I don’t know if she’s better or worse, but here goes:
First, I’ll share two photos from the blog archives of the way she used to be.
I attempted to curl her hair once before, but I was nervous about it being mohair, so I didn’t wet it before I made the curls. The curls didn’t stay curly for very long. There were metal clips on each side of the part that held a certain amount of hair in place. I finally decided to get rid of them because they’d rusted in place.
I studied lots of Shirley Temple dolls and they usually had big, fat curls all around the face. This particular Shirley clone/knock off didn’t have a ton of hair by the time I started working on her. I had to trim a wee bit of some of the ends so the curls wouldn’t be sloppy.
Here she is:
What do you think?
She’s temporarily sitting on the pew while we wait for the product I ordered to arrive – the one that will hopefully fill in that hole in the composition. She’s been cleaned up using Gojo, a cream that takes away dirt but doesn’t damage the composition. Her face is now much cleaner (and brighter.) I think she feels pretty once again!
Goodness knows, the girls are fascinated by her.
She’s not exactly the way I envisioned her, but given the realities of the amount and length of the hair, I think she looks pretty darned adorable.
I’ve learned so much in my research. I’ve come to the conclusion that she’s a knock-off doll. Her cloth midsection is a big giveaway. In one of my Shirley books, I saw a body like hers and that doll was identified as a clone. She also has blue eyes and the Ideal Shirleys have brown eyes. (My grandmother probably loved that as her Shirley, my mom, had blue eyes.) But she has the adorable dimples, the same eyebrows (though they’re greatly faded,) the same lips and teeth and she’s a happy little girl.
I’ve been thinking a lot about my mom during this whole process. I miss her so much. Even though she wasn’t at all happy with this edition of a Shirley Temple doll, I have to think she’d admire her redo.
I’m a bit wary about filling in that hole, so I’ll tackle it gently. If I think it is too fragile to fill, I’ll leave it alone.
Mom and Grandma.
Stay safe.
Happy Saturday.
She looks so good! Great job, Claudia. Also, what a beautiful, special picture of your mother and grandmother.
Thank you so much, Jenny!
Stay safe!
Shirley looks beautiful. Look what a little TLC can do. It’s a cute dress, too. The girls do look curious. That’s a beautiful photo of your mom and grandmother. I think you look like your mom. Enjoy your Saturday. Hugs, Elaine
I am definitely my mother’s daughter, Elaine.
Thanks!
Stay safe.
She’s definitely more Shirley-like with those curls. Love that picture of your mother with her mother. You take after your mom, especially around the eyes.
Take care,
Kay
Yes. Same heart-shaped face, but with my dad’s brown eyes.
Thanks, Kay.
Stay safe.
I think she looks great and you did a terrific job with the curls. I like to imagine your mom being very pleased indeed with the final results. And I love the photo of you with your mom.
Thanks, Jeanie.
Stay safe.
Great job! You look so much like your mom and grandmother. Beautiful! <3
Especially my mom.
Thank you.
Stay safe, Betsy.
great job, claudia … shirley’s curls look good.
what a beautiful, precious photo of your mother and grandmother! and how much you look like them both.
glad you have those things, those memories, those people.
thank you always for sharing.
happy, safe saturday to everyone.
kathy
Thanks so much, Kathy.
Stay safe.
Great curls! Your Shirley has a sweet smile and darling dimples! The photograph of your grandmother and mother is lovely… it’s always interesting to see vintage photos to see the style of clothing worn.
I found this photo under another photo a few years ago. My sister and I had never seen it before.
Stay safe, Barrie.
What a lovely photo of your mother and grandmother❤️
Thank you,
Stay safe.
Your doll’s curls look perfect! You certainly look just like your mamma. Lovely photo :)
Thank you, Carol.
Stay safe.
I think you did a great job!!
And the photo is a treasure for you.
Marion
Thank you, Marion!
Stay safe.
Oh, Claudia; you look like your mother in the photo! Strong resemblance; instant recognition, since we know too what you look like in all your blog photos. Your photo today; what a treasure for you to have it of those two important women in your life.
Nice job on the curls; they look soft and fresh. The doll has a sweet face and I love the dress.
Thank you so much, Vicki.
Stay safe.
The picture of your mother and grandmother is a treasure! Shirley looks happy with her fresh curls. It also looks like the “sisters” are not sure about this new addition. I expect they will all get along just fine – after a while.
It might take some time!
Stay safe, Linda.
Great job Claudia
and love the old picture of your Mom and Grand Mom.
Thank you, Deb!
Stay safe.
Sweetest picture! I think you look a lot like your Grandmother, also!!! What a treasure….
And Shirley!!!! You did a great job on her re-do. I think your Mom would be happy with the results! The other girls are just curious. She must seem different in some way to them.
Hope you have a good week ahead. Take care.
P.S. we had the wee one overnight, and today she went out to the farm of some friends with hubs and our daughter. She loves going there and we talked all about them when she got home, especially Eeyore the donkey who she fed some graham crackers. Tonight got a text from my DIL who said at bedtime tonight, the last thing she said was “I just want to think about the future, of all the animals in the world.” We all need to think like 3 1/2 year olds.
She sure seems a lot bigger to the girls!
That story about your granddaughter warms my heart! Such a wise little one.
Stay safe, Chris.
What a lovely photo of your Grandma and Mom! Those old photos are such a treasure to have.
Stay safe, Claudia!
Thank you, Ellen.
Stay safe.
Beautiful work on the doll. I never realized your Mom had blue eyes! How many times did I look at her. I guess I assumed she had beautiful brown eyes like you. I love that photo. I have never seen it. Shirley is stunning!
Our brown eyes came from Dad. Both Mom and Dave had blue eyes.
Love to you, Kay.
Stay safe.