Collectible cloth dolls are not that different from rag dolls because they are made of the same fabric. While one is created from a selected the fabric, the other is made from scraps. Because they are easy to make, almost anyone can make one so you don’t have to necessarily buy it from the store.

In order to create your collectible cloth doll in your own image and likeness, you need to check first if all the materials are available. These include the fabric, the pattern, the sewing machine, thread, filling, yarn and buttons.

With everything ready, you may begin by drawing the face on paper. It is best to practice a few times to be able to get the right position and proportion.

As for the doll pattern, there are so many to choose from so for starters, get something simple from the craft store and if you succeed, it is time to find something more challenging by looking for more samples online.

You can also get tips and advice about how to make cloth dolls from such resources so why not take some time to read or learn from them.

With a pair of scissors, you will now cut the fabric pieces so you have the head, body and limbs. Various fabrics can be used to make this happen and a few examples are flesh, peach colored broadcloth, tan, percale or any tight weave cotton material.

Now it is time to piece everything together. For that, you begin by sewing all the darts on the body by working your way the wrong side out. Do not forget to leave an opening for the head and limbs then set this aside for a while.

You have drawn earlier the head on paper so it should be easy for you to embroider the face. You may use the buttons for the eyes and noses by sewing it and then using a marker to draw the lips. For those who don’t want to use buttons, you can also use the market to draw the eyes, eyebrows, nose and mouth. This gives you a freehand of creating unique facial features not common on cloth dolls.

Next, sew the limbs and the head as indicated by the pattern, stuff it and then close the openings. Get some yarn and then sew this on the head so your collectible cloth doll will have some hair.

As you can see, there is already the head, the body and the legs. The only thing you have to do now is put everything together. Once this is sewn into place, the finishing touch will be to dress up the doll. You can follow the instructions that usually come with most cloth doll patterns or make one up by using your imagination.

It is a great feeling to have completed your very first collectible cloth doll. She is just perfect because you were able to create something you wanted. From there, you can create more and then give this away as a gift or sell this to others.

Your collectible cloth doll will also get dirty after some time. You must never use water to clean it but instead rub cornstarch into the body and leave it for about 8 hours before you gently brush this off.

Collectible American Girl Dolls have been sold and traded very well among hobbyists for many years. Although produced in countries like China, the concept comes from those back in the States who were inspired by one thing or another which makes these toys worth a lot of money. Here are some of America’s favorites here and abroad.

The first is the Cabbage Patch Kids that entered the market in the late 80’s. What makes this doll so unique is the fact the people do not buy them but rather adopt them. Just to prove how popular it was, there was a time that almost every woman brought this around wherever they went while going shopping or just having lunch.

Precious Moments which opened a few years earlier is also different because these Collectible American Girl Dolls were made of ceramic material. You can’t play with it but they served as ideal gifts to friends and family because of the teardrop eye design in each figurine.

Madame Alexander dolls are another favorite. This is just one of many Collectible American Girl Dolls that your child can play with especially with the various interchangeable costumes available so you can dress it up like someone from the king’s court or a famous Hollywood celebrity.

Lee Middleton dolls are the most realistic Collectible American Girl Dolls because they appear so life like. From a distance, you could think that it is the real thing which is why some have gone to great extents to save it from a fiery building or catch it before this falls into the ground. The company releases new dolls every month in various eye colors, skin tones, hair colors and sizes that continues to this day.

American Girl dolls are a popular among children and adults alike because the collection is from different time periods and places in American history making it very ethnically diverse. You can choose the doll based on the story of the character or you make this up on your own.

One of the biggest toy companies in the US remains to be Hasbro. They make board games and action figures alike so if you want a blast from the past, you can choose from Charlie’s Angels Dolls, Jem Dolls and Little Miss No Name that were some of their best sellers back in the 60’s and 80’s.

The newest contender in the doll market that is the Bratz dolls. The company is quite new but given their record sales performance during the Christmas of 2003, this is something that collectors should look out for in the future.

Lastly, the best selling doll for almost 50 years and is considered to be the symbol of Collectible American Girl Dolls is Barbie. Although the later models do not sell as much as the earlier ones, there are still people who will do anything to buy one in 1959 when this was first released. This was again reproduced in 1994 to mark its 35th year anniversary and with its 50th birthday next year, who knows what this company will do to commemorate this special day.

You can look for Collectible American Girl Dolls almost everywhere these days but the best venue to find antique or unique items is the Internet. Keep in mind that you may have to participate in an auction in order to get it.

There are a lot of people interested in collectible antique dolls. Aside from the ones that are still being produced, the ones that really go for a lot of money are the limited edition collections and some of the first which are no longer being sold.

