DARE TO BE CREATIVE!

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Christmas Doll Past and Present

I received this vintage doll from my sister for Christmas this year.  There is a story to why she gave me this doll.
 
According to Family Legend - When I was a very little girl (probably Christmas 1950) I found a picture in the Sears Christmas catalog of a beautiful little doll.  Her name was Amosandra and I carried the catalog around and repeatedly ask for this doll for Christmas that year.  My mother wasn't too impressed with Amosandra but my Dear Daddy said that if I wanted that doll, then I should have her.  I loved her and carried her around and made clothes for her.  Here is a link to more info on Amosandra and a picture of her below.
 
 
Years later my sister (she is 11 years younger) played with the doll and considered it her own.  In 1965 our family moved to Arizona and my sister gave Amosandra to her friend Violet.  I had no idea Amosandra had been left in Ky.  Many years later, I asked my sister about Amosandra and was told she had been given away.  As my love of vintage grew, I occasionally would remind my sis that she had given away my precious Amosandra.
 
So when my sister saw this vintage doll at a Going Out of Business Sale at an antique store in Scottsdale, she bought the doll for me.  She said that her original clothing fell apart when she tried to wash them.  So she searched and found her the new outfit.  You should have seen my surprise when I opened the package and there was this lovely doll.  (Not Amosandra but a special doll to replace her)
 
 
Thanks Amy, you made my Christmas special as did Santa many years ago. 
 
 Does anyone have any idea of her name of anything about her.  She is rubber and in her youth her legs and arms were bendable.  Feels like some type of heavy wire might have been what made her bendable.  I'd appreciate any info.  Thank you.
 
I'm linking to Vintage Thingie Thursday here.
 

Quilt Finished After Many Years


I finished this quilt top in 1999.  All the butterflies are hand applique.  There are 24 butterfly blocks on the quilt.  Once the top was finished I basted the quilt top to the batting and backing and began hand quilting the entire quilt top.  I used a quilt frame made from PVC pipe.  It was my first (and last) time to use the frame.  (It's still in the garage in it's original box.)   Things were going along just great and then as I neared the borders of the quilt my backing and batting began to shift.  I tried to remedy this but became frustrated and took the quilt off the frame and put it in the bottom of the cedar chest.

Fast forward to this summer when I discovered the quilt while organizing my cedar chest.  I decided to try and finish the quilt as a gift for my DIL (who wasn't a family member when I started the quilt!).

I worked to realign the batting and backing and finally was able to finish the quilt.  You can see Marcy and the quilt below.  She is showing half of the finished quilt.
Marcy likes butterflies and it was the perfect Christmas present for her.   It turned out beautifully but I have memories of those times when I wanted to pull out my hair or cut the quilt to shreds.  Glad I did neither.

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Christmas in the Desert and Remembering

 

 
Our family celebrated Christmas in the Desert yesterday with my sister's family.  We took time to remember our son Paul.  Paul had a huge Beanie Baby collection.  We distributed some of the Beanie Bears to family members yesterday along with this special message. 
 
The kids made decortions for the tree and did other crafts at their special Craft Table.
 
We decorated the tree.
 
Cooked hot dogs.
 
Rode on the quads and ATVs.
 
 
 
Then everyone when home and DH and I enjoyed a quiet evening in the desert.  No dishes to wash, just tossed them in the fire!  Wonderful day.  Everyone has requested that we make this a family tradition.  Looking forward to hosting Christmas in the Desert II next year.
 
 

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Vintage Blue Ridge Pottery Poinsettia Pattern


For a number of years I've been picking up Blue Ridge pottery at Goodwill and other thrift stores.  I have a number of pieces displayed in my vintage kitchen.  Occasionally I put out a few seasonal pieces.  These are the Poinsettia pattern.  I only have four pieces (the dinner plate, large bowl, and creamer).  The creamer has a chip but still looks great displayed in my kitchen at Christmas.  The live poinsettia was purchased when we visited the Poinsettia Festival a few weeks ago.

Here is a closeup of the bowl.  The colors are rather muted.  Leaves are almost a gray color.  I'd love to find more but it is getting harded to find Blue Ridge pottery.  I saw a set of glasses on EBay for $110.00.  They were beautiful but ????? 

I found this Poinsettia creamer and sugar at Goodwill a few years ago.  It is vintage but I don't know the manufacturer.  The sugar is missing the lid.  I display them on the shelf above the sink with my vintage plaster Santa. 

I am joining Vintage Thingie Thursday.  To see more vintage items check the blog.

Popcorn Snowmen

 
I made these two Popcorn Snowmen to give to my neighbors.  They are simple to make.  Just print your snowman face on a piece of card stock and wrap around a pkg of microwave popcorn.  I made my hats from Christmas socks from the Dollar Store.  The original had a hat made of a black mittens.  You just tuck the second sock or mitten inside to add fullness to the hat.  Tie a ribbon around the top, add the message below, and you have a "Popcorn Snowman"!

 
I also tucked in a bottle of Cajun Popcorn Seasoning.  I got the recipe from the Martha Stewart web site.  I also tucked a few packages of hot cocoa mix behind the snowmen.

Now our neighbors can enjoy an evening sipping hot cocoa and eating popcorn.  Hope they enjoy it.  I haven't done any baking this year since we were in Mexico last week and are planning a special Christmas in the Desert Party this weekend.  Hoping to bake a few cookies and pumpkin bread tomorrow.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Carnival Splendor (Our home for the past week)



The Carnival Splendor has been our home for the past week.  We had a lovely cruise with our son, daughter-in-law, and two granddaughters.  Weather was beautiful.  We visited Puerto Vallarta and Cabo.  I'll be sharing some of the photos later this week.   For now I'm trying to catch up on reading all your blogs and making final preparations for Christmas. 

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Vintage Christmas Cards



 I received these postcards in the early 1960's from my penpal in England.  We kept in touch through high school and into college.  Her name was Jean.  I'm not sure where I got her name.  One thing I remember was that she sent me pictures of the Beatles before they became famous here in the US.  I still have some of those pictures that she clipped from the British newspapers. 

I love all three of these card but the top one is my favorite.  I just love the hat and holly.  Every time I get these cards out, it reminds me of the fun we had corresponding alll those years ago.  I'd love to know what happened to her.

I'm linking to Vintage Thingie Thursday.  Stop by and see other posts of vintage items.