An Apologia for Countess Erzebet Bathory: Wolf Hall

An Apologia for Countess Erzebet Bathory: Wolf Hall: Earlier this week was "Inside the Court of Henry VIII", which was fascinating.  The Phone interrupted, as always, but I caught a g...

Memory, the Mother of the Muses

With so much personal and family loss facing me this year, I draw on lots of memories to sustain me.  Watching older family members become forgetful, and in one case, sinking into dementia itself, is painful, albeit they are well into their 80s.  Everyone else tells me to remember the good days, and even the one suffering dementia tells me cherish the wonderful memories I have of my late mother. Indeed, this is why we "memoir."  To remember, so that we are not truly gone.  We comfort ourselves with the idea that if we remember someone who has died, they are not really gone, not as long as we can remember them, and share memories of them.

The flip side is the grim reality another acquaintance pointed out on his radio show last week, that when someone dies, he is gone, and when we who remember them die, he is ultimately erased.  I hate to think that is true, but I suppose it is. When I am gone, who will care about the memoirs I have written and the photo albums and keepsakes of my family I have so carefully preserved?  When my dad dies, who will realize, besides me, that the worn bar of soap he keeps in a plastic bag, preserved in his dresser, was the last one my mother used?  Who will understand that the near empty bottle of Secret I keep on MY dresser, was hers?

If it didn't matter, why do so many of us keep these things?  Even the totally unsentimental among us keep letters from deceased loved one's, photos, now creased and worn from being carried in old wallets.

For those who are snooty, arrogant, holier than thous who reply, "I have my memories, I don't need things!" I have to ask, "what will you do when  your memory fades way, thought by though, image by image, dripping like drops from a leaky faucet, and the only crutch  you have to bring to life those loved ones is a dried flower, an old Teddy, a worn photo album>

Grim thoughts on a cold, spring day.  With sun and light come happier thoughts.

A Festival Honoring Rose O' Neill Artist and Suffragette

Kewpiesta 2015

For those who love Kewpies, not that Kewpiesta is near again.  Read below more about this year's festival.  Look for more on dolls and Spring and Easter, and get your fairy gardens ready!  Look forward to July, when Theriault's will auction Shirley Temple's dolls and memories, and remember UFDC!

Ellen Tsagaris Doll Collecting Expert Kewpiesta 2015 This year's Kewpiesta Theme is Kewpies on Vacation! READ NOW » Share   Rare Clowns Read more about Clowns featured at this weekend's Only Child auction, and see why, inspite of what some think, I still love clowns! READ NOW » Share   Only Child Catalogs Catalogs for Theriault's Only Child auction are being sent as we speak! READ NOW » Share   Ch I; With Love from Tin Lizzie Metal dolls from the ancient world have a rich history, worth its weight in gold. READ NOW » Share   MORE FROM ABOUT.COM • Monster High PVC Figure Frankie Stein • Madame Alexander Doll Types • Antique Doll Collector, Doll News, and More Doll Mag Reviews • Building a General Doll Collection • Ellen's Doll Collecting Blog March31st-April 4th • International Costume Dolls

Memoires d'Une Poupee

Early French Miniature Children's Book "Memoires d'Une Poupee" with Engravings 200/300

Lot # 49 (Sale Order: 49 of 60)

5" (13 cm.) x 3". The book, dated 1839, has beautiful marbled-paper hard cover, and with numerous black and white engravings the book tells first-hand account of a poupee...more of the era as she travels about. By Mademoiselle Louise Aulnay, published by Ebhard, Paris, 1839. Excellent condition and very rare.

Sold for $750.00

Weekly Newsletter: What was your Favorite Kids Book?

"The Dolls House" and other Doll Books by Rumer Godden

Godden was an avid miniature and doll collector as well as best-selling author.  Tottie, Marchpane, Little Plum, Miss Happiness, Miss Flower, Impunity Jane and other dolls populate her stories for children. Dolls peep into her adult work as well. Remember, send photos for the gallery.

Ellen Tsagaris Doll Collecting Expert "The Dolls House" and other Doll Books by Rumer Godden Through Tottie, Emily and Charlotte learn about thrift, self-reliance and family dynamics in Rumer Godden's "The Dolls' House." READ NOW » Share   Only Child Catalogs The auction of this beloved collection is barely one week away!  Dolls are avialable to view on line. Catalogs for Theriault's Only Child auction are being sent as we speak! READ NOW » Share   A History of Dolls II Metal dolls from the ancient world have a rich history, worth its weight in gold. READ NOW » Share   A History of Dolls Here is a game plan to use as a guide or outline for giving a program on the history of dolls. READ NOW » Share   MORE FROM ABOUT.COM • Blog • Building a General Doll Collection • Social Media and Doll Collectors • Building a General Doll Collection: Part II • Effanbee Dolls - All About Effanbee Dolls • International Costume Dolls

Doll Museum: Dr. E's Doll Museum Blog: Welcome, New Follower!

Doll Museum: Dr. E's Doll Museum Blog: Welcome, New Follower!: Dr. E's Doll Museum Blog: Welcome, New Follower! : We wish to welcome our new follower; thank you for reading our blog.  We love comment...

Miss Charlotte Bronte meets Miss Barbara Pym: A Pymian Word to the Wise; Avoid these on Facebook...

Miss Charlotte Bronte meets Miss Barbara Pym: A Pymian Word to the Wise; Avoid these on Facebook...: To all who read this and my other blogs, and to those who follow me on Twitter, avoid these groups allegedly created to celebrate Pym schola...