Dolls on Hannah’s Christmas Tree

    I made this doll to represent a Halloween costume that Hannah wore when she was just in preschool.

This little angel was influenced by a Victorian postcard I think. It was mass produced.

The Spanish flamingo dancer was salvaged from a dusty booth in a flee market.

This is a stacking doll from China; there are three smaller versions inside this Santa.

A porcelain doll that I hand painted several years before Hannah was born.

Another porcelain doll that I painted as a teen long before Hannah was born.

Dolls On & Under Other People’s Trees:

• Barbie Hallmark Christmas Ornaments
• The Doll Under the Christmas Tree
• Merry Christmas Tree Topper Doll
• L. Nichols, Christmas tree fairy doll maker
• My moms doll Christmas tree from 2007
• Top 10 Ways To Decorate For Christmas Using Dolls
• Show and Tell Friday . . . My Doll Christmas Tree
• Christmas tree fairy doll

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• Most Expensive Christmas Tree 2010 (whiteflash.com)
• The Perfect Christmas Tree (clctreeservices.wordpress.com)
• Wondering where to get your Christmas tree this year? (greenville.wzzm13.com)
• Christmas tree costing S$5.2m goes on display in Japan (todayonline.com)
• Youngstown Christmas Tree Chosen (wytv.com)
• World’s most expensive Christmas tree can be yours for $4.2M (canada.com)
• Metropolitan Museum of Art Christmas Tree (bigappledippedincaramel.wordpress.com)
• Trafalgar square, Christmas tree, Thursday 6 December (thestayclublondon.wordpress.com)

A One Hundred Year Old Doll House

I took photos of this antique doll house in my kitchen garden. It once belonged to my mother-in-law and I will now pass it down to my younger daughter this Christmas. There are many handmade furnishings that were especially designed for it. I will include these along with measurements and templates in future articles.

Above is the side view of this 100 year old antique doll house.

The doll house has four rooms of equal size.

The roof of the doll house as seen from above.

The furnishings are mostly handcrafted. Above is an old-fashioned Welsh

cupboard, with miniature copper posts and brass candlesticks.

A hand-carved bed, tiny mattress, coverlet, and two tiny rose needlepoint

pillows provide a cozy place for small dolls to sleep.

A close up shot of the walls and curtains inside the doll house.

The doll house has two side entrances with windows.

The second entrance distinguished by red curtains and an

ornate red and blue print wall paper.

A dresser, movable vanity mirror, wash basin with a pitcher,

a fancy brass crib and a small plastic baby all accompanied this doll

house when my mother-in-law first purchased it.

A small child must have sculpted this bathtub and baby from homemade clay.

This Kitchen table and chair and cupboard also was hand crafted by

the doll house’s former owner. The mouth blown glass oil lamp was one if

the few tiny decorative objects to accompany the furnishings.

Unlike many modern doll houses, this antique version was designed

to be displayed with it’s back against a wall; it has a plain simple cabinet back.

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• Rocket ship/doll house (boingboing.net)
• Doll’s house (phoblo.wordpress.com)
• Mini art (friedawaldorfdolls.com)
• Dolls’ house had royal seal of approval (independent.co.uk)
• Thrifty Thursday: Game Board to Doll House (cosmocricket.typepad.com)

My first painted canvas doll . . .

My first painted canvas doll for now, resides in a large steamer trunk.

Painted canvas doll links:

• Violet at Maminka Girl Studio
• Mumbles Mummy by Bethany Lowe
• “Niagara Falls,” painted canvas doll
• Primitive Painted Rag Doll
• Canvas “Columbian” Inspired Dolls
• Circa 1873 Reproduction Izannah Walker Dolls
• Felt Plushy Dolls – these have painted canvas faces

Agnus & Ruby Rescued from Resale!

Left, is Agnus and right, in red, is Ruby. These old gals were rescued from a dusty and forgotten toy box at a local resale shop. Both are sock dolls and I think they were sewn in the 1940s or 50s? In any case, they are safe now and have plenty of opportunities to relax, drink tea and gossip with a variety of travel dolls. They no longer need fear the trash heap.

Recently, Aunt Marlene donated the lovely pocket watch pin to Agnus. I think it suites her attire. She is a bit elderly and sometimes forgets to wake from a nap for afternoon tea. The pocket watch should come in handy!

A Pale Yellow Doll Cradle

I purchased this old, pale, yellow doll cradle in a garage sale for $1.50! Some of our readers are interested in building doll furniture so I thought I might include pictures of pieces from my own collection to give you ideas.

My mother-in-law gave to me a small doll blanket that my husband had played with when he was a little boy. He carried it about with his bunny, Lewis. He was only two and it was the sweetest thing for a mother to keep. I just couldn’t imagine such a rugged, athletic man to have such a possession!

I made a doll mattress from an old baby sheet for the cradle. This one, above, turned out a little too small, so I made a second from old ticking.

A picture of the assembled cradle with bedding from a side view.

The yellow cradle as seen from above, with a happy baby doll.

A vinyl baby belonging to my youngest daughter.

A corner shot for those of you drawing up doll furniture to design your own woodworking plans. I hope this gives you plenty of ideas!

More Doll Quilts:

• A Star Quilt Block For a Doll Quilt

My Belsnickel Candy Box

One year, o.k. every year, I had very little cash to spend on my husband at Christmas, so I sculpted a Belsnickel candy box. Was he impressed? Nope, not really. The pictures look pretty charming though?

Every guy wants a Belsnickel riding a pig for Christmas, right?

Full frontal view of my Belsnickel candy box.

I prefer Belsnickels riding pigs, roosters, donkeys, etc…

The details were store bought.

The miniature sled is my favorite.

Close-up of the pig with a little snow on his snout!

Related articles

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Felt Wee Folk by Salley Mavor

This book published in 2003 is exceptional for those of you who love to craft tiny things. I’m going to purchase it as soon as I have the cash. The one pictured above is from my local library and it is checked out frequently!

“Sally Mavor’s charming, bendable Wee Folk fairies and dolls are real show-stoppers. Learn to create your own tiny figures and accessories by hand, using wool felt, chenille stems, simple embellishments, and Salley’s new step-by-step guide.”

• 18 complete Wee Folk projects feature dolls, pins, purses, checkbook covers, pillows, and scenic backdrops
• Techniques include applique’, embroidery, thread wrapping, and painting, plus add your own buttons, beads, and “found objects”
• Ideal for dollmakers, quilters, and crafters of every skill level

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• Perfect Picture Book – A Pocketful of Posies (childrensbooksheal.com)
• Mala and Jude
• Gothic Faerie Doll
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• Doll Maker