CUPBOARD LOVE

 So on Thursday, the man delivered my new, to me, cupboard, for the small dolls. I was somewhat concerned that since it was coming from Devon ! Where Wednesday night it had snowed !! That I would receive an email saying it would have to arrive another day but no the email I received say Steve would be with me in 30 minutes and Steve was.

So today, Friday, Paul put it up on the table so I could clean it and look it over and plan. . . .

The front before it was all given a good wash. 

I had waited a week since I bought it for it to be delivered, naturally in that time I'd expected it to have turned into Tardis inside or course it had not.

Now in the time since I bought it and until it arrived , I'd gone from a cupboard for the small dolls on the bottom and middle shelves and my small teddies on the top shelf.

Then  the two doll shelves to be set up as room's and the teddies on the top shelf, now it's here the dolls have taken over the three shelves as room settings ! To that end I had a play with wallpapers. 

I will not stick this to the cupboard as I do not want to be restricted to it's use and also be able to change it all if needed.

The top shelf was quite high and I could not move it so thought it was fixed.

x

I had moved the bottom shelf up one in this photo , but the top shelf was very attic like and only the smallest bed looked okay on that shelf.

So I started thinking, does the bottom shelf become a kitchen/ day room? 

Then Paul came back in from the freezing cold garden, where he'd been cutting a big climber back and I told him that the top shelf was fixed !  So he looked and then managed to unwedge it! So I moved it down one and the lower shelf back down one.

Which now makes the top shelf have a gap of 9 inches, the middle 10 1/2 and the bottom 10 inches. 

So decisions will have to be made as to what will go where, will the teddies lose out, will the bathroom fit if the bigger metal bed is at the top? But before I get to that stage. Paul needs to mend the top right hand side where the wooden cornice has gone missing. I need to rearrange half the bedroom, so it can stand on top of a chest of drawers and sort out how I want to fit the paper to the 'walls'.

Since it's too cold out at the moment to be clearing more space in studio, I'll be able to get the bedroom sorted so this can go in place once Paul's fixed the top.

So much to do and so little time until December when a worrying time is coming ! Things/ people not what they seem, under hand dealing, over blown balloons to name but a tiny snippet. . . .

SUNDAY NUMBER THREE

So this Sunday arrived quickly! Only seems yesterday I did last Sundays post! 

The weather's been much brighter but also colder however it appears that we will be getting an early burst of wintery weather this week.

On Saturday it was our little prince, Adam, 4th birthday !! Yes four ! Only seems once again that time is running away with us. He is turning into a sweet enquiring lad who loves Whales and other sea creatures. We were able to go and spend the day with him and help celebrate his birthday which was lovely.

Paul's put the garden to bed, pots of tender plants away and bananas wrapped against the cold weather. He has also been working on a prop for my dolls. 

Shown in the photo with a 16 inch Roche doll, it will also be used by the Sasha's.

 The Sasha's are planning a performance of The Nutcracker around Christmas or the new year.

Plenty of practising is going on.

My new doll cupboard should be arriving this coming week, so once it's up on the wall, I can get started on kitting it out and sorting out the furniture and dolls etc for it. Which will make some room in the new green cupboard for other dolls.

Even with the weather turning colder this week, I need to get into the doll studio this week and make the space to get to granny's shop and the living room and get them ready to start work on this years Christmas tale which will hopefully be a good one. Just a hint that dastardly deeds will be happening, lives could be hanging in the balance. . . .

I will need to find some decent lighting, so the photo's are clear enough to see, but I need to get started to be ready to start posting in late November / early December.

Todays headliner is Libby ( Liberty ) who is wearing her favourite Vintage Sasha dungarees and a lovely warm cardigan by Tricia six T and of course some Rosie Bloom shoes.

On the doll front, no one's left or arrived. But I did sell an outfit. I'll be glad once we get to the end of this week when I'll be taking a break from selling until the new year. 

So that's hopefully that's what's happening around here this week, along with the usual things that need doing.

I will wish you all a happy healthy warm doll filled week ahead.

Dee

SECOND SUNDAY IN NOVEMBER

 

which is Remembrance Sunday, in honour of all those who have fallen or fought in wars. No one wants to have to fight in a war but it is important that we remember those who had to. On all sides. Even today unrest and conflict is in the world and we wish that those who started these would step back and come to their senses and go home.

On a lighter note here in the UK we are having what's known as a very grey period ! and not just our new Prime Minister ( goodness that man is dull ) but the weather ! It seems we are in a vortex where the sun can barely if at all break through the clouds to give us warmth! So every day this week has been dull and dreary. So pretty much a plodding along week.

