Known for their impossibly intricate murals and paintings, the street art duo How & Nosm—identical twins—will open In Between at the Library Street Collective in Detroit—epicenter of urban-influenced new contemporary art. The new collection continues their exploration of the universal themes of dichotomy and duality—the pull and push of forces...
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How Nosm -- In Between at Library Street Collective (4.23)
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Marsham Toy Hour - Episode 6 ToyCon UK
In this week’s episode of the Marsham Toy Hour, the gang talks all about ToyCon UK! Aaron from Martian Toys is nice and refreshed and has returned from over the pond and share his experience of the big UK event. If you ever wanted to know what ToyCon UK was...
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Milkboy x Kenth Toy Works - Nasdat Boy Second Order
If you missed the Kenth Toy Works Nadsat Boy sofubi the first time around, now’s the time as they are offering a second order opportunity. Available in two colorways—each figure stands 12" tall and are made from a Japanese soft vinyl. The "Pink" edition will serve as an exclusive to...
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Asian stocks fall after Wall Street snaps winning streak
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Color your World - Turquoise Blue
Color your World – Turquoise I have a soft spot for elephants – all types of elephants.
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Missionary Rag Babies - Loved So Much They're Well Worn
Julia Jones Beecher, shown in the picture above, and the members of the sewing circle of the Park Congregational Church made stockinette dolls from 1893 to 1910 for their charitable missionary fund, which resulted in the dolls being named "Missionary Rag Babies." They were made from stockinette, which is a soft, loosely knitted stretch fabric (i.e. underwear) and had needle-sculptured and hand painted faces and stockinette bodies. They also had applied ears, looped yarn hair, and sewn joints.
According to a post entitled "A Virtual Peek at the New Exhibit" on the Chemung County Historical Society blog each doll was accompanied with a note that said: If you will always take by the waist and never by the arm; if you will give your hand a wash before you play with me; if you will not leave me out in the dust or in the sunshine, and if you will not squeeze my face flat; I will be your pretty baby for a long time.
Also: The Beecher Baby Doll is the most famous locally-made doll. In 1885, Julia Beecher, wife of Reverend Thomas K. Beecher, was inspired to make a baby doll while she was mending stockings. The first doll that she made for her niece led to many more. In the next ten years, Mrs. Beecher sold 950 handmade dolls. Over $1,000 in profits from the sales were used for projects by the ladies’ organization of Park Church.
The irony of the dolls receiving such a note was that they were handled so much that nowadays they are very hard to find and if found are usually well worn. I like to think they were loved so much they just couldn't stand up to the test of time.
According to Cloth Dolls From Ancient To Modern by Linda Edwards: Missionary Rag Babies or Beecher Babies were made at the inspiration of Julia Beecher of Elmira, New York. Her first doll was made for her young niece, Daisy Day, who wanted a real baby of her own to care for.
In the Mark Twain in the Company of Women by Laura E. Skandera Trombley - University of Pennsylvania Press, Feb 1, 1997 book we learn that her husband, Thomas Beecher, considered his wife a full partner in their ministry. Much of Julia's energy was devoted to raising money for charity: and established the first Missionary Society for Elmira, N.Y. in 1885. She created a doll from old hose and yarn that the Missionary Society members sold at fairs for 50 cents. The dolls became known as "Beecher Dolls" and, later became known as "Missionary Babies or Missionary Rag Dolls."
I wanted to find some pictures of the "Beecher Dolls" and quickly discovered there were very few. Here's what I could find:
The Missionary Rag Baby Doll, shown in the picture above, is from The Strong National Museum of Play website.
Credits: 1893-1910, Manufacturer Julia Beecher, Material silk | jersey, Origin Elmira, NY, Object ID 78.358
According to their description: The pastor's wife of the Park Congregational Church in Elmira, NY, Julia Beecher made her first cloth doll for her niece. When others in her family requested a similar doll, Beecher sought the help of the church's sewing circle. Soon the group engaged in making dolls to support the congregation's missionary work, and according to some sources, to pay off the church's debts. The church made the Missionary Rag Babies from 1893 to 1910. The church ladies used needle sculpting and hand painting to detail the dolls' facial features, fingers, or clenched fists and made the distinctive wigs for the dolls of strains of yarn. Beecher dolls were usually clothed in a baby dress and matching bonnet.
