Tuesday Treasure and a New Doll

My Tuesday Treasure this week is my sweet pup Carmelita. We had a lot of furry family member drama last week. One of my mom's cats had to be put to sleep. He had a series of mini strokes, was in pain and hiding from everyone. I went with my mom to the vet, it was sad.

Then a few days later my son found Lita in a low blood sugar coma. Rubbing honey on her gums popped her right back but it was super scary! She had an ear infection and I couldn't get her to eat hardly anything. Finally got her into the vet and she's o.k. and back to eating again.

Lita is a 3 year old long haired Chihuahua. She is my companion. Lita fills the void left by my children growing up and not needing me. She's my 3rd child and I adore her. She's the first and only dog I've ever had. She has very cat like qualities and is the same size as my cat Binks. (I think she thinks she is a cat- my cat thinks she is) I'm severely allergic to dogs but not to Lita. I love her with all my heart and she's my treasure.

Now for the new doll. Meet Frank's bride Estell....

I had the worst time figuring out her dress. I didn't want it to be exactly like the old movie and I wanted it to kind of match Frank's tunic but be more girly. Estell is wrapped in bandages like the bride in the old movie cause I kind of liked that idea. Now that she's dressed, Frank and Estell Stein can go out on the town. Hopefully they won't scare anyone!

Tuesday Treasures

Today's Treasure is something dear to my heart. It's a cross stitch piece to commemorate the birth of my first child. I started it before he was born then finished the details after. As you can see I never had it framed. It's a large piece at 21"w x 12"h and was costly to mat and frame when I became a stay at home mom. Then after the divorce money was super tight and I just packed it away. I feel bad I never had it framed and also that I never made the companion piece for my daughter. At almost 21 and 18 I don't think they really care, but I do. Awww darn it! I didn't mean for this to get all sad! Just wanted to show some creative things I used to make back in the day. I was the cross stitch queen and made all kids of baby type things for friends and relatives.

Do you have any creative efforts that you never finished and regret?

Tuesday Treasures is Back.

I stopped doing Tuesday Treasures because they brought up a lot of uncomfortable emotions that I didn't realize I had. My childhood was not the greatest. I wasn't neglected or abused in any way but my family was very dysfunctional. Showing these few things brought up memories I thought were long buried and forgotten about. 

Honestly I kind of freaked out and shoved everything back in the black space and slammed the lid! But then it occurred to me that perhaps it would be healing or at least good for me to get some things aired out and that it's o.k to be uncomfortable sometimes.

So I'm trying this again and I can't promise that I won't freak out again. I think I'll mix old treasures and new ones so we'll see.

Today's treasure is my grandma's beaded clutch purse. I received a few things when my grandma passed that my mom thought I might want, like some jewelery and things. My most favorite is this little clutch purse. It probably dates to the 60's. It's in great condition and It's my dress up purse.

It's made of an tapestry fabric then beaded. The handle is beaded too. The orange, yellow and green colors were her favorites and I always think of her when I carry it. I hope to pass this down to my daughter or granddaughter one day.

Do you have something you love from a special person in your life?

Tuesday Treasures

Sorry it's been a while since I've done one  these. I've had a lot of other things on my mind but I'm trying super hard to get back to a weekly Treasure post.

Another item from my childhood that I consider a treasure because they brought me so much joy are The Sunshine Family Dolls. I actually started a blog about them because I love them so much. Here's the link if you are interested. It's all about the history of the dolls and photos of my massive collection. http://ilovethesunshinefamily.blogspot.com/

I really hate showing photos of myself as a kid and NEVER do, cause my mom cut my hair super short and wouldn't let me grow it, so I always looked like I had a brown bush on my head and was constantly being mistaken for a boy! O.k. mother/daughter drama rant over (yes there are STILL unresolved issues there!)

Here I am on Christmas 1974 (pretend you don't know how old I am) and am holding my Sunshine Family dolls that I just unwrapped. (Wow look at that shag carpet and the Simon and Garfunkel album in the background, lol)

I adore these dolls because you could make furniture and accessories for them. They were a different kind of doll. The original DIY doll. The Sunshine Family consisted of Steve, Stephie and baby Sweets. They came with a little booklet that showed how to make a bed from a tissue box and a crib from a plastic berry basket, etc. Making useful things from readily available household items? I was so into that! I had the best time with just the dolls that later on my mom got me the house that came with furniture for them.

One of the best things about these dolls were that there were Grandparent dolls, which I had and also that they came in an African-American version too, called The Happy Family. I also had them and the Grandparents for that version.

One of my favorite things I had for the Sunshine Family was the portable Craft shop on the back of the Family's Pickup truck. You could make crafts for the Family to sell. You know this is probably why I'm so into handemade things today!

Another reason these dolls were so special to me was that I was the only one of all my friends to have them and everyone wanted to go to my apartment to play with them. I became quite popular, lol!

Unfortunately I don't have my original dolls, my mom did a doll giveaway and just took them all. (more issues there) But as an adult I found some at a yard sale and discovered that people were starting to collect them so I now have more than I ever did before and they STILL make me so HAPPY!

Did any of you have these dolls too?

Tuesday Treasures

Did you ever have that one special toy that was so dear to your heart that you never let it go? Well I do she's my Raggedy Ann doll. I'm not entirely sure why I love this doll so much but from the moment I received her at Christmas 1970 she's been my constant companion.

She's now a very well loved treasure of mine. She has survived my open heart surgery at age 5, a big city to wide open suburbs move, my parents divorce and the struggles that produced, my growing up, college, my marriage, my children and my divorce. Through it all and at the ripe age of 40 she's my oldest and dearest friend.

What very special doll or toy do you have? I'd love to hear about it and any memories you'd like to share.

Tuesday Treasures

I'm starting a new feature on my blog called Tuesday Treasures. Every Tuesday I'll share something new or old I found that I love and vintage treasures I've had since childhood. I hope you enjoy my treasures!

This book I've had since I was 3 or 4 and was the book I probably learned to read with. It has some sentimental value but also has awesome simple line graphics and two color printing that was so popular in the 60's and 70's. The copyright is 1965.

 I love the sweet little rhyming story of the boy who rides the bus from Chicago to visit his Grandma in I'm guessing New York.We lived in Chicago when I was young and I remember wanting to ride the bus that Mr. Gonzago drove from Chicago.

 All these years later I still treasure this book and remember reading it with my mom. Do you have any favorite books from your childhood that you treasure?