Hump Day, January 6, 2016

Today being Wednesday, hump day, I decided to go downtown to the American Girl doll store on Broadway and Granville. I never go on Jan 1 for the GOTY of the year reveal as I don't like crowds. The new doll for 2016 is Lea Clark, and at the astounding price of $164 Cdn not including tax, I won't be buying her anytime soon unless I sell a few dolls or get a job! That is an exorbitant price!!!

But I did buy the mini Lea for $40 which is also extremely high. She is very cute though.

I plan to have a few adventures with her in 2016, and I might make her a hut. Don't hold your breath though!

The cute little fruits and veggies and tropical animals were bought at Michael's craft store. They were only $5 a pkg.

While at Michael's I noticed a salesperson marking down the Springfield 18" dolls from $32 to only $10!

So Emma came home with me, as I can't resist a sale like that, not that I need another 18" doll.

I bought her cute bunny slippers for only $2.99.

Did I ever say how much I love a sale?

I plan to make each Wednesday in 2016 "Hump Day" and follow my nose and do something fun, unless of course I have a migraine. I did get the 2nd migraine of 2016 this afternoon after I was back home. It seems that too much fun isn't good for me. The first migraine was on Mon Jan 4.

Anyhow, it was a fun day.

By Loretta Houben

Lovely old-fashioned dolls...and Christmas decorations from 1916

Aren't these darling?

This is from an old 1916 Sears Roebuck catalogue.

How different from today's toys!

And here are some interesting Christmas decorations.

The above illustrations are from the Old Design Shop.

By Loretta Houben

Little Girls playing with their Dolls

“The dolls had been having their afternoon nap, but they were awake now, and Bertha said she heard them crying; so the little girls left off playing “Hide and Seek,” and went back to the nursery. Here Mary taught her doll to walk, leading her by the hand, and pretending they were out in the green fields; while Bertha tossed her child in the air – “the higher the better” – and made such a merry noise, laughing and talking to her, that if Dolly was not amused, it must have been her own fault.”

This adorable vintage engraving of two little girls playing with their dolls is from Little Folks and Little Friends by Oscar Pletsch, circa 1880.

This adorable vintage engraving, by Oscar Pletsch, features two little girls preparing dinner with their toy dishes, small table and play stove. Here is an excerpt of the story from the book: “…the little girls began to cook their dinner. It was great fun, Mary thought; indeed, she liked it almost better than playing with Dolly. She mixed the pancakes, while Bertha warmed the soup upon her little toy stove. “It is boiling splendidly already!” said she, before Mary had finished; – and that was all the more surprising, because – to tell you a secret – there was no fire in the stove! But “making believe very much” will do wonders, as I dare say you have found.”  

Aren't the above engravings adorable?

Little children had such fun playing make believe in past years.

I think too much electronic gizmos must rather fry their little brains.

I believe "make believe" play is very good for them.

I found these sweet illustrations on a lovely blog:
Old Design Shop

I found it by checking out Pinterest, a daily habit of mine!

Enjoy!

By Loretta Houben

Paper dolls.

I found this and the paper dolls below on Pinterest.

If you haven't discovered Pinterest yet, you are in for some eye candy.

Currently I have 53 boards, and 5,712 pins.

I have 643 likes, and 385 followers. Nearly all of them are complete strangers to me!

But it seems we adore the same things.

We've been having extremely HOT weather here in Vancouver BC since May.

It's been the driest, hottest weather ever on record for this stretch of time.

Ever.

Whew...I've run my A/C unit more than I've ever run it before since we purchased it in 2009.

Tomorrow (July 21) we will go to stage 3 water restrictions, which means no lawn watering, no window washing or washing of property, no car washing, and no pool filling. Wah! 

Everything here is coated in dust. We had a bit of rain a week ago. It was sort of misty though and not a full out Vancouver soaking like we are used to. My hubby loves it as he is half lizard.

I find it interesting but I don't really care for heat. My brain melts into a puddle and I'm very tired.

I can't walk or bike ride. I think I'd collapse if I tried it.

Last evening Robert and I drove to Central Park with Kelsie, and went for a walk under the trees, where it was not at all cool. There wasn't one breeze. It was stifling hot at 8:00 pm. Ugh.

