As a community, Manitoba Doll Club unites members from all over the province with diverse backgrounds and collections. This page is set up so that members can browse the bios of their fellow collectors and see the range of dolls that everyone is interested in. If you have questions about a particular doll, perhaps there is someone here who can help! And who knows, if you come on down to a meet, you might meet one of these interesting people and have a chance to see their dolls in person at a Show-and-Tell. Our club is very much a social network of people; we all want to share our love of dolls and enjoy getting to know one another and deepening our knowledge of the hobby at the same time.

Notice to Members:
If you do not have your bio in, please forward a little blurb about yourself and the dolls you collect to Katie, our Vice President of Membership. You can send it by or hand it in at any meet.

Notice Regarding Pictures or Links:
We would like to link your bio to your site or a few pictures of your dolls. You can send them to the webmistress by or bring them to a meeting and she will scan them for you.

The Executive

Cheryl Hamilton

Cheryl is a former Board member, and currently Editor of our newsletter as well as Club Photographer.
Cheryl says: "I have been a doll lover, admirer, collector (accumulator because I have more than 3 of everything, so says my husband!) and doll artisan since 1990. My husband gave me my first Holiday Barbie in 1989 and I have had the doll 'bug' ever since, especially growing fonder of my own childhood dolls. I love all aspects of this wonderful hobby, especially the social contacts and creative challenges. I have given up my hobbies of quilting, needlework, petit point but still find therapy in playing and bonding with my dolls.

Joy Hillhouse

our Webmaster, is another recent member (2003). She has made porcelain and ceramic dolls, is a maker and collector of miniatures, and enjoys fixing up and refurbishing play dolls. She donates many of them but has a few she won’t part with. She confesses to being a “dumpster diver” on occasion!

Our Members

Alice Thomson

"I have always loved dolls and now I have the time to collect and enjoy them. I have been collecting for over three years. My favourites include Patti Playpal, composition baby dolls and hard plastic dolls. I have over 50 dolls, including several 35” dolls from the Reliable Toy Company, various baby dolls, two black baby dolls and some Horsmans. I also knit and sew for them. A dolly can’t have too many clothes! I’m a cat person and have many cat ornaments and other cat collectibles. We share our home with a beige and white kitty named Carly.

Ardythe Basham

Ardythe has been in the past, our Newsletter Executive, VP of Memberships, and Acting President. She collects Folk and Ethnic dolls as well as some Barbies, Canadian-made dolls and others. Ardythe has participated in Brown Bag Projects and is an occasional dollmaker, but has more ideas than the time to carry them out.

Ardythe says:
“I collect mostly folk and ethnic dolls. I look for dolls that were actually made in the countries they represent. I find many of my dolls at yard sales and thrift stores, also shops like 10,000 Villages. Some that I particularly treasure were gifts from family and friends. I also have some Barbies, a complete set of Amish dolls by Julie Good-Kruger, and a selection of older fashion dolls, as well as one well-loved ballerina from my childhood. I’ve made a few cloth dolls for Silent Auction prizes and gifts, and I’ve participated in several Brown Bag projects, although I am not very talented at doll making. I enjoy the historical and social aspects of dolls, both as playthings and as art objects. Many of the recent high-fashion dolls tempt me, but I’ve decided to collect them only with my eyes. I am grateful to other doll club members for sharing their beauties with the rest of us.”

Carol Fraize

Carol moved to Manitoba from Newfoundland and has become an enthusiastic member of the Manitoba Doll Club. Carol gardens, quilts, knits, crochets and sews everything from doll clothes to curtains and has a lively imagination where dolls are concerned! She is in charge of our new Brown Bag Doll project.

Christina Rudling

Christina is from Hamilton, Ontario. She writes: "I collect, make and dress dolls. I like antique dolls in general; Mein Leibling is a particular favourite. We have a small museum at our shop with a number of antiques and some collectable modern dolls. Rudling’s Hodge Podge Ceramics is a supplier of dollmaking items and the owner/manufacturer of Byron Princess porcelain, china paints, and doll dress patterns. The Rudlings are also founders of the Canadian Doll Guild.

