MEMORY LANE - THE PICNIC WINDOW

In the early 1970s, "dollsandreams" was Sasha Central for adult collectors and neighborhood children alike. The little shop had two tall, narrow windows on either side of the front door. The bright green facade was a refreshing spot of color on Third Avenue in the Murray Hill section of New York City.
My first Sasha window display was installed in the window on the right side. The window was about 9 feet high by 4 feet wide and 3 feet deep. The tree, complete with hearts carved into the trunk, was made of papier-mache and was almost as tall as the window.
The picnic table was at the base of the tree and the tree house was installed in the middle of the tree trunk. A swing hung from one branch and a rope ladder hung off the tree house platform. One Sasha relaxed in a folding chair enjoying the sun while a Gregor climbed up the ladder to the tree house. On the deck another Gregor was flying a kite that rose up to the full height of the window. Another Sasha wearing a sunsuit sat on the ground while the hostess Sasha prepared the salads for lunch.

This was the first of several windows that I created for "dollsandreams" during my first years of collecting. They never failed to delight the neighborhood children who would press their noses against the window searching out every tiny detail from Sasha's silverware to Gregor's tool box. A good time was had by all.

Tomorrow's window is Halloween dress-up time for the Sashas.

Question or Comment -- Write to: SashaStreetUSA@aol.com

MEMORY LANE - THE PICNIC

It wasn't long before I became a regular customer at "dollsandreams" and close friends with the owners, Yvonne and Bruno. Summer was approaching and I suggested doing a window display of the Sashas having a picnic. Eventually this idea grew into a complicated project.
First, I bought a sewing machine and took sewing lessons. The SINGER company offered free classes but the teacher tossed me out of the first class because I couldn't learn to thread my needle. So my good friend, Patty, became my teacher and sewing mentor. We shared a fondness for fine Scotch and after a couple of drinks I finally learned to thread my needle.
The first outfits I created for my Sashas were all made from bright red bandana print fabric. The next part of the project consisted of building a tree house for the kids. This was lots of fun and I spent many weekends constructing it. I also built the picnic table. The lettuce in the bowls is made from painted and torn up paper towels.

Tomorrow the tree house and the kids are installed in the front window of "dollsandreams" where they became the delight of the neighborhood children.

MEMORY LANE - THE BEGINNING

In the beginning I had no intention of adopting more than that first Gregor. I justified having him stand by my typewriter while I worked instead of keeping him in his tube until Adam was old enough to play with him. Gregor needed to come out and see the world.
But he got lonesome.

So a week later I went back to "dollsandreams" and bought him a sister. She was a lovely brunette Sasha with thick hair and long fringe. She and Gregor got along very well but there wasn't much room on my desk so I bought a beautiful oak bookcase for them to live in. Eventually, there were twelve bookcases and over a hundred Sasha kids playing on the shelves.

Here are pictures of my first brunettes as well as my first set of blonde twins. The beautiful antique bamboo trimmed Victorian wardrobe was one of many pieces of antique doll furniture I acquired in those early years.

History does repeat itself. Last week I bought two bookcases for my new Sasha family to live in.

However, history does not repeat itself economically. In the early 1970s a Sasha doll cost about $17.00 mint in tube. And there were often dolls available for less after Christmas. My first family, which included dolls from the production years of 1969 through 1972, cost me about $1,500.00 for a hundred dolls. Today, just one of those 1969 dolls would cost that much if not more.

MEMORY LANE - THORNS AND ROSES

ABOVE: Gregor from my first family.
BELOW: Gregor from my second family.

Nana Laura used to say that Memory Lane could be a dangerous place because there were always thorns among the roses. She was right -- as usual. Any trip down Memory Lane has pain mingled with joy. A bitter-sweet journey at best.
I recently had dozens of images of my first Sasha family scanned from my old 35mm slides. Those dolls gave me a great deal of pleasure and their loss gave me an equal amount of sorrow.

It all began in the early 1970s when I walked past a small toy shop in New York City called "dollsandreams." There were Sasha dolls playing in the window and I was captivated by their simple reality and their sophisticated artistry. Night after night I walked by the shop on my way home from work. Finally, I went in and bought my first Sasha doll -- a brunette Gregor who looked like my son, Adam.
Like Potato Chips (you can't eat just one) my Sasha family quickly grew to over a dozen dolls and eventually to over a hundred.
In the days ahead I will venture down Memory Lane and try to only smell the roses and avoid the thorns. I invite you to join me and learn a little bit about Sasha dolls when they first came to America and only cost $17.00 brand new in their tubes.

