Peddler girl

This is a 1950s Harriet Hubbard Avery doll that I found at a thrift store for $1.99.  Of course, I had no idea who she was when I first saw her.  

But her hair was a mess!  I think most people would donate a doll like this to the thrifty store!  Not me!  I love the challenge of trying to restore a doll to either it's original condition - or something completely different.   I did some research and found out that Harriet (in real life) lost her fortune several times, but re-invented herself each time and was a successful cosmetics manufacturer.  She went through great times of poverty and times of great wealth.  Interesting woman!

Remember Grandma's silver metal permanent rods?  Well, I still use them in my doll repair and I think her hair came out beautiful!

Hard to believe this is the same hair in the photo above!  The magic of Johnson's "no more tears"!  Yep - as simple as that!

I decided to completely alter her and turn her into a peddler girl.  Found the clothes on another doll at a thrift store for $4.00.  Yes, I paid more for the clothes than the doll....but I can't afford to sew them myself when I can find them for $4!

The little box is wood with holes drilled in the side for the jute around her neck.  Covered with paper and then distressed with ink.

I love all the little patches that came on her clothes - perfect for a peddler girl.

I left her barefoot - but she also has some vintage pantaloons on under her skirt.

I love miniatures and have been collecting them for years.  Went through my stash and came up with some totally fun things!  The "jack be nimble" is an actual working game - pull the lever and the ball bounces up to the top and  goes back to one of the little holders.  Had those as a kid but can't remember what they were called

Not sure you can see, but the little bear is holding a "Goldilocks" story book.  There's a ruler, pencil, scissors, and notepad on the edge of the box.  Lots of things to look at

  Harriet Hubbard Avery.  Restored. Remodeled.  Ready to be re-loved.  :o)

Making my own scrapbook papers

They say there is nothing new under the sun, but there just might be! I have been looking for spiritual scrapbook paper, religious, judaica.....and there's not much out there I've found that I like. So I'm working on making my own. Not sure I'm happy with the depth or color on these, but it's a start. And one has to start somewhere!

I combined elements from some of mom's watercolor paintings with backgrounds I have made, played around in photoshop and here's what I have so far:

Edited from the poster background I made

Done with the cricut elements from the poster I made:
More of mom's paintings:

the easiest one - photoshop brushes for most of it:

Much, much work to be done - but I'll print these and see how they turn out. I learned one thing today - if you can't find it, simply create it! I may never buy another piece of paper!

When I pick a place to play.....

I pick the best! Today, I thought I'd take you on a tour of Scrapbook Your Life! in San Diego CA, where I have been playing for the past 2 weeks....and will be "living" there most of this coming week!

6400 Square Feet.....that's SIX THOUSAND, 400 SQUARE FEET!!!! What a wonderland to play in!!!



More Disney, Vacation, Beach, San Diego, local tourist attractions......themed paper, stickers and embellies than you can fathom!



I call these "rounders", but they are square, with paper, stickers, chipboards, flowers, glitter...on all 4 sides...all coordinating...everywhere on the store floor. So much to see....so many things to buy!!!



My favorite paper this week:



with "to die for" chipboard embellies to match. I used these on my "MOM" acrylic word book that I will post tomorrow. I made the whole thing in under an hour! Sooooooo easy!!!



Now, in all honesty, I will confess....the store was looking a little sparse the last time I was out here. But wow! Have they stocked it up! And just in the last 2 - 3 weeks....everything is filling up fast! How do I know? Well, I was there til 11 pm last night and when I left, 3 very dedicated staff people were STILL there putting new product out on the shelves!!!



boy stuff, girl stuff, baby stuff....all the new Fiskar's baby line....with three peas in a pod! It's so totally cute. And I "don't do baby"! LOLOL!



So much glue, tape adhesive....where do I start? My cart is already so full....and my bags are way overweight for the trip home!!!




So much ribbon I couldn't get it all in the photo!!! Lots of drooling on my part. Ribbon is one of my great weaknesses!!!



paints, inks, pens, melt art, Ranger (yeah!)....this is probably my fav part of the store. I call this the "toy" section. And I am pushing, pushing, pushing for them to get in product. I even ordered some stuff for this section.....the new Scor-It Mini AND the tote for it....Tim Holtz sentiment keys, my fav colors of distress inks AND reinkers....just so much stuff that was being put out and added late last night after I took these pics!



So, here you go...the FAMOUS "wall of paper". As far as you can see. And this is JUST the patterned paper!!! Thousands of different designs. I promise...you come in and we'll count them together!



And the solid colored papers are on these squares....both sides! So much paper! I call my girlfriend a "paper whore".....but I think we could say the same for this store! Just so much paper...I LOVE IT!!!



At least a dozen more HUGE boxes of product to put out when I left at 11 pm!!!



Almost forgot the punch section. I do love my diecuts (Liz just ordered $2600.00 worth of Spellbinders nestabilities and new dies!!! Hope they get here this week!!!)



And the classroom where I will be this week! I promise the boxes will be gone today!!!



This store includes a play area for your kids with TV, Disney DVDs and toys. I've even seen grown men taking naps on the floor in the play area while they wait for their partners to finish shopping!

There's a computer in the class room, so your hubby can browse the internet while you are shopping....or you can take a break and check your emails (ok, who on earth does that when there's this much to buy???) :o)

This truly is a mecca of things to play with! Today, I promise to take lots of photos of new product and this might be a double-blog day....if I get home in time I'll add all those tonigh!

Ah! Wouldn't you love to be a mouse in my pocket today? Come and play the JLo way in a scrapbook mecca like this? I can hardly wait to get on the road and get down there just to see what's new on the shelves!!!

My class today is at 1 pm....so hurry on down, there are still openings. We're doing 4" x 4" square acrylic albums....and I'm changing out what we will be doing even as I type this (because there is so much new stuff in the store right now!)

Doors open at 10 am. If you get there before me.....don't buy it all!!!