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Updated September 2011
Not So RaggedyAcresTM
by Gayle Garbarino
~ Heirloom
Quality Collectible Treasures ~
~ Sunny Bunny ~
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Designed and Created by Doll Artist -Gayle Garbarino ~
The first Sunny Bunny doll was created in 1922 ~ by Ross & Ross for P.F. Volland
(Patented 1921 by Johnny Gruelle)
The character was inspired by one of Gruelle's Sunny Books series by the same name.
Gruelle originally planned to have dolls based on his patented characters
Henrietta Hennypenny and Eddie Elephant, produced by Beers-Keeler-Bowman .
However, when that didn't work out, he negotiated with the
Ross & Ross Company of Oakland, California
to create and manufacture dolls inspired by his Sunny Books Series
which were being produced by Volland.
Gruelle and/or his family members provided Ross & Ross with homemade prototypes
and they began their production of these character dolls
in 1921 with a 12 inch plush Little Brown Bear doll.
Sunny Bunny came next in 1922, he was also a 12 inch plush doll and
was followed later in 1922 by an Eddie Elephant doll,
which measured 14 inches and was made with a combination of cloth and felt.
The dolls had kapok stuffing and each had sewn on clothing with a cloth tag
stating their "individual" patented name.
The P.F.Volland Company sold the dolls along with the Sunny Book bearing their individual name, and was the original inspiration for the dolls.
Ross & Ross continued to manufacture the dolls for Volland & Gruelle until 1923.
They produced 8,700 Little Brown Bear Dolls,
1,800 Eddie Elephant dolls, and
5,400 Sunny Bunny dolls.
The P.F. Volland Company introduced two versions of the Sunny Bunny doll.
The second version is my favorite, he is much more colorful.
I have just created my VERY OWN version very much like him.....
I couldn't decide whether to use cotton clothing or felt...
.I may make two different versions and offer a choice for the clothing.
I have started with the ALL COTTON fabric for my first proto-type however.....
I will be happy to make YOUR Sunny Bunny with felt clothing if you prefer....when I get the rest of my characters created,
I will post a proto-type with the felt clothing...if someone orders one first, I'll post those pictures for your enjoyment and comparison.
This is my VERY OWN version of a Sunny Bunny doll......!!!!!! with a couple of friends.......What do you think????
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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