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.

Mary Ellen's new chesterfield!

Mary Ellen is thrilled and delighted to have a new chesterfield! Best of all, it's a hide-a-bed! She can now have friends over for a sleep over. I purchased this on sale online from my local Chapter's store. It wasn't on sale in the store. That's where online shopping is a plus! I picked it up in the store though. I just love this chesterfield!

In the 1950's that was what a couch/sofa was called in Canada.

I also have Mary Ellen's corner table with a light up lamp, poodle dog ornament, newspaper and TV guide. Robert gave me the TV and record console 2 years ago at Christmas. I just love these things. I grew up in the 60's and 70's but we had a green couch very similar to this, which opened up to sleep 2 people. My sister Leona and I would often sleep on it when guests came. The guests would sleep in our beds!

Mary Ellen also has 2 pillows, a fancy ripple afghan, and an autograph hound. My Mom crocheted a ripple afghan in the 1970's when they became all the rage again. 

Mary Ellen is pleased that her two friends are sound asleep in the comfortable hide-a-bed. This is a really neat prop. I just love it.

By Loretta Houben

Wearing of the green!

These photos were taken 5 years ago, in 2013. This was before the great flood on my window seat, when the Bleuette's home was still intact. I really enjoyed sewing for them, and dressing them up. I made the dress which Zoe is wearing (2nd from left) and the one on the right.

 I made the little banner and the paper hat too.

 Aren't they cute?

I always made sure I wore green in high school, or my friend Wendy would pinch me hard! I'm glad that I've stepped foot in Ireland, even if it was for only one night. 

By Loretta Houben

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Here is one of my favourite Newberry dolls, on her new toboggan from Newberry, with the outfit which came with it; hat, coat, sleeveless top, pants, mittens and boots. (no socks)

I had bought the toboggan set fairly recently, before Sears closed. I think it was just before Christmas. It's a really cute set. The toboggan isn't as nice as Maplelea's wooden one, but it's still really cute. (plastic) 

The girls still had fun in the snow.

We had a blizzard last night, but it turned to rain in the morning. There was still a bit left by afternoon when the sun came out. It's very unusual to have a snowy Valentine's Day!

It was fun to take some doll photos outside.

By Loretta Houben

Valentine's Day photos with Chatty Cathy!

Here is my only My Twinn doll, Bobby.

I purchased him used, as he reminds me so much of my hubby when he was a child. Therefore I named him Bobby!

He is quite entranced with my childhood Chatty Cathy doll, Catherine. Aren't they sweet?

 I posed these beauties in 2016.

The one on the left is an original Chatty Cathy brunette Canadian doll, the one in the middle is my childhood Canadian doll, and the one on the left is a Judy H. doll I bought a while ago. Aren't they darling?

I love Valentine's Day! 

I made the mailbox setup, using a mailbox I actually bought at a Canadian Target store when they once were in business here. (it still seems like a weird dream to me)

I glued it to a paper towel stick and modge podged fabric onto it.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY FROM CHATTY CATHY!

By Loretta Houben

What I bought on this dreary hump day...

Isn't this delightful?

It's Mary Ellen's living room set, not at all cheap.

But I don't trust American Girl company at all, so I decided to splurge and get this today, using the remaining balance of Robert's Christmas gift card. I'm always wary that I might lose the card! Well, now it's gone. 

Leona and I visited the AG store 2 weeks ago, and she said she would definitely buy all the items for one decade, such as Mary Ellen, as she loved completed collections. I thought that was a terrific idea. The set was very expensive. $74 Cdn! It includes a very well made plastic table, known as a boomerang table, with the most adorable lamp which lights up; a tiny poodle ornament, a copy of an April 1955 TV guide, and a 1955 newspaper. That was the year my parents were married in Sept.

It reminds me of the Mad Men series.

I also bought a cute Glitter Girls outfit for $14.99 Cdn, which includes a top, skirt, shoes and socks.

My Wellie Wishers doll love it!

She now has a total of 3 outfits to her name.

The sandals don't close properly, though.

She really likes Mary Ellen's table too. It's such fun to visit the AG boutique. There wasn't a living soul in it when I was there. It's 3 blocks from my chiropractor, so I make sure I always stop in after an appointment!

By Loretta Houben

Meeting Luciana Vega, the 2018 GOTY.

On Wednesday, January 3, 2018 I went downtown with my sister Leona, to Broadway and Granville AG boutique, and checked out the Luciana Vega GOTY of the year, and her amazing space habitat. I only know it was designed by NASA; I don't know the story. And I know it's all about Mars. I'm not sure if this is supposed to be on Mars or not!

I think the space habitat is fascinating!

When I was in Grade One back in 1966, all the rage at the time was space exploration. I myself dearly wished to fly in a rocket to Mars, thanks to Miss Pickerell. (children's book in the 60's)

I wouldn't purchase this set, as it's huge, but it sure looks interesting.

Here is another view of the space habitat.

It's Very Expensive at $439 Cdn, plus tax!

I'd personally rather have the blue Volkswagon that was around a few years ago. 

