Childhood Memories ....

CHILDHOOD MEMORIES ....

While browsing through a local antiques market a while back, I found an old tin dollhouse just like the one I had over 60 years ago.  It appeared to be in pretty good condition for its age and the price was very, very good so of course, I bought it.

                                    

I think I would have received my childhood house at Christmas time in 1953 and I actually still have some of my own original pieces of furniture so I have been having fun placing them in my little house and happily recalling the joy that playing with my dollhouse gave me as a young child.

I will have to look for some affordable pieces to replace a few of my own that have gone missing over the years and one piece that is broken so I am looking forward to having fun searching out the replacements for these items.

       

In the kitchen, I still need to find a refrigerator to match the stove and sink units.  Those pieces as well as the table and chairs were mine from years ago.  I have added a few 'vintage look' modern miniature pieces to add to the mood of the room.

The master bedroom has twin beds, reminiscent of the 50’s.  (I suppose the current residents of my little house don’t use the fireplace in there as the large double dresser has been placed in front of it).

                                   

The bathroom is still very much a work in progress.  The toilet is broken so I need to find both a bathtub and new toilet to match the original sink. 

                                  
So far, all I have in the nursery is a playpen, a pushcart and a tiny wooden train set (the train is modern but has a retro look).  I will be searching for a vintage crib and bathinette for this room.
  
                              

The livingroom just has some furniture odds and ends right now and everything is a different colour.  (I guess the current residents must have a very eclectic taste in furniture!) Some pieces were mine and some I found at an antique sale but this room will likely undergo some changes as I find more pieces that would have been original to this type of dollhouse.

This dollhouse also reminds me of how much times have changed as I'm sure no modern dollhouse would have a lithographed fireplace with a rifle hanging on it!

I am enjoying this fun bit of nostalgia and and I must say that I like my dollhouse today nearly as much as I enjoyed my original one so many years ago .... maybe even more!!

Have a good day, everyone!
Nanny Anny

                           

Trying Again ....

Oh my goodness, has it really been a whole year since I wrote a post for this blog?  I think instead of trying to play catch up, I'll just re-start with what's been happening recently.  And hopefully, I can blog more often this time around!

I signed up to take a piece-quilting course so for the past few weeks I have been spending my Thursday evenings in the company of 2 other ladies learning how to piece a log cabin lap quilt.
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The process was a steep learning curve for me but I must say that I enjoyed every class and learned something new in every part of the course.  I had never used a rotary cutter before so that was a skill I had to master before I could really get going on the project.  Fortunately we had a lovely, patient teacher who guided us every step of the way from choosing our fabrics right up to putting our quilts together. 

Twenty-four squares were joined together; here they are ready and waiting to have to have the borders sewn on.  

Another step in the process was using the chalk pencil and template to mark the design to be stitched.  I love the little heart; there is one in each of the corners.  The colour is off in this photo, though.  It must be the lighting because it looks almost purple and it is really burgundy and pink.  

My almost finished project is now set up on a frame at our local Seniors' Centre, where it will be quilted.  And here I am. learning another stage of the process.  Sure is challenging to make those stitches so small and even!  

All in all, it has been a great experience .... challenging myself to learn some new skills, enjoying the fellowship of the other ladies and best of all, I will have a lovely new quilt to snuggle under while reading or watching television.  

Have a good day, everyone!

Nanny Anny