ULLABENULLA

Mormors Sewing Machine

My sisters and I have this ongoing joke about "shopping at Mom's". Every once in a while, my parents decide its time to clean out their garage. The things they decide they don't have room for anymore are put to the side wall, and then we sisters can 'go shopping'! As the eldest and most nostalgic of the sisters I usually end up with the 'oldest' goods. Last week, among other treasures, I received my Grandmothers sewing machine!

An old hand-crank version, litterly held together with 'bandaids', (look at the lower left hand corner) this machine represents (to me) the heart of creativity on my mothers side of the family. My grandmother, a rather stylish lady, as seen in the photo of her out walking with my mother in the 30's, not only sewed her own clothing on this machine, but also most of the clothing for her 4 children.

And then when her own children left the nest, she began sewing for all the grandchildren! I still have the wonderful 'doll clothes bag' she made for my 5th birthday. Unfortunately the doll clothes are long gone, but it did arrive with an outfit or two. She also sewed bedside hangings for all of us grandkids, and occassional 'special' items, like this little 'apron dress' (with girl and carriage appliqued on front) that I am wearing in this old photo from the 60's.


My own mother learned to sew on this machine, and like my grandmother, sewed most of my clothing when I was small. Looking at the well worn cogs and lovely patina of the ivory handle, I feel a full circle of creativity in this machine - from my Grandmother to my Mother to Me to my Daughter, a legacy of love for sewing and for the art and craft of everyday!

Breakfast Cream Puffs...

These delightful photos are by Bernard Tartinville found via the fabulous blog Crust Station! Be sure and look at his websight for similar photos! DREAMY!!! This is obviously going to be a Romantic Fall for clothing and accessories - I can barely wait...

Deviant Art - Or What To Do With Jars Of Jam!

Who are these sweet children, reading a book on 'Elves and Fairies' no less? Innocent as can be, right? Guess again... My good friend Angelina, who recently made the big move from our neighborhood to Oregon, reminded me of a great 'Jam story' to share with you.

It was 1967, I was 7 and my brother 4. We were living near my grandparents house in Denmark. It was a warm sunny day, and we were playing in the basement, as it was the coolest area of the house. We, or I should say, most likely "I" had the great idea of "decorating" all of my grandmothers preserves. Now, these were the days of true "jamming and preserving". One spent hours, days, weeks and sometimes months... making and saving all of the summer bounty for leaner winter months. My Grandmother was one of the best of the best, storing hundreds of jars in the basement so there were enough for her large family AND all the neighbors!

Hours passed for my brother and I, we found this box filled with wonderful wooden clothespins - perfect for our art project! First, all the lids were opened, and that nasty waxy stuff - put aside... why do they bother with that anyways... Then in went the clothespins. Some got one, others two, a few lots... Ohhh they looked so PRETTY! We decided to line them up in rows and put them where they showed off best! Such colors, Such lines, Such dynamic variations in texture and style...

At last our audience arrived! Our Mother was shocked and quite angry, but dear Grandmother began laughing and laughing, until she could barely stop... She said it was the prettiest jams she had ever seen and complemented us, much to my Mothers dismay, on our creative endever, and even had the forsight to photograph our art for posterity!..

Alas, neither my brother or I pursued the deviant arts further after that, and I have never "jammed" perhaps in fear of a repeat, but at least it makes for a great story. WARNING to those of you with 'Little Ones', keep your jams high and away from stray clothespins - there may be another art-project lurking nearby...

If the shoes don't fit, try gloves...

Found on my favorite fashion blog Style Bubble by Cornelia James, for real people not dolls!

TINY DREAMY SHOES

Every girl should have at least one pair of 'Marie Antoinette' shoes, don't you think??? These beauties were found on Santa Mistura's Blog. Unfortunately, Marie's budget is way out of my range... but one could easily fill a closet (doll house that is) with these tiny beauties by The Dolls' Cobbler!

Noble Beauty

Lovely 19th Century Meissen Noble Lady for sale on eBay.

A Castle in Your Living Room

I wish I had Rick Pierce for a neighbor! (I think thats him peeking out from behind his 'Treehouse') Just look at these amazing Doll Houses he creates! Don't you just want to move in???

From Russia with Love

I find these dolls by Russian artist Olga Rohl just marvelous! They appear to be felted, at least in body, with handpainted faces. They are filled with movement and luminous color, transporting us to another time... Truly multitalented, be sure and look at her paintings and drawings and her delightful Fish Project as well!!!