My Tiny Tears and Toddler Dolls

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Here is my Tiny Tears doll a recent Ebay treat that arrived Friday. she came with her dress but nothing else and had scraped back dry hair. She looked well played with and loved just like i wanted. An hair condition later and a wash and she's scrubbed up lovely. I adore her. I'd had the little crochet cardigan a long while and it was perfect for her. An all in one cotton vest and pants baby body suit under her dress for warmth and a pair of socks while she awaits some knitted booties. I also put a little bit of pink lace tied in a bow around her top knot. I've Christened her Edith Violet Elsie. The latter two names being each of my departed Grandmas names. I used to have 2 vintage Tiny Tears dolls but regrettably parted with them when i moved to Blackpool and cleared out most of my non teenage dolls. I'd bought a old dolls knitting pattern book recently featuring Tiny Tears and it set me off wanting one again so i trawlled Ebay and this little lady was just meant to come to her new well loved home. I shall treasure her and never part with her.



These are my two large toddler dolls. The first two i ever bought and the only ones i kept from a collection of similar type dolls when i moved here. I got them around 1991/2 from boot fares a week apart, so they have been with me many years now and are treasured. The chunky 3ft doll i called Chelsea a name that was just starting to come out at that time but i have since added Margaret as her seconed name so she is now Chelsea Margaret as the old fashinoned little girl style i have always dressed her in suits a more traditional name. She was bought wearing a pink cotton jogging suit and red rubber trainers that just had to go, even though they were original to her i think. That very same boot fare i got her from i bought her navy blue patent real t bar shoes, white socks and a dress and cardigan. I love it that she can wear real toddler clothes. Though the traditional knit cardies and dresses i like for her are less and less around these days as folk dress their children far too trendy for me.

The shorter tall long titian haired doll i think is a 60's doll as she was wearing an original 60's dress and wool A line coat with a fake fur collar and cuffs and 60's white shoes. I called her Jessica a name that my ex chose for her and it stuck and she as always been named that since. Jessica can only wear dolls clothes as she is slighter as you can see. She had until this weekend always worn her original dress but i gave her a change this weekend just gone as i think after 15/16 years with me it was time the poor girl was given a change.



Here last but not least is my smaller 70's Palitoy toddler doll i bought from a boot fare last summer. I called her Susan. Her red trousers is a sleeveless jumpsuit with red poppers that i think is original to her. I added the little handmade blouse over it this weekend for her. I am awaiting some doll shoes my Mum is sending me for her but little white socks keep her feet warm for now. I prefare toddler dolls as like Chelsea Margaret and Jessica in traditional dresses and cardigans but this little outfit just suits Susan so well with her long 70s feather cut hair style.

I try to resist buying more big dolls now as teenage dolls fill up all the rest of my space but watch this space. I just love dolls.

Happy viewing.

Carl xx

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Just noticed this thread i should have put on just all other dolls not all other custom dolls. Sorry.

Carl xx

[Anita]

Lovely viewing Carl I'd forgotten how big some of those dolls were! Thanks for sharing them with us

I had a Pedigree Rosebud dolls when little - she was called Lindy and had tight coarse curly blonde hair that I dragged about everywhere when I was awake, so I am told (before Sindy came along).

I also had one nice chunky vinyl baby doll that came with a lovely mid-green and cream pram - my cousins Tracy and Andrea used to fight over who got to play with that set whenever they visited us, so Mam started storing all my dolls and other toys away before they arrived and wouldn't allow me to get them out again until they calmed down enought to play nicely.
They eventually got given those dolls and the pram when Mam got rid of my toys including my original Sindys

I had a 24" walker doll with long plaited blonde hair - she was actually called Heidi on her box and she was dressed in a Swiss style costume with lovely black shiny shoes - my cousin Heather loved to play with her whenever she was in this country (her parents were missionaries in Nigeria prior to the troubles out there) but when Nita and Rolf - her mum and dad - came back to UK for good she got her to keep then.

I never had a Tiny Tears or a Teeny Tiny Tears of my own and I would have loved one! I started to get too old for them when they became popular, plus the fact Sindy had taken over everything by then, but Tracy and Andrea had them, so I played with their dolls with them when I babysat for the pair of them

Lovel viewing and great for bringing back the good, happy memories
Luv Nita xxx

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:)Awwwhh thanks Anita.

