Friday, September 7, 2012

China Faces

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I’m in love with them.  Smitten.  Have been for quite some time now….

1850s girl with doll

I can’t help but think, as I look at them, hold them…who held them first? Who first gazed at them lovingly so long ago—long before I was born…

 girl with doll - chicks57 on Flicker

What little girl held this one or that one during a hard time?  A scary night?  Helping her through the loss of a loved one?

Girl with doll, holding mother's hand c 1853

Which ones were held in happy times?  A birthday party, perhaps…Probably each of them and their first girls experienced good times and bad—just as we do now…

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Beautiful German china dolls…they crossed oceans, crossed prairies…some were even buried deep in the dirt for one reason or another…

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…only to be found in our time…

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…when we can love them once more.  Gaze at them lovingly…appreciate them for their lovely imperfections…

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They each have a story, you know--as is told by the marks they carry of their lives before…

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And I love each and every rip, tear, rubbed off bit of paint and crack…every bit of old sawdust stuffing spilt…

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A new project I’ve been dying to finish using one of my sweet German doll heads…

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A large antique salt shaker is re-purposed  for her new body…filled with glittering, iridescent mica…

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…a bouquet of sweet pink posies held in her china hand…

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…and she demanded plenty of sparkle, I  can tell you—she’d always wanted to be a Duchess, she seemed to whisper…

And so she is.

Dolls 12(1)_edited-1 {my little collection.  All antiques except for the largest doll on the  back left—quite a lovely reproduction, don’t you think?}

Here they all are again.  Sitting together on my great-great-grandmother’s quilt.  Just seemed to be the perfect place for such a gathering…

…and I’m absolutely smitten with them all.

Julie

{antique photos found on Pinterest}

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Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Sweet Vintage

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An early morning yesterday spent surrounded by elements of vintage goodness…

My grandmother on my mind—her favorite recipe on my mind, as well…

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Newly into September, the holidays are soon to be here—and one of our favorite things in our family?  Grammie’s English Toffee….Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas without it!

The hours she would spend in the kitchen—either hers or ours—making batch after batch of the buttery sweets—tartan tins lining the counter, just waiting to be filled with the delicious gifts for family and friends…

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I can still remember seeing her carefully written-out grocery lists on the counter…ingredients not-to-be-forgotten…

A little page made for my heritage story book just to remember…

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Another little vintage card made—this time for a girlfriend, perhaps—all pink, ribbons & lace…

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“Made just for you”, it says…something Velda might have said as she lovingly handed her toffee to an eager friend, I think…

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And, just for you, too—a recipe to share:

Velda’s English Toffee

Velda’s English Toffee

1/2 lb. butter                              chocolate chips

1 cup sugar                                  chopped pecans

2 Tbsp. water                              pinch of salt

Put in heavy saucepan.  Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly with wooden spoon until light golden brown.  Pour into buttered 9″ square pan.

Immediately sprinkle 3/4 package of chocolate chips over top.  Let melt a minute and smooth with spatula.  Then, sprinkle with chopped pecans–almost a cup.  Pat lightly to set nuts in chocolate.

When cool, break into pieces with point of a sharp knife.

Enjoy!

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See you soon with something new…

Julie

{all elements & papers used on my projects today (except for ribbon, buttons & blue flowers) are found at the wonderful Vintage Street Market}