Handmade Doll Clothes

There's nothing like handmade doll clothes to express your creativity and love for your craft.   The internet boasts tons of different styles of doll clothes for all kinds of dolls.  Some are simple, some are elaborate, but all are very cute and made with care.  A friend of mine's mom gave me a box full of handmade Barbie and American Girl doll (or like sized dolls) clothes last winter that she made.  I don't have an american girl doll, but I did buy a Barbie and I felt like a little girl again while I was putting all these outfits on her to get photos for the store. It really was a lot of fun!  Alas, the time has come that the woman needs her doll clothes back as she readies herself for an upcoming craft/fair show.  As her current inventory is low she needs what I haven't sold.  So, with that said, if you were thinking of buying any of these adorable handcrafted doll outfits from Le Petit Marche you have until 6:00pm MDT, 6/30/12.   Here's a few outfits for your viewing pleasure.
I think I'll have to play dress up with Barbie this week-end and get that little girl feeling back for a little while again!

Handmade Barbie Doll Pink and Green Glitter Halter Dress

Handmade Barbie Doll Black Pants and Turquoise Glitter Top

Handmade American Girl Doll Leopard Print Coat With Muff and Hat

Handmade American Girl Doll Red Poodle Skirt with Black Top

For the Love of Dogs

The new ESN theme this week is "puppies".  I don't think I know anyone who doesn't love puppies.   I don't currently have a dog at the moment, my beloved Lucy passed away in 2010 at almost 15 yrs. old.  I put a deposit on her before she was born, then I got to meet her at 6 weeks old and as soon as she belted out her first yodel I knew she was my girl. (Thankfully there were only 4 puppies so choosing wasn't very difficult).  The breeder delivered her to me when she was 9 weeks old and she was with me until her last day on earth.  She was the best Basenji ever!  I loved her dearly and am still just not ready to get another little Basenji.  I don't have anything in my store about puppies, except things like shoes they'd like to chew on...

But I do have a few dog ornaments for your Christmas tree or just for display to show your love for your pet.  This one is a Chow Chow Ornament complete with black tongue and hanging cord. Visit him at Le Petit Marche.  And check out the other fine stores at ESN while you're there!

Angels in Church

I'm a little late in my last post for the church theme, but the whole state is on fire here (Colorado) and it's hotter than anything so it was a little hard to concentrate.  But now I'm sitting here in my "climatisation" and have been pondering after reading the other ESN posts about church and what not and I found I do have some angels in my store that go with this theme just fine.  What church doesn't have angels?  They come in all shapes and sizes and both genders and they are prolific on churches everywhere.  Le Petit Marche has 2 lovely angels that are quite statuesque and are playing instruments.  So come visit and take a look at these beautiful angels and visit all the other fine vendors at Ecrater Stores Network.

Hand Painted Resin 14" Angel

Hand Painted Resin 14" Angel

Places of Worship

The theme for our scavenger hunt this week on ESN is "church or whatever we relate to".    There's tons of places of worship for all the different religions of the world where one can go and replenish their souls and get their spiritual fix.  Churches, synagogues, mosques, temples and cathedrals.  There's even a Biker Church in Texas, that welcomes rough and ready bikers, as long as they have Jesus in their heart!  Many are not only houses of worship but also the religious community center where other activities take place for adults and children alike.  And yet again I have nothing in my store for this theme.  But I checked out Eccentric Thrifter and sure enough she's got some books in the spiritual realm.  I chose:  Where is God When It Hurts  because I liked the title.    Check it out and our other members stores as well.

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there.  Hope you're having a blast doing what you love most, whatever that may be!  My own dad passed away in 1991.  He was a WWII veteran serving mostly in Germany.  He was a great guy and became quite the avid golfer when he and mom sold the house and moved to a retirement community with a golf course. My favorite memory of him is one night when I was around 17 years old and I didn't have any plans for that evening ( what 17 year old doesn't have plans????) he said he'd give me a beer if I stayed home and watched a movie with the old man.  A beer?? At 17??  Oh yeah, like I hadn't drunk a beer (or way too many) at 17, but what the heck, a beer that was blessed by my father!

I no longer recall the movie but whatever it was we didn't watch it anyway, we talked and talked; about mom, his job, my siblings, my school, and why I dated guys who looked like Jesus Christ, my plans for the future and anything else that came up.  It was a magical night that brought us close.  He loved me and trusted me, and wanted me to know he had faith in me in whatever path I chose.  Thanks dad for everything, I love you.  Here's to you, bottom's up!

