Newsletter for Fall

Above is the picture on my latest newsletter about my latest dolls. It went out this morning. It is not something that can be forwarded, due to the nature of the software. If anyone cares to read it, please click HERE. Thank you!

Christine

Happy 42nd. Anniversary to Gregory and Me!

Gregory and I celebrated our 42nd. anniversary yesterday at the Oregon Coast. It was a wonderful day! We left early in the morning and were home by 10:00 PM. The date of our wedding (elopement ahem) was September 14, 1968.

Below is my Prince Charming way back when, and following are three pictures of yours truly, and there is no wedding attire in sight, because we eloped, and have never regretted it.

Below is an eerie scene from Ecola State Park's Indian Beach.

There I am on the beach at Gearhart.

That is the path to the beach.

Of course the weather was sunny one moment and dark and foggy the next as one can see in the two shots of trees.

But my favorite part of the excursion was in touring the incredibly beautiful, Queen Anne, Flavel House Mansion in Astoria. This gorgeous home was slated to be torn down for a parking lot way, way back long ago, but the angelic historic society members saved it! I am so happy to have seen it. There are 11,600 square feet to this beauty.

That is not a ghost. It is I walking up the stairs to the second floor.

Again, not a ghost, but I, taking my very own picture in that mirror.

Hello! What's this? Yes, it is again I, taking a picture of myself in another mirror!

Yesterday Was Such Fun!

I shot this picture (above) yesterday.

I took this picture from their website. (Above)

Below is the family living room.

This is a gorgeous dining room.

Below is the fabulous kitchen of which one can only see a wee corner. It is a very large and charming, old world kitchen.

Above is me at the age of 15 in the family living room at the Bush House. There was a bit of catnip in my hand.

I shot the picture below yesterday.

Yesterday Greg and I had a fabulous day. First we went to a wonderful estate sale in Portland, and scored some wonderful treasures from a three story house in an old and beautiful neighborhood (My old one, Laurelhurst).

Then we went to Duck Pond winery where we are members, and there we sampled some delicious cheeses with wine, picked up our order, and then, best of all for me, toured one of my favorite houses, the Bush House in Salem.

When I was a teen, I was a fitter's model for Jantzen. I would walk to Jantzen after school and usually I just stood there while my darling boss, Elsa Albright, would pins garments to me and study how they looked. Periodically I got to swim in the indoor pool there to see how swimsuits would hold up, and then there was an occasional fashion show. But the ONLY time I ever was involved in a photographic shoot, for a brochure, was at the Bush house. That was where I fell in love with high Victorian homes. Up until that time, via my Mother's influence, I was fully ensconced in the wonders of early America. I simply love both, and am so happy that my home is also, like the Bush House, an Italianate. Something about those high ceilings!

The Asahel Bush House (pronounced A-sell) is a small mansion with 12 foot ceilings. Ours is a cottage with 11 foot ceilings.

Entry Hall or Foyer

An entry hall or foyer has always been an absolute necessity to me. Once, when we lived in an apartment, I devised an entry hall with cupboards as walls. This house was built in 1888. It is an Italianate in style, and we bought it in December of 2005. It was the entry hall that lured me the most.
Although the wallpaper may seem a bit garish to some, I still love it. It is very old, and does not stand out so much in person. The companion wallpaper in the front parlor works perfectly with it.

Little Clothilda sits in her 1880's, French settee. She is an 18th century styled doll that I made from a Gail Wilson kit. I named the doll. Gail's kit was simply called 18th Century Doll, and she is no longer making this one.
My beautiful antique doll, Faith, sits in her wee Windsor in front of my favorite mirror of all. Some believe it is an Eastlake, but I see a tad of Renaissance Revival in it. Faith is holding a Schneeman doggie. I bought both Faith and the doggie at Olde Glory in Waynesville, Ohio.

Below is the front parlor showing the front door through a one sliding pocket door entrance to and from the entry hall and parlor. The companion wallpaper is often referred to as Patrician, for it is so tiny and delicate, yet rich.

Below is more of the front parlor. I have a juxtaposition of primitive with Victorian and formal things. I love what I love, and do not strive for a "stage setting" per se. The table in the center of the room is an 18th century tavern table from Pennsylvania. I love the large buttocks basket under the table. I am not responsible for the fancy swag drapery. I am not eager however to remove it, yet, if ever.

Back to making the dolls!