PER YOUR REQUESTS

Per your requests, here are additional photographs of Andrea's delightful Aran set with the hat tied under Sasha's chin. She looks charming peeking through her knitted "frame"

Also, per your request, here is a close-up of her boots. They are not the UGGS keychain boots but a pair of the new boots I commissioned from an artist. These will soon be available in a variety of colors.

IRISH ARAN STYLE

My good friend Andrea from THE DOLL WORKS just sent me this set of hat, mittens, and scarf knitted in the Irish Aran tradition. Back in November I sent her some pictures of what I was looking for and she created my Sasha's heart's desire. The Aran style sweaters have an interesting history and tradition. Andrea sent this link to their fascinating story.

http://www.aransweatermarket.com/asm/history-of-aran-sweaters

SIMPLE PLEASURES

Back in the early 1970s I was living in a charming section of New York City called "Turtle Bay" in a townhouse across the street from Katherine Hepburn. Ruth Gordon, the character actress, lived to the right of Kate and Stephen Sondheim lived to the left. And John Wayne Jr. lived in the house next to mine. Our block association meetings were star-studded.
However charming those famous folk were they did not influence me in any particular way. Delight me, but not influence me. The lady who did influence me had a tiny shop a few blocks away called NANCY'S FANCY. It was a magical place for children of all ages.
Nancy made the poor Church Mouse look like a millionaire. Her shop offered an array of refurbished junk that she had rescued from the trash and turned into a piece of enchantment with paint and brush. She had a tiny workroom in the back of the shop just behind the counter. On the counter was a silver desk bell and a sign that read "PLEASE RING FOR KIND COURTIOUS SERVICE." If you rang the bell she would poke her head out and shout "What the hell do you want?" She gave new meaning to the term "character."
Over the years we became great friends and she taught me many life lessons about humility and the delights of poverty. With the current economy in the dumps these days her wisdom has come in handy.
She taught me the virtue of "one doll" -- hers was a blonde 1969 GREGOR named "William or Mary Depending" -- depending on how she dressed him/her. But it was her joy in the discovery of beauty hidden in everyday junk that impressed me. We would go junk hunting late at night and she would pick up some beat-up old chair and giggle in delight. A few days later it was transformed into a work of art.
Perhaps her greatest gift to me was sharing the world through her eyes. I was a successful businessman and she was a successful Church Mouse. But our successes were very different. She showed me that the pleasures of the world were all free if you looked at them in a different way. That was her wisdom.
Monday was her day off and she would put on her best outfit and head up to Fifth Avenue where she spent the entire day wandering through the fabulous and expensive shops. She loved FAO Schwarz and Tiffany's as well as Bergdorf Goodman and Bonwit Teller.
When I asked her if these travels into the realm of wealth and indulgence depressed her she would just smile at me.
"But you cannot afford any of those things." I protested.
"No, I can't," she replied, "but I just think of all those stores as museums where I can look and touch but cannot buy."
In the end, Nancy had a richer life than anyone I knew. And she enriched mine beyond measure. When she died hundreds of people mourned the loss of her magic. Her partner put a sign in the shop window that simply read, "THE END OF THE RAINBOW."
I like to think that Nancy would have loved the Internet. She could have spent hours and hours enjoying all the beautiful things available and never once been tempted to hit the BUY NOW button.

BORROWING FASHIONS - 12

Here is another charming "My Friend Mandy" outfit called "Rain Slicker" (#759) that reminds me of the slickers worn in the film "Singin' in the Rain." The set features a cape style yellow slicker, boots, and a rain hat lined in a floral print fabric. The boxed set includes an easy-sew pattern (#218150) for a tote bag in two sizes - doll size and child size.
This outfit has 3/4 sleeves that don't quite work on Sasha, but is nonetheless a really cute outfit.

BORROWING FASHIONS - 11

"Soccer Outfit" (#K32) includes shirt and shorts, socks and sport shoes plus a soccer ball.

