A Holiday Cut-out

The School of Visual Arts in New York City knows how to put on a party--and how to design a wonderful invitation, too.

Here, courtesy of Carol Carey (whose husband Gary teaches at SVA) is the 2007 holiday party invite from the renowned school of art and graphic design.

A Mystery Comic Strip Paper Doll

Here's a comic strip paper doll that was part of a much larger collection that was purchased by Carol Carey of Brooklyn. Everything I know about comic strip paper dolls I've learned from Carol and her huge collection. She's been collecting for a long time, and when she gets duplicates, she's more than happy to sell them to her NYC club friends! Does anyone recognize this mystery lady?

Tillie the Toiler and the Beaux- Arts Ball

These are unusual paper dolls for Tillie the Toiler--as far as I can tell, the doll isn't a character taken from the comic strip, but appears to be a serious "model". Readers were invited to submit a costume outfit for the doll, with the winner receiving a free trip the 1938 Beaux-Arts Ball in New York City. Has anyone come across the winning entries in their collection of Tillie strips?

Queen Holden mini booklet

This small booklet, "Billy and Peggy" is roughly 2 and 1/2 inches high and was part of a collection of paper dolls belonging to one Nancy Anne Nash. I found her stash of paper dolls about two years ago in a local antiques store. They were crammed into a brown paper bag, and dated from the late 1930s-early 1940s. The paper was thin and fragile, with many pieces crumbling at the slightest touch.

My guess is that this was included in a larger set, but which one?

Notice on the little school berets, the date "195?" Perhaps looking forward about 15 years when these toddlers would graduate!

Cornerstones

Deanna Williams publishes Cornerstones four times a year, and the current issue is chock full of information about the history of Santa Claus and Old Saint Nick, plus a bounty of Santa paper doll imagery. Deanna's research is exhaustive! And what fabulous finds in her collection:

A Helen Page Santa Claus -- doublesided, with a paper doll and three outfits that slide out of the sack on his back. Charles Ventura did a Santa Claus paper doll! (who knew? Deanna did.) David Wolfe did his version of Santa's Wedding with a Mr. and Mrs. Claus that look positively robust. Lone Nunnally's Origami Bear dons Santa outfits here, too. Tom Tierney did a 3-D Santa and Mrs. Claus figures but I especially like his self-portrait in jammies with Santa outfit. Bruce Patrick Jones did a Brad Pitt like Santa and a Whoopi Goldberg Santa, too. Terri Pettit has some adorable elves with Santa outfits, and Jayne Keller designed a paper doll ornament with a doll with her own Santa-like outfit and wearable tree.

Great historical find: "Aw, Cut It Out," a 1942 risque paper doll--pretty wild for the time. Let's just say Ms. Santa is shapelier than usual, and she looks kind of chilly. In the same spirit (but with more clothing) Larry Bassin's colorful centerfold is delightful, and shows Santa contemplating his own kind of rooftop merrymaking.

One cannot discuss Cornerstones without discussing the Fruitland Chronicles of Gene Maiden and Tom Tierney. A flight of fancy and imagination that will set you laughing out loud!

Cornerstones, $24/U.S; $28/Canada; $33 overseas. US funds only.

Make check payable to Cornerstones and mail to: Deanna Williams, 733 de la Fuente, Monterey Park, CA 91754.

Convention Update: The Bus to NYC

The Lakeland Bus Company provides direct service to New York's Port Authority on the Route 202 & 46 line, which stops just across from the Embassy Suites in Parsippany. Fare is $8.05 one- way, reduced to $4.00 for seniors.

Check out www.lakelandbus.com/BusSched.html

Click on Route 46 to get the most direct bus route schedules for Mon-Fri or Sat-Sun. Then scroll down to Parsippany/Rt. 202 & 46 to find departure and arrival times.

A Special Get Well

Diana Lax is on the mend after surgery, and we wish her a speedy recovery.

Garth has launched his e-mail blasts -- make sure you're on his list!

I found these cut-outs in an antique store in Red Bank, in south Jersey. The pieces were glued to muslin long ago, I believe, to ensure durability.

This is the art work of Sheila Young, of course, but I'm not sure if this appeared in her Lettie Lane or Betty Bonnet series.