Welcome to The Doll & Bear Orphanage. Here I care for the lost and forgotten.

For as long as I can remember, I have rescued anything that needs rescuing, or homed anything that is lonely.

In 2021, I started rescuing dolls and bears from car boot sales, charity shops and internet auction sites. Once repaired, they either find a place in my personal collection or are donated to my local charity shop - Woodside Animal Centre, for the welfare and care of animals. I felt that after a good clean and any repairs needed, they stood a better chance of being sold at a good price for the shop, and at a price that guaranteed care and respect.

I rescue dolls and bears from as early as the 1880s right up to Tiny Tears from the 1970s/80s, including some special 1990s friends I have added to my collection. I look for the lost, the forgotten and the unwanted, so I can bring back their inner sparkle and make them shine once again.

Every single one is a patient, and they are repaired with gentle care and love. Sometimes they even tell me their names.

I hope that you enjoy, the stories, poems, and pictures of my rescues, some with repairs, and others who have just been freshened up. For this is the latest adventure in their doll lives, as they try to make their journeys home.

Elouisea Jayne Stone.

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Teeny (The Middle Sister) My Super Lucky Find ♥️

They are now a completed trio. Tiny Tears, Teeny Tiny Tears, and Teeny Weeny Tiny Tears 🐥🐤🐣

More Tiny Tears 💕

As a 1972 baby, I can never say no to a Tiny Tears, as she was my real first doll love. Soft to touch, weighted vinyl, with floppy limbs, and a drink and wet doll. What more could a child want for Christmas 🎄

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Lilith

I came in a job lot, not in a pram, No blanket, no name, no one to say who I am. In my birthday suit I arrived at your door, Hair all matted, unloved, not wanted no more.

Not an attic doll, too young for that tale, Just a lost little baby, gone dusty and pale. A cute face underneath but far from being fine, With eyes that said softly, “Please make me shine.”

So you brushed out my hair, strand by strand, New lashes so gentle, placed by your hand. You washed me and dressed me in flowers so sweet, A hat, a warm cardigan, all clean, fresh and neat.

Now look at me sitting, so proud in your room, No longer forgotten, no longer in gloom. Beside me, a bear with a bell in his ear, His growl has gone quiet, but I’ll hold him so dear.

Pedigree, Chiltern, but what’s in a name? His brand doesn’t matter, he’s loved just the same. Together we all sit and I’ll hold him tight, Two orphans together, all snug for the night.

My name is now Lilith, and I’m no longer alone. Here at Pixie Haven I now have a home. No longer discarded, I fit like a glove, Positive future, filled with joy, laughter and love.

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🦇✨️💜 PRESENTING RAVEN THE MIDNIGHT AWAKENING 💜✨️🦇

My dear sweet Pennelly-Wise expressed to me that due to her different features and general persona, she felt lonely amongst the other dolls. So last night I sat up till gone midnight until I had awakened a new friend for Pennelly-Wise.

I am happy and honoured to introduce Raven to the Doll and Bear Orphanage.

She now shares a display window with others, who though appear different on the outside, are just as loving and warm-hearted as all the dolls here at Pixie Haven ✨️❤️✨️

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Baby Emily — Pennelly-Wise

The previous owner told me she had detachable limbs for washing. She also had scrapes to her vinyl on her face, hands, arms and legs.

I felt it was sad and pitiful that she had been treated that way, almost subjected to ruin. I didn't feel comfortable trying to restore such a damaged doll, so I left her in the trunk for nearly nine months

Then I decided to try my hand at Halloweening some dolls, and I thought an all-over paint job on her limbs and her vinyl torso would be the best thing to cover the damage that had been done.

Below she has all her limbs painted, black nail varnish on her toenails and fingernails, a painted face and painted eyes — her previous eyes had turned dark purple due to what I think you call sun fading, or vinyl discolouration from light alteration.

She is wearing a dyed sheepskin wig which I dyed myself, cut and styled, and placed upon a head and is now firmly fixed on. She is assembled and weighted.