Everything was coated in a thick layer of dust, and tinder dry. I'm sure the torrential rains will return soon enough but for now, it's really weird out there.

By Loretta Houben

Journey Girl dolls and pennies!

Maybe it's the really wet rainy weather we've been having this month, or missing Hawaii, or the fact that nothing stays long here in Vancouver BC, but I bought another doll yesterday, the 3rd doll this month! That's quite unusual, seeing as one of the dolls was an AG and you know they're not cheap.

I was busy for around two hours on Wednesday rolling a large container of coins, including pennies. Here in Canada we no longer use them as the Bank of Canada discontinued their production in early 2012. It took me over a year to get used to no pennies, and I no longer find them on the street. However instead I find quarters so I guess that's much better! I can't figure out if I'm getting cheated or not, as if the total of an item in the store comes to $10. 23, and I hand the clerk a $10 bill plus a quarter, I don't get 2 cents back; I get nothing back. But if something costs $20.02 I just pay the $20 and don't worry about the 2 cents so maybe it all works out? It's called "rounding up" or "rounding down".

Anyhow, I went to Toys R Us yesterday after cashing in my rolled coins at the bank.

I got quite a bit back! The pennies totaled $10 so they helped to buy the Journey Girl doll produced by Toys R Us. That's their brand of 18" doll I guess. They have really cute accessories including a darling bike for only $34 and a neat oven for $34. 

They had around 20 different dolls so they were well stocked.

I settled on Dana, an animal lover. I re-named her Penny. Tee hee...

That way she will always remind me of the lost Canadian pennies.

She has a cute dress and sweater, handbag, and blue plastic shoes.

Her glasses make her too studious looking so I removed them.

Here is the huge stack of pennies which amounted to $10!

Coins really add up. The whole amount of all the rolled coins came to $98!

Amazing...

This year I'm planning to save all the toonies ($2 coins) and use them for eating out, as we are on a very low budget this year. My husband got a new job last October 2014 at Coast Capital Savings and it is quite a bit less than he used to make in previous years before his brother left the company due to illness. But we are so glad his job is stable so we have to learn to make do all over again, similar to when we were first married. I guess that's how life is in the 2010's!

Here is Penny released from her box.

Isn't her accessory set cute? There are around 6 different Journey Girl dolls, all in the same packaging. I loved this accessory set as I simply love London! It was only $13.99 Cdn. The JG dolls have really small feet so their shoes don't fit an AG doll.

Of course the T-shirt would look better with jeans or a short jean skirt.

The set has a cute cap, shirt, London map, and a thin plastic red camera, with the adorable red plastic sandals, which were a little tricky to fasten in the back.

I'm getting attached to these little dolls. I found some cute pictures of them on Pinterest.

There's nothing like another new doll in the house!

Loretta Houben

Our Generation Dolls

This is an online image...one of the "Our Generation" dolls sold at Target.

But you might have heard the awful horrific news that all 133 stores which recently opened in Canada (they didn't open 50 years ago; ours opened in Nov 2013) are CLOSING in May 2015.

I never ever heard of anything so bizarre and atrocious and mind boggling as that, have you?

Anyhow, I never was a fan of Target as the prices are too high and it just simply isn't my style.

But, they did carry the OG dolls and accessories, and every time I was anywhere near Target at Metrotown, just for fun I'd pop in and look at them. I bought Sienna, pictured above, and a few accessories.

This is a set I'd certainly love to buy!

This baking set I DID buy last week, when I was in Target in Surrey.

The box was damaged so I got 10% off. It cost $22.99 Cdn plus tax and it is just darling.

This is so cute, but it's $130 Cdn so I don't think I'll be getting it.

I just discovered that the OG dolls are sold at Mastermind Toys in Canada.

I've never heard of that store, but apparently there are 3 nearby; Abbotsford, Coquitlam and Langley.

Living a Doll's Life has the post about it.

That is a very cute blog.

Loretta Houben

The second thing I've sewn this year...

This is the second doll item I've sewn this year; a new skirt for Grace!

She is thrilled, and this is the first time I've sewn for a GOTY! (girl of the year)

I found the pattern online for free.