I won't be getting Luciana, as she has purple streaks in her hair. I'm not sure why, except maybe it's a modern look. ?? I'm not modern at all! But I don't care for strange hair colours or tattoos. It's just how I am...

I loved the wall displays, and Luciana's box.

These two items came home with me.

Robert gave me a gift card for Christmas, so I chose the Luciana NASA souvenir box, and a Glitter Girls outfit as it fits the Wellie Wisher doll.

Here is the box opened.

I think this is adorable, and a great deal for only $25 Cdn if you can't afford the rest of the set.

By Loretta Houben

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Happy New Year 2018!

As you know, Sears is nearly gone here in Canada.

A few weeks ago, I found a few Newberry dolls on sale at Sears in Metrotown, with some props. If I owned a warehouse and knew I could re-sell the dolls I would have bought quite a few, but I controlled myself and I purchased this adorable gingerbread set.

It's very cute and I'd never seen it anywhere else.

It's sturdy and has a removable sign, and 4 little drinks, and cute gingerbread cookies in a covered container.

Kit is entranced! 

I set it up on my kitchen hutch. It matches my other gingerbread ornaments.

By Loretta Houben

Boxing Day sale!

I usually don't go out on Boxing Day, but the snow had stopped and the roads were clear, so we ventured forth to Market Crossing on Marine Drive.

I believe these stores were built in 2009, and at the time I was very excited as a Michael's craft store was added, and it's the closest one to our home. I used to spend $70 each time I visited but those days are long gone. I now spend around $10 or less! 

I found a darling Christmas fireplace which lights up. It's perfect for the mini dolls and it's so cute! It was marked down to $6.95 from $22 Cdn!

Nanea received a darling mini tea set from Frankfurt Germany! Actually, Robert got it for me and put it in my stocking. I picked it out on that hot May day when we spent 2 nights in Frankfurt on our 35th anniversary trip to Europe. We didn't have much time to shop there, but I found it in a souvenir store near our hotel. 

The little Bible is a New Testament with teeny print. It was a gift from Steve Jensen, Robert's childhood friend he still keeps in touch with. It belonged to his maternal Grandmother. He sent it as a surprise in the mail and I waited until Christmas to open it.

The hand embroidered doily is from Heidelburg. I love these sorts of presents the very best of all!

By Loretta Houben

A Bleuette Christmas!

These photos were taken in 2010, at the height of my Bleuette reproduction doll craze! They are very addictive. I bought all my dolls online through a Bleuette Yahoo doll group. My first one was Yvette Marie, painted by Connie Zink. She is sitting in the photo above, holding a tiny Chatty Cathy doll. The next Bleuette I got was a gift from Marcie Ewasko. She's wearing the red velveteen dress and is named Zoe.

I sewed quite a few of their dresses. I made the hankie dresses by hand sewing. I collected quite a few props for them!

For a while I had a special blog just for them. But then I returned to my love of the 18" size dolls, and so the Bleuettes are biding their time for now.

 I have so many cute things for them.

 This is a special blue velveteen dress I designed as a swap gift. I think Zoe looks very pretty!

 I can't believe I hadn't yet blogged about the Bluettes on this doll blog. I'll try to add more photos in the days ahead.

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

BLACK FRIDAY DEALS!

The girls are looking at Black Friday deals both online, and in traditional paper flyers.

Here in Canada this is a fairly new concept, and seems to be going well with the shoppers!

Even I found a few things online that interested me, including a Black Friday sale of 20% off American Girl! And that happened BEFORE Friday!

The cute little flyers were found at 

American Girl Ideas website. CLICK HERE for the link to your own free printables!

This was the ad I received in my email letting me know about the Black Friday sale.

By Loretta Houben

My new dolls in 2017!

It's only January 21 but so far I've purchased 3 dolls this year. I couldn't help it. Today I was at Sears at Metrotown in Burnaby and I noticed a 60% off sign way in the distance on a group of dolls. Normally I don't go to the 2nd floor at Sears but I was looking for something else, so I'm glad I did go. The above doll named Allie was marked down from $29.99 to only $11.99! Her outfit alone is worth that amount. She is very cute and I love the Newberry quality.

I couldn't decide between these 2 dolls so I bought both. This one came with a soccer net, ball, water bottle, jacket and her outfit plus her soccer shoes for only $19.99, marked down from $49.99! She looks very pretty but I haven't taken her out of the box yet.

I bought this cute doll when I was downtown the other day, at Winner's. She was $16.95 and she is 7 3/4" tall. Apparently these dolls, made by Madame Alexander, are no longer made. I think she is very cute, but it looked like her knees and arms could bend and they can't. Nothing budged when I tried, so that's a disappointment.

I'm still having fun playing with my mini dolls, and thought I'd show the gingerbread houses I made out of paper. If you Google mini food items it's amazing what will pop up! I did this around Christmas time, but didn't take a photo until now.

The little heart cake was bought for $3.99 C at Michael's using a 40% off coupon. It was in the miniature section.

Our snow is nearly all melted, and today it was 10 C so spring feels like it's just around the corner!

By Loretta Houben