Treasure Trove Tuesday - Special Edition

28 April
Today I got to leave work early to meet the PUD at my house for some more trimming on the large silver maple in my backyard. Apparently the tree guys I hired didn't get the limbs trimmed far enough back from the power lines so they wanted to prune a little more.

After they left I thought I'd go to Goodwill. I thought it might not be as busy during the week... boy was I wrong, it was just as busy as ever but they had GOOD STUFF! So good that I thought it warranted a Special Edition of Treasure Trove Tuesday!

Thrifting Finds

These vintage flower prints were the first thing I spotted! My heart skipped a beat and I almost knocked over the hideous pictures that they were tucked behind just to get them in my hot little hands!


I think they are so pretty! I really love the tulips!


The Dahlia's are beautiful too!




Next I found these!


I have been looking for some of these ever since I saw this over at {Liz Marie blog}! Now to find an old chair or table I could use for the base!

Source: LizMarieBlog
Then... I was passing by the dolls... I don't usually pay any attention to the dolls... I think most of them are ugly (although I do love a good vintage doll head!) but for some reason this caught my eye!


O.M.G.  I do believe this must be the cutest porcelain doll I've ever seen!


Loooook at that FACE!!!!! EEEeeek!

And then another!


They still have their original tags and they are called Ark Babies. I need to do some more research but I think they were made by someone local to my area for awhile. I did a quick Google search and found someone's blog that told a very sad story about these babies.


Apparently a group of ladies made them, showed them at some local doll shows, and then a show in Seattle where they were "discovered". They were told the dolls would be produced and they would make $45 per doll. Then something must have gone terribly wrong because all of a sudden their design was stolen and they were told if they wanted in on it they would only be paid $25 per doll.

They were then mass produced for awhile but in a much cheaper, smaller, plastic version (you may have seen them in stores). The ladies then reached out to Oprah by sending a letter and a doll to her. The letter explained what had happened to them... they were hoping to be able to go on the Oprah show to tell their story... but the doll was sent back with a short note that said Oprah does not accept gifts. :o(

It makes me very sad... these are such beautiful porcelain faced dolls.


Last, as my cart was overflowing, I found these.


I have seen these around before... a coaster here and there, maybe even 2 or 3 but not too often do I see an entire set in this condition! The butterflies are usually falling apart under the glass and/or there are stains under the glass.


These are really in good shape, the only thing wrong is one of the coasters has a little candle wax stuck on it... a little time in the freezer and that'll pop right off!



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  1. I immediately showed Horror Monster Terror Trove to instill some pride in being neat. I LOVE those floral prints - I have a wall of them in the hallway. Also great idea for the file boxes. So sad for those women who designed the dolls.

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  2. The room looks great! That story is so sad about those dolls. I read somewhere that something similar happened with Joy Mangano from QVC with the first product she invented. The person who stole it from her went on to make millions. She said that that was when she decided she needed to go back to school to get her MBA so that she had the knowledge to keep that from ever happening again.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Kimberley, it is very sad about people who work so hard to make a beautiful product only to have it flat out stolen from them.

      Tania

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  3. The flower prints are gorgeous.

    Your "before" photos are exactly what my office looks like. I have so many piles of stuff to list that it's ridiculous.

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  4. Awesome finds! Not often you find such great stuff all in one place! Sad about the doll makers. There are some unscrupulous people out there! Great job on the spare bedroom!
    Your guest will be impressed! LOL!

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  5. Jody BrittainDecember 07, 2017

    I just came across your blog, about the Ark Babies.....I was one of the people that made them. I actually created the tag that hangs from their ear. And I am thinking it is my blog in which you refer to. It was a great time, that was ruined by greed. That following Christmas I saw so many copies with Vinyl doll parts rather than the PORCELAIN that we made them with. Each doll also has a tag inside the head, (if it ever got broken, :( ) that tells who made it.

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  6. Hi Jody! What is your blog... I'm surprised I didn't add a link to it when I talked about the dolls! I thought they were so adorable. I actually sold them both on eBay to a local lady, she loved them and I did too!

    I'm so sorry that your design got stolen, it was a very sad story and I actually teared up a bit when I learned how Oprah's team just returned it, they obviously didn't even read the letter :(

    Thank you so much for reaching out and letting me know how you found me!

    Tania

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  7. Jody BrittainDecember 07, 2017

    Hi Tania,
    I actually found you by googling images of ark babies dolls. Lol my blog is www.mrscravitz.blogspot.com. It truely was a joyous time with the ark babies until it all went south. I still have two of them I made, and they are so snuggly! Thank you messing me. I am glad the local lady loves hers. They are worth loving. There is a little poem and story that one of the ladies wrote for the ark babies that was to eventually go with them, I don’t know if I still have it or not.
    Jody.

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  8. I think I remember something written on the tags of these, they still had the tags!! Well, I'm glad you found my blog, I hope you'll subscribe or visit now and then! Right now we are in the midst of a 12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop so lots of DIY and crafty Christmas posts!

    Merry Christmas!

    Tania

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