Doll Collecting Doll Collecting is a genetic disorder that I inherited from my mother. I have dolls that I have kept from my early childhood as well as some that I likely purchased last week. Sure, I have Barbies... but only a few hundred. I have new dolls and really, really, old dolls. I collect whatever strikes my fancy. I bought very few for investment purposes, since I will probably never sell them and may not get what I invested back... or maybe I would. I purchase dolls from all different places - my Mom's shoppe, mail order, FAO Schartz, Flea Markets, Garage Sells and Doll Shows. Allot of my dolls have trunks of clothes, accessories and even furniture. (a girl's gotta have variety) Oh, and I hate naked dolls. All dolls must have some kind of underwear.

Doll Restoration I began doing doll restoration when I began collecting older dolls. I would see the really nice antique collector dolls but couldn't afford them, but I could afford to buy a doll for maybe $20.00 that just needed a little "T.L.C." So, I began to purchase dolls at flea markets, garage sells, Canton, Texas Trade Days, - wherever. Allot of them just needed to the washed, needed their hair re-styled or maybe their clothes needed mended to get them back to a presentable status. Others were little more needy, as in needing hair - needing arms, but with the help of a dolly doctor, they're back on one piece.

Doll Making I've actually only finished making one doll, an eight inch Bru with a leather body and porcelain extremities. She was a project I did with the Longview Doll Club. To create her facial features, I had to paint and then fire her head in a kiln atleast a dozen times. Her body is hand sewn and her hair is mohair, which was hand-dyed by one of the other club members. OK, I cheated in the clothes. My mother made her dress and all her undergarments. She is most definitely the seamtress in the family. The club has started a new doll-making project. This time we'll be making a shadowbox doll. This is where the skirt of the doll opens up to reveal a secret room to place whatever miniature scenic place I wish. In my case, I will be making a little girl's play room. I'll post new pictures when I have them.

The Longview Doll Club The Longview Doll Club is a non-profit organization where club members get together once a month to show and share information about doll collecting, doll making and, on occassion, go to events, like Doll Shows. We also do special projects, like making the doll mentioned above and once a year we have a Tea Party Event, free for children to come and attend. If you are interested in more information regarding the Longview Doll Club, Please contact, Sharron Foster at sharronfos@sbcglobal.net

Bear Collecting So anyone who collects dolls somehow.... winds up also collecting bears. Besides, They're so cute together. I only started collecting bears about a decade ago. I would buy them at market and then get them delivered at the shop and then dicovered that I was unwilling to part with a few of them. I really only collect new bears, but mother has one from her childhood that is still in fairly good shape, especially to have been loved so much.

Penguin Collecting Penguin. Penguin??? Yep, penguins! I've dedicated an entire bathroom to them, after all, they are aquatic. They are such a wonderful freak of nature and very beautiful in the water - kinda silly on land. They smell bad. But besides their appearance, they social structure is cool. They mate for life, very attentive to offspring.

Cat Things Well, naturally, since I am Owned by two cats and have to collect cat-tish items. Need I say more?? I got some cool cat stuff...

The Therapy:

Counted Cross Stitch When I started doing counted cross stitch I couldn't start with a cute little kit with 8 colors. Nope. I got a Christmas stocking with 28 colors and a couple of colors that you combine two different colors of thread to create. It took me an entire year to make that thing and then it came time to put the red backing on it and I nearly ruined it. The fabric that came with it for the back was so cheap, that when I ironed it, the red coloring bleed into my beautiful white background stocking. I called my mother histerically crying. (after all, I had worked on this stupid thing for a year and ruined it in 30 seconds) With my mom's instructions, I was able to save it. (Bleach and Q-Tips) Since then the cross stitch thing has escalated. I don't sit still very well, so it's what I do when I watch TV or travel.

Needlepoint So sometimes cross stitch is too tedious for traveling, but needlepoint is sometimes easier just because of the size. Plus you can make some really cool tapestry stuff. I still buy the occasional kit, but now I also like to make my own patterns.

Remodeling My Home This section is to come...

Rollerblading This section is to come...

Hiking This section is to come...

Scuba and Snorkling This section is to come...