crafts: CR's Crafts Newsletter and Specials Vol105

Shoes, Shoes, And More Shoes!

Who doesn't like a new pair of shoes--including your dolls. We have more new shoes than we know what to do with, and we're passing along special prices because of our overflow. Choose from colorful Mary Janes for your 23" My Twinn doll, baby shoes for your Cabbage Patch doll, or dress shoes for your small dolls. At these prices, your doll can have a different pair of shoes to match each outfit--and we all know that the shoes 'make the outfit'!

New Catalog Coming This Fall!

We have had many requests for a new catalog. We are planning our new 2010-2011 catalog to come out sometime this fall. Until then, you can view all our items--including new items--on our website.

WEB FEATURES

Advanced Search

In the left-hand column of our website main page, 'Go To Advanced Search' will take you to an area where you can search for specific sizes of different items--'Shoes by Size' is one of them. Click on the little arrow next to Select Shoes Size and a list of sizes will appear. Click on the size you are looking for and then click on 'Find Shoes'. All the shoes we carry in that size will be pictured--how simple is that?

SPECIAL E-MAIL PRICING (WEB ORDERS ONLY)

Shoe Specials for 23" Dolls!

We recently received a number of new shoes that fit 23" My Twinn, plus other 23" girl dolls--colorful patent Mary Jane dress shoes, Mary Jane sneakers & clogs, plus more. Most of these shoes are closeout, so order today!

Dress Shoes For Your Small Dolls!

These 1 7/8" soft vinyl ivory dress shoes have an ankle strap with a side snap--just right for your small dolls. Limited supply!

Shoes To Fit Cabbage Patch Kids!

3" hard vinyl baby shoes with white laces will fit a 16" Cabbage Patch Kids doll. Available in yellow or blue. Limited supply!

Teeter Tot Doll Heads--In 2 Sizes!

Similar to the Cabbage Patch Kids head, these 4 1/2" boy and girl Teeter Tot doll heads come in an assortment of yarn hair colors and expressions. Three styles of 3 3/4" Tiny Teeter Tot vinyl heads are also available at a special price. All have limited quantities!

DOLL TIPS

How to Measure For Doll Shoes

Note: I realize I did a segment on 'How to Measure For Doll Shoes' a couple of issues ago, but thought it seemed timely to repeat it along with the doll shoe theme this month.

Measure your doll's bare foot from heel to toe, then add 1/8". If the ball of your doll's foot is distinctly wider than the heel, you may need to get one size larger. It is best to use baby shoes for your baby doll. These shoes are made wider for their 'chubby' feet.

Here are some popular doll shoe sizes:

Ginny - 1"

Madame Alexander - 1 1/4"

Bleuette - 1 1/2"

15" Bitty Baby - 2 1/4" - 2 3/4"

18" American Girl & Springfield Collection - 2 3/4" - 3"

22" Apple Valley - 3 1/8" - 3 1/2

23" My Twinn - 3 3/4" - 4"

DOLL HISTORY

Cabbage Patch Kids

The Cabbage Patch Kids doll was created by Debbie Morehead and Xavier Roberts in 1978 and originally called "Little People". The original dolls were all cloth and sold at local crafts shows, then later at Babyland General Hospital in Cleveland, Georgia*. The doll brand went on to become one of the most popular toy fads of the 80's.

Toy manufacturer, Coleco began mass-production in 1982 at a factory in Amsterdam, New York. The 16" Coleco Cabbage Patch Kids had large, round vinyl heads and soft fabric bodies. Hailey Theeuwen was the first known Cabbage Patch Kid. After Coleco went bankrupt, the Cabbage Patch Kids were later mass produced by other companies, including Hasbro, Mattel, Toys "R" Us, and currently Play Along.

At the peak of popularity, the dolls were a must-have toy for Christmas. Parents flocked to stores to try to obtain one of the Cabbage Patch Kids for their children, with fights occasionally erupting between parents over the hard-to-find dolls.

Hasbro took over the rights to produce Cabbage Patch Kids in 1988. They began making the dolls for younger children, which led to smaller dolls. Although Cabbage Patch dolls were still best selling toys, Hasbro never really revitalized the market. In 1994, Mattel purchased the rights to the doll.

The Mattel Cabbage Patch dolls are not limited to cloth bodies and included dolls made from vinyl, which produced a more durable play doll. The Mattel dolls are mostly sized 14" or smaller, and most were individualized with a gimmick to enhance their collectability, e.g. brushed their teeth, swam, ate food. Some memorable Mattel lines include the updated Kids line of basic cloth dolls that came with birth certificates, the OlympiKids that were made to coincide with the 1996 Olympics, and the Cabbage Patch Fairies.

In 2002, Toys "R" Us took over the Cabbage Patch Kids brand from Mattel, producing 20" Kids and 18" Babies--both with cloth bodies and vinyl heads. They were packaged in cardboard cabbage leaf seats.

The Toys "R" Us line lasted until Play Along toys obtained the licensing to make and sell Cabbage Patch Kids. Play Along, a Jakks company, produces the traditional 16" Kids as well as the Babies and Newborn lines. In preparation for the 25th anniversary in 2008, the company partnered with Carvel Cakes to make a 25th Anniversary Baby doll that licks an ice cream cone, and also released a line of retro 80's style dolls. As of the 25th anniversary in 2008, over 115 million Cabbage Patch Kids had been adopted.

*Babyland General Hospital is the 'birthplace' of Cabbage Patch Kids and is located in Cleveland, Georgia. Xavier Roberts converted an old clinic into a retail unit and mini theme park from which to sell his dolls. The facility is presented as a birthing, nursery and adoption center for Cabbage Patch Kids. Employees dress and act the parts of the doctors and nurses caring for the dolls as if they are real. Although the initial fad surrounding the dolls has largely died down, Babyland General is still heavily visited by diehard fans and tourists.

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CR's Crafts - PO Box 8, Leland, IA 50453 - 641-567-3652

www.crscraft.com