Thursday, July 11, 2013

A Victorian Girl's Room

Over the past year I have created a post for every room in my house except one, my daughter's bedroom. When my daughter was young I had her room looking all cute and Victorian and then she had to get older and get idea's of her own (*winks*) and now her room doesn't look so cute and Victorian.  That is the reason why I never posted about it. So today while she was away at Dance Camp all day I took the opportunity to temporarily "Victorianize" it up a bit so I could post about it and boy, did I have fun!
Warning: This is a long one! I'm making up for my short Independence Day post. *winks*

Are you ready to play? Come on over and meet your playmates!


Lorene is my paternal Great Grandmother. You all have seen her in a previous post and I got so many comments on how cute she was I thought I would show her again. So here she is! Click here if you want to see that post.

The girl's would like to give you a little tour of their room before playing. Upon entering the room you'll find an antique walnut bedstead dressed in a quilt that my maternal Grandmother made quite some time ago. I drug it out of the closet just for the occasion!


A close up of the detail work on the headboard. 


 and the detail work on the pillow cases.


Next to the bedstead is an antique walnut washstand with an antique hand painted wash set.


To see the Victorian house where this set came out of, and to read about how I acquired it, click here. The house is beautiful and the set was original to the house.


Hanging on the wall above the wash stand is a reproduction framed Victorian Sampler that I stitched several years ago. For the occasion I took it out of the laundry room where I had it hanging.
Back in the day, young ladies would learn their stitches while completing what is called a Sampler. It would have the alphabet and a Bible verse or motto on it as well.


And over here on this wall is the antique walnut dresser.


And displayed on the dresser are lots of little Victorian childhood related items... 


on the right side of the dresser is another photo of Great Grandma Lorene, a pair of button up shoes, a button hook and a christening gown. They are not family pieces, unfortunately.


In the middle of the dresser are a few child and doll sized antique china pieces, a little antique beaded boot, a parasol and necklaces. The one on the right is an antique locket I got at an estate tag sale but the other one was given to me by my mother when I was probably 6 years old or so. Pictured on it is Mary had a Little Lamb with the little red school house in the background. My mother's name is Mary. I always loved that necklace!


And here on this other side of the dresser we have a visitor! Winston Dudley, my maternal Grandfather, came over to play too! Pictured with him is a reproduction Trick Pony mechanical bank, an antique Staffordshire Spaniel and other small dog, and a Noah's Ark toy. Noah's Ark was a Victorian toy that was only played with on Sunday's or at Christmas time. This ark is an American Girl doll toy. I thought it was so precious and just had to order it!


Okay...it is now time to play!

We'll bring out the dolls (I'm sure little Winston will just love that!)

The buggy is a reproduction from Cracker Barrel and a Christmas gift to my daughter when she was 3 years old. If you would like to see clearer photos and read more about the dolls click here.


We'll bring out the tea set...


and have a tea party with Charlotte. And oh my goodness, do you see what is behind Charlotte?!


Yes, a doll house!


Would you like to see what's inside?
Are you sure?

Okay, open her up!


It is not as extravagant as some I see, I try not to get too carried away with it for it can be so expensive.
After saying that, I will tell you that I have decided to take the divider wall out from the second story, get rid of the bathroom and have a larger parlor. It didn't have that wall there when I bought it, I added it using a  foam board, so it will be easy to remove but I will have to find more of the same wallpaper or will have to buy all new.

Here is a close up of the parlor, my favorite pieces are the Staffordshire Spaniels on the mantle and the Queen Victorian bust on the organ. AND, the little stereoptican on the center table.


Just in case you can't see the stereoptican and don't really know what one is, I will show you the regular sized one I have in my parlor...


and the stereo card has children playing with their Noah's Ark toy. Isn't that cute?


Here is a close up of the dining room, my favorite pieces here are the petit fours on the silver tray on the tea cart and the pink parasol hanging from the brass hall tree.


Here is the kitchen, I added the shelves on the door panel to store more food and dishes!


And last, here is the master bedroom, my favorite in here are the pair of silhoutte pictures. 
Aren't they so cute?!


So that's my doll house and below is a little wall hanging Bakery shadow box. I bought this back when I first started decorating cakes, it was my first miniature purchase. The little box on the floor used to be on the counter and then I changed it out with a wedding cake I had bought.


After a long day filled with much excitement and fun, it is time to put the dollies to bed...


and...
time for the children to go to bed as well.
So, "Sweet Dreams" everyone.


In the above photo the embroidered pillow case was given to me by my precious 93 year old friend, she had it on bed for years before giving it to me. I always adored it and am so happy to have it. 
The silhouttes are of my children when they were 18 months or so (done different years of course). We had them done at a Heritage Festival, the artist hand cut them free handed, no tracings or anything! 

Before I end this LONG post I wanted to share a few antique trade cards of Victorian children with you. 
One kitty is lucky and the other one not so lucky! Poor thing!


Some well behaved children in this one...


AND, I thought you might like to see my Great Grandmother as an older girl. She still has that cute baby face and look at that bow and those ringlets!


Thank you so much for playing with us today. 
Have a great week!

