CYPRESS : Dolls Keep the Spirit of Elvis Alive

Elvis lives--at least in spirit--at the home of Cheryl Macroft.

Like many zealous fans of the late rock ‘n’ roll legend, the 44-year-old mother of three has Elvis Presley videos, Elvis records, Elvis stamps, Elvis dinner plates, an Elvis clock with swiveling hips, and even a pair of Elvis hand towels hanging in the bathroom.

“I love his smile, I love his music and I don’t get tired of it,” said Macroft, who saw The King perform live four times. “He’s been a part of my life since I was 6, and he’s part of the family.”

But the Cypress resident’s allegiance to Presley runs much deeper than merely collecting memorabilia. Macroft lovingly fashions porcelain dolls of Elvis, even designing and sewing special wardrobes for her 2- and 3-foot-tall creations. The fragile miniature Presleys have garnered numerous awards at local doll shows and have resulted in a few unexpected sales.

Crafting Elvis models demands intense concentration and a lot of patience, said Macroft, who began making porcelain dolls of all kinds three years ago. The process, which takes about two weeks ob labor in her workshop, involves repeated baking, sanding and painting. “The hair, to get it shiny, takes four paintings,” she said.

After the doll is completed, her task still isn’t over. No one sells costumes for Elvis dolls, so she has to make her own.

Macroft has six Elvis dolls, each with a different outfit, displayed on a study shelf. There’s the GI Elvis and the Blue Hawaii Elvis. Her favorite is the Elvis dressed in a white jumpsuit decorated with Indian beads.

“They are the most gorgeous things I’ve ever seen,” said friend Betty Malsberg of Cypress.

Malsberg, also an avid Elvis memorabilia collector, is critical of other would-be Elvis porcelain doll makers.

“They can’t hold a candle to what Cheryl is doing,” she said.

Macroft said the doll enterprise began as a hobby but surprisingly turned into a small business. While she makes other dolls, Elvis is clearly her favorite. She has sold 10 dolls in all, four of which have been of Elvis. They range in price from $400 to $475, depending on the work and costume.

By the way, don’t bother making an offer on Macroft’s Elvis in a blue-studded vinyl outfit enclosed in a glass case near her bedside. It was the first Elvis doll she made. “I won’t sell it,” she said firmly. “I won’t part with it.”

Despite her devotion to the singer, however, Macroft has never been to Graceland, Presley’s Tennessee estate. She is saving money from doll sales to fund a trip to the Memphis mansion.

“Everybody says there’s a presence about him there,” Macroft said.

Until she gets to Graceland, she can keep in touch with Elvis through the Graceland catalogue, which merchandises memorabilia.

“They’ve got some (Elvis) potholders I want,” she said.