The dolls have more lights, so work is progressing on the tree. (see previous post) Ellen wasn’t needed to help with anything until they started hanging ornaments. She decided to read them all a Christmas book while they were working.
The story Ellen chose to read was “a Gift from the Lonely Doll” by Dare Wright.
It was a lovely story about a doll named Edith, and her bear friends. Edith wanted to make a Christmas present, so she knitted a Christmas scarf but had a few problems along the way!
“Look!” said Ellen holding up the book to show the others the pictures. “They are decorating a tree too! Their tree is even bigger than ours!!”The dolls were very impressed with the photos. They wanted to know if we could have a BIG real tree next year.
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Many people have asked me how I got the idea for my blog. The answer is that mainly it developed from me discovering that I loved posing the dolls and taking photos. Plus, I enjoy writing, and this gives me a way to write. BUT one of the main inspirations for posing the dolls in the “Real World” instead of with only doll-size objects…is the Lonely doll series. When I was little, the only two from the series we had were the “Gift from the Lonely Doll” and “The Lonely Doll”. I remember pouring over the “Gift from the Lonely Doll” at Christmas time. I loved the photos. I was fascinated the way she made it look like the doll and bears were really interacting and working. I want to be able to pass that fascination on to some little girl out there…..
So… the giveaway this week is the book “A Gift from the Lonely Doll”!! It is a paperback, but I hope it can give great joy to someone as another copy did/does to me 🙂
(Ellen wanted to show you the cover )
To enter…Comment below with who would get the book if you win! The winner will be picked next Tuesday.
My two favorite things about this blog, are when I get to hear that it made someone’s day brighter….and when I hear a little girl is playing with her dolls more and trying to pose them. That makes me smile so big. 🙂 I would have loved to have a blog like this to read when I was young. I hope to create something little girls love here. There are so many ways to play on a computer that the art of playing without electricity is being lost. Dolls open up the imagination of little girls. It can also “teach” them many things without their realising it. Good play not only is fun, but teaches. The teacher side of me tries to be very conscious of the fact that everything we read or see affects us and can “teach” us. I try to put a lot of thought into the dialogue of the dolls and what is being “taught” in my stories. I purposely have no “bad” dolls. There is enough badness and grumpiness in the world without adding more of it in our imaginary friends. I also joke with my friends that the different characters of the dolls are different sides of me…there is a little of me in each of them. Yes, I do have a grumpy side, but that shouldn’t be promoted. 😉 This is a very long- winded way of explaining why I have this blog (besides giving me the fun of making doll clothes 😉 and why it gives me great joy to give away this book. I learned SOOOO much from books when I was young. So please, if you enjoy this blog, would you please consider telling some little girl you may know about it? Maybe she will be able to enjoy it. This blog is absolutely for adults, too…but my teacher heart also writes it for little girls. 🙂
December 6, 2016 at 12:54 pm
I would love to win this book for my sister.
Marilyn
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December 6, 2016 at 12:55 pm
Thanks for the opportunity to win this lovely book. I would gift it to my two sisters.
Joan
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December 6, 2016 at 12:56 pm
I would gift this lovely book to my younger sisters.
Joan
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December 6, 2016 at 12:58 pm
What a great book to win. I would give this to my sister and put it under the Christmas tree. Thanks for the giveaway.
Marion
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December 6, 2016 at 1:02 pm
What a wonderful thing to do. This book is something I would love to win and give to my granddaughter who can read now! Although we would read it together the first time.
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December 6, 2016 at 1:09 pm
This would be a wonderful book to win and I would give it to my granddaughter who can now read! But we would read it together the first time.
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December 6, 2016 at 4:30 pm
I would give the book to my very precious granddaughter, Ryan. She is 8 years old and in 3rd grade. We read together quite a bit – and quite often about dolls. I save every one of your blogs to read with Ryan. And when she calls, she always asks what my dolls are doing and what your dolls are doing lately. We often FaceTime so that we can read a book, your blog, or share other interesting things – we often use our phone screens to share what we are reading or taking about.
