Category Archives: Best of Modern Kiddo

Vintage Fun :: Valley of the Paper Dolls

Best of Dottie, Vintage Toys + Fun Stuff, , , ,

(source: Flickr Peppermint Kiss Kiss)

Summer wasn’t summer without a visit to my grandparents’ house.  What made it particularly fun was that I spent the week with all of my female cousins in a whirling weekend of hopscotch, ice cream truck forays and re-enactments of Charlie’s Angels. When it got too hot to do anything and just standing outside would lead to sweaty bangs, my cousins and I would sit on the stairs landing inside in front of the air conditioner and play with our paper dolls for hours. I think paper dolls were what piqued my interest in fashion. That of course and watching perhaps one too many Dance Fever episodes…

You don’t see many paper dolls around any more, which is a real shame. But they’ve been around for ages.  According to Kovels, the collectors’ bible, paper dolls were probably inspired by the pantins, or jumping jacks, made in eighteenth-century Europe. By the 1880s, sheets of printed paper dolls and clothes were being made. The first paper doll books were made in the 1920s. Collectors prefer uncut sheets or books or boxed sets of paper dolls. Prices are about half as much if the pages have been cut.

This paper doll looks like she’s traipsing through the quad at Vassar in 1958. (image via Black Watch)

Why have only one paper doll, but two with Twins! It’s almost like they are twin Brooke Shields with this stunning wardrobe.  Straight from the pages of Young Miss! (from Etsy seller, Eveyln’s Alcove)

I have completely fallen in love with the Swedish paper dolls Kattis Klippdockor from the Swedish magazine Aret Runt that ran for decades in the magazine.

(image via: Sally Jane Vintage)

I wonder if that’s where McCall Magazine got the idea to create the wildly popular Betsy McCall paper doll series, which you can download today thanks to several sites like  Teri’s Paper Dolls.  Talk about the dream vintage girl wardrobe…

I love the celebrity paper dolls.

TV ones are my favorite like this Jody and Buffy one from Family Affair. Just look at those outfits. I’d kill for that raincoat!

Clearly the marketing folks over at ABC were smart enough to cash in on the awesomeness of Marlo Thomas from That Girl.

(images via: TV Acres)

Most celebrity paper dolls make sense–like of course Elizabeth Taylor.

(image: 2008 Paper Doll Convention Archives)

Some are rather head scratchingly bizarre.  Er… Mr. Kotter?  Awkward.

How telling is it that my celebrity paper doll of choice in my childhood was the Gilda Radner one. No lie!

What was your favorite paper doll?

Vintage Storybook Lamps, Anyone? The World of Irmi.

Best of Alix, Kiddo Rooms, Vintage Childhood, Vintage Toys + Fun Stuff, , ,

As a self-proclaimed expert on all things vintage (or as the hubs would claim, “a know-it-all”. *sigh*), I love when I discover new things! A toy that I’d forgotten about, a unique item that I’d never seen before, or better yet finding out some new information about an item I have always loved. Take that little lamp in the photo above, for instance. It’s cute, huh! I had one as a child and I think they’re pretty darn adorable. Wait….let’s take a little closer look:

Soooo cute, right? The little boy playing the guitar while the little girl is knitting? Amazing! (By the way, that little white blob that looks like those rock things people use in curling is actually a kitten. And yes, this is a photo from Dottie’s little girl’s nursery. SO perfect!) I love it. I know some folks think these lamps can veer on the kitschy side (*gasp!*) but I find their storybook style super duper charming.


Yes the little well on that last one (Jack & Jill, doncha know) lights up!
Images: Kitsch Cafe and Fresh Vintage Style

I’m pleased to tell you that these little treasures have a name. And maybe you already knew this (to which I say, “How come you never told me??” hee). Irmi Nursery Originals. Remember this people, as there will be a quiz later. The creators of these whimsical treats were a lovely German couple named Fred and Irmi Bering. In addition to hand-painted wooden lamps they made wall hangings, light switch plates, nursery mobiles and more. They were produced in the 1950s thru 1971 (when they sold the company). The characters are often taken straight from the pages of nursery rhymes or fairytales and each lamp usually offers a little extra bonus—a music box, a little additional “light up” feature etc. Fred and Irmi were generous spirits and in 2004 donated $2 million to Danbury hospital. You can read a bit more about their story here.


Image: Thompson Family Life

Image: SkyBlueCrayons


Image: Creative Breathing


Image: Sweet Lily Studio and ElecticaMiami


I’m sorry, but animals with hats are simply the best thing EVER.
Image: ex.libris


Yes, that little guys are wearing LEDERHOSEN! Sweet!
Image: Circus Peanut


Image: Sweet Lily Studio and Going Sew Crazy


Image: Sweet Lily Studio (only $15 in their Etsy shop!)

Are you dying yet? I can’t even begin to tell you how hard it was to just pick a few of these. The good news is, you can snap up your own on ebay or Etsy. Simply search for….what was that name again class? “IRMI!” Bravo!

Modern Kiddo Buying Tips: These lamps typically sell for $20-60. If you’re paying $65+ it better be in pristine condition OR crazy cute (aka I wanna see at least TWO giraffe’s wearing top hats, mmkay?). Don’t be scared off by an ugly lamp shade. Many will have lost their original shades, and buying a new one (or embellishing it with pom poms or ric-a-rack) is pretty easy! Don’t forget, not everyone knows they are called  “Irmi” lamps, so get creative and search for “Nursery Originals” “Nursery Plastics” “Vintage Wooden Lamp” etc. when browsing ebay/etsy! Happy hunting!