Happy 13th birthday to my dear Dresden, the doll I’ve had the longest second to Josette, at 14 years. I bought Dresden secondhand in an eBay auction that I was able to pick up locally. I still remember the neighborhood where I picked here up because I like walking for exercise in that neighborhood, and it always brings back special memories of bringing Dresden home. Her former owner included a couple of dresses and wigs with her. I still have both dresses, and I used the wigs for many years before they became too worn out.
When I put Dresden together this afternoon after coating her with MSC, I felt that same youthful, excited feeling that I associate with every Dream of Doll, mine, and those I see online. I put her in the pink Dream of Doll eyes and a very old (too old) wig that I know I need to replace.
My dolls like Dresden and Josette have really intricate, well-developed stories and personalities. I was thinking tonight it’s mostly because I’ve had them so long.
I struggled with Dresden’s personality for a while. She went through at least two, maybe three, other names before I settled on Dresden, and I even put her up for sale at some point, but no one bought her. I think I even lowered the price to $150. (This was definitely before Dream of Doll became scarce and precious).
After the first few years of seeming elusive, she settled in more and more each year, and now she’s a foundational presence in my doll family.
She has more close relationships with more of my other dolls than any of my other dolls do… if that makes sense! Love, hate, frenemy, obsession. She’s had a lot longer to settle in and make her preferences known. Some of my newer dolls I know nothing about, and even some I’ve had for a few years.
Dresden was the first doll that taught me that kind of perseverance, that a doll doesn’t have to feel right at first to be right, and to trust that the character and personality will come if I don’t force it and just let it develop naturally.