As I scanned through the box I found other patterns for primitive dolls that were just as ugly and just as beautiful. So, of course, I bought a few and could hardly wait to get them home so I could make them. And, make them I did.
The popularity of primitive dolls - especially "raggedies" (which are versions of raggedy ann dolls) continued to grow and grow. Primitive decor seemed to take over with all sorts of primitive decorations that could be made for one's home - dolls, raggedies, make-do's, shelf sitters, holiday and seasonal primitive decorations, primitive animals, primitive graphics, primitive woodcraft's, curtains, rugs, furniture and so on and on.
Around this same time primitive decor was all the rage and gaining in popularity online which created a ton of primitive websites, blogs, and groups. It seemed there were primitives everywhere and no shortage of freebies for creating all sorts of primitive dolls and crafts for home decor, but especially "raggedies."
So, given how much I love dolls, history and old books I decided to see if there were copies of some of the old dolls books out there and found a lot of different dolls books out there on Project Gutenberg, which displays books that are in the public domain. Surprisingly there were two for "Raggedy Ann and Andy", which were as follows: 1) "Raggedy Ann Stories" written in 1918 e-book and 2) "Raggedy Andy Stories"written in 1920 e-book.
According to Wikipedia.org in 1915 Johnny Gruelle filed for a patent for a cloth Raggedy Ann doll, as shown in the illustration above - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raggedy_Ann.
As far as Raggedy Ann is concerned, one of the legends surrounding her creation is that a little girl was rummaging around her Grandmother's attic and finds a battered old doll with only one button eye. She brings the doll down to her grandmother who sews on a missing button eye. While reminiscing about playing with Raggedy Ann as a young girl she decides to give it to her granddaughter and in doing so introduces her granddaughter to the world of Raggedy Ann. And so Raggedy Ann was born.
As a child I loved the Raggedy Ann stories, which my Grandmother used to read to me. As an adult, while I realize the stories are a product of their times, I still found many of the Raggedy Ann's Stories doll illustrations by Johnny Gruelle themselves to be charming. They depict "dollie" adventures. What's not to love.... lol
There are twelve chapters in "Raggedy Ann's Stories" plus a preface and dedication and introduction. I thought you'd might like to read the preface and dedication and introduction by Johnny Gruelle, so here it is:
As I write this, I have before me on my desk, propped up against the telephone, an old rag doll. Dear old Raggedy Ann!
The same Raggedy Ann with which my mother played when a child.
There she sits, a trifle loppy and loose-jointed, looking me squarely in the face in a straightforward, honest manner, a twinkle where her shoe-button eyes reflect the electric light.
Evidently Raggedy has been to a "tea party" today, for her face is covered with chocolate.
She smiles happily and continuously.
True, she has been nibbled by mice, who have made nests out of the soft cotton with which she has been stuffed, but Raggedy smiled just as broadly when the mice nibbled at her, for her smile is painted on.
What adventures you must have had, Raggedy!
What joy and happiness you have brought into this world!
And no matter what treatment you have received, how patient you have been!
What lessons of kindness and fortitude you might teach could you but talk; you with your wisdom of fifty-nine years. No wonder Rag Dolls are the best beloved! You are so kindly, so patient, so lovable.
The more you become torn, tattered and loose-jointed, Rag Dolls, the more you are loved by children.
Who knows but that Fairyland is filled with old, lovable Rag Dolls—soft, loppy Rag Dolls who ride through all the wonders of Fairyland in the crook of dimpled arms, snuggling close to childish breasts within which beat hearts filled with eternal sunshine.
So, to the millions of children and grown-ups who have loved a Rag Doll, I dedicate these stories of Raggedy Ann. - Johnny Gruelle
Marcella liked to play up in the attic at Grandma's quaint old house, 'way out in the country, for there were so many old forgotten things to find up there.
One day when Marcella was up in the attic and had played with the old spinning wheel until she had grown tired of it, she curled up on an old horse-hair sofa to rest.
"I wonder what is in that barrel, 'way back in the corner?" she thought, as she jumped from the sofa and climbed over two dusty trunks to the barrel standing back under the eaves.
It was quite dark back there, so when Marcella had pulled a large bundle of things from the barrel she took them over to the dormer window where she could see better. There was a funny little bonnet with long white ribbons. Marcella put it on.
