Tangerines and Christmas and dollies.

 I originally posted this in 2009, when I only had about 4 readers. I was reminded of it recently, when my friend Linnie did a wonderful post featuring antique dolls and dollhouses.

 Tangerines and Christmas
(a post from Dec 12, 2009)

  Tangerines will forever remind me of Christmas. My mother always put one in our  Christmas stocking, just as her mother put a tangerine in her stocking back when she was a little girl in the late 1920's. I imagine the juicy orange fruit was quite a valuable commodity during a cold, bleak winter in upstate New York. And I am told that her mother too, retrieved the sweet round morsel from the toe of her woolen sock when she was  child  at the turn of the century.  I continued the tradition with my own boys when they were young. A tangerine...a sweet simple gift and a nice reminder that  wonderful things can come in small packages without being costly.
              Speaking of small packages and mothers......
    James found this most wonderful doll for me and we drove over 2 hours to pick her up. But as I was admiring her sweet little bisque face and cunning buckle shoes, I thought of someone who would love her just as much.So I packaged her up with the following note:

    "Dear Mom, This little dolly wants to live with you. I told her she would be quite content living here with the other dolls, but she insisted, 'No I want to live with Jacqueline, in a nice WARM house, where I can watch the snow fall from a wide bay window. Besides, Jacqueline doesn't have any little dollies like me.... I'm special and so is she!'

She wants you to know that she was born in Germany around1897, she's not quite sure of the date, after all, she is quite old and her memory is not what it used to be. This is her original box and she cost only 50 cents!

"I was NOT cheap! That was a lot of money in those days", she says. Her pink dress is original, but the blue checkered frock was stitched by her first mistress, as well as the lovely crochet collar.

     "She really loved me", dolly remembers fondly. Unfortunately, she does NOT remember her name..... she has been in her little cardboard box for over 60 years, poor dear! Well,we know that you will love her too, and provide her with a lovely NEW name.

                                      Merry Christmas! love, daughter"
           As I packaged little dolly carefully  in her box, hopefully for the last time, Virginia, the wooden penny, smiled her tiny smile and waved goodbye, without speaking a word.

          Giselle blew a kiss and whispered "Au revoir, mon ami."

        The Southern Belles say," Leaving us so soon? Well! We would nevah leave the South.... to go live with a Yankee??!"

         And Wilhemina wishes her would-be kindred spirit a safe journey, "Please, do write often!"

And off goes our dear little dolly, to her new home and mistress.

 UPDATE on Dec.20, 2009: Mom received little dolly today and loves her ever so much, I knew she would. Mom is 83 yrs old, you see, we never outgrow our dolls! She has given dolly an old name, Estelle, after her stepmother.

Well, that was back in December of 2009

and mother is 90 years old this month; she still loves this dolly.

For a superb read on old dolls, dollhouses and more, please visit Linnies post, here:
http://thebuttryandbookry.blogspot.com/2016/12/phebe-rush-and-visit-to-concord-museum.html

 Of course, Christmas is not really about dolls, tangerines, toys, trees, or feasting...although we love all of these wonderful traditions here in the Hollow.
But for us, the real joy comes from knowing the original Christmas story....
 when:

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Love came down at Christmas

"Happy may thy Christmas be!"

Under the Christmas tree....in 1903

Turn of the Century toys made with wood and paper lithography are favorites of mine. Perfect and very sweet under a Christmas tree adorned with traditional glass ornaments. I love the simplicity of these toys.  I just find them to be so colorful and artistic.

 These little horses are paper lithograph on wood. Chromo-Lithography was a new and exciting printing process in the late 1800's.This horse set was the first litho toy I ever purchased, over 25 years ago.
Up close:

The artwork could be painted in great detail, and then printed to be used in hundreds of ways. Especially for playthings. Here you see the printed paper atop the wooden body with metal legs which move as you push the wagon along.

Here is another, smaller litho horse and cart.

 The paper covered picture puzzle blocks were very popular at the turn of the century.

 As were the nesting blocks.

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I love these wonderful images, they are too darling for words!

I am sure, that at the time of printing, the colors were quite brilliant and bright.

Now, a century later, they have mellowed to a nice subdued tint.

To avoid too much clutter, I'm not putting too many pieces on this small table, but

  I have dozens of games, puzzles, and toys made in this manner because

 these old time playthings are easily available for the antique toy hunter.

 You will want a toy whose paper is fairly intact. If it is loose in any way, you can repair it with white glue. Most of these Lithograph on wood toys are very affordable.
 The Bliss Company was on the forefront in making these toys, Noah's arks, blocks, ships, trains, games, Pianos....

 I'm afraid my little toy piano is in pretty rough shape as far as the litho art is concerned, It is barely there at all... but I paid a  pittance for the piano, so it was worth it.

Bliss was most famous for their dollhouses.

 Bliss Dollhouses can be pricey, but are clearly charming.

Bliss dollhouses are litho-covered wood, inside and out. The bricks, windows, balusters, curtains, everything... Is printed paper.
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 The front of the house opens up and....
 

