Trolls2

This will be a mixed bag, including info, original creations by others, and more, starting with the Littlest Collector.

Mom Jennifer bought two smaller kids like the old one of Jennifer's he found and made his "baby." Never too soon to start a collection!

I asked about Miss Fairy's shoes: "Some were a little too big. I took sharp scissors and cut them in the back to fit around the heel, then I put a hole in each side and passed a ribbon through both holes and tied in back. Like an open-heeled sandal." Search eBay for 1-inch doll shoes.

A: WAND ~ SILVER TONE WIRE AND FINDINGS WITH CLEAR FACETED BEADS 4 ½ INCHES, BIGGEST GLASS BEAD IS ABOUT 1 INCH DIAMETER, A LITTLE TOP HEAVY

$3.00

B: WAND ~ GOLD TONE BRAIDED WIRE, FAUX PEARLS & GOLD TONE BEADS, 5 ¾ INCHES

$2.50

C: NECKLACE ~ SILVER TONE FINDINGS & RHINESTONES 3” OPEN AND DANGLES 1 ¼ INCH, VERY SPARKLY

$2.50

D: NECKLACE ~ SILVER TONE FINDINGS & RHINESTONES 4 ¾” OPEN & DANGLES 1 ½ INCH, VERY SPARKLY

$4.00

E: NECKLACE ~ PEWTER COLORED CHAIN AND FINDINGS WITH BLACK FACETED BEADS, HAS AN ANTIQUE LOOK TO IT. 5 ½ INCHES OPEN AND DANGLES ABOUT 2 ½ INCHES, THIS ONE TANGLES EASILY SO WILL BE CARDED ESPECIALLY CAREFULLY.

$5.00

Prices do not include postage. One - or as many as five items - will go first class for $2.50, usually. Questions/special orders welcome (with the understanding exact duplication of any hand-crafted piece is impossible), contact Nancy: snappygamma@hotmail.com ~ subject line must be Troll page, too risky opening unknowns.

Any creation on these pages may or may not have already been sold. Also check current availability and more ideas on eBay: http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZsnappygamma

From eBay Seller Lauriespree, who, " ... knows way too much about trolls."

TROLL HISTORY: The legend of the troll originated in Scandinavia. Nordic mythology described them as short, intelligent, essentially unpleasant, supernatural creatures who were doomed to forever live underground. During the '70s, a TV cartoon special and movie based on J.R.R. Tolkien's books, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, caused an increase in trolls' popularity. As a result, books, puzzles, posters, and dolls of all types were available on the retail market. In the early ‘80s, Broom Hilda and Irwin Troll were featured in a series of books as well as Saturday morning cartoons.

Troll Dolls of the '60s are primarily credited to Thomas Dam of Denmark. Many, using Dam molds, were produced in America by Royalty Des. of Florida and Wishnik. In Norway, A/S Nyform created a different version.

TROLL INFORMATION FOR ACE NOVELTY: Treasure Trolls, Ace Novelty Company. One of their 1993 lines was the 10" Treasure Troll Newborns. Newborns have a squeezable vinyl body, bright eyes, and colored hair. They wear colored sleepers and bonnets. The one-piece sleepers have a mid-tummy opening to show their large "Wishstones." Newborns seemed to disappear from store shelves rapidly. Not many were produced. They are rare and very collectible. Treasure Trolls come in 4" and 8" hard-bodied, unjointed sizes and in a 12" soft-bodied, cuddly version. Treasure Trolls by Ace Novelty retained the traditional troll appearance but that their cheeks flare back and out to form triangular ears. Eyes, hair and expression are similar to Dam, Uneeda and Russ trolls. More about Treasure Trolls and the Wishstone legend below.

NORFIN DAM: Norfins by Dam have the most variety of facial expressions of any trolls made - past or present. They have two main eye types - the soulful, upturned version which is appropriate to the slogan "Adopt a Norfin" and the standard plastic insert.

THOMAS DAM: Thomas Dam trolls are more easily identified as male or female than are other versions. Since both have identical sexless body shapes one naked troll looks just about the other one. Dam was the only manufacturer that used different molds for male and female trolls. Most Dam trolls have inset eyes made of translucent plastic. Their outer perimeter (iris) may be any one of several colors, their center pupils are generally dark. Amber is the most common eye color but gold and green are frequently found. Blue eyes are occasionally seen. Thomas Dam died November 12, 1989.

RUSS BERRIE: Russ Trolls: Russ Berrie and Company, Inc., Trolls exploded on the market in 1992. The first Russ trolls were distinguishable only by their many different costumes, for each had the same basic body and head style. Now they are found in several versions, each more appealing than the last. However, they all retain the troll look - wide-open plastic eyes, unruly but stylable hair, open arms, protruding tummies, and the famous grin. There are more 700 different trolls manufactured in the Russ family.

TREASURE TROLLS: Treasure Trolls, a popular version of the modern collectible troll, appeared early in the 1990s with their own "look" and legend. They were very similar to the Russ and Norfin creations already on the retail market. That is to say, all fundamental troll criteria was met: four-digit limbs, plastic inset eyes, wild hair, distinctive ears, costumes, and the classic troll grin. Ace Novelty retained the traditional troll appearance but their cheeks flare back and out to form triangular ears. However, their sales gimmick set Treasure Trolls apart from all others. Each troll has Wishstone set in their tummy, sometimes hidden by their costume and sometimes boldly displayed. This magic stone is color-matched with the troll in some way - either hair, eyes or costume. There were several Wishstone shapes: stars, teardrops, circles, rectangles, diamonds, and hearts. The legend says the Treasure Trolls were sad, depressed creatures until one of them found a Wishstone in a brook. She, for some unfathomable reason, held it against her tummy and made a wish. The wish came true, making her a happier troll. As more of the sad trolls found the magic jewels, Treasure Trolls became a happy community. In fact, now they use their Wishstones to help our wishes come true too.

Laurie is parting with a few trolls from her vast collection: http://dolls.search.ebay.com/_Dolls_W0QQcatrefZC12QQsacatZ238QQsassZlauriespree

I've been very happy with every troll from this seller: http://dolls.search.ebay.com/_Dolls-Bears_W0QQcatrefZC12QQsacatZ237QQsassZchow454 ~ always very clean and exactly as presented.

http://www.squidoo.com/here_be_trolls ~ Good collection of troll lore, facts and modern history, including how the first troll doll came to be.

More links, tips, info and ideas on the way, send yours too: MarthaJones1@aol.com ~ subject line must be trolls, opening unknowns too risky.