1991 Pet Pals Skipper

Happy summer! Skipper is pet-sitting my unclaimed keychain dog Sassy, who was in a box of BJD things I can't sell on Den of Angels.

Skipper came to me in a box of vintage dolls from eBay. She was in better shape than most of the dolls, but I took time cleaning her hair, face and clothing to make her as good as new.

Since Saturday, I have been looking up Pet Pals lore.

Skipper wears her complete outfit: neon yellow bicycle shorts, pink cropped shirt and matching overdress. Her hair is crimped and styled for a side ponytail.

From what I can tell, I am missing from her: her white Scottish Terrier dog, a pink food and water dish set for it and a yellow pet carrier. It seems like there may be other things in the MIB pictures, but I can't say for sure.

The Pet Pals series also includes Courtney and Kevin, and several additional outfits. It seems like there should be a pet shop too, but I have not yet found one.

I love finding and restoring these dolls. This big box lot has been a great learning experience.

When I was in New Mexico, I was looking earnestly for a doll souvenir, but I didn't find what I had in mind. I saw a vintage Ariel, the Little Mermaid in a homemade outfit in a plastic baggie for $3. At the time I didn't recognize the appeal she had for me. I was just trying not to spend when I could live without.

However I regret not bringing her home, cleaning her and making her some more clothes. She would have been the same size and facial style as my Skippers and Courtneys.

That feeling of regret made me clearer about what I want to do though, and what my collecting is really about-not MIB, valuable dolls, but the dirty, tangled garage sale dolls in bins. I know it's silly, but I think every little dolly deserves some attention and her own set of clothes. I don't pretend this is philanthropy-this is for me. The dolls I choose are from my childhood and give me a feeling of nostalgia for simpler times.

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