I was on the search for a small wall display cupboard to go on the wall, to take my smaller dolls and teddies, so they would have a home and not be over crowded by bigger dolls. Why is it when you want something , you can never find it!  If I wasn't looking , they'd be appearing everywhere! But no!

Eventually I found a half round small cupboard , made an offer it was accepted and it arrived, well it is small, with a capital S ! It would take some of the small dolls but not in a way I wanted to display them, so I set off again to find just the right cupboard. I tried looking at corner units and some were very beautiful with lovely glass doors with wood detailing  but issues with moving the shelves to fit now I needed them to but quite cheap but always with 'to be collected ' or a delivery price higher than the cupboard. I have to say I was tempted by a couple until I saw the one ! The one I had been looking for , without quite knowing it. Naturally it was way more than I had wanted to spend but much more me, if you know what I mean. 

It was old, Victorian, bigger than I really needed ( but a doll collector can always fill any cupboard twice over ) not a corner cupboard so plenty of shelf space, adjustable shelves and oozing character. I decided I would make an offer and if accepted great, if not I would walk away and continue to look.

So I carried on my search until I realised my offer had been accepted and I now had the perfect cupboard for small dolls and bears! 

I finished a tank top for Adam and have started knitting one for Princess Clara.

Also, I did finally manage to get the boys all changed into some warmer clothing. Much complaining about not getting to have been camping as promised since before the Chat n Snap last year, I argued that they were not waiting that long .. . . . until I realised they had been! 

Today's headliner is Ragnor, changed into some warm clothing, although he always tells me, Vikings, are used to really cold weather and this autumn weather is nothing, more like summer.

He's taken to wearing a Viking talisman and it's a fight to get him to take if off for bed! 

It's Fenrir, the giant wolf , who waits to devour the gods ! Nice !  He tells me , he needs it for when his longship is ready !

On the doll front one was sold, so I have reached my doll target with a little to spare!  However now I have bought a wall cupboard , the spare is no more! 

Poor Atticus had one foot on the adoption ladder and is the only boy still wearing his scout uniform ! But I think he can stay , for now. . . . .

So he'll need to be changed and can go back with the other boys to talk of Viking longships, camping and sweets  ( Toby ) .

And I will carry on with my plans for my new wall cupboard and knitting for the family .

Wishing you all a happy healthy doll filled week ahead

Dee

READY FOR WINTER

 

 Whose this all dressed for winter and out in the garden?

Oh it's Toby !  That's a nice warm looking sweater you are wearing.

" It's nice to finally ! Get out of that scout outfit which I was supposed to go camping in " mutters Toby

Mum's ignoring his moaning which is continuing " and why do I have to wear this silly hat! I'm not a elf! And another thing . . . . "

" I still have to write my list to Santa cos Valentine said one page was more than enough ! But I need him to bring me a lot of things ! And. . . Mum?  . . . . Mum? Where you going ? " 

There's the sound of a door shutting 

Toby huffs " Well I'm not wearing this hat out in public !!! " he shouts at the closed back door 

REMEMBER REMEMBER ITS THE FIFTH OF NOVEMBER

 And there is no plotting going on round here! Unless you count our plotting for the doll photo day, in which case guilty as charged!

So lets get started . . .

From RoRoPo we have Caleb giving Leopold a good brush , they seem somewhat excited about things.

Let's see if we can hear anything . . .

" . . . . so since I was here first that makes me number one, so he will have to accept that he is only number two " Caleb is saying " Am I right ? "

Neigh ! Leopold 

"What? " Caleb I think you mean Yes not nay !" Leopold obligingly whinnys  "What's better "

Elsewhere at RoRoPo , Holly is giving Hans some exercise and wondering how long to wait until she can start teaching the new boy to ride? It's starting to get colder and darker, so they may only be able to have a few lessons.

Gill's babies, Finn and Teddy are looking sweet while sharing one of the armchairs, while waiting for the other babies to get washed and dressed. There are a fair few to get sorted each morning at the Nash residence.

Here in the village, Toby and Percy are down by the dry stream. Toby's complaining that they have not been camping despite mum promising.

" It's not mum's fault ! " says Percy defending mum " She's been busy trying to sort out the move to the new studio but that's meant moving all Dad's stuff and you know just how much stuff dads have !"

" Mm well I still think mum could have let us go camping! Now she's talking about making is change into our winter clothes!" Toby carries on moaning

" We'll go camping next year " stated Percy " I promise " Toby huffs but finally smiles.

