Raggedy Ann Doll

Someone (You know who you are...😉) recently told me she thought Raggedy Anns were creepy. 

What?!  

I cannot imagine how a floppy doll with big round staring eyes with zig-zags underneath, a red triangle nose, and out-of-control bright red hair could be seen as creepy!! 

Oh...

Hmmm...

I've always had a soft spot for Raggedy Ann.  Oh, how I loved mine!  My grandma made an Ann and Andy during the years when that crazy craft fake fur was so popular.  Instead of sewing all those red yarn pieces, she sewed neon orange fake fur to their heads. I thought they were the best! Looking back, I'm sure they were hilarious... even creepy.

I'm not sure where this Little Golden
Book on my shelf came from, but I've
had it a long time.

I still have this sleeping bag that I took to

every single slumber party when I was a kid.

...love, Love, LOVED this book so much!! 
Laura's Christmas Rag Doll, Charlotte,
had "beautiful black yarn braids."

I made this Ann & Andy set when I was pregnant. 

They got to sit in the bassinet beside my new baby girl.

Aren't we cute Raggedies!

I made these costumes when my little 

ones were two and five... a long time ago...

 In my art studio, I have a shelf where I keep some of my favorite things.  Recently (pre social distancing) my painting partner brought her granddaughters over for a painting lesson.  One of them kept staring  wide-eyed at this shelf.
She finally said, "Why is your Elf on the Shelf here?"
I told her that was just Leona's spot there with the Raggedies.
In disbelief, she asked, "How can she be here instead of the North Pole?"
Oops!  Ummm....
Well, Leona's kind of bad and doesn't follow rules.

What about you?

Do you have a Raggedy Ann memory?

Original Oil Painting on 9"x 12" Wrapped Canvas
Click "Raggedy Ann Doll" if you'd like to purchase this little painting.

Happy Fall, Y'all !!

Look at that happy little thing! You just have to S.O.L. (Smile Out Loud... Is that a thing?)

First of all, I think that her name should be Cheri, the Cheery Little Scarecrow Girl.  I'll name her after my Cheri, my art teacher, my mentor, my friend.  She's the one who set up this still life and guided me in painting it.

When I began painting lessons in 2007, I went to Cheri's house every Monday night for about four years. After she retired and moved, we painted together maybe once a year if I was lucky.  

Last month I had the opportunity for weekly painting lessons in her new place, Inspire Studio and Art in Shawnee, Oklahoma. For four weeks I'd get to paint one-on-one with the most amazing artist!  I was equal parts thrilled and terrified, filled with excitement and filled with dread.  You see, I knew I'd get better and I'd learn; however, I  also knew that she'd push me beyond what I was sure were my artistic limits.

She did.  

I had to swallow down, "But,I don't think I can do that..." a dozen times... a dozen times each lesson!

As you can imagine, yes, indeed I was able to do whatever she thought I could. 

Now... sigh... if only I can remember and put into practice half of what I learned!

My view while painting this still life.

Original Oil Painting on 12"x 16" Wrapped Canvas
[SOLD]

Raggedy Ann

What makes certain toys life-long friends?

Some toys just last and last.  They last through lots of pretend, through years, and through memories.  Raggedy Ann is one of those, isn't she.  I think nearly every little girl has a rag doll of some kind.  I loved mine.  My mom made my Raggedy Ann and Andy at a time when fake fur was all the rage, so my Raggedies didn't have the usual yarn red hair... oh no... they had flame orange fake fur hair.  I didn't think they were the least bit odd at the time, but looking back, I bet they were a sight!

I made this particular little one 26 years ago while I was expecting my daughter.  She's been a good friend for a long time.  Now she sits in a place of honor on a shelf (with her friend Raggedy Andy and the Christmas Elf-on-the-Shelf, Leona) in my art space.  I noticed her the other day and decided she deserved to be the star of her very own still life.

You can see her here in the bassinet guarding my Amanda when we brought her home from the hospital.  (That's her friend Andy beside her.)

And here we impersonating her.  This was taken in my classroom with Amanda who was in kindergarten.  My little Andrew (hiding behind us) had a little Raggedy Andy costume to match us too!  (Now, at 22, he's horrified that I ever dressed him that way, but he was adorable.)

I listed this painting on Etsy but I have to be honest... I'll be a little sad when this little painting does get purchased.  I'll enjoy her in the meantime. :)

[SOLD]