Do you know what today (Saturday) is? Surely you remember! You don't? Well, no matter; I'll tell you:
Today is our three-week anniversary!
Yes, up until twenty-one days ago, my life had been little more than an endless stream of meaningless vintage sewing machine purchases and promiscuous fabric shopping that left me feeling empty inside.
But then I met all of you, here, at Male Pattern Boldness.
I am ready to take it to the next level. I have decided to offer my very first giveaway.
The prize is a book of vintage Glamour Girl Paper Dolls, my gift to the lucky winner. Postage is on me.
If you don't know these dolls, they are splendid. The book, a reproduction of the original, is full of pages upon pages of beautiful Forties outfits, complete with wigs, hats, and other accessories. All ready to cut out and play with!
Here's just a taste:
Now I'm not the type of person who makes his readers jump through hoops just to win a contest.
To enter, here's all you have to do:
Leave a comment below answering ONE of the following questions:
1) What was your favorite doll as a child and what did you like about it?
2) If YOU were a doll, what doll would you be and why?
3) If I were a doll, how would you market me, and to whom?
Length is up to you but, to quote the Bard, "Brevity is the soul of wit." Spelling counts, but creativity is more important.
I'll be busy sewing today but don't think I won't be checking in, And no copying from each others work; you're all adults (I think).
The cut-off time is this Sunday, Feb. 14, at 10 pm EST. The winner will be chosen by me, Michael, and Cathy, and announced on Monday.
While my heart knows no national boundaries, I am limiting the prize to residents of the United States.
Good luck!
I would love to think that I would be a Bob Mackie Barbie of great elegance, but I'd probably be more like the evil Krusty doll from The Simpsons. ("Here's your problem--your doll is set to evil!")
ReplyDeleteI can quite easily see Cathy as a Bob Mackie Barbie, though.
1) What was your favorite doll as a child and what did you like about it? A knitted Scandinavian costume doll that one of my father's patients made for my sister - it got passed on to me.
ReplyDelete2) If YOU were a doll, what doll would you be and why? Rosie O'Donnell in her role from "A League of Their Own". Right size; right shape,same snarky mouth, but she had better ball skills.
3) If I were a doll, how would you market me, and to whom? "Cath-i-Pete! Get the two-fer doll! Why bother having Ken AND Barbie when Cath-i-Pete can do it all!!!" I'd market to modern, educated families.
My favorite doll was an original 1959 Barbie. She served as my first client and design muse. She always looked fabulous in whatever I dressed her in!
ReplyDeleteI'd say Barbie, but I'd be lying. My Barbies went through a lot playing with me. I mean, their heads were used as grenades in games of 'War' with my brothers, and I can't even count how many times they were sacrificed to the volcanoes I built in our sandbox. And they spent lots of time laying in fabric scraps when I made clothes for them.
ReplyDeleteI grew up in the eighties, so CPK dolls were really big. But were also not my favorite, though baby dolls were. While I *did* make some CPK clothes for the set of twins I got for Christmas one year, my favorites were the My Child dolls that were Mattel's answer to CPK.
I still like them. And I still have those dolls. THe first one I got still has nine fingers on one hand from my attempt to put the finger stitches back after he lost them. And my second My Child doll is in a box of dolls in storage somewhere. I actually started collecting them as an adult. I have a fairly small collection--only ten or so dolls--but I learned how to restore them to pristine condition and got immersed in sewing again so that they didn't wander around naked!
My favorite doll was Holly Hobbie. She was soft and small enough to fit in my matching Holly Hobbie purse, but not too small because she still felt good in my arms. She had perfectly braided hair that never came undone like mine did. Her dress was a peasant style calico patchwork and I wanted one just like it. She wore a bonnet just like Laura Ingalls but better because hers matched her dress. Also, she had the sweetest face, it was pretty, delicate and kind; it was the face of a friend.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this trip down memory lane.
It's been a wonderful three weeks! I have a male friend who just bought his first machine and wants to learn how to sew. I'm going to teach him, but I sent him to YOUR blog for inspiration.
ReplyDelete-Sandra
My favorite doll was Tammy. She "grown up" and could wear anything, do anything, go anywhere I needed/wanted her to and that was a lot.
ReplyDeleteI would be the Pocahontas doll I had in the 60's (not todays princes Poc. doll) because she wore a delicious leather shift and beaded moccasins and lived in the forest.
You would be Vintage Ken with a wardrobe for every era. Vintage Ken, timelessly handsome, always ready to take you to your favorite moment in history with just a change of clothes.
