About The Authors

Alva's first doll.

            Alva Christensen and Laural Schwing are a mother and daughter collecting team. Their passion comes from Alva’s grandmother who collected and owned the Fairyland of Dolls museum at Rainbow Pier, Long Beach, California in the late 1940s-1950s and the Pioneer/Frontier Museum in Long Beach California. In the mid 1970s, Alva began collecting antique bisque  and other dolls which she had admired since the age of sixteen, when she was given an antique A & M 390N bisque doll by her grandmother.   

           

            Alva and Laural have specialized in collecting Barbie® dolls, outfits, and licensed products along with other dolls  (antique and modern) beginning in 1979. They are the authors of the popular book Encyclopedia of Barbie® Doll Family & Friends Licensed Products 1961-1971. In the early 1980s, they began collecting Buddy Lee dolls only after Lee (husband/dad) was kidding with them and expressed his need to collect a doll for himself.  At a local show Alva discovered a Buddy Lee doll which ended up being a perfect gift. Lee’s nickname growing up was Buddy Lee. When he was born, his older sister could not pronounce the word brother and it came out sounding like Buddy. Hence, Buddy Lee.

               

            During their collecting years they both have participated in many national Barbie® doll conventions. Alva was elected the first chairman of the National Barbie® Doll Collectors Convention Steering Committee in 1985 and served two terms. In 1989, Alva chaired the National Barbie® Doll Convention in Garden Grove, California, “Barbie® Forever Young” and Laural served as the competition chairman. They have both served as head judges and program speakers at several National Barbie® Conventions. They have also been involved with auctions, shows and are present/past members of UFDC. Over the years, they have written for several former Barbie® collecting magazines including Millers Fashion Doll and Barbie® Bazaar. Today, they have branched out into other collectibles. Laural continues her first passion, singing and music ministry, by writing music and recording, with her CD’s Riding the Wave of the Spirit and Surround Me Lord.

Dear Friends,

 

It is with deep sorrow that I share with you the news of the passing of my mother and fellow collector, Alva Christensen May 15, 2016.

I want to thank our doll family and friends who have already expressed their condolences. It has been such a comfort to me as I have lost a precious mother, my best friend, and co-author.  As my mother always said to me, "it's okay to have tears of sadness now; before you know it, tears of sadness will turn to happiness!"

 

Laural Schwing

Fairyland Of Dolls Museum