Doll Parts

 

So you've found a beautiful doll - but her arm/leg is broken !

 

Here is an excellent spot to look for replacement parts.

 

The next thing to do is make friends with you nearest Dolls Hospital

(sooner or later you will need to !)

At this point you will have a decision to make - do you just hand the Doll in to the Doll Hospital or try first aid yourself?

 

If she is a lovely doll by a major maker (jumeau,Bru,Kestner) then you really do not have a decision to make - its a job for a professional.

You REALLY do not want to risk damaging a doll that could be worth thousands  by your inexperience.

 

Best thing to do is to haunt a few yard sales/car boot sales/fleamarkets.

They almost ALWAYS have dolls in a terrible state of repair.

Grab nearly all you can carry - modern ones too (I'll explain later)

this way you can build up your bargain priced stock of doll parts !

 

Popular Dolls like Barbie,Bratz etc often need repair and I would hone my skills with a basic toolkit and a good how-to book on some of these common dolls

.

This way you can learn all about the components of a doll,re-stringing and generally enjoy making her/him  well. again.

 

While you are doing that, remember that many modern dolls also have substantial value - a rare Barbie Doll that has been cleaned and her clothing repaired and cleaned and Ironed will suddenly become a saleable item in her own right