National Dog Day

Today is National Dog Day. I'm not sure if that applies to Canada too. Anyhow, here is my favourite dog, Kelsie, in 2003 posing with my dolls. She enjoyed everything I did, both inside and out. Where I went, she went. I began to collect Chatty Cathy dolls in earnest in 2002. I discovered the joy of buying online on eBay. This was a new concept to me, and I loved it. Back then shipping prices were quite reasonable. 

It always looked like Kelsie was smiling in photos. She was a very happy dog. I still really miss her. She died on March 17 of this year. She was 17 years old and she lived a really good life. I don't think I'll get a dog just yet to replace her, though. But a dog is a great thing to have. A dog makes you happy, and with Kelsie I would laugh a great deal each day.

A dog is a great friend. A dog will never let you down, like people can sometimes do. Here is Alika, my Hawaiian AG doll I purchased from Honolulu in 2014. She really likes her dog, Piki, which I got last year at the PNE.

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

Jenna, my Maplelea doll which I won in 2009!

Do you like to enter contests? I sure do!

In November of 2009 I entered a contest at Urban Moms (no longer in existence). I submitted a paragraph of why I enjoyed being a Canadian. A few weeks later, Jen, the author of the site, emailed and said I'd been one of five winners! I had my choice of a Maplelea Canadian doll!

I picked Jenna, because she has red hair and green eyes and is from Nova Scotia. She has an Anne of Green Gables outfit which I plan to purchase really soon.

Jenna arrived on December 16, 2009.

She came in a lovely box and has a cute journal.

Here is a comparison of 3 18" dolls;

Samantha, an American Girl doll; Jenna; and Elsie Dinsmore, a Life of Faith doll.

Here is the lovely Maplelea box.

I traded my Jenna to Sarah Jean when I got interested in Bleuette dolls in 2010. Now I wish I had kept Jenna!

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

A new American Girl doll.

Here is my first boy doll from American Girl.

I succumbed and purchased him last month.

I came up with an idea for a story involving my paternal Grandfather, Jack Williams. This is Logan Everett, but I've re-named him Jack. I plan to portray him in adventures in North Wales at a young age. Hopefully I will learn how to create movies and I will put it on YouTube. 

I got him 20% off on an Indigo sale, so I didn't get to pick him out personally, as he arrived in store. It's really convenient to pick up your mailed item in the store, as you get an email when it arrives! There's a separate kiosk for online pickup so you don't have to wait in a long line.

At first I wasn't going to buy a boy doll, but when I visited Blaenau Ffestiniog in May 2017 I felt like I could write my Grandfather's story. He was orphaned at age 11, and had to work on a farm taking care of horses, while his younger brothers were lodgers at a different house. At age 23 he immigrated to Canada; the only one of his family to do so. His young life intrigues me. My goal for 2018 is to imagine what his life was like as a young boy, and write it, then turn it into my first doll movie! Stay tuned.

By Loretta Houben

A new Journey Girl piece of furniture!

Today I thought of Heather Cuoio, a doll collecting friend I met online. She often posts in her darling doll blog about all the cool deals she finds for dolls in thrift stores. We don't have great thrift stores here but we sure have great stores for doll items, if you keep your eyes open. Today I thought I'd check out Toys R Us at the mall, as I don't know how much longer it will be in business. I headed to the Journey Girl section, and admired the Australian dolls they have. I checked out the doll props, and I couldn't believe my eyes, as the turntable unit was only $11.98. 

Of course I didn't need it, but only $11.98 Cdn? So I bought it. It was very well packed, and although not perfect (painting flaws) I'm keeping it. It has a mirror on one side, storage spaces, and a chalkboard on the other side. 

It really does turn. It also comes with a side table and a plastic lamp. Cool, eh?

By Loretta Houben

A new retro Our Generation doll!

Today was a lovely, chilly, crisp day with sunshine and blue skies! After my grocery shopping, I headed downtown to drop a DVD off at the library. Then I checked out The Bay to see the OG doll selection, because at Christmas time they have more items.

I noticed that all toys were 20% off!

So I headed towards the dolls, and I spotted the above doll for only $15.50!!!! I thought it was an error as the other OG dolls were $39.99. 

But I took it to the cashier, and lo and behold it rang through as $12.40 Cdn! 

I was simply astounded. I think she's adorable. Her name is Joy, which is my sister Leona's middle name. I love her red hair, and she could easily double as Anne of Green Gables.

So now I have two Retro dolls. It pays to check things out!

By Loretta Houben

New Maplelea outfits for my 18" dolls.

Recently I received a Maplelea email advertising a great sale. I adore sales! The cute outfit above included the T-shirt, vest, shorts, tights and adorable shoes, all for $15.60 Canadian! It's called "Urban Jungle". Dondi, which I've named my new doll, just loves it.

I also ordered this cute "Signs of Spring" for $14 Canadian! Maplelea is located in Ontario, and ships anywhere in Canada for a flat fee of $9.00. I got the items within one week so I was very pleased.

This outfit has a sleeveless dress, blue belt, cute purse and really nice shoes. The items fit the AG dolls very well. I just love them.

