ANNUAL DOLL INSPECTION

Hi--

When you have been a collector for 20+ years, it is really important to do annual inspections of your dolls. Just because a doll is sitting in a cabinet or on a chest doesn't mean it can't get dust, mold, or mites.

* Using a toothpick, part the roots of a wig, checking that it is clean and free of insect casings. Teeny things called carpet beetles love doll hair just as much as your wall to wall rugs.

*Check all the folds of the clothing near the seams, and under the arms for the same thing. Have a shoe nearby, in case you disturb a spider.

*Check that the clothing has NOT faded because of lighting. Look inside the folds to see that the color is the same.

*Use this time to inspect the glue of shoes, fraying of button holes, etc.

*Look at the eyelash roots to be sure it is all the same color.

*SMELL your doll, her hair, the vinyl, and the clothes. Learn to detect the odor of must, mildew or mold.

*Have Magic Sponge nearby to slightly buff any of those vinyl scratches (dry--I rub it 3 times in 3 directions).

*Older Himstedts (especially the 1980's ones) will have an oily residue where vinyl touches vinyl, especially at the shoulder seams and neck seams. Wipe this away with a clean cloth. See photo below of Fatou's residue.

*Using a new, large natural fiber cosmetic brush, dust away every inch of your doll's face. Try to do the hands and toes, too. Before putting the doll down, try to wipe away "your fingerprints" which leaves a slight oil on the vinyl.

Next post will be Problems and REMEDIES for each.
Debbie from SanDiego has attached this image:

Sunlight, Cabinet lighting, and Natural Lighting Damage.

These all affect the vinyl over time. Try to move your dolls around your room or home so that they get exposed evenly.

True damage to a face or limb will show up as darker spots. These can't be removed.


REMEDY

The clothing will fade. You can see this in the folds of the fabric. If you notice this happening, remove the outfit. Place it in acid-free tissue storage.

THIS WAS VERY INTERESTING TO ME AS A BEGINNER IN COLLECTING ANNETTE HIMSTEDT DOLLS .... AND THANK YOU ...VAL

Insects

If you find one bug casing, look for more. It is the shell of a teeny bug that stays small. The live thing has gone somewhere else.

Here's an interesting story about them.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=h...l%3Den%26sa%3DG

As a musician, I have to inspect my instruments for such things. (I'm behind in doing that, too.)

The photo of the white stuffed toy (belonged to my dogs) illustrates how the insects like to wedge into the seams. I wish that the picture were better. These common household carpet beetles are in most homes. You want to keep this insect away from your dolls.

REMEDY
1. Keep your house vacuumed regularly.

2. Remove casings. Place the infected clothing, stuffed animal, or wig in a plastic bag in the freezer. Leave it there for at least a couple weeks.

OR

3. Wash the clothes (not recommended because of the natural dyes) or wig.

The photo of the white stuffed toy (belonged to my dogs) illustrates how the insects like to wedge into the seams. I wish that the picture were better. These common household carpet beetles are in most homes. You want to keep this insect away from your dolls.


This photo was to appear in the previous post. However, I don't know how to put two photos into one!

MOLD

People in damp climates will have more problems with this than I do in my desert area. However, molds can be found anywhere.

Molds usually appear on dolls as white flecks. The mold begins on the inside of the doll, where you can't see anything happening. It grows to the surface and turns white, because that portion is no longer active.

You can recognize the SMELL of mold.

Brushing the flecks of white off of a Himstedt does not solve the problem of what is going on inside.

This photo shows a doll with mold on the back of the eyeball. I'll try to find a photo of mold elsewhere.

REMEDY

Put the doll in a large plastic bag into the freezer for at least a month. The cold stops the mold and removes moisture.

Recommendations for Display and Storage

1. Shift your dolls from one side of the room to the other a couple times during the year.

2. Beware of direct lighting from the sun or room lamps.

3. Never leave doll cabinet lights on for over a few minutes at a time.

4. When you move the dolls, adjust the folds of the clothing so that different areas are exposed.

5. Don't store your dolls in bubblewrap. That seals the vinyl inside plastic, and there can be a chemical reaction (which can cause the breakdown of the polymers. This would mean a separation of the vinyl, which in turn, puts an oily residue on the surface.) Just place her in the box without that bubble wrap touching the vinyl.
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Buying on the Secondary Market

After reading about how carefully you need to store or display your dolls, NOW you understand why buying on the secondary market can be risky.

*Buying older dolls "never removed from box" isn't always a safe bet. The bubble wrap should be removed for storage.

*Ask about how the doll was displayed (in a lit cabinet? "around the house" or in a closed doll room?)

*Ask what and how the doll was cleaned/cared for. Did the mommy do a weekly "bath" with baby wipes (YIKES!). How many times had this doll been redressed? Was the mommy too excited about using the Magic Sponge?

*Be sure to ask about smoke, pets, cooking oils, CEDAR, or other possible things that you would worry about.

NOTES:

Yes, I have bought dolls on the secondary market. I've been very happy with them. I ask a LOT of questions first. My first choice, though, is a doll shop.

When I've helped other people inspect their collections, I've seen all kinds of things. One boxed doll had a wasp nest inside! NRFB isn't always the best thing.

Don't use that Magic Sponge all the time.

I'll try to take photos when I do my Annual Doll Inspection so that you can see what I do.

If you only own newer dolls (2005+), it is still a good idea to do a close check up, especially for those carpet beetles.

Another Note

The fabric-wrapped buttons on the 2003 (and some 2004) Himstedt dolls have been having the glue eat through the material. Most all of these dolls will have a white residue on these buttons.

Lick it if you want: it tastes salty.

We should have a vote to see how many of you licked buttons this week.

These are photos I took this morning of Alma's dress. The buttons on the velvet fabric seem to be more affected than the ones on the cotton.

I don't have an answer for you on this. There is no removing the stuff, because it eats through the threads.

I wonder, too, if it is simply the result of the dye process. I should write to Annette and ask her.

Hi---

I'd like to add that doing this check every 3 months is a good idea.

When the gold spots showed up on a couple dolls, these appeared after a 3 month period.

They weren't on Dollylori's dolls in April, when I had seen them last. She brought her Lunna to me on Saturday. Although she needed a magnifying glass, I could easily see the green dots on the doll's face AT NIGHT with just using the car lights.

No need to panic yet. Let's find out what the factory says could be the problem. What I wanted to point out to all of you is, your dolls can change over a small period of time.

Debbie's right, I have a close up of Tana in October. No spot whatsoever. Another close up on the day I visited Debbie. If I zoom in I can see possible the beginning of a tiny dot that is not yet green. Now the dot is larger, can be seen without a zooming or magnifying and is a distinct green color. I'm holding my breath waiting for AH to tell us what these are and what we can do about them.

Wow Wow Wow! This was extremely helpful and I am not even a new collector, I have been collecting for many many years but there was alot of info here that I did not know. Thanks so much!!


Donna