Updated August 2011
Not So RaggedyAcresTM
by Gayle Garbarino
~ Heirloom
Quality Collectible Treasures ~
~ Myrtle ~ ~ ~ A Childhood Favorite ~ ~ Reproduced by Special Request from a Loving Dad for his daughter's College Graduation. ~ ~
~
Designed and Created by Doll Artist -Gayle Garbarino ~
My Original Design "cloth" version of Myrtle
MYRTLE........is Now Available (Special Order Only)
Or maybe YOU or a LOVED ONE, have a very Special Childhood Memory of a doll that meant so much....... Well, I am just an email away. I encourage you to contact me with the details. and I will do my best to reproduce a doll as close as possible to your Original.
How it All Began
Dale contacted me in September of 2008, and the more we exchanged emails regarding his Special Order inquiry, the love this single Dad had for both of his daughters became very apparent, it litterly flowed through his emails.
He explained that his daughter, Ashley, was graduating from college, and he wanted to surprise her by replacing her favorite childhood doll .
He first tried to locate the original seamstress, but was unable to find her. And then he found my website that mentioned "Custom Orders Available".
He told how the doll and little girl had been inseparable, and after the doll became fragile from so much loving and kissing.......he was afraid to wash it, for fear it would fall apart. He had often taped her back together with duct tape, and had to redraw certain facial features back on, that were washed away with tears and kisses.
He went on to tell how "Myrtle" would receive perfumes as gifts for Birthdays and Christmas, to help with her "shall we say.....baby aroma that only a "mommy" could love ! ! !
He told how when Ashley would get hurt, he would always put a band-aid on Myrtle as well, so they could sympathize with each other, and it seemed to help with the healing process.
He explained every aspect of the doll, down to the tiniest detail. And then he was having trouble with his scanner, and was going to run down and buy one, so I asked how soon he needed the doll........April, which was seven months away.....so I suggested he take them to Kinko's and have them copied...in color...so that he could retain the originals. He was so excited about ordering the doll, that he just hadn't thought about that option. He went right down and sent them to me, and when they arrived, he had hand-written little notes , pointing out little details that only a loving Dad would remember and appreciate their importance.
For example, he pointed out a tiny corner of the lace on the bottom of the apron, and the purple and white
striped legs, that were difficult to see in the picture.....also pointed out that he thought they only went to just
above the knee. He mentioned that her face was extra wide.....and was most concerned that we get the
facial features and the purple hair right The shoes looked almost brown in the picture, but he pointed
out that they were burgandy.
In one of the pictures, Ashley is wearing a white eyelet bonnet,
and he was not sure if Myrtle also wore one, since she had lost her apron over time, he thought maybe
a bonnet may have faced the same fate.
I created a white eyelet bonnet for Myrtle, just in case !!! Because we knew that Ashley would definitely
remember, and we wanted it to be " Just Perfect " !!! I had mentioned that I could make a special
"hang-tag" mentioning the "Original" Myrtle......and then he came up with the idea of embroidering
"Myrtle" on the front of her apron, which I thought was a wonerful idea, and added a special touch.
Because everyone would remember this little doll, he exclaimed, " There won't be a dry eye in
the house " when she opens my gift.
I wanted to create this page to show others that they can
order a custom order doll from their childhood memories........but I also wanted to let Ashley and her sister
Myranda Mae
know how very lucky they are, and what a wonderful and loving "Dad" they really have! Although, if you have
such a Dad......you are likely to know it !!!
He mentioned too, that if his other daughter had owned
a special doll, he would get one for her as well.................but she had a special blanket in stead.
I decided to type up the "Letter to Ashley from Myrtle", shown below, to put in the gift with the doll......
to tell Ashley, in Myrtle's own words, all the trouble her Dad had gone to .....to get this new doll "Just Right"
!
I also made a copy of the oval shaped picture of Ashley holding her original doll and attached it
to a card stock hang tag as a "Keepsake" .
My Dearest Ashley,
I hope that I can find the words to tell you
how it makes my heart sing to be re-united with you,
"My very own little girl",
after all these years.
Even though I am not the very same dolly
I DO have the very same Heart
I never forgot you, Ashley......and all
those Hugs and Tears and "Secrets" we shared
in good times and bad.....
during our times together.
