25 Comments
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Amity E Layne's avatar

My dearest girlcrush! I am so very blessed to count you my friend & tribemate. You're always such a delight to be around in person or virtually. Not everyone has a light like yours, thanks for sharing it! Sometimes when my days are dark, I think of the Gentleman, all your lovies, & our Eclectic Sisterhood. It was thrilling to see paper Jeni, in her undies again. She looks happy amongst the scraps and trinkets. I am very much a doll and stuffie fangirl. Please continue to share, beautiful girl. I am anxiously awaiting your next visit; hopefully you, Stanley Bear, Sarah, Robyn, & I can have another meeting of the Eclectic Sisterhood.

Peace. Love. & Light,

Amity

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Jeni Hankins's avatar

I am so blessed to have you as my dear sparkly girl crush and friend ♥️♥️♥️ I’ll be writing to you about when I’m coming your way. I would LOVE to see you. Huge paper doll and real life hugs to you.

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26thAvenuePoet (Elizabeth)'s avatar

I'm so enchanted and proud and heart-warmed to be one of your pen pals, Jeni! (And much to shy to have a fan club, but honored by how delightedly you enter into my poems.)

Such a wonderful letter about how dolls have connected you with your now-dozens of pen pals, and pen pals have connected you with dolls! No surprise, since you're such a good and creative friend to dollies and humans, both. 💛

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Jeni Hankins's avatar

This is the kindest. ♥️❤️♥️

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Woke Marxist Pope's avatar

I once met a lady that looked just like Penelope. She was from Pine Bluff, Arkansas and made the richest potato salad that I have ever eaten; she used a little heavy cream in the mayo, and her own homemade relish.

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Jeni Hankins's avatar

I completely LOVE that memory, Marina. Thank you for telling us!! I would love to have some of that potato salad.

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Sara Coppedge's avatar

Did you make your chicken Jeni? I had to make one too. I made her right before I went into the hospital to have a heart valve replacement. I planned to take her with me, but in the end she stayed to welcome me home....

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Jeni Hankins's avatar

I did make her, Sara. She makes me smile every day. And I really enjoyed knitting that pattern. I’m glad to know that you made one, too!

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Jed McGahern's avatar

Jeni, you’re all ❤️

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Jeni Hankins's avatar

Biggest of hugs from me and Stanley Bear, Jed!! ♥️

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Carol's avatar

Hey Jeni! I always loved paper dolls, too. I think there used to be one in every issue of Ladies’ Home Journal that my grandmother Izzy got. I could hardly wait for her to read whatever was on the other side of that paper so she would tear the page out for me. The page always included a couple of outfits especially for whatever pose the doll was in. And….you may not believe this….I have a Dalai Lama paper doll that includes several ceremonial outfits for him!🥰 As you know, I love your music, but I love reading about your bears and dolls, too!

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Jeni Hankins's avatar

The Dalai Lama paper doll! Wow! And I love imagining you waiting for your grandmother to finish reading that page so you could get your hands on the paper dolls! Such a great image. I’m so glad you’re enjoying my doll and bear posts. I enjoy thinking about it all in between writing songs. Hugs to you!!

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Carol's avatar

I can truly remember shifting from foot to foot in front of the couch where Izzy was reading that magazine! I didn’t dare tell her “Hurry up!” but there’s always body language!😂

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Simon Brooks's avatar

I love: "They fly their capes in the face of isolation and internet baddies. They are feisty little agents of good on a charmed mission."

When I was young and impetuous (now I am old and not so impetuous, but it still happens When You Least Expect It) I tossed out a marionette in a massive clear out. I often think about it, and wish it was still in my life. I now have a wonderful wizard marrionette but it's not the same as that scrappy, raggedy puppet I once had.

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Jeni Hankins's avatar

I know just what you mean, Simon. I had a nearly complete set of Mary Engelbreit paper dolls in my collection of her magazines and when I moved once, I got really annoyed with myself for carrying them from home to home. So, I recycled them. I’ve never stopped missing them. Blessings on the dolly spirit of your marionette ♥️

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Nat Legg's avatar

When I read about the wonderful names people choose for their dolls it makes me laugh at my small self who seriously named 2 of my dolls by the word printed on their back: okay so “Rosebud” isn’t so bad but the other was called “Germany”! I did have a boy doll when I was about 6 who I called Christopher which, many years later, happened to be the given name of my husband. X

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Jeni Hankins's avatar

Oh! That’s such a fun story about doll names!! Thank you, Nat ♥️♥️♥️

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Charlotte Rains Dixon, MFA's avatar

Oh Jeni you have so many wonderful friends and I count myself so, so, lucky that I am among them. I loved this letter so much--it's one to return to again and again. And also--paper dolls are the best! And also also--did I tell you about the doll making class I took with Tatter? It was so fun. Glad you have a big trip planned to come see your mom and Mawmaw.

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Jeni Hankins's avatar

You did mention about your Tatter course! I’d love to see your doll. I’m so glad you liked this letter ♥️ we’d have a great time making paper dolls together!

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Charlotte Rains Dixon, MFA's avatar

We need to make that happen! (I will be in London in May.) I got sidetracked with other projects so my doll is still waiting patiently to be finished. She’s calling to me!

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Jeni Hankins's avatar

When in May will you be in London? I am traveling some in May/June possibly, so I hope I can be here! ♥️♥️

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Pete's avatar

dang, you faked me out with a second letter! 😉. which doll friend or plushie is gonna make the trip with u? sb, so handsome as a hat model. 👌🏻🫶🏻

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Jeni Hankins's avatar

SB and Bunny Odile are coming along. The Englishman regards SB as the “responsible party.” 🤭 Going to my mom’s in NC and then to see Mawmaw in VA with her. Wish they weren’t all SO far from NH or I could C U & CLP IRL 🕺💃❤️🧸😎

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Pete's avatar

one day hopefully! what are your trip dates?

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Jeni Hankins's avatar

26th Feb to 25 March. 🚗🚗🚗

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