Dressed with dignity, and genuinely loved by me. Although she still has defects to her vinyl and is not perfect in any way — this is my first attempt at a fantasy doll — I feel that it really becomes her. I feel that she has found herself in a new style, and just in time for Halloween.

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Here we have a Jacko monkey from Woolworths, a Steiff, an Ashton Drake, and a Schuco.
Jacko came from a carboot sale in Looe, Steiffy Boy came from an antique charity shop in Liskard, Ashton Drake was an ebay winning bid, and little baby Schuco was from Totnes on the eve of a festival when I was lucky enough to find an antique shop open Xxx

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The Doll and Bear Orphanage at Pixie Haven

This is my Green Man chiffonier holding some of my doll and bear collection. Which you now know goes under the name of The Doll and Bear Orphanage, where they reside with me and my pets here at our home of Pixie Haven.

Although I collect them, and take in all waifs and strays. I do have my favourites, but every bear and every doll is welcome. Here they will get cleaned, redressed, rewigged if necessary, stitched and cared for.

Many are my own personal collection, so of course they are not looking for a home. But some were rescues who were repaired, redressed and felt love after many years of being in the attic or disregarded by their original owners.

Many are for rehoming, they just stay with me in safety until the time comes when they will have a home that desires them. I rescue, and repair, because I care.



My Steiff Grizzly Bear circa 1910

This is my Steiff grizzly bear, circa 1910.

He is straw-stuffed, stiff and wire-held, with rods through his legs and back and a bent rod through his arms allowing his arms to move up and down. He has lost his Steiff button but keeps the small hole in his ear where his pin once was.

He is not a teddy bear. The teddy bear comes from the 1902 story when President Theodore Roosevelt would not shoot a bear cub. This bear is not based on that story. He is a grizzly from Steiff's Wild Animal collection, a realistic wild animal, not a cute, babyish teddy.

He was sold as a toy in his day, but he would not have been much fun for a child — he is stiff and realistic, something to look at rather than to cuddle.

He is a permanent resident of the Doll and Bear Orphanage at Pixie Haven.
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My 1920s Flapper Boudoir Dolls

Here's Steiffy again between these lovely ladies.

These are my two Art Deco flapper boudoir dolls, circa 1925, straw-stuffed just like Stiffy. They have hand-painted faces, blonde marcel curls, blue eyes and rosy cheeks, and felt stockinette bodies filled with straw.

Left lady is in pink lamé with her little gold mesh purse, right lady is in blue lamé with her pearl bead cap. They are both wearing their original Art Deco flapper dresses with silver belts.

I don't know for sure if they are Dean's Rag Book or Chad Valley, and I always assumed that boudoir dolls were French, but they were made in the UK as well.

All three are permanent residents of the Doll and Bear Orphanage at Pixie Haven.

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Pictures of Memories, Of Summers Past

All but the little Dream Baby on the left are lost to me now. As are many porcelain dolls from history past. The large doll was broken in the post and was completely beyond repair, the others however were happily rehomed.

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🍁🍁🍁🍁 Very Reliable Dolls 🍁🍁🍁🍁

From Canada they travelled, across the sea,

Two Reliable dolls, as good as dolls can be.

Dear Rosie, in her bonnet pink,

And Jim, the sailor boy who doesn’t blink.

Rosie wears Victorian ruffles, gifted by a friend,

Bonnet to her sock covered toes, she’s warm from top to end.

Jim in blue, a sailor true a hat to show his brave,

A steady gaze, a kindly face, he is the older knave.

Press his tummy, you will hear

His squeaker will tell truths,

Of times past through, dolls he knew,

And tales from his youth.

A Canadian workshop to a Cornish shore,

They’ve come to rest at Pixie Haven’s door,

Small companions, side by side,

On an antique rocker, with quiet pride.

Rosie likes quiet talk with tea,

But Jim can talk the hind legs off thee.

So be prepared to sit and listen,

To silent stories in your inner vision.

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© Elouisea Jayne Stone / Ellie the Pixie Elf / Pixie Haven UK. All words, poems, stories and images are original and all rights reserved.