Cecilia's Journey

Dearest Cousin Cissy,   

I hope this finds you in good health.  I'm so sorry 

it has taken me so long to write.  I arrived in 

New Zealand, tired, pale and exhausted from 

my trip.  Even though all my luggage went 

missing I was determined to make the

 best of my journey."

This kind sailor directed me to my cabin.

My Cabin was very nice. Very spacious!

I was a bit dejected about my missing luggage.

There were many onboard activities.
I enjoyed wandering around the ship
looking at all the views.

Here I am in the dining room seated with

 a very nice family.

Here we are going through the panama canal.

When we finally arrived one of the first things we

saw was the Auckland Harbor Bridge.

"As soon as I could, after arriving in New Zealand,

I looked for a dressmaker to make me a new dress. 
She also offered to spruce up my old dress 
which I thought might be past its best after 
wearing it every day of the voyage! "

I put the pattern in my case and started walking.

Thanks for the pattern cousin!

I found the right mall and...

Patsy's!  That's the place.

Patsy finishing the hem on my new dress.

I feel like I am ready to face my new life!

The family took me to see the sights of my new home.

This is Bastian Point. 

My favorite place was the Winter Gardens.

Inside is a beautiful greenhouse!

You know how I love flowers.

This is Shakespear Regional Park.

Just look at that view Cissy!

But, the best views are the ones 

we share with family. 

My new home is in Pukekohe.

It is South of Auckland.

This is me in the garden of our home.

Just look at that wisteria!

So many flowers. So lovely and peaceful.

But who is Cecilia?

Cecilia is my friend Anna's new arrival.

She is a Madame Alexander Cissy doll!

Here she is just after she had arrived.

She did look pale and exhausted!

Anna lives in New Zealand and purchasing

a doll from the U.S. and having her shipped

all that way is a harrowing experience.  

Anna has had at least one doll already 

who never arrived!! 

Here is Cecilia after Anna restored her!

So BEAUTIFUL!

Before and After

As soon as I heard about Anna's new doll I wanted to 

send her a gift, but was afraid it too might go missing.

Instead I shared this pattern with Anna by email.

I knew Anna was an avid doll seamstress.

Anna didn't waste any time sewing

some new clothes for Cecilia!

Anna made this Sundress and...

This swing coat and pillbox hat. 

I think Anna also added some pretty 

flowers to Cecilia's shoes.

Anna also made this lovely

Bandeau hat for Cecilia and

added the flower detail to her

waistband.

So Anna has been VERY busy. 

I am SO happy for my friend Anna 

and her new doll 

Cecilia.

We decided my Cissy and Anna's

Cecilia would be cousins and send

letters and photos to each other.

So stay posted!

1980s Strawberry Shortcake Dolls!

This past week, I was visiting a friend

in Ridgecrest, CA.  We both LOVE

thrifting. Guess what I found?

I found this basket full of Strawberry Shortcake dolls

The ORIGINAL ones from the early 1980s!

Here is everything that was in the basket.

Nineteen Strawberry dolls!

Three Sweet Scents Dolls.

This American Girl Doll

"Pretty in Plaid" dress.

And KEN! 

He is a 1968 Mattel Malaysia doll.

Here are ALL the clothes and shoes

ready for a wash. BOY! were they dirty!

Twenty-Two DOLLS! All needing a Spa

and other repair work!

Ahhh, a nice soak in the doll bath!

(Or the sink to you and me)

Even after a soak, many dolls

had weird spots or grey discoloration.

A few of the first batch to get the

acne cream treatment.

A couple dolls had weird brown marks.

Others had this grey skin discoloration. 

I hope I can get these stains out!

All these girls got acne cream and saran wrap.

Then they get laid in the sun.

Here they are sunning on my back deck.

These are the first six dolls to get a brush out.

The top four are Strawberry Shortcake dolls.

L-R Lemon Meringue, Strawberry Shortcake, 

another Lemon Meringe and Raspberry Tart

The bottom two dolls are Sweet Scents dolls,

Bubble Gum and Grape. I believe they were

a competitor doll set to Strawberry Shortcake.

Here's Ken in some borrowed clothes.

I got this tux, but it was TOO SMALL!

Apparently the newer Ken dolls are not

as muscly any more.

BUT, This Ken outfit is on the way!

I had some repairs as well. This little cap 

needed new elastic.  Other hats I dyed pink with 

vinegar water and food coloring.

This little Lime Chiffon dress needed some

repairs to frays. Other dresses were just missing!

A little at a time I started getting 

dolls identified and redressed

Strawberry Shortcake

Angel Cake.

Blueberry Muffin.

A friend of Strawberry called

Elf Herself.

This is Berry Baby

Butter Cookie

This is Berry Baby

Apricot

As I was dressing dolls, I saw that

some dolls were missing their outfit.

I decided to make a couple replacements

Not popular with some collectors, but

I like them.

Lemon Meringue dress by me.

Raspberry Tart dress by me.

This is Lime Chiffon

Another Raspberry Tart

I have two Lemon Merigues

Two Raspberry Tarts

And two Blueberry Muffins

Well do you want to see them all now?

HERE

THEY 

ARE!

A few dolls are still sunning away their spots, but

here is the majority of the dolls.  Many do not have 

shoes or their hats, but overall a very nice group.

Oh, don't forget Ken and the AG dress.

Ken looks great in his letterman jacket, jeans

and white tennies.

And here is Emma in the AG dress.

WHEW!

What a workout!