Basic Sophie

Here is Sophie, friend to Ann Estelle.  She is another 10" doll by Robert Tonner. The Sophie dolls do not wear glasses, and their eyes are straight, not offset like the Ann Estelle dolls.  Sophie has a face mold slightly different from Ann Estelle, and she seems slightly shorter.

 This is Basic Sophie, issued 2004. Such a sweet face and pretty blondish red hair.

 Her trunk is solid blue with blue paper inside.

Sophie arrived in this playsuit, a design by Mary Engelbreit.  I added the sandals and pail.

This dress is a Robert Tonner outfit designed by Mary Englebreit.  I added the green lacy hat with flowers and the yellow shoes.

This microsuede romper is a BonBon creation.  It is trimmed in a red print with red buttons on the front. These colors look good on this Sophie doll.  She is ready to play in this outfit.

The A-line dress is made from cotton print with red posies, trimmed with tiny red picot braid and red buttons. 

The matching coat is also trimmed in beige picot braid and is lined in the cotton print fabric. 

This is Sophie's Christmas dress, made by BonBon.  The beige fabric says "Let it Snow!"  and has little trees all over.  The red fabric is dotted with snowflakes.  A matching hair bow was made from the red print. I also made beige tights and a beige lace-trimmed petticoat for the dress, as well as a bead bracelet.

Sophie is wearing pajamas made by BonBon from a tiny floral print and matching blue solid cotton.  Tiny beads down the front simulate buttons.  She carries her bunny to bed with her.

This white dress was made by BonBon from a micro pique cotton and trimmed with mini cording in pink.  The pink and green embroidery was done by hand on the fabric before the dress was cut out. There are matching pique panties with lace trim.  A purse was made to match and a basket was filled with pink flowers for her to carry.  A great dress for Easter, or a wedding, or any special occasion.

 This dress is a Robert Tonner outfit designed by Mary Engelbreit. Perfect for summer!

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Ann Estelle "May Day"

This is Ann Estelle, a 10" doll made by Robert Tonner Doll Company for ten years 1998-2008.  "May Day" is an early model from 1999. 

All Ann Estelle dolls have glasses.  The manufacturer made the Ann Estelle dolls with one eye slightly offset, to indicate a vision problem.  I don't like this offset eye; people who wear glasses do not have offset eyes.  Nonetheless, I like the Ann Estelle dolls for their cute expression and the quality of the doll and clothing.

The "May Day" outfit has a dress with a cream pleated skirt and white blouse, a yellow felt jacket trimmed in blue embroidery with a corsage, a matching yellow felt hat, gloves,a pearl bracelet, a basket of May flowers, and a toy chick. The panties, socks, and shoes may or may not be original to the outfit; over the years, things get mixed up.

Ann Estelle "May Day" has a trunk full of clothes. This trunk is covered in maroon canvas and papered with beige paper.

The trunks for the Ann Estelle/Sophie dolls were bought on eBay and come from a variety of manufacturers.  I added plastic craft boxes to the trunks to hold shoes and other small items. 

BonBon made this dress and pinafore from colorful cotton prints, trimmed with tiny picot braid.

This is a view of the same dress without the yellow pinafore.

This romper has sleeves and cuffs from the same print as the dress.  I added a little embroidery for trim on the front.

The little coat is lined in the maroon fabirc and trimmed with picot braid; it can be worn with the romper.

The remaining outfits in the May Day trunk will be shown in the next post.

So, What is BonBon's Toy Closet?

What is BonBon's Toy Closet?  A closet full of toys, of course, for all the grandchildren and nieces and nephews, and other small guests -- toys saved from my own children's playthings, as well as new toys. 

But that's not all.  As a grandmother, I have enjoyed playing dolls.  Other closets contain "doll stuff."  And there are dollhouses sitting around, too.  I also enjoy designing and sewing doll clothes. 

Dolls I collect include:  Modern Cissy 21" dolls by Madame Alexander, Kitty 18" dolls by Robert Tonner, Ellowyne Wilde 16" dolls, vintage hard plastic 14" dolls by Arranbee and Hoyer, Ann Estelle and Sophie 10" dolls by Robert Tonner, Wendy 8" dolls by Madame Alexander, and a few other dolls here and there.

My daughter Deborah suggested I start a blog and share some of my activities related to all my toys.

Thus, the launch of BonBon's Toy Closet.

More to come....