REARRANGING MY SPACE

Baker's Rack with Collections and Creations

A couple of nights ago, I was bored.  As my gaze circled my space, I felt restless, wishing I could somehow enlarge it or change it or recreate it.

In a small space, there are very few permutations available.  The big sofa must go on that wall and the love seat can only comfortably form an L next to it.

In the dining area, the table has only one place that works.

But then I started noticing little odds and ends, like the pub table, and the rattan bench, etc.

Of course, it meant rearranging things in other rooms, too, once I’d decided what I would try.  The bench had to go into my bedroom, the bookcase that sat at the foot of my bed is now in my office, and the office chair is in the dining area.  The pub table now sits in front of the folding screen near the window.

Well, here are a few shots, so you can judge for yourself!

Bookcase Creates a Cubby in the Office

Another View of the Office

A Book Cubby Created in a Closet

CHEERFULLY WAVING ME ON…

Some Favorite Dolls

On the far left, note the familiar Hippie Doll Harmony, with Dylan standing slightly to the rear.

The you’ll note a couple of Boyd’s dolls, followed by others from a catalog collection.

Sometimes I cannot even recall exactly where I got a doll…especially the ones I’ve had for awhile.

I am not drawn to them, necessarily, because of their value or even their name.  Their faces, clothing, etc. are the final appeal.

My current header is made up of this group of dolls.  Soon enough, some other collection will take up residence in that position.

That is my goal here—to share the collections on my pages and in an ever-changing custom header.

Now I’m off to enjoy my latest book.

FOREVER TWEAKING!

I bought this Coca Cola clock when I was living in the foothills.  In order to fill my home with vintage and antique collections, I visited a shop that had just opened in the very small mall down the road.

As you can see, the clock no longer works, but I still love it.  In this same community, there was a diner that boasted all kinds of vintage stuff on its walls, including a clock just like this one.  It was called the “Dam Diner,” because of its proximity to a dam nearby.

Its menu offered all things vintage, even as its walls were populated with Coca Cola, Marilyn Monroe, James Dean images…and one of the menu items was a Dick Clark special.

I enjoyed taking my second eldest son there during a visit, since at the time, he was in a management position with Dick Clark Productions.

Do you remember those times in our history?  American Bandstand, Marilyn Monroe movies, and James Dean?

If so, I’d love to hear all about it!

I COULD NOT RESIST!

After several days of no computer access, I am itching to change things a bit.

I had just taken this photo a few days ago, and I love these bears…Boyd’s bears from the “Cherries” family.

That’s one of my favorite things about these collectibles…each new offering is part of a group, or family.

I’ve had these for awhile, and they’ve been keeping a low profile sitting over near one of my bookshelves.  So naturally, I had to bring them over to the little table and chair that sit next to my halltree and my entry way…just so they can strut their stuff.

They are officially my new header.

Next week, who knows what will show up?

TWEAKING MY HEADER

Blogging is a journey, and as such, it often takes us to some convoluted places—especially me, I think!

When I’m feeling restless, I either add another blog or I tweak the headers and backgrounds of the ones I now have.  This is the safer path, I think, since I do believe that FINALLY I have more than enough blog sites!

Especially with this blog, I feel the need to change out the headers occasionally.  To showcase my various collections, for one thing.

So yesterday, I was scrolling through my photo gallery, considering the possibilities.

The three above were the “winners,” but I guess you can figure out which “won out,” at least for this week!

COLLECTING MOMENTS…AND MEMORIES

Bulletin Board Mementoes & Autographed Photo

Collections can include all kinds of things.  While I have a wide range of bears, dolls, vintage stuff, etc., I also cherish the memories associated with certain objects.

For example, in this photo, you’ll notice a bulletin board crammed with STUFF.  Everything there is associated with something special in my life…from baby grandkids to people I’ve met along the way.

And above the photo is an autographed picture of an actress/author I met at Book Expo America, 2008.  Victoria Rowell, who has starred in Diagnosis Murder and The Young and the Restless was autographing her book The Women Who Raised Me.

