Pink Saturday...a new friend!

It's time for Pink Saturday and another doll post.

You knew that, right?

This is my fifth doll in 2012 and the best one yet!

I discovered her in an antique store downtown. (Salmugundi West at 321 W Cordova Street)

My two friends and I were on a shopping excursion on Wednesday and we went downstairs in a creepy creaking basement where there were quite a few dolls. We were in a hurry so we didn't ask the shop lady to open the glass cabinet where this doll was, so I went back on Thursday to look at her, and as soon as I picked her up, I knew she wanted to come home with me.

I went and had a cup of coffee at Waves coffee house, while thinking about it, then went back and bought her. She is an Armand Marseille and she is my very first antique doll.

She has the shoulder plate and is marked "Germany 370" on it.

She has a leather kid body, stuffed with sawdust, and all her fingers are intact.

She may have replaced feet. I need to take a photo of her naked.

I'm very excited to have one antique doll in my collection!

I found this on my ramblings online.

Isn't she cute?

Have a wonderful pink day. I meant to post more about Spring, which seems to have sprung here, but I've run out of time!

By Loretta Houben

Pink/Green Saturday...a completed project & the Gothard Sisters!

Happy St Patrick's Day!

Notice the GREEN FABRIC in the background of this shadow box.

I bought the box around fifteen years ago. Sad to say, I left it in a drawer all this time, intending to finish it one day. Well, that day finally arrived on March 14, and I made myself sit down and put it together.

The picture in the box was taken in 1926, and is of my Grandma Helen Brutke, my Mom's mother, holding her baby daughter Frieda. This is the only picture I have of my Grandma at a fairly young age in her 30's. I don't think she liked having her picture taken!

The fabric represents this era, at least as close as I can come. It sort of looks like a feedsack.

The lace behind the picture is vintage and belonged to my Grandma as did the vintage buttons on the bottom of the box. I took them from my Grandma's sewing basket in 1973, when the White sewing machine and cabinet were still in her bedroom. My Grandma died in 1960 when I was only 10 days old so I never met her. She lived in Amity, Oregon.

The lace on top and bottom was bought at Greenbaum's fabric store in Salem, OR. That was the store where my Grandma always purchased her fabric and sewing notions.

I'm so happy to have finally assembled this memory box!

The Gothard Sisters from Seattle, WA, were here in Vancouver BC last Saturday.

They gave a wonderful 45 minute performance.

I had a chance to meet them again. The first time was in Dec 2010, and they remembered my name!

They also have a lovely doll website: OUR DOLLS

That's how I originally met them years ago; on their website. I love their doll photos.

Now they are talented young ladies who do shows all over the USA; celtic dance, singing, and instrumental music.

Here is their show website: Gothard Sisters

Here I am with the beautiful Solana, Willow and Greta.

It was so nice to meet them again!

To enjoy other pink/green posts, please click on the Pink Saturday link in my sidebar!

Happy Pink/Green St Patrick's Day!

By Loretta Houben

Happy Pink Day again!

It's happened.

I haven't posted all week long, but so far this year I haven't forgotten about Pink Day!

I have a fetish about PINK lately.

All week long I think about pink!

I bought the above plate at Winner's, a store in our local mall similar to Tuesday Morning in the USA.

I call it my glorified thrift store, as everything is thrift store prices but brand new!

This plate promises me that spring and cherry blossoms are just around the corner.

At a local thrift store (which I do occasionally check out) I spotted this pretty tablecloth, hand embroidered for the vast sum of $2.99! I couldn't believe my eyes! I love embroidery and this also has hand crocheted trim in PINK around the edge.

Isn't it gorgeous? It brightens up my dining room on these cold grey days.

I love to change my tablecloths often. When our son was at home, he always noticed!

Robert only notices his meals.

The teapot set is Dimity Rose by Royal Albert, bought many years ago.

I never get tired of this set. I love the PINK ROSES which are so delicate.

Please visit more pinks by clicking on Pink Saturday in my sidebar.

Maybe this week I'll be able to drop by and visit more pinks myself.

Happy pink day!

Happy pink day!

Pink day mysteriously rolls around rather too quickly, don't you think?

This is the first time I have ever done so many pink days in a row!

My goal is to participate each Saturday as I like to keep up with my goals.

Tee hee...I am currently taking a difficult Bible study college level course at my church one evening each week, since last October 2011. It's frying my brain but doing my soul a world of good!

It takes up an immense amount of time, though, so my photos may get less and less for Pink Day!

