What I've Been Doing and More Inspirations From the Past

I have been trying to sew a little this week, but I guess the surgery took more out of me than I realized because I get tired pretty quickly. SO..........
Since I haven't been able to do as much in the way of sewing, or much of anything else since I had my foot surgery, I have been organizing my patterns. I have a long way to go before I'm through, but this does make a dent in them. I have been storing my patterns in shoe boxes in this cabinet. Yes, I know it looks a little rough, but that's what I love about it. My husband's grandfather built this cabinet for his bride, my husband's grandmother, of course, when they first got married. It was her first kitchen cabinet. Somewhere along the way it was shortened. Apparently it was a tall cabinet to start with, but it doesn't matter. I love it. However, it will not hold my patterns the way I am reorganizing them, so I'm going to move it over next to my machine to hold other things that I need to have right on hand, like thread, etc.... I don't know exactly. Then, I plan to purchase a file cabinet. I may get one that will fit under my sewing table, or I may get one that is pretty and made from wood to use next to the bed so it can double as a night stand. I haven't gotten that far in my thought processes yet.
These file jackets are perfect for storing my patterns. I just put the directions and pattern pieces inside, cut the envelopes open and glued them to the outside. At the top I have written a short description of the pattern and it's sizes. I am planning to file these by sizes and styles. That's sort of how I had them in my shoe boxes, but I was really bad not to put them back in the right place. I think this will be easier. Also, with some patterns it is impossible, as you know to put all of the pieces back into those little bitty envelopes.

Now, for my Inspirations From the Past.
First, this is a doll cradle that my grandparents had made for my mom when she was about 2, so that makes it about 83 years old! The doll is an Effanbee that my Mother-in-law gave to one of my daughters for a Christmas or birthday. (Somehow, when I first published this post this picture got left out, so I'm adding it now.)

Next, is a Shirley Temple doll that is in very bad shape. this was Mother's doll. She actually played with it alot, as you can see. I need to see about having her restored.

Then, this is also one of Mother's dolls. She is one of the Dione quints. She also needs some tender loving care. Her dress is in great shape. It just needs to be cleaned. Any ideas about how I can do this myself, or where I can take them?

This doll is one that my aunt won for selling newspaper subscriptions. She was 10 years older than Mother. She gave this Southern Bell to Mother.

Mother must have really loved playing with dolls. This trunk was hers, too. She made these cloth dolls and their clothes when she was about 10, so about 75 years ago.

The American Indian doll on the left was my mom's. The other one is one that I got when I was little on a visit to Cherokee, NC.

This little fellow was also Mother's. I don't know anything about him, but he looks like a Campbell's Soup kid. I don't believe there were any Campbell's Soup kids back then, though.

This beauty is one that my aunt brought to me when I was very little. She brought her from a trip to Holland.

These are the Dione quints. They were Mother's.

These beautiful little African American dolls were also Mother's.

I say "were" my Mother's because she has given these dolls to me or to my daughters. She had enough dolls from her childhood to give one each to my sister, me (I actually got extras, as she gave me the ones she made, and a couple of the smaller ones), her 5 grand daughters, her daughter-in-law, and a cousin's wife. I don't have all of these to photograph.
I never realized until I started posting about these OLD things how much I really cherish them. I love new stuff, too. My house is a real mish-mash of styles. In other words, I really don't have a style.
I can't believe I found this background to match this post!