Gabrielle Messina Just a Girl

paper doll line-up

 I got to thinking, that for the girls' Paper Doll Party, more paper dolls might be in order. Who's ever heard of too many anyhow? So, a few weeks ago, I set about making some rather colossal sized paper dolls that could be used as center pieces and focal points for the day of their, now rescheduled celebration.
I used the same image of the sweet paper doll I had used in all of the other trimmings for the party. Just this time, scaling them larger. I scaled them too large to fit on a standard sheet of paper, so I copied first the top portion of the little girl, then the bottom and fitted them together. I think they turned out pretty cute and think I'll end up using them as little decorations for their playroom after the party's over.As cute as the front of them are, I think I like the back just as much! There's something wonderfully mod about the lineup of these little women and at the same time, old fashioned. 

  On a side note and completely unrelated, I realize that ferris wheel has been shown in the last couple of posts. It's just been making it's rounds around the house more then usual. I love ferris wheels. Ferris wheels, hot- air balloons and carousels... I put them all in the same fun category and they are often hard subject matter to find. So when I do, I scoop them up! Rambling, rambling. Thanks for listening, girls! 

a little lady for my little lady

Want a peek at my little girl's birthday gift? Isn't she sweet? I'm most certain every five year old girl needs a life sized doll that can also store toys and treasures inside and comes complete with forget- me- nots, a rhinestone buckle and painted fingernails. I for one would certainly need one if I was a little girl again. I know my little lady's going to adore her. Right up her alley, she'll be. I used to do my little lady's hair just like this when she was a tiny babe with curls. Her big eyes and eyelashes reminded me of her too...That rhinestone buckle and dainty red fingernails.... Here's where she'll be able to keep her trinkets and her toys. Love that  form and function! Oh, and yes, that's my vacuum cleaner back there. I just finished up sprinkling her with a baking soda & lavender essential oil mixture and then vacuuming her off to freshen her up a bit. Love the dingy, time worn colors. The scent has sometimes got to go, though! I found her while doing a bit of antiquing with my husband on a date day a long while back(yes, I conned him into antiquing on a date day, and no, he'd never do it again.... It was a one sided date night, I'll admit) He thinks she's ridiculous and that no other person on earth would like her. Just goes to show you he was never a five year old girl..... I know for a fact she'll fall in love with her big dolly and she'll have a name for her in ten seconds flat, as she seems to name everything she comes across. 

Supper Club

 Months ago, while doing some antiquing, I stumbled upon the most beautiful table I think I've ever seen. Just as soon as I laid my eyes upon it, I could picture family dinners around it and in fact, I know this may make me sound a bit on the strange side, but I pictured family dinners around it years and years from now. Dinners that included grandchildren. In fact, I think it was the picture I fell in love with. I'm lucky enough to live within walking distance from my brother, my grandmother and my mother. We've been making an effort to set aside a night once a week(ideally)  and have dinner together... our own little supper club.  Back to the day at the antique shop, after calling my husband into the store, he agreed that we should have the table. It's residing in our dining room now and we've shared many a meals on it already. I had planned to live with our other table for a lifetime, but then this one came along and things changed.... We were able to sell the old set on Craig's List and not have to put out a penny for the new one. I love when things work out like that!!  It's a piece of furniture that gets plenty of wear and tear, use and abuse in the house. The chairs are old ones that I mentioned in this post. I've had them reupholstered since then and like the picture above shows, they've already seen their share of spills... this one was just some water.   The table was supposed to be filled with lots and lots of little kids today for my girls' birthday party, but I had to send out a group email to their parents letting them know that my brood is very much under the weather and we'd have to postpone the party for a few weeks. Well, I better go check up on them. All three sleeping.... of course this only happens when their sick. We're spending a quiet Sunday at home and hopefully, if the kids are up to eating tonight, we'll sit down and have some chicken pot- pie. 

A Messy Valentine

 I'm thinking that this will be the last post I'll be able to write before Valentine's Day comes. It seems it's just getting harder and harder these days to find the time to post. I miss you!! So, Happy Valentine's Day! I'm sorry I couldn't romanticise it a bit more. Around the house, there's lots of work being done...

We're installing some crown moulding in the bedroom. This morning, I took a few thinks off the wall that could easily be bumped and removed things from on top of the armoire. Too much stuff!! That's what I say. Sometimes I wish I was a bit more simpler, more streamlined. But, it is what it is. I'm not a streamlined type of girl. Never was, never will be, I suspect. And, looking at this picture, I think I could definitely use another hat box in our room. Yes, another hat box is in order.

It does look rather pretty there all piled onto the bed. Trying to find the beauty among the chaos of it all.

 

 I'm having all these photo issues too. For whatever reason, when I'm uploading, some are their usual larger size and some are these smaller size. Must find the time to look into that!! Well, I'm rushing off to work, girls! Have a lovely day! xoxoxox

Walt Disney World Magic

It was a week spent in the most magical of places, a escape from reality and everything that mid-winter brings. There was no cooking or cleaning, no responsibility of the shop, meetings to attend or paper work needing attention. We silenced all telephones and agreed that we would not check emails. There was nothing that was going to take our attention away from moments like these.... Live an in Techcnicolor meetings with characters we've only seen on screen or read about in books.

Pure enchantment... All smiles as they posed for photos and and waited for autograph books to be signed. There was sheer joy as my big girls experienced their first big roller-coaster!! To my delight, they loved every second of the high- speed thrills.One of our favorite rides is the "Mad Hatter's Tea Party". I love the whimsical "paper" lanterns and giant teacup. My little Alice ready to spin!  Outside of the ride, another favorite spot with cups, saucers, and teapots in the colors of taffy amidst topiaries of equally colorful characters from the story of Alice in Wonderland. Disney never disappoints when it comes to detail, and like a glass of lemonade on a summer's day, I take in every last drop of it.  Daddy with his lovely little troop. (I suggested the girls get fanny packs... Yes, I did. They are big collectors of the tiniest of mementos; sugar packets, pressed pennies, park maps and tiny sticks.... Apparently, the fruit doesn't fall far from the tree.)  Casted as an extra in a **Big Screen** production on the streets of old time Hollywood.  A pair of regular movie stars, they are!  We jet- setted to Venice for the day. By way of EPCOT, of course.   This was taken the day we arrived. How I wish I could go back to that day and do the whole thing over again... The time goes by so fast. Of course, vacations always do, though.