Your Dad found Gayle to make me a
"brand-new" body.
she tried her best to find the fabric and yarn
to make me as close as possible to
how I used to look!
Remember how inseparable we were ????
your Dad had to put me backtogether so many times
with duct tape and glue???
I remember how you carried me everywhere,
and he wouldn't dare to wash me..
for fear I would fall apart for sure!
He even had to re-draw my face a few times,
because you kissed and loved on me so much,
but I didn't mind at all...
Do you remember how he used to put tiny
little pink band-aids on both our little cheeks ...
when we got "owies" falling off our tricycle or during
one of our other many Adventures?
It made us feel sooooo much better !!
We always use to LOVE getting all those
WONDERFUL perfumes for Birthdays and Christmas, too!
I think it was because of what the "real-for-sure" people called
my "Baby Aroma" that only a "real" mommy like You, could love!
That always made me feel so SPECIAL !!!
And you know, Ashley........I think your Dad
thinks I am pretty "Special" too...
He mentioned to Gayle that he thinks I will
be a "Keepsake", that you will want to pass down
to "Our" future generations...... I hope so .....don't you???
It makes me feel all warm and tingly inside !!
Ashley, What's a Keepsake, ???
You know, Ashley..............I love you an awful lot,
Gayle even embroidered that on my "Heart" under my dress
so you will never forget...
but when Gayle read all of your Dad's "touching" emails to me....
It became very clear to me....
It is your "Dad" who really
Loves you most of all !!!
Love,
Your Special Childhood Friend,
Myrtle
I completed my " Myrtle " Reproduction
in time for Ashley's Graduation in April 2009.
She sent a lovely "Thank You "note and three photos of Myrtle & herself, which she has allowed me
to share with you here along with her story !
Here is a copy of Ashley's letter and pictures.
Dear Gayle,
Thank you so much for reuniting me with Myrtle. It has been so long since I’ve seen her,
and to be able to see her again is unbelievable.
She looks exactly how I remember her.
Though, she has grown a little, so have I. I remember all the great times we shared together
during my childhood. Now I will be able to share the next chapter of my life with her again.
We will be going to law school in the fall and I know she will make great company.
Everything is complete in my life now that Myrtle is back in it.
She is right back in her same old spot on my bed.
She is the first thing I see when wake up in the morning and last thing when I go to sleep at night.
Now we can spend every day together again. This time around I am not going to play
so rough with her.
I am going to try my best to keep her in good condition so that I can keep her forever.
Myrtle likes her bonnet. She never had one before, but she really likes the new one.
She wears it every day. It goes good with the apron she lost. Her shoes and leggings look better than
ever and exactly like her old ones. She is so happy to have clean new ones to wear.
She is very thankful to you for that.
Thank you again for allowing me to have Myrtle in my life again.
She is perfect and brings a smile to my face every time I see her.
Feel free to write Myrtle and me to see how we’re doing.
Thank You so Much,
Ashley & Myrtle
PS Pictures will be coming shortly.
Gayle,
Thanks again for Myrtle. I love her more each day. Here are some pictures of Myrtle and me.
And, Yes of course you can use the pictures of Myrtle and me.
It would be nice to see our story up on the website. :)
Thank-You,
Ashley
PS My dad and I got Myrtle a band aid to wear just like the good old days. :)
I am now offering Myrtle as a New Character Doll ( Special Order ONLY at this time)
She represents ALL of those Childhood Dollies that meant so much to each of us!
It is my hope that these loveable little "Myrtle " dollies.......
and the reason I created them........ will steal your heart away!!..
Pictures of my "Original Design" Reproduction
of this Loveable and Heart-warming little "Myrtle " Doll are shown below.
You may want to order a "Myrtle" of your own............ OR ..........your OWN Childhood Favorite!
Gingham checks and yarn hair color may be changed Although I love Myrtle's purple hair and Gingham checks... I thought it might be fun to see her little "Sisters" in all the different colored gingham checks with matching hair! It's entirely up to YOU!
To Learn more about ALL of the Raggedy Characters...... Click on their Link in the left-hand column.
Click on each picture to ENLARGE !!
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