Getting Ready for Christmas: Baking Day

Hi!  It's me - Gwynith Linette.  Bet you thought I'd left the planet, right?  Ha!  Nope, I'm still around.  I've just been really busy with things like school and homework and other stuff.  Guess what?  

One of my best friends, Olivia, came over today!  And guess what we did?

We made a huge mess in the kitchen.  We made cupcakes, and cookies, and rice crispy treats...

And a gingerbread house!  Isn't it cool?

We had a lot of fun working together to make lots of treats for our friends,

But the gingerbread house is my favorite.  I've always wanted to make one!  It's so pretty, I don't want to eat it!

Toasty invited her friends over, too!  Meatloaf, Pepper, Sugar and Toasty were really hoping we'd drop a lot of things on the floor for them so that they could help clean up!

Everybody, smile for the camera!  It's really hard to get the dogs to focus!  Ha, ha!

I can't wait for Christmas!  I hope you are having fun getting ready, too!

Picking Out School Clothes

It was a dreary, rainy day in Maryland today.  The girls decided to pick out some clothes for wearing back to school.  They decided to have a little fashion show and use the island in the kitchen as their stage.  Here's what they picked out.

Gwynith Linette picked denim capris with a top and vest:
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Isabelle thought just throwing on a jacket would be enough for fall!  Since she goes to a special school, she spends more time in dance clothes than street clothes!


Saige couldn't wait to get out her colorful Southwest flavored sweater!
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Lanie wanted to keep things simple:


Kanani liked the purple and blue outfit and thought the boots would be a fun change from island wear.


Olivia chose a soft corduroy jumper and ankle boots.


Wendy thought a plaid dress would be pretty, even if it isn't practical for playing.


The girls had a lot of fun for it being the last Saturday before school starts.  They all promised to get their person to try to post on the blog more, too!

A Day Trip to Frederick County, MD

Saturday was a beautiful day in Maryland.  Not the usual hot, sticky humid weather we've been living with all summer. We drove up to Frederick, MD to do some photography and see the sites.  We began in the city, walking the Carroll Creek "riverwalk", visiting the old, historic neighborhoods, saw the church spires (steeples), did some shopping, ate lunch at "The Cellar," visited the National Civil War Museum of Medicine, and took a road trip to see three covered bridges.

Louisa was along for the ride, but I only got one photo of her!



This Flickr set contains all the non-doll photos of the day:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jlp2000/sets/72157635443405758/with/9705258580/

The End of Summer

Danielle:  Hi, Heather and Louisa!  Haven't seen you in a while.  How was your summer?



Louisa:  It's been okay.  I'm kinda bored.  School will start soon, but I'm not sure if I'm looking forward to it or not.



Danielle:  I'm looking forward to it!  I love the projects we get to work on.



Heather:  I love art.



Louisa:  But recess is the best!

The Search for Sulley

Boo heard something!

Was it coming from the closet?

"Kitty?"

"Kitty?"

"Kitty?"

"Kitty?"

"Boo!"

"Kitty!"

"Mike Wazowki!"

"La la la la la la!"

"Boo!"

This story is actually my homework for my Intermediate/Advanced Photography class.  We had to take 12 photos using low light spot metering without using a flash (all manual mode).  Boo followed me home from the Disney store a couple months ago and has been waiting for a chance to have her picture taken.  She has a limited vocabulary, but is naive, curious and loves looking for Sulley (Kitty).  

Hearts 4 Hearts Mosi

I have been waiting for this doll for more than a year.  Hearts4Hearts Girls fans were hoping she would be released during the Summer 2012 release (when Lauryce - now known as Lisa - came here).  There were some delays, and  finally the company announced to their fans that she was on her way to stores a week or two ago.  I've been regularly checking Amazon (since the Target site always says they have H4H dolls, but the selection is never what the web says).  I finally spotted her this week on Amazon, and ordered her right away.  I was lucky, because she was sold out by the evening.  I feel really lucky to see her when I did and was able to decide quickly - there are a lot of fans who will have to wait longer.

I am excited to have another Native American doll in my collection.  My husband's grandmother (mom's mom) was part Indian (Cherokee?), and his father told him there was Indian on his side of the family as well.

She is a really cute doll - even more adorable than in photos. 

I took this photo using something I learned this week in my Intermediate/Advanced Digital Photography class -  how to meter and adjust the flash strength when in a backlit situation.  I'm really glad I know how to deal with that now - will make winter/indoor photography so much easier!  

New Summer Play Clothes

Greta and Melissa got some new summer play clothes earlier in June.  It took a while to find the time to take a photo of them in their new clothes.  This was a "free" project - the fabric came out of the fabric collection, and the pattern was graciously shared by weemedesigns (Barb W.) with those of us who are members of the Heartstringdolls Yahoo! group.

Friday Night's Preakness Celebration

On Friday evening, after work, we met a friend at Chik-Fil-A and then rode to Howard County Fairgrounds, where we caught a shuttle (school) bus to Turf Valley for a Preakness Celebration.
Can you tell what kind of celebration it was?

Here's a bigger hint:

We saw a lot of hot air balloons, but the highlight of the evening is the "Balloon Glow."  It was really cool!

The MC would count "One-Two-Three" and then everyone there would shout "Glow Please!"  And the balloon operators would try to make their balloons glow all at the same time!

