Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Raggedy Ann and Andy



Among my mother in law's saved treasures are these two Raggedy Ann books...
...she loves these two delightful books from her childhood.



I love Johnny Gruelle's wonderful and now classic illustrations.



Just look at the vibrancy of the colors in this old book...
...not to mention the whimsical characters...





This looks like Mr. Flea and me!






Such warm and happy stories...



I arrived home late this afternoon!
This looks like Mr. Flea and me too! :)

I had a much loved Raggedy Ann doll when I was little.
Did you?

Still trying to decide what the best thing to do for my 500th Post Give-Back....
...and still open to your suggestions!
Details by the end of the week!

:)

32 comments:

Dar said...

I do! I do still have my Raggedy Ann doll. My twin has Raggedy Andy. We also have the Jack an Jill dolls. And, my son Andy, still has his Andy doll. Thanks for such a fond, fond memory.
BlessYourHeart

Julie@beingRUBY said...

Dearest Laura!!!
I've missed you and your world you share!! my move what somewhat epic in nature and now my internet works only when it feels inclined!!!

Love these raggedy ann images.. trying to remember if I actually had one.. .think not.. but I did make myself a Holly Hobby doll and all her clothing!! wow.. what happened to that skill??? haha

Hope you and Mr Flea are well... and hopefully I will be able to get back to blogging soon.. xxxx Julie

Linda @ A La Carte said...

I love those old books. I didn't have a Raggedy Ann growing up and asked for one and received it for my 16th birthday. It has been played with by my girls but I still have it!

Nancy's Notes said...

What wonderful old books, they are just so special, aren't they? I love Raggedy Ann and Andy, just the best!

Thanks for sharing such a great post!

Nancy

Sarah said...

What delightful treasures! Raggedy Ann and Andy are two of my favorite characters from childhood. Thanks for sharing this great post! ~ Sarah

aimee said...

those are such neat treasures. i didnt have any raggedy ann and andy treasures growing up. wish i had.
blessings,
aimee

Blessed Serendipity said...

Yes I had a raggedy Ann doll and I still have her. My favorite thing about her is her "I love you" written over her heart.
-Danielle

Kateyed said...

I think I love old children's books more than anything...especially ones with charming illustrations like these. I love that your families honor these vintage treasures.

My thought is that your give-away be a vintage book. Not a family one, of course, but maybe one that you see at a sale and find charming. Not expensive either, Laura!!!

I started a collection a couple of years ago as my family's books were not saved and that made me sad. Now I have four shelves of children's books and I just treasure them. Sometimes I use them in art projects but mostly I just look at them...again and again and again.

Thinking of you,
Suz

debi lynn mattingly said...

They don't make them like they use to! xo...deb

Anita Diaz said...

What a wonderful book!! I did not have any dolls as a child, but my mother just made some for my children. My father knew the Gruelles as they summered here in Western NC and were frequent visitor's at my grandfather's store. They still have a home in Highlands NC I think now. Definitely a treasure for sure!!

Rose Garden Romantic said...

I adore vintage Raggedy Ann and Andy illustrations and all of John Gruelle's work! I did have a Raggedy Ann doll when I was young and I loved it!
Michelle

Simply Shelley said...

I love the Raggedys...thanks so much for sharing these wonderful books....I can tell they were much loved....I have more than one Raggedy now...I even have a blog about them....blessings

Jane said...

What fabulous books! The graphics are wonderful. They are definitely classics!
Jane

Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces said...

Those old illustrations are so charming!

Unknown said...

Have one??! Oh no, I loved mine so much my mom replaced them as I slept. But she kept every single one of them. I loved the books they are part of my fond memories and now I have a collection of Ann that comes out every Christmas!

Jules said...

I too, along with the Camel with Wrinkly Knees, want to know why they did cry 'whoa'?

{Bellamere Cottage} said...

Adorable illustrations... No, I didn't have a Raggedy Ann or Andy, but my little girl did.... Whew, that was a LONG time ago.


Warm blessings,
Spencer

Floss said...

Oh yes, I had Raggedy Ann, and loved her (literally) to bits, sadly. I remember the soft cotton string of her hair so well - I think I must have stroked it against my cheek to go to sleep. My sister had Raggedy Andy, but I don't think she liked him so much, because he was a boy.

