Birthday Party Time!

The guests are gathering....

Much excitement and chit chat is in the air as they await the arrival of the birthday girl.

Bonnie and Erica are dressed in their two new matching smocked dresses made by their Aunty Kath....they are eagerly awaiting the arrival of their Kiwi cousins.

Anne-Marie and Alice, the two older girls are having a cup of tea while they have the chance.

Quick everyone I think Peggy Sue is arriving...

Surprise!

Just like last year, Peggy Sue is surprised to see how many of her friends have attended.

She sees the little girls and tells them how sweet they look.

Peggy Sue says hello to everyone

and is delighted that so many of her friends are here.

The girls chat about their pretty outfits.

Bonnie and Erica tell her they are hungry already!

Henry gets them to sit down in a corner and gives them a couple of cakes each...

Nettie watches over them as well and reminds them not to get their pretty dresses messy.

Cute little girls enjoying their cakes.

The others start mingling.

Lots of chatter going on 

BJ seems to be chatting to Anne-Marie and Alice....I wonder what they are chatting about.

It seems BJ was Anne-Marie when Peggy Sue will be blowing out the candles on her cake.

Soon, the older girls tell her.

Sure enough, Peggy Sue is called over to blow out the candles on her cake.

She looks at it in awe.

Wow!  What a lovely cake.

They all gather round to sing Happy Birthday to her...

Peggy Sue starts to blow....

Looks like she has an eager helper by her side!

All the candles are blown out!  Time to cut the cake...

Present opening to come....

Party Preparations!

Emily, Sasha and Stevie have donned their aprons in order to prepare for Peggy Sue's birthday tomorrow.

They are discussing what to make.

Stevie looks in the fridge to see if they have milk for the baking.

Emily turns on the oven and Sasha prepares the mixer.

They have decided little cakes always go down well.

Stevie passes Sasha the milk while Emily waits for the cake mixture to be made.

Emily pops the cakes in the oven.

She is wearing her oven gloves so she doesn't burn herself.

They chat while the cakes are cooking..

Some time later they are ready to be taken out of the oven.

Emily carefully places the tray on the table.

The cakes look wonderful!

Some rather animated discussion between the girls over what else they need to do to prepare for the party.

Various party games are suggested.

As well as other types of snacks and drinks that might be needed.

They leave the cakes to cool and decide to go to the other room so they can make some lists.

Sasha leads the way ....   she is on a mission....

Some new arrivals.

Although I have been selling and giving away a lot of dolls in my quest to downsize, I am still keeping my collections that interest me, and if the opportunity arises to add to them and I am able to, hence some new arrivals.

Two lovely Nancy Ann Story Book Dolls arrived today and I am thrilled to add them to my NASB collection.

This sweet little girl is Little Miss Donnet, She Wore a Big Bonnet, No. 163

This one is Ring a Round of Rosy No. 159

I am still working on my Nancy Ann Story Book page, hopefully I will get it finished this weekend.

Also welcoming  the arrival of a sweet little waif Schoenhut Miss Dolly.

Below are her arrival pictures..

She needs a bit of a 'tidy up and clean'.  She is sadly missing a thumb on one hand and part of her little finger on another, but she is still a little sweetie and stands 16 inches high.

She has a bit of a 'lazy' eye.

I think she has her original wig.

She is looking forward to getting a new dress

...as it is a bit cool to wear this now.

Just got to think of a name for her.

I think she is going to be named Florence  after one of my grandfather's sister.

A dress for Edith

A lovely new outfit arrived for Edith the other day.  It has been made in the same style as an original outfit shown on a doll in the Schoenhut Book

I need to pull the skirt up her waist a bit more as it should be a bit higher.

It looks fabulous on her though.

As I was going to take a photo of something today I noticed two unlikely companions standing together on the wall unit.

Skipper & Marcia.

For Sale - For Mary

Knitted dresses for American Girl or Soft Bodied Gotz Dolls

For 'Mary'

If anyone is interested in these lovely dresses please contact me on

lorraine(@)takaro.co.uk removing the brackets.

Sewing for Tressy.

Today I sorted through my Fashion Doll sewing patterns - I had more than I realised so should have some fun choosing what to make!

and lastly, my vintage Tressy pattern which I used today.

I made the dress - View 1 (red dress) today.

I am hoping the cardigan I bought recently that should arrive tomorrow will match this dress nicely.

Another item of clothing that I made several years ago is shown below on my blonde, first issue Tressy.

I am enjoying 'rediscovering' Tressy and hope to make her a few more clothes.