Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Wanda the walking doll

One recent afternoon I went to a antique store . I seen this doll sitting in the corner. I picked her up and that was it. She was a keeper. Her name is Wanda the walking doll from the late 40's early 50's.
This is her from the back. Her hair is a bit messy but well loved. I don't believe this is her original outfit, but the dress blended in with the room. I need to find her a hat of some sort.

Her eyes close when she lays down

This is the first of two winders

and this smaller winder on her side
Her stockings are very delicate and slightly ripped but can not be removed as they are attached to her shoes that have special wheels.

Here is her wheels

This is my baby girl  Jen (1980)

and here she is after purchasing her first home (2009)

Her bedroom became the guest room ( my room) and I have been enjoying redoing this room. We re wallpapered this past February and I bought new furniture. I am trying to fill the room with mostly old vintage pieces. I miss my baby girl so much, but I sure do love my new room. I do tend to sleep here most nights as my hubby is a bed hog.

I think Wanda fits right in and every now and then I wind her up and watch her go. She needs to be oiled but she does work. Who says a grown woman can't have dolls.........
Hugs,
Ellen

I am linking to share the love Wednesday at Very Merry Vintage Style

I am also linking to Honey here at potpourri Friday #2  come join the fun

37 comments:

Nayana said...

ohh..doll is so pretty and works too... congratulations your daughter for getting new home and for you too new room:)

Anita at Cedar Hill said...

What a sweet doll. I like that her eyes close when she reclines.

Unknown said...

This is what happens when the real babies leave home..mom has to play with dolls! She's a keeper...

Dee ⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️ said...

The doll is a real beauty. Wishing your daughter wonderful memories in her own home.

Dee

DearHelenHartman said...

Oh, I do love your blog. But that dolly scares the p-waddin' outta me. Not a vintage doll person. Thanks for visiting me so I could find you.

Anonymous said...

Oh how exciting! I've heard about those walking dolls, but have never seen one and wondered how they worked. Don't worry....you aren't too old for dolls. I've loved dolls since I was a child and still have some of my dolls from them along with ones I've collected into adulthood.

You would have loved my honorary grandmother. She was this 90 year old woman who loved dolls so much that her entire guestrooms was filled, then she had more around her house. Every time I visited she "made" me take a tour of her doll room. Really I LOVED looking in there to see all the pretties she had.

If you are still looking for hats, I know Hobby Lobby has several styles of hats for dolls, so you should be able to find something. If not, maybe just wash her hair and make a headband or something.

Carolyn@Sweet Chaos Home said...

Awww... I'm glad Wanda found a nice loving home with you :)

SJ @ Homemaker On A Dime said...

Thanks for leaving such a sweet comment on my blog :) This doll is so cute which I'm sure my little one would love.

Cindy @ Dwellings-The Heart of Your Home said...

What a sweet baby doll! I know how you feel, my children have been out of the house for a number of years now and I still miss them being home! Hope your room comes together perfectly, looks like you are off to a great start!

Lori said...

Such a sweet doll! She's perfect for your room!

The French Hutch said...

Hi Ellen, I sure hope we are still allowed dolls, I have several myself. i love your new walking doll Wanda. She looks great in your daughter's old bedroom. I have my dolls tucked away in storage till Christmas when I will bring them out as part of my decorating.
Great post.

~Emily
The French Hutch

Honey at 2805 said...

She is a wonderful walking doll! Have you named her yet? She must have a name. The two vintage manniquins in one of my guest rooms have names, but unlike your sweet doll, they are really sassy, always wanting to change clothes. My answer is only with the seasons.

I am so pleased that you linked to Potpourri Friday. Your participation certainly makes the party more successful . I appreciate you! I hope you will make this one of your regular stops each week!

Poppy @ With a Dash of Color said...

Oh my, Wanda is so adorable! And I love her outfit as well... girls never get too old to play with dolls... they always look so cute and lovely and I can never resist them. Wanda looks very happy in her new home and so is your baby girl. Congratulations on her new home! Thanks for letting us play with Wanda:) and for stopping by and leaving me such a loving comment. I really appreciate it.Have a lovely weekend!~Poppy

http://withadashofcolor.blogspot.com/

Kelsie from Our Country Home and Studio Photography said...

She is lovely for sure...I think she has a very sweet face and how fun she is a walker and has sleeping eyes....You might be able to "fix" her hair...Fabric softer works great as a "conditioner" for many types of dolls hair...you can also reset the curls by rolling them around a pen or pencil and then carefully dousing it in boiling hot water...once it dries, remove the "curlers" and you should have some lovely ringlets again.

What can I say, I am also a grown woman that loves (and has) dollies.

Blessings Kelsie

FABBY'S LIVING said...

I love your vintage doll, she does have the 40's look, so adorable! Congrats to your daughter for her new home! Thanks for coming over and for the lovely cvomment! Beautiful children in your header! I am your newest follower also, this way we won't miss our posts. Have a fun weekend. FABBY

The Charm of Home said...

That is a very nice doll. It is awesome she still works. She was taken care of well. Thanks for stopping by.
Sherry

Ivy and Elephants said...

I love Wanda! I don't think we ever get over our fascination with doll. (I"m secretly working on getting myself a doll house!)Enjoy!
Patti

Rosemary@villabarnes said...

