Hi everyone,
Right after Linda, in St. Louis shared her childhood dollhouse with us, Linda G in Minnesota, shared some pictures she had taken of her set before she sold it. She also showed the advertisements in magazines…
These were the comments Linda G made on Wednesday about her doll house and furniture like Linda in St. Louis had:
Oh, Linda, I had that exact same doll house… and most of the furniture! So fun to go down memory lane with you! I remember buying individual pieces at Woolworths Dime Store. Loved the intricacies of each piece. But once I had everything where it was supposed to go, I didn’t know what else to do with it. I guess I have the same approach to home decorating now. Lift it up, dust under it, put it back down. My dear DIL chuckles at me. My uncle had wired the house so that the rooms had light… but I was always forgetting to turn them off when I was done playing. Then the battery wore out and I would haul it next door and leave it on my uncles doorstep! I did hear he got tired of replacing the taped on big battery!
Several years ago, I did a “downsizing” of mine and my kid’s old toys. Took photos of everything and then sold some stuff and gave the rest to a thrift store. Made a Shutterfly book of memories for each of us. I did keep the fantastic sewing machine for the AG mini dolls.
Hope this posts…. I’ve had trouble for the last few months and gave up. But this struck close to the heart!
Then I received these new pictures from Linda G in MN and this is what she said:
Hi Jeanne,
More photos on the Doll House topic, if you want to use them.
First two advertisements…. Check out the prices! I didn’t know they came in boxes. I only remember the individual pieces. You’ll see how Linda in St. Louis’s furniture was originally sold.
Secondly, some close-ups of the famous Renwal sewing machine… that fit’s mostly with the blog theme. May save Linda in St. Louis, needing to take them, or use her’s. I had taken these back when I was downsizing. The hand wheel turns… making the needle go up and down! The treadle goes back and forth. The drawers open and shut. Truly remarkable construction.
Hope you are both doing better.
Linda G from MN
Then right after that, I received an email and few pictures from Linda in St. Louis showing HER doll furniture…
Jeanne, Marilyn suggested that I send a picture of some of the more detailed pieces in my dollhouse. Here is what I currently have.
I wasn’t able to find kitchen items with doors that open when I was buying things for the dollhouse, so I don’t have those. I did have them with my original dollhouse, but they are hard to find now in good working order, and some things get easily lost, like the refrigerator shelves.
I love the sewing g machine, and it moves when you press the grill underneath, and also when you turn the wheel.The washer has a moveable agitator and the rollers move too. The trash can opens when you press down the knob. The toilet seat also goes back and the knob flushes!
The ironing board collapses for easy storage, the bureau drawers open and the record player closes up.
Love you,
Linda💕
Okay, that was fun, and I LOVED looking at the advertisements in the magazine or catalog. Wow, those prices were super good deals… well, at least they would be today.
I hope you were able to keep the 2 “Linda’s” straight. Thank you to both of you! I really appreciate it.
See you all Monday,
Blessings, Jeanne
Well, this was fun!! And brought back some memories. Even though I didn’t have the Renwal furniture, I do remember my dressing table was very similar in style to the one shown in the ads, and in St. Louis Linda’s picture. However the drawers didn’t open. And my nursery set had a bathinette like that shown in the ad, but again, I don’t remember the top opening up for bathing the baby. Just the changing table surface was there. However, I did have a little portable bathinette for my rubber baby doll when I was little, and she received Many baths in it!! It was considered a “tabletop” version, rather than freestanding; our neighbor saw it and thought I would enjoy it so bought it for me, maybe for Christmas or my birthday. She was right; I loved it!!
That sewing machine is fabulous!! It even folds into the cabinet, the way my old Kenmore did, and mom’s New Home. Thank you, Linda G., for the detailed pictures!!
Laura, thanks for asking about that letter and number disk in the window, in Sylvia’s picture of the oriole yesterday; I wondered about it, too, and forgot to ask. And Sylvia, thanks for answering!
Anne and Joy, what is it about 90-year-old men?! When Ron was still living at home, I was getting ready to fix lunch when I heard an ominous thud. I found him lying on the hallway floor, carefully holding his head an inch or so off the floor, and he asked, “Can you tell, is there much blood?!” Well, yes, there was!! Quite a little puddle–he had cut his eyebrow on his glasses when he fell. I made him stay put, got a towel to put on his wound, and called 911. He did end up having stitches–and they also found he had a UTI, so came home with an antibiotic, also. (At our local hospital they routinely screen for UTIs in older patients, as often those folks don’t realize they even Have one! Ron sure didn’t. It wasn’t too many months after that that he went into the adult family home.
