THE END OF 2025

 

Well what a year 2025 was ! Naturally I'm thinking well that rushed by ! but did it? Maybe that's just a normal thought we all have, when we reach the end of the month or in this case year. 

Lots of dolls of all kinds left this year , some arrived and then left again and from about September it was as if the Sasha gates opened and loads, too many, baby Sasha's started arriving! Once I'd finally stopped that, I seemed to go on a mad Sasha doll buying spree ! So from the start of the year where I was selling dolls clothes, dolls and other doll related items, I've ended on a doll increase where the Sasha's are concerned.

On the using up yarn and fabric , I do feel I have achieved a lot more this year, since I have been using my fabric's making clothes for my Roche dolls and some for Sasha and also I think making around 150 hats for the Sasha's was a bonus. Especially as many were sold along side the ones donated to the attendees of the last Chat n Snap. 

Which was also a lovely day, with Paul's wonderful playground and raising over £1300 for Charity.

v

All the pieces of the playground are back in Paul's workshop, waiting for the spring/summer so I can set them up and use again.

I've also spent time trying to make space in both the doll studio and the overflow doll store but it seems as soon as I make some space, something else happens and I fill it again. So I really need to make some changes in the new year in order that once I find some space I don't just fill it up again. Part of what stops me getting on with add stories to the blog , is having to wade through or move loads of things to be able to even begin to start ! 

I need my doll studio to be all set up and ready to be used ! So that will be an aim for the coming year.

Once again I thank all the people who have sent in photos for the fifth of each month. So we can see more than just my dolls and what they are up to or wearing.

It's been a year of loss on the dog and cat front this year, with my sister Michelle losing one of her dogs, aged only four , to a heart attack , on the 23rd December. 

So I wish everyone and their pets a Happy Healthy New Year , may life treat you all kindly in this coming year.

Dee 

IT'S THE TIME BETWEEN SO TWIXMAS

 

We are in that strange time that exists between Christmas and New Year, when a large section of people are not at work because their works have shut down or they have taken holiday.

Paul was in the shopfitting trade, which is part of the building trade and they all shut down for two weeks over the Christmas and New Year period. Part of their annual holiday was automatically used for this whether you liked it or not.

I worked in a bank, we only shut down for the actual days of Christmas and boxing day and New Years day. So unless I could book it off as holiday, I'd still be getting up and going off for work. So it's lovely to be retired so that's no longer an issue.

But either way , you have this sort of strange period of time where people have had their Christmas and are now waiting on New Year to arrive, before the whole country gets back to work as normal. The television is still showing films and 'new' Christmas programmes, the newsreaders are not the usual over paid bunch, but the ones only allowed out at holiday times. The government only as the bare minimum staff in, same as the councils. 

So you lose track of what day of the week /weekend it is and even the time of day ! Everything is chilled.

So this is Cleo , my Christmas present from Paul, I saw her up for sale on the bazaar and got in quick, then informed Paul that I'd just bought his Christmas present to me. He was delighted lol.  Cleo arrived in the lovely Vintage Sasha dungaree set, so I just added a cardigan by Michelle and some Rosie Blooms and then she was wrapped and put under the tree.

I would say she is the final doll of the year but that could be tempting fate ! So lets just say she appears , at this time, to be the final doll of the year.

Now it's just waiting to greet in the New Year in a few days and then things will start to return to normal once again.

SLIDING IN JUST BEFORE CHRISTMAS

 

So I had received a lovely red sheep jumper/sweater from Gill and finally remembered that my later Gotz girl Kira was still waiting to be changed into some winter wear. So she was taken from the cabinet and redressed into one of my kilts and the new sweater.

Which made me think that she really needed a close sister, that translates into another later Gotz doll, and it just so happened I was watching one on ebay.

Well one thing ( going to look ) lead to another ( pressing the button ) and her sister arrived just in time for Christmas on the 23rd.

Gotz Annette came with all her original clothes, tag, tube , so was naturally in need of a nice change of clothes to enjoy Christmas.

So the lovely Annette was changed into the new dress by the talented Petrana and some Rosie Blooms, the Village shoes of choice.

Was so pleased she arrived before Christmas , which was an unexpected bonus.

So Kira and Annette are very happy to be together and just in time for Christmas.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

 

                 A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM ALL IN THE SASHA VILLAGE 

OH THE WEATHER OUTSIDE IS WINDY

 and the dolls a keep on falling! 

But a shoot we need to do

scooby doo scooby doo scooby doo. . . . 

Some of the girls are still helping to put up the Christmas bunting !

Ava and Magda

Nancy and Arabella are not 100% sure just where they are supposed to be putting the Christmas bunting , surely it should be inside ? 

Naturally the wind picked up as soon as we when outside and at one point three of the girls fell over just as I was ready to start shooting ! When Ava went down for the third time we gave up and went back inside to find somewhere for the bunting.

IT IS THE SUNDAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS

 AND all through the house, everything is stirring , we certainly don't need a mouse !!!

"God rest ye merry gentlemen, 

let nothing you dismay

remember Sasha's too

can arrive on Christmas da...y "

Well I'm sure those are the correct words , just been changed over time . . . .. .

So we have finally decorated the tree and the house, yes I know it's later than some, but I did actually once put the decorations on the Christmas tree on Christmas day ! Well Paul had been decorating the living room up until Christmas eve, so we did have an excuse ! 

I have only just finished my present shopping ! which is actually very late for me, so next year I must start much earlier !  In fact I have decided to gather bits and pieces together all year, but I must NOT put them in a safe place , never to be seen again !! Also I must remember I have bought things. I remember one Christmas morning when my youngest daughter asked me why I had not given her a pocket dragon ( all the rage at that time ) Me confused , until she went to my wardrobe and retrieved it from its hiding place ! Happy to show she'd been searching before the day in order to get one of her presents!