Here are my darling Bleuette dolls in their pinks, sorting buttons for a new sewing challenge in my Bleuette Sewing Group online. We have such fun there!

I needed to add this picture, even though it's in the post directly below this one.

These are lovely snowdrops picked from my tiny garden. On Wednesday they were buried in snow, as it's so cold and wet here. We've had lots of snow flurries over the past week, but fortunately it doesn't stick for long. The pretty tablecloth is hand embroidered with a pretty crocheted pink lace trim. I will post photos of it next Saturday. I bought it at a local thrift store for only $2.99!

Have a fantastic pink day looking at all the pinks at Beverly's website.

You can find her link under Pink Saturday on my sidebar.

Happy pink day!

Pink Saturday...a favourite mug and a new Oriental doll!

As you know, I love to bargain shop. This lovely mug was purchased for only $3.99 at our local Winner's store, which is similar to a Tuesday Morning store in the USA.

Truthfully I'd much rather shop there than at a thrift store. The prices are the same, but the merchandise is brand new and smells good on top of it! Tee hee...

I also enjoy doll collecting as you are by now aware!

This little jewel was found last Saturday at a flea market for only $5.00.

She is 10" high. So far this year I've bought 3 dolls, meeting that second project listed at the side of my blog!!!!

She is plastic and wearing her original dress, shoes and socks.

This year I'm in the mood for ethnic dolls, small in size.

It's such fun to go on the hunt, especially when low in funds as I am!

The beautiful background on my computer screen is from Jacquie Lawson, a fantastic card site.

Welcome to another pink Saturday. I'm happy to report that I've kept up for January and February.

Yay! Please check out all the other pink lovelies by clicking on the link in my side bar.

PS: Aren't my shoes cute?

Happy pink Saturday...February 18, 2012!

This past week I was surfeited with Valentines and pink!

It was a most marvelous time, I must say.

I held my Valentine tea party last Saturday, (many photos below in case you missed my Pink post last week) and I was invited to a Valentine tea party on Sunday!

(to check out more Pink Blogs, please visit Pink Saturday, hosted by Beverly; link found in my sidebar)

Helen, a friend from my Bible study group, invited all the ladies over from our group to her lovely apartment. Her table was set so prettily. These are some of the desserts.

This cup and saucer was part of a wedding gift belonging to her Mother.

Isn't it stunning?

The table before we sat down.

Helen had many varieties of tea, but I drank English Breakfast, my favourite.

Some of the friends chatting before tea, enjoying some nibblies first.

The ham wraps and deviled eggs were delicious!

The plate on the left held cucumber with Thai tunafish. Yummy!

Helen even had a menu.

Here is one side of the table.

The homemade waffles were a hit. We ate them with whipped cream and fruit.

I do enjoy this group of ladies! We meet every Thursday to study God's word and pray together.

It's fun to meet for High Tea too!

The other end of the table! There were 11 of us.

It was a fantastic tea, Helen. Thank you so much!

Happy pink Saturday - February 11th, 2012!

Happy Valentine's Day and pink Saturday!

I'm updating this post with my Valentine Tea pictures.

This is the second Valentine's tea I've hosted.

It's a lot of fun!

Here is a picture of the gift I gave to Linda, my doll collecting friend since 2003.

She really like it so I am thrilled.

I used a Valentine themed suitcase from Winner's store and added a paper lace doily, arranging the Bleuette dress which I made with scotch tape, and Valentine buttons and stickers on top.

This is Isabelle's gift. I've known Isabelle since 2009.

I've met these two wonderful ladies online!

We have fun teatimes together.

Here is my tea table.

I used a Valentine print tablecloth and added a red cloth on top.

I had fun using pink and red items to decorate.

I used my Royal Albert Dimity Rose china set which I've had for over 30 years.

Leona, my sister, bought the delicious Valentine cookies from Valley Bakery in Burnaby, the same bakery which we purchased our wedding cake from in 1982!

Store bought brownies and cookies. Yummy!

Heart shaped cherry scones, baked by myself. We added Devon cream from England.

These scones are fantastic.

Linda enjoying her tea!

The centerpiece: a glass display piece, with a paper doily on top, and a red pineapple crocheted doily on top of that, made by myself years ago. The red candle holder is also from Winner's.

I added two heart shaped candles I use every year.

Leona, Isabelle and Linda, holding their Valentine crafts they made after the tea.

I found this design HERE. I love finding things to make on blogs!

I believe I found this blog through Pink Saturday, too. Cool!

Enjoying our Valentine tea.

Don't you just love all the PINK?

