Old Friends & Loyal Customers - California Collectors Doll Show

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The one and only show I participate in anymore is one held once a year. It is sponsored by the California Doll Club at the Community Center in Garden Grove, Ca. This year's event was held yesterday. True to form it was a beautiful and well attended show. Since it is so close to the up and coming holidays it always has a Christmas theme with many dealers offering for sale antique & vintage Christmas items as well as beautiful dolls & related items.

I have sold at this particular show about 15 years and it just seems to get finer with each passing year. This year no exception. Although I don't collect or sell dolls I find I always have had a nice business with a good customer base selling children's playthings, doll & children's clothing etc & Christmas.

It is always a social time for me, too, as it is a time to spend a few minutes with dear customers & friends. Many I only see this one time a year.

Thought I would share a few pictures with you.

Feather Christmas tree circ 1930's - 1940's. This particular 4 ft tree was found still in the original mailing box. Tree is decorated with paper scrap & tinsel ornaments from late Victorian / early 1900's. In the foreground are early paper covered Christmas gift boxes - many with holly motifs. Boxes such as these date from the 1920's to late 1940's. These boxes have been highly collectible in the last number of years.

Young lad's brown leather high top tie up shoes dating early 1900's. Very little wear to this pair. A group of early 1900's wooden building blocks & flag parade bunting.

Seated on bench and old handmade Raggedy Andy teamed with leather stuffed dog rattle c 1920's.

Washington India Turkey Red 19th C Fabric Yardage

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I had the good fortunate of being able to purchase this exquiste piece of 19th C fabric yardage still retaining two of its original paper labels. This piece measuring a whopping 9 yards long x 23" wide is rather uncommon today to see in this amount of yardage - in one piece. And unused I might add. Usually one finds scraps as well as small amounts of yardage left over from a sewing project so I consider it a real find to have 9 yards. Dating this piece to about 1880-1890's. Not only does the 23" width of the fabric but the design of the Washington India Turkey Red ...label indicates c1880-1890's era. Most standard widths of fabric during this time was 24" wide.

Another interesting fact to me was the complete label as it reads Washington India Turkey Red Robes. One might believe this yardage was intented for making & sewing dressing robes. However, I am sure there were many other purposes for such a beautiful piece of cloth.

During my research on dating this piece of fabric I also found "turkey reds" dating from the early 1800's. All photographed were made in France about 1810-1815. These reds were also known as Adrianople reds and were quite vibrant in design and color. It was quite breathtaking to view these exurbant patterns as they did want to leap from the pages of the book.

Although this piece of fabric is a little more subdued in coloration than the 1810-1815 pieces photographed in my book, it still is wildly attractive showing its own standard of boldness and exurbant pattern.

There is nothing on either label to indicate if the fabric was manufactured here in America or if it was imported. Again, I am guessing but I would say the fabric was made here in the United States. With further researching the label this determination could probably be made.

I have also written another article on this same subject but with a different approach. Please read here to gain a different insight on the usage of this type of fabric.

A Purchase ~ A Lovely Artisan Design Timepiece

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My recently purchase is so lovely I just wanted to share the beauty of this artisan watch by a friend who hand designs beaded jewelry. I think her work is so tastefully done with each piece different . Not only does she design watches but many other types of jewelry including bridal jewelry. Of course, I know you will want to view Jewelry-Collectibles offerings right away so I don't want to keep you waiting. But before you go and lose yourself in the wonderment of her creative pieces I want to show you my splendid & stylish watch.

It makes a beautiful statement and perfect blend to a jacket I have. I will wear it with a smile.

Updating my Squidoo Lens ~ Collections

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I have been updating the "Collections" catagory of my Squidoo lens adding a few more photos & text of more interesting items that could be collected. The most recent photos are of children's ABC feeding dishes and Royal Doulton Bunnykins dishes.

A number of years ago while attending the Brimfield, Ma. flea market I was intriqued by a Bunnykin feeding dish of a bunny dressed as a Santa. I do care for those soft little critters with the wiggley nose, maybe partly inspired by childhood books of Mr. Wiggley, so I do collect. Mind you, not every bunny item as I am selective, however, this particular feeding dish did command my attention. Later in the week still shopping the market I found a dealer who was offering many Bunnykin dishes for almost half price of the going price I had been seeing. But I became very choosey buying only signed Barbara Vernon pieces. It is a small collection but a fun collection. One which was assembled in about 6 months time as I found it was fairly easy to obtain even though I was selective.

Visit the latest additions to the collections on my Squidoo lens.

Mother's Little Sweetheart ~ A Child's Victorian Dress

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What a splendid dress to wear for that all important photograph ~ a memory in making. Or perhaps it was worn for a very special party. It's a dress that speaks of a fine occasion and certainly the wearer must have felt like a little princess. This young girl's dress dates c1880's - 1890's and is of a maroon silk taffeta. Trimmed in lace & large rosette ribbon bows the hand embroidery work finishes the detailing on the bodice and sleeves. It is a long dress measuring 28" and probably reached the tippy top of her shoes.

This little dress is a feature on my gift giving / dressing the child page of my Ebay store The Gatherings. Please visit the gift giving page to view through the years other children's clothing & their playthings.