Wednesday, April 29, 2015

NASTY BUGS AND REALLY GOOD BUGS!

You might be thinking perhaps I fell into those boxes of clothes that I was going to be picking up... and got lost?  I have been gone for quite awhile, but (sadly) that didn't happen to me.

What did happen was that I did go and pick up those 4 boxes of dolls clothes, and that same evening I started to go through my treasured loot, but I really never got far with it because a day later I got really ill. 

Instead of having fun, I ended up flat out in bed with pneumonia and bronchitis and a nasty ear infection for 11 days.  Such fun.... not!

Anyway thanks to two kinds of antibiotics, lots of hot fluids and the loving care of my sweet husband, I am back on my feet and trying desperately to pick up where I left off.  At this point I am not entirely sure where that was at all, but I am sure I will figure it out.

In the meantime, I have completed sorting through my 4 boxes of goodies, and indeed there was some very neat stuff in there.

I found some wonderful vintage stuff from dolls from the 50's and 60's.  Some antique articles from dolls much older than that, and a lot of wonderful stuff from the years between.  I have managed to redress more of my own collection.  This time the large fashion dolls from the 50's and 60's got a makeover in pretty original dresses, and some of my smaller rubber 50's dolls also benefited from the boxes.

I haven't had a chance to take pictures, but I will.

In the meantime, I am trying to find enough energy to get outside and clean up my flowerbeds for planting.  My neighbour is already well ahead of me and I am chomping at the bit to catch up with her.... but all in good time, I guess.

The weather here is beautiful - I am anxious to take my camera out and explore the rebirth of nature that is going on all around us... think that will be a priority for me in these next few days as these first bursting days of real rebirth don't last long at all...

Conversations with Robins; checking on my sleeping Queen Bee; finding those first new buds, green shoots, ladybugs.... what a wondrous time spring can be...

Don't let it pass by unnoticed....


Friday, April 17, 2015

Friday and Boy am I going to have a Wash Day!

Happy Friday, everyone!  So happy that another week is almost over and the weekend is almost here.  I live for my weekends.  I know that is a stupid thing to do, but it has become how I get from Monday to Friday... sadly.

But today is a new day, and I am happy because I did go and pick up my two dolls (plus 4 more) and four more boxes of doll clothes last evening from my doll friend.

Yes I did say (plus 4 more).  She had a box of Horsman dolls and told me to take what I wanted - so I took 4 very small ones to add to my Horsman collection.

I couldn't wait to get home and open the boxes of clothes - so off we went home, I made some tea and sat for the whole evening going through hundreds upon hundreds of doll clothes of every size and description, and age.  What a find, and what a pile of laundry I am going to have to do tonight... Then days and days of ironing to get these precious vintage clothes ready for my shop, or ready for my dolls, or ready for my friends. 

I have done a first sort - size and age, that sort of thing, but after I wash them I will do a more thorough sort and catalogue each item.  That will take a considerable amount of time, but I feel it is going to be the only way I will be able to keep track of this huge inventory.

Hubby and I are planning on getting out tomorrow to the Cottage Country show, so that will be a fun day.  Our beautiful warm, if not very windy weather has held on all week, but rain is coming for Sunday and early next week, so that will force me to stay indoors and get some work done.

Have a great weekend everyone... talk to you next week.


Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Dollie Heaven and Angel Dresses.

Tonight I hope to be going to see a friend about a couple of dolls and four boxes of doll clothes.  I have been looking forward to this all week.

This is the friend who is closing down her doll museum and selling off a lot of her collection.  I feel somewhat like a child at Christmas most times I see her.  She emails me with dolls she is selling and gives me first dibs on the ones she knows I am looking for.  

A couple of years ago I bought 2 large lots of dolls from her.  In those lots, were quite a few dolls just like the ones I have from my childhood - 50's rubber or vinyl dolls.  I still have all mine, and now I have a lot of hers too.  She also sold me some older ones from the 40's.  I love these girls.  They have such beautiful faces, gorgeous eyes and to me they are exquisite!

These are the dolls I am picking up tonight - 2 more 50's vinyl dolls. 
The little one looks so much like my Aunt Isabel when she was younger that I have already named her Isabel.

The larger baby doll is something I have been looking for because I need a life-sized doll to be a model for baby clothes and hats I am going to be making and selling for my shop.  I think this big girl will be perfect for that purpose.

I am also picking up 4 more boxes of doll clothes.  The last 2 that I got from her were filled with vintage clothes from the 40's 50's and 60's.  There were gorgeous Christening gowns, dresses, socks, stockings, slips, one bonnet, and all were in wonderful shape, clean and mildew-free.

I am excited to see what the new boxes will have in them.

I still have many dolls of my own that I want to re-dress, but I also plan to share some of the dresses with other dolly friends, and I might sell some in my shop as well.


This is the results of the last 2 boxes of clothes...

Amazing stuff for someone like me...



So if you don't see a post from me tomorrow - you will know why - I am busy having a blast of fun, going through my boxes of clothes and goodies, and dressing dollies..



Till next time.....

Looking To The Future!

