Paper Dolls

Great fun with a nostalgic look back at your childhood! The correlation between your life and the life of the dolls is particularly effective. From the rooms made from book covers to the tie-up to your career choice at the end, it's an excellently done essay. We want more!

Your story triggered a memory of many hours spent with paper dolls. In the 1940's we didn't have all the electronic wonder toys of today's world, but I think those paper dolls and all the stories I made up while playing with them were the beginnings of my life as a writer. When I got a new set, it was so exciting. I cut out all the clothes very carefully and tried on each outfit over and over. Thanks for the memories.
Nancy Kopp

I do love this story! You put words to our shared childhood, reminding me of special times that I haven't thought about in years. Thanks. Karen

Wonderful trip down memory lane. It's odd that we don't realize until much later in life how joyous the simple pleasure of our imagination is. Thanks for sharing this moment.

Yes! Thanks for the memories. Although I was such a tomboy I still enjoyed playing with the paperdolls as well. They sure were great fun for rainy or cold winter days. Thank you for the Gene Stratton-Porter paperdoll set. I love it & what a keepsake.

What memories you brought to me tonight, Virginia...such good ones from 50 years ago! My sister and I spent hundreds of hours playing paper dolls, some store-bought or ordered from the Sunday comic pages or comic books. We stored them and their wardrobes in shoeboxes, too. My favorites were Brenda Starr, Katy Keene, and Esther Williams. Outdated pattern books were quite a treasure. A couple of times a year,Mama would bring those home for us from 2 different stores and we would cut out entire families of paper dolls from the many pages in them. With notebook paper and colored pencils, we drew fashions for every occasion for our paper dolls. Oh, sweet memories of slower times...again thanks for reminding me!

Is this photo of some of the fashion drawings you've done? You have more, don't you--let's see 'em! Aunt Carol

Comment from my friend Helen (via email): "Thanks for the memories. Our play dishes and cupboards were always laden with plenty of foods cut from newspapers. Keep up the writing.
Helen"

Loved reading your bio and seeing your lovely face, Virginia. How different we all are, you so smart to keep a journal and I not even bothering while getting a grateful D in English Lit. back in the early 50's. I have kept a fair journal in my dotage that triggers my adventurous life and have shamefully only read a half dozen books in my 75 years.

I had no idea that half of Our Echo is comprised of our darling Gail Martin family. How lucky you all are to have such a matriarch. I'd love to be included in there somewhere.

I was crazy about paper dolls as well, a great story that conjured up a few thousand memories all over my bedroom floor with friends.

So happy to know you, Virginia.

Hi Virginia,
Your story is delightful and brought back memories of such happy, carefree childhood days. How I adored my paper doll "families" as a young girl! My sister (Susan Poole - See her comment above.) and I did spend countless hours on rainy afternoons and evenings, cutting out paper dolls from old pattern books, catalogs, or a book of paper dolls from the five-and dime store. Some of my favorites were Annie Oakley, Betsy McCall, and Blondie and Dagwood. We kept them in shoe boxes under our beds. The bed itself became my play space for lining up the dolls and their dresses, coats, etc. Sometimes I traced around the paper dolls and designed fashions for them, and often colored the dresses to match some of my own clothes.
Whenever I've looked for books of paper dolls in stores over the past few years, there were none among the coloring books and other kids' books.
Wish I still had all of my beloved paper dolls!
Thanks very much for the memories you brought back to life with this piece. It was such a good read.
Blessings,
Sandi in FL.

Sandi, thank you for your insightful and encouraging comments. I remember Besty McCall from the McCall's Magazine. How fun that you made clothes for them to match your own.

What a wonderful stroll down memory lane ! Thankyou for taking us along.... I really really enjoyed it. Thanks, Virginia ! : )
- Sabina