Original Chatty Cathy PJs and hand sewn nightie.

In 2004, I discovered the joy of sewing for Chatty Cathy. I bought vintage patterns on eBay, and developed my own style.

Here is a cute nightie and mob cap for Chatty.

This is Chatty wearing a vintage PJ outfit with cap and slippers, made by Mattel in the 1960's. You can find them for a reasonable price on eBay.

The bunk bed set belonged to my sister Leona and I. I think we got it for Christmas in 1969, as the next year my Mom crocheted a bedspread for my bunk bed while she was in hospital after Marie was born. 

In 2004 I made a house for my Chatties on the windowseat in our bedroom. The dresser is a jewelry box, and the little lamp was from Ikea. 

Things have changed in 13 years, so I no longer have this displayed. I took the photos using our 1.5  megapixel camera. It has very low resolution compared to today's cell phone cameras!

Although so much has changed in such a short period of time, my love for dolls will never change. I still set up scenes and take photos, but in 2018 I would like to do it much more often, as my dolls are feeling a bit neglected.

Good night!

By Loretta Houben

My childhood dolls: post from 2009

I've always loved dolls. I got my first doll at age 6 months, for a Christmas gift from my parents. Yes, I still have her along with one original shoe. She was nearly as big as me!

I longed for a Barbie doll when I was older, but my mom thought it best to give me a knock off doll with a flat chest for my 5th birthday. She thought Barbie's big boobs were indecent! Here is a picture of the doll with the case she came in: The dress she is wearing has a bow around the waist. I learned how to tie a bow using this very same dress!

 She was purchased at Woolworth's store on Hastings Street. My sister Leona got a matching doll, only her doll had white hair. Here's the doll wearing a red velvet bodice dress, with a tiered satin skirt. I got the dress for Christmas in 1966. I thought it was so elegant. My doll still has her original shoes!

My aunt Frieda (my mom's sister) sent me a package for my 8th birthday; a bendable knee Stacey! I was thrilled with this doll, big boobs and all! I never liked her white hair though.

One of my favourite birthdays ever! My aunt Frieda also sewed the dress I'm wearing; she was an excellent seamstress. My Mom made the cake which I loved, and I got a beautiful white Bible, KJV.

For my 9th birthday I was allowed to have a birthday party, and my mom gave me this Francie. I had wanted the blonde haired one. My mom thought Francie was a decent doll to give a young girl!

I don't know where the copy of my 9th birthday party photos are, so I'll substitute this family photo. I'm still wearing the 8th birthday dress in this picture! Those are my parents, Susie and Jack Williams in front of our house at 3382 Monmouth Avenue in Vancouver BC.

Leona is in the red and purple dress, with Marlene in between us.

I have the date wrong on this picture. I got Skipper when I was 11 years old; 1971. She's wearing a dress I spent my money on at the local Farmer's Market in New Westminster. It's handmade and was $1.25 back in the 1970's.

This is myself in 1973. A young teenager. I still loved to play with dolls at this age, until I was 15.

Well, I still love dolls now!

Loretta Houben

The 1860's...

Long ago, in the 1970's, my sister received a marvelous covered wagon and horse with a matching set of dolls, one male and one female, for a Christmas gift. She was thrilled. So was I.

We often played and acted out adventures for these dolls, using the male which we named Tom as a boyfriend for Polly, my Skipper doll. 

I took these photos back in 2001.

I loved playing with my Skipper, and I would often sew outfits for her.

The above dress was bought from the New Westminster Farmer's Market, made by an elderly woman who had the most amazing table full of gorgeous handmade Barbie clothes. She would certainly do well on Etsy nowadays! The dress above was only $1.25! Every August my parents would go once to the Farmer's Market. They would buy fresh produce and farmer's sausage.

I made this dress and crocheted the trim. I sewed it all by hand and designed the pattern. I also made Polly's little bonnet.

Oh the fun we used to have!

I'm so glad we didn't have electronic gadgets to ruin our imaginations.

I have so many happy memories of my childhood and teenage years.

By Loretta Houben