We were really glad we got to see it!  If you want to see more balloon photos, they are posted here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jlp2000/sets/72157633522224371/with/8755872522/

Meet Violet Elisabeth

A lot of my doll-friends live with Schoenhut doll companions.  While I love wooden dolls, history and vintage/old dolls, I was able to resist the "bug" to get one for a long time.  But I was still curious, and would look occassionlly at listings for Schoenhuts.  Last month, I saw one that had a repainted face that just called out to me, so after given it some thought for a few days, I placed a bid and waited.  No one bid against me, so she was to be mine!
When she arrived, I discovered that her wig which "needed styling" would never survive anything beyond being displayed on a doll under a glass dome - not what I intended for my doll!  So, I ordered a new human hair wig in a style that I liked.
While waiting for her wig to arrive, I somehow knew her name was Violet.  Under the warm indoor lights, she had such cute, big brown eyes. That's what happens when the only dolly play you find time for is late at night!  When I finally had time to look at my doll in the sunshine, I discovered that her eyes are actually a very deep indigo violet!
I was able to get a photo of her on Saturday, before I glued down her wig.  It fits well, but the elastic made it want to pop up without the glue!

Yesterday, we oiled her squeaky joints.  Today, I wiped down her body, glued down her wig and redressed her.  I am very glad to have her here.  Now I understand the Schoenhut love!

Melissa at Skyline Drive

Last month, we took a Saturday day trip to Virgnia.  In the morning, we visited Luray Caverns.  Our tour was very full, so it was hard to take photos.  After lunch at the Artisan's Gril (yummy hamburgers there), we went for a drive on Skyline Drive, which goes through the Shenandoah National Park.  We stopped at the overlooks and took a lot of photos.







There are more photos of the trip,without Melissa, here:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/jlp2000/sets/72157633425262410/with/8710098913/

Melissa's ready for warm days!

The first half of last week was really warm for April in Maryland!  On Tuesday afternoon, my car thermometer said it was 97 degrees!  Definitely NOT typical temps.  Melissa begged me to let her put on her one-and-only and brand-new shorts outfit - Jo Flitton's Cotton Candy outfit with a knit top by her sister, Patt.  She loves it so much, that even though the temperatures are now in the more seasonal 60's, she's not ready to change into something a tad bit warmer.

And now she says she needs a lot of summer play clothes!  I think I'm in trouble!

Bleuettes and a Rosette

I just love history!  I hadn't heard of Downton Abbey until fairly recently, but watching one episode on Netflix was all it took, and I was hooked.  I think my husband, daughter and I watched all three seasons in only a few weeks - if that!
All that retro viewing has me in a "historic" frame of mind.  One thing leads to another, and before you know it, my Bleuette duo has turned into a trio, with an "older sister" Rosette repro joining into the mix!  I'm so bad at resisting these lovelies!
I took this photo late Sunday morning after church.  By Monday morning, we had snow on the ground, and now all my poor daffodils are struggling to upright themselves, even though the snow is mostly gone.

So, shall I introduce my lovely girls?  You know my first girl, Nicole Patrice.  She is a "Seeley Gold" mold made by Pat Neff, with a dark blond, human hair wig that I purchased from Janice Naibert.  She arrived June 22, 2005.   It is hard to believe she's been here almost 8 years!  She's wearing a new sleeveless dress and wool felt jacket that I made for her a few weeks ago, and brand new pale pink shoes from Georgette Bravot in France!  Oh, la, la!

You also know Gabrielle.  She is a Unis France 301 reproduction by Madelyn Baughman.  She arrived on May 9, 2011.  She's wearing a dress that I received in a Bleuette Round Robin exchange.  My theme was "A Few of My Favorite Things," and Nicole Patrice received many lovely things inspired by one of my favorite movies (The Sound of Music).  I'm sure I have a note somewhere regarding who made it, but haven't searched it out.

Now for the new girls!  First, Chloe arrived.  Technically, I suppose you'd say she is a "Bleuette Friend."  She is a Tete Jumeau mold and was made by Candy Anderson.  She is wearing a dress I made in 2011 - The pattern, by Linda Deiner and published in a magazine in April 2004, comes from the Gautier-Languereau 1930 catalog.  Chloe's hair looks more red in the sunshine than it does when she's indoors!  She arrived on February 21st, this year.

And finanlly, the newest girl, Annette!  She is a Rosette, also by Candy Anderson.  She is the Byron mold, that is also used by Bravot. Rosette appeared in the Hiver 1955-1956 G-L catalogu,e with outfits and
accessories matching Bleuette's were available for sale.   Rosette is 35 cm tall and articulate with real lashes. The original Rosette is marked UNIS FRANCE 301 71 149, with a 3 at the base of the neck and 3 on her foot.  I suppose Annette technically isn't exactly a Rosette, since she is a different mold, but there are several Mamans who say she is, so so will I!  She is still wearing the lvoely black and white dress she arrived in, since she just got here last week, on March 20th!  I am afraid I have a long line of projects ahead of a new dress for Annette, but she might just convince me to reprioritize!

I believe that there is one more Bleutte out there calling my name, but then that will be it for awhile.  The Christmas, anniversary, bonus and Mother's Day money will all be spent, and these lovelies will be demanding new patterns, fabrics, laces, ribbons, and shoes!

Adieu pour aujourd'hui, mes amis!

A Flowery Day!

Last Friday, we went to a place called Longwood Gardens. They were having an "Orchid Extravaganza."
There were orchids all over the conservatory, but there were also a lot of other pretty flowers in bloom!

It is hard to imagine how big the Conservatory is - it is much bigger than our backyard!

We saw a lot of Columbines.  These were a very pretty pink, but they come in other colors, too!

We discovered the Children's Garden in the conservatory, too.  It has fun scultpures and fountains, walls, spiral stairways and lots of surprises!

We brought home 2 miniature violets to remember our visit.

You can see more photos that we took of the flowers in this Flickr set, beginning here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jlp2000/8567102150/in/set-72157629384550878

Melissa (and Jen)