CELEBRITY COLLECTOR - Marie Osmond

Marie Osmond shot to fame as a half of the Donny and Marie in the early 70's. After a series of huge hits, with titles like 'Paper Roses' and 'Who's sorry now' the duo even claimed their very own TV show. Marie Osmond’s talents seem to know no bounds as a singer, actress and even doll designer she truly was America's sweetheart.

In 1991, Marie Osmond debuted her own doll line called QVC. Following her true hands on spirit to everything she has done throughout her career, this is what she said about starting the QVC line, "When Lou Knickerbocker first approached me about endorsing a line of dolls on the QVC Network, I told him I would do it only if I could work with the dolls in every aspect," Osmond said. "I didn't want to offer a token celebrity endorsement. He agreed, and the rest, as they say, is history." Marie became hands-on, participating fully in the creation, development and marketing of the line.

While QVC continues to be a primary source of distribution for her dolls, Osmond also carries her line in retail stores, through Internet sales in the USA and worldwide, and direct response. In 2009, Osmond also debuted her dolls on The Shopping Channel in Canada.

Her first sculpture, a toddler doll she created and named after her mother, "Olive May," set a collectible record on QVC. Since then, Osmond has sculpted several dolls, including "Remember Me," "Baby Adora Belle," "Kissy and Huggs" and her hallmark doll, "Adora Belle."

In 2006, Osmond launched an embroidery machine line, a sewing machine line, and embroidery designs through Bernina. She has been featured on the cover of Designs in Machine Embroidery.

In 2009, a 16" vinyl Fashion Doll of Marie Osmond "Grand Finale Fashion" was debuted at Osmond's 50th Birthday party in Las Vegas in celebration of her 50th birthday.

Osmond's doll collection has garnered numerous award nominations, including "Trendsetter of the Year" and Dolls magazine's "Awards of Excellence."

Marie herself has a collection estimated at over 700 vintage dolls. When asked about how she got interested in dolls she replied, "I had many dolls long before I had the motor skills to hold onto them," the singer said with a laugh. "I loved my dolls as a child. I carried them everywhere."

"I do have rare dolls," she said, "but I'm not a person who collects to 'sell.' Rather, I collect a doll because it speaks to me in some way and represents a little piece of who I am. So I collect to enjoy and display, and to pass down for posterity. Given that perspective, every doll is valuable to me." She thrills at getting a "sneak peak" at the new artist dolls unveiled each year at the doll shows.

Marie has had long and spirited discussions with her husband about what will ultimately become of the collection. "We've talked about housing them in a museum, and I haven't ruled that out," she said, "but I've put that on hold for awhile because I love having my dolls where I am. Many of them will be passed down to my daughters and to my son's future wives. We've got a big family!"