I mentioned in my post the other day that I have been thinking about retiring.   In actual fact my retirement plans change weekly.  What I would really love to do is cut back to part-time hours in the fall and work that for a couple more years - I even approached my employer about this and it was nixed almost immediately by the union.  So although this is what I would prefer - that idea was scrapped - for now.

Then a friend of mine approached me with a job offer, doing something I would really love - but that job is only in the planning stages, and would  not be available (if at all) until sometime next year.  That position would offer me flexibility, in that I could possibly still work part-time at a facility and work the rest of the time at home... Perfect - Just what I want - but at this time... somewhat too far away to bank on.

Then there is my present job.  Work-wise - I can deal with it... everything else wise - it is killing me.  I have applied for a few other positions but so far nothing.

So - where does this all leave me?

Determined to get my on-line business up and running and fully functioning before fall.  I have dabbled at it in the past, but working full-time and all my other commitments have always come between me and success... at least on that level.  Now my focus is on the time when I will no longer be working full-time - and this focus has been elevated to the top of the list, and not somewhere in the middle like it has always been before.

I already have started gathering my inventory... I am going to be selling Vintage and handmade and cater to the young mothers out there -  my other focus group will be doll and toy collectors, and thirdly I will be working on writing my own patterns on items I have created over the years, and selling my patterns online.  Somewhere in the mix I will be continuing to write my stories, and just maybe getting a few more published. 

Doesn't sound like much of a retirement to some - but I have waited all my life to be able to have the time to do the things I love to do - I think that time will be upon me before I am ready.

I am excited about the idea of spending my time thinking for my own benefit instead of thinking for my employer's benefit.  I have worked full-time for 40 yrs - time to switch it up, don't you think?

First up - where online to sell?

To be continued!

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

FEEL LIKE GETTING OUT IN THE GARDEN?

I thought today I would share some of the great ideas and links I have stumbled upon over the past few weeks.

If you are into gardening - or even thinking about it this year, I have found some things that just might help you on your way.

If you are like me, you would love to have well composted materials in your garden - the benefit to your garden as a whole is pretty amazing.  BUT - I don't have room for a large composter on my property, nor do I want to wait the whole season to be able to use my compost.

So Voila - Compost in a tote!  I am going to try this one, as I can do it on my small patio, and no one will know, but me...


 http://blissfullydomestic.com/home-bliss/how-to-make-an-easy-diy-compost-bin/125672/?crlt_pid=camp.jZv27elE

Need a watch dog in your garden?  How about this fella?  Can you imagine being this talented and creating this great sculpture?  I think this is pretty amazing!


http://www.1designperday.com/2013/06/12/dogs-made-from-old-rubber-boots/

And last but not at all least - here is a great way to water potted flowers and vegetables without having to drag the hose out everyday.

http://thegardeningcook.com/soda-bottle-drip-feeder-for-vegetables/


Here is my seedling farm in my sun room... some stuff is up, some not, but I have to admit - I am really looking forward to getting this stuff off my bureau and outside into the yard.





Happy Gardening Everyone!





Monday, April 13, 2015

BACK AGAIN, REFRESHED, RENEWED!

I am so happy to finally be back after several months absence.  What have I been doing all these months?

Well firstly I have been trying to deal with a lot of stressful issues at my workplace, which sadly I allowed to get into my head and my psyche.  I think I have that under control now, as much as I ever will have.

Secondly I have been trying to plan out the next few years of my life as  I get nearer to retirement.  Who knew winding down would be so much work with so many decisions and contemplations?

Retirement is a life change that I have not really thought out in entirety.  I was always under the impression than I had lots and lots of time.  But then one blinks - and you are almost there!

Now, instead of just living day to day, one has to think about those days more carefully.  How will they be spent?  Where will they be spent?  How much will I need to spend, and where will the money come from?  It's a bit on the scary side, but like so many others who have faced this new direction, there are many many options available, which all need to be explored.

In the meantime, my mind has been exploding with creativity.  This is a good thing, because for so long that has been absent from my life.  I am so happy to have my Mojo back again, even if it is causing me to loose sleep at night plotting and planning creations for half of the night, instead of sleeping.

The past couple of weeks has found me working in my craft room again... the table was bare and clean for so long, but now it is a horrid mess - and I am happy, because that means I am working again.

I have done some writing too.  I resurrected a couple of unfinished stories - I have been asked to finish one short story for my church newsletter (Christmas Edition), and the the other is a novel in it's early days, which has been running around in my head again after a couple of years absence.

I have been redressing some dolls.  I was able to purchase a couple of boxes of vintage baby/doll clothes, so the larger dolls have gotten new outfits, which look gorgeous on them... take a look at the pictures below!

I have fairies in various stages of production; crochet and knitted dolls clothes on the go, seedlings started in the sun room; and I am madly cataloging and photographing items for my soon- to- be reopened Etsy shop.

So life is busy, and that is as is should be. I'm shaking off, and moving on... and it feels wonderful!

Got lots of pictures and links to share with you in the comings days.... 

Here are a few of my newly dressed girls!







HEALTH CRUNCH BREAD!

  A few weeks ago, I made a new bread recipe, I recorded a video on it as well, which I will link below if you are interested in watching it...