In an old leather bag she found a number of tin-types of queer looking men and women in old-fashioned clothes. And there was one picture of a very pretty little girl with long curls tied tightly back from her forehead and wearing a long dress and queer pantaloons which reached to her shoe-tops. And then out of the heap she pulled an old rag doll with only one shoe-button eye and a painted nose and a smiling mouth. Her dress was of soft material, blue with pretty little flowers and dots all over it.
Forgetting everything else in the happiness of her find, Marcella caught up the rag doll and ran downstairs to show it to Grandma.
"Well! Well! Where did you find it?" Grandma cried. "It's old Raggedy Ann!" she went on as she hugged the doll to her breast. "I had forgotten her. She has been in the attic for fifty years, I guess! Well! Well! Dear old Raggedy Ann! I will sew another button on her right away!" and Grandma went to the machine drawer and got her needle and thread.
Marcella watched the sewing while Grandma told how she had played with Raggedy Ann when she was a little girl.
"Now!" Grandma laughed, "Raggedy Ann, you have two fine shoe-button eyes and with them you can see the changes that have taken place in the world while you have been shut up so long in the attic! For, Raggedy Ann, you have a new playmate and mistress now, and I hope you both will have as much happiness together as you and I used to have!"
Then Grandma gave Raggedy Ann to Marcella, saying very seriously, "Marcella, let me introduce my very dear friend, Raggedy Ann. Raggedy, this is my grand-daughter, Marcella!" And Grandma gave the doll a twitch with her fingers in such a way that the rag doll nodded her head to Marcella.
"Oh, Grandma! Thank you ever and ever so much!" Marcella cried as she gave Grandma a hug and kiss. "Raggedy Ann and I will have just loads of fun."
And this is how Raggedy Ann joined the doll family at Marcella's house, where she began the adventures of Raggedy Ann, told in the following stories.
I think Johnny Gruelle would be so pleased to know that he has brought love, smiles and joy to the faces of millions of young girls for over a hundred years.
"Then," said the penny dolls, "we are indeed happy and proud for you! For wherever one of the new Raggedy Ann dolls goes there will go with it the love and happiness that you give to others.".... - From Raggedy Ann's New Sisters
Preface and Dedication
As I write this, I have before me on my desk, propped up against the telephone, an old rag doll. Dear old Raggedy Ann!
The same Raggedy Ann with which my mother played when a child.
There she sits, a trifle loppy and loose-jointed, looking me squarely in the face in a straightforward, honest manner, a twinkle where her shoe-button eyes reflect the electric light.
Evidently Raggedy has been to a "tea party" today, for her face is covered with chocolate.
She smiles happily and continuously.
True, she has been nibbled by mice, who have made nests out of the soft cotton with which she has been stuffed, but Raggedy smiled just as broadly when the mice nibbled at her, for her smile is painted on.
What adventures you must have had, Raggedy!
What joy and happiness you have brought into this world!
And no matter what treatment you have received, how patient you have been!
What lessons of kindness and fortitude you might teach could you but talk; you with your wisdom of fifty-nine years. No wonder Rag Dolls are the best beloved! You are so kindly, so patient, so lovable.
The more you become torn, tattered and loose-jointed, Rag Dolls, the more you are loved by children.
Who knows but that Fairyland is filled with old, lovable Rag Dolls—soft, loppy Rag Dolls who ride through all the wonders of Fairyland in the crook of dimpled arms, snuggling close to childish breasts within which beat hearts filled with eternal sunshine.
So, to the millions of children and grown-ups who have loved a Rag Doll, I dedicate these stories of Raggedy Ann. - Johnny Gruelle
Introduction
Marcella liked to play up in the attic at Grandma's quaint old house, 'way out in the country, for there were so many old forgotten things to find up there.
One day when Marcella was up in the attic and had played with the old spinning wheel until she had grown tired of it, she curled up on an old horse-hair sofa to rest.
"I wonder what is in that barrel, 'way back in the corner?" she thought, as she jumped from the sofa and climbed over two dusty trunks to the barrel standing back under the eaves.
It was quite dark back there, so when Marcella had pulled a large bundle of things from the barrel she took them over to the dormer window where she could see better. There was a funny little bonnet with long white ribbons. Marcella put it on.
