Sunday, December 14, 2014

Doll-A-Day 320:Ivy Cottage Violet Pickles and Ruby Buttons

    Followers are coming in twos lately. Today we welcome Mommy And Me Dolls and astrid_nat. Check out Mommy And Me Dolls' blog. I don't think astrid has one, but correct me if I'm wrong astrid.Thanks for joining us guys.
******Because so many people ask where they can obtain these dolls, I  will always bring home any  extra Violet or Ruby dolls I find and post them here. I don't have any right now, but check back occasionally.*************************************************************************
  Today's doll is two dolls again: These two rag dolls named Violet Pickles and Ruby Buttons.




Ruby and Violet are dolls based on characters from the "Ivy Cottage" series of books by E. J. Taylor.


The dolls have totally soft floppy bodies, and are made of cozy soft fabric, with vinyl heads.

Their clothes are removable. Ruby comes with her pet mouse and Violet comes with her teddy bear.
The dolls were made by Horsman.There was also a line of PVC figures, (Seen here at the bottom of the box.), and something we never found called The Ivy Cottage Pop Up Playhouse.I still wonder what that was.We found Emma a couple of the PVCs in Canada.
UPDATE: Pop Up Playhouse mystery solved! Thanks to a kind reader you can see the playhouse HERE.
The dolls, based on the books, (or is it the other way around?), bring things sort of full circle since the author, E. J. Taylor, is a doll maker.

Some of E.J. Tayor's amazing dolls. They look like the illustrations of the characters in the Ivy Cottage books.

E.J. Taylor, dollmaker.The books were written as a side project.
We first discovered the Ivy Cottage dolls back when Emma was a baby, or maybe even before she was born.I found the dolls in 2 sizes at Odd/Big Lots. I loved them and although I didn't very often buy dolls for myself then, I had to have them. I really liked the big ones, but I thought the legs looked too elephantine.I ended up with these 12" tall ones.




Later on we found the first book,"Ivy Cottage" at an outlet store.
 
Having been an Anglophile, and having been married to an Englishman for years, I can usually detect Britishness from miles away. There was something vaguely British about the books, but they were just not quite British. This made sense when I found that E.J. Taylor is an American, but has lived in England for years.
I recognized the connection with the dolls right away, and we bought the book. I love the soft,sweet illustrations.


The premise of the books was that Miss Biscuit, a newly retired nanny,moved to the country with Violet Pickles,her rag doll companion,who is alive. Violet is bored and lonely living out in the country,so Miss Biscuit makes another live rag doll,Ruby Buttons, to keep her company.


  Emma liked the book when she was little, and we read it often. Later Ivy enjoyed the books too. (We had found others by the time she came along.) Emma wanted to play with my dolls, but I didn't want them to get disheveled, being played with.I let her play with them for a while, but eventually she got her own.
  I always thought it would have been nice if the dolls had had more clothes made for them, like their cozy night gowns and winter coats.


I didn't sew then, so I never attempted them.


  The books never explain why the dolls are alive, or how Miss Biscuit can make Live dolls. Subsequent books never mentioned the fact that Ruby and Violet are dolls.


 
 

 They go to school,where none of the other kids are dolls. Ruby wants to work with animals, and Violet wants to be a writer.


The dolls are very cute, and the books are sweet and old fashioned. E.J. Taylor created a world you want to curl up in and be cozy.
Tomorrow we'll see a couple of different dolls from the Ivy Cottage books.
** UPDATE** The Ivy Cottage Pop Up Playhouse mystery solved! See it HERE!

43 comments:

  1. Awww, they're so cute! And those books look very interesting! Can't wait to see the other dolls! :)

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    1. The books are sweet, old fashioned stories, and the illustrations are beautiful. They're nice for anyone who likes books with dolls as characters...or who doesn't! Some kids might find them boring because they are leisurely,simple tales without a modern electronic item in sight.

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    2. I bought these books and the dolls for my daughter in late 80’s. She loved them and took care of them and then she read them to her daughters. They also loved the stories and the dolls. They will be passed onto the next generation which may not be too long as my eldest granddaughter is 17 now. I decided to buy, this year, my other daughters daughter, Ruby, who is 5, the books and the dolls. I’ve managed to get all the books apart from Christmas at Ivy Cottage and I got Violet Pickles the doll. I think Ruby Buttons isn’t so available. As harder to find. I thought I’d got her and sent off my money, via PayPal, only to discover it was some sort of scam. Never received the doll and lost my money as I payed through friends and family and not purchases and services. A lesson learned. So I’m on the hunt for Ruby Buttons and Christmas at Ivy cottage. Thought maybe coming on here some could let me know where I could find these.

      Thank you in advance.

      Helen

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  2. I had the books and dolls as a child myself. I miss my dolls dearly and have been scouring the internet trying to find some to buy my niece for Christmas (or for when she gets older) but no such luck. I used to pretend I went on the adventures the dolls went on and slept with them in my bed every night.
    So many memories right now!

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  3. Hi there are some on Ebay

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    1. Catch them while you can people! They don't show up very often.