"Sleeping Outfit" (#K30) includes nightshirt, sleeping bag (rolled up under her arm) and slippers.

"Roller Skating Outfit" (K34) includes pink shorts, T-shirt, knee socks, roller skates that actually lace up and wheels that roll. Also includes a comb and lip gloss.

"Jogging Outfit" (#K33) includes sweat pants, hoodie, running shoes, socks, and a jump rope.

"Bedtime Outfit" (#K37) includes a robe, hair curlers, brush, ribbons, and a hair styling booklet.

I was not aware of the KIMBERLY doll line until Dorisanne mentioned it to me. Then Joan, a fellow Sasha collector, was kind enough to loan me some of her outfits.
Kimberly was produced in 1984 by TOMY. The clothing fits Sasha nicely and even the shoes fit Sasha which is a plus. Joan mentioned that sometimes the plastic shoes need to be softened up by heating them until pliable. This often happens with older plastic shoes.
A bit of research shows that most of the outfits are casual and the fashions were used on dressed dolls as well as being offered as separate carded sets. Many of the outfits are available on eBay as well as from some vintage doll shops.

BORROWING FASHIONS - 10

Sasha may have many more doll closets to open than Gregor but there are a few items he can borrow from his "older brothers."
In the TONNER fashion line there are several 17-inch male characters in the "Tyler Wentworth" series who have great looking jackets and shirts that fit Gregor. And in the original GENE line there was a male character named TRENT who also had a few jackets and sweaters that caught Gregor's eye.
Both of these lines are well made and usually feature excellent fabrics. The problem is in finding loose items that fit and are not too expensive. Another problem is that Gregor's hands are larger than the male dolls in the other lines so some sleeves are too tight for Gregor.
In the Tonner series, most of the T-shirts and regular shirts will fit Gregor. Tonner has recently added several more male characters to other lines, including Harry Potter, that use the basic male body or a body of a similar size.
Above we see Gregor wearing a basic white T-shirt from the MATT line. His gray slacks are from Trendon. He is wearing black Doc Martin boots from an Asian BJD company. The tan suede jacket is beautifully crafted and has tiny working button holes. The navy blue Pea Coat is also handsomely tailored. There are several nice cable knit sweaters in the MATT line that are lightweight and fit easily under jackets. Finally Gregor wears a tennis sweater from the TRENT fashion series.
There are many other shirts and jackets from these two companies that will probably fit Gregor but I have never found them loose and so Gregor has had to be satisfied with these few pieces.

WISDOM AND INFLUENCE

I have had the good fortune to be in the company of many wise women during my 77 years on this planet. From time to time this year I will share some of that wisdom and influence with you -- my Sasha friends.
Perhaps the greatest influence came from my Grandmother -- "Nana Laura" -- who collected Madame Alexander dolls and Steiff teddy bears. She came to live with us after The Great Depression stripped away her wealth and left her with nothing but her memories. The few dollars she earned babysitting were spent on dolls and bears. "Money is like blood -- it needs to be circulated." she was fond of saying. She was fond of saying many things, often just to amuse me over tea. "There is no such thing as a perfect stranger. They are never perfect and usually stranger than you'd care for." That one still makes me smile.
I grew up in Greenwich Village, New York's artistic neighborhood. Our neighbors were artists, poets, and an occasional scoundrel. Nana Laura loved them all. Every Saturday we would take a Fifth Avenue bus up to 58th Street where FAO Schwarz was located and adopt a new doll or teddy bear. Afterwards, we went across the street to The Plaza Hotel and had "high tea" in the Palm Court.
She introduced me to Madame Alexander when I was 12 years old. I had the pleasure of knowing that lady until she died. In fact, I have known many great ladies over the years. Probably more than great men. I'm just lucky I guess.
I have taken one of Nana Laura's bon mots and adapted it for this blog. "Knowledge is like blood -- it needs to be circulated." and so I will be sharing what I have learned, been taught, and stumbled over in my 77 years, on this blog.
It is never easy to teach humility to young people who are riding high on their first big success or moment in the spotlight. When I had my moment I recalled her advice. "Beware of standing up on a pedestal because people can look up your dress."
Good advice, Nana.

