It all started with a Singer

Today, I discovered a little church op shop that I had never even noticed before. One of those ones that only opens certain days of the week and you just have to be in luck to know when that is. In through a tiny narrow door I found myself in a huge cavern hidden within the bowels of the church. As I ferretted, above me musical intruments were being tuned and chairs were being scraped into position.

I found this set of Sylvanian Family dollhouse furniture. Still new in the box, vintage 1985. And I believe this emerald green is quite fashionable currently.

And in the same section, in a non descript little box, was the clincher on buying the lot.

A teeny tiny Singer sewing machine table with foot treadle plate. The full sized version of these is practically iconic around these parts, even my mother in law has one.
So, I thought I would just put them all aside for a while until a dolls house appeared.
And then I had a cup of tea and checked my blogroll. And you won't believe what I spotted in a photo of the new stock at Paint me White down at the WAC . And I was in love. I drove straight down there and brought this baby home.

I have a bit of a thing for shadow boxes. But the colour and shape and size of this one had my name all over it. I can picture it full of cottons, and little jars of buttons and crochet hooks. But for the time being, I am happy to share the joy and have it looking more like this.

It has pride of place in my lounge room, against the only completed white wall in the house. As soon as I got home I had to find my old stash of furniture from my childhood as well as the little dolly my mum made for me all those years ago.

That red table and chairs and little stove are the only toys of mine that I had carefully packed away and saved for a day like this. They are like old friends and it makes me smile to see them again. Liongirl came home from visiting her Nonna and was straight in, rearranging and redecorating. The dolly has been tucked in with bunny creature into the little bed and all the furniture is now on level four. Roboboy is going to help us make an elevator and Liongirl has already requested a crochet blanket and pillow for dolly, as well as some new shoes for her too.

And that's my new wool basket, it's huge and cost $5. I just wish my kids were smaller so I could pop them in it for a photograph.