The Flickr Raggedyannandy Image Generatr

I had this toy box as a kid

Large antique mall in El Paso, IL

These were made in 2001, 2004, and 2010. Like with Cousin Handy, I must have had a change of heart when remaking him in 2004. My original 2001 paper doll was absolutely horrendous! I actually don't think I stuck to the illustrations from Ann and Andy's booklet for him. That's probably why I ended up changing his overall look when I recreated him some years later. I'm so glad I chose this particular illustration to base my newer renditions off of, because when I look at it, I automatically think, "Ah, that's Cousin Dan." I don't know, he just looks like a "Dan" if you know what I mean! What I can't wrap my head around is the fact that Colleen and I chose fairies to be Ann and Andy's "cousins" when there were other dolls we could have picked. But then again, if my memory serves me correctly, technically, none of them were "related" they just chose their family clans.

Officer Toy was a pretty important character in our Ann and Andy games. I remember that he was not a very effective police officer. Although there may have been a few times Ann and Andy got in trouble with the law, and he was the officer who dealt with them. You can see that my 2010 rendition is much shorter than his two predecessors. I thought that Officer Toy was most likely a doll, who would be a compatible size with Ann and Andy, just a heck of a lot skinnier! It's totally laughable how poorly drawn my 2001 paper doll is--I mean look at his legs....they aren't even lined up properly with his torso!

These were made in 2001, 2004, and 2010. Mr. Beesburrow was probably Colleen and my most infamous friend/family member in our Ann and Andy games. Okay, so technically speaking, his role wasn't all that important. But we had a blast making him a petulant house guest whenever he came to visit. We really loved his tiny stature, his top hat, and his cane (Mr. Peanut much?!). Although, I really did a poor job at capturing his diminutive size when I drew my first paper doll in 2001 (he's way too tall). I'm really pleased with the scale that I based my 2010 rendition off of--he's exactly the size I always wanted Mr. Beesburrow to be. For whatever reason, this fictional character that Colleen and I created most stands out in my memory. I remember him ransacking Ann and Andy's fridge...and I think he even used their bathtub whenever he was visiting! I also have always loved the name that Colleen christened him with..."Mr. Beesburrow." It just has such a splendid ring to it!

Featured here are all three generations of my sister and my make believe characters "Uncle Randy" and "The Mayor." They were made in 2001, 2004, and 2010. These two guys were probably the most important fictional people in our Ann and Andy games, other than Ann and Andy themselves. While Randy's name and role in our games were both completely figments of our imaginations, his overall look was based off of illustrations that came in our Ann and Andy booklet. We opted to call his particular illustration "Uncle Randy" because we felt his red hair and stature most resembled Ann and Andy. Although looking back, it appears he was made from wood, whereas it's quite plain to see that Ann and Andy are fabric dolls. The Mayor was a completely fictitious character that we entirely made up. I always imagined him as wearing a fancy blue suit and having dark brown hair. When I designed my 2010 guy, I actually drew inspiration from our 2001 rendition. After all, the 2001 dude was our very first Mayor paper doll, and he was what I initially pictured in my head when we made up the character.

You can see here that Randy underwent quite the serious transformation from 2001 to 2010! It's actually pretty ironic that he looks so strikingly different, considering I based all three of his paper dolls off the same illustrations (featured on Ann and Andy's walls). My sister colored in both the 2001 Mayor and Uncle Randy dolls, whereas I was the one who drew them out. We split the work for the 2004 Uncle Randy paper doll in the same manner, however I opted to color in my 2004 Mayor for what ever reason. I think what's most funny about my earlier paper dolls is their weird proportions--especially the Mayor's! If you think about it logically, the Mayor was supposed to be a normal human man, therefore, he should have been drawn significantly taller and broader than Ann and Andy. My first renditions both feature the Mayor as much shorter and similar in stature to Ann and Andy. That's why in 2010, I made sure to correct this earlier flaw. I actually had to tape his head on his body, because I ran out of cardboard when I was drawing him! That's another thing I should mention, all my 2010 paper dolls were made on old soda boxes (if you looked on their backsides, you'd see the soda brands, like Pepsi and Dr. Pepper). The 2001 and 2004 paper dolls were made on generic computer paper and weren't painted. Instead, they were colored in with crayon (except for whatever reason, Colleen colored in the 2001 Mayor's head with marker?). What I preferred about the cardboard design, was that the paper dolls were far sturdier, and wouldn't get bent in storage. Plus, they were more compatible with their heftier Ann and Andy counterparts. The ones made on paper got very crinkly over the years, especially since we sometimes used really cheap notepad paper! I also much preferred using paint for these handmade paper dolls. Firstly, paint happens to be my favorite color medium. Secondly, it is far more vibrant, you cannot see the strokes as obviously, and it blends better. The paint I used gave my 2010 paper dolls a much more authentic feel (but it also helps that my artistic skills had greatly improved...I mean I would hope they would have after nearly ten years).

