Inside the Paper Doll Studio

There is something magic to me about giving things a second, third, etc. life. The notebook treasure chest of paper dolls that my sister and I discovered included some uncut dolls, but most have been “loved” but someone. The feet of the original digitized set of dolls show some sweet creases from their days of play.

They were a part of someone’s imagined stories at least a few times. Their ankles bent slightly with each fake step, performing their roles. It’s evidence of one life. Someone collected the dolls and carefully notated the original source and condition via cards like the one below, filed each set in plastic, and held in the notebook. Their time in the notebook is at least a 2nd life.

The card shown is from the "Slumber Party" set, (the primary dolls featured on Come To Find Out). These notes give some insight into the collector and the collection process. I love the extra details.

This is the set I chose to start per the advice of my great friend and fellow creator.

The dolls have now emerged from the plastic notebook to have yet another life, this one digital. It was a blast to scan the dolls and match them with their clothes, dress them, and bring them together digitally. While scanning the dolls, I started noticing their names and started to imagine their personalities and voices. I share these ideas in this blog, but please don't let my ideas limit you. All are welcome.

Paper Dolls Awaken From Slumber Party to Come to Find Out

To me, the dolls represent inclusivity in a very exclusive time. The dolls are about as white as they can be. In fact, in the entire collection of paper dolls that is vast, Dezzie Arness is about the only non-white person represented in paper doll form, at least in this collection. Not a surprise for the time, just an observation.

Because the dolls can represent a less aware time for us in human history, I think of the dolls as being somewhat ignorant of culture but perhaps on the cusp of coming to a greater awareness of self and others, to which I can completely relate.

Why this set of paper dolls spoke to me, I’m not sure. Something about the set resonated with me. If the art form resonates with others, maybe they can help articulate what it is about the set. They seem a little pretentious, but they kind of can’t help it, they are stuck like they are.

I imagine the girls live in a house together. Like the boarding house in the 1937 film "Stage Door" starring Kathrine Hepburn and Ginger Rogers. The characters in the film are struggling to live their best lives, some not successfully, while dealing with real-world problems. The release date of the film is a few years before the production date for the dolls'. Their fashion is also reflective of the time.

Now, I invite you down the rabbit hole that is the inner world of my mind, expressed through this website with paper dolls. I'd like to think I am creative, but really I'm probably just self-centered because I project my own issues onto the dolls. So forgive me, join me, or you can leave through the gift shop. You have been warned.

Paper Doll Rabbit hole:

I wanted to give to do something fun with this very well-executed paper doll collection that someone developed. I wanted to give the collection another life after the notebook. I didn't have a real direction from them. My close friend who is an artist suggested I start by scanning one set of paper dolls.

My brain puts things together sometimes in collaged ways because it's helpful to me to have some areas where there aren't hard rules and I can feel safe to create whatever. As I scanned and started working with the dolls as digital images, I had the thought to use the paper dolls to help me tell some stories that can be hard to tell and help me build a life worth living.

In my mind, the dolls are not that smart, but they are usually smart asses. Also, like me, some of them have mental health issues, addiction, and similar real-world problems that make the dolls a little more relatable and the reason they need the resources that the site provides. I needed help learning and practicing some important life skills, and I use this crazy method to "teach to learn" healthy life skills in a way that might help other people if their brains work anything like mine (in which case, welcome and bless your heart, honey). Let's welcome to the stage the "Slumber Party" paper dolls:

The Original Come to Find Out Paper Doll Club:

Carol looks like the most mature of the dolls, maybe it is her hair being up that does it. I think of her as the guide for the other girls at times. She isn’t always perfectly poised, though, she will sometimes call the girls out. Carol knows the most about mastering being a good, balanced person that does not take too much shit.

Jeanie is my favorite paper doll. My grandmother was named Jean. I think of Jeanie as having some good ideas, but she is also not that smart. She is just starting to understand how to live a balanced life.

Patsy is usually jovial. Her arms are positioned the highest, to me, indicating the most enthusiasm of the group. Patsy is often upbeat, but also open about herself. I can be too much of a purist, even in an imaginary world of paper. The depth of Patsy’s sleeves creates a disconnect in the image when she is scanned in her clothes. I also cannot find or didn’t scan Patsy’s house shoes. She’s the only doll without them. There is also an additional dress of Patsy's that is not shown on her page. Somehow that image got moved from the design file.

Betsy, I think of as the youngest of the dolls, and something about her makes me think she is a little snarky. She also has an equestrian outfit that feels extra ridiculous to me, who will never own privileged pants like those. Feels like Betty Draper right out of Mad Men season 2.

Nancy cracks me up, her body positioning and her expressions make me feel like she is always anxious and a little uncomfortable. She can be counted on to be making a point, because of her pointed hand. She is goofy and vulnerable, which also feels like me.

Thanks for coming to find out what went inside the paper doll studio and bringing this first set to life through this little website. What do you think? Is it stupid? Sign up to share your thoughts, and suggestions, and to interact with the site.

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As an update, I recently searched online for the Slumber Party Paper Dolls set. I found an uncut version and ordered them from Etsy. This means I'll have an idea of the original form the dolls came in. I hope to take some photos or scans and will upload to the site. More to follow...