Fixing up the Vero...

I decided, the first thing I wanted to do was make curtains or buy some...while searching online late Yesterday, So, instead the Vero had no furniture placed inside and it actually sat empty last nite! But just before going to bed I found a few sites that show how to do this just using paper, teriyaki sticks, and beads! Here and Here were my examples to use. Empty Vero above, just admiring the clean newness of it all!

Back to the drapes: T&J's site gave me the idea for using the beads and the teriyaki sticks, and the other gave me the idea to print out and fold the paper into curtains! Using both I was able to come up with these two styles below!

While I was waiting for the beads to dry, I printed out two styles and was deciding on which one I wanted to use... I decided on this one below, and the nice thing about it is that I am able to pull out and put back in the teriyaki stick and change out the print when I want!

Then, I also received my patio chairs and started dressing up the backyard a bit! The table is by Lundby and the chairs, I am assuming are made in Germany? I've always wanted a relaxing yard like this! The spiral trees I bought from Mary's Miniatures. I've always wanted to find these style of trees or topiary one's. They just go beautifully with the backyard here!

The rocks are actually glued on styrofoam, too wild! The potted tree was original to the house.
I am just loving this house more and more...

I have a few more garden treatments I am waiting for, so this yard will look different again later... - ggsdolls

Dollhouse #2 made by Vero (DDR) Germany Arrives! What a Surprise too!

I have been wanting a Vero house for some time now...especially since finding out about vintage dollhouses from Germany! When I left stateside, I had won another Moritz Gottschalk two-story house via ebay and decided that if I ever found a Vero I would either sell the two-story house or give it to my daughter who's been eye-balling my dollhouse's since I got one back in April.

So, sure enough a Vero showed up on ebay, but only a bungalow style house. Still I couldn't resist and I decided to bid on it, and won the lovely MIB house. So, as promised I told my daughter she could have the two-story Gottschalk house and I would get the Vero...We've been awaiting the arrival of the two-story house for some time now-_-; and can you believe it?! What showed up at the PO was not the two-story house, but the Vero bungalow!! She of course was sad, and so was I, but was happy that my very much anticipated Vero dollhouse arrived, and so quickly too! I was tracking both homes via USPS and mine went west coast stateside, where as the two-story ended up east coast and taking the long route like my first dollhouse-_-; Still, we had fun working on the Vero today and putting it together too!

First, a bit of information on Vero...another flickr friend on her blog talks about the Vero dollhouses from Germany here! There are many versions as shown on her blog. This one is a version I have! But Rebecca's Vero's wallpaper is different from mine. Still its amazing to find a Vero which is very popular by the way and hard to find. I would still love to find myself a two-story 4 bedroom verison like Annina's here, maybe? LOL!

My daughters and I put the house together and now, all I have to do is put all the furniture in! Oh, a whole day of fun continues tomorrow!

Front cover of the box at the top, and instructions glued to the underside.

Above the parts to the house, nicely protected by sheets of brown paper and tissue paper. Below, is the parts to the house laid out.

The finished bungalow above. It took us about 2 hours. The box had all the nuts, bolts, and washers along with the tool to tighten them with. But I truly had a hard time with the roof mostly. First, I had placed the side walls in the wrong way, redid them, then the roof wouldn't go on in the middle area-_-; Some of the flooring started to buckle a bit. Still after all the hard work, it was amazing to see the finished house! It also came with a potted plant, and a row of flower/plants that is supposed to be placed just under the awning area. Nice and minty too, just not photographed yet!

Next, putting in furniture etc.! Can't wait! - ggsdolls

Adding a few minor touches to my kitchen...

Today, I received 4 small boxes in the mail. Of course my middle child was thrilled for me and couldn't wait for me to open all the boxes. Both her and I watched as each one was opened to reveal many tiny little additions to my kitchen. A few rement items and some dollhouse miniatures I found via ebay and online! It was amazing, now my kitchen sink is looking more like a sink I remember my Mom having back in the day! Rement is awesome I must say! All the tiny treasures and extras sure do give a dollhouse the look of a home from memory! - ggsdolls

Play Ballet Galoob Doll Two...

When I first returned back to Guam, I tried to get back into searching for items thru ebay, YJA, etc. and I came across from my usual search on ebay, another lovely Play Ballet ballerina doll from Galoob! This is I think a version I also did not own back in the early Nineties, but I decided to bid on her anyways, and of course won with absolutely no other bidders! She finally arrived safely to me today all the way from UK! She will be added to my PB collection...

Her name is "Catrina" wearing a pink and purple tutu. Her hair in braids. She came with her original box, connector, and comb. Missing her booklet/instructions. Below is my other PB ballerina, Danielle. I've never owned her version and I very glad to have them both now!
- ggsdolls

Lovely Bodo Hennig Glass Vase!