Denise Marie Beaudin (nee Filby)

My name is Denise Marie Beaudin (nee Filby) and I was born August 16, 1957 in Saskatoon Saskatchewan. When I was two, my father was transferred to Baden Baden Germany with the Air Force. My family was in Germany for three years and I attended kindergarten on the military base. In 1963, we returned to Canada and moved to the homestead of my maternal grandparents. I attended the three room school from grades one to eight in the hamlet of Makinak, Manitoba. During the grade school years, the young ladies were taught sewing and cooking in home economics classes. I remember the first piece of clothing I was taught to sew was a yellow skirt with a waistband. The garment was intended to teach the class how to fit and alter the pattern, sew a straight seam, and insert a zipper. During my childhood, I created outfits for my eleven and one half inch tall fashion dolls. This was the beginning of my creating and fashion designing for dolls! These garments were hand stitched, and made from remnants from my mother’s fabrics. My mother is also a seamstress and she helped me to learn the art of a fine seam. Clothing for school and activities were meticulously made by my mother. For grades nine to twelve, we were bused to the larger center of Dauphin for high school. At eighteen, I left home to attend Red River Community College in Winnipeg, the capital city of Manitoba. I graduated two years later as a Registered Medical Laboratory Technologist. I have spent my medical career employed in clinics and am currently employed part time at a community hospital laboratory in Winnipeg. “Pattern Alterations” and “Creatiing Garments for Yourself” were two evening courses that I attended. I also found time on my own to study pattern making, fabrics, and sewing techniques. I would sew outfits for myself to be worn casually, formally or for work. Sewing, crocheting, knitting and needlework continue to be hobbies. Some hobbies are self taught.

In 1990, I married Guy Beaudin, who is an Accountant with Manitoba Hydro.

A few years ago, I rekindled my love of sewing for dolls, and began to create outfits for eleven and one half inch tall dolls again, this time using a sewing machine. When my collection grew to too large, I would sell the doll clothing at craft sales and to friends. About five years ago, I discovered a Tyler Wentworth doll at a local Doll Club Show. I realized how much easier a taller doll would be to design and create outfits for. My current collection of dolls has a variety of sizes from the fifteen and one half inches tall to twenty four inches tall. The collection includes Kitty Collier, Emme, Tyler Wentworth, Brenda Starr, Eve, Alexander Fairchild Ford, Milano, Gene, Eve, Princess Diana, Elizabeth Taylor, Vanna White, Jackie Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe modern Cissy, CED, American Model, Ellowyne Wilde, Urban Vita, Clea Bella, and Barbies. I sell my outfits on Ebay under the seller ID of Denidolldesigns.
Denises Website can be found here.

Denise Wawryk

"As far back as I remember, I have loved dolls. I even played with them until I was about 13 years old. I joined the Doll Club in 1999. Attending the Doll Show that year, I met Sylvia Grantham and we re-connected. Sylvia and I went to St. Mary’s Academy together eons ago. She encouraged me to join the club. I began collecting dolls in the late 1980s. Using Fibre Craft patterns, I crocheted and dressed many 15 inch dolls, Christmas dolls, bride dolls, angel dolls and fashion dolls. Over the past few years I have graduated to smaller dolls, Barbies in particular. As I did not have the opportunity of “playing” with Barbies as a child, I now crochet and dress them in period gowns with beads and sequins etc. I enjoy doing the finishing touches, such as the hair-dos, Jewelry, hats, purses and all the accessories. In the past I also collected the Holiday Barbies each year, however, due to lack of space, I have discontinued adding to that collection.

Dorothy Treacy

Dorothy is our Sunshine Girl. She collects Baby and other dolls and is interested in dressing dolls, sewing, knitting, crocheting and embroidery.

Evelyn Gillies

Evelyn likes meeting people who are interested in dolls, socializing and discussing doll matters, receiving information and sharing with members. She is interested in antique dolls and older Barbies. She has art and music training and needlework skills, and is interested in fabric arts.

Gail Edwards

"I don’t believe you choose your passion; your passion chooses you. I never started out to be a collector or maker of dolls, but I’m glad I am. During the 1970s I taught several classes at the YW in creative doll making. I made cloth dolls for a while and sold them through Leonard Marcoe’s studio. When I started to collect again in 1989 I had two criteria: the dolls I collected had to be reasonably priced and readily available. The only doll that fit these criteria was Barbie. I had never owned a Barbie, being just a little too old for them in 1959. So I went to Toys R Us and bought a Barbie for $6.99, came home, opened the package and fell in love. I was fortunate to start collecting when I did as you could still find vintage Barbies and clothes at thrifts. In 1997 I discovered a new love in “Gene”. I was fortunate to be able to buy quite a few. I was then able to finally quench my desire for antique dolls by taking classes from several talented people and making reproductions. I also now collect the Fashion Royalty dolls by young designer Jason Wu."

