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A Doll Story

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One day, about 5 months ago, I saw her. While exploring an Antique Center across the Hudson River from my home, I turned a corner and there she was. She was beautiful. I examined her more closely. Ah, some crazing, some damage to the legs….but her face was perfect. She was wearing her original pink dress, bonnet, shoes and socks.



I looked at the price. Reasonable…but I was on a budget and I couldn’t justify the expense. I looked at her again. Now you see, some people would look at the crazing and the missing composition on the legs and say, “Not for me.”

Those things just made her sweeter. They added to her beauty.

But no, I couldn’t buy her. I walked away.

I came back to the shop at least 2 more times over the course of the next 3 months. She was still there. No one wanted her. It broke my heart. Eventually, the price was lowered a bit. But this was just before I was headed to California. I was on a budget and I didn’t see any way I could come home with another doll.

I’ve mentioned before that I am not a doll collector. I have my Shirley Temple doll (formerly my Mom’s) and Tressa. This little girl reminded me of my Tiny Tears doll. – the one that became my last baby doll, with a wardrobe made by my Grandmother – and that somehow along the way was lost forever. I mourn her to this day. I can still see the pink corduroy coat and bonnet that Gram made for her.

I left for California.

She entered my thoughts from time to time and I wondered if she was still there – sitting in a child sized chair. Lonely. Does anyone else ever feel this way? Am I crazy?

Finally, one day I looked up the web site for the store and sent an email to the manager. “I saw this doll – if you turn to the right when you walk in the front door, she is in the first booth. She’s wearing a pink dress and a bonnet and she looks sort of like Tiny Tears. Is she still there?”

I got an answer the next day. Yes, she was. He knew exactly what doll I was talking about. The price had been lowered again. “Hold onto her for me.” I called the next day, purchased her over the phone and said I’d be by in a little over 6 weeks to pick her up.

Today, we went to get her.


She’s tiny – petite. Her eyes close and are in perfect condition.


Such sweet details on her dress and bonnet.


Say hello to Emma. What can I say? Another rescue. Scout and Riley are rescues. Heidi and I rescued Tressa. And now little Emma has been rescued and brought to her new home. It only took 5 months.

Comments

  1. She’s adorable, I can see why you fell in love with her, how wonderful that she waited for you to come home and pick her up :)

    BTW can you send a few of your ‘spare’ degrees of heat down here please! Sydney is so cold at the moment. Record cold for June and July not showing any improvement. It’s so cold and damp it feels like the south of New Zealand – and reminds me why we left! ;)

  3. I remember having a tiny tears that looked something like that. She is very lucky to be adopted by you. I am sure that she will be well taken care of from now on. Congrats on the new baby, Claudia!

  5. You’re a good girl.

    You know she was calling your name.

    Yep, she’s a sweetie.

    Hugs & ♥♥♥s,
    Gerry

  6. I love the imperfections of collectible items and would have taken her home too. She is lovely and her bonnet is da bomb!

    Di

  8. Claudia, I am not a doll fan, actually they have always scared me. Silly, I know. However, I love old and cherished and damaged but loved things… and the details on her little outfit are wonderful. I can see how she would be precious to you.

  9. Claudia, I totally get like this, too. I’m SO glad she ended up with you. Don’t you feel good? I know you do. I did the same thing over a doll, but it wasn’t the expense that stopped me; it was the silliness. It is not a quality doll, from what I can tell. In fact, she is plastic and has green hair. But her quirkiness combined with the fact that she sat in the same glass case in the same antique shop for 2 YEARS got to me. Now she sits her with me and helps me think of things to jabber on about. I should do a post about her, shouldn’t I. Silly girl.

    Welcome to Emma. How wonderful that she is loved again. Enjoy.

  11. You are not crazy! She is beautiful. Now, you need a doll bed or vintage high chair to put her in! She is just a new addition to the family!Hugs, Liz

  12. …Oh Claudia ~ she was always just for you…sweet Emma is darling and although she is tattered, she is lovely just the same ~ I get a sense of joy coming from her to now be with…YOU!!!
    xo, Rosemary

    ps. now all your little lambs have someone to play with :)

  13. She is so beautiful. I am very lucky to have several dolls that were my moms. I have her Shirley Temple which is not in good shape at all. I’ve thought about having her restored.

  14. Oh Claudia, she was meant to be with you. She is so beautiful, how could you not bring her home? She would look adorable all cuddled in with Tressa! I’m so glad she’s home safe at MHC!
    Hugs,
    Jill

  16. Claudia Emma is beautiful. I did’nt think I was a doll collector either…..but if you take a look at my studio, I’ve added many beauties to my family. Enjoy her, now she has a lovely home!
    Jane

  18. Geez Claudia, you are just one lucky lady. I would have saved her, too, she’s too adorable and loved well to leave sitting in a store. Good job.

    Hugs,
    Meri

  21. She is so adorable Claudia.. and she definitely waiting for you coz she knows she will be loved and in good hands.. Such a sweet story!. She is totally adorable with her gown, bonnet and all in pink!

    Have a great weekend!
    xo

  22. Oh Claudia, Emma is beautiful! I am so happy that she waited for you to come get her! She was meant to sit in the little chair, knowing you would be back. She is blessed to be in your home because you will give her all the love she needs. How wonderful to have something you have been waiting for. We need to listen to our hearts more often. Glad you are home and happy!

