Meet June, a new retro Our Generation doll!

Here is my newest 18" doll!

I really do love the Our Generation dolls, and am so pleased that Hudsons Bay downtown has a large collection.

Last week the whole area was on sale 20% off!

If only I had more room...

But June came home with me, and is happy exploring her new surroundings.

 The temps this past week have been amazingly hot, and the sunshine is dazzling! My garden is in full bloom.

 Here is what June looked like before I took her out of her box. She was very sturdily stuck in there, let me tell you!

 June is wearing a beautiful outfit from Maplelea, a Canadian 18" doll company which makes really good quality clothes and dolls.

 I had been eyeing this outfit for some time, and it came on sale for $37 Cdn; top, skirt, jacket, purse and shoes!

 I also got this cute set for only $25 Cdn!

It came with all these things; tennis dress, panties, hat, socks, shoes, towel, hair bands, bag, tennis racket and ball!

It was all shipped for only $9.00 Cdn. Love it!

By Loretta Houben

A Valentine craft on a rainy day!

I see many neat ideas online.

Online is my playground and has been for some time! 

It's amazing what creative minds some people have.

This idea was on American Girl Ideas, (by Rudy) either on her website or on her YouTube channel. Rudy used a round shape for her rug, but I wanted a heart shape for Valentine's Day. I used nearly 3 small packages of pompoms. 

It was a lot of fun to glue this together! I did the outline first, after cutting out a heart shape from 2 layers of card-stock, and gluing them together. I used white craft glue.

It was pouring rain that day, and I find that after the 5th wettest January on record, I'm getting cabin fever!

There's nothing like crafting to lift your spirits.

By Loretta Houben

Dolly play...

This was one of my prettiest window scenes, done in 2006. Lately I just don't seem to have the time or the energy for this, sad to say, but I'm trying to get back into it. The dolly groups, facebook pages, blogs and YouTubes are all inspiring me greatly, and I find when I "play" with the dolls, re-arranging them, dressing them up etc, it relaxes me and makes me feel peaceful instead of hyped because of all the evil news I hear on social media. (not just TV anymore) So I am now looking at my doll collection as a Stress Reliever, and therefore very valuable!

by Loretta Houben

New things for Josefina Montoya!

While I was in the USA a week ago, I stopped in a thrift store or two. There's a wealth of delightful used goods to buy, and I have developed a beady eye for doll sized items.

I found the above things at Value Village, and a local thrift shop in La Conner. The little dolls look Mexican to me, and are so cute. They appear to be Christmas ornaments as each one as a thread loop on her head.

I really liked this bowl, which was in a package with a bracelet for $2.99. I'm giving the bracelet away to charity, as it doesn't fit me. But the bowl is delightful! The beads are hand glued in a gourd. I just love it!

This little manger set is hand made in Guatemala. The tiny angel's head was broken off, but for only $1.50 I knew I couldn't lose, and I easily fixed it with some white glue.

The little set is darling. I thought these were great things for poor neglected Josefina!

By Loretta Houben

A spring garden party!

Today was spring cleaning in one corner of the bedroom. Ever since last fall the camper had been stored away. Today it was time to get it out again, as Spring is here. And dolls are able to camp in the rain, so I dusted it off and set it up.

Here are my two Heart for Hearts dolls which have never been played with. They took over the camper and love it! I opened the Our Generation garden party set I'd bought last fall. It has butterfly cookies! There was a butterfly flag from last summer, and a few little butterflies.

My husband and I visited the Victoria Butterfly Gardens on April 3 this year, on our 35th anniversary. I absolutely loved that place! Here is one of the beautiful butterflies I saw.

It was fun to set up a doll adventure on a corner of the window seat in our bedroom; I hope to change the display each month.

By Loretta Houben

Making candy for the doll's coffee shop!

It's March, and time for the wearing of the green!

I quickly set up Grace's bistro set, and added 2 small green cups from Dollarama, and 2 coffee cups which I also found there! The little donuts are from the Newberry coffee shop.

The little hats are also from Dollarama. The elastic needs to be shortened.

I got ambitious and I made some dolly candy.

This is my first attempt!

Someone had used Valentine beads recently online, so I tried shamrock beads. They come in a large pack.

The sticks are candy sticks from Michaels which I cut in half for the correct length. Then I put them in a row of 8 on a piece of sticky tape, and carefully layered a 2nd piece on top. Fortunately it worked out well the first try!

I even added a piece of the cardboard from the bead bag.

I think they turned out great!

By Loretta Houben

Crafting fun!

Crafting doll items is just as fun as collecting doll items!

American Girl Ideas is a great place to visit.

Recently Rudy posted a darling craft to make; a Build a Bear box in 18" doll size with a certificate.

I couldn't resist and printed it off immediately and made it today. 

I had the perfect little bear too, the one I gave hubby with his chocolate rose for Valentine's. He in turn said to use it for the dolls. So here it is!

Now to name him....maybe Charlie.

By Loretta Houben

FEBRUARY: a new month and a GIFT for you!

It's a new month.

February.

One of my favourites as our son was born on the 9th, and Valentine's Day takes place.

I love hearts!

I used Picmonkey program (I subscribe yearly) to create these little Valentines for your 18" dolls.

I made 12 Valentine cards for family and friends today, and I used some of these to embellish them with.

Have fun! I'd LOVE to see a picture of your dolls with them if you do print them out and use them.

By Loretta Houben