A Bear Census?

Jen decided to join a new group on Yahoo! called Teddy Bears Picnic. She has been working on making a house for some tiny bears and furnishings that she is planning to make from some discontinued Gail Wilson kits that have been under her bed for a long time. She thought having some friends to talk bears with would be fun and might motivate her to keep playing with her bears.

I think Jen's OCD tendencies kicked in and she thought that it would be a good idea to see just what bears are living here. Bears are a lot like Hittys. You invite one to live with you, and before you know it, their family, friends and distant relatives are all coming to visit and never leave. I helped her begin her project to document all of the bears who live here. We didn't even finish taking photos of the hug living in the family room when the battery in the camera died. This project could take a while! We are only taking a census of bears. Hares, sheep, kittens and puppies are not going to be counted on grounds that it might incriminate us. I took a few pictures of my bears, even though I love my bunny the best! So, here are some photos from this afternoon.

This bear came with my plaid dress and sweater I was wearing in the last post:


This bear was given to me by Erica and Maggie when I came to live here. They are Sissel Skille girls. They received this bear in a swap. It was nice of them to share her with me.


Here I am with some of the bears who were waiting for their turn to get their picture taken.


It was a very nice day.


You can see the rest of the pictures we took in Jen's Picasa album, here: http://picasaweb.google.com/ChesBayHittyMom/TheTeddyBearHug


- Samantha

Getting Ready for Fall

Sometimes hard work pays off! We've been cleaning up, cleaning out and getting organized, and it has finally paid off for me with a little second-hand clothing find! Jen found this dress on an old teddy bear. The bear was not in very good condition, so she will be going in the charity bin, but the dress was pretty, if you could overlook the buttons with the worn off covers. Jen replaced the buttons and put a few darts in the back, and now it is perfect for this time of year when it is warm outside, but your mind is racing towards fall.


It looks very nice with my brown patent leather mary janes, too, don't ya think? Even better, the dress had a little sweater to go with it. Perfect for when those chilly morning and evenings come. Jen sewed a button and loop on it so that it wouldn't slip off my shoulders; it is a bit big for me, but it is soft and comfy.


I think this outfit would be perfect for going back to school!

- Samantha

Exhausted

I am so tired, I think I must be exhausted. For some reason, August seems to be the month that this family works the hardest! They must realized that the kids will soon be back to school and put everything they've been putting off doing on their "to do" list. This month, I've seen walls washed, floors scrubbed and polished, the refrigerator and freezer cleaned out, curtains washed, and windows tinted with UV film! To top it off, today was spent cleaning out the basement. They aren't done yet, there is more work to do tomorrow. Sigh. I've tried to help by cleaning up my things, but I guess you might have noticed that there are a few things under my bed that still need to be put away. Don't tell Jen, okay? I'll take care of it...tomorrow.

-Samantha

A Companion Doll of Another Kind

This story begins several months ago, in the Spring. When Gail Wilson had a sale earlier this year, I purchased "extra parts" to make 3 Hitty dolls -a second one for me, one for my daughter, and one for my mother (for her birthday). I decided not to keep my daughter in the dark, and actually let her help me make hers and my mother's (the basic painting and some of the sewing). I figured, while we were doing all that painting, I may as well get out another GW kit that I had for the Early American Companion Doll (a picture of Gail's doll is here: http://www.gailwilsondesigns.com/catalog/ea_series.html). It involved similar painting and assembly, so why not? I enjoyed making this doll a lot, in fact, I was a lot less stressed about it than I can be sometimes when I'm making something from a new pattern or kit. I kept putting her aside to move other projects along. I got her pantalettes made, but didn't even finish her chemise because I was trying to get Hitty things made for gifts, and clothes for BJDs who were naked - she "borrowed" a dress that I had made using a Gail Wilson doll pattern for my Raikes Hope doll - the sleeves were long, but my daughter rolled up the cuffs and at least she was "decent." She'd been sitting on the GW EA bed on my dresser, patiently waiting until I could get back to making her chemise and her own dress, slip, pinafore and bonnet. I tried to name her Charlotte, a nice "old fashioned" name, but it didn't work. Last week, I decided to call her Elizabeth, because I had sold a doll named Elizabeth a few months ago, and I always liked that name and wanted to use the name again for a special doll.
Anyway, one night last week, while getting ready for bed, I saw her. She was glowing up at me under the light of an antique (electrified) oil lamp's pink glass shade. I've had that lamp since I was a very little girl, and always loved that rosy glow. She seemed to be saying "HEY! LOOK AT ME! I am a COMPANION doll, after all!" She took my heart and wrapped it around hers at that very moment. She's the one who's been happily riding along in my purse, just for the company. She is sure that someday soon I will get to making her her own dress, and maybe even take a picture of her. She is content to just be "mine." I think it might have something to do with her being something I created, but I've made many dolls. I love my resin and vinyl dolls, but I also love my antique doll, and my Hittys and my old fashioned cloth dolls. I grew up with The Waltons and Little House on the Prairie, and trips to Mount Vernon, Williamsburg, Ft. McHenry and Gettysburg. I think that some dolls are just dolls, some become friends, and some end up being more than that, a true companion. Maybe I have more than one companion doll after all.
Here's Elizabeth, where I "first saw her."


Here is another picture of her in more natural light.


Her head, lower arms and hands, and lower legs and shoes are made of painted paper mache. The rest of her is cloth stuffed with wool. She has a very nice feel in your hands. Her hair is simple - never a hair out of place. I am so glad that Gail Wilson created this kit, she is one of my favorites by Gail.

-Jen

Black Eyed Susans

It has been very, very hot here, and very dry. The grass is mostly tan and brown, except for an occasional green weed. Jen was afraid that she was going to loose her black eyed susans this year, since there have been fewer and fewer over the past few years. They don't look too bad now, do they? These flowers came from plants in Jen's mom's garden - and she got her original plants from her mother's garden. Pretty neat, huh? The black eyed susan is our state flower. I think they are nice and bright and sunny - just like a nice summer day.

-Samantha