My Doll Haven

Everyone Needs Playtime

In our hectic, modern lives, many of us focus so heavily on work and family commitments that we never seem to have time for pure fun. Somewhere between childhood and adulthood, we stopped playing.

When we carve out some leisure time, we’re more likely to zone out in front of the TV or computer than engage in fun, rejuvenating play like we did as children. But play is not just essential for kids; it can be an important source of relaxation and stimulation for adults as well.

There doesn’t need to be any point to the activity beyond having fun and enjoying yourself. By giving yourself permission to play with the joyful abandon of childhood, you can reap oodles of health benefits throughout life.

Monday

Katie's New Look

It was Katie's day to visit the eye specialist as she's been having trouble reading. After testing her eyes, the optometrist prescribed new glasses. Katie wasn't very happy about it at all, hence the rather grumpy look in the photo below.

When she found she could read the small print in her favourite book, she felt a little better. I made her a new dress and cardigan to cheer her up and think the dress fabric has just enough blue and green in the print to compliment the colour of her new specticals nicely.

Oh Katie you do look so pretty. Maybe we should go shopping for a new pair of shoes that will match your outfit better?

What do our readers think? Should we look for lavender shoes to match her cardigan, or aqua to match her glasses?

Thursday

Renewed Interest

Sometimes it only takes one doll to create a spark . . . then before you know it, a whole new interest takes hold and two more dolls arrive in quick succession.

Immediately after the arrival of Katie I found myself ordering . . . Götz Happy Kidz Sophia 2020. What a stunner she is! I'm very excited about this doll and am looking forward to photographing her.

Then later . . . Götz Happy Kidz Greta 2025. Although I really love her pretty face and blue eyes, I felt the curly hair was just far to much. I also noticed the dress she was wearing had a funny smell and her stringing isn't up to the usual Götz standard, her legs are very floppy.

I must say it's really nice to own some Götz Happy Kidz with blue eyes, so fed up with brown. I'd also like another with green eyes to team up with my Chosen Kitty.

All three of the latest arrivals have had their clothes removed and are waiting for new outfits to be designed and completed. The Velcro, once again annoyed the heck out of me, especially when undressing little Greta, her hair kept getting caught in the back of the dress! GRR!

I think I may wash, trim and restyle all their hair, to give each a personality of their own. Any suggestions?

Sunday

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,