Paper Dolls and Snowflakes

children, little girl by rainy day window

My creationWhen I was about four years old I went shopping one day with my mother in Gertz Department Store in New York.

There she was, I spotted her from across the room...

betsy mccall doll

Her name was the Betsy Mc Call doll and she was introduced in April 1951.  I can still remember the thrill of taking Betsy home that day.  We also enjoyed our Betsy Mc Call paper dolls which were found in each issue of the Mc Call's magazine.




I was designing dolls reminiscent of Betsy the other day, steps to designing a fabric design.

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Back in the 50's Mc Call Magazine was a popular magazine,

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Betsy Mc Call paper dolls



were in the center of every issue.

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Here is a cute little video from 1951...Suzy Snowflake.

paper doll clothes

I was designing a new fabric for the doll clothes seamstresses,

and had some fun,

fashion roses

creating designs that reminded me



of my Betsy Mc Call paper dolls.

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Snowy days were spent playing with Betsy Mc Call doll by my side as I played with my paper dolls for hours.

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Suzy Snowflake and her friends are arriving tonight, but this is New England after all.

My creationfashion theater 4The name of the song for this post is Suzy Snowflake, sung by Rosemary Clooney.


Let's go to the theater

Happy Tuesday.

My creation
Vee said...

Betsy was a wonderful paper doll for a magazine one. My grandmother saved all of her McCall magazines for me so I could enjoy the paper dolls. I adored paper dolls then and I still enjoy seeing them today. (My grandmother also saved all of my mother's paper dolls. They were wonderful movie stars of the 30s and 40s. Oh I loved them, too!) Thanks for the sweet memories...I'm off to see Suzy Snowflake.

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

Oh I remember Betsy McCall paper dolls! My sister and I would play with them for hours. We even cut out and created our own clothes with the little tabs to hold them on.

What a wonderful memory you brought back to me! Thanks Karen..
Hugs,
Penny

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Oh, Karen! This really made me smile. I remember Betsy McCall well, and she reminds me of playing paper dolls with my mother. Your drawings are so cute and are just another reason I admire you so much. Thanks for sharing this with us today.

XO,

Sheila :-)

Janet, said...

I have never heard of Betsy McCall dolls before. But, I do remember playing with paper dolls as a child. I used to have a Little Miss Sunbeam Doll. I won it in a coloring contest when I was in the 5th grade. I loved that doll, I wish I still had it.

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

When I was growing up I lived next door to my grandmother and she let me have the Betsy paper dolls from her magazine! I remember how exciting it was on the day she got her magazine in the mail! Love your sweet paper dolls! Thanks for the happy memories! ♥

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Karen you brought back some wonderful memories to me this afternoon! I loved paper dolls and I also had a collection of Betsy McCall paper dolls form the magazine! When my daughter was young I introduced her to paper dolls but she had a Cabbage Patch Kids set and a Barbie set :)

Your dolls are adorable! I love their outfits!

I don't remember the Suzy Snowflake song but I saw the original 1953 Frosty the Snowman cartoon on the youtube sidebar and enjoyed watching that. I always wanted my snowmen to come to life when I was a child. I just never found the right silk hat :)

Jennifer Hayslip said...

EEEEK!!! What a SUPER sweet post! I love it! I can't stop smiling. Some might say Im too young to remember Betsy McCall paper, but I DO!!! Your Suzy Snowflake doll and designs are FABULOUS!!! So fun!!! Glad I stopped by. ;) XO,Jenn

A Tale of Two Cities said...

I spent many fun hours with paper dolls as a young girl, and have recently enjoyed watching my mother make paper dolls for my 3 year old granddaughter. Passing on the tradition from a great-grandmother as a part of her legacy.
Thanks for the walk down memory lane,
Debi

Suz said...

Karen, ibrememberr Betsy McCall paper dolls so well! I just could not wait to get them each month. I think I could sing Susie Snowflake to you by heart. I think we are the same age ;-)
Hugs,
Suz

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

Oh Karen, such creativity flowing from you; I only I had the TIME to develop the thoughts in my head....but thank God I have a job. I will get to my creations soon enough! LOVELY!!!!! And paper these days is the medium of choice. I will still be illustrating, but after a try with air dry clay, I decided that was NOT for me!!!! Paper however, is more forgiving and really more versatile for my ideas! BACK WITH MORE SOON, I HOPE! Anita

kathleen j. said...

Thank you karen for bringing back a childhood memory. I loved Betsy McCall paper dolls. I was in a Hallmark card store the other day and found another childhood favorite a chatty Kathy ornament that actually has a pull string and talks! Of course I had to take her home with me!

smiles
Kathleen J.

Mary Isabella and Kiley too! said...

I too played with them. I do so much love paper dolls....m...

Beverly said...

I was always so excited when my mother's magazine arrived so I could cut out the paper doll. I always loved playing paper dolls.

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