Raggedy Ann and Andy Dolls

The theme of our son's nursery, many years ago, was Raggedy Ann and Andy.  

 I thought the colorful duo would make the nursery look bright and cheerful and they did.

There are many legends associated with the sweet dolls that were originally made by Johnny Gruelle.

He was a cartoonist, illustrator and author from Illinois who was born in 1880.

One of the legends says that Gruelle made the dolls for his daughter, Marcella Delight. 

The legend states the child died tragically at age 13, breaking her parents' hearts.  If that legend is true, the smiling dolls have a sad history.

One of the telltale signs of an authentic Raggedy Ann  and Andy is a heart where the heart really is located.   Did you know that?

The photos in today's post were all taken in the Red Lion Inn's Gift Shop in Stockbridge, Massachusetts.

HAVE YOU EVER HAD A RAGGEDY ANN OR ANDY DOLL?

Raggedy Ann and Andy

Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls touch my heart in a special way.

The reason why is that they were the theme for my son's nursery.

It was so long ago but in my mind's eye, it seems like yesterday.

At that time, I had a slew of Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls that I picked up wherever I could find them.

Crib sheets, too, had the sweet characters on them.

"Real" Raggedy Anns and Andys have little hearts sewn onto them, right where hearts are usually located. 

You cannot see them unless you look under their outside clothes. 

There you will find the carefully sewn red  hearts, ready to love children of all ages.

The Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls shown in today's post make their home for now at the Berkshire Mountain Country Store in Lee, Massachusetts.

They are, of course, ready to go to their  "real home"  when someone buys them to love!

DO YOU LIKE RAGGEDY ANN AND ANDY DOLLS?