my collection more complete.

Welcome, Arthur. I think you will be happy in your new home. :)

Wooden Trina's new (older) friend

Wooden Trina has a new friend, and she's just the right size, too!

My newest addition to my vintage Raggedy Ann collection is a cast iron book end made by the P.F. Volland Company in 1931. I found her on ebay (of course!).

Wooden Trina seems very happy to have a new friend sitting on my office windowsill with her. Just imagine all the stories this little bookend could tell from the last 80+ years!

Presenting: my first completed oil painting in 18 years!

Volland Raggedy Ann
2012
oil on canvas
12 x 12 inches

Horray! I've (finally!) completed my first oil painting in 18 years. Pretty exciting.

There wasn't much left to do today except tone down the color of her nose, add the red stripes to her stockings and add a little bit of a wash to lighten and darken some areas.

Overall, I'm so very pleased with the outcome of this painting, and most especially the process I learned along the way. This is a very different style from any other painting I've ever done. This one has a lot more dimension and depth. Although, I also realized that this may be my first real still life painting, too. Interesting!

I feel like I learned so much from Dean on my first project, and I am looking forward to continuing my lessons with him. He'll be away on vacation for a couple of weeks, so I'll be working on some studies at home until he returns.


The model and the completed painting

This was the first painting I've ever worked on where I took photos of each of the stages/sessions. I thought it would be fun to put them here in order of start to finish.


Session 1


Session 2


Session 3


Session 4


Session 5 - complete! :)

And now I'm finding myself a little nostalgic about this little doll. I looked back in my blog archives and found this post that gives a little bit of history about this particular Raggedy Ann doll, and the day that she came to live in my collection. :)

Oil Painting Class: Session 4

After 4 sessions, my little 1920s Volland Raggedy Ann oil painting is nearly complete! I probably only need another 1/2 hour on her or so.

I was a little rushed getting ready to leave today, and I forgot to take a photo. I really enjoy seeing the different stages of my paintings so I can study them and see how they progress.

Dean was kind enough to take a photo of my painting for me tonight and just sent it to me (thanks, Dean!).

Today, I worked on her dress, her shoes and finally, her face. The whites behind her shoe button eyes need to be toned down just a bit, and I need to put the stripes on her stockings. Other than that, I think she's just about done. :)


week 4

in case you need a refresher of what my model looks like:

from my first session of painting Ann.
You've come a long way, Baby! ;)

Peek-a-boo!!

This cracks me up!

I was washing my hands in our bathroom this morning, and laughed when I saw the reflection of Raggedy Ann (or Andy!) smiling back at me from the faucet. :)

It is the reflection from the shirt I am wearing. Depending on the angle, I could see Ann or Andy's face.

I'm really happy that I was able to capture a picture of it. Seriously funny!

Thoughtful Nephew

My 13 year-old nephew, Peter, is on vacation in Hawaii right now with his youth choir from North Carolina. I'm sure they are having an amazing time!

Today, he sent me this picture via text message from his phone!

He sent the picture, along with a message that he was in a mall in Hawaii.

How sweet is that?

He knows that I love Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls, and he was sweet enough to notice these, take a photo, and send it to me - all while he's hanging out in Hawaii with his friends.

Thank you, Peter! What a thoughtful young man you are. :)

An Old Polaroid

My Dad found this photo recently while he was visiting my Grandma at her house.

It's an old Polaroid shot - I'm guessing 1975 or 1976 of me and my Uncle Wes.

There are so many things I love about this picture - it's so very 70s!

I also love that I'm wearing one of my Raggedy Ann t-shirts. :)

Thank You Card

How cute is this?

This is the Thank You Card that I received yesterday from my neighbor's Granddaughter. She is the 3-1/2 year old who invited me to a tea party on Tuesday.

I had brought a small gift for her - a set of Raggedy Ann and Andy book ends. I think she really loves them. :)

Obviously, her Grandmother helped her with the writing on the card, but she drew the picture of Raggedy Ann herself. I think she did a very good job - It's SO cute!

Tea Party!

