Dolly Crafting At The Native American Longhouse Settlement!

Hey Gang!

Recently I watch some videos that Martha Stewart did on wreaths and she was my muse for this posting. Unfortunately I could link her video here. Martha isn't sharing like that but I did find 

another.

Happy Family Grandma plays double duty in my dolliverse and here she is Martha Stewart.. If you have ever listen to Martha Stewart, you know that she has a distinct voice. So I ask you
to imagine her voice as Happy Family Grandma.  Martha has come to and asked Loraine to show us how she makes holiday crafts from pine cones.

Martha: On this segment we traveled to Pennsylvania to make pine cone wreaths! 

We are in the kitchen of the Native American Longhouse Settlement to meet with artist Loraine Running Bear!

Loraine runs her company Spirit for her home here.  She is widely know for her pottery!

This is one of her pottery here!

We are here in her wonderful longhouse kitchen ...

to have show us one of the other things she has become famous for. 

Loraine makes beautiful pine cone crafts!

Martha: You have beautiful pine cones here!

Loraine: Thank you! The settlement sits on over 1200 acres and we have many different varieties of evergreens

.

Martha: You have recently be able to move here?

Loraine: Yes, there was a 15 year law suit to get back our land here and it was only recently settled.

Since moving back, I have been able to enjoy the land and discover it beauty and bounty.

The wonderful pine cones here are great for all kinds of arrangements and crafts. I walk the grounds 

with my basket and collect them for my projects! This time of year they are plentiful.

Martha: Well, that is a good thing!

If you would like to make your own pine cone crafts, here is one video to show you how!

OK, Thanks For Looking!

Disney Month-Cheetah Girls Disney Dolls

 Hey Gang!

Disney is the king of marketing!  So they will do a TV series, then do a move to follow up a TV series, then do more movies and TV series, then clothing and posters for the movies and TV series...and of course dolls! So now lets look at the Cheetah Girls

The Cheetah Girls was an American girl group consisting of Adrienne Bailon, Kiely Williams, Sabrina Bryan, and Raven-Symoné as the starring leads. The group was created by Disney, and was made famous by the eponymous Disney Channel original film and its sequels, The Cheetah Girls 2 and The Cheetah Girls: One World. The group has released three studio albums, Cheetah-licious Christmas, In Concert: The Party's Just Begun Tour, and TCG plus several RIAA certified Platinum albums including, The Cheetah Girls, The Cheetah Girls 2, and The Cheetah Girls: One World. All of their albums and soundtracks have debuted in the Billboard 200. The soundtrack to their first film sold over 2 million copies.

The Cast of the Cheetah Girls:  Raven-Symoné – Galleria Garibaldi, also known as Bubbles, Adrienne Bailon – Chanel Simmon, also known as Chuchie,  Kiely Williams – Aquanette Walker, also known as Aqua, Sabrina Bryan – Dorinda Thomas, also known as Do.

 Note that Raven Symone has done a few Disney series along with Selena Gomez. Disney likes musicals and many of the highest rated shows are musicals! 

Now To The Dolls!

The following five photos are promo photos

The Cheetah Girls were produced by Jakks Pacific 

Galleria Garibaldi

I choose this photo because this is the doll I own.

Aquanette Walker

This photo is the same reason as above

Chanel Simmon

I have this doll too but she was sold nude.

Dorinda Thomas

I don't have this doll at all.  I don't recall seeing her in the thrift stores.

The lineup!

I never purchase any of these dolls new. I only saw them new in Toys R Us and K-Mart and a few discount stores. I found them often in thrift stores. I liked their outfits but wasn't a fan of their bodies. The all have the kinda gift giving arms you see on some older Mattel dolls.

Warning-Nude Dolls!

The body is a little bigger than the Brittany Spears doll body and there aren't as many variations as with the Brittany Spears doll body. She can't wear much of the Mattel doll clothes and the original black pants and boots stained the dolls body. I had to bleach the body to remove the stain. BTW, staining is a big problem with the Jakks doll girls.

Galleria Garibaldi

Closeup of the torso-this is the singing doll.

Brittany has smaller chest and hips!

As of now the only Cheetah Girl doll in my dolliverse is Loraine! She is on a articulated Fashionista body. She has more clothing options now.

OK, Thanks For Looking!

Back at the longhouse!

Hey Gang!

