iPhones, kids used their imaginations and creativity rather than their parents' money. Anna Bell Rych- family had very little, so, in second grade, she began mon entertainment for young girls, but Ann's were not store bought, nor did she just create dolls. Ann made characters with a name and a and "Slim," who was serving in the war. I was drawing when I should have been doing something else. Later I drew paper dolls. I loved to do that because the paper dolls could have all clear Ann had a true gift. Unfortunately, Ann's talent never advanced further than her dolls. In September 2002, Ann passed away, and her family discovered the paper dolls while cleaning out her house. Her son, Gary, said he knew about the dolls but never really looked at them. He knew his mom sewed clothes, in- cluding Barbie and dolls' clothes, and she talked about being a fashion designer, but he guessed life just got in the way. Instead, Ann spent her life as a telephone operator taking care of her family. Since then, Gary and his wife, Carol, have collected over 1,350 of Ann's drawings. Another family mem- ber has around 1,500, and more boxes have not yet been sorted through. Carol spent numerous hours sorting through boxes of dolls and matching each doll with its outfits and accessories. She is currently scan- ning them to create a book for all the family members. she is saddened that Ann was never able to advance her talent. Somehow, she is hoping to publish or showcase scans of these paper doll masterpieces. Regardless, however, she says the dolls will stay in the family because that's what Ann would have wanted. |