Barbies, Old Paint and Worth

I'm not sure when I started liking old things. I can remember going to my great-grandmother's house when I was only 10 or so. She had one of those reverse painted pictures on her wall that had the moon in it and it looked kind of irridescent. I thought it was the neated thing I had ever seen. I have thought of that painting often and wish I knew where it ended up. I hope it didn't go to a yard sale or even worse, the trash bin!

Now I have this love for things that have been loved by others. The chair with the varnish rubbed off the wooden arms. The bowl that has mixed cake after pie after biscuit after pudding.

Tables with battle scars from the work born by them with five or six colors of paint showing through.

The value of the item is not shown by the pristine nature of it, but the marks made by loving use and faithful service. My daughter always got one of the Christmas Barbies every Christmas for many years. Someone would always tell her to leave it in the box and not bother it's clothes because it would be worth more. I have a feeling that her Barbies felt worth much more than any Barbie in a box. They got new hairstyles and different clothes and went on vacations. They were stars of a new story every day and went swimming in the bathtub. They wore vintage Barbie clothes and clothes my daughter made. When I look at them now, I don't see old Barbies that are missing shoes and buttons and have messed hair. I see the smiling face of a little

girl with strawberry curls and think of the fun she had dreaming up what they would do next.

Ring Around the Rosary

I've always had a fascination with rosaries. They are so striking in their

design. When one is worn and has obviously been used I am always drawn to think of the things that might have been prayed; prayers answered and unanswered. I don't really know how a rosary is used in prayer, but I can imagine how I would use one. I think each bead might represent a praise, a loved one, blessing, or hope. I think the cross would remind me of sacrifice and love. These are things we can all pause to

think about in a busy, time-frayed life. And while I do not wear a rosary or use one when I pray, I still see them as emblems of devotion and piety.

I have this beautiful wooden bead rosary in the WoolgathererShop now.

Fly Like An Eagle...

I came across these interesting buttons at an estate sale.

They appear to be from a military uniform as there are

varying sizes. With the crown and the eagle, plus the

word London stamped on the back, it suggests that they

are from an British Air Force uniform. They are

fairly worn, but I would like to know the era they came

from. I will continue my searching and in the mean time

they will show up in my shop.

Deja-Stuffies

I just listed the cutest pattern for Stuffies at theWoolgatherer. It is a Simplicity pattern from

1968and has a great pattern for a little fish. These truely have some the most personality

of any patterns I have seen. They also show how your choice of fabric and texture can make

such a difference in your finished project.

If A Blog Is On the Internet and No One Reads It....

Is it just the same as talking to yourself. It occured to me that I could say anything I wanted
to on this blog, because no one is listening. I could say I was on the Antiques Roadshow
and had the most unique and valuable thing they had ever seen. I could say I took it to
Sothebys and sold it for a Brazilian dollars. I could say I bought an island and am living
there right now with my toes in the water and a tall glass of cherry Lemonade in my hand. But
alas, I am only sitting here in front of a computer screen typing to myself and hoping that
someone will find my ramblings and be interested in what I have to say.

Orange you going to drink your coffee?

Here is my latest find! A beautiful orange "polyperk". Actually this one is made by

Waring not Regal, but it is almost the same. Granted, it doesn't have

the coffeebasket in it, but the great matching insulated cups more than make

up for that. This is a true slice of the sixties or possible the early seventies.

It is great just as it it for a cup of tea or hot chocolate. Orange you glad

I found it?