The *old* Holly Hobbie
June 24th, 2006 by Susannah
Has the birth of my daughter made me super sentimental? Am I trying to relive my childhood? I’ve always had a tiny collection going, but lately it’s been a Holly Hobbie thrift store bonanza. (I’m talking original Holly Hobbie, not the revamped modern Holly Hobbie they’ve just introduced posing in the form of Holly’s Great Grand-daughter.) Maybe a bunch of thirty-somethings are tossing nostalgia out the window and having a big cleanup (lucky me!)!?
My first introduction to Holly Hobbie was when I was three. I ran through the dining room and a small Holly Hobbie porcelain egg that I had been given as a first Easter gift from my Nanna and Papa fell from the hutch and chipped. My parents weren’t strict, but to this day I still remember being told not to run in the house after that incident. The egg still sits on my desk as a warm reminder of my childhood and the first house we lived in.
I have seen a few Holly Hobbie references out in blogland recently, so it’s nice to see I am not alone and that Holly Hobbie holds a special place in many a seventies child’s heart.
Amy at Inspireco talks of a Holly Hobbiesque miniature garden {here}. Oh to have had a Holly Hobbie magazine!!! (Holly Hobbie aside, you really should take a peek at Amy’s beautiful and inspiring blog. *sigh* it is all so so pretty!)
I have a few Holly Hobbie thrifted sheet sets that I am saving for some bags, patches and other sewing adventures with Eloise in mind (that’s a pillow slip behind the doll in the photo above). I recently came across some lovely totes over at Noodles and Doodles that have combined similar fabric with bright girly colours. She’s done a gorgeous job. Very inspiring!
And for some other thrifty Holly Hobbie finds, over at Colorfool she found some Holly Hobbie buttons (check out all the other lovely buttons too!) and at Bella Dia a 1977 tea towel!
There’s so much out there and I’m finding at least a piece a week….so I think I’ll have to get selective…something I have never been very good at!
September 5th, 2007 06:59
Oh, my. I had that exact same Holly doll when I was about 8. And then my dog ate it, no kidding. I cried for a week!
October 2nd, 2007 07:55
I lost my Holly Hobbie 31 years ago while on a camping trip with my family. My Aunt and my mother tried to find Holly but she just couldn’t be found. My Aunt promised that when she found Holly she would make sure I got her back. Today, in the mail I received my beloved Holly Hobbie. My Aunt wrote: “Surprise, I found your doll you lost so long ago!” Well, It’s a good thing she didn’t find her all those years ago because a few years later my childhood home burned in a terrible accident that took over 2/3 of the home. My room was destroyed and everything in it. So, if Holly had been found she would have surely burned up in the fire. So, Thanks to my Aunt for finding her 31 years later she is one of the few items I have left from my childhood! Now, my children 15years old and 11 years old look at her as a treasure and can’t wait to share her story. Thanks for your website and keeping the “old” Holly Hobbie alive and well!
Merrilee
January 5th, 2009 10:26
I have two porcelain eggs with holly hobbie on them one has [ love is the nicest gift of all] written on it and the other has [ home is where happiness grows] on it. I don’t know if they are valuable. My guess is they may be good to a collector.I got these a long time ago for my daughter but they still remain in my home.nice to know I’m not the only one holding on to these DIANE
August 23rd, 2009 12:40
oh! I have a Holly Hobbie ragdoll thats a little different! shes just charming and i plan to collect them! Please show other pictures of Holly Hobbie so I may be able to collect and see these charming ragdolls!
October 20th, 2009 21:41
Oh, I just love Holly Hobbie I have been collecting from thrift stores,Also little re-sale shops! I live in St.Louis, MO. Its been so exciting to have these treasures found, its warmed my heart and filled me with such good memories. I found an egg with the little girl with hat and a oil lamp as well! Its wonderful to hear from a collector, many blrssings! 🙂
January 31st, 2010 07:01
Ive been looking for the Holly Hobbie doll house for my girlfriend. It was made some time in the 1970’s. I found one on ebay but it was 4 or 5 feet tall! this was about 18 inches or so, give or take a few inches. She wants to but one, Ive looked EVERYWHERE for her! They mention one on a Holly Hobby World web site< but no photo! Any leads would be greatly appreciated! Thanx