    Love,
    Maryjane

  23. She is so pretty! I love her sweet little face. I am glad that she has gone to a home where she will be appreciated and well cared for. She was obviously meant to go back home with you.
    Have a lovely weekend
    Isabelle x

  24. YOu’re right Claudia, I don’t think many people would go into that store and look at her twice. But you are different and your eyes see something bigger. Also, she holds dear to your heart because she reminded you of your precious doll before.

    She has the sweetest face and I love her pink dress and pink bonnet. And I love her name – – Emma :-) I think she will be just perfect in your home. Now Tressa has a sister :-)

    I think I remember Tressa, she’s the one with two left feet?

    Mizpah,
    Li

  26. She’s beautiful! My sister had one very similar, in a sweet yellow outfit. After my sister passed, I looked for her baby doll and Mom’s Cupie doll, but didn’t find either one. Hopefully May gave them to good homes like yours. :)
    So glad you’re home again, Claudia!

  28. She must have been meant to live with you! She is beautiful- and I agree with you, her imperfections make her all the more precious ♥

  30. What a beautiful post, Claudia! I was about to cry over this sweet but war-torn doll. I feel the same way about old photographs in antique malls. Left there alone and for sale. Abandoned by family? I weave tales about them. I’m so glad you brought Emma to her rightful home.
    Brenda

  32. HI CLAUDIA,
    HOW SWEET, SHE IS ADORABLE. I DON’T BLAME YOU, I WOULD HAVE BOUGHT HER TOO.
    I DID THAT WITH A MONKEY, I WAS VISITING MY SISTER IN COLORADO AND WE WENT TO AN ANTIQUE SHOP, THERE SHE SAT, ALL ALONE, NOT VERY EXPENSIVE, I MUST HAVE PAST HER 10 TIMES, AND FINALLY I BOUGHT HER, CARRIED HER IN MY PURSE ON THE PLANE.
    MY SISTER MADE HER A DRESS FOR THE TRIP. TALK ABOUT CRAZY, I THINK WE JUST HAVE A BIG HEART. RIZZI

  34. Claudia,
    That is about the sweetest story! I think it’s destiny that you found Emma & she finally found someone who will love her forever! I just saw Toy Story 3 with my kids & I’m feeling very sentimental about toys these days. Lisa

  35. congrats on emma. she is pretty, pretty, pretty. i bought an entire lot of broken dolls and doll parts at goodwill for $25 a few months ago. i felt like you…just couldn’t stand to see them not get bought. i had to bring them home….
    enjoy your new girl.
    take care
    sue

  36. Emma has the most adorable face! I can see why she stayed on your mind for so long. Now she is home.
    And you are too.
    Hugs,
    Terri

  37. How sweet she is, Claudia. Yes, you are one of us… those who see the beauty in worn, crazed, chippy, LOVED, old, imperfect things. It was meant to be that she became yours. Otherwise she would not have been there after all that time, still waiting for you. A happy ending for sure!… Donna

  38. We, not so young girls, have all in memory and in our heart the unique, sweet, adorable, beloved, doll, you know those in celluloid, and with whom we played and we all wish to retrieve this treasure.
    You did it.

  39. What a beautiful baby Emma is, I can see why she kept calling to you. The dress is the perfect shade of pink and the detail on the bonnet is exquisite! Have a great weekend, Blessings, Nan

  40. HAPPY PINK SATURDAY CLAUDIA AND HAPPY FIRST PINK SATURDAY TO EMMA,
    THE STORY WAS SOOO SWEET IT MADE ME CRY. I HAVE HAD THE FEELING OF SETTING IN A CHAIR ALL ALONE AND JUST BEING PASSED BY AND OCCASIONALLY STARED AT.
    SHE WAS JUST MEANT TO BE LOVED BY YOU. A DOLL DOCTOR COULD FIX HER LEGS LIKE NEW BUT I KNOW IT WON’T BE CHEAP. HER DRESS IS GORGEOUS AND HER HAT.
    THANK YOU FOR SHARING SUCH A LOVELY STORY.
    HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND
    HUGS
    SIMPLY DEBBIE

  41. She’s sooo darn cute, Claudia.. I’m so happy she’s home now. It really is the little things, isn’t it? A little treasure to make you smile. I love her too.

    Have a wonderful weekend…

    Huggies,

    Spencer

  42. Claudia, she is perfect, I love the story…that’s what makes the bond even better!!! She was meant for you!
    I can just picture her with a little teddy bear friend or a duck or something!!!
    So glad you hung in there and finally got her!
    Hugs,
    Margaret B

  43. Oh Claudia,
    Emma is beautiful and it was meant to be that she live with you.
    So glad she was still there after all those months. Yes, she does remind me too of the Tiny Tears I had growing up.
    What a darling little doll.
    I know you are very happy!
    Enjoy.
    Hugs, Celestina Marie

  44. Oh my, Claudia! She is absolutely adorable! I’m so glad you were able to bring her home to live with you . . . and they lived happily ever after! LOL!

    Thanks for sharing!

    Hugs,
    Teresa

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