{Thrift Shop Temptations} What do You Want to Rescue?

Every time I see a box of dolls like this at an estate sale, I want to scoop them up and bring them home with me. I resist the temptation, because I've got dolls like this already and mine are sooo much better. (I'll post about those later, when I've decided how I want to tell their story.) 

These ladies were at a local thrift shop last week. The price really wasn't bad at all and I may regret passing them up. Or not. Yesterday, I could have picked up a boyfriend for them....

Teenage Son tried to talk me into this sewing machine...

It smelled of musty old oil, and I convinced myself that it was missing pieces without really looking closely. For $12.50, it probably would have been worth plugging it in to see if it ran, but I don't have the space or the need for another machine...but the last time I was tempted by a machine like this one, it was fifty bucks and definitely missing pieces...

There was also another cute old machine at a different shop, that only for $7.50. I didn't even take a picture of that one. Sometimes I think the key to resisting temptation is not getting too close. There will always be more sewing machines, and more neat vintage dolls, right?

Now I Want a Tea Set ...

I'm going to start this post by saying that I love old dolls, even the ones that could be considered creepy. After hearing too many scary stories at childhood slumber parties I had a couple of dolls that I didn't want in my bedroom at night. (Anyone else remember the murderous china doll who got off of the shelf by walking on her long fingernails?)   But I have't been really spooked by a doll in years.

This little lady was always creepy. She has a walking mechanism and teeth. Thirty-some years after the teeth and moving legs scared me, she's gotten even spookier. When you lift her up, her head creaks and swivels on the neck joint just enough to be unsettling.

Taking the pictures for this post started to feel like I was taking post-mortoms.  Teenage Son played the role of hidden mother, holding the blanket up behind Dolly and keeping her upright.

I don't know if her teeth or her tongue are more unsettling. Maybe it's the fact that her mouth has realistic depth to it. Someone told me once that the teeth are ivory, but the body of the doll seems to be hard plastic. (It's definitely not bisque or composition.)  I can't find any markings on her, so if anyone does know what she is, please leave a comment. I'm not having much luck with my own research.

She's been in the family for years and as far as we know was part of an adult's collection. It makes me kind of sad to think that maybe she never got to be played with. She was made for tea parties and riding in a doll stroller.

This post is linked to Bella Rosa Antiques, Ivy & Elephants, 

the tiniest crochet dress I've ever seen

Over the years that I've been blogging, I've showed you a lot of the things my Great Grandma Walters made. There was the sock monkey, the scary Red Riding Hood doll, the hundred year old oil painting that currently sits on my fireplace mantel... Thirty years after her death, our homes are still filled with the things she made for us. Some are carefully packed away. Some are just part of every day life that we don't even think about much.

When Mom and I were at Craft Warehouse a couple of weeks ago, picking out fabric for my die cut giveaway, I saw a basket of little plastic baby dolls next to a book of knit patterns. It was absolutely something Grandma would have done.

And they reminded me of this little darling that Great Grandma made in the mid-50s.

She's one of those tiny plastic dolls they use on baby shower cakes. And she has a crocheted dress. And bonnet.

And panties!

I think she's just about the cutest thing ever, but I could be biased. And I never realized until I learned to knit myself how impressive making a dress an bonnet and panties for an inch high plastic doll is.

This post is linked to Time Travel Thursday, Treasure Hunt Thursday, and Vintage Thingie Thursday.