She's a beauty. Thanks for leaving such a nice compliment on my blog.

Tanna said...

They grow up so fast, don't they? Glad you are enjoying a space of your very own that you can fill with things you love. blessings ~ tanna

Savannah Granny said...

I love Wanda, I am ashamed to say that I remember Wanda. She is from my era. There were some really neat toys back them. I am so glad you gave her a good home. Have a great weekend. Ginger :)

M.L. @ The House of Whimsy said...

Oh my goodness!!! What a treasure. I can't believe she still works.
When I was about 8 or 9 I received a walking doll for Christmas. This brought back a sweet memory. : )
M.L.

The Vintage Chateau said...

Your doll is a real find! I've never seen one like her!

DIYbyDesign said...

I've never seen a doll like that. She's found herself a great home. Thanks so much for stopping by and for your kind comments on the desk makeover I did for my daughter.

Daphne Nicole & Lynda Cade said...

Oh, I love vintage dolls.... and this one is a cutie!
Daphne

Betsy@My Salvaged Treasures said...

So glad to see that Wanda has a safe and special place in your home. You're never too old for what makes you happy:-)

lvroftiques said...

Well this grown woman LOVES dolls! And your Wanda is fab!
Your real life doll is beautiful too *winks* Vanna

Lynn said...

What a wonderful find. Your doll is so interesting. She'll be a great addition to your vintage-inspired room. Thanks for following Cottage and Creek. I'm happy to follow you back.
:) Lynn
www.cottageandcreek.com

Terri said...

How very cool! Good find!

xinex said...

I love the doll, so sweet. Yiur daughter is beautiful!...Christine

Anonymous said...

What a neat doll!! I don't think I have ever seen one with little wheels on their feet!

I bet you daughter is so excited about her new home!

bee blessed
mary

Becca Bertotti said...

What a precious doll! She's a wonderful addition to your guest room, too. And, thanks for stopping by and leaving such a sweet note about the beginnings of Fall! *Becca*

Anonymous said...

The doll is quite a fine Ellen, My sister has done the very same thing with one of her rooms filled it with vintage dolls it's just amazing. Congratulations to your daughter with her first home she must be so excited.
Hugs Rosemary...

Anonymous said...

What a lovely doll. I bet she made a little girl very happy a long time ago.

LindyLouMac said...

Our eldest was born in 1980 as well, it is not always easy being an Empty nester is it. In fact it is one of the reasons we are having our Italian adventure.
Thankyou for showing your appreciation by leaving me a comment about my sunset skies.

my2girlies said...

Thanks for the sweet comment on my stairs - and yes - no more vaccuuming!!

I love your doll - I have a vague memory of a similar one at my grandmother's maaannnyyy years ago.

And congrats to your daughter - my oldest bought her first house a year ago - it is so rewarding seeing that!


Susan
www.lifeondovehollow.blogspot.com

my2girlies said...

I love your doll!! Amazing that it is in such good condition. I have a vague memory of one very similar to yours at my grandmother's a lllooong time ago.

My oldest just bought her first home a year ago. It is so satisfying seeing them at that point in thier life!!

Thank you for your sweet comment on my stairs!!

Susan
www.lifeondovehollow.blogspot.com

Carrie said...

Your dolly is a wonderful find...thanks for sharing her!

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Hedda Hopper


Birth:

May 2, 1890
Death:

Feb. 1, 1966
Actress, Journalist. Despite a 23 year career that encompassed over 120 motion picture appearances and chorus girl roles on Broadway to motion pictures, she is best remembered for her newspaper column and radio show that focused exclusively on Hollywood gossip, a subject she was able to tell more about to her audience due to her Hollywood insider status. Born Elda Furry in Holidaysburg, Pennsylvania, she left school to act on Broadway. In 1913 she married marquee star William DeWolfe, a man who was 32 years her senior. They had one son, and divorced in 1922, but she kept his name for the rest of her life (and changed her name to Hedda on the advice of a numerologist). In 1931 she began “The Hedda Hopper Show”, which initially ran as a 15 minute gossip show mostly devoted to Hollywood marriages and divorces. Enormously popular, it ran until 1951, and on the strength of its popularity she started the “Hedda Hopper’s Hollywood” column in the Los Angeles Times in 1938. She steadily gained a reputation for exposing tidbits about the lives of Hollywood figures, and created a character of herself in her own right, especially in regard to her vast collection of sometimes outrageous hats, and a long standing feud with rival gossip columnist Louella Parsons. With the advent of television’s popularity in the late 1940s and early 1950s, he radio show waned, but she herself became a staple of television programs and game shows, being a frequent panelist on “What’s My Line?’, and appear on shows like “I Love Lucy”, “The Colgate Variety Hour” and “The Beverly Hillbillies”. In 1960 she received the Journalistic Merit award, and published her autobiography “The Whole Truth and Nothing But!”, which recapped her over 20 years or being an Hollywood insider. She died in Los Angeles of double pneumonia in 1966, working right up until her passing. As a Hollywood icon, she created a number of friends and enemies; she gave harsh advice to actress Ida Lupino, which helped her gain recognizable part, but was despised by actress Joan Bennett, who once sent her a skunk. In 1985 a movie about the feud between her and Parsons was released as “Malice in Wonderland”, which Jane Alexander as Hedda Hopper and Elizabeth Taylor as Louella Parsons