Today's headliner is Kira, who had slipped through the net re getting redressed, which was handy because I received this lovely red sheep jumper to go along with the second of the  two kilts I made.

Still need to go and find her some shoes or boots.

Finally the tree is decorated and the lights are up. So looking much more Christmassy than just the other day. Today is food delivery and wrapping presents , then seeing what still needs getting. Last items to get in the post on Monday, too late to arrive before Christmas , but maybe between then and new year with a bit of luck and a fair wind !

On the slippery slope, there is still a tale or two to tell !!!! 

But calm is once more in charge ( to be honest it usually is ), pottering about for Christmas is the order of the day. We have started the count down and Christmas films are being watched, you know the usual, Die hard one and two, the Mummy all three ( Hey I love the Mummy films and there is snow in number three ) and I don't care what old Brucie baby says Die Hard is a Christmas movie.

So I will wish you all a very happy fun filled week ahead and remember those relatives will soon be off back home and quiet will once again reign. . . well until new year.

Dee

A MOTOR CAR FOR THE DOLLS

 

So sometimes I just cannot resist a good prop! Especially if it looks like a toy from the fifties. So it was with this little car made for the Roche dolls. But unfortunately most of the cars made for these dolls were sold to the American market. 

Which means import cost along with postage. But I did have a bit of a plan when I bought this one.

There are a few different style cars that have been made for the Roche dolls, I knew this one was slightly bigger than the one I'd bought.

The cars very rarely appear on the secondhand market, so I asked Paul to make me one similar to this one. Luckily I knew someone who would have one and they kindly told me the sizes which I passed along to my prop man , Paul.

Once I'd stopped Paul from using his usual mdf, saying I wanted a fully wooden car, he sourced the right wood, he set to work.

We managed to find some wheel's that would work .

Naturally I was on hand to tweak it , if he started to go slightly off track and show him the photo of the one it was to be based on.

slowly it started coming together.

A couple of little Roche dolls trying it out for size. The lights are dolls house Ceiling lights which can be turned on ! 

Still needing painting and a steering wheel 

So painted with Farrow and Ball paint left over from painting the old kitchen units.

Paul suggested painting the seat red to link with the wheels .

Some mesh for the grill, a number plate and instead of the bolt used as a radiator cap, I wanted my little metal elephant, as a mascot.

Finished 

x

x

Going Christmas shopping ! 

x

z

All ready for a Christmas shoot.

With the seat removed Ava can fit in nicely, although , she made need a car of her own. . . . . . . .

"driving home for Christmas. . . . I can't wait to see those faces . . . . . "

SO A SECOND SET OF TWINS?

 

Well when the idea takes root , it can be hard to resist, so off I went looking for a 'twin' to join my 68 girl. Almost as if it was meant to be, this kilt girl appeared on ebay !  I did not just leap in but when off looking a both here and the US ebay site, where another kilt girl was residing but she was too perfect !

There will be those who say too perfect surely that's a doll you would want ! But no if a doll is too clean and perfect, they tend not to be used and land up getting sold on. I like them nice and I also like a waif.

 and so this sweet kilt girl arrived , she's got the 68 stringing so an early girl. But she's also got a mind of her own and said her name was Clemmie ! as in Clementine but her family call her Clemmie ! 

So I don't know what happened to Jennifer and Jane but Nancy and Clemmie have arrived in their place it appears. 

So Clemmie is wearing another Ruth Hartley dress along with Rosie Bloom shoes. The jury is still out on if Nancy and Clemmie will be twins. Only a little time will tell.

MONDAY FOR SUNDAY

 

Well I missed Sunday because I decided to tag along with my two older daughters, who were off to visit their younger sister along with their niece and nephew. So I had wonderful visit with them all enjoying some reading and chatting and being beaten at Connect four and also Snakes and Ladders by the seven year old Princess !  I'll be needing to up my game for the rematch ! 

Back home , Paul put up the new Christmas tree, if you can call it that, being only four foot narrow and sitting on the sideboard ! But it's at least a start to the decorating after the dresser change over.

I'm still working on my large sofa blanket, mixing up the colours in blocks of five. Then once I've made seven or eight I add the edging of dark/deep green or blue.

I probably should work out how many I need for the blanket but at present I'm just making because I can always use any extra for something else.

On the doll front one did arrive which I was sooo happy about then wasn't ! So it had to go back but more about that in another post.

I added a couple of little Christmas China props for the dolls.

But now it's all about Christmas, so will be hoping to add a few Christmassy photos leading up to the 25th.

Have a happy healthy fun and doll filled week 

Dee

,

AND CONTINUING THE SLIDE

 

So this dungaree's girl I saw at the Chat n Snap but as I have said before you tend to go round in a sort of daze, seeing but not registering things. I thought I'd ask the seller, if she was still available.

Obviously she was! So I asked if I could buy her but just needed a week or so to gather in the cash from some sales. Luckily she said yes !.

She was meant to be with me as I got her adoption fee together quite quickly and soon she was knocking on the door demanding entry ! She's a 69 girl. When I saw her photo, the name Hettie immediately popped into my head. So Henrietta it is but Hettie for short.

So lovely Hettie just needed a quick wipe over and a change of clothes. 

Hettie is wearing a sweater knitted and given to me by Gill, we were discussing Princess Diana's one from back in the 80's, and a pair of red cords by Ginny with Rosie Bloom boots.

Maybe it's Hettie that needs a twin . . . . . .. . . . 

So I had thought my slipping had stopped, however there was one more but Paul's giving me her for Christmas. 

How's that saying They think it's all over . . . . . . .