Had a fun day at church today, making cards, which continues Friday. I will take pictures!
I’ll chime in first today, unless Charlotte is writing now. Thank you, Linda G. For sending those ads from the Renwal book! I have that one too, and also got a kick out of reading those ads! That one stating “98 cents at Woolworth’s will keep your moppets out of mischief!” Is really funny! Try that today,…..if you can find a Woolworth’s! Things certainly were more affordable back then!
Thanks too, Linda , for that wonderful picture of your sewing machine. I see we just had different colors, but the same one. Since mine was in the kitchen, I tried to keep the colors the same. Even as a child, I wanted my furniture colors to “go” together, and could not understand the oversized pictures on some of the furniture!
I see that I forgot to show the baby bassinet that I have that opens and closes. Also the potty chair with the moveable top piece.
Thank you Jeanne, for showing these dollhouse pictures, and everyone who commented on them! It made me happy to know that these pictures helped us to remember our own dollhouses and the happy times we had playing with them!
Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!
Oh this furniture! Honestly, I do not remember anything about this furniture. It was probably offered at the Woolworths in our town, when we moved to the US in 1965. I did have some little furniture as a child but not sure of the provenance – most likely from Germany or Holland? Wow, if I had a doll house like this and all of this furniture I would feel like a PRINCESS.
I have a secret. I have a box upstairs full of Calico Critters and a house and a lot of furniture. It is packed full and in the storage room. One day I will unpack it.
I have a lot of kitty Critters. … and some mice. I did, some years ago, hand make some tiny clothes: pants, dresses.
Well, I love these advertisements! Thank you Linda G for sharing your treasures. Everything looks in pristine condition.
I hope that you can locate the Calico Critters and put them out for awhile at least and get some pics to share. I love Calico Critters. Wish that I had bought them, but our girls were too old by the time they came out. 🙂
Yes Joy, I should dig it out. Maybe later this Summer.
I went on a crazy shopping spree about 8 years ago, when Sarah was about 3! 😂 We had a lot of fun playing with a zillion tiny things. It was super fun. I packed it all up about two years ago, maybe less…. carefully packed though
I remember those, Rosemary, I would love to see yours. I didn’t buy any because I had no girls the right age for them. I should have realized I was the right age, LOL!
You are, Sissy! I bought mine just a few years ago. No matter my daughter was too old by then. I will share though. We both wish we had known of them back during the Flair era. They make perfect toys for the PC/AG girls as well as the RRFF.
Hi Rosemary,
I have three Calico Critters (Sylvanian Families) families -kitties (no surprise there), rabbits, and sheep, as well as a few furniture sets.
I would have bought them for my daughter in addition to the Playmobil had I known of them. The animal theme would have been far more appreciated.
I also did not buy the play mobile. It was not interesting with my daughters. they liked the big legos too.
I actually bought all of the calico critters/sylvanian family stuff only about 12 years ago. I do not know why, I just thought they were so cute and the grand children were arriving 🙂
I think I wrote that wrong. I actually did buy Playmobil for my daughter. A lot of it. I use that now also for toys for my dolls.
The Calico Critters are just so cute since they have clothing that can be changed and a lot more tiny things
Happy Friday to all of you. We made it through another week- almost.
I hope all of you that have fallen, are recovering. Any of you with additional mosquito bites (like me) can put a bit of lidocaine on them to stop the itching and angry puffiness
Jeanne, you have been a dear to post every day, and let us see the fun comments all of us share.
I wish every single one of you a super happy week-end and comfortable air conditioning to rest in.
I am going to the old house to load up the stuff I was going to load up yesterday…. the exterior lights handyman Greg showed up and installed two lights. I will send Rex-Hubbs over today with my car, since it has the “biggest butt” 😂🐮 my little suv acura rdx. This car is 15 years old!
Joy, I hope other person’s head is okay, fortunate I guess to land of softer ground.
Getting older is so fun with ALL OF YOU.
Hope that George and Jeanne are getting better everyday and that George has a date for his next surgery. Has a call been put in to ask why the delay in scheduling?
How fun to see all of the doll furniture from my childhood once again. Thanks Linda from St. Louis and Linda G from MN, and Jeanne, of course, for sharing today. I had the Marx house and the smaller scale furniture that came with it but with the addition of most of the Renwal furniture pictured today. So fun to remember each piece that I had at one time. I think that I was attracted to the Renwal mostly because it was so realistic with drawers that opened, wheels that turned, and things that my mother used in our daily life. I do still have my little sewing machine, but I have added a couple more found at estate sales over the years. Renwal is almost impossible to find at a sale here now. Thanks for the memories.
