Celebrating St. Paddy's Day!

I took this photo 10 years ago. This was one of my first Chatty dresses I made.

It's really hard to believe that it's been that long I've been sewing for Chatty Cathy!

I've always had success at selling my dresses.

My friend Morgan created a Chatty photo show displaying many darling Chatty dolls wearing their green finery for St. Patrick's Day. Please CLICK HERE to view it.

Here is a 18" doll I recently bought at Michael's store; she is from the Springfield collection and I used a 50% off coupon to get her, so she was only $16 Cdn compared to $110 US for an American Girl doll. Now of course, she came without shoes, socks or underwear and her dress is very skimpy, but her face is really cute, her body is OK, and her limbs are great, so if you can't afford an AG doll for your little girl, you could certainly afford the Springfield dolls at Michael's!

Some of my 18" and 21" dolls in 2013.

Aren't they sweet?

A fun project!

Happy New Year 2013!

Alas, I didn't post at all last year, because of my sieve-like mind!

But I remembered this blog today because I was playing with old photos due to getting tired with hand sewing. I love to play with my old computer software program, Microsoft Picture It Publishing Edition 2001! 

It's ancient but it works. I'm getting brave and poking about in it more in my old age.

I love how this turned out.

What do you think?

A very cute Chatty Cathy website...

I love to browse websites with cute doll photos!

These photos are borrowed from this adorable website:

Cutie Pie Creations

I love how the owner dresses her dolls!

Aren't they all adorable?

It makes me wish to sew some new clothes for Chatty!

An old fashioned Chatty Cathy paper doll!

Here is Catherine, my original childhood Chatty Cathy doll, re-dressed as an old fashioned paper doll!

What do you think? Please click on the picture to see it large sized.

First post in 2011

I haven't posted here in years, so you now know that my mind is truly like a sieve!

I think I'll change this blog to my Chatty Cathy blog. They are feeling really left out of things since the Bleuettes came here to live. However, on Monday night I sat down and finished 2 little pairs of jeans for 2 dolls; here they are with cute Canucks tops from the Build a Bear shop.

We are all rooting for the Canucks in the season finale.

Merry Christmas!

The month of December has whizzed past, and here it is, December 23rd. I'm embarrassed that I haven't blogged since October. I was quite sick for 3 weeks at the beginning of this month but I don't know why I didn't visit my blog in November. I can't even remember what I did during that month. (hence the reason for the name of this blog)

I love Christmas! We put up our artificial tree at the end of Nov. We have to have a fake one because of my hubby's allergies and asthma. Let me see if I can locate a picture of it:

This was taken in 2005, but it's the same. Exactly. We put on all blue mini lights, silver decorations, and white snowflakes, with silver tinsel. So far the tinsel has lasted since I was married in 1982. The tree just doesn't look the same without tinsel.

I've been visiting many blog land homes the past few days, and staring at their Christmas decorations. I've decided our tree is about the best. Ha...ha...You would have to see it lit up in all its blue splendour at night in order to agree with me. Many of the homes are beautiful, though. I can't get over how much energy some people possess. I don't have one quarter of it.

I put up a nativity scene on our mantel, and a miniature village on top of our entertainment unit. I'll add pictures here later. I also decorate the master bedroom with Christmas scenes involving my Chatty Cathy collection. This year it looks really cute.

The top photo on this post is my parent's nativity scene. Each Dec 6 we go out for St. Nicholas' Day Dinner, then to their house for tea and goodies. We've been doing this since 2001. It's a fun tradition.

Tomorrow evening is Christmas Eve. I've done a fair amount of baking, and the presents are just about all wrapped. I love to leave some things to the last minute. We open our gifts on Christmas Eve. It's a German tradition. We usually go to a church service, and have a carol sing-a-long here at home afterwards, with some of that baking to be sampled, and hot chocolate to drink.

This is one of my favourite times of the year. I believe in the Christmas story with all my heart, and know the tiny baby in the manger as my Saviour and Friend. I trust that you do too. Have a wonderful Christmas!

October days

Hmm...would you believe I nearly forgot about this blog? It's been 2 months since I last posted! And no one even cared or noticed. Obviously I'm doing something wrong.

It's hard to believe that October is over after tomorrow, and there are exactly 8 weeks until Christmas Day. When I was many years younger, time seemed to flow in slow motion, into the next day, then the next week. It used to be difficult for me to "see" to the end of one week and the beginning of another. A weekend seemed sooooo long and enjoyable, like a mini vacation.

The trouble with me in those younger days was that I enjoyed life so much and had not one worry or care, except the worries of homework and exams and what to wear. My parents took such good care of me! I now cast my eye back upon those days with a bit of longing and yearning. Lately I'm trying to put things into perspective, and relish each and every day, no matter what happens in the day.

Lately I've been experimenting with new recipes for dinner. I have stacks of cook books I've never used, so I've tried out quite a few new things in September and October, and they've been a success with my family. It makes my heart glow. Plus this is the time of year I love to putter in the kitchen. I think I putter too much, as I've gained 4 pounds since July. What a shame. It seems lately that if I even look at food I gain weight.

I'm back to my gym routine twice per week, so I'm sure it will begin to help me out soon. I sure hope so. I've been doing fall cleaning, and putting away the lawn furniture, etc. A few weeks ago, Matthew painted the bedroom balcony. The following week it rained like you wouldn't believe, and tonight it's so chilly it feels like it could possibly be snowing somewhere, but I'm sure that's my imagination.

Tomorrow night is Halloween. Here in Canada, we celebrate by having parties, decorating, eating scrumptious goodies, handing out candy at the door, and setting off fireworks and sparklers. I have no idea why we do the fireworks thing now, and not on July 1st. No idea at all, but I'll never ever forget the ones my Dad used to buy and set off for us, after he'd taken us trick or treating in the neighbourhood. I especially loved the Roman Candles and the "snakes" and the sparklers. I adored Halloween night, I think because of the excitement of dressing up, getting all that free candy, and wandering around the streets in the DARK of night.

I'm off now to dig out my Halloween decorations to put in my window tomorrow.