Lostwithiel Fair

I am next exhibiting at Lostwithiel, this is a lovely fair – attended by many traders and very popular with many collectors.  It is held at the community centre, Liddicoat Road, Lostwithiel, PL22 0HE – with proceeds to help the Doubletrees School.

We enjoy this fair it has a lovely atmosphere, lots of chatter and help for anyone who may need it. 

New home for Georgie - 'Giveaway' result

So the end of my first ‘Giveaway’, I am a little nervous L, I have really enjoyed swapping links with all my blogging friends and it has been great to visit all of your blogs.  I am definitely going to do another giveaway. 

Anyway lets get on with announcing the lucky winner –

I can confirm that Fabiola from fabiolamiominimondo.blogspot.com is the new mummy for Georgie.  Well done Faby. Please can you email me you delivery address in order for me to send through Georgie.

Mini Regards

Debs

Last few days to win lovely Georgie

Just to let all of my lovely blogging friends, I will be ending Baby Georgie's giveaway this Thursday 12th January 2012, just like Jenny from plushpussycat - I will use random.org, and then will contact the lucky winner to arrange to send Georgie to his new home.  So anyone who hasn't joined yet, just a few days left - so get blogging.
Thank you kindly
Mini Regards
Debs

Victorian Bride

Here is Camilla, one of my new dolls.  She will be exhibited at the Stafford Fair which is on Sunday 8th January 2012- see here for details.

Camilla is a late Victorian bride, the gown is typically ivory silk trimmed elaborately with lace, bows and pretty decorative beads, as you can see the train is long and again I have used  lace, silks bows and bead stones ( hand sewed) for decoration.

 With her tiara and necklace she looks quite a pretty bride.

Give Away Competition - Baby Georgie

Baby Georgie sat here waiting for someone to give him a home and a cuddle, and that’s where you come in, this in my new ‘Give Away.’ Georgie is handmade by me in 1/12th scale porcelain, he is wearing a little nappy with a blue silk ribbon, and has a cute little curl on the top of his head.

All you have to do to be in with a chance of winning him is leave comments on this blog and become a follower, I haven’t decided how long I will keep the competition open yet, approximately a month or a little bit longer.  The winner will be announced and I will then make arrangements to send him to his new home.

Georgie getting ready for a nap.

                                                    Happy Blogging and Happy Christmas.


Surroundings not included.

Father Christmas

Father Christmas is the name used in many English-speaking countries for a figure associated with Christmas. A similar figure with the same name (in other languages) exists in several other countries, including France  Pere Noel ,Spain  Papá Noel, Pare Noel), Portugal Pai Natal), Italy(Babbo Natale), Amenia (Kaghand Papik), Andorra(Lord Quinto).

In past centuries, the English Father Christmas was also known as Old Father Christmas, and is said to wear in Victorian and Tudor times a bright green suit a sign of the returning spring. Father Christmas was originally part of an old English  midwinter festival.

In medieval England and for centuries afterwards, the figure of Father Christmas represented the spirit of benevolence and good cheer. In the 19th century, his role changed to something more like that of the European Saint Nicholas. At about the same time, Dutch emigrants took the story of a legendary gift-bringer called 'Sinterklaas' to America, where he eventually became known as Santa Claus.

The names may be different, but there were enough similarities between all these symbolic personages to allow, by the early 20th century, Father Christmas, Santa, St Nick and others to merge.

And the resulting 'right jolly old elf' is now the universally recognised symbol of Christmas and the bringer of above gifts via reindeers and sleigh .

War Time Britain

1941 The war in Europe continued to dominate world affairs, for most children, the war years were a time of anxiety, family separation and for some, it was a time of profound personal loss.

Gas Masks
Gas had been used a great deal in the First World War and many soldiers had died or been injured in gas attacks. Mustard gas was the most deadly of all the poisonous chemicals used during World War I. It was so powerful that only small amounts needed to be added to weapons like high explosive shells to have devastating effects. There was a fear that it would be used against ordinary people at home in Britain (civilians). By September 1939 some 38 million gas masks in cardboard boxes, had been given out, house to house, to protect against gas bombs.
Woman
In most countries women worked in war factories to make war materials. 75,00 women joined the Land Army in Britain to help grow more food.  In 1941 women between the age of 19-30 had to register for war work . Women who joined the forces were mostly secretaries, drivers, cooks and mechanics. Lots of them also joined the Women's Royal Voluntary Service (W.R.V.S.). They provided meals and clothing etc. for survivors and rescue workers. 

The war had much effect on fashion as clothes were in short supply and rationed. The government encouraged people to 'Make do and mend'. Older clothes were transformed into modern styles.
I know several of you are doing mid 20th century houses or projects.  Come and see my new dolls at the York Miniature Fair - Sunday 27th November 2011, see here for details.

Evacuation
'Operation Pied Piper'’ was a huge undertaking. In London alone there were 1,589 assembly points for children to gather at before they were moved on. Those children who were evacuated were given a stamped postcard to send from their billet address to inform their parents where they were.  ‘Operation Pied Piper’ planned to move 3.5 million children in three days. In the event, 1.9 million were actually evacuated, this was a remarkable achievement, some children stayed with their parents as evacuation was not compulsory, what a choice. Living here in Devon there are many families who took in evacuees, they still meet up from time to time, its very interesting listening to them.