These were made in 2001, 2004, and 2010. Ah Cousin Handy and Cousin Stan...they were infamous in our paper doll games! Honestly, I don't recall much about either of their personalities because it has been so many years. I think Stan talked in a super high pitched squeaky voice, although I could be wrong. I had the same problem with these two that I had with most of my other 2001/2004 handmade paper dolls. Their proportions were just plain off. Especially Stan's...I mean look how huge the 2001 guy is!!! I think he's supposed to be some sort of fairy, based on the illustrations I used, but I made him massive! I can tell that I attempted to make both of these dudes shorter in 2004, but I remember having so much trouble drawing them out. When I was making my 2004 paper dolls, I must have decided to change which illustration was Cousin Handy, because you can clearly tell the 2001 and 2004 paper dolls are different from each other. I opted to base my 2010 guy off the 2004 version, because it just seemed to fit better.

These were made in 2004 and 2010. Just like with Mother Goose and Asparagus, these two guys pictured above were not included in Colleen and my 2001 handmade Ann and Andy paper doll line. They were part of our story lines though regardless, we just imagined their presence. Jack Box slept most of the time if I recall....but I could be wrong. You can see that when Colleen colored in our 2004 Jack Box, she decided to be cheap about the details. He was supposed to look like my 2010 guy, with a detailed pattern. I remember that even though it was hard to draw the 2010 Jack Box, I had so much fun painting in the detailing on his outfit! Lieutenant Toy was one of our favorite make believe family members, so I really cannot fathom why Colleen and I didn't make him in 2001. I remember he'd fight all the time with Officer Toy. Look at the feet on my 2004 dude...they look like balloons!

These were made in 2004 and 2010. In 2001, I never got around to making these to characters-- Asparagus and Mother Goose. I think perhaps it's because Colleen and I hadn't fully developed their roles in Ann and Andy's story line, so we didn't feel a pressing need to make them into paper dolls. We chose the name "Asparagus" because the illustration I based this character off of is green...well, like asparagus the veggie! Mother Goose was one of the more annoying house guests that Ann and Andy had over if I recall. I think she was just a plain disaster...you know, being obnoxious, eating all their food, and making messes wherever she went. My original Mother Goose character was HUGE....literally, she is patently too large. She is bigger than the original Mayor. When I thought about it in 2010, when I was remaking these characters, it occurred to me that Mother Goose should be much more diminutive, like a real goose. I had a lot of trouble drawing her though, because the illustrations I based her off of were not the best. I'm really happy with how she turned out, and she's way better proportioned than my original paper doll!

For 15 days, 15 themes, 15 photos challenge.
Theme for 11th October: A Cup.

This is Raggedy Ann & Andy cup. <3

Once upon a time... this little Andy lived in England. And I believe he was really quite happy there.
But then one day the mistress of his world decided to send him off to the U.S.A.
She knew of a little Ann who lived here... and so has brought them together with her kind and generous heart. Of course Ann is so happy and delighted to have Andy... but she does often wonder if he misses living on his lovely shelf, on that beautiful island in England.

So... some of you know that Shevie had Andy first. And I later confessed that I had then found and bought Ann to send to Shevie... BUT, that I fell in love with her so she stayed here.....
OKAY... on this "Kind & Generous" scale... Shevie ranks a "10"!!! And well, I rank a fat "0" :o-
Shevie, I love you with your kind and generous heart... as we all do!! X

WOW!! Got a fabulous box of surprises from Mister M!!!
At first though, I wondered why he would send me such smelly dollies... but then Stinky popped up his little head and that answered that question!!!
Yippee!!! Love them all Mister X

08.02.11
Hailey | 37 Weeks

08.02.11
Hailey | 37 Weeks

08.02.11
Hailey | 37 Weeks