BORROWING FASHIONS - 9

In the early 1970s there were not many Trendon outfits for Sasha dolls so collectors had to borrow fashions from other dolls. Mandy was the best fit overall. There were others and perhaps the most unusual was the 1972 IDEAL 16-inch vinyl "Shirley Temple" dressed in her famous "Stand Up and Cheer" polka dot dress.
Sasha needed a Halloween costume one year so I bought her the "Little Colonel" outfit from the IDEAL series. There were several other movie outfits offered including "Heidi" and "Captain January" as well as "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm."
IDEAL took interesting design liberties with the outfits and updated the styles by shortening the skirts to look a bit more contemporary. The outfits were not made of quality fabrics but they were fun to dress Sasha in.

BORROWING FASHIONS - 8

This is one of my favorite Mandy outfits and I think Sasha looks charming in it.

The outfit is called "Jumper and Blouse" (#223) and features a blouse fashioned of a multi-colored floral print against a blue background. The sleeveless blue jumper features a pleated front. A matching floral print scarf completes the look.
The set included an easy-sew pattern (#230990) for a two-piece baby doll pajama set.

There are many more Mandy fashions that fit Sasha but these are the only ones I have in my collection. I hope to add more in the months ahead.

BORROWING FASHIONS - 7

Here are two red and white "My Friend Mandy" outfits that look delightful on Sasha.

First is the charming "Town and Country Pantsuit" (#218) that features a white man-tailored shirt jacket and matching slacks. The shirt has accented collar and cuffs featuring a red and white print fabric. Also included is a long scarf that can double as an ascot or a hair ribbon. The set originally included a pair of white clogs but Sasha prefers the red clogs. The set included an easy-sew pattern (#207970) for a wrap-around skirt.

This outfit also came with a blue and white fabric trim.

On an even more casual note we have "Sweater-Coat" outfit (#225) which features bright red slacks and a white knit belted sweater-coat and a matching hat. This basic outfit could easily be mixed with other fashions including T-shirts and skirts. This set included an easy-sew pattern (#235820) for a blouse.

Once again we see how charming Sasha looks in these borrowed fashions.

BORROWING FASHIONS - 6

The 1970s continued the "LOVE" theme of the 1960s Woodstock Generation. Fashion expressed itself in a wide variety of ways -- from mini-skirts to "Granny" dresses. MANDY and SASHA fashions were both influenced by these trends.

In 1978 Mandy had a Granny dress called "Party Time" (#221) that was pale blue with a subtle white floral print. The Empire bodice was shirred and had puffed sleeves. The outfit came with white plastic dancing shoes.

In 1975 Sasha had a Granny dress called "Long Dress" (#105) that was forest green with a white abstract floral print. It featured an Empire waist and puffed sleeves. The outfit came with white leather shoes.

The origin of the Granny dress is obvious but it has some interesting historical sidelights. The Great Depression spawned many "economy" features to various products. Farmers were especially hard hit so enterprising live stock feed companies began using mini floral print fabric for their bags. This fabric was then used to make dresses and shirts for children and adults. Many of these were in the tradition of the Granny dress.

In England, during the 60s and 70s, the fashion designer Laura Ashley raised these floral prints to high style along with the Granny dress. Her dresses were sought after by the "MOD Birds" in both the UK and the US.

Mandy and Sasha were both trendy little girls in their Granny dresses.

BORROWING FASHIONS - 5

The "My Friend Mandy" fashions were all contemporary to their time period. The 1970s had a variety of fashion trends and little Mandy was always on the cutting edge. While her boy "friend" MIKEY was not introduced until 1982, several of her outfits had a definite unisex style.

In 1978 "Let's Go Camping" (item #222) was introduced as a separate outfit. The set consisted of a plaid flannel shirt, tan cotton twill trousers, a backpack, and white molded plastic sneakers. The set also included a simple sewing pattern to make a doll-size sleeping bag.

In 1980 "Knickers Outfit" (item #229) was introduced as a separate outfit. The set consisted of knee-length faux velvet maroon colored knickers with a matching beret. A white elbow-length boatneck shirt and charming argyle pattern knee socks completed the outfit. No shoes were included in this set so Sasha borrowed a pair of brown slip-ons from the Jenny basic outfit. The set also included a simple pattern for a reversible vest.
NOTE: Even though Mandy has a larger head than Sasha the hats fit both dolls perfectly.

