There's Always a Little Girl Inside

It's been raining in Upstate NY...I do love rainy days and that was something that was taught to me by my mother. She made rainy days very special. In our dining room was a buffet and the bottom drawer held surprises galore. I was allowed to choose one item per rainy day and it was from this drawer my first book of paper dolls emerged. I was hooked...but too little to cut them out...so we sat by the fire place and she cut and I began to fantasize. That was the beginning of my doll love affair. I must have been 3 or 4 years old and I am now 64...long time obsession with dolls and not a chance of it letting up or being cured...as if I would choose the cure!! I wish mothers introduced their daughters to this wonderful world...we loose so much of our imagination. I was an only child for 6 years..before the baby brother..and we lived in Cresson, PA. We were located in a valley between two 2000 ft high mountains (Allegheny Mts.)  The Main Line (Railroad)   moved through Cresson on it's journey to the famous Horseshoe Curve. We lived about 10 miles out of the town on a private lake near the town of  Loretto. My dad worked 3 jobs back then...one was that of a coal miner...any how...It was 1950 and my mom stayed at home and did not drive a car...So she and I spent much time engaged in dolly make believe...I treasure those days. I had my own play room  filled with dolls and teddies...I recall red and white gingham curtains, a tin doll house filled with plastic furniture, a golden record player and oodles of little plastic golden records. We need to remember our roots and what makes us who we are today.. How I sang along to those golden record songs! ...Bibbity...Bobbity...Boo... I cherish the good ole days and appreciate how I have become who I am today....I still sing along as I create my dolls. It really is a GRAND rainy day !!!

Getting Ready to get Ready

Greetings...I have been doing write ups for what will go in my ETSY shop. I want different things on there as opposed to what is on my site...I am still sewing and creating for the big launch as well. One thing that I have learned is that the more you venture out into cyber space the more people are drawn in. I have numerous circles on  ETSY and I just keep making friends...very social place. Being a blog newbie and just as green in everything else is frustrating. I want to be the Queen of Everything...not the Princess of Quite a Lot..(well, at least the Queen has the power to cut heads off...humm..)  I have also been working on invitations to sell at the historic Dryer House in Victor, NY  It is a lovely gift shop, bakery and tea house. I sell more shabby stuff there. I am cutting and stamping and losing what mind I have left...also putting hair on Lyla (new doll) and a white roaving tail on a prim rabbit...also need to put a tail on a cat. I try to do a little bit of everything so that I will get finished...only to be looking for the cat's tail and losing the needed paint brush. Thanks for coming along for the ride....

Happy April Fools Day

Well, it is snowing...yes winter is holding on in Upstate NY. I am tucked inside with a nice fire burning and finishing all the last details on my rabbits, eggs and dolls that are going out to the  three shops in which I sell. It takes hours to tag and price...I am a fanatic about tags...they are a part of the art on my creations...always adding to the appeal of my dolls and critters. My customers save the tags or leave them on the items...plus they are wonderful for doll collectors. I always mention special items added ...like vintage buttons, linen thread, eyes...etc...just to let them know that the dolls have more than meets the eye amd are special. I have been following some really wonderful blogs and am awed by the talent that is out there...you know..I am just a small drop in the ocean type thought...that will be in the past 'cause as I said...I am jumping in and I invited you to jump along....I know, I know..if your friend asked you to jump off of a bridge would you do it?  (Do you want to be a popular blogger or not? JUMP). My goal for April is to get the ETSY shop up and running. I am taking photos tomorrow when I get back from deliveries...the snow will be gone and some of the ice will be gone from the Finger Lakes...makes for a beautiful ride. Let's cheer for SNOW!!!!  (not)