Image Courtesy of LiveAuctioneers.com
The Beecher Baby Stockinette Doll, shown in the picture above, is from the LiveAuctioneers.com website.
According to their description: Elmira, New York, ca. 1900, handmade stockinette rag doll designed by Julia Jones Beecher, painted blue eyes, looped wool hair, applied ears, needle sculpted features, appropriately dressed in cotton pin tuck dress with lace insert and leather baby shoes
Size: 22" t.
Image Courtesy of Doll Shops United
Doll Shops United produced a .pdf "To Be of Use: Benefit Dolls By Lynette Gross" article that included the picture of the Missionary Rag Doll shown above.
If you would like to read that article please click here.
If you'd like to see an amazing amount of pictures of beautiful 19th century dolls Theriaults has a wonderful "The Backler Collection" October 2014 Theriaults issue on Issuu.com. There is a wonderful picture of a Missionary Rag Baby Doll on Page 13.
Image Courtesy of Theriaults.com
The AMERICAN BLACK STOCKINETTE "MISSIONARY RAG BABY" ATTRIBUTED TO JULIA BEECHER, shown in the picture above is from the Theriaults.com website.
According to their description: 20" Firmly stuffed black stockinette head with stitch-shaped facial features, cut-out eye sockets with black shoe button eyes on background, eye whites with painted lashes, embroidered brows, nostrils and well-shaped red lips, black yarn hair cap, original brown cotton sateen body with stitch jointing at shoulders, elbows, hips and knees, mitten hands with separate thumbs.....Comments: attributed to Julia Beecher, of Elmira, New York, circa 1890.....
Image Courtesy of Theriaults.com
The AMERICAN BLACK STOCKINETTE "MISSIONARY RAG BABY" ATTRIBUTED TO JULIA BEECHER, shown in the picture above, is also from the Theriaults.com website.
According to their description: 21" Firmly-stuffed black stockinette head with well- defined stitch-shaped facial features,cut-out eye sockets with eye whites having painted lashes and black shoe button eyes,embroidered brows,nostrils and well-shaped red lips,black yarn hair cap,the head sewn onto original brown cotton sateen body with stitch jointing at shoulders,elbows,hips and knees,mitten hands with separate thumbs....Comments: attributed to Julia Beecher, of Elmira, New York, circa 1890......
Image Courtesy of Fun City on Rubylane.com
The 1890s Antique Beecher Black Stockinette Missionary Ragbaby American Rag Doll, shown in the picture above, is from Fun City on the Rubylane.com website.
According to their description: 20" Rare and wonderful antique Beecher or Beecher-type stockinette-faced Missionary Rag Baby doll. // Made in the 1890s, attributed to Julia Beecher who created stockinette-faced dolls as part of the Congregational Church sewing circle in Elmira,NY between 1893 and 1910. She was also the sister-in-law of Harriet Beecher Stowe's, author of Uncle Tom's Cabin.// Features painted eyes with shoe button pupils, embroidered lips, original plaid hair kerchief, all original clothes, original bloomers and petticoat, knit socks, oil cloth shoes.....
How can you not love a doll that is so handled and so loved that she is well worn. You can't.
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DST Ghostbusters checklist: What's out & what's coming up
Diamond Select Toys' Ghostbusters Select line is, without a doubt, the best collector-level Ghostbusters action figure line we've seen thus far. However, with so many releases, it's easy to lose track of what's out there and what's still needed to assemble that rooftop diorama. Here's a rundown:
- Ray Stanz, Winston Zeddemore and Louis Tully were released earlier the year.
- Peter Venkman, Egon Spengler and Dana Barrett are set to release this week!
- Slimer, Janine, and Quitting Time Ray are slated to release this summer.
- Gozer, Walter Peck and Slimed Peter are scheduled for later this year.
- Terror Dog, Library Ghost and Taxi Driver Ghost
Collect all 15 to build a diorama of that stunning rooftop scene from the ending of Ghostbusters. (Note: The diorama parts will only be available with the Select versions of the figures, in the larger, specialty market-exclusive packaging, with spine artwork.)
Have you picked any of these figures up so far? If so, what do you think?
