My Beautiful Spanish Darling (And Her Legless Maid)

My Grandma loved these dolls... I never did particularly, not then (60's), but that's all changed. She looks like Snow White, with all of the lillte cupie's gathering around on my mantle shelf. Prince Charming would love a peek at those sexy legs.

They're almost Manganese. Manga-esque. Nice.

They wanted $10 for it and I really couldn't afford it but there you go. The nice lady threw in two Mills and Boons and two worthy books for free. Bonus!

I Bought This Awhile Ago

I had to. Pretty soon you won't ever see things like this. The guy I bought it off suggested I could sand it back and paint it. Yeah right! And ruin the gorgeous patina of age and neglect? I don't think so. There is wire down the legs through the reels.

Shell Art

See the shell horse in the corner...

Shell ship. It plays The Blue Danube Waltz when you open the box, strangely.

Pin Board

...with fairy lights...

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Lion, Owl and Seal

The Poodle is my favourite except for the Owl

The Piper

One of many shell bits and pieces we have at the van...

The New Kids On The Block

Old blue eyes has a string still attached and it's eyes (his eyes I think) open and close when you lay him down and sit him upright. Mr No Eyes actually has eyes and if you wiggle him around they'll pop into place every now and then. Spooky!

My four and a half month old grand-daughter Mercedes squeaks when you lay her back in your arms and smiles when you sit her upright in much the same way. Considers it an insult to be held like a baby.

'Study Of A Psycopath' By Steven Cox

It's of the guy who grew up to be the 'Moors' murderer.

What's This Called? Harlequin Ware??

I bought this for $12 and everyone said 'Don't' but I did anyway because I knew it was good!

Beautiful Little Scottish Darling

Yay!! This arrived today and I'm so good I'm not even opening the parcel because it's my birthday on Sunday... and,

I did this for Ross!

for me...

,

How utterly beautifully gorgeous is this little darling?!

Small Celluloid Doll, c1940, 15cm (6 inches) high.

Discovered In Op Shop!!

It was one of those historical moments, when the discovery of an important piece of lost art is found in a chest in someone's great aunt's back room after the will reading.

My nearest and dearest found it and was so excited that he rang me expensively on the mobile phone. That's how excited he was.

It's very beautiful and excellently, deliberately painted.

$7.50 well spent!

I've Stopped Buying Now

At least for a while. Perhaps a long while (It's 15cm / 6" high by the way).

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The beautiful thing is, my love is very happy to not need be concerning himself about presents, so I don't have to feel guilty anymore. In fact, I think I'm proud to have made his life just that little bit easier.

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He's so (laff and laff) funny. Even though we like almost everything the same... same movies, same pictures, same books, same decorations, same places, same activities, same sporty-type fun things to do, same colours, same destinations, same not-sporty-type things to do or not do, same paper, same ink, same chocolates, same couch, same bed, same people, same lots of things... he can never think of a suitable present. Ha ha ha! I used to try and get him to go it alone, but the stress, the anxiety, the hilarious non-comprehension has made me see the error of my ways.

'

When my Mum had a jewellery shop, you'd get little kids come in to buy the $2 diamond and precious emerald/ruby rings for their Mum's with money that was hot because they'd been holding it in their little hands for ages while they looked around for that special something. My kids bought me a beautiful diamond and amethyst $2 ring which I still have. Then you'd get the other Mums who'd come in, buy themselves something and say it was from the kids for Mother's Day or something and we thought, where's the fun in that! So you see my point.

Sweety Pie Rattle La!

Darling little baby rattle. 15cm (6"). I love its little saggy nappy, so boopy! Marked "Knickerbocker Plastic Co. Glendale Calif. Des Pat Pend"

Gorgeous Powder Doll

Underneath this little blossom's bonnet are holes in her head to shake powder out. It apparently, or is thought to have come with powder inside and has no place to refill. She has her original pink dress. She cost too much but like I keep telling you... it's the one chance I have for guilt free shopping. 6 1/2" tall whatever that is in English. 18cm ish?

Actually I'm feeling a little bit guilty.

It's Gonna Be A Good Birthday

I've always disdained the idea of buying my own... or should I say choosing my own birthday presents, but it's the only excuse I can muster for buying these dolls. I might let Sadie play with this one if she's good and sits on the couch.

