Nanny Nettie-Kin sits by the parlour fire in "Pumpkin House" with little St. Nicholas on her lap.
We wanted to wait until Christmas to show the parlour because we were acquiring some wonderful upholstered chairs from Gail Wilson. We also got several Hitty kits from Gail Wilson for making a bonnet, a rug, and a little doll with a bed and chair.
"Little Dear One" is just thrilled to have friends to share "Pumpkin House" with! Sweet Hitty Sue stands by the warm fire while "Little Dear One" sits snugly in the chair, holding little Hitty.
Everyone sang Christmas Carols and Nanny Nettie-Kin recited "'Twas The Night Before Christmas". What fun they all had!
The delightful Hittys and other carved wooden dolls were made by talented Judy Brown.
Ima, a friend of Hitty, stands admiring the Christmas tree with her little baby sister Lilibet on the rocking horse.
The sweet little rocking horse and the tea cupboard were made by Roy Bubbenmoyer.
The front door of "Pumpkin House",
an old New England House.
"Pumpkin House" is the large golden dollhouse that Susan Branch featured on her blog after she saw it at an antique shop.
"Pumpkin House" is the large golden dollhouse that Susan Branch featured on her blog after she saw it at an antique shop.
With a fire in the fireplace on Christmas Eve, Nanny Nettie-Kin has made "Pumpkin House" so cozy!
The parlour of "Pumpkin House" before cleaning the dusty floors and before adding those little touches of home.
In "It's a Wonderful Life", Mary (Hatch) Bailey wanted the run down old Granville house. She knew she could make it into a cozy home for her family!
Under all the dust we found a marble hearth in front of the fireplace.
The floors look so shiny and nice after cleaning!
The newel post is decorated with greenery.
Tillie Tinkham, the seamstress mouse for the dolls at Corgyncombe, working on a warm flannel frock for one of the Hittys who is sitting in an old sewing bag. The old sewing bag has inside pockets going round for keeping spools of thread, thimble, and other sewing necessaries. The old spools of lustrous silken thread gleam softly in the old lamp light.
863 Park Avenue, the smaller apartment dollhouse that we found after reading about it on Susan Branch's blog. The dollhouse, with its two large opening doors, reminds us of Beatrix Potter's doll's house at Hill Top.
Tillie Tinkham has a shop "Tillie Tinkham's Frocks and Fashions" and Tea Room at 863 Park Avenue.
Ima is visiting Tillie at teatime with her baby sister Lilibet.
Tillie is clapping her mouse paws in delight to see the little baby!
Lilibet was named after Queen Elizabeth II.
Ima is visiting Tillie at teatime with her baby sister Lilibet.
Tillie is clapping her mouse paws in delight to see the little baby!
Lilibet was named after Queen Elizabeth II.
Christmas cards that I am still working on!
Sweet Hitty Sue is our first Hitty. She came to Corgyncombe before Easter last year. Hitty Sue reminds us of the picture Susan Branch has on her blog of herself as a little girl when she was Brownie.
Sweet Hitty Sue loves to write! Here she sits at her desk using a quill from Phidelia Finch to write with. Phidelia Finch is the Postmistress of Finch Post at Corgyncombe. We were inspired by Tasha Tudor's Sparrow Post to have our own post for the dolls.
Sweet Hitty Sue loves to write! Here she sits at her desk using a quill from Phidelia Finch to write with. Phidelia Finch is the Postmistress of Finch Post at Corgyncombe. We were inspired by Tasha Tudor's Sparrow Post to have our own post for the dolls.
Trilly Tweet Sweet flies and delivers for Finch Post.
Hitty is settling in to read to little Hitty, "Hitty, Her First Hundred Years" written by Rachel Field. The book "Hitty" was inspired by an old wooden doll found in an antique shop. The doll was named Mehitabel, "Hitty" for short and the book is about her many adventures. In the book "Hitty" by Rachel Field, Hitty is carved one winter by an old peddler in the old Preble House in Maine.
Nanny Nettie-Kin
Lilibet loves her rocking horse!
When I was six and at home sick in bed with the flu I called my Daddy at work and told him how bad I felt. He asked if there was anything he could bring me and I said "Yes". At Newberry's store there was a toy section and I remembered a little red dress that I wanted for one of my dolls. I tried to describe it to him as best I could, alas the dress was no longer there, but he brought me home a little round suitcase to put my doll clothes in. I still have that little round suitcase!
When I received this Hitty at Christmas time I opened the box and gasped "It's the red dress"! I was six years old again! What a delightful surprise it was to see Hitty in the red dress!!!
Perhaps I should pack it with Hitty clothes and go on a Hitty adventure...
http://corgyncombecourant.blogspot.com/2014/01/hitty-celebrates-christmas-at-pumpkin.html
copyright © 2014 Diane Shepard Johnson and Sarah E. Johnson
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copyright © 2014 Diane Shepard Johnson and Sarah E. Johnson
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18 comments:
Diane and Sarah,I just can't believe how wonderful this doll house is, every time I see it, it gets better. The corner fireplace, the beautiful framing around the doorways, the stairway, I just love it all! What a clean up job, the ladies must have spent hours and hours scrubbing away the debris from the long abandoned house. Just like that Granville house. Nanny Nettie-kin has outdone herself in furnishing the home. What a delight! I too have a Hettie, dressed in blue calico. I also have an antique wooden-penny doll in her original plaid dress. I think they would love to visit the Pumpkin House, as they could actually fit through the front door. Beautiful here, as always! Cousin Jeri
Dear Cousin Jeri,
Nanny Nettie-Kin thanks you for your kind words about "Pumpkin House"! Like Mary in "It's a Wonderful Life", Nanny Nettie-Kin wanted to make "Pumpkin House"
a wonderful home for those in her care! Your dolls sound delightful!