And here is my Valentine tree, with two cute heart shaped pillows nestled underneath.

One of the pillows says "hugs" and the other says "kiss".

The 2 pretty cards are from Isabelle and Linda; Linda handmade her lovely card.

My dear little Bleuettes, with some friends behind them.

Linda made the polka dot dress with the red jacket; isn't it darling?

Isabelle made the sweet white shawl and hood, and the pretty red Valentine dress.

I made baby's romper.

It was quite a challenge to sew 2 dresses for everyone, but we did it!

I haven't posted all week! Ack!

My Mom has been very ill with "clostridium difficili" which I still can't pronounce!

It's a long story, but she is on the mend now. Thank you for all your prayers.

It all began with a regular visit to the dentist for a 6 month check up.

The dentist discovered a tooth abscess and put my Mom on two antibiotics, one of which was clindamycin. The side effect of this antibiotic is C. difficili.

So I have had a difficult week, and worries about other things in my life, namely my hubby's job, and I completely forgot to blog. Unbelievable!

The gorgeous arrangement above arrived at my door last night from Dan and Marlene (my sister in St. Louis) But it wasn't for me. They sent it for my parents. We took it over last night and she just loved it!

There's nothing like flowers to cheer you up.

I cannot post without showing dolls, can I?

Those of you who are not dolly lovers are probably sick of seeing them!

The baby is Bambino, a "brother" to Bleuette, but in this case has morphed into a girl. Tee hee...

I think our Valentine tea was a success!

And there were lots of PINKS!

Please visit BEVERLY'S BLOG to see much more pink!

Have a wonderful weekend and a sweet Valentine's on Tuesday.

Happy Pink Saturday-February 4th, 2012!

It's the first Pink Saturday in February.

This is one of my favourite months, because our son, Matthew, was born on the 9th.

Today is a gloriously warm and sunny day with a pure blue sky.

I can't stop looking outside! It's marvelous and feels just like Spring.

A robin was singing early this morning.

The above collage was made by myself last year, using photos and homemade cards.

I use the Microsoft Picture It Publishing program from 2001.

This is a vintage Valentine, adapted to portray my girls for this Valentine's.

They need new dresses and I'm working on it.

Beverly at How Sweet the Sound hosts pink Saturday each week.

It's so much fun to meet other pinks and meet new friends.

Here are my American Girl dolls, along with a new friend from the Disney store at the mall.

I made the green dress. It's fun to celebrate Chinese New Year.

2012 is the Year of the Dragon!

Aren't we sweet?

I hope everyone enjoys Pink Saturday.

Thanks so much for dropping by!

Pink Saturday: January 28, 2012

Welcome to Pink Saturday once again!

Please join in with all the pinks at Beverly's blog, listed under Pink Saturday in my side link.

I never get a chance to visit them all myself, but during the week I do enjoy looking at as many as I possibly can.

Here is my Valentine tree.

I've always wished to make one, as Valentine's Day is one of my favourite days in the year.

That's because I adore PINK and heart shaped things, romance and true love!

My tree needs some more decorations which I plan on making.

It looks really pretty at night when the lights are turned on, and it sure brightens up the dark gloomy winter nights we've had lately.

Two of my little girls are exchanging felt Valentines.

I remember doing this in elementary school. I still have some of those sweet Valentine cards!

Robinette posing by the Valentine suitcase in her handmade crochet dress, made by a talented person in the UK. I just love this dress.

I played around with a vintage Valentine in my computer software picture program.

I use "Microsoft Picture It Publishing 2001". It's no longer being produced.

It's such fun! There are other programs out there for varying prices, such as Photoshop.

I hope you have a lovely pink day, preparing for February 14th!

Pink Saturday January 21, 2012

Oops! I nearly forgot about PINK SATURDAY!

That would never do.

I love pink, but I keep using the same theme; dolls. Sigh.

I guess I love dolls more than the colour pink!

Here is Martha's doll wearing the pink bonnet which I made, er, which Yvette Marie made, and Martha won as a prize in a sewing challenge in my Bleuette group online.

This is Martha's picture.

I love Valentines!

Here are a few pink ones.

These are kindly borrowed from LORRAINE at her blog.

Please visit her for some beautiful pinks and some amazing Valentines!

I even made a Valentine tree this year, and I will take a picture for next pink Saturday.

Aren't these sweet?

I just love this one!

I should try my hand at some Valentine crafts.

Hmmm...

Have a wonderful pink Saturday, everyone!

I love all the pink posts.

Please be sure to visit Beverly at the link on my sidebar, under Pink Saturday.