Searching for the History of a Bisque Socket Head Dolly Faced Doll - Armand Marseille

The owner of this doll was born in  South of France in 1897 and her name was Charlotte Timbert.  So lets say Charlotte would be 4 or 5 when she was given the doll that would take us to 1901 or 1902.  So when was the doll made? 

I am thinking perhaps any time from 1885 when 

Armand Marseille started  producing  these dolls  up till the 1950's but the jointed bodies were bought in from I believe Germany

Her grandson is a neighbour of mine and  a few weeks ago he came across a box in his attic and this little lady was inside. She is an a bit of a state as you can see

She has real hair  and her eyes are gorgeous too, with  the cutest little rosebud mouth and that dimple don't you just love her?

Gorgeous little boned Corset with tiny glass buttons to which I assume a skirt would have been attached. Sadly no clothes were found  in the box.

Corset was made by Maison Miege Corsets

The little shoes are leather but one is badly damaged and they are tied with ribbon and one shoe has a tiny pompom. Socks are still intact.

Back of her head is marked with DEP 8, there is a smiggin of a label but nothing to be seen there..  She is also in need of  a good hair do and some dental work!

If you have any information that would help me identify her that would be great. I am trying to find out what clothes she would have worn, all takes time but little by little.

When the wind Blows

I am amazed that this tree which has 3 stumps (only one fell) and landed on our shack, no damage was done thankfully, the guttering smashed but only because the ladder hit it. This will keep us busy for a few days trying to work out how to get to it to cut it down. Might need to hire a cherry picker. Will at least have some extra firewood for next year. 

Poppy builds herself a huge Insect Hotel

My granddaughter Poppy wanted to make an insect hotel but decided she wanted a big one. Dad cut out the wood and of she goes. She has some little bird house lights to attach and also wants to add a sign. Love the fact that she doesn't sit with her eyes glued to her phone,  in fact she thinks they can be very annoying. Wonder what she will be when she grows up? Think mum helped a little too.

In and around Andalucia

We were on holiday the same time as a couple of our friends and they went to  Cartagena for a trip out, below are a few fabulous pictures taken by Sue 

Eating in the UK in the 50's

   Pasta had not been invented.

   Curry was a surname.

   A takeaway was a mathematical problem.

   A pizza was something to do with a leaning tower.

   Bananas and oranges only appeared at Christmas time.

   All crisps were plain; the only choice we had was whether to put the salt on or not.

   A Chinese chippy was a foreign carpenter.

   Rice was a milk pudding, and never, ever part of our dinner.

   A Big Mac was what we wore when it was raining.

   Brown bread was something only poor people ate.

   Oil was for lubricating, fat was for cooking

   Tea was made in a teapot using tea leaves and never green.

   Coffee was Camp, and came in a bottle.

   Cubed sugar was regarded as posh.

   Only Heinz made beans.

   Fish didn't have fingers in those days.

   Eating raw fish was called poverty, not sushi.

   None of us had ever heard of yoghurt.

   Healthy food consisted of anything edible.

   People who didn't peel potatoes were regarded as lazy.

   Indian restaurants were only found in India.

   Cooking outside was called camping.

   Seaweed was not a recognized food.

   "Kebab" was not even a word never mind a food.

   Sugar enjoyed a good press in those days, and was regarded as being white gold.

   Prunes were medicinal.

   Surprisingly, muesli was readily available, it was called cattle feed.

   Pineapples came in chunks in a tin; we had only ever seen a picture of a real one.

   Water came out of the tap, if someone had suggested bottling it and charging more than petrol for it they would have become a laughing stock.

   The one thing that we never ever had on our table in the fifties ……………. was elbows!

Almost time for a Holiday

Happy New Year to you, already we are  half way through January, a  very wet, cold one at that.  Not that I am complaining as anytime I can't get out to the garden I can find plenty to do in my work room (wanted to say studio but that would be a lie and a tad pretentious on my part), it's just a big room filled with all sorts for me to dabble with. 

Heading of to Spain for a month next week and really looking forward to having a break and doing lots of walking, reading, and generally having  time to relax.  Looking through the rental photo's, the main room has a collection of keys displayed on a wall. The house is called "Cortijo Papaico" I googled the name and it looks like Cortijo is (Farmhouse), think I prefer the Spanish version.  I thought it might be a nice gesture to make up a sachet to take to the house and of course added a vintage key.

 My neighbour brought round the above mushrooms called Pied Violet and gave me a recipe, made it up and have to say it went in the bin, the mushrooms tasted and smelled of bark, moss & wood and very strong.  My neighbour was not impressed :( but then she did say it was an acquired taste (and I for one will never aqquire it)..

 Grabbed some scraps and did a mad doodle all over it and then made a journal cover.

 Grabbed some more scraps and thought I would make some ribbon, added the scraps to a muslin back and have have to say it was a fun and interesting project. I had no idea what I was going to do with it.. and then!

 I decided to have a go at free motion stitiching and I used  (yes indeed) the entire length of the scrap ribbon, bit rough but I will certainly try again.

 This is a machine applique of three retro birds and have to say I do love them, you can make them any colour you like. The ones below were custom orders and have flown to their new home.

 

The other day I had a custom order for 30 sachets made up in a gorgeous toile de Jouy linen for a wedding. 
Have to say I have had a lovely week, I am lucky, I know this.  Maybe while in Spain I will be able to post a few pictures, but me and my phone are not always on speaking terms, but will try all the same.

Chinese Light Festival Gaillac

Took the Grandkids to see the Chinese Lantern festival last night in Gaillac (right on our doorstep) and have to say was pretty impressive to say the least.  Thought I would share a few of the amazing displays with you. I have to give credit to my girlfriend Sue for the photo's as she has such a good eye and takes cracking pictures. I think the peacocks were my favourite and each one took 50 days to construct and there were 3 of them. Would love to see a video of them assembling all of this.