Valentine's Day With Chatty Cathy

At one time I became interested in collecting the Mattel Chatty Cathy doll and her family.  Sadly, I haven't paid much attention to Chatty in recent years.  I have to admit that the dolls I enjoy collecting the most are the dolls I grew up playing with and Chatty came out just around the time I had decided I was too old for dolls...1959.  (Note:  I was mistaken and I'm now living proof that you are never too old to play with dolls!)

Since I didn't get any Valentine's Day pictures taken this year I thought I'd share a couple of old Chatty photos.  

Here is Chatty modeling a Valentines Day dress that I made for her around 20 years ago.  I enjoyed sewing for Chatty because I found it so much easier than sewing for the small Vogue Ginny dolls.

Back in the old days there was an online Chatty Cathy group where I met other collectors.  I'm sure there are Chatty groups today but like I said I've lost some interest over the years.  Perhaps someday I'll be inspired again.  She is a very cute doll, but her talking  mechanism no longer works.  None of my vintage Chatty dolls speak.

Happy Valentine's Day!  Betty Martin

One Of My Moods

For many years I had one of my childhood Vogue Ginny dolls and most of the clothes from my childhood stuck away in the back of a closet.  I didn't realize that people collected dolls and thought others would think I was nuts if I put my Ginny on display.  While living in Oklahoma in the 80's I purchased a Vogue Jill doll, but I still wasn't really collecting.  She joined Ginny in the back of the closet for safe keeping. From time to time I'd ask acquaintances if they had ever heard of Ginny dolls and the answer was always no. Then the Internet came along and my kids introduced me to eBay.  I wondered if there could possibly be any Ginny dolls up for auction. Not really expecting to find any I did a search.  I couldn't believe my eyes.  There were lots and lots of Ginnys!  The rest is history.  Through eBay I bought from collectors and before you knew it I had Ginny doll friends.  My dolls were out of the closet! That was around 1998.

I am not a mint collector.  For example I don't care if I have an outfit from 1953 on a 1953 doll.  I just want my dolls to look cute.  I also make changes to outfits if I think something doesn't look right.  I have actually always enjoyed "playing" with my dolls and acquiring furniture and accessories for them and setting them up in little scenes more than just collecting dolls.  I've always said that there are many different kinds of collectors which I think is good for the doll collecting world.  

Unfortunately, I'm running out of new ideas for different holidays though.  I also get in moods from time to time where I find that I need to give my dolls a little break.  I've been in one of those moods lately so I thought I'd post some pictures from Valentine's Day 2020.  Fortunately, my dolls haven't grown or changed much in 2 years.

Do kids today still have Valentine's Day parties at school?  Back in the 1950's we always did so my dolls continued that tradition.

Happy Valentine's Day a little early!!!  Betty

Valentine's Day At School

These are some Valentine's Day pictures I took a couple of years ago.  The "kids" haven't changed much over the years so I decided to share them.

Do you remember having a Valentine's Day card exchange and party at school?  Sister Anna runs a tight ship most days but she loves a good party too.

Valentine's Day cards were exchanged.

Everyone had fun at the party.

There was soda and cookies for everyone.
 

Yum!

A good time was had by all!  Happy Valentine's Day!  Betty