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Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Tuesday Treasures

Sorry it's been a while since I've done one  these. I've had a lot of other things on my mind but I'm trying super hard to get back to a weekly Treasure post.

Another item from my childhood that I consider a treasure because they brought me so much joy are The Sunshine Family Dolls. I actually started a blog about them because I love them so much. Here's the link if you are interested. It's all about the history of the dolls and photos of my massive collection. http://ilovethesunshinefamily.blogspot.com/

I really hate showing photos of myself as a kid and NEVER do, cause my mom cut my hair super short and wouldn't let me grow it, so I always looked like I had a brown bush on my head and was constantly being mistaken for a boy! O.k. mother/daughter drama rant over (yes there are STILL unresolved issues there!)
Here I am on Christmas 1974 (pretend you don't know how old I am) and am holding my Sunshine Family dolls that I just unwrapped. (Wow look at that shag carpet and the Simon and Garfunkel album in the background, lol)

I adore these dolls because you could make furniture and accessories for them. They were a different kind of doll. The original DIY doll. The Sunshine Family consisted of Steve, Stephie and baby Sweets. They came with a little booklet that showed how to make a bed from a tissue box and a crib from a plastic berry basket, etc. Making useful things from readily available household items? I was so into that! I had the best time with just the dolls that later on my mom got me the house that came with furniture for them.


One of the best things about these dolls were that there were Grandparent dolls, which I had and also that they came in an African-American version too, called The Happy Family. I also had them and the Grandparents for that version.

One of my favorite things I had for the Sunshine Family was the portable Craft shop on the back of the Family's Pickup truck. You could make crafts for the Family to sell. You know this is probably why I'm so into handemade things today!

Another reason these dolls were so special to me was that I was the only one of all my friends to have them and everyone wanted to go to my apartment to play with them. I became quite popular, lol!

Unfortunately I don't have my original dolls, my mom did a doll giveaway and just took them all. (more issues there) But as an adult I found some at a yard sale and discovered that people were starting to collect them so I now have more than I ever did before and they STILL make me so HAPPY!

Did any of you have these dolls too?

4 comments:

yoborobo said...

I am older (and not as cute as) you, so I don't know them, but you know I would have LOVED them. Selling crafts from the back of their truck? I am THERE! haha! I love dolls, and the memories we have of them. :) xo Pam

PS You are ADORABLE in that picture!

MAB from OtterCatHaus said...

I love your kid pic! I was a Barbie child, and I still have a box of Barbies and stuff from when I was a kid up in my closet. Oh, man, I spent hours with Barbie. She is part of what made me the woman I am today, with my 100+ pairs of shoes.
Someone should have sent the Sunshine Family my way. Maybe I would have learned to cook?

Heather Leavers said...

I don't think these were around in the UK, but how utterly fabulous to have dolls with a craft business!

Cindi Myers said...

I agree, you were a very adorable kid! You look so sweet and happy!
I didn't know about those dolls either, probably because I was 17 in 74.
When I was young I played with Barbies, or "little kiddles" or my horse collection...all of which my Father sold in a yard sale along with all my art creations from school and never told me until I was looking for them....yep, I got some father issues! LOL!

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