From Never Uschi, Greta is saying mummy's garden looks untidy and is searching for a broom ! 

Mummy hopes she's intending to sweep up and not ride it round the roof top !!

Over in Gregoropolis, Alice and Lydia are wearing some lovely warm cardigans to get them through the coming winter. They even have their dolls ready for some play time.

Elsewhere Rachel and Marta are in classic cord winter dresses. These always look good on the girls and can be used for all occasions.

Many thanks for everyone taking part by sending in their photos. Still time for any others to be added, just send them in.

A NOVEMBER SUNDAY

 

Remember remember now it's November !   

Yes November! The eleventh month of the year ! We are now heading towards, I will say it! Christmas !!

That's right,  just over the horizon is December and Christmas and all It's glitz and glamour !! Not really a lot to do with poor old Jesus these days. 

I must be feeling my age as I begin to think more and more how nice this time of year used to be , back in the day ! (  I can hear that groaning of you youngsters! )  But honesty it was , back when there were shops selling lovely Christmas gifts and in London's Oxford street all the department stores shop windows were full of wonderful displays and not of toasters and curly tongs! But Alice in wonderland  or A Christmas Carol, parents would take their children to see all the windows in the evening with all the sparkling Christmas lights and the crowds at the windows would be three deep and you'd have to squeeze forward so you could see everything. There were TOY'S ! Yes proper toys, trains weaving their way around other toys and children could be awed by what they saw. 

Now it's all about 'selling' with windows full of luxury goods they want to sell. I can understand that they need to make sales at Christmas an important time for revenue but surely they could devote half of their windows to the magic of children. That would bring people out to show their children and that in turn could lead to more sales, if they planned it right. 

Well I'd best get down off my 'old' soap box before I start getting complaints about my age ! ;) lol

So been quite a grey week weather wise, but we have been slowly putting the garden to bed for the winter, tidying things away, sweeping up the thousands of leaves that keep appearing on the paths!

The cat , Mabel, decided to start behaving like a zombie! Walking really slowly and pausing when  making a step for about three or four minutes before remembering what she was doing! and then continuing! She'd also not eaten, for a day, when normally she spends her days telling anyone she sees her throat's been cut !,  so we made an appointment at the vets. . . . well she must have been listening because about an hour later she was meowing for food  and eating ! We still took her, only to be told she was fine ! Maybe getting a bit senile ! Honestly she looked like she was on her last legs ! Now she's walking around behaving like nothing happened and it was some other cat we must have seen behaving like that!

Todays head liner is the lovely Arabella, wearing her Frances Trickett, winter outfit.

On the doll front, four dolls have left, three newbies and a non Sasha plus some clothing has also gone, so my Christmas doll fund is looking very good at the moment. Plus there is more room in the cupboards for the dolls.

The doll studio is back to having been used as a dumping ground, so I need to get in there to re find the floor yet again! I honestly cannot believe where it all comes from, as it's not like I'm not getting rid of things both doll related and other!! Plus I did move some big items down to my storage area in the old workshop. So really there should be a decent amount of space in there! This again now needs to be worked on.

Well it is November so time for those wonderful doll photos on the fifth, which is also Bonfire Night here in the UK, a celebration of when Guy Fawkes and his mates tried to blow up the Houses of Parliament and came to a very nasty end!  We used to, back in the day ( stop groaning! ) make a man out of old clothes stuffed with newspaper etc and carry him or push him about in an old pram and ask passersby for a Penny for the Guy, him supposedly being Guy Fawkes, who would then on the fifth of November be thrown onto a local bonfire.

I lived in London as a child and near to Vauxhall Bridge, where there were lots of bus stops on the main road beside the river Thames. One year we dressed my older sister Jackie as the guy with a mask and cloak and asked all the commuters getting off their evening buses, from work, for a Penny for the Guy, my sister would bow and thank those who gave us money. We would have a few fireworks and also watch out for others.

So please send in some doll photos for the fifth, we promise not to burn them ;) 

Have a happy healthy week ahead

Dee

SUNDAY

 

So It's already the last Sunday in October!! Already !! Mind you the weather is definitely cooling down and when November comes in at the end of the week no doubt it will start to get even cooler.

Paul's been out in the garden getting those last things planted up before the earth cools down.

However I have had a great week on the non doll front which has meant some other dolls have been hastily listed.

