Members of the doll community understand dolls can have a great deal of personal significance. Some collectors shared the stories behind their treasured dolls.

Babayaga is a felted doll by ODACA artist Stevi T. Linda Rous said, “I purchased her from Stevi at the annual convention in Kansas City, Missouri. Love at first sight because I once had a pet raccoon that I raised from a bottle and released, after two years, when he matured; still miss him.”
Carol Reilly said, “This is a Tonner Angelina doll, whose face-up (repaint) was done by Jewelianne. This was the first doll I commissioned from Julie and the beginning of our friendship.”
Beth Billig provided photos of her sons to artist SaxtonLux Kingston, who used them to create these two reborns and their outfits. Jared is sleeping, and Kevin is awake.

Gina Clarke said, “This 20-inch porcelain doll has been in my collection for 23 years. I bought her from Paradise Galleries back when they had catalogs, and I ordered her by mail. I believe her original name was Emily and she cost less than $50. Over the years, I have added many dolls and also sold/given away many more than I can remember. This one has stayed no matter what.
“I baptized her Christa, and she has been a constant reminder of the baby girl I lost and never brought home. I have changed her outfit more than once; she has a pretty white lacy dress with pink rosebuds and a blue dress with ruffles. I have her dressed now in a pink gingham eyelet dress. I bought her lacy socks and Mary Jane shoes. I tie a ribbon in her hair to match her dress. She is absolutely beautiful with her golden blonde hair and brown eyes.
“I bought her a wooden cradle and a blanket for display, but I am letting my granddaughters Lainee and Gwendolyn use it for some other baby dolls at my house. This doll makes me smile and brings me comfort. She will always hold a special place in my heart and in my collection until years from now when one of my granddaughters takes her home with them.”

Barbara Issak said, “My friend from my doll club gave me this Patti Playpal doll, since I had always wanted one. But this is not her outfit. My mother had recently given me some of my childhood clothing, which she had been saving all of these years. Both my sister and I had sons, so the clothing just sat in the closet. Strangely, I got this Patti Playpal around the time that my mother gave me my old clothing. I found my old yellow snowsuit jacket and pink-and-white-checkered dress in the bag of clothing, and I was so glad to see that they fit Patti well. I called my mother, and she asked me to bring my dressed doll with me the next time I came over, so she could see her. That unfortunately was the last conversation that I had with my mother! Four days later, my mother died suddenly and unexpectedly. She never got to see my lovely doll. That was several years ago, and I have never changed Patti’s outfit. Every time I look at this beautiful doll wearing some of my childhood clothes, I remember my dear mother and our last conversation, where she said that she was looking forward to seeing my doll. I will never change her clothes. That’s why this doll is very special to me.”
Kimberley Duindam said, “Vanessa is a Pullip Ddalgi. She was my second Pullip and the first Pullip I bought with my own money. She was also a bit of an impulse buy, but I love her so much! I changed her wig to a red wig (which I had put on another Pullip first, but it looks so good on Vanessa, don’t you think?). … She still has her stock eyes and stock makeup on. … In the picture, she is just chilling with the fairies. I’ve put her in my fairy garden and it looks like she feels at home there!” Photo by Kimberley Duindam Photography.
“This is one of my favorite dolls in my collection,” Lynn Burns said. “She is a late 1950s Penny Playpal by Ideal. She is wearing a vintage Polly Flinders child’s dress. She is on my front walk taking her baby doll for a stroll in her vintage doll stroller. When I purchased this doll, she was ready to be thrown away because of her hair being matted, missing eyelashes, and general filthy condition. I thought she still had both beauty and value. I spent many long hours cleaning her, replacing eyelashes, and untangling her matted hair and putting it back in the original style. I feel a real bond with this doll after spending that much time restoring her. She is such a beautiful doll now.”
Cheryl Medina said, “This is my Hansel doll by Granado. He has always been a favorite of mine because he is large (26 inches tall) and has such a cute quirky smile. He is also not a resin BJD but a lighter, vinyl BJD. He doesn’t weigh nearly as much as my resin dolls of this size, and that’s a relief sometimes.”
This Princess Diana wax doll was made by Paul Crees and Peter Coe as a limited edition of 20. Daryle Wane met the artists on his first trip to London.
“I am a baby doll collector from India,” Dr. Neeti Vyas said. “This is an Ashton-Drake baby doll, designed by the great designer Cheryl Hill! I purchased the doll by my little savings and found her so lovely that it became heart and soul for me. Unfortunately, I became seriously ill and remained in a coma for 15 days, on a ventilator and not conscious at all. The family was devastated to see my condition. On the 16th day, the hospital authorities told my husband I was not responding at all — no chance for survival!
“Grief-stricken, my husband went home and brought this little baby to my ICU bed and placed it near my heart. The whole night, he sat there holding my hand and this baby embraced me. In the morning, I gained consciousness and was surprised to see my little baby doll in my arms. Holding it, I realized I returned back for my little babies … for my little baby dolls … who have no one to take care of them except me. In India, doll collecting is not a popular hobby — only I know what struggles I have gone through to possess and maintain my little charmers, my angels and my companions in sorrows and pleasures. I thanked God with all my heart and my husband too, for providing me this angel in the form of my baby doll. My heartiest good wishes to dearest Cheryl Hill — indirectly she became an angel for me. My love to all the doll collectors and doll designers of the world. Let dolls provide relief to all hearts who suffer sorrows in this world of violence and cruelty. Let dolls become the messengers of peace, compassion, and human love. These are the values that are keeping our Earth still a lovely place to be in. Luv to all the little dolls of this world.”
Jann Rowe said, “I bought this doll at the San Francisco Music Box Company many years ago — she has a little suitcase and was ready for an adventure. Reminded me of myself, as I was doing a lot of traveling for work at the time (I was on location in San Francisco). Then the salesperson played the song ‘Long and Winding Road.’ Perfect! Every doll has a story, and if you sit and remember where or why a doll touched your heart, or if someone special gave him/her to you, you will have a beautiful tapestry of your life and all your experiences to remind you of how much you have been through, friends you have made along your path, and how many lives you have touched on your personal journey — so far!”
“Meet my mini-me!” Eleena Lacy said. “Since I never had a daughter, I decided to create my own little sidekick. I gave her a glow-up with vegan self-tanner and sealed it with RIT setting spray for that flawless finish. Her outfit is a total vibe — rocking an Elly & Emma skirt paired with a bodysuit and leggings from Carter’s. I even styled her hair with cute braids and tiny buns. Oh, and that headband? A random find from Dollar General that just ties the look together. Now she’s all set and ready to slay the trick-or-treat scene!”
Rebecca Gerondale said, “My doll is Tonner Grace Marie Fitzpatrick from Virtual Doll Convention, and my dear friend Charlotte Williams in Doll Club sewed her an exact replica of my Victorian dress from just one photo as her muse. I think Grace looks amazing, and together, she and I can do anything!”