If you are business minded, you can make money by buying them from someone and then selling it to interested buyers. To help you along, here are a few things to help you out.

First, you have to ask yourself whether you are selling what you have meaning your own collection or starting from scratch which means you will outsource for these goods in order to make a profit. The first one is easy but if you run out, then you have to go to option 2 which is to acquire these from a distributor or wholesaler.

The nice thing about dealing with a distributor or wholesaler is that they will sell these to you at a low price and sometimes give a discount but only you have in large quantities.

Another option is for you to attend trade shows or estate auctions that although will cost a little more, has a sure chance of fetching a higher price from an interested buyer.

So how do you sell it? Well, since we are living in the digital age, why not use the Internet. You can create your own website to sell these products but if you don’t know how, this can still be sold by uploading it into an auction site.

A good example is eBay because it is one of the more popular ones around. But when you do sell your collectible antique doll, make sure you have some photos so people will be able to see. It is best to take a few shots from various angles since they are unable to hold like you could when you are in a store.

You should also provide a description of the collectible antique doll you are selling. A brief history of the item, what materials were used, when and where it was made. You should also mention the doll’s condition so they know if this is brand new or pre owned.

For those who will order, make sure you select the payment option. A lot of auction sites use Paypal aside from the credit card. You don’t have to worry about shipping policies because this is already controlled by the web provider but again if this is your own, you better be sure that the item they selected will be delivered in good condition and on time.

The biggest challenge of having your own website selling collectible antique dolls or any other product for that matter is after sales service. What if the customer is not happy with what was delivered? If you want these people to purchase from you again, you have to be true to your word. This can be achieved by responding to any queries they may have or offering a money back guarantee if they are not satisfied.

If you are able to make this work out, you can make a lot of money buying and selling collectible antique dolls. The question you have to ask yourself is whether you have what it takes to run a successful online business.

May it be a hobby, a passion or a must for you, Holly Hobbie Dolls Collectible should fill up a worth it space among your collections.

Truly beautiful and unique, this doll could be enjoyed by young girls and even their moms. It is such a feast to look at. But did you know that there is a real Holly Hobbie?

Who is Holly Hobbie?
Born in 1944, illustrator and American writer, Holly Hobbie, created her namesake fictional character. The name given to her at birth was Denise Holly Ulinkas. In 1964, she married Douglas Hobbie. The author is known for her popular children’s books, the Toot and Puddle, and, of course, being the creator of the character Holly Hobbie.

From Nameless to Stardom
It started in the early 1970s when the writer/illustrator Hobbie started selling various versions of artwork of a little girl with a pet cat, rag-like dresses and wears a giant bonnet, to American Greetings. Because of its uniqueness and mass appeal, it became an instant hit and so the nameless character was named after its creator. From then on, Holly Hobbie, the character was born.

The character became a famous face on shirts, beddings, mugs, plates, figurines, watches, you name it. It really rose to stardom that you can actually see it all over at the time.

Next thing they knew, the Knickerbocker Toys got hold of the license to produce a line of rag dolls bearing the Holly Hobby character in 1974. And this has become a way for the character to have more and more following.

Holly Hobbie Continues to Shine
As years go by, many other collectible toys and animated character designs have filled the market and so Holly Hobbie diminishes into the limelight.

But if you think that it was the end for that line, you are greatly mistaken because in 2006, Holly Hobbie had a comeback and was received well. The American Greetings, together with Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products brought “Holly Hobbie and Friends – Surprise Party” DVD. This is said to be only the first from a planned series of DVDs.

The said DVD was released in March. It stars Holly Hobbie’s great-granddaughter that bears the same name as the original but dressed in a more up-to-date fashion and is involve in timely activities.

This is a good move because it doesn’t alienate the young viewers with the character while retaining the good moral values that the original version wanted to impart in the first place.

Marie Osmond and Holly Hobbie
Marie Osmond Dolls made available two Holly Hobbie dolls from its original line. This is such a collector’s item that debuted on QVC on the 17th of April. Dressed in a customary bonnet, print flowing dress with an apron and boots, it surely is one of the prettiest from the Holly Hobbie collection. It retails at $49.99.

A Holly Hobbie greeting card doll that retails at $24.99 was also made available by Marie Osmond in partnership with American Greetings. The doll, which is seven inches tall, wears a pink hat and simple dress with apron.

Lovable is the right term for the Holly Hobbie Dolls Collectible to become a hobby for most girls who know how to appreciate real beauty. This line is predicted to come a long way still because of its appeal and the moral values it imparts with the different lines it now has.