My favorite was a '60s bubble cut, red-haired Midge Barbie doll. She was elegant and hip, but she had freckles, just like me. Second fave was a 1969 Talking PJ Barbie, who came with a very orange top and silver lame' bell bottoms. She didn't talk for long because I made the mistake of taking her in the bathtub with me. Oops.
ReplyDeleteYears later, my daughter discovered my old Barbies and was only interested in one...my old Ken doll with a flat top, painted-on hair. What did she dress him in? PJ's silver lame' pants and Barbie's corduroy jacket with faux fur trim--nothing else, ever! She called him "Comfy" for reasons we never understood. When her friend wanted her to bring her Barbies over to play, she said, "But don't bring "Cushion." My daughter was highly offended!
I'm answering question number one:
ReplyDeleteMy doll was Felicity the American Girl doll...I loved her because I could makes clothes for her and she never squirmed!
Happy three weeks!
Oh, Peter! I should say that your sheet shirts have inspired me. I must now start looking for awesomely bad sheets (preferably two that match for a big and tall guy) at the local thrift stores to make a shirt for my Hawaiian shirt obsessed brother!
ReplyDeleteFor question #1, my early favorite dolls were Chrissy and Velvet. They were larger, about 18 inches and had hair that you pulled longer then pressed a button to retract. Later, of course Barbie and Skipper. I also loved my Laura Ingalls doll that was sold when the series was popular. I have it somewhere, and still love the series (life was simple).
ReplyDeleteIf I were a doll, this is who I'd be. I don't know her name; I only know she is made by Goetz. She's got that Slavic coolness going for her, she's dressed for Siberia (but flamboyantly!), and, best of all, she's wearing satin pumps. Perfect for snow in the steppes! How could I not long to be so exotic, so chic, and yet so adventurous?
ReplyDeleteI loved Fisher Price Mandy & Jenny dolls, particularly Jenny, the brunette. My mom made most of their wardrobes. My girls were the best dressed ones on the block.
ReplyDelete) What was your favorite doll as a child and what did you like about it?
ReplyDeleteIt was a barbie, but my favorite thing about it was the fact that my Mother, who was learning to sew, would sew it clothes. All of my friends said My barbie had the best clothes. I think it inspired me to learn to sew as well.
Nadine (dangtryagain)
Happy Anniv, Dear One. Perfect timing for your question - there is a back story. My favorite doll, a Steiff stuffed porcupine in a checkered dress and apron, arrived in a fancy airmailed box in 1956. She was sent by my sweet dad who was in the US Army in Germany and hadn't met me, his new baby, yet. He'd come to the US from the Czech Republic on Valentine's Day 1954, when he met my dear mom the day he arrived in Cleveland. Today, 2/13/10, is the 1 year anniveresary of Dad's funeral. My favorite doll sits proudly here in my sewing room and still makes me smile. Happy Valentine's Day, Mom, Daddy, Peter, and Cathy! xo.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite doll when I was a child was my "Snuggles" doll. She was a little doll, that when you pull a string on her back, her head would move back a forth.
ReplyDeleteHeh.
The neighbor boy hated that doll. Scared the living crap out of him whenever I would pull that string. So, whenever he was bugging me, out came the Snuggles doll. Poor kid.
My favorite doll was my Toni doll. She came with hair curlers and a Toni Home Permanent. She was under the Christmas tree in 1952. I LOVED her because she was the first doll I ever had that you could comb her hair. It seems I remember very large hair follicles too. hehehehe
ReplyDeleteMy favorite doll was a Barbie doll from 1962. She had a molded head with a bun and, my favorite, a bubble wig. I made clothes for that doll and loved her into oblivion. My first sewing experience was on Vogue patterns for Barbie! Now, I sew for my 16 yo daughter who complains, "I am not your Barbie doll!!" (Of course, you would have to be a 1964 Ken doll)
ReplyDeleteIf I were a doll, I'd be "Chatty Cathy," a seriously low-tech doll of decades gone by who had a little "chatty ring" protruding from her back. When you pulled the ring, it activated a mechanism inside that caused her to utter eleven squeaky-voiced phrases aimed at delighting little girls, such as "I love you." If you ignored Cathy and left her alone, she kept quiet. With me, not so much.
ReplyDeleteFun! (I answered all 3 questions previously, so this time I followed directions).
ReplyDelete3. You're Ken, of course, with an alter ego of Barbie. I'd market you to fashion loving people everywhere!
1) What was your favorite doll as a child and what did you like about it?
