Hello!

I nearly forgot how to blog!

I was speaking with Shelley, a doll friend of mine who I've never met, and I told her I would begin blogging again, if she would come and read my blog posts.

So here I am. I haven't blogged since 2019 but I still love dolls.

The above photo show me at age 2 with one of my new dolls and her cradle.

I love this photo.

Here is another shot of the same Christmas Eve.

We always opened our gifts then, not in the morning.

In the morning we had our stockings with small gifts.

We were very spoiled. How I love these precious memories!

I loved my ironing board and iron.

Here is another image of me playing with it:

By Loretta Williams Houben

The Year of the Pig....Chinese New Year.

Ruby is so happy it's the Chinese New Year.

It's the Year of the Pig.

She has her favourite friend with her.

Here are some of Ruby's friends.

They've come by to have a party.

One of the customs of this special day is to give out red packets filled with money. What a fun thing to do!

By Loretta Houben

Getting Glittery and Sparkling with Style; 14" doll outfits

The Glitter Girls outfits often come on sale.

I recently discovered that they have them pictured on their website, so I saved the images and will post them here as I acquire them.

As I stated before, I can find them at Hudson's Bay store downtown, or at Chapters/Indigo stores. They often come on sale which is a bonus as they are so reasonably priced to begin with.

Ruby is wearing the Getting Glittery outfit above and posing with another outfit. Some of the items come with a plastic hanger. The larger boxes are $19.99 Cdn and the smaller ones are $14.99.

This was the second outfit I purchased last year. It's one of my favourites. Ruby wore it most of 2018!

The Getting Glittery ensemble is also very cute. I love the heart print skirt. Today I discovered that these outfits can also fit the Hearts for Hearts dolls.

By Loretta Houben

First doll of 2019!

I succumbed and purchased a new doll!

I couldn't resist because she was on sale.

Also I don't like the new faces of these dolls so she came home with me yesterday.

She is a 14" Glitter Girls doll named Keltie.

Isn't she cute? 

Now I have two of these dolls and one Wellie Wisher.

She was only $15.00 Cdn at my local Chapters/Indigo book store at Metrotown.

I made up a collage for her as I don't have room to keep the boxes so I put them in the recycle box. 

"A twinkle in our eyes and a sparkle in our shoes!"

Now that's a cute motto.

Her name.

The doll brand even has a website!

The above 2 images are from the website. Keltie's face close up, and her meet outfit. 

By Loretta Houben

Maplelea doll outfit....on sale!

My first post this year in 2019!

I've neglected this blog very badly. The days simply whiz past. I will try my best to stay on top of things this year.

So far I've taken a few dolly photos, but haven't bought any new dolls in January.

This is the year to downsize.

I've run out of room, and I am now ready to let some of my dolls go. I hope they will all find new and loving homes.

This is my thrift store bargain Maplelea doll, Leonie.

I purchased her a few years ago at a Salvation Army thrift store in New Westminster BC. She was only $15.00 Cdn! They sell for $115 new. But she came without clothes.

I am having fun with her, buying her a wardrobe online. Maplelea often has fantastic sales. The above outfit, named "La vie est Belle", was only $24 on sale! (marked down from $37) I can't resist sales.

 This is the photo from Maplelea's online site.

Maplelea is a Canadian company which is 15 years old this year. Their store is located in Ontario and their items ship within a week without any customs, and best of all, in CANADIAN funds! Yee haw!

I will post other items as I get them. This is my latest addiction.

By Loretta Houben

Puppy Love Grooming Set from OG and a new outfit from Build A Bear store.

A while ago I purchased this cute set from Our Generation, at Hudson Bay store downtown. They have the cutest mini sets and I can't resist them.

I finally set it up using a sewing machine bench, a bucket from Dollarama, Mary Ellen dressed in a cute pet outfit from Build a Bear, and Piki, Alika's dog. 

I think it all matches really well together.

By Loretta Houben

Doll buggies....

I thought I had scanned this photo from 1999 into my computer, but I couldn't find it, so I took a cell phone shot of it. I have so many photos I don't think I'll ever get caught up! I love this one of little Ashley posing with her maternal Grandma's childhood doll buggy. I should have also had her pose with mine! Ashley is wearing a white dress I wore when I was young.

Here is my smallest doll buggy.

I don't remember where I bought it.

I made the little doll from a kit. Marlene also made one at the same time. I don't know if she kept it or not. It was from a doll business in Toronto, ON.

Here is the little doll close up. I had fun making the clothes.

Here is a photo of my Mom's doll buggy, taken in the house I grew up in, shortly before my parents moved in March 1998. That was 20 years ago this year and I find it difficult to believe! Mom gave me the buggy when she moved. I just love it.

This is my doll buggy, pale blue in colour, which I got for Christmas when I was 5. I loved it so much. I had a blue diaper bag too. 

My parents spoiled us the best they knew how, and not with too much. My childhood was just right, and I wouldn't trade it for anything! My Mom decorated our buggies for a Sport's Day parade at Sir Wilfred Grenfell School. We just loved it! I'm wearing my Mom's going away hat she wore on her honeymoon in 1955! I think she did a great job of decorating with coloured Kleenex!

By Loretta Houben