The Chicken I'm Counting Before It's Hatched

I didn't get it... the price went way too high and I have the other so it didn't matter too too much. You know what though... just now when I looked at her again I had a little pang. Sniff.

Just Bought This

It's sortof almost nearly my birthday and it's all the excuse I need to let Ross indu;ge me in my latest indulgence. Can't help thinking the doll looks like Sadie. It's 'cuter' than usual... well... hmm.. I like cute, but not cutesy, if you get my drift. And this is borderline but I'm convinced in any case. I'm going to push for the cabinet later on in the year. Maybe I should have a go myself?

Clown's Head

I scunged this off Mum too, good old Mum. I had it on top of the fridge for a while. You have to walk past that to go to the kiddies room and both my grandson, aged then about 5-6, and my beloved's daughter, aged about 15-16, didn't like it. Anna turned it's head around so it wasn't looking at you. Or, looking at her, rather. Ha ha ha!!

I'm not quite sure how to use it but I'll figure it out. May be that as is is the best way anyway.

Bust I Begged From My Mum And Picture Ross McLeod Did Of It

My darling Grandma and my Mum each had one of these plaster busts. I had to beg but eventually, in her own good time, Mum gave me hers. She wouldn't give it to me unless she didn't want it anymore so don't think I bullied her or anything.

Ross McLeod drew her and I will too at some stage. I had thought to paint it fluro or something, but maybe I won't. Sometimes if a piece is bordering on cheesy it's good to give it some colour. Perhaps a pale, acrid green? Depends on where she sits and in this rented house we have onlywalls of bland, awful, buttery, creamy, yellowish horribleness.

I Made My Beloved (Try To) Buy This For Me...

I had to edit the post because I was counting my chickens before they hatched and someone snuk in and bought it while I slept in! I would have bid too, because I'd grown attached and that's how it works eh? You put something on 'Watch' and go look every now and then which makes you develop a relationship with the item...

This Is The Best

The very best. My nearest and dearest bought it for me for Christmas. He liked a different one but eventually caved under my persistant choice of this! Funny boy, makes me laff and laff! Should have bought both, one each. The other was Beswick and not carnival... if you were wondering. I miss it.

This beautiful thing stands 42cm high (17") and ought to be filled with Gladioli. In a perfect world.

Me And Andy Know The Score

Someone saw these and told me Andy Wahol had had a collection of old bicky barrells too. Maybe it's true and maybe it's not? I've had these for years and years. Had no intention of collecting a set, they just happened by. I've seen others, different, magnificent, but expensive. One big gorgeous rabbity barrell was $120 and I nearly cracked.

Most of the stuff on this site is in the kitchen or waiting for rotation in a cupboard. I like a bit of decadence elsewhere, like the Rabbit Cushion.

And These Are The Others My Daughter Gave Me

I wasn't sure about them at first but they've grown on me tremendously.

That Ebay Again

Stuck at a computer all day with nothing much to do except play on eBay... I tried not to buy it but it was too... well, you know... too right. I'm fussy though and don't you think I'm not. I don't buy stuff willy-nilly and I don't 'collect' as such, but every now and then I fall in love with an idea...

I imagined a cabinet that my beloved ought to make me. If he truly loved me he would.

Like I said I tried not to buy it. Cheap, yet, it adds up and I'm trying not to spend anything at all. But the sign said 'finishes soon', then 'sooner' and I crumbled to her obvious charms.

She's a good match to these.

And well, these little things, the ordinary, cheap toys are the one's that disappear. They rarely survive intact, loved to death and insignificant. The toys of the poor. I'm doing my bit for history. Like my old collection of aprons (now gone to a large and worthy collection owned by Wanda McPhearson). I could go on...

I've Gone Mad On Ebay

And really I'm not flush at the moment. I've got a biggish collection of Bambi's. There are a few more... a lot more there but I got a bit scared of my ability to press the 'BIB' button. Sense prevailed after I'd bid on maybe ten things! I freaked... only a few dollars here and there, but... anyway, I was outbid on most of them. I'm not happy to have let them go though.

The yellow one is gorgeous. It's mine in 1hr and xminutes. It has to come from England but I like it a lot. And the Mum and Baby... so cute.