I really have to apologize for being absent lately… It seems like I am being pulled in a lot of different directions…and I can’t seem to be very good at handling all the different hats I’m wearing… just a little bit longer and I should be back in control of things…
Thanks for my very wonderful readers who ALWAYS send me pictures at just the right time…
In today’s post you’ll see what Charlotte received from Kathie in the Dianna Effner Little Darling’s Back to School Swap… Charlotte sent me these pictures and a description of each picture…
1–A BIG box came to our house one day!! It was from Aunt Kathie!! What could be in it?
2–After we got the brown paper off, we found this pretty red plaid box. Mariko, Heather, Patty and Cora helped take the lid off the box. Delaney and Maisie waited patiently–but Pearl tried to grab the first present!!
3–There was a lot of stuff in that box!! Everyone has a present to open.
4–Look at all the presents we got!! There is even a real desk, so we can do our homework better!! Patty was very taken with the dolly. She loves little dollies.
5–Here is a closer view of all our presents. Aunt Kathie even sent presents to Momma! Some yummy chocolates, a pretty bracelet, and some Halloween fabric! (She knows Momma likes purple!)
6–This picture shows a close-up of the desk and some of the other goodies.
7–It was Mariko’s and Pearl’s turns to model for pictures this time. Mariko chose the cute striped top and tights and the red jumper. She also wanted to wear the red sneakers. They are a Little big, but she loves red, and she’s quite sure she will grow into them very soon!! Pearl loves the toasty warm sweater with the apple on it, and the red leggings. Since Mariko got to choose first, Pearl got to try out the desk first!
8–Pearl can hardly wait to try out the skateboard. She just Knows she’ll be good at it! Mariko modeled the knapsack with the dolly in it–a perfect fit!!
Thank you, Aunt Kathie, for all the wonderful presents!!
Love, Cora, Maisie, Delaney, Patty, Heather, Mariko and Pearl (and Momma, too, of course!)
Thanks SO much Charlotte… (and Kathie) Your story and pictures were wonderful…
See you tomorrow,
Blessings, Jeanne
So glad you enjoyed it, Jeanne!!
Some days, it just seems that we Are pulled in many different directions!! I’ve had weeks like that, too (but at least no weddings to think about, not for some years now!). Those are the days/weeks you have to prioritize and do the things that Most need doing, and just figure you are doing the best you can, and will have to catch up on the other things later.
BTW, since I’m first on the list tonight, I thought I’d mention that PixieFaire’s Friday Freebie is for our Ruby Reds!! Here’s the link that came in my email: https://www.pixiefaire.com/collections/sew-urban/products/twirly-tunic-14-5-doll-clothes-pattern?utm_source=Pixie+Faire+Newsletter+List&utm_campaign=142a0ade6c-211015+Twirly+Tunic&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_d6be959860-142a0ade6c-332194369&mc_cid=142a0ade6c&mc_eid=f26abe5814 Or try https://tinyurl.com/dtvra249 which is much shorter!! It’s called the Sew Urban Twirly Tunic, and is quite cute!! (Hope the blog lets the links go thru!)
Well, I wrote a post, and it disappeared! Grr….Next time I will copy it first!! Of course, it could be because I had 2 links in it; sometimes those do go thru….but one was long so…
It’s okay, Jeanne; we all have those times when we are pulled in many directions, and then we just have to prioritize and do those things we absolutely Must get done, and let the rest wait. I for one totally understand about that!!
I’m glad you liked my photos. Didn’t Kathie send a terrific swap?! My girls were over the moon with all the wonderful presents!!!
BTW, since I’m first to post tonight, I thought I’d give you all a heads up–today’s Friday Freebie from PixieFaire is for the RRFF dolls!! Here’s a link: https://tinyurl.com/dtvra249 It’s a cute tunic top that is “twirly”!! I can seem maybe adding a skirt and turning it into a dress, too.
Delaney is excited tonight because I finally got her dress front pleated for smocking! I had it done last night, but discovered I had done 11 FULL rows (about 6″ deep!!) instead of 11 HALF rows, so I had to take it out, reset the needles in my pleater, press the fabric and start over! Tomorrow we will choose floss colors.
Dear Charlotte, wonderful Swap photos! I really love the desk!
I missed commenting yesterday about the swap surprises Kathie received from Phyllis. What a great set of outfits. My favorite was the darling overalls with the Halloween 🎃 theme. Phyllis is obviously a very fine seamstress and designer. I did find a ViewMaster and Etch-a-Sketch in one listing on eBay for the girls and Luca. Kathie also received a great package from Charlotte with lots of nice things.
Actually, Kathie got her swap from someone else, and I sent the things I made/purchased to a lady named Kim. Our swaps are usually “circular”, I guess you’d say: A sends to B, who sends to C, and so on, until the last one sends to A. None of us knows who got our own name!! I think once or twice we did a reciprocal swap (for instance, A sends to B and B sends to A), but usually it’s done this way. More of a surprise, too!
Jeanne, you’ve done a fine job with the blog — 3 complete outfits and a lot of fun contributions from readers. You’ll notice that we’re all still here having fun and sharing and trying to guess the next outfit. You’ll need names for your new outfits — I’m suggesting something simple but that links the 3 outfits — Christmas Gold, Christmas Plaid, and Christmas Berries — or you might make that Holiday Gold, Holiday Plaid, and Holiday Berries.