In an old leather bag she found a number of tin-types of queer looking men and women in old-fashioned clothes. And there was one picture of a very pretty little girl with long curls tied tightly back from her forehead and wearing a long dress and queer pantaloons which reached to her shoe-tops. And then out of the heap she pulled an old rag doll with only one shoe-button eye and a painted nose and a smiling mouth. Her dress was of soft material, blue with pretty little flowers and dots all over it.
Forgetting everything else in the happiness of her find, Marcella caught up the rag doll and ran downstairs to show it to Grandma.
"Well! Well! Where did you find it?" Grandma cried. "It's old Raggedy Ann!" she went on as she hugged the doll to her breast. "I had forgotten her. She has been in the attic for fifty years, I guess! Well! Well! Dear old Raggedy Ann! I will sew another button on her right away!" and Grandma went to the machine drawer and got her needle and thread.
Marcella watched the sewing while Grandma told how she had played with Raggedy Ann when she was a little girl.
"Now!" Grandma laughed, "Raggedy Ann, you have two fine shoe-button eyes and with them you can see the changes that have taken place in the world while you have been shut up so long in the attic! For, Raggedy Ann, you have a new playmate and mistress now, and I hope you both will have as much happiness together as you and I used to have!"
Then Grandma gave Raggedy Ann to Marcella, saying very seriously, "Marcella, let me introduce my very dear friend, Raggedy Ann. Raggedy, this is my grand-daughter, Marcella!" And Grandma gave the doll a twitch with her fingers in such a way that the rag doll nodded her head to Marcella.
"Oh, Grandma! Thank you ever and ever so much!" Marcella cried as she gave Grandma a hug and kiss. "Raggedy Ann and I will have just loads of fun."
And this is how Raggedy Ann joined the doll family at Marcella's house, where she began the adventures of Raggedy Ann, told in the following stories.
"Then," said the penny dolls, "we are indeed happy and proud for you! For wherever one of the new Raggedy Ann dolls goes there will go with it the love and happiness that you give to others.".... - From Raggedy Ann's New Sisters
I hope you find Johnny Gruelle's doll illustrations to be as charming as I did and hope you get a chance to take a look at the Raggedy Ann Stories free ebook.
This eBook is online at https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/18190
Well, like my dolls, I generally design and create boys and girls dolls like brothers and sisters, husbands and wives, etc.
So, it should come as no surprise that I would post a link to the 'Raggedy Andy Stories" free e-book written & illustrated by Johnny Gruelle as well.
I found Raggedy Andy's Stories illustrations by Johnny Gruelle to be as charming as the Raggedy Ann illustrations were.
In 1920 Johnny Gruelle filed for a patent for a cloth Raggedy Andy doll, as shown in the illustration above.
"Raggedy Andy Stories" starts with two letters from fans of Raggedy Ann, which are as follows:
Gainsville, Florida, January 8, 1919.
Johnny Gruelle,
Care of P. F. Volland Company.
Chicago, Ill.
Dear Johnny:
When I saw your Raggedy Ann books and dolls in a store near here, I went right in and bought one of each, and when I had read your introduction to "Raggedy Ann" I went right up to an old trunk in my own attic and brought down the doll I am sending you with this letter.
This doll belonged to my mother and she played with it when a little girl. She treasured it highly, I know, for she kept it until I came and then she gave it to me.
The fun that we two have had together I cannot begin to tell you, but often, like the little boy who went out into the garden to eat worms when all the world seemed blue and clouded, this doll and I went out under the arbor and had our little cry together. I can still feel it's soft rag arms (as I used to imagine) about me, and hear the words of comfort (also imaginary) that were whispered in my ear.
As you say in your Raggedy Ann book, "Fairyland must be filled with rag dolls, soft loppy rag dolls who go through all the beautiful adventures found there, nestling in the crook of a dimpled arm." I truly believe there is such a fairyland and that rag dolls were first made there, or how else could they bring so much sunshine into a child's life?
Raggedy Ann bowing
All the little girls of my acquaintance have your Raggedy Ann book and doll, and for the happiness you have brought to them let me give to you the doll of all my dolls, the doll I loved most dearly.
May it prove to you a gift from Fairyland, bringing with it all the "wish come true" that you may wish and, if possible, add to the sunshine in your life.
My mother called the doll Raggedy Andy and it was by this name that I have always known him. Is it any wonder that I was surprised when I saw the title of your book?
Introduce Raggedy Andy to Raggedy Ann, dear Johnny. Let him share in the happiness of your household.