ReplyDeleteI didn't play with dolls, except the one I made of Lisa Shenk, a nasty neighbor, and stuck with pins.
2) If YOU were a doll, what doll would you be and why?
A blow-up police-woman doll.
3) If I were a doll, how would you market me, and to whom?
You would be named RuPeter and I would market you to boys who show an interest in drag. You'd be able to be purchased as yourself with your retro-undies and choice of accompanying outfits based on the creations you made for Cathy; Fantasia in Copper, LBD in NYC, you get the idea. They'd outsell that over-tucked-and-over-sucked-Botoxed-hag Barbie in a matter of weeks.
I should mention that my Barbie dolls went through life naked most of the time. Their high heels were the first casualty, followed by earrings, and then clothes disappeared. Now I shared a room with my two sisters, so the floor was often littered with naked Barbies and their clothing. They were so hard to dress that even the clothes I made for them spent most of their time in the toybox or on the floor. The baby dolls always had clothes. The Barbies, not so much. I think why I liked the baby dolls, especially My Child dolls better is because they needed someone to take care of them. I mean, Barbie could do anything--baby dolls needed someone to feed them and all of that.
ReplyDelete2) Hm. Not sure. When I was little, I wanted to be She-Ra, complete with castle. After all, not only was she a superhero, but she got to have adventures and live in an awesome castle! Either that or Princess Alura from Voltron. But that was who I wanted to be. :) I s'pose I'm closest to one of the classic American Girls, Molly. She looks like me, anyway. Brown hair in braids, green eyes, and glasses. For personality, also an American Girl, Samantha. I'm creative like she is and willing to do just about anything for people I love. I'm a trained artist, writer, and I love making stuff...
3) How about Fashion Designer Peter, Ken's younger brother? Comes with a complete line of Mens' wear, including vintage undies. Coming soon, Pete's brand new line of clothes for Barbie! (Hey, I figure that once you get over your fear of the French curve, it's only a matter of time before you start drafting patterns and designing your own clothes...)
1) What was your favorite doll as a child and what did you like about it?
ReplyDeleteThe dolls I played most with were always my cabbage patch dolls. Admittedly, style and all that was something I only warmed up to in recent years. Playing with dolls for me was more about hair styling at the time and the yarn hair was easy to manipulate. Plus, I got one of those cool ones that had wire in the hair and came with curlers and crimpers! Braids were another favorite.
Love the blog :) The dolls are great!
3) If I were a doll, how would you market me, and to whom?
ReplyDeleteI would name you "Barney", and make versions called "housekeeper", "carpenter", "fire fighter", "law enforcement officer", "designer", etc, all with appropriate attire, and be living-breathing full-sized action figures. These would be marketed to adults, and be offered as "no-contract" to operate....just pay as you go!! And, if you don't like the one you have, no fee to trade back and get a different one. The packaging would be similar to barbie, with the name of the doll on the front, ie Fire Fighter Barney.
I totally love your blog!! It's one of my favs. Thanks for sharing with us all!
My most favorite doll as a child was a barbie. Especially the ones with red hair. In my childhood days they were called, "Midge" a rather lame name for the barbie's great hair color. Oh well. Its no surprise that I loved dressing her. My sister and I had an extensive barbie wardrobe and we even made some of the clothes. Favorite barbie clothing accessory: shoes and its no different now. Shoes are my number one weakness. Give me a pair of perfect red pumps and I'll kiss you!
ReplyDeleteLove love love your blog! Happy Anniversary and a very Happy Valentine's Day to you!
Happy Weekiversary Peter Dearie! I'm not trying to be anonymous. This is Kim aka seamstresskim@crocker.com. If YOU were a doll (and you are in the best sense, I can tell) you would come accessorized with many vintage sewing machines and a walk-in closet of every outfit you've ever made and all the ones you'll ever want to- yes and all perfectly constructed. And on your back will be a push-button for chihuahua-juggling arms' motion and a 'smile dazzler'. I haven't exactly figured out how that would work, because glowing LEDs at your eye and teeth just seem creepy, but there must be a way to mechanically imitate your dazzl-rific smile. And everyone would want one and it would sell itself, no marketing necessary.
ReplyDeleteHappy Valentine's Day!
I realize it's too late to win, but how fabulous are those paper dolls?! I remember my grandmother used to buy similar ones for me (reprints, of course) when I was really little and we'd play with them together. Even then, I was drawn to ballgowns and pretty little dresses. Thanks for bringing up such a good memory.
ReplyDelete