When You Least Expect It

No I'm not talking about my very belated post. I'm talking about a doll I purchased ten years ago, then sold because I received an offer I could not refuse, and regretted it there after.

Do you remember my Götz Happy Kidz Katie? The one with the beautiful red hair?

Well I found another quite by accident yesterday on eBay, all thanks to my dear friend Diane who had sent me there to look at a doll she had in her own collection. This is the replacement Katie (below) who comes complete except for her eyewear.

She was quite a find because this particular mold is difficult to come by, and to find her here in Australia was a real bonus (no expensive shipping to contend with).

There is quite a back story with this doll and how she came to be.

First there was Emily and Katie:

Emily and Katie (above) had the all vinyl toddler bodies of the Kinderland and then Precious Day dolls, with only the articulated arms and swivel legs. Emily and Katie who were released in 2011 were very successful, which no doubt is the reason why Götz included them in later ranges.

Then came Luisa:

Classic Kidz Luisa released in 2015 (above) with a multi jointed body, had blonde rooted hair and brown fixed eyes with delicate eyelashes on the top eyelid. She was a more grown up edition of Emily and Katie.

The Götz Classic Kidz line of dolls was discontinued the same year, with Götz choosing to produce that particular face mold only with red hair. While the specific line was retired, the body used for the Classic Kidz dolls was carried over to the current Götz Happy Kidz line.

Then there was Katie:

Katie, designed by world renowned doll artist Hildegard Gunzel, was the only Happy Kidz doll with this face mold produced by Götz after they discontinued the Classic Kidz range, until more recently. Now there are other dolls from the same mold with blonde, brunette and even black hair, but none with this colour.

Götz followed up with the 36cm Little Kidz Elli in 2020 and Lotta. The likeness between Katie, Elli & Lotta is hard to deny, it's as if Götz revived Emily and Katie but with a new body and more mobility.

Elli

Lotta

No matter what your thoughts are (and I'd love to hear them), I find Götz very confusing when it comes to names verses molds and am just happy I found my replacement Katie.

Till next time, stay safe and happy, big hugs,

X

The Little Kidz

My models today are Elli and Grete both Gotz Little Kidz and the latest additions to the fold, although they have been with me for almost a month now. As we have been enduring lockdown #5 (which ended midnight Tuesday), I have been passing the time knitting for them both and this is their second set of clothes.

Once again, I have used patterns from Jacqueline Gibb (orange skirt) and Peggy Stuart (aqua turtle neck) combined with my own. If you are a member of Ravelry you will probably recognise their names and their patterns, if not and you knit, go join! If you don't knit and you'd like to, go join!

These photos were an experiment in composition. I still haven't decided whether I like them or not. What about you, do you like to offset your subject when taking photos?

The last two portraits show how beautiful the Gotz doll faces are. I know play dolls are not for everyone, but I am quite enamoured with these little dolls. But as always, I need a third and preferably a redhead with green eyes (Gotz, I hope you are reading this!)

I have a feeling these dolls will be with me for a very, very long time. If you had to select just one doll from your collection to keep forever, which doll would choose, and why?