Updating in my booth and adding new things

On Monday I spent the morning putting new items in my booth at Merchant Square since I had pretty much neglected it for almost two weeks.  Way too long to let it go!  So here are some of the things I added on Monday.

I have acquired several years worth of Mary Englebreit's Home Companion magazine and am selling them off individually.  In this metal basket there are two years of magazines.  Have also acquired these great little cases.  I don't think the black one is vintage, but the other two are.

I am trying to sell this hutch and think it would look better with less on it, but I had so many pretty pink things that I had to put them in the cupboard.  The ruffled netting was probably used around a vanity table at one time.  Got some darling pink potholders there on the second shelf.  On the bottom shelf is a lovely ribbon embroidered pillow, pink gloves, a pink sheer robe for a doll and a nice vintage pink hat.

Here's my wire dress form dolled up with an "everyday" apron and two other prettier aprons for party wear on each side.  I just marked down the price of the dress form today.

This is a really nice camisole that is probably from the early 1900's.  Amazingly good shape and no spots.  I did have to sew on a new button at the bottom.  But otherwise it is in good shape.

Hard to see but there is a pretty white umbrella with a ruffled edge.  This really pretty child's white dress is in pretty good shape considering its age.  Under the dress are a pair of soft leather baby shoes.

I love this English teapot that I found with it's original cover.  It's felt lined and am sure it would keep tea hot inside.  Just too cute!

Lastly are these darling ivory satin shoes.  I think they are a size 7 -- too small for me.  But they are just too stinkin' cute!!  Note the nice sheet gloves with a ruffled edge to match.  Oh so girlie!!

Be sure to visit my Facebook page to see more of the items I added to my booth at Merchant Square.

Etsy Cottage Colors Party for April

I am a member of Etsy Cottage Style and each month they have various blog parties or market days.  This month is the Etsy Collage Colors Party for April and the color is PINK!  So, I set off around the house to take pictures of my pink displays.  I don't have a lot, but here is what I do have:

Just recently redid the mess on top of a shelf unit in my art space.  I much prefer this!  I walnut ink dyed the cotton crochet thread on the left and added vintage hat pins.  Next is a huge spool of pink-tan thread, a big roll of pink lace, bright pink crochet thread with vintage earrings, a sugar bowl with no lid that has a bouquet of pink flowers in it.  The old paint brushes added height.

My wonderful dress form with her pink scarf and lovely, full vintage pink cabbage rose corsage.  Just redid this wall in my bedroom a couple of weeks ago.  See the blog post below.

I have two of these lovely pink roses plates in my bedroom.

The plates are on the wall on either side of this great roses print.

Another vintage pink rose corsage held by the lovely white hands dish.

In my bathroom resides the only Christie Repasy print I own!  I bought this years ago at Lucketts General Store in Lucketts, Virginia.  I love this print!

Hope you enjoyed my PINK Etsy Cottage Colors Party pictures.  Please click here to go to the Etsy Cottage Colors Party blog page and take a look at the other participants.  I can guarantee you won't be disappointed in what you find!! 

Enjoy the rest of your day!  It's going to be warm and breezy here in the Phoenix area.  Another perfect day!

Making doll clothes again

When I was 11 or 12, I don't remember exactly, my mother and grandmother got me interested in sewing.  My sister and I had been given Vogue Ginny Dolls for Christmas.  Of course, we wanted nice wardrobes for our little dolls.  So, since we didn't have spending money to buy new (new outfits and accessories were gifts for birthdays and Christmas), I learned how to make doll clothes (by hand, no sewing machine) from scraps in my grandmothers sewing basket.  I must have had patterns because the little clothes did fit the dolls.

This is my Vogue Ginny Doll in her original outfit and several outfits that I made for her.  She has been safely kept in the blue trunk since I gave up playing with dolls 50+ years ago.  These days little Ginny is showing her age.  She needs to be refitted with strings or bands inside so that her legs and arms are secure.  She is not for play.  That is why I still have her instead of giving her to my granddaughter, Kara.  Kara is 6 1/2 and has a little brother who can be rough on big sis's toys.  Perhaps when Kara is much older.

Anyway, for Christmas last year I bought Kara an American Girl doll and matching pajama sets for Kara and the doll.  So now I am jazzed about making doll clothes again.

My bff Joy loaned to me a bag full of American Girl doll clothes patterns.  She used to make doll clothes for her daughter's American Girl doll.

This is a big savings to me since patterns for 18" dolls range from $16 to $18 apiece.  I was suffering from sticker shock after I looked at all the pattern books in JoAnne's.

The circled pattern is the first one I am going to make.  Want to get it to Kara by Valentine's Day.

So I went shopping for fabric that has a tiny print and is in pink.  Kara's favorite color is pink -- so's mine!  I like to think she gets that from me!

I went to Zoe's Trunk in Chandler, AZ -- SW corner of Elliot and Alma School for those who live in the East Valley.  Zoe's Trunk is mainly a quilting shop, but it has lots and lots of fabric that is perfect for making doll clothes -- lightweight cotton or blends.  You see how this is wrapped?  That is how the salesgirl handed my purchase to me.  Loved this!!!

Here are the fat quarters I bought to make the doll clothes.  Think I will use the center fabric for the dress and the felt for the heart pockets.  I plan to make another dress out of the fabric piece on the left for Kara's birthday.  The piece on the right is for me!  Love the pink roses!!

So.  I will be getting the dress made real soon.  Will update you when it is finished and before I mail it off the Kara.

Spring has come to my booth . . .

As many of you already know, I have an antiques/collectables booth at Merchant Square in Chandler, AZ.  I was up there rearranging yesterday and putting out more spring items.  Here are some pics I took yesterday after I finished up.

Time for pink dresses and girlie things.  I love the little garden cart for flowers and plants on the patio!  It is definitely shabby but would look great loaded with herbs or flowering plants in pots.

I love this lamp!  The base is an 1800's whale oil lamp made from leaded glass.  It has been wired for electricity recently and works perfectly.  And it is heavy!  Leaded glass is heavy!  See that pretty picture?  The frame is metal and probably from the 50's.  On the dresser tray is a fancy shaped glass jar full of a dozen of the quail eggs mentioned in yesterday's blog.

Here are some items in the white china cabinet.  Have to lock the small stuff up or it walks!  See the butterfly necklace?  I put that together with a shabby (i.e. missing some stones) rhinestone butterfly pin, a rhinestone bracelet and necklace.  It went together really quickly and I think it is neat!  I recently found the pair of mother-of-pearl opera glasses made in Paris (lower left).

I love this large picture of the pretty lady with her fancy hat.  It is a print on canvas in a really nice frame.  There are enough different colors in that print to go in any room.

Here is a pretty pink and white vanity with chair.  This piece is so girlie -- perfect for a little girl or teenager!  The pink glass lamps are vintage and both of them work.  I love doing this!  Can you tell???!!!

Here's something you may not know.  I have very little of this in my own home!  I prefer the western/Arizona/cowboy look in my great room area.  My bedroom has some girlie stuff, but not a lot.  I prefer the cottage look -- comfortable and pretty.  I will show you my most recent redo in there in a day or two!

Vintage pink jacket

This pink jacket was another vintage clothing find last week. It is a very nice brocade and is completely lined. The tag says it came from Marshall Fields & Company Designed by Boykoff. I think it would look terrific with a slim black skirt! This is a close up of the beautiful pink rhinestone buttons on the jacket. The stones are set in metal buttons and are just gorgeous. One stone is missing in the lower left button. I think you can see that in the picture below.

Since this is made of a heavier brocade fabric it would be great as an evening coat!