The Web's Number One Doll and Dollhouse Resource

The home is supposed to be a representation of one's taste and style. You take pride in what you buy for your home, making sure the furniture, curtains and decorations are exactly what you want. This is especially true when it comes time to decorate for a holiday.

But for individuals who enjoy building and collecting dollhouses or miniatures, adding flare opens up a whole new library of ideas. And it makes perfect sense too. If you are going to put as much pride in a large-scale version of your home, why not do the same for the smaller replica? No one ever claimed dollhouses had to fit a specific mold, right?

Decorating a dollhouse for a specific holiday is not difficult to do. There are kits widely available that can help you accomplish your goal. If your dollhouse or miniature resembles a particular period in history, such as the Victorian Era, you can find decorations that will go along with the décor of the home. Just by surfing the Internet, one can purchase kits for Halloween, Easter or even Christmas.

Perhaps the Internet is not your favorite way of shopping for items to put in your dollhouse. If you enjoy seeing and touching dollhouse decorations, you can easily find kits and accessories at specialty shops, antique stores or local craft stores. Even hitting garage sales and estate sales can turn up some beautiful and timeless pieces to add to your décor.

Because manufacturers make an endless array of dollhouse decorations and accessories, you need to have a good idea of what you want to accomplish before you start buying. Depending on what you need, there may be the chance you could save a little money and make decorations from left-over materials you used for your own home. All you need is some glue, a little paint and a lot of patience to make beautiful re-creations for your dollhouse.

If you want to get into more intricate detail, a kit would be a better choice for you. These kits can help you make a dollhouse or miniature resemble your own home down to the packages under the tree. For example, if you are looking into holiday decorations, you can buy Christmas trees with tiny lights, stockings that let you write family names on them and miniature packages with personalized name tags. In fact, decorating dollhouses for various holidays has become so popular that avid collectors even enjoy re-creating their own village or town.

One thing to keep in mind when you are decorating your dollhouse or miniature is to keep the décor personal. The possibilities are endless, and all a person needs to do is use a little creativity and imagination. You want people to pick up on your own style, just as they do for your real home. Personalization is easy to achieve, especially with all the choices you have in miniature accessories. Friends and family will enjoy seeing all your hard work and effort turned into a beautiful display.

Madame Alexander's Cissy dolls are one of the most sought after in her vast collection of dolls.

1955 was the first year that the Cissy was released, although the face had been used on the walkers of the previous years. The new Cissy was called "A high fashion doll with class." She was 20" to 21", had a figure of a debutante, high heel feet and oversleeved, jointed elbowed arms. She was a walker. Trademark 686,168, Debutante Series (except Queen).

The Cissy doll was used extensively in magazine ads, advertising Yardley of London. These magazine ads from the 1950s are also collector's items.

Also, in the 1950s, Madame Alexander was asked by the British Government to make a doll to represent Queen Elizabeth II. She manufactured a 20" Cissy doll as Queen Elizabeth II, dressed in a court gown of white brocade with a blue garter sash and star. Her tiara, earrings and bracelets are jeweled with rhinestones and rubies and she wears long white gloves. This doll, in excellent condition, can sell for over $1200.00.

Madame Alexander designed a complete wardrobe for Cissy which included lingerie, street and evening clothes and many accessories. Each year, special dolls were issued wearing complete ensembles. Cissy was manufactured until 1959. From 1959 to 1961, her face was used for portrait dolls. The Madame Alexander Doll Company has re-issued Cissy. However, both the face and body molds have been changed. She is still being made today and still sought after by collectors.

The final word is Madame Alexander dolls have always been collectible and should continue to be. They should endure in time and value.