It was so cute, I thought I'd give it a try. I didn't have any felt so I used what I had on hand, a piece of cotton fabric someone gave me. The red lace was from my MIL's stash, so all I needed to buy was the white felt to make the little poodle, and the red and white baker's "twine" which was only $1.00 for a big roll! So it was a very low priced skirt indeed.

However, the skirt wrapped around the doll's waist twice, so I cut it down to size, and it just doesn't quite hang like a poodle skirt should. Oh well...I love the free poodle pattern provided, although I downsized it 60% on my printer so it would be the correct size.

The other outfit I made was for a customer.

This is what I created for her. She collects Chatty Cathy dolls, quite different from AG dolls, but nearly the same size. (21") I enjoy sewing for AG better as they have soft bodies, while Chatty is so hard and pudgy! However, my goal this year is to sew up as much of my fabric stash as I can.

The green fabric was also from my MIL's stash, and now it's gone. I made two dresses in total from it, so it was a profit for me. 

Did I ever mention that I love to sew?

Loretta Houben

Memory Monday...a special doll!

This past Christmas, 2014, my childhood Chatty Cathy doll turned 50!

I can still remember so long ago when I opened her box the very first time, and saw the top of her pretty blonde head. I screeched! I treated this doll very carefully which is why she is still in such good condition. However, her talking mechanism eventually broke and so she is now mute.

Leona, my little two year old sister, got the Chatty Baby. For some reason, our Dad decided to give her to a friend, Don Neufeld, who promised to repair her. After many months when my Dad inquired, Don told him "Oh, I couldn't fix it at all so I threw it away." Of course we were all horrified; he could have given us the option to keep the doll, but I bet he broke the body and didn't want to return the pieces. Moral of the story: only let an expert touch your beloved doll!

Leona has never forgiven him...

Loretta Houben

The first new doll in 2015.

Well, it didn't take me long! I found this little darling doll (14 1/2") at my local Target store. She was only $20.99 Cdn. I've heard of these dolls but never saw them before. I looked high and low but she was the only one on the shelf.

She is "Hearts for Hearts" brand. I'm not sure of the history yet.

She portrays a 10 year old girl living in Brazil on a coffee farm.

Isn't she cute?

Zelia will be interesting to sew for.

I set her up with 3 of my AG dolls right beside my computer desk.

They stand there waiting for new outfits.

Loretta Houben

A winter wonderland...

Thanks to an online friend who told me about this, I love to edit my photos in a FREE online program, PicMonkey.

 You can upgrade and pay but I haven't done that yet.

This photo, taken in 2006, was very dark, so I lightened it in the "exposure" section. I just fiddled with the arrows until it looked good.

Nowadays I pretend I'm a 5 year old when it comes to learning new things online, and everything works out great!

These are two old Chatty Cathy talking dolls by Mattel, one of the dolls I love to collect.

The one on the right is "Catherine", my childhood Canadian doll.

I know they should have boots and leggings, but they really don't mind at all.

We were supposed to get an extreme snow storm here in the lower mainland today, but it passed us by and headed into the Fraser Valley. I'm a little sad. I love to stay inside and watch snow falling.

Loretta Houben

The 2015 GOTY!

Each day this year I will try to do one thing I really love.

That's one of my goals. I will also either blog about it or mark it down.

Yesterday afternoon I borrowed Robert's bus pass, and went downtown.

It was quite chilly but a gorgeous crisp sunny day.

Since last May 2014 an American Girl boutique (smaller than a regular store) has been on the second floor of Chapter's book store on Robson Street. Over the past year I've visited quite a bit, just to look at the displays and to pick up doll stands for my growing AG collection.

This is Grace Thomas, the GOTY (Girl of the Year) for 2015.

Since 2001, there has been a new girl with her own outfits and props and books.

I bought Isabelle Palmer last year because I had to buy at least ONE doll from a Vancouver store! There are four historical dolls sold here too, Samantha, Julie, Addy and Rebecca. I have them all except Addy. There are also the dolls which look "just like you". There are some outfits sold here, and the Bitty Babies. The store revealed Grace yesterday and handed out a free apron to each person. The first picture above was my first look at Grace. I couldn't decide if I liked her or not, as she has a different face mold with a rather pointy little chin, and freckles.

I will confess I don't like freckles and was glad I never had them on my face, although my arms are very freckled! I love a smooth peachy cream sort of complexion.

