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...

Family Emergency, Leaving Stateside!

Things have been kinda hard lately...My mother was admitted to the ICU early Easter Sunday, she died in the ambulance ride up to the hospital. She was revived and was placed on a ventilator. By Tuesday, she was taken off the ventilator and is in stable condition, but still at the ICU. She's responsive and doing as well as can be expected, but I fear she is just waiting for the rest of my Sibs and myself to get to her. I will be leaving on Monday(Guam time) and arrive there on Monday(WA time).

We hope to do what we can to keep her as comfortable as we can. She has gone thru so much since my last visit with her in Oct. last year. Back then, she wasn't eating well, and in Dec. she injured her foot and by March had to get a toe amputated, then in early April more toes had to be removed. When my sister moved out there, she told me that Mom got worse and wasn't eating much at all, and because of this her foot was not healing. She became weak and that's what ended up causing her to have the massive heart attack on Sunday. I know my mother, and for now she wants us all to be there with her...

A few days prior to her heart attack, my youngest daughter couldn't sleep well for 2 nights, during the time I saw shadows by my bedside and around her. I know it is my mother's spirit visiting her. I am trying to stay strong, and she is still with us, but I can't help that it is her way of saying 'good bye' to the grandchildren. When I spoke with my sister on the phone, she said my mother keeps asking for the grandchildren...

- shops will be closed for now, but I will still answer convo's or messages!
- last post for now... - ggsdolls

The Little Things that Matter...

I recently, received some beads and tiny extras to add to the bungalow. While still waiting for kitchen furniture and other items to arrive. It's been really fun just getting this lovely dollhouse together...keeps my mind off of everything else that's been happening...more on this later! I received the bodo hennig mirror in the mail today and now, my dressing table is complete. It isn't original but works. and looks just divine in the bedroom!

Then, I also received the fluted beads from UK that I bought online, now the living room has a touch of Jonathan Adler style! I had to glue them onto a clear acrylic base to keep them from rolling away! LOL! Doesn't show too much and keeps the beads organized!

Finally, I also received a lovely set of keys on a keyring, Too cute, but I've always remembered while watching "Bewitched" or any good ole' TV shows of the same period, they had a bowl on a similar type of table just next to or close by the door to place your keys in as you walked into the house...ahhhh! The memories of the good old days! - ggsdolls

Mid-Century Starburst Clock 1:12 Scale!

I was looking at many starburst decor and clocks, and found a few on flickr that were dollhouse size! Many were nice enough to give some ideas as to how they made theirs and some didn't but it was okay, cause then I was able to make this one below myself for the House of Moritz. I am very please with the end result and especially wanted to thank these amazing flickr streams like mawphotos for his, Austin's, and Mini Modernistas for their examples! - ggsdolls

Amazing Miniatures Bookshelf/Divider

I wanted to find something to be able to separate the living room from the soon to become kitchen side of the house. I've been having so much fun with this bungalow, I just had to show off this new addition for now!! - ggsdolls

Amazing Vintage Postcard from Germany!

Above: My lovely postcard from Ellen! Thank you for being my angel!

My day was made better by this lovely card I received in the mail today! Thank you dear Ellen of alpenfieberblogspot.com! This lovely lady has become my penpal by chance, since I helped her find a lovely vintage tea set from Japan. I was very happy to help her find the set. But I did not realize how amazing our friendship has become until she sent me a gift package of so many lovely goodies from Germany.

Mind you I did not charge her a finders fee or asked her for anything in return, but this amazing person, took the opportunity out of pure kindness to make me a package with so much attention and care put into it. I just feel so touched by her generousity, in a time when money is hard to come by. So, often I have been taught by some of our doll friends in the community that there is so much kindness we have for one another and for the world, but at the same time I can also be reminded that there are many who, we so easily trust and would sell or give our dearest dolls to, that would rather just keep taking from us and could care less if we got anything back in return.

Sad I know but often true. I truly am so blessed to know, and have such an amazing friend in Ellen! She reminds me that their are angels out there...not because she sends me things, but because she is so giving, makes me wanna grow up just to be like her!

Thanks for reading and listening, many of you who are followers have a common love just like Ellen, by just reading my posts, or commenting on something I've written, you too are special people in more ways than you know!! much love, ggsdolls

"Happy Easter to you all and may you all have a special angel to remind you of the gift of giving!"

Lovely Skipper Dresses for my Kiraz Gals!

I've been going on a skipper dress hunt these days and found a site that had many lovely skipper items for a lot less than getting them on feebay! All I wanted was a few dress items and not all of the fashion set...so, here they are all lovely in almost every dress I put on! Above is, Long N Short of it dress, and cookie time dress. Cookie time is one of my faves!
This one above is Sunny Pastels, and the dress wasn't really a choice I was going to get, but at less than $10 you can't beat trying it on! LOL!

This one above, I've seen on feebay, just the dress was so cute. A bit short, but very mod indeed!

This last one above, is my fave of all, came with the dress at the top left, Long N Short of it dress coat. I added the black belt and Francie heels and she looks so 1950's stylishly cute! Many of skipper's other fashions could probably fit...but I am glad to find these simple pieces, and at less than $30 dollars, you can't go wrong! - ggsdolls