Wednesday, March 17, 2010

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!***

28 comments:

  1. Your shadow box is absolutely gorgeous!!!! I love the pics of your doll collection....I have one too...but nothing nearly as old or sentimental.....

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  2. Love the doll theme for your shadowbox - turned out great!! Enjoyed seeing your pics too!

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  3. Julie, I am catching up with my visits. You are having such fun with these fold outs! Just when I think I have a favorite, you make a new one! Your dolls are so amazing! I can't believe I only had one doll as a child - terribly deprived! It was Thumbalina and had eyes that opened and closed. When a neighborhood dog got a hold of her; and she became a one-eyed doll, I too slept with her "eyes" down on my dresser! Too funny! Your office is beyond words! Do you know that it was my college years intention to be a Park Naturalist. A walk through your office would be heavenly! Have a lovely weekend. Wait until you see the tags that have arrived in the mail! I will post Friday. Elizabeth PS Thank you so much for your prayers. Today truly is wonderful!

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  4. I just love these shadowbox cards you're making, so vintage chic indeed! :D

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  5. Julie amor, I love this post! Your dolls are gorgeous...not only that but the stories behind them make them priceless! I love old dolls, I pick them up every where that I can, In fact friends tease me because I buy them even in pieces with the hopes of putting them back together one day...I have a lil place in my studio I call me Doll Hospital, that is where all my "one day" projects live...Can you tell I still like to play with bebe dolls :) Your shadow box card is beautiful, I wish I could take a class from you and learn all these great techniques :) Besos, Rose

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  6. Happy St Paddy's Day! Sweet card you made. Love the way you put the doll head there with the wings. That doll head is a favorite of mine because my Grandmother made one for me when I was little. I LOVE you story about your Mom & her love of dolls. I am off to read your post & see some of her creations. Thanks for sharing. HUGS! Charlene

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  7. Love the picture of your mom with the dolly. So sweet! How wonderful to have in your possession such old family dolls to treasure! Fantastic. Have a beautiful day. :) Tammy

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  8. Shhh! Don't tell anyone I'm here. I'm supposed to be grading and filling out report cards. I love the story of your doll being handed down through the generations, but I can understand how she might be a little scary to a young child. Real teeth? I've never seen that before!

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  9. I love your cards, each so sweet! Love the picture of your mom a with her doll..that is just too cute! Love the dolls too, wish I had one, they are very special! Love their little teeth too! :D

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  10. Julie, I am a great doll lover from way back. I had a cousin in Vermont who had a father that worked for Goodyear Tires and who travelled the world. Each place he went he brought her back a doll to cherish and she had a whole wall of them in her room that I truly coveted. I only had two dolls, a little Miss Eaton doll that I got for Christmas one year and my Barbie that I painstakingly saved up for. I did have tons of paper dolls though and I loved them litereally to bits!! I loved reading about these special dolls in your life and seeing the pictures and your newest card. How very wonderful!! You have such a talent there. I am in awe of it! Your cards are so very beautiful, each and every one of them. I cherish my Christmas Card from you so very much. When sorting through our things and getting rid and ready to move, that was the only one I kept. I send much love and many hugs from across the sea! XXOO

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  11. Another gorgeous shadow box, Julie! I have one special dolly that was my mum's when she was little. She is very much the worse for wear, but she still holds a special place in our hearts. Shannon is more interested in toy animals than dolls most days. Your post makes me think I need to do a layout for both Shannon & Ronan of their special "friends" as they call them. Thank you yet again for the inspiration!

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  12. Your dolls are beautiful treasures. I know what you mean about being spooked. I had a doll when I was little who had eyes that no matter where you stood, it appeared to be looking at you. It creeped me out at times. Fortunately it had the cutest little baby face. I love your collection. Your mom was so darn cute!

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  13. First I think the shadow box cards are beautiful. And, I think it is totally cool that you have your Mom's dolls from when she was little. (Well, OK the teeth are a little freaky, but still.) The 2nd doll is my favorite. She is very pretty!
    Thanks for sharing. HAGD! Karen

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  14. Love the stories of your beautiful doll (guess they are currently your mom's). I think I'll try to find some of my dolls to display. They are packed away somewhere. Thanks for sharing and visiting my blog.

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  15. Another great shadow box card, love the head/wings combo! Beautiful pics of your/your mom's dolls too - what lovely things to have in the family. Precious photo of your mom as a little girl too, just look at those adorable ringlets!

    "New" paints, BTW - some Viva Decor products are already available in the US but I think you have just a while longer to wait for Croco, Tera and Ferro (Precious Metal paints, Pearl pens and Pardo jewellery clay are with you already, I believe). Fun toys!

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  16. Julie, love your shadowbox card. That is the first time I've seen one. All of the doll photos you posted are lovely, but the most beautiful one of all is your mother herself. She was an adorable looking child. I so love her curls. Precious. You must tell her how beautiful we think she is ;)
    Maureen

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  17. WOW ... what a "doll" you are to share all this beauty with us! Your shadowbox is gorgeous and I just love these little ladies ... perfect choice! Hope you are enjoying a sun shiny day! Hugs to ya my friend!

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  18. Love all those dolls! you are so creative;I,m sure you brain must be working 24 hours a day. Lucky so that you share your creations.And your mom with that doll; wow!
    Rita

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  19. Oh my, your shadow box cards are simply stunning! I love your idea of using the face with the wings and it reminds me of those cherubs too! That picture of Mom with her doll is just precious.

    Hope you have a wonderful day and upcoming weekend.

    Take Care - Robin

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  20. What an uncanny story of the doll!
    The photo of your mummy is sweet :)
    The card is beautiful and very romantic :)

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  21. What a darling picture of your Mother! Pricless! More sweet papercrafts to! Love your handiwork Julie!

    Hugs,
    Maryjane

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  22. I love this post about dolls. The cards are adorable - I have a thing for vintage images of children and dolls. Those vintage dolls are so gorgeous!

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  23. Julie, so glad I found your sweet little place on the web! I have no idea how I found you but I am definitely bookmarking your site. I LOVE your shadowbox cards. They look like cherubs - so enchanting. And the photo of your mom is so beautiful. Looking forward to stopping by again. xoxo

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  24. Julie so sorry I've missed you this past week or two hope you are well. A belated Happy St Paddy's to you and just love the piccie of your mum - it's gorgeous :-) I have a little English Easter giveaway on DollieD today would love you to enter xxx

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  25. I've got some of those shadow boxes from Vicki too, aren't they cool? I LOVE how you did yours!

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  26. The shadow boxes are stunning. Lynne M

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  27. Wow.. now that was an awesome blogpost filled with goodies from begining to end!! lol LOVED it all!

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  28. I happened upon your lovely blog today, when I should be doing housework. I love this post about the old dolls. I'm a doll lover myself. How big is the doll at the end of your post; the one from Switzerland from your great-great-grandfather? She is beautiful! Also, is there a store in Surrey? I live in Vancouver and your creations have inspired me! Thanks.

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