But this doll is growing on me, so who knows; maybe she will end up living here too.

I love this pink dress! I love the bistro card with the pastries!

It's $180 Cdn for the cart!

This is Grace's bake store, sold online only, and it's $500 US!

I also love the little bistro set which is $80.

The baking set is $80. Everything would sure add up.

This is the baking outfit.

Another view of the pastry cart.

Showing the prices of the doll and some items.

One of the outfits.

Grace's PJ set.

Another outfit and Grace's dog.

A close up of Grace's face. I really do love AG dolls as I think they are so well made. Robert really likes this one. He gave me a gift card for Chapter's store for Christmas, although I've already used a bit of it to purchase Isabelle's accessory set which was on sale last week for $18.

There were many young girls purchasing this doll yesterday, so I asked a clerk how well sales were doing and she said the dolls were flying off the shelves! She said it was their best sales day yet.

That's great news for me!

Here is the cardboard package on the left containing my free apron, and the little T-shirt is my only purchase yesterday. I laid it on the counter after two young girls had bought two Grace dolls ahead of me, and said "Here is my big purchase!" and the clerk laughed.

I also commented that I was so happy to find a T-shirt with "Canada" on it, and he said it was because so many customers had asked for one. Therefore it does pay to ask!

It was certainly a fun afternoon, and that was my good happy thing for January 1st.

By Loretta Houben

Christmas Eve 45 years ago in 1969!

The other day I found an image someone had put online from a page of the Simpson Sears Christmas catalogue from 1969. The doll above, "B" and $6.98 was the one I got for Christmas that year. Here I am holding her. We loved getting dolls for Christmas! Each year brought a new doll until we outgrew them. Aren't we cute?

We always opened our gifts on Christmas Eve which is a German tradition.

Right after supper at 5:30 pm we would scurry and get changed into a pretty dress.

Our Christmas tree was real, and was bought from Simpson Sears in Burnaby BC for the grand sum of $2.00 - $4.00. We loved our tree! We helped decorate it, and Mom hung the tinsel while we were at school. Dad put on the lights. The Santa Claus in the middle of the tree was a gift given to me in 1960 when I was a baby, and was always put in the middle each year.

The grand mess of the Christmas wrappings! My parents would carefully fold up all the paper and reuse it the next Christmas. Anything that was too badly torn was burned in the fireplace. 

This is a snippet from the above picture, showing Leona playing with her new doll, and myself playing with a neat Barbie sized grocery play set which had small sized food and a scale etc.

Leona got the little lantern that's on the coffee table, which ran on a battery. Later that night, she crept out of bed, went and got her full bulging stocking from the mantle, brought it back to bed, TURNED ON THE LIGHT, and opened her stocking! She was 7 years old. She woke me up of course, and proceeded to describe all the items in her stocking. I crawled under my covers and plugged my ears as we both got identical presents in our stockings. Then she put everything back and took her stocking back to the living room. I've never forgotten it! One of the items was a cute Winnie the Pooh cookie tin from England, filled with delicious little biscuits.

I have many fond memories of Christmas!

By Loretta Houben

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I haven't "played dolls" in quite a while.

It's time consuming but really fun once I get started.

I belong to a cute Facebook group called "Chatty Cathy Connection" and one of the leaders organizes events. She makes things fun! Today being March 17th, we posted photos of the Wearing of the Green. Here are 3 of my dolls wearing their green.

The doll on the left is a Canadian blonde pig tail Chatty Cathy doll with glassine eyes from the 1960's.

She was made in Canada by the Dee & Cee doll company. Mattel toy company purchased them in 1964 I believe it was. The Chatty Cathy dolls made here are much sought after, as the vinyl used was superior and doesn't fade like the American counterparts. The face painting is also lovely as are the eyes that were used. The doll on the right is also Canadian, with auburn pigtails and glassine eyes.

She is holding a repro Ginny doll.

I made the dress on the left. The dark green dress was made by Gloria's Goodies on eBay and was a gift from a friend a few years ago. 

The dolls are so happy they are doing an Irish jig.

I made a picture strip using Picmonkey picture program.

I'm not Irish that I know of, however I have paternal grandparents both born in Wales, so you never know....

By Loretta Houben