Sincerely yours,
Raggedy Andy's "Mama."
Wilton, Connecticut, January 12, 1919.
Dear John:
Your letter brings many pleasant memories to my mind and takes me back to my childhood.
Living next door to us, when I was about four years old, was a little girl named Bessie; I cannot recall her last name. When my mother made Raggedy Ann for me, Bessie's mother made a rag doll for her, for we two always played together; as I recall, there was no fence between our two houses.
Bessie's doll was made a day or so after Raggedy Ann, I think, though I am not quite certain which of the two dolls was made first. However, Bessie's doll was given the name of Raggedy Andy, and one of the two dolls was named after the other, so that their names would sound alike.
We children played with the two rag dolls most of the time until Bessie's family moved away—when I was eight or nine years old. They had faces just alike; the mother who made the first doll probably painted both doll faces. I do not remember just how Raggedy Andy was dressed, but I know he often wore dresses over his boy clothes when Bessie and I decided that he and Raggedy Ann should be sisters for the day.
You will remember I told you about Raggedy Andy long ago, John.
Isn't it strange that the two old rag dolls should come together after all these years? I wish Raggedy Andy's "Mama" had signed her name, for I should like to write to her. Perhaps there may be some way of finding her out.
Anyway, it seems to me you have the subject for another rag doll book, for Raggedy Andy must have had some wonderful adventures in his long life.
Yours lovingly,
Mom.
According to Wikipedia Raggedy Ann - The Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy dolls and their related memorabilia have become sought-after collectors' items. In addition to the dolls and books, other related items continue to be produced including adaptations of the stories into comic books, audio recordings, animated films, and television and theatrical productions.
Honors and tributes - The Raggedy Ann doll was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame in Rochester, New York, on March 27, 2002. Raggedy Andy was inducted 5 years later on November 8, 2007.
I hope you find Johnny Gruelle's doll illustrations to be charming and hope they inspire you to create a Raggedy Andy of your own either for you, your son or your grandson.
This eBook is online at https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/17371
I don't know about the rest of you, but when I find something I like I tend to get a lot of crafting ideas for what I can make with it and I look for other things I can utilize as well.
Such was the case with the Harper's Young People Illustrations Book from 1889 that I found in my home last fall.
I didn't have any other old books like that around so after finding that and the wonderful old illustrations I could use for ephemeral collage purposes I decided to see if there were any other old books with illustrations I could find online.
To my delight The Project Gutenberg website had a lot of old public domain books they had created free eBooks for.
So, I started searching for old books on dolls and found a copy of some of the old "Raggedy Ann" books out there that are in the public domain.
I found two: 1) "Raggedy Ann Stories" written in 1918 by Johnny Gruelle eBook and 2) "Raggedy Andy Stories"cwritten in 1920 by Johnny Gruelle eBook.
When I had found the "Alice's Adventures In Wonderland" free eBooks that were in the public domain I decided to create e-printable sheets for my own mixed media, collage and scrapbook purposes for the illustrations that I liked. After doing that I decided to create some free reversible sheets so all the "Alice's Adventures In Wonderland" crafters who dabble in mixed media, collage, scrapbook and paper crafts could utilize them as well.
This time I decided to take all the illustrations I had captured from the "Raggedy Stories Dolls - Ann and Raggedy Stories Doll - Andy" by Johnny Gruelle free eBooks that I liked and create reversible E-printable sheets of the original graphic illustrations as well as removing the backgrounds from some of the illustrations and creating separate graphics that you could use for your crafting needs.
There are so many uses for the illustrations and graphics. If you want to create a stand-able character that you can use in a diorama or mixed media 3D type creation you can cut out the two images and paste them back to back or paste to heavy paper or chipboard.
If you want to see the free reversible mixed media, collage and scrapbook sheets I created just click on the link above.
While the Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy stories are a product of their time, I found the doll illustrations by Johnny Gruelle to be charming as, of course, they depicted all sorts of "dollies" at play.
So, I decided I would adapt the illustrations I liked for my own crafting purposes as well as creating graphics that I could use in some of my custom crafting products and custom products galleries.
I decided to remove the backgrounds for the original illustrations, re-draw the outlines and then adapt them to .png graphics images I could use. This allowed me to get graphic images that I could use separately and intermingle for all different kinds of purposes.
