Name: Apple Valley Doll Kit Dolls
Made by and When: The Apple Valley doll kit dolls in this installation (manufactured by Apple Valley Doll Works) were assembled and dressed by the curator and Debra Richardson from approximately 2004 through 2007.
Material: The dolls have vinyl heads, arms, and legs with stuffed cloth bodies. Chris, (the tallest doll) has partial cloth and vinyl limbs and a supportive armature within.
Chris is 36 inches tall, has a black Afro wig, brown inset eyes with applied upper eyelashes; an open, smiling mouth with four upper teeth. The head is marked “Chris” / ©1995 PAT SECRIST.
Hilarious is 22 inches tall and has a baby body with straight vinyl arms and hands with open palms and separated fingers. The toddler body has bent baby legs. This doll has a dark-brown Afro wig, light-brown inset eyes with applied upper eyelashes, and a wide-open smiling mouth with two lower teeth. The head is marked Hilarious / ©1995 PAT SECRIST.
Jessie has the deepest complexion of the dolls in this installation and is on a non-Apple Valley pellet-filled dyed-brown cloth body with lower vinyl arms and legs for an overall height of 19 inches. Jessie was given the “reborn doll treatment” of rooted curly black hair, more realistic-looking dark-brown eyes with applied upper eyelashes, opened nostrils, facial blushing and lip color, blushing in the dorsal areas of the hands and feet and the soles of the feet, and pierced ears. Jessie also has a manicure and a pedicure. This doll has an open/closed mouth and a sculpted tongue. The head is marked “JESSIE” / ©1999 PAT SECRIST.
Jordan is 20 inches tall, has a baby body, and has curled-under fingers. This doll has a dark-brown curly wig, brown eyes with applied upper eyelashes, and an open/closed mouth. The head is marked JORDAN / ©2001 PAT SECRIST.
Lupe uses the Hispanic Apple Valley head sculpt and complexion with light-brown eyes, applied upper eyelashes, and a closed down-turned mouth. Lupe is 24 inches tall. The body style is toddler and includes a light-brown cloth body with 3/4 vinyl arms and legs. The head is marked “LUPE” ©1998 / PAT SECRIST.
Milee is 26 inches tall and uses a non-Apple Valley cloth body dyed to match the vinyl skin tone. The 3/4 vinyl arms and legs are straight. The Milee head has brown eyes with applied upper eyelashes and a closed mouth. A dark-brown wig styled in two long side braids with bangs covers the doll’s head. The head is marked “MILEE” / ©1998 PAT SECRIST.
Mylo creates a 21-inch doll that uses the Apple Valley baby body. The head has brown eyes with applied upper eyelashes and a dark-brown Afro wig. Mylo is biting his lower lip. The head is marked © MYLO PAT SECRIST 1993.
Raspberry is on a 22-inch toddler body with straight legs. This doll has dark-brown eyes with applied upper eyelashes and a light-brown wispy wig. Raspberry is blowing a “raspberry” as indicated by the stuck-out sculpted tongue. This doll has pierced ears. The head is marked “RASPBERRY” / ©2000 PAT SECRIST.
Other: Apple Valley Doll Works kits were sculpted by Pat Secrist and could be purchased directly from the company or from Apple Valley Doll Works dealers to self-assemble. Dealers also assembled kits based on the purchasers’ specifications of facial expression (head sculpt), gender, skin tone, eye color, body style, wig style and color, and costume for a completely customized doll. Some dealers also sold preassembled dolls using Apple Valley Doll Works kits.
Apple Valley Doll Works and other Pat Secrist-owned doll companies ceased operation in 2013. Secrist and his wife Joanna started out as toy and doll shop owners 30 years before leaving the doll business. Their businesses included the award-winning Johannes Zook Originals. Read more here.
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