We’re fogged in this morning, so it is cooler. Probably a good day to do work at both houses, but I think we’ll wait until tomorrow as other person can’t use his hand too well with the dislocated finger he popped back in place and which is still swollen. I had to buckle his seatbelt yesterday.
Hope that everyone has a great weekend! Stay safe.
I loved seeing the dollhouse things. I would have loved those so much. I was too old when they came out, I never new about them and the nice doll houses. I was playing with bigger dolls by then. Thank you two for sharing them.
We drove to the Y in a down pour and barely finished our swim before everyone had to get out because of lighting. Went to the grocery store and home all through a hard rain. It is still raining. Doing laundry and hoping to sell a doll on FB. Got some spaghetti out of the freezer for lunch. I always make a big pot of it and put it in containers the right amounts for our lunches.
Not much any other news, just hoping we don’t float away!
I hope Jeanne’s head is better and George is getting close to more help.
Prayers always going up.
Wishes for good weekends for all.
I was wondering if you were getting some of that rain that we were supposed to get but didn’t. It was supposed to go over Houston and then inland but ended up going into the Gulf and through the south. Something to do with the upper level wind shear. Hopefully you won’t get so much that it creates problems. My hubby makes our spaghetti sauce and does a big batch also. I actually used some of it the other day for my stuffed peppers.
I’m loving these dollhouse stories. Thanks Linda, Linda and Jeanne. Although my dad made our dollhouses we did have the Renwal furniture but I really don’t remember too much about it. Because I was the oldest of four girls and the two youngest were much younger than me, my toys were handed down and I have no clue what became of them. At the time I didn’t think about it. It’s only now that I’m in my second childhood that I wish I had been able to keep some of them.
I’ve so enjoyed seeing the doll house furniture! I have never seen that type of play furniture before.
Thank you for sharing these pictures. Several of you have mentioned having some of them in younger years in your life.
Tonight we’re having two couples over to play Sequence and then Golf, the card game. We often play – girls against the guys. We need to get our snacks ready and set up our dining room table and set up the games. It’s so much fun.
Everyone have a nice weekend.
Jeanne, hope you and George are taking it easy.
This sounds like a lot of fun. Paula, I hope all of you have a happy fun time
I enjoyed seeing those advertisements and the prices. Going to show my mom as soon as I finish typing.
I’m not sure if my mom’s came from Woolworth’s or the local 5 & 10 as a family friend purchased her sets. She never added to the originals.
I remember shopping at Woolworth’s as a teen. I’m glad my daughter had the experience before they closed and also our local 5 & 10 before it closed.
I loved Woolworth! I remember before the Barbie’s, I’d spend time in the isle that had paper dolls. Never heard of calico critters.
Good morning everyone
Today I really wish I had paid for the World cup package as USA play Australia. It should be a close game, US is 17th and Aus is 22nd so pretty well matched. Good luck for your team everyone.
Russell, my youngest, has invited me to lunch on Sunday to the local RSA to watch the NZ Egypt game. Not sure if we will do as well as in the Iran game, Mo Farrah is a pretty good goal scorer but he is getting on a bit in football terms. Our defence will have to be on their toes.
Sam is going to a class on her own today. It is making two crazy blocks then putting them together to make a cute chook. I’m staying home to finish my quilt (I hope) and then cook dinner tonight. I am making Toad in the Hole, it is the only meal I make that Kai and Jono will both eat. Asher won’t but she doesn’t like anything much except for takeaways! since she can’t have those every night It is a never-ending battle.
I see USA have scored already! after 11 minutes. I follow the score on line even when I can’t watch a game.
Have a lovely day everyone
Just saw the final score. Sorry that Australia didn’t do better, but I’m sure the US fans are excited. What day is the next game for NZ, in Vancouver?
Anne, I made a comment and it disappeared haha
I hope you have a fun time with Russell on Sunday. That will be a great outing. How is the weather? I hope you are staying warm!
Gosh, I am so happy you are enjoying the football. we only watch auto racing; mainly F1 and indy.
You have picky eaters. toad in a hole is yum!
I bet Sam made a very cool block
That should have been Monday 1pm when I go to lunch with Russell. That NZ’s next game. It will be Sunday for you I guess