I ended up creating fifteen different adapted and colorized designs, which are shown above.
After creating the fifteen designs I decided to create custom fabrics first.
Raggedy Dollies Stories Designs Collection at my Linda Walsh Originals Fabric Designs at Spoonflower.com
© 2004-2020 Copyright Linda Walsh Originals - Designs By Linda Walsh.
My custom fabric designs are available at LWOriginals at Spoonflower.
I had a lot of fun creating my Raggedy Dollies Stories designs and finally had a chance to add them to my Raggedy Dollies Stories Designs Collection at my Linda Walsh Originals Fabric Designs at Spoonflower.com.
I love having them there as they have so many fabrics to choose from now. At last count they had twenty-on different fabrics ranging from Petal Signature Cotton to Belgian Cotton. So many choices which allow for so many different types of home decor possibilities for little girls bedrooms.
Please note that all transactions for purchasing fabric and custom products are between you (the customer) and Spoonflower.com and Zazzle.com.
My fabric designs are perfect for making all sorts of sewing and crafting projects as well as for making little girl home decor, birthday or crafting party decorations, ornaments, pillows, quilts, etc.
PLEASE NOTE: Actual fabric will not contain © Linda Walsh watermarks.
I decided to use two of the designs I created for some of my crayons custom fabric designs and use the remaining thirteen for my new Raggedy Dollies Stories fabric designs category.
Since it was one of the hottest days of the summer when I was doing this I decided to start with the Raggedy Dollies Stories teal blue design I had created and started creating custom fabric designs for the summer.
From there I just kept designing:
Then I decided to creat some "freebies" for all of you, which are as follows:
For one of the "freebies"I decided to take all the illustrations I had captured and create reversible E-printable sheets of the original graphic illustrations as well as removing the backgrounds from some of the illustrations and creating separate graphics that you could use for your crafting needs. If you would like to get my free reversible collage sheets just click on the link above.
There are so many uses for the illustrations and graphics. If you want to create a stand-able character that you can use in a diorama or mixed media 3D type creation you can cut out the two images and paste them back to back or paste to heavy paper or chipboard.
I also decided to create free coloring pages, inspired by these illustrations from the 1918 free e-book, so all the little girls and grown-up girls could enjoy coloring images of their favorite "dollies." Kind of like a shared young and old experience.
My first free coloring pages e-book contains contains twenty-seven individual 8 1/2" by 11" coloring pages.
Copyright © 2020 Linda Walsh Originals - All Rights Reserved. For personal use only.
My second free coloring pages e-book contains contains thirty one individual 8 1/2" by 11" coloring pages.
I hope you enjoy my free coloring pages e-books.
Copyright © 2020 Linda Walsh Originals - All Rights Reserved. For personal use only.
I hope you enjoy my free coloring pages e-books.
If you prefer to just see the individual coloring pages please click on the links below for my two Linda's Blog posts:
Please respect My Terms of Use: All patterns, e-patterns, printables, e-printables, e-books, graphics, tutorials, how-to's, articles and other e-products © 2004-2023 Linda Walsh Originals-Designs by Linda Walsh. All rights reserved. Commercial selling or reselling by any means prohibited without the written consent of Linda Walsh.
Patterns, e-patterns, printables, e-printables, e-books, graphics, tutorials, how-to's, articles and other e-products are for personal use only. You may not modify, photocopy, download, upload, post, transmit, display, perform, publish, license, reprint, create derivative works from, mass duplicate, re-sell, digitize, and reproduce in any other form (print, digital or electric) or commercially apply, embed, share, Email, or redistribution in any other means. Use of any of the above is prohibited without the written permission of Linda Walsh.
However, you may link to my website(s)/blog(s) and the individual page(s)/blog post(s) (including 1 picture) but do not copy, reprint or duplicate my website(s)/blog(s) or individual page(s)/post(s ) without my permission.
Items made from Linda Walsh Originals E-Patterns are intended for personal use for fun or small scale personal and business profit as long as you credit us with the design. Large scale commercial use (i.e. mass production) of items made from Linda Walsh Originals E-Patterns are by permission only.
Please see my Terms and Conditions for additional information.
Copyright © 2004 - 2023 - All Rights Reserved - Written By Linda Walsh of Linda Walsh Originals and Linda's Blog. Linda is a doll maker and doll pattern designer.
No comments:
Post a Comment