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Updated October 2008
Not So RaggedyAcresTM
by Gayle Garbarino
~ Heirloom
Quality Collectible Treasures ~
~ ~ Marcella ~ ~
Soon to be
~
Designed and Created by Doll Artist -Gayle Garbarino ~
Marcella Delight Gruelle
1902- 1915
She was the daughter and first born child of Johnny Gruelle and his wife Myrtle
.......and she along with her many colorful dolls from her nursery,
became the inspiration for her father's many Raggedy Ann stories.
Many of these stories were created to entertain his ailing young daughter,
and were later turned into books that have entertained millions of young children,
as well as those of us who remain young at heart, for over ninety years,
and will continue for generations to come!
Marcella ~ A Raggedy Ann Story
circa 1918 ~ P.F. Volland
The story of the love of this father for his daughter will melt your heart as it has mine!!.....This doll will soon be added to my list of Raggedy related Characters. After- all.......
the real-life story of Raggedy Ann owes much to a little girl named
Marcella Delight Gruelle.
Marcella has been much more of a challenge to create her in the image of the real-life child that she represents.
It is my understanding that the real-life Marcella had brown hair, rather than blonde.....it is my desire to create both a blonde and brown haired version.
Marcella
Most of you are probably familiar with the story
.......how in 1915, a dark cloud descended on lthe Gruelle family.
Marcella , just twelve years of age, began to suffer the effects of having been inoculated incorrectly with the powerful smallpox vaccine.
While she was bedridden, her father created stories about the rag doll and other dolls in her nursery to entertain his beloved daughter and keep her spirits up.
Tragically, less than a year following the inoculation,
Marcella succombed to the infection and died.
Consumed with grief, at the loss of his beloved daughter,
it would be three years before Gruelle released,
Raggedy Ann Stories
the first of the Raggedy Ann books.......
the book was dedicated to the memory of his beloved daughter Marcella.
Gruelle's stories and whimsical illustrations seem to capture
the very joy and simplicity of a child's fairytale world......
and are capable of transporting children of all ages
into a magical place that you will want to visit again and again...
I would like to encourage you to visit my
Gruelle Storybooks
for a list of most of Gruelle's books.....and a link to view at least five of these books online.
I am currently working on my own version of a Marcella doll......pictures will be placed here as soon as she is completed.
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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