The wallpaper, carpets and fireplace are already inside.

Even the furniture  was made of paper!

 You could get free furniture with the purchase of certain products such as Buttermilk Soap! Just cut it out, fold and paste.
 Now, the reason my Bliss Dollhouse is in such wonderful condition, is because it is NOT an antique, but rather, was made from a kit copying the original dollhouse down to the tiniest hinges.
Honestly, most of the antique Bliss dollhouses go for thousands of dollars, much too high for my budget, so, in this case, I am happy to make a reproduction.
And, I am about to make another one.

Here is another Bliss kit, which I hope to put together this evening so that I can add it to the Christmas display.

If you want to put a Bliss Dollhouse under your tree this year, the designer making the kits is Jean Nordquist, and you can find her online.
 PS. I happen to know there is a finished  Bliss Dollhouse on Ebay right this minute, it is just like mine!
Cheers to you, and off I go to find my glue and scissors......

Christmas dress for a 19th century doll sewn on a Red Eye Singer

 Firstly, for my sewing machine loving, quilting  and needle-working friends. rejoice with me on  success in my quest for a Beautiful RED-eye SINGER. 

This was a lucky deal as I had been SEARCHING for one on Ebay and then ending up FINDING one in my own  neck of the woods  at a local antiques Shop for $75. I scarcely believed my eyes  when I entered this Shop on a whim,and there she was,  A RED EYE Singer, in wonderful condition!

 We brought her home, plugged her in and walah! Runs like a champ.

 According to the serial number this model was made in 1924, the last year they made the RED EYES, so  named for the red "eye" designs on the fabulous markings. These were first manufactured in 1910 as treadle and hand cranked machines.

For my first project using this machine , I decided to make a Christmas dress for this poor old doll...

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These  Bisque head dolls with leather bodies, were made in Germany between the 1860's and 1900.

She has a patch on her back, and her WIG is disintegrating beyond belief, it's horrid.  Other than that, her leather body is in good condition for such an old gal.

 Having those black stockings and lacy pantaloons has helped preserve her cloth feet, stuffed with sawdust. Only 2 small holes appear. I believe the legging items are original to her.

I purchased her about 30 years ago and she has never had a proper dress.  She has worn this ghastly, ill-fitting old "rag of a gown", all this time.

 It was never HER dress, just a hand-me-down from some other dolly... but she was wearing it when I purchased her and HAS DONE, ever since.

 Referring to the full size pattern I used when sewing my own Charles Dickens dress a few years ago, I adapted the pieces to make a Victorian 1850's-1860's dress for this poor neglected soul.

 The RED EYE stitches very nicely, but I am having trouble adjusting the stitch size. Does anyone know how to change the stitch width on this machine? Also, I can't seem to figure out reverse; anyone?

  It did not take much time to make her a Christmas dress. The waistband on the skirt and bodice were hand-stitched, all else was done on the machine.
The dropped shoulders and billowing sleeves are typical of the mid 1800's

Tiny buttons and a few snaps, hooks and eyes, and the 19th century dolly has a new wardrobe. She will soon have a new head of hair,  I have ordered a wig for her. Mamsey Bear has lent her a bonnet and a cap..until she is able to have her own..

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After all, Mamsey Bear has many bonnets.

This little linen over-blouse came with the doll and is very appropriate to wear with the frock, the colors mesh perfectly.

Now that she is in perfect garb, she can join the Southern Belles and Ida the Wooden Penny in the Shoefly Rocker....  It is time to go caroling!

But wait, She has no name!

     Can you believe she's not been named in all these years?! Now, it is your turn, please name the dolly for me, keeping in mind she is from the Victorian period. I will take the names you provide, and on January 1st, I will ask her which name she likes best.
THIS IS THE "NAME DOLLY contest.
 You can email me with a doll's name if your prefer:  jeri@hopalonggreetings.com

The winning name will receive a lovely gift from here in Hopalong Hollow. I'll let you know about that soon.

For now,  I wish to thank those of you  reading this blog, whether you are a frequent commenter or tend to read in anonymity, Merry Christmas to all!

And from SCROOGE (he was an actor strolling past my booth) and myself, here is a Tiny Tim Christmas greeting: "God Bless us Every one!"

Please listen to this wonderful group singing "I Wander as I Wander" Start the music at .55

Her original chorus is just awe-inspiring!

Christmas in a funny OLDE House.

 Welcome to Christmas in the Hollow

 Our old house was made for Christmas. There is just something Scrooge -like about creaking stairways. Nothing reflects twinkling lights quite as nicely as wavy window glass and ceilings tall enough to accommodate a 10 foot tree, if you so desire, are ideal.

 Christmas is all around the house.

The first  Christmas tree you will see at this old house, is on the porch.

This is what I call a Charlie Brown tree. I bought it 20 years ago at a folk-art show. It was made to look very wiry and wild, crooked and primitive.

 

 I've adorned it  in birds, nests, fruits and feathers. The dozens of peacock feathers dropped by the boys this year, were perfect for this tree.