I thought it might bring back memories for some as these large dolls were once so popular and obviously Tiny Tears. She was the Queen of the baby doll issues like Sindy was for the teenage dolls back then wasnt she.

Your own dolls sounded so lovely. I just love the retro frocks you see them in and the shinny black plastic t bar Cinderella shoes with socks. I keep old fashioned large bead type hair bobbles etc for Jessicas long hair and shes got one in at the moment that you cant see in the pic as it is just holding back a small section at her crown swept to the back.

I am dissapointed when you look around all the toy shops now. These traditonal dolls are none existant almost. Wilkinsons always have a traditonal tall walker doll in at Christmas in a big long Window box, i think i might treat myself this year if they have them in again. All the baby dolls now are bald and made to resemble real babies. Obviously the realism factor is now the in thing for baby type dolls even most of their clothes you see are trendy style suits. They are sweet but dont have quite the magic of a good old fashioned curly haired doll. I did manage to get Tiny Tears a pack of spike dolls dummys and a bottle from ToyMaster thos this week. I didnt think i'd be able to and expected an expensive ebay bid to try and get a original doll dummy to fit her small mouth hole, but they were just perfect.

Carl xx

[kathy]

I had a tiny tears, like the one you have Carl! I loved her when I was little. Sadly I don't know what happened to her - 2 younger sisters & turning my back on dolls at age 12 probably didn't help!

[kathy]

Your large toddler doll reminds me of the dolls that used to model childrens clothes in shops. I remeber my mum taking me shopping for new dresses & gazing at all the dolls wearing the clothes in the shop! I never could understand why you could buy the clothes but not the dolls that were wearing them!!

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Thanks Kathy.

Tiny Tears like all dolls isnt the same as this nowadays is she. I love the rotating floppy limbs of the old ones. I remember all girls had one when i was in my childhood.

Yes Chelsea Margaret is very much like an old store model doll. I've never been able to identify her. She say Blossom toys, Made in England on her back.

Carl xx

[sealcliff]

hi carl just been reading your thread about tiny tears.i have lots most of them from ebay .i had one when i was little and a lovely blue pushchair until my sister took it out and lost it(i never forgave her) She did buy one similar from off ebay for me to make up for it now i am the proud owner of fifteen from most of them from the sixties.
sue xx

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Aaawwhhh Sue they make lovely dolls a sideline to collecting teenage dolls dont they. I love the floppy joints on the older TT dolls, also their curls. Its difficult to get new baby dolls that have hair as they go more for the realistic look dont they. I'm pleased i've found some more tall traditional 3ft walk with you dolls this year at the bootys as i was hoping to buy one from Wilkos where they have had them for sale at Christmas for a few years but this year they havent stocked any except for an expensive toddler doll that grows in height.

Carl xx

[sealcliff]

hi carl i can remember my mum and dad buying me a walker doll for christmas out of a newspaper she was lovely she had short dark curly hair cant remember her name dont know what happened to her and i also had a chatty cathy.oh happy days.
sue xx

[frances]

Oh they're lovely Carl. The face on your Susan reminds me of my Busy Lizzie (Ideal) and Crumpet (Kenner) dolls--both issued in the early '70s. There was a phase then when some of these types of dolls had to 'do' something special--Lizzie did housework (came complete with an ironing board, iron, feather duster and vacuum). Crumpet could pour and serve tea and came with a teapot, teatable, cups, saucers and so forth. They fit baby clothes and that was what I liked about them, because there were always plenty of outfits for them to wear or sew. I love these types of dolls--you're right, they're not being made any more. The American girl series comes close to capturing some of the special qualities of these early dolls, but never quite completely. I must take some pics when I have time--I still have mine (complete with boxes from childhood) and really cherish them. I think the only reason my mom retained the boxes was to put away all the accessories in, so lucky they survived. Tiny Tears is so dear and you've made her look like new! Chelsea Margaret and Jessica bring back lots of memories--lifesize dolls were in every Christmas catalogue when I was growing up, and you could always get tons of outfits for them. Edith Violet Elsie is a beauty--you were lucky to find her! Thanks for sharing these lovely pics, Best Wishes, Frances