What a great swap for Charlotte. Love that jumper with the shirt and tights. All of your girls look very pleased. Good job Kathie. Also reminds me that the Effner girls here are very neglected. Bad me.
I saw the free Pixie Faire pattern first thing this morning and downloaded so I wouldn’t forget. I’m not much into asymmetrical hemlines, but I think it would be a great top if evened up, to go under a jumper or jacket when the weather gets cooler. But, no velcro on the back for me. Oh no, another project. 🙂
I bet Jeanne will get those sweet outfits listed this weekend if time allows. Seems like so much is going on right now. Everyday, more Halloween decorations appear around the neighborhood. Looks like kiddos will have fun picking up prebagged candy left on tables in front of houses. Should be great fun for them this year.
Sounds like Halloween in your neighborhood should be a lot of fun. My town usually does a “Boo Bash” downtown (think small downtown) where the shopkeepers provide the goodies. Last year instead they did a drive through event at the ball field. The kids loved it but it was a nightmare if you were trying to get anywhere in town during that time. This year we are back to the “Boo Bash” downtown and my grandkids will be attending. I’m going too. I insist. I love Halloween!
Charlotte…Thanks for sending your swap pics to Jeanne…saved her some time for sure☺️
It is more fun to choose items for a swap when you feel you know a bit about the person. I envy all your cute Little Darlings!
I see there are names for the dresses ….hummm “Christmas is the Berries”….”Sophisticated Christmas” for the green one…”.A Dress of Distinction” for the Plaid?
Dear Kathie, you sent wonderful swap items!!!
We just returned from Walmart, on a cat food run. I looked again for those cute My Life As sets, and nary a one. But they did have a few World’s Smallest Toys Etch-a-sketches for $6.00. Didn’t see any View Masters or other cute things. I did notice a large number of huge metal containers lined up in a row of the parking lot. Probably full of Xmas stuff as it looks like they are already stocking shelves for that and are about half done with the ornament sections. Guess the time is now to shop for those cute ornaments that work for the dolly set. 🙂
How many have been having trouble losing a comment when you try to post? Like it starts to go through and then it’s gone? Maybe there is something that WordPress needs to fix?
I keep forgetting to check out the My Life As section at Wal-Mart when I go. And I didn’t know that they might have some of the World’s Smallest Toys. I’ll be checking that out soon, very soon.
I REALLY need to get involved in the Little Darling swap next year. Putting a package together would be a lot of fun and getting one would be great. What wonderful swap packages we’ve been privy too. Any of the items would be fine with me. And seeing all the young ladies involved in the unveiling was as much fun as seeing what was in the swap box. Good job Kathie! Adorable pictures Charlotte.
The lovely baby grand piano arrived today and already one of my girls can play “Fur Elise”. I was really impressed. I guess she has been practicing on the pretty upright piano we already have. All the girls wanted to learn to play so we definitely needed another piano. My piano tuner (that would be David) was here when it arrived. He had more fun trying to find out all it would do. He immediately pulled out the battery box and got it working. These pianos are so attractive they actually sit in my living room like part of the decor. My granddaughter loves pianos. I really wish we could afford lessons for her but right now that won’t work for any of us. But whenever she comes she sits at my piano and makes up songs. She’s pretty good and has a lovely touch. She likes my AG upright too. Can’t wait to see what she thinks of the baby grand.
Looking forward to you posting the dresses for auction. I will definitely be watching. I’m sure they will be irresistible to many.
Several years ago, we bought the grands a keyboard which they love. Doesn’t take up much room either. Although we have a piano that we would gladly gift, it remains here waiting for someone to play it. 🙂
You just reminded me of something. A few years ago we bought our grandson a very nice keyboard. I forgot all about it. I mentioned it to David and he said Sean told him it wasn’t working and they haven’t had the money to fix it. I’ll get him to take it somewhere for fixing and we’ll pay for it. Thanks for reminding me of that. My piano is an Acrosonic spinet that was my mother-in-laws and her mother’s before her. It was “born” the same year I was – 1946. My daughter played for awhile but opted for theater and dance instead and my son danced and acted and had no interest in playing the piano. Eventually it will go to Sean’s family so it stays in the family. I just hope someone will be able to play it.
Now, you’re going to laugh, but the piano I used as a child, the one still waiting for someone else to play it is also an Acrosonic. 🙂
11:00 p.m. here and I’m checking in before going to bed so I hope you see this. It is likely that your Acrosonic has a cast iron soundboard. They don’t usually make pianos like that anymore. My piano had not been tuned for years even after it was moved from Kansas to Texas (my bad), but when I finally had it tuned after I started taking lessons it took very little to tune it because of the cast iron soundboard.
We are the same vintage, Barbara! I was born in 1946, also! (January)
I could have had my parents’ piano. a lovely medium-sized grand, but we simply had no room for it. It would have taken up almost half the living room!! I cried when we sold it. I love to play. I’m not Great, but I enjoy it. Now I play for our church, and go over there 2-3 times a week to practice. I went from being the “reluctant substitute pianist” to really enjoying it, and doing it full time!
Dear Jeanne, thanks for posting photos of the Swap. It’s always fun to see the beautiful gifts folks find or make to send to each other.