Genevieve Montcombroux

"Along with husband Michael, home is a wild and wooly Interlake property we share with twenty-seven (at the last count!) Inuit Sled Dogs. In a former life I was a dancer and ballet teacher. I turned to doll making when I restored a cloth doll my grandmother made for me as a Christmas present. The doll had a German papier mache head and a sawdust-filled cloth body. The muchloved doll was the only doll I ever had. I toyed with the idea of making porcelain dolls but what with the need for a kiln it wasn't practical. So I made cloth and knitted dolls and animals for my children. I worked as a translator and wrote novels, some of which have been published. Some years ago I handed my dance school over to one of my talented former students and went back to dolls in a serious way. I still write and in winter I sled my dogs. Between all this I love to make needle-sculpted cloth dolls and knitted teddy bears (and a few cloth bears). My husband, an artist and sculptor, caught the doll bug and is teaching himself to make genre and character dolls."

Gretta Friesen

Gretta joined the MDC Feb. 01 Gretta says, “Ever since I was a kid I’d put my dolls to bed every night. I collect and do some crocheting when I have time. Some of my favourites are my Anne of Green Gables doll and my Little Women (Jo) dolls as gifts from my husband. I like the Ginny dolls and I’d like more Little Women and Dionne Quintuplet dolls.”
Her collection also includes ethnic dolls and some dolls of the world, and “other dolls that may appeal to me – a redhaired doll for example." When she isn’t collecting dolls, Gretta crochets, knits, sews, and spends time with her six grandchildren, who all live in Winnipeg.

Irene Henderson

Irene is a long-time (founding) member of the Manitoba Doll Club. She is an enthusiastic and knowledgeable collector of Canadian Dolls, Advertising Dolls, and many others. She is always willing to share her expertise.

Isabel Golin

Isabel is a long-time active member of the Manitoba Doll Club. She is interested in porcelain and artisan dolls, and is a talented potter, dollmaker and china painter. Isabel is always ready to "dress for the occasion" and enters enthusiastically into the themes for our doll shows.

Janine Polley

Janine has always loved dolls. She also enjoys the opportunity to meet and get to know other members who share her love and interest in dolls. Her special interest is costuming and decorating her doll room. She loves sewing and costuming, choosing colours and patterns, etc. She also knits, crochets and is learning furniture refinishing.

Joan Domanski

Joan collects Barbies and Porcelain Dolls and is especially fond of the Mackie Barbies. Although she has been collecting dolls since 1980 and has participated in doll shows, she joined Manitoba Doll Club just recently.

Joy Clemons

"My Mom was a doll lover and as a child I was the envy of my friends because I had so many. When I had a young family my interest in dolls was only to get them for the children, but when they got older I started collecting. I especially like composition babies and hard plastics from the 50s but collect a little of everything. I have seven grandchildren and my goal is to give them each a doll with their name, but so far have only given one with the name Kaitlyn to my oldest grand-daughter. So if anyone has information on an Eric, Stephanie, Tayler, Kayla, Zachary or Hunter doll of any type, let me know. I think this will be a long search.
Comment from Ardythe: Now here is a challenge! Who can find one or more of these dolls for Joy? I know there is a Kayla doll which is a friend to Barbie’s little sister Kelly, but this would be a very small gift for a grandchild.

Kathleen Smith

Katheleen has been a member of the Manitoba Doll Club for more than 3 years. “My favourite doll is one I picked out for my 2nd birthday – I call her ‘Kathy’. I have always had a couple of childhood favorites. I started going to the doll show about 5 or 6 years ago, and then joined the club and realized how many dolls I had ‘collected’ over the years. My main collection is elephants. I also have a button (pins) collection, and recently got started with angels of all kinds – dolls, bears, pins, Kleenex box, stories. I run a home day care with 5 children ages 2 – 3 ½. I am NOT good with sewing doll clothes, but I am going to try crocheting some of the fancy Barbie dresses.

Leslie von Kleist

Leslie has been a member for over four years. She says, “I’ve always been interested in dolls, more so over the last 8 years when my husband gave me a doll for Christmas. I collect porcelain dolls. I also collect porcelain and ceramic clowns, resin bears, and glass paperweights. I love all my dolls, but some of my favorites are my baby girl dolls.” Leslie also loves to garden and has been a director in the Transcona Garden Club for 14 years. She makes and sells floral and bridal arrangements, and also works in school age daycare.