By Loretta Houben

Newberry 18" dolls.

You may have heard the awful news that Sears Canada is closing all of its stores. The closest one to us is in Burnaby BC. It was opened in 1954, and my family has shopped there ever since my parents married in 1955. I remember going there each Saturday at 9:30 am, after a big pancake breakfast. 

As a young married couple in 1982, we bought all our furniture there, including our wooden bedroom set made in Canada which we still have. I'm heartbroken.

Sears produced the Newberry 18" doll for a few years.

I'm not sure what has become of this brand now. Apparently they stopped selling them in Fall 2016, but I took these photos at a great 60% off sale on January 21, 2017.

If I'd known Sears was disappearing I would have bought more of them. I did buy two.

I'm glad I took these photos anyhow. I really like the Newberry dolls. I believe I have 3 of them.

Here is a LINK to information I found out about the Newberry dolls today.

This is the doll I bought in January.

She came in a soccer outfit.

I dressed her in a pretty outfit instead. I love her brown eyes. I'll have to give more attention to my Newberry girls, and give them names. 

It's a very sad day when stores that have been here for over 60 years disappear.

By Loretta Houben

Free cowgirl crochet pattern for 18" dolls.

From another blog I follow, Karen Mom of 3, I discovered a link to a FREE crochet pattern for 18" dolls.

Just click on the link above. I love free!

I thought I'd share it on my blog too.

I'd love to try it one day, but don't hold your breath.

I'm still busy crocheting for Miss Pippa.

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 new dress and shoes for Josephina!

Josephina finally has a change of dress!

I recently ordered this online from the US American Girl store. It was $16 US on sale, including 2 red ribbons for her hair, and a ribbon sash, top, skirt and gorgeous shoes.

I really like this outfit, and am glad I bought it.

Josephina has been neglected but I'm hoping to change that. On our recent trip to Seattle, I found a few things suitable for her at thrift stores. I'll add photos later.

By Loretta Houben

07/17/17 Pretty cool, eh?

Today is 7/17/17.

(July 17, 2017)

I love all those sevens!

My sister Leona and I finally had a sewing bee together today. She doesn't live far away, so she brought her items to sew and I had my sewing machine set up on the table.

This is my old Pfaff I bought in 1981, and which I'd replaced 2 years ago with a brand new Pfaff.

I haven't been sewing much sad to say as I'm rather frightened of the new machine.

But today was fun, sewing together at the same table.

I made the little dress for Grace up above, and Leona made 2 pillowcases, and 2 body pillow cases. She sews very rapidly. I also worked on an 18" doll dress but it's not finished yet. Still, it's a beginning and I feel encouraged.

Here I am, sewing on my new machine. My trusty old Pfaff circa 1981 is in the foreground.

By Loretta Houben

Beautiful 18" doll patterns online.

While looking online I came across the most beautiful 18" doll patterns. They are created by Magalie Dawson. If you click on her name the link will take you to the pattern in the photo above. 

One day I'd love to create doll clothes like this.

New swimsuit for Ruby!

Yesterday while my hubby was in the valley river rafting with our son and his friends, I decided to do something I haven't done yet this year; sew for the 18" dolls.

Ruby, my Asian Newberry doll, hasn't had anything new in a long time. 

I have a few Canadian pattern socks and I saw a cute idea on Pinterest, making a swimsuit out of one. So I cut off the heel and hemmed up the bottom, and sewed a seam in between for the legs, and measured a few times to get the ties at the top the right size.

Ruby is quite pleased, and I think she looks really cute. The sock is a little tight to get on and off, but not bad.

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

Tenney Grant, American Girl doll for February 2017!

On Saturday, February 18, 2017 I visited the American Girl doll boutique on Granville St in Vancouver BC. I had just had my back adjusted a few blocks away, so after a cup of coffee to revive me, Robert brought me to the store. I had received an email letting me know about a special function happening with the chance of winning a raffle draw for one of three Tenney Grant dolls! Who could pass that up. I didn't actually know about the raffle until I got to the store. The draw was done at noon. No, I didn't win!

I did purchase Tenney, the new doll released a few days ago. I'm not sure why AG did this so soon after the DOTY, Gabriella, who was stuck way off in a corner and you could hardly see her. I used Robert's Christmas gift card for Tenney. I'm glad I saved it. Tenney really struck me. I just love her hair and her brown eyes and her cute freckles. Plus she has a different hand mold in order to hold her banjo, which I also bought, and her guitar.

The first boy doll was also released; Logan Everett.

Both Tenney and Logan are part of a musical band.

Logan has a drum set. Well, he sure didn't speak to me, so he was left on the shelf. The dolls are $149 Cdn plus tax, so I need pretty shoes and a pretty dress for that amount of money! He also looks very solemn.

There were quite a few young girls milling around later.

When I got there at 10:30 the store was empty. I had to wait until noon to see if I had won. Robert went off to do other things for a while. I browsed to my heart's content!

I need to add a photo of my Tenney in her concert outfit which I also bought. Plus each person was given a Tenney 

T-shirt for their doll as a give-a-way gift. It was a lot of fun!

By Loretta Houben