Oodles and oodles

Midcentury modern

When it comes to dollhouse furniture, I know what I like. Nightstands, dressers, vanities with mirrors and beds with (plastic) chenille spreads.

Kitchens with straight-back chairs and lumpy refrigerators.

When I came across these pieces of furniture at a secondhand store, I knew they weren't my style.

But they caught my eye because their quality was a cut above most of doll furniture of that era. With molded tiles, hinged doors and pull-out drawers.

The kitchen features sleek styling and (plastic) butcher block countertops.

And canned soup.

The furniture was made in Japan in the 1970s by Tomy. Maybe some of you have memories of playing with it? I was a 1960s Barbie girl myself, so I don't have any experience with this.

(Discussion question: Is there anything sadder toy-wise than the devolution of the orginal Mattel Barbies and Barbie doll furniture into the horrifying plastic blobs they became?)

I'm sure I'd have liked the Tomy furniture, since it offered the experience of playing pretend records on a pretend stereo.

Not to mention pretend blow-drying and perfuming.

And reading about pretend teen stars.

A new round of awards

I'm not about to start another awards ceremony - the AOVCOA&S are responsibility enough - but if I did want to have a show, I'd have the perfect ribbons to hand out.

With big, gorgeous ribbon rosettes.

Some in pink.

Some with fancy ribbon which I first thought was just some kind of eyelet design.

Until I looked again and wondered if the ribbon detail was meant to resemble a cat.

Which would make sense, since they're ribbons from cat shows.

The mention of "pet awards" is enough to wake someone from their nap.

And choose a ribbon for herself.

It's hard to argue with that.

p.s. Find out how you can help out a kitty who looks just like Patch, except for the big cast on his broken leg ... visit Suzy's blog.

 

On the bright side

Sometimes I hate our house. I hate our stupid broken-down garage and the shed with the broken pane of glass in the window. Sometimes all I want is tens of thousands of dollars to arrive (an inheritance from a relative we never knew is my preferred fantasy) so we could hire a crew to just fix everything the way I want.

The money hasn't arrived. But the snow has. A lot right before Christmas, a little bit more nearly every day since. The kind of weather you'd order for the season, if you could. Like living in a snow globe. The snow works its own magic, turning the shed into a little enchanted hideaway.

And the house into the place I always wanted to live.

Amazing what a lot of snow and a little optimism can do.

Off to an excellent start

I hope it's true that the first few days of the new year set the tone for the rest, because mine have been quite pleasant. If my first purchase of the year - this bread box - is any indication, it will be a good year for vintage finds.

Detail of the pattern, because one of my new year's resolutions is to seize every opportunity for a close-up of polka dots.

I also purchased these canisters today. The estate sales have been nonexistent as of late, but there are a few antique stores that have good New Year's sales, so I try to visit them.

Other finds: a little red tool box.

And a bag full of mostly Marx dollhouse furniture, which I still need to sort out. I can easily see, however, that it includes an addition to my collection of toy dust pans, and it's not every day I can add to that.

I did pull out these two objects for further review. They appear to be matching, personalized baby bath tubs.

Know what I did over New Year's? Almost nothing! Well, I did go antiquing with my boss the afternoon of New Year's Eve, because we closed up shop early, and I knew of a sale out of town. It's a lucky person who can spend leisure time with their boss and enjoy it quite a bit. (And she doesn't read my blog, so I don't have to say that.) I went to bed at 11:45, which was quite liberating. In my younger years, I'd have made an effort to stay up 15 more minutes. Now that I'm old and wise, I realize I don't need to do that unless I want to. On New Year's Day itself, I did absolutely nothing. I sewed a tiny quilt by hand (more on that another day) and watched television for hours on end. It's important to be well rested for the new year. 

Back to other finds from today: lots of buttons on cards.

Among them, tiny handprint buttons.

And finally, this.

The cutest little sewing shelf ever. You're only four days old, 2013, but I'm liking you already.