Free Stuff for Doll Lovers on the Internet by Judy Heim & Gloria Hansen
ISBN 1-57120-108-4, Perfectbound/Softcover, 176 pages, $16.95 USA plus S&H, C&T Publishing, PO Box 1456, Lafayette, California 94549, www.ctpub.com


Judy and Gloria have authored several FreeStuff books on a variety of subjects and now one for Doll Lovers has been added.  Get ready to spend hours on the internet, surfing with listed websites for your choice of RaggedyAnn, teddy bears, fashion dolls, baby dolls, brand named dolls and a lot more.  Doll clubs, webrings, chat rooms and auction websites are listed.

Free doll, clothing and accessory patterns abound plus tips and techniques.  There is free advice for porcelain, clay and polymers as components for making dolls.  Information on sewing, knitting, crocheting and cloth dolls and figures plus repair and restoration are available at various websites.  After spending a little time going through the huge listing, I checked out one website that included a goddess figure pattern in crochet with all the rounds required and complete instructions on stuffing and finishing which can be downloaded and printed.

If you want to know about doll magazines and museums, you will find it here.  If you want to redo Barbie or Gene's face or hairdo, you will find a website with those instructions included.  If you are looking for classic dolls such as Madam Alexander or how to find specific ensembles no longer available, here's were you can began your search.

Judy and Gloria are your guides, with symbols listed and explanations that are included about websites including what they wish they had known when they began, their mistakes and other info that makes surfing more fun and enjoyable for you.

The table of contents has gobs of chapters with websites offering "free" doll stuff for you.  They are categorized to make it easier for you to browse.  There are about five pages of website home page examples, highlighting what to look for and how to search once you are on a particular website.   Explanations about web browsers, keeping your browser current for computer security, common error pages, how to find a website if the web page isn't there, how to use bookmarks, free email services, cable and satellite services, busy server and no response from server are provided.  Their ten-step program for fixing browsers and graphics crashes has step by step instructions of what to do and where to get help.

There are gobs of doll websites listed for every category imagined.  If you read the information at the beginning with instructions, tips and easy guidance, you will find it easy to thumb through the pages of websites listed and pick those that would be most desirable.  FreeStuff for Doll Lovers is a quick reference for finding collectible dolls, artistic dolls, teddy bears, one of a kind dolls, doll supplies, doll how-to instructions and lots of shopping, all without leaving your home.