Even the chickens are in the Christmas spirit when confronted with their very own tree!

Jolly good!

No need to peek in the window..

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 Just turn the crank and ring the doorbell .It is loud enough to wake Jacob Marley!

Welcome, to Ochre Moon Manor.

 See the little bells above the window? They are "shop bells" and sound the sweetest little "tinkle, tinkle", when you open the door.

The warm pine woodwork has the perfect patina.

Please step into my parlor...

 Our house was built in the late 1890's. I have never been able to ascertain the exact date, although I have given it a thorough study.

I know that in 1899, Sears Catalog began selling "house parts".  I have  a copy of the catalog and in it are the exact window sashes, mantles, doors, stairway spindles , finials and balusters, as in this house. This is most certainly a house built with parts from the Sears Company.

 There are two fireplaces, and mantles are perfect for adding seasonal frills, but not too many.

The one above is in the parlor.

Ever since childhood, I wanted to live in an OLD house and fill it with old things.

I love our old house. It is very simple, a box really. It is a Square house with a hipped roof, large bedrooms and tall ceilings.

I'm not a purist when it comes to a particular period style. I like warm, old, worn and comfortable.  This is our  Americana room.... it is Red, White, and Blue. 

  I have stenciled the entire room and the walls all the way up the stairway, to the top of the ceiling

I can't remember if this was a Ralph Lauren Stencil or a Raymond Waites... it was one of those guys.

. ( That was a scary job, standing atop that ladder which was perched on the stairs)

  My tree of choice for this Early American room is my "Appalachia" tree, cut from our woods, it is a scrawny cedar. It is tall and skinny, just like Bob Crachet.

It is bedecked the old- fashioned way...

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with

Dried oranges,

 (Slice them 1/4 inch, bake on greased cookie sheet at 200 for about 3 hours,

and German folded paper stars, fun and easy to make, especially for children!

 Directions abound on YouTube.

We added

Cranberries for the COLOR RED!

The tree is set upon a table near the stairway, it is so tall, that it pokes up past the parlor ceiling and up to the landing.

Little old dolls and bears make their yearly appearance neath this tree.

Toys, toys and toys, from a bygone era. No video games allowed.

 Beeswax bunnies, cloth hearts and dozens of rusty sleigh bells hang from the branches.

 

 Some one under that tree is wearing Fiona's bonnet!

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 The "Southern belles" admire the tree from their shoefly rocker.

 

Do you love snow balls?  A BEAR,  PENGUINS AND A CARDINAL, and little puzzle blocks too.

The paper mache nativity is very old,  and is a combination of sets. We have 2 Marys, 5 wise men and 2 baby Jesus! I let them take turns every other year.

 There's always an over abundance of animals as I pull them from  collections all over the house.

 I had to empty the entire bottom shelf just to get my donkeys and cows.

 You can never have too many sheep!

    Golly, I hope I am not BORING you to death!! It's just that I reallllly like to decorate for this holiday, and I have to show  SOMEBODY!

     Up the stairs and into the bathroom, we've  created a more Edwardian look, early 1900's. On the dresser is a Feather tree with Blown glass ornaments. Feather trees were the first artificial Christmas trees. They are made from turkey and goose feathers, dyed green, and wrapped round wire boughs. These were produced after the Civil War. They came in sizes from 5" to 8 feet tall.

 IF you are still with me.... and I know you have things to do, but IF you are still here, please come into my Keeping room, where we have been making POMANDERS.

 

  I had a marvelous 3rd grade teacher, who taught us how to make these in class. That classroom smelled so good!

I hope you feel as though you've stepped back in time, our home is for the nostalgic hearted folk.

         This tabletop tree is a Frasier fir, and it has my very BEST ornaments on it. Some have memories of childhood, mine and my children, others are simply delicate old beauties I have gathered from here and there. You know how it is with ornaments... they hold memories, they have meaning.

 The tree is sitting upon an antique "washing Machine"(hand cranked and made of wood and tin)

         The first candle holders to appear on trees had  a long wire and a weighted ball on the end, these appeared in the 1870's, followed by the little tin "clip-ons". Both types are clinging to these branches. Of course, we are not crazy enough to actually light the candles. I love authenticity, but I am not taking any chances.

The use of candles on Christmas trees ended in the 1920's, with the advent of ELECTRIC Christmas lights!

YOWZA!

This set still works!

 Our little tour ends with the rocking horse above a cupboard, even though I could show you 2 more trees, I will relent.

  And since you have been good enough to keep me company all through this tour, I would like to reward one of you. If you are a READER of this blog, you needn't be a follower, you can even be a lurker, but to thank those of you who read my Gazette throughout the year, I have a Christmas gift for one of you.

This is a very special gift,

 one of my paper gardens.

On Christmas day, someone will win this "Hopalong Garden under Glass".

Leave a comment, let yourself be known.

On Christmas day I will pluck a name from our 5th Christmas tree, the one I DIDN'T show you.

 In the meantime, As Tasha Tudor would say, "Take Peace, Take Joy!"