So when I was a kid, next to Fashion Plates and Barbie, we were pretty big on paper dolls too. We had a few different sets, being that they were paper and kind of flimsy, I know we went through a few different ones. But my favorite set of paper dolls, almost too pretty to play with (but best believe I cut them out anyway!) was this set of Tom Tierney 30’s paper dolls. At the time of course I had no idea who he was. I don’t think my mom did either. I saw it out one day with my mom and immediately drawn into the images. From there it was, “oooh mommy can I get this???!!!” I wasn’t careful enough to hold on to the set, but I’ve never forgotten the images of those paper dolls. Their fashions were so amazing, colorful and fabulous. They had such flow, they were so real. Gorgeous 30’s evening gowns that i thought I could touch! Very vivid. …I LOVED them.
So not too long ago I thought about them, wondering if they still made them perhaps and if I could find another set, then got sidetracked in my world again. Yesterday I took the wee.one to the bookstore to pick out a new book. …She lives for them. On the fly I saw some paper dolls on the way out of the children’s section. I walked over curious to see what “new” paper dolls look like these days. I thumbed through a few different ones, not impressed at all. …Then….as if the heavens opened up and the sun shone down through the clouds, a womans face peaked through. “Shh! Wait!” I thought I recognized her! It wasn’t the woman I thought it was, BUT IT WAS THE SAME PAPERDOLLS ONLY A DIFFERENT SERIES BY THE SAME ARTIST!!! It stood all alone, not another one like it anywhere in sight.
As you can probably tell, I thought I’d struck gold. I combed the pages and was thrilled! I felt like an old friend came back! Even though it wasn’t the same one I had before, it was the fashionssssss ahhhhh, I love it! And I could tell it was the same artist! …. It gets better! So then I go home and get on line right because now I have the artists name, Tom Tierney and I google. Not only do I find the paper dolls I had before, ‘Great Fashion Designs of the Thirties’ :
But I find all of the collections he’s ever done and IS doing! Here are just a few of the ones on my immediate wish list:
- MLK and family paper dolls: priceless
This man has documented the fashion of almost every era, culture, icons, ..you name it. He has missed nothing. Looking through the book as an adult I notice that he not only sketches original designs from actual designers like Chanel, Halston, Thierry Mugler, but provides a little info in the back on each design and designer. I had no idea there were so many collections! This was a fabulous surprise! I think I’m on a mission to collect some of these. I have no plans of cutting into mine, Mama’s new toy is just going on display in Studio5 to look pretty. But words can’t express my joy around finding them again! …I guess it’s all about the little things. I know I said it once, but these images were unforgettable in my “child mind”. And looking at them again only reaffirmed why. …I think you should look into some. Soon I’ll scan the inside of my book but until then, you should start here and check out the collection.