Take the Kids to the Beach

Although I live in a "land locked" state these days I remember the beaches on the Jersey shore as a kid.  Every summer my parents would take us and we'd go and rent a house close to the beach.  We went to places like Atlantic City, Ocean City, Wildwood, Brigantine and I don't remember where else.  We had a blast! Taking our buckets and shovels determined to make the best sand castles imagined! All that sun and salt water can dry a little body out, but heck, we didn't care back then.  But things sure have changed and nowadays sunblock and covering up is a big deal to help prevent skin cancer, which of course is a big deal!  I found a lovely little outfit from CutsieKids for an 18 month old girl that she could wear over her swim suit or after her bath from a day at the beach.  It's colorful, summery and cute!  So remember the sunscreen and take the kids to the beach!   And check out the other ESN shops to see what they offer for summer.

Wonder Kids Tank Short Set in Pink & Green 

                                         

It's Time To Go Swimming!

Well, it's that time of year and ESN's theme of the week, and that's "Swimming"!   As usual I don't really have anything in my store that has anything to do with swimming, but no matter where you go swimming; pools, lakes, oceans, ponds it would do one well to have a pair of rugged sandals to wear in the bathroom, or on the sand or on the rocks and other rugged terrain that you sometimes find in a lake setting, that are sturdy and will work well even when wet.  You can find these cool Chaco Zong Ecotread Sandals at Le Petit Marche.  I'm sure you'll find plenty of other swimming items at my fellow ESN shopkeepers. So come visit us!

Housecleaning to Music

As ESN ends the week with the theme of housecleaning I've been pondering what I can find to do to get out of housecleaning!  But I'll probably do a little cleaning since the place needs it, what with all the wind we get here and dust that blows in.  I always like to listen to music while cleaning, it makes it go faster and doesn't seem to be such a task.  I'm a big fan of Putumayo, they have the best music collections from around the world.  I have lots of favorites and own many of these CD's so if I have to clean I may as well dance while doing it!  Sometimes I dance to Brazilian music, other times French and everything in between.  I tango, salsa, rumba all over the place with whatever piece of cleaning equipment I happen to make my partner.   Cleaning and "dancercize" all at once.  I only found one CD of music from a fellow store-owner; Eccentric Thrifter.  It's called Nature's Harmony, it's gospel music, so if you don't want to dance (or dance to it anyway!) you can sing along with this very nice CD while getting your house clean!

Singing is Good for the Soul!

Singing is so much fun, even if you aren't good at it.  Isn't that why a lot of people sing in the shower?  Just to amuse themselves and act like a rock star in private?  And then there's the singers who sing while driving with windows open thinking no one can hear them, or don't care that anyone does.   ESN's theme this week is "singing".  There will be plenty of that going on with all the concerts this summer all over the world.  Our own Red Rocks will be hosting rock concerts all summer long.  I don't have a single thing in my store to represent singing per se, but Le Petit Marche has some lovely Christmas decorations that will get you in the mood to sing Christmas Carols.  Ok, so it's a little early in the season to be thinking Christmas and singing Christmas songs, or is it?  So pop on in and have a look at some of the fun Christmas stuff I have. Below are just two of a nice selection I have.

Holiday Style 14" Fiber Optic Angel

Things Remembered Musical Snow Globe

Dressing Appropriately for Housecleaning

Housecleaning is the theme for ESN this week.  And although I have no housecleaning items that would help you with any of those mundane house chores it did get me to thinking about our 1950's counterparts and the next thing I knew I was thinking of Margaret Anderson from "Father Knows Best", and June Cleaver from "Leave it to Beaver",  and Donna Stone from the "Donna Reed" show and of course who could forget Harriett Nelson from the "Ozzie and Harriett" show.  I don't know how clean these women's homes were but they sure dressed for it.  Clean, fresh ironed apron over a clean, fresh ironed dress with kitten heels (I bet they even wore hose!), hair, makeup and lipstick perfect!  And let's not forget... wait for it.... the PEARLS!  You cannot clean house without wearing pearls.  Of course, I don't think I ever witnessed one of them actually cleaning house, although I think I did see June or Donna yield a vacuum cleaner once. I'm going to give wearing pearls a try this week-end, if I decide to clean that is, and see how much it helps.  I don't have any white pearls in my store but I do have a lovely black bead necklace that might just do the trick if you want to give cleaning with pearls on a try.  They come with a pair of dangle earrings too, heck go all out!  So visit Le Petit Marche and check out this lovely set.

Lovely Gray Black Color Sea Shell Bead Necklace and Earring Set

And if gray/black isn't your color, check out what else I  might have that suits you to clean house.  Go ahead, dress up to clean!

Gospel Singing

Gospel singing is a unique Americana phenomena that goes back a long ways.  Brother Dennis L. Slaughter has a fascinating History of Gospel Music should you want to know more about it.  I love the energy of gospel music, the harmony of the voices.  Some songs are kind of sad like "Amazing Grace" and "Swing Low Sweet Chariot", and I can't find out for sure where the songs originated, but if not American, whether stolen or adopted they've been around at least since the slave trade times and are sung in churches everywhere even today.  If you want to know more about Gospel tunes, Eccentric Thrifter has this vintage book:  Check it out and all her other interesting items as well.

Rodeheaver's Gospel SOLOS and DUETS