Sweet Baby Dolls...

Happy St. Patrick's Day, everyone!

Here it is, the very day, and I've nothing green to show you!  I did so much before today, that I've got nothing now!  Later, I'll be making a lovely St. Patty's meal for the family, complete with our favorite Irish Soda Bread...can't wait!  But for now, some other things to share with you...

If you haven't already noticed, I can't seem to stop making these shadowbox cards that Vicki Chrisman designed--oh, well!  They are just too much fun!  So, here's another I've just finished...

...all about little girls and their sweet baby dolls...

All these adorable images come from Crafty Secret's "Little Dolls" Images & Journal Notes booklet--except for the fabulous "Frozen Charlotte" doll's head and wings--that comes from their "Altered Fairy" Creative Scraps. 

I've had the idea to pair the doll's head with wings for a long time...kind of reminds me of the cherub heads with wings you see a lot in sculpture from Colonial times in America.

...I love this little mommy scolding her dolly for her misbehavior...did she spill her dessert on her pretty dress?

...and this saucy girl surveying her doll collection--wonder what she was telling them here...?

...and this little sweetheart knows there's nothing like snuggling up with your best friend at the end of the day...

I used lots of lace, ribbon, and Martha Stewart's "White Gold" glitter on this, as well as a touch of Dazzling Diamonds, silver Stickles, and some beautiful crystal rhinestones...that's about it! 

All these images made me think of my adorable Mother.  She's loved dolls since she could breathe, I think!  So many photos of her with a dolly in her arms...I chose this one to show you today...

Isn't she a sweetie?  Mom has collected dolls forever--still does!  She always swears she's got enough and won't ever buy another...until the next treasure comes along! 

When she was little, and her parents couldn't afford to buy her the dollies she wanted, she taught herself to make dolls...which she continues to do to this day!  She's quite an amazing dollmaker, actually, and has sold many worldwide.  I wrote about her months ago (before many people read my blog!)...you can see some of her beautiful creations here.

I want to share a few of the most special dolls in our lives with you...

My great-great grandfather, Theodore Brandley, bought this doll while on an extended trip back to his homeland of Switzerland in the late 1880's, and had it shipped to his young daughter, my great-grandmother, Anna. It was then handed down to my mother and is intended for me....Mom isn't quite ready to give it up yet! It was always in my room when I was young and it used to spook me a little...I would get out of bed & lay it gently down on my dresser so her eyes would be closed! Also, knowing that her teeth were real (really!) didn't help me much, either! But I adore this precious keepsake, handed carefully down through the years, and will just as gently deliver it to one of my daughters...

...beautiful glass eyes and soft auburn hair tied back with pink silk ribbon...hardly tattered at all in over 120 years...

...and another vintage beauty...

This beautiful doll from the 1940's  was given to my Mom when she was pretty young--can't remember who gave it to her, but I love it, too. It would always sit next to the older doll on my dresser--there was another with dark hair, but I didn't find her this time. Love her beautiful, soft face...

                                     

I hope you enjoyed this little look at our beloved old dolls.  Go find yours...dust them off and give them a little kiss on the cheek...no one likes to be forgotten...

Hope you have a wonderfully green St. Patrick's Day--don't get pinched!  I'll be back soon with something new...

***Hurry and head over to Shabbyfufu--a delightful new blog I just found--Janet is giving away a beautiful altered doll. 

She creates such lovely things--please go meet her and say hello!***