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Updated August 2011
Not So RaggedyAcresTM
by Gayle Garbarino
~ Heirloom
Quality Collectible Treasures ~
~
Raggedy Ann & Andy ~
~
Designed and Created by Doll Artist -Gayle Garbarino ~
Here you can read an INTRODUCTION
to
Raggedy Ann & Andy
then SCROLL DOWN TO SEE MORE OF
MY Reproduction DOLLS
~ Raggedy Ann ~
MARCELLA
liked to play up in the attic at Grandma's quaint old
house, 'way out in the country,
for there were so many old forgotten things to find up
there.
In an old leather bag she found a number of tin-types of
queer looking
men and women in old-fashioned clothes.
And there was one picture of a very pretty little girl
with long curls
tied tightly back from her forehead and wearing a long
dress and queer pantaloons
which reached to her shoe-tops.
And then out of the heap she pulled an old rag doll
with only one shoe-button eye and a painted nose and a
smiling mouth.
Her dress was of soft material, blue with pretty little
flowers and dots all over it.
Forgetting everything else in the happiness of her find,
Marcella caught up the rag doll and ran downstairs to
show it to Grandma!
Over time, Gruelle became convinced
that a new doll like the old family one
that so captivated his little girl, could be a marketable
item.
Gruelle himself claimed that two of his favorite poems by
James Whitcomb Riley
("The Raggedy Man" and "Little Orphant
Annie")
had inspired the name for his 1915 patent design for Raggedy
Ann.
(None of Gruelle's original patented dolls were
documented)
The earliest Raggedy Ann dolls
"documented" were offered by the P.F. Volland
Co.
The introduction of the "Cottage" Raggedy
Ann
(which was modeled after Gruelle's book illustrations)
was timed to coinside with the fall 1918 publication of
Raggedy
Ann Stories.
~ Check out Raggedy Ann's page ~
They were intended to be sold as related merchandise
along with Gruelle's new book.
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~
Raggedy Andy ~
The first Raggedy Andy Dolls were produced by
Beers-Keeler-Bowman Co. for the P.F. Volland Company in 1920 as a tie-in to
Gruelle's
Raggedy Andy Stories.
The book starts out with "first letter"... Dated January 8,
1919 addressed to Johnny Gruelle:
To read this letter in LARGE PRINT just click on "first letter" above.
Dear Johnny:
When I saw your Raggedy Ann books and dolls in a store
near here,
I went right in and bought one of each, and when I had
read
your introduction to Raggedy Ann I went right up
to the old trunk
in my own attic and brought down the doll I am sending
you with
this letter.
This doll belonged to my mother and she played with it
when a little girl.
She treasured it highly, I know, for she kept it until I
came and then she
gave it to me. The fun that we two have had together I
cannot
begin to tell you, but often, like the little boy who
went out into the
garden to eat worms when all the world seemed blue and
clouded, this doll
and I went out under the arbor and had our little cry
together.
I can still feel it's soft rag arms(as I used to imagine)
about me,
and hear the words of comfort(also imaginary) that were
whispered in my ear.
As you say in your Raggedy Ann book, "Fairyland
must be filled with rag dolls, soft
loppy rag dolls who go through all the beautiful
adventures found there, nestling
in the crook of a dimpled arm."I truly believe
there is such a Fairyland
and that rag dolls were first made there, or how else
could they bring so
much sunshine into a child's life? All the little girls
of my acquaintance have
your Raggedy Ann book and doll, and for the happiness you
have brought
to them let me give to you the doll of all my dolls, the
doll I
loved most dearly. May it prove to you a gift from
Fairyland, bringing with it all the
"wish come true" that you may wish and, if
possible, add to the sunshine
in your life.
My mother called the doll Raggedy Andy and it was by this
name that
I have always known him. Is it any wonder that I was
surprised when I
saw the title of your book? Introduce Raggedy Andy to
Raggedy Ann, dear Johnny,
Let him share in the happiness of your household.
Sincerely yours,
Raggedy Andy's
"Mama."
This is followed by a "second
letter" addressed to Johnny, from his mother dated January
12, 1919:
(To read the letter in LARGE PRINT click on "second letter" above.
Dear
John:
Your letter brings many pleasant memories to my mind and
takes me back to my
childhood. Living next door to us, when I was about four
years old, was a
little girl named Bessie; I cannot recall her last name.
When my mother made
Raggedy Ann for me, Bessie's mother made a rag doll for
her, for we two
always played together; as I recall, there was no fence
between our two houses.
Bessie's doll was made a day or so after Raggedy Ann, I
think, though
I am not quite certain which of the two dolls was made
first. However
, Bessie's doll was given the name of Raggedy Andy, and
one of the two dolls
was named after the other, so that their names would
sound alike. We children
played with the two rag dolls most of the time until
Bessie's family moved
away__when I was eight or nine years old. They had faces
just alike;
the mother who made the first doll probably painted both
doll faces. I do not
remember just how Raggedy Andy was dressed, but I know he
often wore dresses
over his boy clothes when Bessie and I decided that he
and Raggedy Ann
should be sisters for the day. You will remember I told
you about Raggedy Andy long
ago, John. Isn't it strange that the two old rag dolls
should come
together after all these years? I wish Raggedy Andy's
"Mama" had signed her name, for
I should like to write to her. Perhaps there may be some
way of finding
her out. Anyway, it seems to me you have the subject for
another rag
doll book, for Raggedy Andy must have had some wonderful
adventures in his long life.
Yours Lovingly,Mom
And so it was, that Raggedy Ann
and her long lost brother,
Raggedy Andy were reunited,
and we all came to know and love him too!
~ Check out Raggedy Andy's page ~
I currently have a variety of
"READY TO SHIP" Raggedy Ann and Andy sets.
Some have the embroidered facial features with hand-looped hair,
others have painted facial features with wigs reminiscent of the various styles
of dolls of the past.
***
Volland *** Exposition
*** Georgene ***
Molly-'Es ***
They Are Adorable!!
BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THEIR INDIVIDUAL PAGES .....I think you'll enjoy them!
"Raggedy Ann" or "Raggedy Andy"
You may also SPECIAL ORDER an ANN or ANDY individually.
I have created everything from "Karate Andy" to "Boy Scout Andy" and more recently a
"Harley Davidson Andy" I am open to any request!
The "SETS" are numbered so I try not to break up the pair.
Sizes available range from 12 inch through 36" and I am working on even smaller sizes.
Click on the links BELOW to see a page of each size of Raggedy Ann & Andy dolls
12" Sets 15" Sets 20" Sets 25" Sets 36" Sets
Life Sized Ann
&
ETHNIC RAGGEDIES
Approximately
25 various Fabric choices are available!
If you
would like to view a closer version of a particular color or
print....it is just an e-Mail away!
I also offer Hair Colors ranging from light blonde thru dark brown and black
You can choose from a variety of
Facial Features and skin tones too!
I am always working on new reproduction Raggedys .....and new Raggedy "Characters"
So Check back often to
see New and Exciting additions!!!
Check my " Coming Soon " and" What's New" pages.
Each of my dolls, take on a personality of their
own and seem to "come to life" as I add the finishing touches.....
Each will add that one-of-a-kind distinction
to your Collection
and become an Heirloom Collectible Treasure
for your family for Generations to come!
Here are a few of MY OWN re-creations of "Raggedy Ann & Andy Sets"
To Learn more about ALL of the Raggedy Characters..............Click on their Link in the left-hand column.
Click on each picture to ENLARGE !!
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