In 1981 "Winter Wear" (item # 230) was introduced as a separate outfit. This Aspen inspired ski suit features an orange insulated ski vest, yellow cotton pants, and warm brown furry boots. No shirt was included in this set and Mandy's body fabric doubled as a T-shirt. Sasha is wearing a white T-shirt borrowed from a Tommy Hilfiger outfit. The set also included a simple pattern for a stocking cap and knitted sweater.

In the first years of production the dolls and outfits included the sewing patterns inside the box. Later on the patterns became a mail-in offer. I'm not sure why Fisher-Price took this direction as it involved added costs to the project. I have never seen any of the mail-in patterns in their original form so there might have been a club or some cross-sell promotions included.

I admire the "My Friend Mandy" project for many reasons including their simplicity of design and their sew-at-home concept. Looking at any grouping of the outfits it is clear that the designers had a vision and a point-of-view. And many of the outfits are "separates" which added play value and encouraged little designers and stylists to be creative.

BORROWING FASHIONS - 4

One of the first "My Friend Mandy" boxed fashions was named "Patio Party Denim Outfit" #1854. This is one of the most charming of all the Mandy outfits and features a long denim skirt trimmed with a colorful patchwork fabric under ruffle. The same patchwork fabric was also used for the blouse that featured flared bell sleeves. The outfit also featured the bright red clogs that were marked LEFT and RIGHT on the bottom. The first version had a dark blue skirt with a subtle printed patchwork pattern.
The second version featured a lighter version of the denim print and the patchwork design is more visible. Both versions are open in the back from the waist to the bottom hemline and could also be worn open in the front as a beach skirt over a bathing suit.
A charming and versatile outfit that looks terrific on Sasha.

BORROWING FASHIONS - 3

Let's begin with the basic fashions that Mandy and her friend Jenny came dressed in.
In 1977 the first "My Friend Mandy" #210 was introduced. She came packaged in a large pink window box. The first Mandy outfit was a charming pink dress sprinkled with pin dots and trimmed with lace. She had matching pink tights and white plastic shoes. She also had a white straw hat trimmed with a pink ribbon. The package also contained a pink floral print flannel nightgown accented with a pink ribbon bow. Also included in the box was a hair care booklet and a sewing pattern # 206960 for a cape and hood.

In 1979, Mandy got her first companion - "My Friend Jenny" #212. Like Mandy, Jenny came in a pink window box. She also had a hair care booklet and a pattern for a Nightgown #231470. Jenny had brown hair and her outfit consisted of an ivory colored blouse and a chocolate brown floral design jumper dress with dark brown tights and chocolate brown plastic shoes. She also wore a straw hat trimmed with a brown ribbon.

BORROWING FASHIONS - 2

Of all the doll fashions I have collected over the years for my Sasha dolls, the Fisher-Price "My Friend Mandy" line has consistently been the best.
Introduced in 1977, Mandy was an instant success -- and with good reason. The dolls and separate outfits all came with delightful extra outfit patterns for mothers and daughters to sew together. The doll itself was a clever blend of vinyl head and limbs with a soft stuffed body. The design was not unlike the early French fashion dolls who were made of porcelain and leather.
While Mandy and Sasha might not seem like "stand-ins" for one another they actually are. They can easily exchange outfits with one another without any alterations being made. Even the Mandy styles are quite similar to those in the Sasha line. And the sewing patterns also work perfectly for Sasha. While it is true that Sasha has wider shoulders than Mandy it doesn't seem to matter in the clothing which usually has a raglan sleeve design instead of a more typical inset sleeve. Even the Mandy shoes fit Sasha perfectly. They are usually plastic, and not very attractive, but the clogs are especially charming.
Over the years, following her introduction, the line of "Friend" dolls increased and eventually included a boy. There were dozens of outfits and patterns offered by Fisher-Price as well as many doll and sewing magazines.
Sasha and Mandy are contemporaries not only in their manufacturing period but their age and fashion style.
Now that Sasha has become a valuable collectible doll her friend Mandy makes a great stand-in model for those who design fashions for Sasha. Since her body is soft it is easy to pin fabrics on her so she makes a great mannequin.

This week we will see just how charming Sasha looks as she models clothing borrowed from her friend Mandy.