Mabel Hutchinson and her Dolly Mabel Hutchinson and her Dolly have shared nearly a century of experience. Mabel received her doll in 1912, when she was seven years old. Dolly has a kid body filled with ground cork and a human-hair wig, and wears a baby dress of Mabel’s. After 93 years, Dolly needed some freshening up. Mabel’s son-in-law had her dress professionally cleaned, her hair wig styled, and got new booties for her. She also has a new display box. Mabel says she is the only person ever to play with Dolly. “I had four girl cousins who all wanted to play with Dolly, but when they came to visit, I would put Dolly back in the box she belonged in, and put the box under my bed. I was a little bit of a rat.” Mabel Hutchinson now lives in the Extendicare facility in Lethbridge, and Dolly is being cared for by Cec DePratu, Mabel’s son-in-law.

Margaret Swan

"I first became interested in dolls when I knitted a doll and clothes to give to a friend’s child c. 1967/8. I knit and sew soft toys and dolls. My favourite dolls are Sindy and Sasha dolls bought for my daughter (now 32), and Fisher-Price “My Friend” dolls bought at a garage sale. I think of myself more as a craftsperson than a collector."

Marilyn MacKay

Marilyn joined the club to meet other people with common interests, namely "love of dolls", sharing ideas, etc. She enjoys dolls of all types. Her special talents include sewing, knitting, crochet, repairs and restorations. She especially enjoys taking a "much-loved" doll and making it the best it can be.

Mary Prue

Mary enjoys meeting others who love dolls and love to collect them, also participating in club gatherings and events that are doll related. She loves antique and porcelain head dolls, especially Armand Marseilles and Eaton Beauties. She also loves anything old - christening gowns, laces, etc.

Noella Shadbolt

"I am a recent mother of a 10 month old baby boy named Andrew. My husband and I are in the middle of having a house built just outside the city. I collected Barbie, I have a good size collection with some older dolls and lots of new ones. I am hoping to learn to make Barbie's clothing and to design her own house with decorated fabric and accessories. I am very excited about the meeting and getting to know you all better."

Nora Notaro

Nora has been a member of the MDC for years. She became interested in dolls several years ago, and collects Bob Mackies, Barbie and Silkstone. Nora says of her collection, “It’s not as large as a lot I have seen, but I am getting there. I have to really fall in love to buy.” Nora’s doll dressing skills are well known in the club. She says, “I started to dress dolls for Cancer Care. The thing that can really take all my time is designing something different for my girls to wear. I will never do the same thing twice, and it now takes me twice as long to do anything.”

Peggy Hiebert

Peggy has been collecting dolls for about 30 years.
Peggy writes: “My favorite dolls are my Gene and Celebrity dolls. I have been a member of the Manitoba Doll Club almost from the beginning. I really enjoy being a member of the club and enjoy participating in our Show and Tell, to see and hear about the other members’ wonderful dolls and collectables. My hobbies are my dolls, reading, music and dancing.”
We’ve all enjoyed the dolls Peggy brings to Show & Tell and appreciate all her help at club events.

Sharon Krupinski

Sharon is a veteran of 12 years with the Manitoba Doll Club. She has volunteered at doll shows for the last 10 years. Sharon collects antiques and has made some dolls, and is currently making teddy bears. Her favourites are “any dolls from the 1840s to 1920s” and she has recently started collecting walkers. She says, “I love my dolls. I enjoy meeting other people who also collect dolls. The Manitoba Doll Club has allowed me to meet very interesting people and I have made numerous friends.”

Sonja Melanson

Sonja collects Barbies and Barbie Clothes and enjoys fixing them up. Her daughter Melissa often attends meetings and shares her dolls with us. Melissa has also come as "Pippi Longstocking" and as an "Almost Angel"!

Sylvia Grantham

Sylvia is a founding member of the Manitoba Doll Club and has served as President, Publicity, Newsletter Editor, Speaker, and Supplier of Dainties, among other contributions to MDC.
Sylvia writes: "I specialize in antique dolls. Antique French and German porcelain dolls are some of my favourites. I also have some modern and collectible compo and hard plastic dolls. When I dress my reproduction and antique dolls, I try and use vintage clothing. I usually make my outfits from pictures of antique dolls. I rarely use a pattern. I collect old bears and make new bears using mohair fabric. My reproduction dolls are set in displays according to height and scale, including toys and furniture that came from the same era. I try to keep my displays looking as close as possible to the real thing. I also like to garden. People are always welcome to visit and see my dolls and garden.