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

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

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

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

Asian dolls....

During today's blizzard, in which we couldn't get out of our garage to go to church (wheels spun on ice) I cleared off a space on top of my fabric cabinet, to set up two dolls.

The one on the left is my recent Newberry doll which I've named Victoria. The other is a doll from the Disney store; I bought her a few years ago and she has much smaller eyes than the ones which are available now. I like her better.

You will notice a Valentine (from Build a Bear store) and a cute rooster which actually crows when you press his stomach. (from Walmart) It's the Year of the Rooster for 2017. My Mom was born in 1933, and my MIL Ruth was born in 1921; both rooster gals.

Recently I visited Yokoyaya, a Japanese dollar store downtown, and I bought the tiny Japanese dolls, 3 for $2.00. Most of the items are $2 each. It's a fun store to visit! I usually go once every 2 months. 

I think Grace needs a new dress....

By Loretta Houben

Newberry Soccer Doll

Here is the Newberry 18" doll with the lid off the box.

These dolls are quite easy to get out. Just a few snips and the thread is broken.

She is set up, read to play in her cute outfit.

The set came with a net, water bottle and ball plus the outfit.

It was only $19.99 C on sale! I really like this doll. I think she is my favourite out of all my Newberry dolls to date.

Her features remind a little of the latest Victoria movie on PBS! I might name her Victoria.

I also bought this pretty dress with black shoes for $8.99 C.

She looks really pretty in it.

Here are 2 close ups of her pretty face.

The back of her head is startling!

I think it was put together like this for shipping.

I need to comb it out as soon as I find the brush.

All in all, I'm very pleased with this doll.

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