I guess my mother bought the dolls for us when we moved to the States, without really knowing their history, because she liked their wholesome air! (We were not allowed Barbies.) I don't think we ever knew they came from such a great history of story books, so thanks for sharing this.

Jacqueline @ HOME said...

Dear Laura,
Such wonderful books, taking me back (way back !!) to my childhood. Life was so much simpler then wasn't it ?
It seems to me that you married into a family that keeps everything, just like you !! How fortuitous !! haha.
.......... and, you put me to shame. You are up to 500 posts ( many congratulations. That is indeed a feat of huge proportions) and I have only just had my 100th. I must buck my ideas up !! XXXX

Theresa said...

I loved Raggedy Ann and Andy too! Those are beautiful books! I didn't have a Raggedy Ann and Andy doll but my daughter did! I gave it to her as a gift after she had children! It had been packed away and perhaps a little lost:) Have a blessed day my friend and I am have the 500 post dilemna too! HUGS!

Bernie said...

I soooo read those books as a young girl...still have a love for reading, Mom still collects Raggedy Ann dolls....
Nothing wrong with feeling like Raggedy Ann in a Barbie Doll world!!
Love your Blog!

Vicki K. said...

Actually I never read the stories, but my fondness for Raggedy Ann comes from that fact that it was my first major sewing project.

My grandmother was a seamstress extraordinaire and sewed many clothes and dolls for me. She thought it was time for me to try a bigger project. I still have my R. Ann - and I still think I did a pretty good job - complete with her hand embroidered heart!

Blooming Rose Musings said...

What classic, wonderful treasures. I loved my Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls with the "I love you" written on their hearts. Thank you for the great memories.

One Cheap B*tch said...

I did! And I had Andy too. Those books are just precious. In this day and age of computers, cable, etc., give me one of those vintage books any day of the week!

Jeanine

Unknown said...

Loved my Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls growing up. Hollie Hobby and the Sock Monkeys our grandmother made for all of us, too. No telling what happened to any of them. My sister probably sold them on eBay. :P

Rosemary said...

Hi Laura,
Thank you for your sweet cupcake comments!!
I used to collect Raggedy Ann dolls when I was young. I still have them in a box somewhere.
They used to sit on my bed.
Your books are so cute!
500 posts, wow!! I guess I will be there soon, and I will have to decide on a giveaway!!
I'm sure anything you come up with will be wonderful!!
Have a lovely evening.
xo,
Rosemary

Bohemian said...

Don't you just LOVE the graphics on the vintage Children's Books!? Children's Books are among the vintage Treasures that each subsequent generation can appreciate and enjoy regardless of the era they're being read. Thanks for sharing your precious and obviously much loved and read Raggedy Ann and Andy Books.

Dawn... The Bohemian

Annie said...

I remember those books from my childhood. How sweet to find them on your blog today. Thanks!!!

Annemary said...

hello Laura chaque fois que tu montres un post je me dis ohhhhhhhhhhh ça j'aiiiiiiime encore ces pelotes de tissus ....et ces hortensias bleus et ces Images de Raggedy Ann & andy je les connais et j'ai aussi des livres et des poupées Raggeddy !!!!!!bonne Journée Gentille Laura à+ bisous doux

Jann said...

I had a Raggedy Ann doll when I was a child . . . I love her, but the fabric eventually crumbled many years later, and she lost her face, sadly! I made a replica doll from a McCall's pattern years ago and one of my granddaughters fell in love with Raggedy Ann, so I gave it to her. I've always loved the Raggedy's!!!! I found a replica of one of the books a long time ago; it was copyrighted 1961, but is a reprint of one of the old ones by Johnny Gruelle. I keep it in my little antique bookshelf, along with my other old children's books. Thanks for sharing--your post brought back lovely memories for me!

Therese said...

What wonderful treasures these books are! I adored my Raggedy Ann doll...so much that 27 years later I decorated my daughter's nursery in anything and everything Raggedy Ann and Andy. What a fun time it was to find these vintage items!

Marieanne said...

Those books are so charming!

I had two Raggedy Anns when I was little, and I still have them both. The first, my mother made for me from a pre-printed piece of fabric. The second, the real thing. How I loved those dolls.