This afternoon, my Raggedy Ann and I were invited to a Tea Party, hosted by my neighbor's 3-1/2 year old Granddaughter! I brought my favorite Raggedy Ann ("Raggie") with me. She hasn't been to a tea party in decades, and was very excited! :)


posing with our Raggedy Anns

We all had a lovely afternoon. My neighbor's Granddaughter (who I'll refer to here as "A") was a wonderful hostess. She brought out her Raggedy Ann doll to meet mine, and the four of us, and "A's" Grandmother all sat down at her little table, all set up with a tiny tea set.


Tea Party!


"A" and her Raggedy Ann

Our "tea" was apple juice that "A" served to us from her tea pot. We also had heart-shaped sugar cookies that she made with her Grandmother yesterday, in preparation for the party.


Cookies

"A" really fell in love my my Raggie. After our tea party, "A" took Raggie into her bedroom, and tucked her in under a blanket on her bed. Then, she sat down next to her and read some of her favorite books to Raggie.


"A" reading to Raggie

After story time was done, and dear Raggie had rested, "A" brought her back out to play for a while with some of her toys.

My Raggie was in rag doll heaven. She hadn't been played with like this by a little girl in a very long time. :)

We had such a nice afternoon at the tea party. Hopefully, "A" and her Grandma will invite us back soon. :)


Raggie and her new friend

At the Toy Store

My friend, Andrew, and I went to a toy store in Palo Alto early this afternoon.

This was one of the more interesting things that we found:

"Alvin Ailey Barbie"

Who knew?

We combed the store, checking to see if our favorite red-head was there. Didn't find her anywhere.

When we asked the sales clerk if they had any Raggedy Ann merchandise, she replied, "What is that?"

really?

Let me get this straight: You have an Alvin Ailey Barbie doll, but you don't know who/what Raggedy Ann is?

That's just sad.

Something is very wrong here.

"Disco Dolly"

Oh. My. Golly.

How is it I've never seen this clip before? (start around 1:00)



I have no idea what this children's show was, but they took a scene out of the movie, "Raggedy Ann & Andy: A Musical Adventure" and turned it into a disco tune! It looks like it was done around the same time that the movie was released (1977).

For the 99% of you who don't know what I'm referring to, here's the clip from the actual movie:

Running into old friends at Macy's

Dick and I went shopping in Union Square today. While we were at
Macy's, I spotted a couple of old friends at the FAO Schwartz Toy
Section: my old friends, Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy! I haven't seen
these guys out and about in stores lately, so it's always nice to know
that they're still around. They look a lot different these days, but
it's a definate improvement from the last few versions I've seen. (I
think they should still have button eyes, though.)

My Fifteen Minutes Continue...

I just got word that a magazine article about Raggedy Ann & Raggedy Andy, for which I was interviewed a couple of months ago, is now online. The hard copy should be in stores soon. (Antique Trader Magazine)

Candy Hearts: Raggedy Ann and Andy, still popular after a century

Not a bad article, although some of the "facts and figures" are questionable. :)
It's just nice to know that good 'ol Raggedy Ann is still getting some press, and it's always fun for me to be a part of it.

This is the third magazine article I've been featured in over the years (for my Raggedy Ann collection). The first was for The Target the Family Magazine" way back in 1998. The second was for the Japanese Raggedy Ann and Andy Fan Magazine. That one was particularly cool. I keep meaning to scan in those pages and put them up on my Raggedy web page.

My friend, Andrew, is also featured in the article. He really is one of the foremost collectors and historians on the dolls. He also happens to be a very close friend of mine. He is also the previous owner of my upstairs condo at "His 'n Her Condos"! It's a small, and funny world we live in.

You don't SPAM Raggedy Ann!

There's just something so wrong about that!

About three years ago, Dick helped me write a guestbook for my Raggedy Ann Collection page. It's been running pretty smoothly since then, and hasn't had any problems.

until yesterday.

Within the last 24 hours, my Raggedy Ann Collection Guestbook page has been hit about 30 times with SPAM!

Who sends SPAM to Raggedy Ann? That's just wrong. Like she's really going to click on your blackjack site, anyway....

I just took out all the bogus entries. We'll see how today goes.