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  4. I am trying to purchase these dolls, my father bought them for me with the book when I was young but got destroyed in a house fire. I would like to get them for my daughter, could anyone advise as to the best place to go?.
    Thankyou

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  5. Etsy, Amazon, and Ebay seems to be the best ways to go, None on Ebay at the moment. I have an extra Ruby and her mouse at the moment. If you're interested, let me know. The mouse's tail is partially unraveled, but otherwise both are in good shape and have been cleaned.

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  6. How much would you sell it for? I

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    1. Missy,please send me your email address, which I won't publish, and tell me where you live so I can figure the postage to you, and we'll work something out.

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    2. You mention the Ivy Cottage dollhouse. I once bought it, and have pictures of it. Would you like to see them? If so, how can I attach them to an email to you?
      Christel

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    3. I would LOVE to see it! I have always wondered about it. I love the artwork from the books, so I'm guessing it's really cute. Send me your email address, which I won't publish, and I'll send you an email you can respond to with the pictures, or we'll figure something out
      . Thanks!

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  7. Not sure if y'all ever set something up. If not so you still have the ruby buttons doll?

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    1. She's still here. I assume you have a hankering for her?

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    2. Are you still interested in giving her a new home?

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    3. She was an extra, so you are certainly welcome to purchase her if you want.

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    4. What is the best way to go about it? Is there a way I can private message you?

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    5. Send me your email address, which I won't publish, and I'll send you a message.

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  8. Did you receive it? I'm new to blogspot.

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    Replies
    1. Got it. I've sent you an email, so you now have my email address.

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  9. I have these dolls if anyone wants them. Let me know what you think is fair and they are yours. Lyne.pellerin@hotmail.ca

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  10. Is anyone selling violet pickles? Kerry x

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    1. She shows up occasionally on Ebay. I've found them at thrift stores too.

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    2. Someone posted tat they have both Ruby and Violet to sell. If you're interested respond with your email (which I won't print.) and I'll get you two together.

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  11. I've got both Ruby & Violet if you're interested - I've only got one box for violet pickles. Both dolls are in awesome condition because my mom didn't let me play with them very much...

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    1. I have the email address of the person who wanted the dolls.Send me your email(which I won't publish.) and I'll get you two together.

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  12. My grandma had the first 4 books in paperback and I got the first 4 books in hardback. We found the fifth book and want it but cant find it the dolls are soooooo adorable and we want them too but we can not find them also! We are determined and will continue the search.

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    Replies
    1. The large Violet is still available if you are interested. I can post a picture here on this post if you like.

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  13. Does anyone have a Ruby doll, large or small? I'm looking for one for my daughter.

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    Replies
    1. If anyone wants an answer they need to leave their contact information.

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  14. Hi there, Just curious, but do you still have Violet Pickles available to purchase? Thanks for considering, Scott

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    1. Sorry. The Violet I had went to a new home for Christmas. If I get another one I will post it on this page, so check back now and then.

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  15. My daughter, now 37, has all the books and both dolls. I told her when I bought her then, aged 7, if she looked after them she could read the stories to get daughter when she grew up. She did, her eldest daughter 17 now and younger daughter now 10. I read them to my daughters and granddaughter. They are still like new and will be passed into the next generation. My other daughter has a daughter aged 5 called Ruby. I decided this year I would like to get Ruby the books and dolls if I could find them. I managed to get all the book quite easily apart from Christmas at Ivy Cottage. That one seems to be harder to find and more expensive. I couldn’t believe how much Violet Pickles is now but managed to get one on eBay, teddy and all, at a reasonable price. Ruby Buttons is definitely not so easy. Anyone have one which they are willing to part with.

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    1. The Christmas book is definitely the hardest to find. I love that Ivy Cottage has become a part of your family. Make sure to monitor these comments in case someone has a Ruby to sell. Have you tried online auction sites? There are also small figures of Ruby, Violet, Miss Biscuit, and Hanna Honk. Have you seen the other dolls? I did a post on the Rag Bag Annie doll(From Christmas at Ivy Cottage) and the Cecily Thistle doll. (I have only ever seen or heard of the set I have, so good luck if you decide to look for them.) You can find the post at http://planetofthedolls.blogspot.com/2014/12/doll-day-321-ivy-cottage-cecily-thistle.html

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    2. Aww thank you for your reply. I actually just posted another post on here just now as I’d forgotten I’d put this up. I’ve been trying everywhere but still no joy. A mishap but no joy getting Ruby Buttons. I’ll have a look at that link you put up. Funny as I had a chat with Ruby only yesterday explaining to her the story of the books and the dolls. At 5 she was listened but not sure she really took on board what her crazy nana is trying to do. I’ve decided to keep the books and violet safe with me where she can play with the doll and I’ll read her the stories and when she’s a little older and understands it better she can take them home and look after them there. Something so nice about starting a tradition which I hope will carry on long after I’m no longer here. 👍

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    3. I’ve just realised I was writing to the original poster. 🤦‍♀️ If I give you my email address and you happen to come across another Ruby Buttons could you let me know. I don’t know how to send it to you privately.

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    4. If you leave your email in the comments, it won't automatically be published, because I have to publish them myself. I won't publish it, but I'll keep it in case I find another Ruby.

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  16. I have the Violet Pickles from Many years

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Thanks in advance for your comments.