Some of you will know I collect dolls by Lynne and Michael Roche and was slowly saving up for one of their Christmas release, although there is no guarantee of getting one, due to their popularity and the limited amount of dolls issued each year since they semi retired from full time making.

Now their dolls are very popular in America, so usually any dolls appearing on the second hand market, will appear there. Which normally involves asking if they would send to the UK and then the cost of Postage. Then if you are lucky enough that they agree to post to UK, you then are hit with a big customs bill this end.

So more often than not, we here in the UK, have to watch beautiful dolls, we'd love to add to our collection pass us by. And so it appeared would happen again when a few dolls were put on sale in the US. But just a day or so later a collector in the UK, started listing some dolls! 

I, myself, had not seen them appear but luckily for me, my friend Chris had! She had seen a doll she knew I really wanted and tried desperately to message me and get a response, when that didn't work she rang me. So I dashed off to find the doll. So there she was on at a good buy it now price, so I pressed the button and she was amazingly mine!!

Here is a photo.

So I was only able to do so because I had funds in my doll funds for once. However they were meant for the Christmas doll, so I set about replacing what I'd spent.

To that end I did actually sell one of my Roche doll collection along with a Sasha and that put me back where I had been.. . . .but . . .

I did say that this seller appeared to be selling off some of her collection. . . . so what happens is the following day she lists a few others! Now again one of these was a little doll that I had wanted for a while but missed a few times due to funds and she was on at a great price, so what can I say I hit that button again.

Here is her photo.

Well I was one content and happy bunny as they say. BUT. . . . . she was selling a few more dolls and it turned out one she was intending to put on was going to be a Bella! My favourite of the doll sculpts!

But I knew Chris would be interested , so told her about the doll and expected her to get her.

Long story short, Chris decided not to go for her ( she too is after a Christmas doll ) so I decided she was too good a doll to miss, so I again hit that button!!

Here she is.

So three dolls I really wanted in a week ! Never have I had that happen and been able to do anything about it. I an even happy bunny today ! However all this buying is meaning some dolls need to leave, some of which are Sasha's/Gregors.

I'm basically going on a last in first out almost cull of the poor dolls. Other dolls and items will also need to go, so not just the Sasha's taking a hit. Because , although it will be a big stretch , I would still like to try for the Christmas doll !! Yes I know a really long shot but worth a try !

Elizabeth, todays headliner , is heaving a sigh of relief , when I chose to sell Stevie and not her! Since she came just after our dear Queen passed and Steve well after so she's off to live with my sister.

So on the doll front, four arrived  and so far three have left, two of which were Sasha's. But more are listed and a few others will join them. Then after they have sold or not, I'm going to have a rest from selling until the spring! 

On that note I will wish you all a lovely healthy warm doll filled week ahead

Dee

PLAYING FETCH!

 

Lucas is playing fetch with Socks " Ready Socks.... go fetch ! " says Lucas 

Socks looks to where Lucas has thrown the stick !

"Go on Socks " urges Lucas " Go fetch the stick good boy "

" Woof Woof " says Socks turning and running off 

" SOCKS! " calls Lucas " Come back !"

Socks stops for a drink from the bug/bird water trough, Lucas comes rushing up 

" Oh did you need a drink first? "

Socks wonders how much water he'll need to drink before Lucas give up on getting that stupid stick !

"Come on Socks fetch !"

Give Lucas the doggy side eye, Socks sees that Lucas has gone back to the place where he threw the stick and is calling to him.

He continues drinking slowly..   very slowly 

" I'll show you how to do it " Lucas calls getting down and easing out onto the pond .

" See " calls Lucas " There's nothing to  oof !"

"What! " huffs Lucas as Socks walks along his back " are you doing ? Get off !"

"Woof woof " answers Socks enjoying himself 

"Don't you get on my head ! " Lucas commands as Socks edges higher " Get off !"

Lots of grunts and groans as Socks decided to turn round on Lucas rather than just back up !

Seeing a pesky bird watching from a tree, Socks decides to stand guard on Lucas's legs, to save him from any airborne attacks " WOOF WOOOOF WOOOF " he commands the bird   just to try it and I'll be wearing your feathers as a hat!

"SOCKS ! GET OFF NOW ! " yells Lucas, with a doggy huff Socks moves 

After some struggling and huffing and also puffing finally Lucas is sitting back on the side of the pond with the stick.

"See Socks " he says waving the stick about " there's nothing to it"

Socks not listening to Lucas, his attention is on the stick and getting ready to fetch it when it's thrown, well unless he throws it on that pond again then he's on his own !