Figurines and firesides

I love figurines of all ages, shapes and sizes and have several around the house.  Here are just a few of the prettiest.

  "What are those sweet little Victorian maids doing perched on a mossy rock? I hear you ask. Well...I have a confession. I acquired them from an elderly gentleman when I was 8 years old. In those far off days, Victorian bisque figurines of this type were not greatly valued and so I was allowed to play with them. I immediately set about making the girls a 'romantic leafy bower' in the garden in which too frolic. The trouble was, I was the only person who knew of their frolicking and as a consequence the poor souls were left outside in all weathers for well over a year. Can you believe that?  Amazingly, as you can see, they came to no harm. Since then they have travelled through life with me and are now a precious possession. Today, for the first time, I took them back into the garden and I do believe their little faces lit up with joy and excitement as they recalled their past adventures. Rest assured however, their garden visit was short lived and they are now safely back on the sitting room shelf with my other treasures.

These two little china children date from the early 1960s. They were a birthday gift when I was a child and I have always loved them. They are designed as bookends but are not very stable so I have always used them for just the few small books that you can see here. The little girl's carrot has an end missing and I think her rabbit looks like the greedy culprit wouldn't you say?

Mr and Mrs Apple, made by Royal Doulton, are characters from Jill Barklem's Brambly Hedge stories and date from the 1980s. I would love to live in the wonderful world of Brambly Hedge. Just look at that lovely little room with beamed ceiling reflecting the glow of a roaring log fire. Snow is falling outside the window and, here I quote from the 'Winter Story'... 'Mrs Apple had spent the afternoon baking pies, cakes and puddings for the cold days to come. She drew two armchairs up to the fire and brought their supper in on a tray'... Doesn't that sound just the cosiest place to live?

If you are not familiar with the Winter Story, do read it. In the bitter chill of midwinter the mice plan a magnificent ball in their Ice Hall, and what a ball it turns out to be. The accompanying illustrations are just wonderful.

Finally, dating from the 1980s, this sweet little girl with her dolly was a gift to my daughter from her grandma but I am currently looking after it. All girls (young and old) love dolls so I was thrilled to find some real beauties on Jenny's blog at Little Jenny Wren. She creates such cute little characters, hers are definitely some of my favourites. Recently Jenny was kind enough to mention my Flutterby Patch blog for which, many thanks Jenny.

Comments

[Redwood House]

Love the stories that go with the figurines make them mean so much more. I love the Brambly Hedge stories my girls enjoyed them at bebtime almost as much as me!!!!
Jan

[carolyn]

Is that a Hummel I spy in the last photograph?