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!

Primitive Portrait

Edward Pierrepont Lacey and His Dog Gun by Noah North in 1835-36, size 42 x 30 is what this painting was based on. I took lessons from Julie Stapleton of The Tole Barn in Estacada, Oregon and this was my first primitive portrait. I could never part with it. I gifted it to my husband. It resides in his study.

Noah North, like me, was the third born of eight children. He was from Alexander, NY.

I am getting into the mood for painting some primitives again. Stay tuned...

A Facelift on a Cupboard

Yesterday I painted this little cupboard. It was all white before, and just one of those shabby/cottage little numbers that seem to ubiquitously crop up all over the world these days. Well my little cupboard, which is holding fabrics, has now become more of an early, early American styled little number. It was easy to paint and was inspired by a very early one that I have admired from a book. I coated it with shellac and in minutes it was ready to go. I am so happy.

Sweltering Peg Woodens

I have stripped the girls and stood them all together (save for two who remain clothed in a cooler area), and it is because of the HUMIDITY, yes, you heard me correctly, humidity in western, Oregon. I tell you, it has NEVER done this before. I've know humidity in other states. I never knew any existed here. I once saw a humidity map of the United States, way back in the 1960's wherein it fully claimed that humidity that makes you feel the mugginess does not exist in the west. Well, since Mother Nature is going to town changing stuff, we're now getting that heinous kind of weather. The past three days have been dripping with it. Oh well. At least the vegetation does even better. Now for some exciting thunderstorms, fingers crossed, because I LOVE thunder storms, but we never get them here. And maybe next June we'll finally get some fireflies, for we don't have them here either, and I do love them. I have strung some flickering, solar powered sparkling lights in my garden to be my faux fireflies, and they are truly enchanting.

And oh yes, my stint at Thea's was intoxicatingly wonderful. (See previous post) And no, I did not take any pictures, because I always forget.

So that is the latest on this front.

I trust all is well and wonderful with all of you. It surely is with me!

For Thursday, August 5th., Thea's Interiors

Tomorrow is the day. From 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM I will be at Thea's in the Pearl, as her First Thursday artist. I have prepared a bevy of dolls and fancywork items and look forward to visiting the guests and to leaving my creations there after I leave.

Thea's Interiors

1204 NW Glisan Street

Portland, Oregon

503-274-0275

I hope to see you there!

Update on Gregory's Early American Life Stories

For those of you who enjoy reading my husband's wonderful articles for Early American Life magazine, he has finally updated all of them. Please visit Early American Writings for much excellent information pertaining to our American roots.

Silhouette by Suzanne Davis

Yesterday Suzanne Davis of Pear Tree Primitives and her charming husband and delightful sons dropped by on their way home to beautiful Boise, Idaho. They had been up in Washington, and as they passed through Oregon, of course they had to pass the end of the Oregon Trail and therefore me! I was beyond thrilled when she presented this beautiful silhouette to me. Even her business card is a work of art. Thank you again, from the very bottom of my heart, Suzanne. I am absolutely spellbound by your work.

The Velvet Strawberry ~ A Little Book

Here is my second little book with a pattern for making something from the story. This story involves my doll Amy who is planning a tea party.

If you wish to procure one of my books, click here. Each book costs $16 and that includes the shipping - (Unless it's not on this continent). I'm working on more and will continue to post on this blog when new ones are ready.

I also have it covered on the sidebar. Each book is made from the same paper. The difference here is the first was photographed while the second was scanned. Details you know...

Thank you for visiting!

Christine ~

Editing

I have a very dear and valued friend who once gave me some excellent advice on displaying my home. Thank you, Jamie! She suggested that I photograph and from there edit. Of course, this is evolution itself at this house. And so, I have removed the petticoats and pantalets from the windows, because it seemed a bit too fussy for me. There they all are now, adjacent to the bed, with plenty of walking space. I do believe, Julie, that some of the dolls did try them on while I was asleep, and even one petticoat was removed and replaced by an even older one. Those girls do have fun!

Petticoats and Pantalets

Aren't they cute? All but one of these were recently gifted to me by a dear friend from the Midwest who is moving to another state. I am so delighted that she no longer wanted them and was happy to bless me with the little darlings. These are doll clothes from the Victorian era and I love them so very, very much just hanging in my guest bedroom window for all to see. The guest bedroom, incidentally, is the place where dolls awaiting adoptions reside. I have strung the little garments on string across a lovely herb drying rack that I simply de-ribboned in order to place them each in a window.