Doll collector Sheila Knowles of Whitefield will be the featured dealer at the Bath Antique Show and Sale on Sunday, April 10.

Sheila was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, and moved to Richmond when she was 15. She was introduced to dolls in 1974 by an elderly collector from Dresden and it didn't take long for Sheila to find out she was hooked.

She started teaching at a local ceramic studio and began making dolls. She also did some doll repair and made doll clothing. Soon she had many too many dolls, so she packed up her car with both her young son and daughter and a load of dolls and began selling at flea markets in Freeport, Nequasset, Montsweag and Fosters.

When both her children were in school full time, Sheila got a job as production manager and shipper at a local pottery studio. She went from making ceramic dolls to ones made of porcelain like the old German bisque. She attended doll-making classes to add to her knowledge of doll-making and china painting. When her children graduated from school and moved out, her collection began to change. She began to collect more antique dolls and began selling antiques as well as dolls. She attended auctions and estate sales and found them to be a great source for "as found" dolls.

Now she has over 200 antique dolls in her personal collection including French and German bisque, chinas, cloth, wood and more. She also has an inventory of over 2,000 dolls from modern to antique for sale. She maintains a booth at the Fairfield Antiques Mall.

Sheila encourages people to bring their dolls to the Bath show where she will will help identify, value, and advise on repair. Like any dealer, she is always looking to buy, swap or sell dolls and doll parts. She loves to “talk dolls” and share information. She will have many of her own dolls on display.

The Bath Antique Show and Sale will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Bath Middle School, Congress Avenue, Bath. To get there, exit U.S. 1 at Congress Avenue and follow the signs. Admission is $4. For more information, call Paul Fuller at Paul Fuller Promotions at 582-5908. Email: paulfullercaratunk@gmail.com