I even have my own Shirley Temple doll which is a real collectors item. I must have seventy dolls or so ( I stopped counting at fifty,) And I just love them all. You name a doll, and I will show you a doll with pride and bliss.

When I talk about my magnificent doll collection to other people, their response is always negative. They would make comments such as, ” Doll collecting at your age–are you feelig o.k.?” Or: “You’re to old for that kind of thing. Why don’t you take a knitting or a cooking class or something.” Or:  “You must be crazy. Are you?”

No, I am not crazy and yes, I am in my right mind. I have been collectioning dolls since I was nine years old, and truth be told, I am very proud of it. I see doll collecting not only as a hobby, but I also see it as an art. Art meaning you can display your dolls in any which way that you choose. You can take an end table for example, and put a lace draple on the table. Or  you can take a doll of your choice and put it on the table. You can put some dolls in each coner of the living room, or take a bunch of dolls and put them on your window sill. Others can go on your dresser. Dolls no matter where you place them, will always brighten up your room. Hence it is an art. Do you get my drift?

Women of all ages collect dolls, and they find their fun filled hobby to be nothing to be ashamed of. They need something to love and cuddle, or just look at and admire them.

Here is what some women who have dolls had to say. ” I have a collection of dolls that look like nineteen century dolls, with long frilly gowns and painted features on their china faces.I wouldn’t give them up for the world.” Remarked a women who looked well over fifty. “I see them as being my children. The children I never had.” She added.

Another woman who looked to be in her seventies commented: ” I have a doll collection of dolls from around the world. They make me so happy. They are so much like little people, and they can’t talk back to you.”

One woman who looked to be in her mid forties stated, ” I admit that I play with baby dolls. I want children in the worst way, but that is a no go for me. Also, my husband is out of town, much of the time and I have no friends. I get so lonely. I need something to hold and cuddle and play with. Strangely so, my baby dolls are the only thing to find  confort with.”

Another woman who looked fifty or so, mentioned, ” I have a collection of nine Barbie dolls. And I love to make evening gowns casual clothes and bathing suits for them. Barbie dolls are such a classic, and you can do so many things with them. I even thought about making a huge doll house or something.”

Also also, a couple of celebritirs have doll collections of about a hundred or more. They are both over forty.

There are  astonomical amounts of dolls on the market in todays world, to choose from. From current cuddly soft conforting Erin and Audry dolls, from Barbie dolls to hip hop dolls. There are ancient kewpie dolls to Chatty Cathy dolls, and antique dolls that are made of pure china, and wax dolls that with long satin dresses the kind of doll that you impulsively want to touch. There are elegant, exotic Human like Japanese dolls in their glass cases with their lovely silk kimonos and silky jet black hair. There are breath taking porcelain dolls with beautiful human like faces and gorgeous real  curly hair, that cascades down to their waist. They wear well made dresses and gowns.

You can find such dolls on the web, or in gift shops, doll specialty stores, antique stores,  foreign gift shops, and gift shops from around the world. There are also doll collecting magazines that you might want to look for in book stores or the library. You can flip through them, explore and take in intrest. You can purchase them too in the magazines.

Just remember, doll collecting isn’t just for little kids. It’s a great, grand hobby for women of all ages!