Happy Halloween From Dollie and Me

Several years ago I stumbled upon a book while living in England.  It was about a doll named Blythe.  I was very interested because I had a Blythe doll when I was young.  The book is Hello Blythe!  30 Postcards (Collectible Postcards), by Gina Garan (publisher: Chronicle Books, published: March 26, 2004).  The book was about Blythe's travels told in postcards.   I bought the book and really got a kick out of it. 

Here's a picture of my vintage Blythe doll:

At the time I didn't know new Blythe dolls were being made.  The current Blythe web site says:

Manufactured by Kenner in 1972, the original Blythe (now known as “vintage”) was produced for only one year and then was retired because of poor sales.

Thirty years later, in 1999, Junko Wong, President and CEO of CWC saw Blythe snapshots at the CWC New York office opening party. She fell in love with Blythe and knew she would be an instant sensation in Japan.

Then, in late 2000, she made her comeback in Japan when CWC produced a charming TV commercial for Parco department store starring Blythe. After the TV spotlight she became an overnight sensation in Japan and Asia.

 
Neo Blythe was reborn, no longer as a child’s toy but as a fashion doll appealing to adult doll collectors. Neo Blythe ushered in the era of contemporary doll culture and collecting.

Fast forward nine years.  This time I stumbled over a eighteen inch doll called Dollie and Me.  Made by the Madame Alexander Doll Company, she reminded me of an American Girl doll, only less expensive (and just as beautiful).  For some reason I got it in my head that I could do with this doll what Gina Garan did with her Blythe doll in her book - only I would photograph my doll in various holiday outfits instead of travel sites.  I guess it popped into my head because I'm taking a beginner's photography class and needed a subject.

I bought the doll and embarked on a shopping spree for her on ebay.  After purchasing dozens of outfits, shoes, tights, etc. I was ready.  This is my first "official" holiday picture:

 

 

 

I didn't make the outfit (I'm not a good seamstress) but I did make a necklace for her to go with the outfit:

 

Here she is in her trick-or-treat outfit:

Next is a Thanksgiving shot.  And maybe a Thanksgiving necklace!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN FROM DOLLIE AND ME!

 

 

 

Preppy?!

Paul's Post

I was recently looking up some info on one of my favorite designers, Daniel Cremieux.  The paisley shirts that I talked about in an earlier blog are from Cremieux.  I found a reference to Cremieux on Wikipedia that described it as "a brand of preppy style clothing."  Preppy?! Me?! That can't be right.
 
This gives away my age, I guess, but I remember when I was in high school that preppy was for the well-to-do kids, but something to be avoided for everyone else.  I remember things that made fun of "preppies" like the "Official Preppy Handbook" by Lisa Birnbach.

I then read more on Preppy in Wiki and found this statement "Examples of preppy attire include argyle sweaters, crewneck sweaters, grosgrain or woven leather belts, chinos, madras, Nantucket Reds, button down Oxford cloth shirts, seersucker cotton suiting, pearl necklaces and earrings, gold bangle or large chain bracelets, loafers and boat shoes."

I then thought about my wardrobe and thought - Oh my God, I am preppy!

For example here are just a few of my sweaters:

Argyle sweaters - Strike one!

I always were oxford cloth shirts with a button down collar to the office - Strike two!

These are then a few of the shoes that I have bought recently. 

 

 

Boat shoes - Strike three!!!

 

And in addition, I almost always wear chinos rather than jeans and I use braided leather belts.

I guess I'm going to have to accept this.  But it's not all bad.  At least things like baggy cargo pants and torn jeans are out of fashion.

Yes, he is preppy.  I can vouch for it.  But if I was thinner, I'd be a fashionista! - Lisa

Romeo and Juliet

Today we saw the new Romeo and Juliet movie.  It was directed by Carlo Carlei and stars Douglas Booth as Romeo.  It was quite good, really.  I've also seen the version with Leonard Whiting as Romeo (directed by Franco Zeffirelli and released in 1968).  I was too young to see it in 1968, but when I did see it in my teens - and I saw Romeo - YOWZA!  He was gorgeous!  I developed an immediate, huge crush on Leonard Whiting.  Oh, Juliet was OK but Romeo was absolutely dreamy.  Now I've seen Douglas Booth as Romeo and it was yet another YOWZA moment!  He's pretty dreamy too.  I don't know which I like better.  You can decide for yourself.


 

Leonard Whiting

 

Douglas Booth

Covered Bridge Festival in Parke County, Indiana

Yesterday we went to the Covered Bridge Festival in Parke County, Indiana.  Apparently Parke County is the "covered bridge capital of the world".   The festival is headquartered in Rockville, the county seat.  There are a lot of things to do and see, but we got caught in a massive traffic jam on the way there (30 minutes!), and even though we left early we still didn't have enough time to see everything.  In fact, I think it's unlikely a person can see and do everything in one day.

It was fun.  There are a lot of craft and antique dealers.  We found some cat items:

Another salt and pepper set for the collection!

And this hilarious wine bottle holder.  Paul is a wine lover and we couldn't pass this up!

There are 31 covered bridges in the county.  We went on a drive to see several of them.  Here are a few pictures:

The festival runs from October 11 to 20.  Here's the link for the info about the festival:

http://www.coveredbridges.com/

A Day in Centerville, Indiana

It was a cool, rainy day yesterday (Saturday) so we decided to go to Centerville, Indiana to one of our favorite antique malls.  We have several favorites that we visit about once a year - usually in the fall and winter on dark, gloomy days.  The one we visited yesterday used to be called Webb's Antique Mall but it's now called the Centerville Antique Mall.

We've discovered that you can't judge an antique mall by what it looks like on the outside.  We've found some really wonderful stuff  in the crummiest looking malls.

Usually we like to just look but I have a cat salt and pepper shaker collection that keeps growing, mainly because of antique malls (well...and ebay too).  This is one of the sets that I bought.

Yep, they're salt and pepper shakers.  I have dozens and dozens (Really it's about 150 sets! and we're having trouble displaying them all. - Paul) sets of cat salt and pepper shakers.  Most are quite inexpensive but they're lots of fun.  Some are pretty but most are silly.  (I have cat cookie jars and cat teapots as well but I'll talk about them another time.)

   
This is one of my favorite sets currently on display.

I keep threatening to open a cat salt and pepper shaker museum some day. (If that gets them out of the house, I'm all for it. - Paul)  It may sound silly but we discovered a salt and pepper shaker museum in Gatlinburg, Tennessee recently.  It was really fun.  If you're interested, Trip Advisor has some pictures and info on it.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g60842-d1458613-Reviews-Salt_and_Pepper_Shaker_Museum-Gatlinburg_Tennessee.html

I don't see why I can't do one myself someday after I retire.

After the antique mall, we went to the Warm Glow Candle Company Outlet Store - also in Centerville.

We've never been there before.  It was really nice.  It had huge selection of candles, jewelry, holiday and gift-y items.  We bought a clove scented candle.  Mix it with a cinnamon scented candle and the house should smell like gingersnaps!

What a fun way to spend a dreary day.