It used to be just a simple toy. Now dolls became collectible. It is because through time, innovations have happened with how they make the dolls that one cannot help but buy each design that they like and collect them for personal enjoyment or even as an investment.

A Doll as a Child’s Toy
A doll was created as a representation of people, animals and other creatures that the mind could imagine. It is said to be around since time immemorial. Our ancestors may have dolls carved out from woods and other materials that can easily be gotten from the environment.

But now, name whatever you like your doll to be made out of from and you could easily find one. There are dolls that are made out of simple things like paper or wood, bone, clay, rubber or plastic to the complex and hard to find stones, porcelain, china and cloth.

Other Uses of Dolls
In early times, dolls were used as representations of something important in ceremonies and even religious rituals. It is also evident until now, the voodoo dolls that are being used in witchcraft and sometimes, just as an accessory for people who owns such.

There are also dolls that are being used by people in the medical profession to train budding health professionals regarding the anatomy of the human body. While there are also dolls to train caregivers on how to look after babies, even new moms and daddies can be handed dolls to prepare on how to care for a child while awaiting the birth of the real one.

But most dolls serve as fashion figures. Like Barbies became really prominent because of the clothes that they wear and the accessories that they come up with.

History of Dolls
There are archaeological evidences that prove that dolls are among the oldest toys ever existed, the earliest ones was said to be found on 2000 BC in Egyptian tombs, mostly in children’s graves. While the type that has limbs and are movable and the outfits may be changed is said to date back in the 600 BCE. While in Asia, fashion dolls has become one of the fastest rising forms of collection among adults, especially in South Korea and Japan.

The Materials
Dolls nowadays can be made out of every material available, as long as it can actually be transformed. Not only have the materials varied but the features of the dolls. The materials now known to make dolls from are leather, paper, bisque, china, clay, celluloid, even corn husks, resin, rubber, or wax wood, bone, or ivory, vinyl, porcelain among many others.

Famous Kinds
Barbie may come in our minds first when talking about famous dolls. But other types that stand out in the collector’s market include action figures, especially if the characters are from famous movies or TV shows, Ball-jointed dolls, Chatty Cathy, other Celebrity Dolls or those that are patterned after your favorite famous personalities, Fashion dolls like Barbie and Bratz, Holly Hobbie Dolls, Cabbage Patch Kids, Paper Dolls, Strawberry Shortcake, to Japanese and voodoo dolls.

The abovementioned are only some of the collectible dolls available in the market now. There really are so many to choose from, it just depends on what you want to add up to your collection or just possess to enjoy as a toy.

Who knew that the toys we buy can be profitable? Perhaps only the manufacturers but if you are able to find a good supplier and a list of buyers, you can make money buying and selling porcelain collectible dolls.

Porcelain dolls are not the different from Barbie because they come in different colors, outfits and sizes. What makes this stand out is perhaps the material since it is made from porcelain that is in essence clay and not plastic. This makes porcelain collectible dolls not really something you can play with even if you can change the clothes from time to time.

But how are porcelain collectible dolls made? Well, in Europe the materials for the arms, body, head and legs are baked then painted. Once this process is complete, this is then sewn together , dressed up and then placed in a box.

Since this is prone to dirt and dust unless there is something covering it, porcelain collectible doll owners have to regularly clean it to keep it in good condition.

Where can you find porcelain collectible dolls? Well, some say that the best are made from Europe like France and Germany. Since it is very expensive to fly there, you will probably have to search for these items online, select what you want and then have this shipped to you.

Before you buy anything, you should do a background check on the seller so you know this person will be able to deliver what you paid for.

What is the average price of porcelain collectible dolls? Believe it or not, you can find a few that sell for $10. If it is really of good quality, you may have to spend something from $500 to $1,000.

The most sought after porcelain collectible dolls are those from the Victorian era simply because they don’t make it the way they used to but there are makers who make similar copies which look very authentic.

If you want to know if what you have is real or a copy, look at the marks on the back of the neck. Just like an artist who puts his signature on the canvass, you will find here who, when and where it was made. So, if you happen to get a porcelain collectible doll at a reasonable price, consider that a good bargain.

What should you look for in a porcelain collectible doll? If you plan to sell it later on, consider the condition and the quality. The skin especially on the face must be life like. The eyes should be firmly in their sockets and if you happen to see a doll that opens its mouth, check if all the teeth are complete. If there are some teeth missing, shake it because they are probably still in there that can be restored by bringing it to a doll hospital. But closed mouth dolls happen to be two times more valuable than open ones.