I just received this lovely Bodo Hennig glass vase made in Germany. I love the style and colors, it's so tiny and unique I couldn't resist getting one, and it was available just here in the States too! Beautiful long vase is a welcome addition to my little bungalow! More fun with it later I am sure! - ggsdolls

It's the Little Things that make a Difference!

I have been looking out for kitchen items and other little extra things here and there to add to my Bungalow. I found this amazing site that has many of the same items I've seen on ebay and for a lot cheaper! So here are some pics of the extras I received in the mail today to make the dollhouse more homey!! I ordered from MiniModernistas these lovely matching throw pillows in Japanese print, and modern carpet in above photo. Along with the books and magazines from an online dollhouse shop!

The Kitchen got a different look today, with the added area rug from etsy, Fruit bowl with fruit, milk jug and full glass, bowl with wisk, and also this cute new rolypoly doll by rement a bit larger than the tiny one!

Roly poly's on the loose...

Looking thru the window and you can see the dish soap, little dish rack I found on ebay, and dishes!

I redid the front door and added an adaptable Tudor Pane. It looks so much more elegant now and not just a see thru hole! I added the red daisies, and trellis with crawling vines(not shown)! All from this amazing dollhouse shop online! - ggsdolls

Trying to Keep Busy...

Today, I was inspired to create a lovely table by upcycling a vintage Germany Coffee table. This lovely Crailsheimer coffee table is very modern and cute, but I have 3 now...So, I wanted to create one similar to this one seen here in a flickr friend's stream. I've seen one with black, yellow and blue somewhere but can't seem to find it.

It turned out amazing above. I wanted to cut the legs shorter, so its not so high, and then, I wanted to have an interesting print tile on top. At first, I wanted it in brown, but after printing out the colors, it wasn't as I thought it would look like. Still, this one turned out amazing. I used mod podge, and tacky glue.

I placed it in the second Crailsheimer Living Room Set and it turned out lovely. I added, some beads as vases, and this cute little baby toy had to make it into the photo too! - ggsdolls

Slowly Opening My Mail...

It's been trying these days...Since arriving home, I've had a stack of boxes from the PO that have yet to be opened up! So, I finally had the gumption to do it today. Here are a few items I received in the mail...Above some YJA items to be added to the shop later...

I also received my long anticipated German Crailsheimer Living Room Set #2! This one has similar chairs to my first set but with a dark blue one, and the shelves are quite different from the first set and this one came with a bunch of extras too!

Also, this lovely almost lost Crailsheimer Kitchen set. It came with a lot of plastic items and the whole lot was sold to me for just under $6, but it took a whole month and a half to get to me-_-; I thought it had been lost in the mail for sure. But when I got home it was one of the boxes I received. I just need to do some TLC and clean up a bit more and the set will look amazing! Only thing missing is the Stove!
Below, I also won this lovely Hafner and Krullman vintage bed, and nite stands. I just love the color and style! Thanks for reading... - ggsdolls

Back at home...

Back on Guam, and trying to get back into the swing of things. Before leaving WA, I was able to order and receive these delicious gourmet caramel apples from Sinfully Sweet Apple Co. in CA. They don't ship to Guam so I figured we'd try some and they were amazing.

My father decided to continue to live with my oldest brother, and my sister is pretty much settle in and just awaiting for her husband and daughter to come out so that the move is final. My two younger brothers are also with my Dad a bit longer, which makes me feel so much better, cause at least they are all with him to keep him busy and moving. I notice that my Dad is much more relieved these days knowing his wife is at peace. Because for so long he had been my Mother's caregiver, and he was one to pay more attention to my mother's health than his own. And recently we had gotten worried that he wasn't taking care of himself, but my eldest brother will make sure he gets himself checked healthwise.

I miss many of my daily rituals, but its hard knowing I can't physically see my Mom. But life goes on and so must I. Glad to be home... - ggsdolls

Rest in Peace, Mom...

Rita C. Flores
May 31, 1942 thru May 5, 2011

Today, my loving mother passed away. She had gone thru so much. She finally went to sleep peacefully. I will miss her dearly. It's never easy to lose any one we love, but she was my life...

- ggsdolls

(updated) When I arrived in WA, my brothers arrived the following day and we had to meet with the Head Doctor, who told us we had two options, either we keep Mom hanging on using the machines that were helping her live, or take her off the machines, and keep her on pain killers to allow her to go when she was ready... It was truly hard, but we chose what we felt she would've wanted...that choice sometimes haunts me still, because of the what if's... But I don't regret our choice at all...