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By the power of the moon! Sailor Moon joins Funko's Pop! line
Funko recently showed off images of its upcoming Sailor Moon Pop! figures, which are due out this July. The assortment consists of Sailor Moon (with Luna), Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Venus (with Artemis), and Tuxedo Mask.
While I personally love the look of Tuxedo Mask (and the cats!), I'm not quite sure that the Pop! style agrees with the Sailor Scouts. I imagine that it might grow on me by the time these see in a few months.
What do you guys think?
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Global stocks lower after Wall Street snaps winning streak
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Kabaya Fortress Maximus DX Transformers Trading Kit Metalic Version 1 Gum Kit Revealed
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Thanks to our sponsor HLJ, we have news and images of a new release that will feature a reissue of their Transformers G1 Japan edition Fortress Maximus. The new edition is featured in what appears to be a metallic colors release including all the parts and accessories found in the original replica of the Grand Max release that offered in Japan only. Get a look at the figure in various modes with accessories and the packaging as well. The figure will be shipping in August for a list price of 4,200 JPY / $38 USD.
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ROBOTKINGDOM.COM Newsletter #1322
ROBOTKINGDOM.COM Newsletter #1322 Hi, Here is a quick update from www.robotkingdom.com. 1. New Stickers Wave 2 Available! All ORDERS WITH GENERATIONS 2015 ITEMS WILL RECEIVE HASBRO EXCLUSIVE COMBINER WARS STRICKER PER ORDER!
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round about: pom pom picnics & colored pencil rings
Sometimes something a little magical happens, and it can turn an entire week around in a snap. It rained this evening. By some miracle we actually finished dinner with lots of time to spare, and Birdie asked to go outside with her umbrella. I joined her, and next thing you know we’re laughing in the […]
The post round about: pom pom picnics & colored pencil rings appeared first on Small for Big.
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Give Security Toy Our Employees With First Class Lockers
Lockers are an essential office furniture piece among the employees working in different companies r
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Pop! Movie: Flash Gordon
Funko has announced a series of four figures from one of the most popular sci-fi films of the 1980's - Pop! Movie: Flash Gordon. The series includes namesake Flash Gordon, Ming the Merciless, General Klytus, and Prince Vultan of the Hackmen. Look for them to be released beginning in July 2016.
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Mattel Investors Mourn Loss of Princesses, Declining Barbie Sales
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Barse by Brent Nolasco Now Available
WHO: ""Barse" is a grumpy fellow always looking for trouble. He sometimes gets along with "Bun Bun" and "Sonny" who both always try to cheer him up. Food is the best motivation to get him out of his funk, so Bun Bun and Sonny always keep a supply of snacks and goodies. Barse always enjoys their company after a good treat."
Created and painted by Brent Nolasco, the 7 1/2" tall "Barse" is ![]()
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JonPaul Kaiser's "MacReady" Available Online Now
JonPaul Kaiser sends word of his character-themed sculpt release, currently available here for £150.00 apiece (price include free worldwide shipping)."They're just over 4" tall, sculpted and handprinted by myself, with resin casting duties taken on by Evan Morgan." - added JPK.Named "MacReady", permit me to refresh y'alls' memories of American helicopter "R.J. MacReady" played by actor Kurt ![]()
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"The Odd Ones" Dunny Series coming from Scott Tolleson x Kidrobot
Releasing this fall from Kidrobot, is Scott Tolleson's very own Dunny Series, with THE ODD ONES - featuring beatnik misfits, classic ghouls and cthulhus from the Lost Americanas!![]()
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Three new Feelings from Taylored Curiosities
A photo posted by Taylored Curiosities (@tayloredcurios) on Apr 19, 2016 at 10:52am PDT
Penny at Taylored Curiosities is currently running an Instagram giveaway where folks can stand a chance to win ALL THREE "Feelings" seen in the image above (One lucky winner will receive a set of three - randomly selected 26 April 2016).
But if you'd rather purchase them straightup, you can find "Calm", "![]()
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TIA Leads Advocacy Day for TSCA Reform Legislation
Toy Industry Association (TIA) representatives and several TIA members met with members of federal congressional offices and the Environmental Protection Agency to discuss the passage of Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) reform legislation. TIA led the TSCA Advocacy Day to encourage key policymakers to collaborate, finalize legislation, and propose a joint bill to President Obama, [...]
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