We both write doll stories, too. I used to write them for her and now she writes stories for me or we write and photograph the dolls together. We are writing one now about going camping, including a scary story by the campfire. How cool is that?
Thanks so much for your blog!
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December 7, 2016 at 7:23 am
If I won this book, I would give it to my granddaughter, Rylee. She lives in California, but we Skype often. I sing and read to her. Thank you for this blog and contest!
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December 7, 2016 at 12:12 pm
Alas, I don’t have any daughters and no granddaughters. I know 2 little girls who live far away. But that’s it. I think they are both too young for the internet yet! I love your stories as all my life growing up I made up stories with my dolls and played with my younger sister, who says she lived for the stories! This sort of imaginative play is marvelous. Thanks for your work in posting each day!
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December 7, 2016 at 1:16 pm
I would love to have this book in my first and second grade classroom!
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December 7, 2016 at 2:25 pm
Are you a mind reader? I am ellie&little bear or larkinellie on instagram. Haven’t been on there recently, sad to say. I’ve been ill and due for surgery next week. I’ve read all the comments too and all are so sweet with very nice wishes.My first wish would be that all could have their wishes for their family members to share in these wonderful stories. May I be so selfish as to wish to win this book too? It is the one of the Lonely Doll books I don’t have and would really, really love to have! I’d like to say MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone! I’ll be back online as soon as able. Your blog is a bright spot in my day…THANK YOU for your darling posts! 🙂
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December 10, 2016 at 10:37 pm
I didn’t know that is who you are! aww that is lovely…I like your instagram account…such cute pictures 🙂 I think this one is my favorite from the series!
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December 13, 2016 at 7:04 am
Thank you very much. 🙂 I didn’t think I would be or plan an insta thing but found an older camera at a thrift store. Maybe it shows? What matters is it’s fun! Sometimes fuzzy fun but fun lol! Little bear says fuzzy fun is the best kind. 🙂 I caught him playing with my camera this morning! So full of mischief! Maybe Ellie needs a Mr. Bear to help keep order if we can find one that fits. Ellie says he has to be the right Mr. Bear. I understand that. It’s like gifts, they really mean the most when you get that little zing knowing it’s the right thing.
I’m off to the doctor this morning and surgery tomorrow. Little Bear says this is no way to spend the holidays. I think we’ll make a holiday in our hearts. No matter what’s up or where we are a little Christmas cheer is easy to find and share! Anya (the girl with the little elf pic) is in charge while I’m gone. I do declare that little elf friend of hers has a more mischievous look in her eye than Little Bear!
Oh dear! I wonder when I return home if the house will look like that insurance commercial with Mr. Mayhem? Think I’ll teach them the song “Silent Night” before I leave today. 🙂
Merry Christmas to all and to all a happy New Year too!
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December 7, 2016 at 6:47 pm
Lovely photo story! If I win the book we will add it to our holiday library. We have a stack of books that are holiday stories and we read them every year during the holiday season. The tradition began with my oldest child, a son who is 29. Our children (son and two daughters, ages 26 and 13 years old) have added favorite books through the years. We are continuing the tradition with our grandchildren who are 3 and 5.
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December 8, 2016 at 2:23 pm
Of course it would go to my little reader. I would have to read it myself since I have never read it though.
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December 11, 2016 at 4:46 pm
I would give it to my cousin
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December 12, 2016 at 1:59 pm
I remember liking this book as a child so I’d share it with my adult daughters as a memory. 😊
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December 12, 2016 at 2:12 pm
I don’t have any little ones to gift this too, but Edith has been my inspiration since I was a little girl too! We didn’t own any but the library had Edith and Edith & Mr Bear. I remember getting on a wait list to borrow Edith & Midnight (the horse!) my mother kept telling me I was getting too old but I still cycled through them. I was able to the reprint of Edith in university, I hope they do them all eventually!
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