As much as possible, only buy porcelain collectible dolls that still have their original clothing and wigs. If this has been altered or you plan to make alterations, you better check if this will do any damage or not because this will either increase or decrease its value.

Porcelain collectible dolls are works of art and you have to see one to really appreciate it. Are they worth buying? In the long term yes because as long as it is in good condition, you can get a return on your investment.

Most girls have their favorite dolls. The collectible paper dolls may just be one of the few, but this type certainly has a following among young girls and young at heart.

What are the Paper Dolls?
Simple, these are figures that are made out of paper or a cardboard that have been around for over two hundred years.

If one cannot get hold of the commercially available ones, then make your own. Even young girls can create their own paper dolls. All they need to have are cardboard, scissors and a lot of imagination. This would truly allow them to enjoy their toys because they have made it and at the same time, show off some artistic struts while they are still young.

Paper Dolls may also be called fashion dolls, as it is its main purpose when you have one. Along with the cut-out dolls, come assortments of clothes that you can clip on to the doll or use the clothes’ folding tabs to stick them to the doll.

Other versions may come with plastic stands for more enjoyment, they even have accessories like bags, hats, shawls, whatever the girls would love to have for themselves, they can make it up for these dolls, a truly perfect fit for budding fashionistas or those who are just appreciative of what’s beautiful to the eyes.

Paper Dolls as an Art Form
This type has become collectibles through time because of the artists that have turned it into art form. Because it is made out of a material with a short lifespan, people have learned to collect especially those that have vintage designs that are becoming rare through time.

It may be made from a light material but can still be collected as long as you take the proper care and situate it on a safe place. Make sure it is out of insects and rodents’ touch because once it has become damaged or dirty, it will be hard to restore because of the material that it is made out of.

Reasons for Success
Inexpensive, easy to use and safe may be the first reasons why this type has become popular over time and is still being manufactured up to this day.

This type of doll has been seen on advertisements, different magazines and newspapers. And to the utter enjoyment of its fans, prominent figures like celebrities were used on it as pattern or design, even popular characters that kids most love. Just imagine how fun it would be dressing up your favorite celebrity and putting accessories to such, the owner be the boss.

Evolution through Time
As time goes by, the quality of paper dolls has improved and the designs have become varied so that its fans would have a lot to choose from.

With today’s technology, popular designs of paper dolls can also be seen on the Web. Young girls can have a look at it and have their own virtual paper dolls. We never know what still might be discovered but one thing is for sure, these dolls are here to stay.

As long as there are girls who love beauty and fashion, as long as there are moms who allow these girls cultivate their imagination, collectible paper dolls will continue to evolve and improve on the quality while providing enjoyment and sheer fun to its fans.

It is one thing to own some beautiful collectible dolls and another to maintain it. If you fail to do so, no one will want to buy it and you might as well throw it in the garbage.

The first thing you have to do when you buy your beautiful collection doll is to keep the original packaging for the simple reason that it is worth a lot more money especially when everything is still intact.

If there is any tape on the hair or the clothes, you should remove it immediately because this can discolor the fabric. Also, double check if there are any metal wires because this can turn to rust.

It is impossible to display all the beautiful collectible dolls you have and so you will have to hide others to give way to the new ones you acquired. There should be a layer of acid free tissue placed in between the doll and the clothing because just like tape, the color of the fabric may bleed into the doll’s body.

The most important thing to do is to let the doll face down. This will prevent the eyes from pushing to the back of the head. This should be checked regularly so any problem can be detected and fixed immediately.

Should the body of the doll leak sawdust, you can fix this by putting a few drops of glue in the hole where it came out. But if the area is hard to contain, you should put a round patch made out of kid or muslin then placed this over the hole.

If your collection of beautiful collectible dolls happens to sleep or their eyes are able to close, you should clean the eyes thoroughly with isopropyl alcohol that is mixed in water. You should hold the eye you are cleaning open and then apply a few drops with a medicine dropper until it is completely covered. The same should be done to the other eye several times and then drained by letting the doll face down. Once it is dried, make it stand up and then wipe everything off with a clean dry cloth.

A few things you should never do.

First, never change the original clothes or change the hair. Believe it or not, interested buyers like it just the way it is. If some parts of the beautiful collectible doll are made of wood, never let it get into contact with water because this will cause a stain.

Given that there are so many beautiful collectible dolls in the market, it is really hard to choose which one to start your very own collection. If you want to stick to convention, two favorites are Barbie and porcelain dolls.

These two have been around for more than 40 years and even as new brands come in, they are still a classic.

