Little Miss Revlon and Dolly Memories

Once a week, I share a dolly post on my Tasha Tudor TAKE PEACE site. It has developed into something really fun. I decided to share one of my most favorite dolls from my childhood.
This is my Little Miss Revlon that I got for Christmas in 1958. She is a 10 1/2" inch doll and she was
manufactured in 1958....right before the big Barbie push. I didn't even like Barbie when she first came out, but of course, I wanted one a few years later when all my friends got one!

I found this wonderful little booklet at the last doll show. The Ideal company that made the Little Miss Revlon, was really smart to connect the REVLON name with the doll. Fashion and make up was big in the 1950's and the company hoped that moms would relate to the doll and the little girls would remember the Revlon name when they were old enough to use cosmetics.

This book has patterns and information about the dolls and the fashions of the 50's that reflected the times.

I never named her...she was always Little Miss Revlon. I think that's funny now, but I didn't then.
She has been carefully packed away and is in good condition. I had the dark haired doll and my younger sister Debbie, had a blonde one, as she had blonde hair.

Most of the doll's clothes were made by my mom. My dad worked for Woolworth and during the Christmas season, he worked long hours. My mom would put us in bed, turn the Christmas music on and she would sew. She had her machine in her bedroom and it would hum us to sleep along with the sounds of Christmas. It took me years to figure out what she was doing in there! Santa's little helper.

The clothes do reflect the times. She always made 2 of everything....one for me and one for Debbie.
After my mom passed away, my dad gave me all the doll patterns that my mom had saved. It makes me happy to have the ones she used to make these little outfits.

The doll was sold only in her undies. I still have the girdle but her bra is gone. I don't think they lasted too long. My mom did make her matching panties and a bra.

If you read my blog, you know that I love dolls of all kinds and collect them. I have only realized that my dolls from the past are now collectible! I decided it was time to treat them better. I really need to get this little miss a new suitcase for her and her wardrobe. It is just hard to part with the old round one that she has lived in for so many years. Hummmm....need to think about that. 

Barbie Fun!

Barbie...just the name brings back a flood of childhood memories! I was 10 when I got my first Barbie doll for Christmas. I didn't think I liked Barbie the first year when she was new. By the second Christmas, I was hooked! This is my original Barbie suitcase. I always took care of my dolls and when my girls were little, we only took down my Barbie things from the closet on special occasions. That was a the best way to keep all my doll things in good condition. My mom made some of the outfits and I do have some of the first official Barbie clothes. The only thing that somehow has disappeared is her shoes! My girls swear they never took them, so who knows

Here's a look inside my suitcase with my second Barbie with her bouffant hair do! I had dark hair then and my sister was a blonde, so I always got the dark haired dolls.

When I was playing Barbie with my granddaughter Ava, I discovered that my suitcase was really packed full! I go to lots of estate sales, so I was on the hunt for another smaller one. I found this single case and Jimmy negotiated a great price for me.

This is my original pony tail Barbie. I did get a blonde one...hum...maybe they weren't making the dark haired dolls yet. This case is great for her evening gowns.

I was at flea market and found this classic round Barbie case...yes, I had to get it. It was in such great condition and I always wanted a round suitcase.

More dolly clothes! Nothing is swished now! I never really valued MY dolls from the past until I started going to doll shows and realized just how old my dollies are! Goodness! Anyway, I am trying to take good care of my dolls now I have a sweet little Miss Revlon doll that actually was my favorite. She's about 10 1/2" tall and my mom made most of her outfits...that will be another blog post.

Thanks for sharing my doll post and I hope you have a great week ahead.

A Project Completed!

You may remember that I posted last summer about this dollhouse shelf I found at the Goodwill thrift store. I found this treasure before I went back east for my Tasha Tudor Gathering and I had good intentions of selling it at the summer Expo show. It was 12.99 and I thought it was too good to leave at the store. I think it jumped into my cart. I put it down in my craft cottage and didn't think much about it.

When I was back east, I was able to visit some of my friend's homes and they shared their dollhouses and dolls. It was amazing. I thought maybe I had too many dolly things....well, not compared to them! I came home and realized I needed to KEEP the little shelf and use it to house the plastic dollhouse furniture I had been collecting from the 1950's. I no longer had mine or my metal dollhouse, but I had hopes of putting one together someday. I just don't have room for the metal house, but I had this brainstorm that this little gem would be perfect. I had a space on the wall above my cutting table that would be the perfect home for it too. It would all blend in with my Mary Engelbreit decor perfectly.

I gave the house to my handyman Duane before Christmas to paint. I didn't like the mauve trim. He just returned it and mounted it on the wall for me. He chose to sponge on the paint so it would look a bit more vintage.

Then it was time for the icing on the cake! There isn't too much room in the little abode, so I had to pick and choose what furniture to put on the shelves. I do think I may add a couple window frames to cover the screws and break the blank walls. I may add some curtains, but will live with it for awhile as is.

This little sewing machine is the only piece that was actually mine. I managed to keep it all these years. I always loved to sew, so it is fitting. LaVonne sent me another one at Christmas, so I have it in my cottage too. It is a favorite piece. The scale isn't perfect in the house, but it just brings back happy childhood memories!

President's Day

Happy President's Day! I still can't get used to celebrating Abraham Lincoln's and George Washington's birthdays together. I guess I still remember my grade school days.

I don't know as much as I should about Washington. I just haven't read much as an adult and I haven't been able to travel back east to visit the historical places where he lived and worked and made history!

I know much more about Lincoln and am more interested in his time period and his life. Since Jimmy is from Springfield, Illinois, I have been able to see first hand where Lincoln spent a part of his life. It's wonderful to get to go into his home and walk the streets that Lincoln and his family walked. I keep reading books on Lincoln and Mary Todd and it's amazing how many new things you learn with each book.

I just had to post these silhouettes of our presidents. I bet did this project when you were in grade school. I know I did. I'm just into silhouettes again.  I picked up an old scrapbook of a child's work a few years ago and of course, there are the presidential silhouettes included. I don't know where I put the scrapbook...oh well, I can use it next year.

I am planning a Tea Time Thursday blog that will match this blog, so pop back over on Thursday.

On a serious note, we need to remember to pray for our president. What a job....I don't know who would ever want it.

If you have the day off, enjoy! Thanks to all the presidents who have done their best for our country.