I want to thank Sandi over at ROSE CHINTZ COTTAGE for featuring my Garden Party post on her HOME party a few weeks ago. Thank you so much Sandi!

I am joining the following parties...
HOME SWEET HOME with Sherry at THE CHARM OF HOME
HOME with Sandi at ROSE CHINTZ COTTAGE
HOME AND GARDEN THURSDAY with Kathy at A DELIGHTSOME LIFE
WHAT'S IT WEDNESDAY with Paula at IVY AND ELEPHANTS
TREASURE HUNT THURSDAY with Pamela at FROM MY FRONT PORCH TO YOURS
SHOW AND TELL FRIDAY with Cindy at MY ROMANTIC HOME
PINK SATURDAY with Beverly at HOW SWEET THE SOUND
AMAZE ME MONDAY with Cindy at DWELLINGS

20 comments:

  1. Love your daughter's Victorian room, Gina. Too many treasures to name, but I know that dollhouse is my favorite, FABULOUS! Each detail such a treat. Have a great weekend.
    Hugs,
    Patti

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  2. Your great grandmother was a beauty, Gina, and I love your doll house! Each little bitty treasure inside it is just so charming! So happy to have you share this with us at my HOME. I know many will be whisked back to the days when they too liked to play with doll houses. Have a wonderful weekend.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  3. A lovely post with so many interesting things to look at. I love the doll house with all the tiny Victorian things inside.

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  4. Gina, I loved the play date! Your great-grandmother was the prettiest little thing. Most portraits of that era have some really grouchy faces. Do you ever notice that? Did your daughter get home before you put her room back to rights? Isn't it funny how they don't really enjoy the 'old stuff'. Give them time, it will happen someday. Mine, at 50 something, is starting to come around!!..Happy Friday..Judy

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  5. Your daughter one will be so happy to have these treasures to pass to her children. You have so many neat things to see. I do love that doll house and your great grand mother is a pretty lady. That huge bow in her hair with a draping around her shoulders, people really dressed for photos in those days.
    Loved your post.
    betsy

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  6. What a lovely room, and please can I come and play with the dolls house?

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  7. Oh, sweet dolly - and beautiful dollhouse! Happy Pink Saturday!

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  8. Gina,
    Where do I start?? Such a lovely room filled with so many wonderful treasures!!
    LOVE the doll house and all that you have done with it!! It is spectacular!! It can be addicting though, can't it?

    Thanks so much for stopping by and for your kind words about my craft room...

    Hugs,
    Debbie

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  9. Hi Gina,
    Oh my, Gina. I love all of your furniture, dolls, cute little tea set and dollhouse - just everything! What an amazing collection! I never had a dollhouse as a little girl and that would have made me so happy especially with those tiny antique chairs inside. (I used to have ringlets like your great grandma). Thanks for making me smile today! Have a wonderful weekend! Take care,
    Karen

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  10. Gina, this is the most delightful post. I so enjoyed touring your dollhouse and seeing all of your Victorian treasures. Your great-grandmother went from being a cutie to being a beauty!

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  11. I loved seeing her room and that dollhouse is amazing! Happy belated Pink Saturday and have a wonderful week. :)

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  12. GIna your room is decorated perfectly for the Era! What wonderful Family treasures.... I adore the china dolls! Have a good week!

    Wanda

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  13. Oh The room is just beautiful and That headboard is gorgeous! I hope you don't mind but I pined one of your dolls on my Dolls Pinterest Board. I have a post of some of my porcelain dolls on my blog. I think it's called Dolly. Enjoy your week.
    ~Clara

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  14. Oh my! This is so full of Victorian goodness - it reminds me of a room I toured in an old Victorian home - the furniture and details are exceptional! I am so delighted that you shared with Home and Garden Thursday, Kathy

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  15. It's all wonderful!!!! Thanks for sharing!

    Blessings,

    Kim

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  16. Gorgeous room with so many wonderful antiques...love this room!
    Thanks so much for sharing at AMAZE ME MONDAY...
    Blessings,
    Cindy

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  17. So much detail in this room. I can imagine this being a lovely Grand Victorian Home in Cape May, New Jersey.. Imagine having that gorgeous Doll House to play with. Amazing.

    Fondly,

    Janet

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  18. Gina you kill me! You are amazing. I said it before and I'll say it again, you should work in a museum. I know what you mean bout your daughter growing up and having her own ideas about decorating. I'm going through the same here with my teen. Terrific post.
    Anyes
    xx

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  19. I love your decorating style, Gina. What a stunning dollhouse! Loved seeing the architecture from your visit to Illinois too. With your love of Victoriana, (is that a word???) - I think you would like Debbie-Dabble's blog. She is quite the Victorian decorating maven too. Have a good week!

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  20. Oh my gosh, your great grandmother is just beautiful! I love the old photos that you have of her! And your dollhouse is spectacular! I think my favorite piece was the miniature Sallman's Head of Christ hanging in the dining room!

    I also enjoyed your most recent post - what beautiful homes in that neighborhood! So glad you were able to reconnect with your cousin!

    Thank you so much for visiting my 'windowless' kitchen.

    Donna @ An Enchanted Cottage

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