My sewing room desk.

I finally did it!

It took me one year.

I'm not a speedy person.

I worked on this for a long time, as what is here is what I'm keeping for a while.

This maple wood desk and hutch was bought for our son Matthew when he was young, and he used it for school, and for his crafts. He moved out in 2008, which will be 10 years ago this fall.

At first I thought I'd sell it, but then realized the wood was beautiful, and the pieces are made in Canada. So to replace it would be foolish.

I put a few of my favourite American Girl dolls on top.

Ruthie, Isabelle, Josephina, and Tenney, along with a doll plate and a vintage dolly picture. This is to keep me inspired.

Here is a closeup of my sewing books and magazines, plus my Shutterfly photo books. On the left are my doll books. These are books I enjoy and use over and over again.

The Dollarama bins were $1.25 Cdn each, and hold all my patterns. They used to be in drawers and I found that too hard to access.

I'm so pleased with the result.

Now for the rest of the room!

I need to attack that fabric!

By Loretta Houben

My doll collection.

One of my goals for 2018 is to organize my digital doll photos by year. I began doing this 2 years ago, but it still isn't complete. I'd then like to put them on a CD. I know that CD's are going out of style, but as long as they are usable I will use them!

Aren't these dolls lovely?

I got them in 2013. We had a small Christmas tree then, and I'm so happy we now have a large one again! I really missed it. The small tree was on top of our piano, which I've since given away. I didn't play it any longer. 

I do enjoy my dolls. They make me smile!

By Loretta Houben

Chatty Cathy and Barbie.

I took these photos in January 2015.

I have thousands of photos which I'm trying to organize into their correct folders. That may take a while! This is one of my Chatty Cathy dolls; a hard face, blue decal eyed, brunette pigtail doll. Above she is holding my first "Barbie" doll, which is the only kind my Mom would buy for me. I got her on my 5th birthday, and my sister Leona got the same doll, but with white hair. They were purchased at Woolworth's in Vancouver BC. The doll is wearing her original dress with original shoes. Mysteriously I never named my dolls. The dress Chatty is holding was one I got in 1966 for a Christmas gift. The "Teen Fashion" case was 99 cents and it came with my doll.

I've blogged before about my Francie (a 9th birthday gift) and my Stacy (an 8th birthday gift from my aunt Frieda). I still have their original swim suits.

Robert has two of his original toys; a teddy bear and this Kubkar which he made in 1970 when he was in cub Scouts.

It's fun to keep your childhood toys!

By Loretta Houben

My Christmas dolls; 1960-1965

I was 6 months old my first Christmas.

My parents bought me a doll as big as I am!

I still have her. She was made by a Canadian doll company which I believe was in Toronto, Ontario; Dee & Cee. They were the ones chosen to make the Chatty Cathy dolls a few years later. Aren't I cute?

My handsome Dad, Jack Williams, and myself.

He always loved Christmas, and enjoyed all my dolls.

A collage from 1961 - 1963.

I didn't appreciate my tricycle until later.

In 1962 I got a soft bodied baby doll and a cute pink cradle.

In 1963 I got a lovely tin kitchen set with pots and pans, dishes, and a pretend turkey.

It was made in West Germany and I loved that set!

One of my favourite dolls was my blonde haired Chatty Cathy doll, made by Dee & Cee in Canada, and by Mattel in the USA. I got her in 1964. The Canadian dolls are marvelously made with glassine eyes and peach limbs which don't fade. My sister Leona got a brunette baby Chatty doll.

We also got a tin house with plastic furniture. 

In 2014 my doll turned 50.

I don't ever remember naming any of my dolls.

Recently I began calling her Catherine.

She still has her original dress and shoes.

In 1965 we had a new baby sister (born in July).

Leona and I got blue doll buggies and diaper bags for our dolls.

We played often with those buggies.

Christmas was always a very happy time in our home!

By Loretta Houben