Toyland Town: Holiday treasures that span generations

Bernice Bell has a winter wonderland in her home, which she shares with dozens of dolls, bears, and all the trappings for displaying them. In the main photo, Bell has undressed Santa down to his red striped underwear while preparing him for a display. -- Photos by Carolyn Gray Thornton/Special to the Herald-Tribune

Berniece Bell's husband Wilbur was thinking about retiring from his job as an Inspector for Armco Steel so Berniece knew that they were beginning a new phase of their life. Their only son had died at the age of 15 and they only had their Schnauzer dog to keep them busy. Berniece noticed an ad in the paper about making a doll for Christmas. "That might be something I would like to do," she thought. Twenty-eight years later she still practices her hobby. Every corner of her house is arranged with displays of her creations. In addition to dolls there are bears, and chairs, tables, carriages and other props to use in displays.

That very first doll that Berniece made, a lady with painted eyes, wonderfully dressed, and standing by a harp, is still prominently displayed in her living room. Berniece is proud of that doll because she resisted the suggestion of the teacher that she make a simple baby doll for her first attempt. She could have used artificial eyes instead of painting the eyes on the mold. Berniece stuck with her own desire and has enjoyed her new friend with beautifully painted eyes through many years.

The ground floor of the Bell home has been turned into a workshop-storage area for her hobby. Shelves of Christmas decorations line one wall. Thanksgiving materials are on another. A worktable with a sewing machine is in the center besides another closet of material waiting to be used.

One doll is dressed in what was once the sleeve of a fancy gown. Bell noticed this at a sale and thought it would work perfectly for a party dress for her next doll.

Tea party with Mr. and Mrs. Claus.

The dolls have heads, arms and legs, which Bell molds herself and then paints to make them lifelike. Many of the dolls have armatures inside them, which make the arms and legs bend and move more naturally. She makes all their clothes and some special characters have several changes of outfits. The elderly couple sitting by a tea table in the living room can also quickly be changed into Santa and Mrs. Claus going over a list and checking it twice. In fact when Berniece had these dolls in a display, a child who was visiting wrote several names on the tablet on the desk by Santa.

She makes most of her own bears and loves to make their eyes very expressive. Some bears were gifts or ones she bought, but she then made their wardrobes.

Before Wilbur died in 2002 he made some of the accessories for his wife's family of dolls. He was very supportive of her hobby. Berniece earlier had turned her workrooms into classrooms when she taught the art of making dolls. She no longer has time to do this.

Bernice Bell and Marilyn Garnett choose fabric that will become the clothing for one of Bell's creations. --Carolyn Gray Thornton/Special to the Herald-Tribune

Now that she has returned to work again (earlier, after their son's death she had been a school secretary, a receptionist for the Farm Bureau office and other similar jobs) she has not had as much time to devote to her dolls. However she continues her membership with the Santa Fe doll club in Independence, Mo. These monthly meetings in the Carriage House of the Bingham Wagner Mansion have given her long-time friendships and inspiration to continue her creations.

She said, "I do not have a favorite doll. They are all very special to me. I love sharing their fun and beauty with my guests."