Oddments and Victorian

Here is my sister, washing the hair of her one-week old in 1977.  My sister is now in her 60s and has strawberry blonde hair, the result of that carrot hair turning gray.  People often ask her what coloring she has as they want to buy it, too.

The baby girl grew to be a blonde toddler but is now more of a light-brunette.  She is a wonderful wife, mom of two elementary age girls, and a seasoned elementary teacher of 15 years.  (By the way, two additional darling and successful children followed.) 

 

This has always been one of my favorite pictures.

 

 

Here is a "goblet tag" made of a paper bead.

I'm still on the bead kick.

 

I used to trim my Christmas tree with a different theme each year (back in the day,

lonnnnnng ago).  Since making all the paper bead icicles, I decided to try my hand at some Victorian ornaments.  Yes, I was going for gawdy.

 

 

First, I took thin wooden rectangles and hearts and drilled 1/8" holes in the top.  Next, I sanded edges of the shapes.
I then took a piece of scrapping paper larger than the shape and used a 1/8" hole-punch to punch a hole where the hanger should go.  I glued the scrapping paper piece onto the wooden shape with Modge Podge.  Time to dry.


 



Next I cut it down to size from the back of the ornament. 

I then added the image (which I'd downloaded from the internet and printed out on white cardstock) by Modge Podging it on top of the scrapping paper.  Time to dry.

 

At this time, on some of them I used Gesso to paint the edges, shabby-chic style....time to dry.

 

 

Next, I used glitter nail polish on the edges or wherever I wanted some "snow" to show up....I never never never use real glitter as I hate it with a passion.  Glitter nail polish doesn't flake off!  So glad we had a ton of colors already. :)

Time to dry.

 

 

Finally, I added embellishments with E-6000 glue.  Time to dry.  (Do you sense a theme here?)

I got carried away a bit with the hangers----I decided to embellish them, too.

I do rather like the look.

 

Once again, paper bead came in handy in the hanger.

 

 

Round paper bead in the hanger.  Tiny, fussy, but satisfying.

 

 

     This ByeLo head was done for me by Tisha Ritter of T&D Designs.  She arrived last week.  You can't see how rich her coloring is. She has deep coloring; looks warm and ruddy, made to order.  I will make her "frog" body, just like the originals were made----and will dress her in period-style knitting.

     I have a wonderful memory of a ByeLo I bought when I was about 12.  My sister took me to an area in Chicago where there were artists and unique stores.  For some reason I keep thinking of Cabrini Green, but my memory could be way off. I do know this would have been in 1969-1972.

     I bought a ByeLo doll (or maybe my sister did?) for about $12. (Not the one above, remember.)  I loved antiques and loved dolls; I knew it was a reproduction doll, but didn't care.  Within a few short years, however, she landed in her REAL home.

   My mom had a dear friend named LaVerne.  LaVerne always enjoyed when I visited.  She and Mike had several of their own children. LaVerne loved it when I made her laugh.  In talking with her one day, I found that she had not had dolls growing up due to finances (Great Depression).

    I gave her my ByeLo, knowing that the pleasure I would derive out of "making good" on something wonderful she'd missed as a child far outweighed my loss of the doll.  Needless to say, she was speechless.  Both LaVerne and Mike have been gone for almost 20 years now.

    I have carried that idea on and have had countless opportunities in my life to be as blessed as I felt when I gave her the doll.  Several years ago her son Mike moved my parents to Florida (Mike owns a few moving companies) and told me, the morning my parents were moving, "My Mom thought you were the coolest kid she'd ever known."

LaVerne, the feeling was mutual.