On that day, I was also autographing one of my own books, Chasing Stardust.

So you can understand how much these memories (and objects associated with them) mean to me.

Beach Wedding

In this photo, my daughter Heather had just married the love of her life Danny…and on a beach, too!  How perfect could that be?

Photographs conjure up those moments…the ones attached to memories.

These collections are as cherished as the books, dolls, bears, and vintage collectibles that I own.

OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NEW…

Over at my Seasons blog, I posted about the upcoming holiday of Valentine’s Day, and then talked for a bit about how early it is to be even thinking about it.

But when you consider that Christmas decorations were up before Halloween, I’m thinking…no, not too early.

I especially love Valentine’s Day, because of the year 1997.  That’s when my two granddaughters were born…in the month of February.  One on the 13th and the other on the 21st.

Now they would be horrified that I’m even talking about them in this way—or maybe not.  They know that I do talk about them here and there (on the Web), and they acknowledge and accept that I’ve used a picture of them as my Snow Impressions blog header.

But they’re entering their teens this year.  Yes, alas, they will be thirteen in February this year.

But perhaps they will be those unique teenagers who do not ignore and even “dis” the older generation.  Perhaps their relationship with their beloved Nana (lol) will prevent all of that.

We shall see.

I recall that when I, too, was in that age group, I had little use for the older generation, but that did not include grandparents.  Somehow, grandparents can escape that condescension, possibly because the relationship is so different.  Grandparents are not in the same category as those Parental Units.

But I digress.  My topic here is supposed to be Valentine’s Day.  Oh, yeah, that romantic holiday.  I do vaguely remember those days of romance…hmm!  I even wrote about some of that stuff.

These days, I read about other people’s romance and even write about other people’s liaisons.

Now I have the benefit of experience, and while I do not discount the wonder of a new love, I do look at the whole thing with a “grain of salt,” mixed in with the 20/20 vision of hindsight.

But for those of you who still believe (and I occasionally do, even at this late stage!), enjoy!

SPOTLIGHTING A POTPOURRI OF DOLLS

Recently, I added a new page of doll collections—a potpourri of dolls, if you will.

I will showcase some of them here. The close-up of the adorable Boyd’s dolls, with a “cottage” tray for a backdrop; then, on my rolltop desk, you’ll notice the “Victorian” style doll.

Finally, we show two Boyd’s rag dolls, next to a “Heidi” rag doll that belonged to my daughter Heather.

REARRANGING COLLECTIONS

A New Year’s resolution includes rearranging my current collections, like this one.

Especially for my photo op for my newest website header, I rearranged some photos, books, etc.  Everything old is new again…

I love the Engelbreit plate, with the cottage…love cottages!

To the right, in the “sun” frame, is a favorite picture of my granddaughter Fiona.  Her blond curls are sunlit.

And the fairy stretching (in front of the plate)…captures my mood in the morning.

And this Boyd’s doll, with my books, is another occasional header.

COLLECTIONS — FEATURED DURING THE HOLIDAYS

When I was looking around today, I happened upon this quirky combination…a mug and a very unusual granny sitting atop a teacup.

The granny came from a favorite shop in the mall nearby, and the mug is something I found when I was in Big Bear Village one wintry season…poking around in the shops.

They both normally “live” on my Baker’s rack in the dining area, but for today’s photo shoot, I brought them over to the table near the entry and in front of one of my miniature Christmas trees.  If you look closely, you’ll notice that this is the tree with photo frames of grandkids on it.  All in all, a very cozy collection.

For another “shoot,” I pulled a very tall and somewhat snooty doll from my bedroom, and posed her next to my creations.  She, too, is on the table in front of the tiny tree.

These are a few of my favorite things, brought to the foreground during this holiday season.

Granny and the Mug are featured on my website for at least a part of the holiday season.  Earlier, I had Christmas stockings featured there.

Check it out:  LAUREL-RAIN SNOW CREATIONS