This being November, let's check up on some of the Native American
who live in Johnston!  Apollonia has move here and is hoping her sisters
will live here too!

They came to visit and she is hoping that they will decide to stay.

Naira, Apollonia and Mia

Her older sister is Mia and she has a husband and two children.  Her husband
couldn't come but she has arrived with the children.

All the children are enjoying story time with the other young children.

Mia's son GT has decided to explore and is out for a walk!

 GT: This place is great!

 There is so much to see and do!

Mia has heard a lot about this place. Mia was the attorney who worked with 

Edward Running Bear about getting this land back in Native American hands.

 Loraine: We are so happy and glad to be here!  It is all in a big part due to you!

Edward Running Bear:  I can't wait to show you around!  I am hope that you and
your family will choose to stay.  I have a ton of questions for you and I still need
your help! 

It was important to Mia to put images to the place she worked so hard to secure.
Mia: It is very beautiful here! 

Apollonia's younger sister is Naira!  She and her new husband Elan have come too.
They have been married less than two months.  They met in graduate school
at North Carolina A&T. Elan's heritage is from the Susquehannock and 

Shawnee tribes.      

OK, Thanks For Looking!

Longhouse-- Working On The Layout

Hey Gang!

My Native American dolls were one of the first dolls to move to Johnston.  In my
mind, some of the dolls there live communally and others have house on
the campus.  I have several ideas of what I want the main seating area in my
Native American longhouse to look like.  I know the furniture I want to use...
I think and I will add a few other things. I plan to use a large box and cover
it with some type of covering to make the walls of the room.  Here is my
ruff draft of the room!

Most of the items I am using are things that I have found in thrift stores.

Like the two benches that will be sofas.

And this pie cooler in the back.  I have already used the cabinet in the dinning hall 

so I guess I will use something else.

This desk I got from will take me some time to get it right.  I will have to 

make draws and other touches to give it the right feel.

the wood stove need a flu and I need to find nic nacs.

Try # 2

I like he rug but I am thinking the walls are too dark. even with colorful art.

These stumps will be tables. I think I could use glass tops. I want the wood to show.

I have two different fabrics I am thinking about for the sofas,. This is choice #1

 This is #2 a blanket type style in colors.

Any suggestions?

OK, Thanks For Looking!

Fugal Finds

Hey Gang!

It is that time of year again! The time when you can find Christmas ornaments 

and other items you can use for your dolls. Here is what I have found thus far. 

At Walmart --

I mention to you guys before that Walmart has these snow backgrounds that they

use for their Christmas displays.  At close to the end of the season, when they 

consolidate their shelves, they will trash them in making more space for the 

new seasons items.

If you make friends with the floor manager and as them to save them for you,

you can have them to use for your dolls like me!

It makes a great scene for doll photos.

 Loraine in the snow!

Christmas ornaments!
The lamp is out again!  This time it is in gold!  Please pardon my pictures taken
with my table.  The camera is not as good as my digital but it is more convenient!
The gold glare the image!

This deer head may not look like a diorama item to you but I can see myself
using it in a rustic scene--repainted of course!

In silver...

and in gold

This drum is a nice size!

This window is small but I think it still can be used!

I found this at Dunkin Donuts!

Now this was a surprise! Doll size Christmas sweaters. 

 There were only two in this store. None of the other
stores in the area had them. They both had the same
design. They are closer to Skipper/Stacie size than Barbie.
The sweater is 5.99! So, not so frugal but it probably will
go on sale after Christmas!

OK, Thanks For Looking!

An Unusually Warm Day For Fall---Part Four!

Hey Gang!

We will join everyone back in the kitchen at story time.

Apenimon: Avery, your grandma will be coming to pick you up!

Avery: OK!

Nakoma finishes the story.

Loraine: I was just admiring the lovely island you made!  

This is really wonderful!

Apenimon: Thanks you! I got orders for a few after some of the 

people in town once they saw it.

 Loraine: I've got questions about the pie cabinet too. I really like the way you
used the same wood for both pieces. The old fashion  feel of both of them makes
the kitchen feel warm.

Apenimon:  It was my favorite pieces to make. I saw one in a catalog and wanted
to make one.

 I really love sitting in the big chair too.  It is made really well and feels like a
big hug!

 It makes story tell as much fun for the teller as it is for the listener.

That's a warm compliment!  The door bell rings.

OK, Thanks For Looking!