Dear 11-Year-Old Me,
I’m here to tell you that dreams come true. But you have a long road ahead in your doll collecting, young lady.
I know you just finished up your big research paper on Dolls-- 10 typed pages, plus photos and bibliography. You’ve always loved dolls and anything from the 1800’s, but now you’ve learned so much more— some of the rich history of dolls, some of the most prominent doll makers in history, and even the fact that there are actual people who collect dolls, and take them seriously as pieces of art and history! But the Jumeau dolls that you discovered in the “D” volumes of every encyclopedia you could get your hands on were the absolute most gorgeous dolls you ever saw, and you’ve wanted one ever since.
So, your parents hoped you’d have outgrown dolls by now, but instead, they’ve become even more interesting! When your mom told you that you’re too old to play with dolls, you responded, “Okay then, now I’m a doll COLLECTOR.” That was epic, and I still tell people about that all the time.
When you’re 12, you’ll start collecting porcelain dolls, just for the fact that they seem “just like” antique dolls, with their bisque heads, arms, and legs, lovely wigs, and glass eyes. But you’ll still dream of the beautiful Jumeau dolls made in France so long ago.
In your teen years, you’ll continue to read books about antique dolls, spending extra time on the pages about Jumeau dolls.
Toward the end of your teen years, your brother is going to move near Seattle—and as luck would have it, he’ll live just 30 minutes from the Rosalie Whyel Museum of Doll Art! When you visit him, you will absolutely NOT rest until your family takes you there, and lets you roam the exhibits for hours. This museum will take your breath away, as you see antique dolls in person for the first time in your life. But OH, to see an actual antique JUMEAU, just on the other side of the glass! That is where you spend the better part of that visit.
In your twenties you’ll start attending doll shows and join a local doll club, and make new friends who love dolls as much as you do! But with a new car and dental bills, and not the most supportive home environment for a doll collector, you still will not dream of owning a Jumeau.
At 27 you’ll get married to a really good guy and buy a new home, complete with a doll room! It will have many wonderful treasures in it, but with this new mortgage to pay, your Jumeau doll will still be only in your dreams.
Your husband will be supportive of your passion for dolls, and together you’ll both take another trip to the Rosalie Whyel Museum, and guess what—This is the day you actually get to hold a Jumeau for the first time in your life. Holding this large beautiful doll will ignite your love for Jumeaus even more, but you wonder if perhaps big beautiful museums are the only worthy homes for these treasures?
I know you’ve dreamed of your French “bébés” for so long, but when you’re in your 30s, you’ll be very busy with your own real live "bébés", which fill your heart in ways that no doll ever could. You’ll be busy with your young family and content with your doll collection, but there will be times when you think of the Jumeaus, and wonder if it’s time to stop dreaming. Oh, and your doll room is converted to your daughter’s room.
Throughout the years, you will purchase a few reproduction Jumeau dolls, and you’ll love them dearly. But in the back of your mind, they just won’t have the richness in "spirit", history, and mystery that the antique dolls do.
But wait- just WAIT – until you hit 40! The internet (you’ll see) is where everything happens, and through it you will meet a doll lady like no other, and her name is Rachel. She’ll be running an amazing doll shop in Denver, and she’ll have antique dolls – German, French, JUMEAU—just laying around all over the place. It will boggle your mind that so many wonderful dolls can be under one roof, not just behind glass, but out and about, being ENJOYED!
But what makes the most impact are Rachel's words. She seems to believe that anybody at any stage in life can own the doll of their dreams. And you will begin to dream again, that someday you could possibly own the doll you’ve dreamed of all along. It is completely amazing but after all these years, through working and playing within the Virtual Doll Convention community (again courtesy of the internet), you’ve at last been empowered and enabled to make your ultimate doll dream come true.
Just a couple of weeks ago, a large box arrived from Denver. It was filled with bubble wrap and protective cardboard, and within all these packing materials, was the dream of an 11 year old doll collector, OUR honest-to-goodness antique Jumeau. No more excuses, no more hurdles, no more feeling like your collecting is less than what you wish it could be.
It took her a long time to get to us. I can’t say where she's been over the past 125 years, but I know that for the rest of our years she will be enjoyed, spoiled, and appreciated not only as a beautiful doll and a piece of history, but most importantly, as a reminder that dreams do come true.
To 11-Year-Old Me and Doll Collectors of ALL ages: Keep collecting, keep learning, and keep dreaming! To Rachel: THANK YOU for helping me to dream again.
Love,
Diana Vining
About the Author: Diana Vining is a paper doll and coloring book illustrator, craft maker, and doll lover of all kinds. You can visit her website at The Paper Doll Shoppe and find her incredible illustrations front and center through the Virtual Doll Convention. She lives in Hackettstown, NJ, and is passionate about her family, faith, dolls, artwork, and connecting with the doll community.
