LECTIONS!

Well it's the new year, so that means at this house, things are seen with a fresh eye and cupboards that are overflowing get sorted out and things taken to the charity shops.
The funny thing is they have probably been that way all year but when a NEW year appears you do take stock and try to make a few changes and plans.

I decided to check on some boxes that have been stored under the stairs for nearly TEN years!! They came with us from our last much bigger house ,where there were some lovely glass cupboards to display them in.

But when you move , you normal land up changing what you want displayed  and since living here I have sold on quite a few pieces of china and figures that no longer had a home.

These however I have had for around 25 years? or so and the girls all love them and remember them from their childhood.

So I thought I would take some photo's as I checked them before I re-boxed them and they are put up into the loft.

These are the boxes that they are stored in and these boxes are in the original shipping boxes which are a nice thick cardboard for protection.

 They contain a set of Diane Effner designed dolls, this is of course Little Red Riding Hood.

A closer look at her worried face!

Next is Cinderella in her rags.

Her bird's come loose so is just resting on her hand.

Next is Goldilocks with her bowl of porridge.

a very sweet face .

Goldilocks back in her box.

Next we have Rapunzel with  hair brush singing.

She loves to sing!

A rear view showing her long hair.

And Snow White with her poisoned apple !

A close up of Snow white. One of my daughter Lindsey's friends looked very like this doll, same colouring and features.

Well while checking them I wondered why there were only five , surely they should be a set of six? I could not after all this time remember , so we checked the internet and found that the sixth one had been Cinderella in her ball gown, I can only assume that they wanted a larger price for her or I decided that I did not need both so therefore I only have five of this set.

But I do have two others from different sets.

The box for one of the others.

Mary Mary

a closer look at her Contrary face!

and then one doll from another set

Her box

 Polly from the rhyme Polly put the Kettle on.She holds her kettle ready to make tea.
My eldest daughter Lauren as a tot would sing the rhyme finishing with  " we all have tea cup!" rather than we all have tea!"

A closer look at Polly. I do remember getting this one and thinking she had a face that only a mother could love! and after that I stopped collecting any more.

The first six shown are Diane Effner's design and she still designs dolls today, her range being wide and including The Little Darling dolls and also Maru and friends.

I have had a little darling on order for the last nine months and still have another three to wait before she'll arrive, so maybe I should get myself a Maru ,after all I have been a fan of her work for a very long time!

Well these will now be put up safely into the loft , so another job done and some space made. I have also already been to the charity shop with the small green painted unit I had for my Sasha's that's now been replaced with the bookshelves Paul made and also took along a few unwanted pottery tankard's and things that have been acquired over the years from holidays or Christmas/holiday gifts from family.
So I am feeling very pleased that so far we are making a start on clearing some of the clutter that's built up over time.


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