Your cousins,
Diane and daughter Sarah, and the Dolls and Tillie Tinkham the seamstress mouse at Corgyncombe
What a wonderful post...I enjoyed it so much. I just discovered Hitty last year,and I have my own Hitty now. I named her Hitty Jane. I purchased her off Ebay and gave her a little make over to make her look more like the original Hitty. I read Hitty..Her First Hundred Years and fell in love with the doll. I had checked the book out from my local library,but then a dear blogging friend sent me her very own 1st edition copy of the book. I treasure it! I am now collected my Hitty and other little dolls some housekeeping things in hopes of them having their own doll house one day :) Keep posting these lovely dolls and their adventures....I will become your #1 fan :) Blessings
What a gift we have given ourselves to allow these dolls to come into our lives to play ... and what a gift you give all of us by sharing this new home that surely must know that's it's been given a new life as the "Pumpkin House" I just suppose old homes know when they're loved as much as do our little wood dolls.. Judy Brown
Dear Shelley,
Thank you for your kind words! We're so glad you enjoyed it! Hitty is so much fun! We love the book, too! We looked at your blog and saw your Hitty Jane and she is wonderful! You did great with painting her hair! Collecting little treaures for Hitty is so enjoyable!
Your friends,
Diane and daughter Sarah, and the Dolls and Tillie Tinkham the seamstress mouse at Corgyncombe
Dear Judy,
What a gift you have given us with the carving and creation of these wonderful dolls! Each is such a treasure!
We love your Hitty German Kitchen, Parlour and sewing rooms!
Our little wooden dolls do know when they are loved and when they are lovingly created!
Your friends,
Diane and daughter Sarah, and the Dolls and Tillie Tinkham the seamstress mouse at Corgyncombe
I am so very sorry to hear of the problems you have had with someone copying your posts to put on her own blog, and then leaving such unkind comments elsewhere because you were unhappy with it. I would hope it were not someone in the Hitty world but one never knows. I have had very unkind comments left on my blog too and now all comments have to be approved by me first. Your blog is just wonderful. Is there a way you could please add the blogger gadget to allow someone to follow via email subscription? As a disabled senior citizen, it makes it so much easier to follow a wonderful blog when new posts come right to one's inbox,. Thanks so much - for considering this, and for the beautiful blog.
What a thrill to have found your blog!! I loved every word and photo! Thank you!
Dear Nancy,
Thank you for your kind words. Sorry that you have had difficulties as well.
Happy that you enjoyed our blog! We'll have to look into that way of following. I think you should be able to follow our blog with blogger.
Your friends,
Diane and daughter Sarah, and the Dolls and Tillie Tinkham the seamstress mouse at Corgyncombe
Dear Hitty Jean,
We're so glad you found our blog! We love your Hitty Jean and all your other Hittys!
Your friends,
Diane and daughter Sarah, and the Dolls and Tillie Tinkham the seamstress mouse at Corgyncombe
Thank you for such a wonderful post! I once went to Gail Wilson's home for a ladies night pot luck -- it has all of the elements of her doll creations; quite wonderful to walk through! It looks as though Pumpkin House had been "Victorianized." I love your restoration! You can punch needle really nice rugs for the house, also -- they look very authentic.
Dear Whiffletree Farm,
So glad you liked the post!
We look forward to working on some of Gail's kits!
Your friends,
Diane and daughter Sarah, and the Dolls and Tillie Tinkham the seamstress mouse at Corgyncombe
Cousins, Thank you for that link on the spinning wheel, it is exactly like mine! Mine does have all the metal hooks intact and is painted the very same as hers. The wheel diameter is 10 1/2 inches. Hope Hitty and Nettie Kin are keeping up with all the dusting! A spic and span house indeed.
Dear Cousin Jeri,
So glad we could help with the spinning wheel!
Hitty and Nanny Nettie-Kin are always busy with their domestic chores!
Your cousins,
Diane and daughter Sarah, and the Dolls and Tillie Tinkham the seamstress mouse at Corgyncombe
Pretty is becoming the home of pumpkin. No doubt the nanny Nettie-Kin cares painstakingly. Also I liked the substitute given to him by his father. Beloved Diana and Sarah it is always a real pleasure to visit his blog, when balance of work, go on the train going month after month over photos, comments, all the information that you transmit and his words SAPs, and dream to live someday with my husband, my daughter and our dog in the field just like you. I hope one day that dream can become a reality.A very strong hug.Mª Carmen Duque.
Dear Mª Carmen Duque,
Thank you for your sweet comment! Oh, how I loved the little suitcase given to me by my Daddy! I've kept it all these years as a place to put my doll clothes.
We're so happy you enjoyed visiting the Corgyncombe Courant!
We hope your lovely dream comes true!
Hugs,
Diane and daughter Sarah, and the Dolls and Tillie Tinkham the seamstress mouse at Corgyncombe
Hi Diane and Sarah,
It is so nice to finally catch up on all the Posts! So many new things and Dollies!! This is a WONDERFUL HOUSE!!!
(Mildred received a house kit for Christmas before last and is waiting anxiously to move in)
Everything looks so delightful at the Corgyncombe !!!
Love Hugs and Blessings Linnie and the Mousikins
Dear Linnie and the Mousiekins,
So glad that you enjoyed Christmas at Pumpkin House! We know Mildred will enjoy housekeeping in her own house!
Your friends,
Diane and daughter Sarah, and the Dolls and Tillie Tinkham the seamstress mouse at Corgyncombe
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