Initially, you may not have bought the beautiful collectible doll to sell it but if ever you change your mind, the tips mentioned above will be very useful and get you the best possible price. So you will also know how much it costs in today, look it up in the Internet or ask someone from the specialty store because they are the authority figures on this matter.

Dolls help bring out a person’s imagination. This is because she can pretend to be a grown up and let the toy wear fashionable clothes, shoes and hairstyle. In fact, there are a lot of holiday collectible porcelain dolls around and you just have to know where to look so you can find them.

But what makes the holiday edition different from the other types of porcelain dolls around? From the term itself, it represents special occasions in the country where the doll was made. This allows collectors from the US for example to learn a little about the culture of people coming from either France or Germany where some of the best in the world are made.

In general, the way holiday collectible porcelain dolls are made is the same. There are those that make this by hand which takes quite a while to complete while there are those that are churned up through a machine thus produced in large numbers.

If you want to start collecting porcelain dolls, the best thing you have to do is pick a holiday to focus on. Probably the best is Christmas because almost every country in the world celebrates this when the month of December comes. The yuletide celebration is done differently so don’t be surprised if you see other designs other than the Santa’s Christmas elves.

Once you decide on that, then the next phase is for you to do some research. Porcelain dolls are worth a lot of money so once you are ready, source around for suppliers and wholesalers that will give this to you at a discounted price. By buying wholesale, you will be able to recoup your investment quickly and have enough money to buy others.

Aside from looking for trusted suppliers, you should also check out porcelain doll shows, conventions, antique stores and specialty shops. After all, there is always the chance that they have something there that you were not able to find before.

In order to keep your holiday collectible porcelain dolls in good condition, you will also have to learn how to take care of them. If there is a smudge, use some warm water to take it off. If this doesn’t work, try using a wet eraser since this usually works.

But as a last resort, use a low abrasive cleaner. Just make sure that it does not have any bleaching agents because this may cause harm to the antique clothing, hair and the body. This should also be kept away from the sun because this can cause discoloration to the doll.

Lastly, handle them with care because when it falls, this will break. This is probably why only grown ups will like to collect it since these are dolls that cannot be played with.

Is collecting holiday collectible dolls just a fad? Just so you know doll collecting regardless of the type that a person decides to engage in happens to be the second most popular hobby in the US. This just goes to show that no matter how old you get, there is always a little child inside that holds on to those memories.

So, if stamps or maybe coin collecting is not for you, try to collect holiday collectible porcelain dolls or something similar to it to make you go back to your childhood.

When you have daughter, you probably gave her a stuffed animal or a doll. She would take this around wherever she went but at a certain age, they don’t like to play with them anymore and have found other interests. Does this mean that you can’t give dolls anymore? Maybe not for playing but collectible toy dolls are extraordinary gifts because this may soon turn into a hobby.

The difference with a collectible toy doll is that you don’t play with it. This is displayed and kept in good condition at all times so one day you can probably sell it or swap it with something else. It is very similar to a stamp or coin collection because their market value goes up every time. But in some cases, this does not the happen because of the law of supply and demand.

So what is the secret to increase the value of the doll? It is simply that this is an item that is very hard to find. One reason is that only a few of that particular item was made and there are only a few of them left. Back in the 60’s to 80’s, nobody thought of keeping toys in their original packaging.

Once it is given, the box is thrown away and then the doll is placed with the rest on the shelf. If it gets broken or the child gets tired of it, this is given away to charity or dumped in the trash.

That is the life of the doll or any other toy. But lately, everyone is feeling nostalgic and there is a desire to bring back things from the past. Some are even willing to pay a huge some of money for it like there was a time that a 1959 Barbie doll was worth $10,000.

But because know better now about how to take care of their collectible toy dolls, experts say that no doll will ever fetch such a huge price anymore. If you are lucky, you can probably make about $2000 which isn’t that bad.

So which collectible toy doll is worth giving as an extraordinary gift? There are a lot of brands so it is really difficult to point them all out. Your decision should probably be based on the personality of the recipient because if they are able to relate to it, they will appreciate what you gave rather than just saying thank you and just putting it in the closet.

You are probably asking next where you can find the collectible doll. The most obvious place is the toy store but to save you time and money going through the various shelves, go out and head down to a specialty store. The people who usually run these places are collectors themselves so they help you select which one is right for your daughter.

Another place is the Internet. There are various websites to check out and you will often find that the items there are much cheaper than the ones offered in the specialty store. Once you place an order, this will delivered to your door after a few days. You can gift wrap and then give it to your daughter on her special day or any other occasion.

Collectible toy dolls are extraordinary gifts. Since Christmas is over, perhaps this will be something worth giving on her birthday.