The Annual Easter Parade

 I grew up in the 50's and 60's in a suburb of New York City.  Every year I would see the New York City Easter Parade on TV.  That was back when everyone got all dressed up for Easter in new dresses, shoes, hats and gloves.  Anyone else remember?  Here's a trip down Memory Lane.  I'll never admit which one is me!

I recently wondered if New York City still had the Easter Parade and decided to google and find out.  Yes, the parade still exists but has definitely evolved over the years.  I guess when people no longer dressed in fancy outfits and wore gloves and hats the event had to change with the times.  Now it's more like a costume party with crazy outfits and elaborate home made hats.

This year my dolls decided to have a more traditional Easter Parade.  They put on their Easter outfits and lined up behind the Easter Bunny for a march down the main street of town.

My Vogue Ginny dolls, Nancy Ann Muffie, and Vogue Jill all wore seamstress made outfits that I've collected over the years.  After the parade they all had a chance to pose for photos with the Bunny or Chick and show off their outfits.

I was able to find dresses for Ginny and Jill made by different seamstresses but with the same fabric.  I bought one on Etsy and one on eBay.

A few of their friends wanted their pictures posted too!

A good time was had by all!  Betty

ORGANIZING???

I can't even begin to tell you how many times I've attempted to organize my doll collection.  This time I'm determined.  Recent Texas weather events left us in the cold without electricity (and water) after a deep freeze.  I had time to organize dolls.

 I had already started working on my vintage Vogue Ginny dolls before the storm.  I temporarily moved my Chatty Cathy dolls and laid out all my Ginnys where I could easily see them.

 

Then I took each doll and put a tag around her waist with the year, condition, etc.  I also attached a tag to the Vogue doll outfit she was wearing at the time.  (I have more Vogue outfits that I'll label at another time.)  I tried to keep the tags hidden under their outfits.

Then when the freeze came I finished working on Ginny and started on my vintage Vogue Jill and Jan dolls.  I did the same thing with them.  They now each have a label around their waists and any Vogue outfits are identified with a tag.  I've started putting them in a cabinet together.  (Note:  The Mouseketeer dolls are being moved to make room for the Vogue Modern Jills and the Vogue Reproduction Jills.  This is an ongoing project.

I try and keep all my vintage dolls behind cabinet doors to protect them from the light.  I know these pictures aren't great but I snapped them quickly while I was working.

I'll be moving on to my Vogue Jeff dolls next.  After I finish all the Vogue dolls I'll work on  other dolls but I wanted the Vogue dolls done first.  As I get older I want to have this all done so my kids will know what they have to sell someday.  I have never seen any Vogue dolls at estate sales here.  I've even asked the people running the sales if they ever have Vogue dolls and usually they don't even know what I'm talking about.  So, I've told my kids they'd probably get pennies on the dollar if they put them in an estate sale.  Ebay would probably be a better option.

One thing organizing has told me is that I really don't need anymore dolls!  If I do get a doll it will be because she's wearing an outfit that I've really, really wanted.  I'm out of space.  Since I enjoy setting my dolls up in scenes I have shelf space taken up with permanent scenes that I don't want to take down.  So, there's just so much room!

Now I'm getting back to work!  Betty