Holiday Gift Guide: magnetic paperdolls around the globe

Salam

'Peace' in Arabic,

spoken in Oman

and

in Qatar

Welcome to my readers in Oman and Qatar!

Children of the World paper doll assortment

AmariasPaperWorks

www.AmariasPaperWorks.etsy.com

Today I'd like to introduce to you a most wonderful set of paperdolls that I discovered on www.etsy.com

If you have never browsed around on etsy, today is your day to do that!

I have 2 shops on the etsy site:

www.inkspired.etsy.com

and

www.collagepaperpainting.etsy.com

I decided to have 2 different shops to focus on my paper-related items

(scherensnitte, Collage Art Dolls, Collage Paper Painting and original cards)

set of 4 Collage Art Doll notecards

www.collagepaperpainting.etsy.com

and my other shop features recycled junk mail, primarily in

bottlecap magnets

and other recycled art, such as my Rock Painting

and my domino magnet painting and stamping and hand beaded jewelry.

recycled bottlecap magnet art

www.inkspired.etsy.com

...and yeah, I have lots more too!!

:0)

hand beaded woven necklace

www.inkspired.etsy.com

However,

today I want to let you in on a secret....

okay, maybe not so secret....

Etsy has FANTASTIC artists with INCREDIBLE items for sale!

:0)

I found AmariasPaperWorks one day while I was looking for paper dolls on etsy.

Wow, I was impressed.

I was able to add one of Amaria's magnetic paper doll sets into a treasury that I had put together called "Paper Doll Parade".

'Australia Outback' set of basic dolls

Autralia Outback costumes

 

Keep in mind, I tend to put items into my treasuries that I would like to have myself!

'the Netherlands' dolls w traditional costumes

I sent a little note to Amaria to let her know that I had placed one of her paperdoll sets into a treasury, and how much I liked her paper dolls.

  She sent me the nicest note back.

Things progressed with a few e-mails back and forth,

with me drooling on the keyboard over these super fun magnetic paperdolls.

I want some....

(with a super high-pitched whiny voice....)

some of Amaria's Fairy Tale costumes, with a custom face

Amaria's Paperdolls are a thick pressed-board type of material doll.

There is a long magnet on the back, so you can play with her dolls on any magnetic surface.

www.AmariasPaperWorks.etsy.com

The thicker construction makes these perfect for little hands to play with,
without bent necks and torn hands, etc.!

Amaria was such an incredible sweetie and offered to send me....

wait for it...

a free set of her paperdolls!!!

Indonesian Paper Dolls in traditional clothing,

with around the world Paper Dolls in various outfits in background.

After picking myself up from the floor, I sent an enthusiastic

YES!!

Autumn and Winter clothing sets, www.AmariasPaperWorks.etsy.com

Next, she asks me which set would I like?

Which set?

Is she crazy?

I WANT THEM ALL!!!!

Boy's dress up costumes

After much consideration and gnashing of teeth and more drooling

and a bit of whining to myself,

this is the set I chose:

Malaysia, Amaria' Paper Works native costume dolls

It was really really hard to choose, as there were truly so many to pick from.
Like these:

Egypt

Greece

England

My Fun set of Amaria's Paperdolls arrived with not only the national costumes,

but with 'play' clothes also. They looked similar to this:

Play clothes, with Inuit paper dolls

or these:

play clothes, with New Zealand paper dolls

I am so happy with them!

But wait....

there's more...

Amaria also sent me an additional set of fairy tale clothes,

the set above!!!

Okay, now I'm really having fun!

Amaria also offers custom listings, where you can personalize dolls with your own photos. Here are a few examples:

She even does babies!!

and special party sets!

So, I think you can see now why I am really excited

about this wonderful etsy find!

www.AmariasPaperWorks.etsy.com

I have been thinking about my Christmas list this year...

more on that later!

I hope you are having a wonderful day,

and will have some time to explore the world of etsy soon.

inkspired

www.inkspired.etsy.com

www.collagepaperpainting.etsy.com

Needing some pretty in my day

esslama

'Peace' in the Darja language, spoken in Algeria

Spring in the Crimea, with yalta iudino trees in bloom

by Josif Krachkovsky

found at www.01varvara.wordpress.com

No particular reason why,

I just need some bright colors today.

Some pretty flowers.

A couple of free paperdolls with bright colors.

Apple blossoms in Australia

www.thistlebrook.com.au

I really am going to have to stop reading headlines on Yahoo before I write my blog! People can be so stupid. So cruel.

It could get one down right depressed....

"Happiness is a direction,

not a place."

- Sydney J. Harris

A scientifically proven way to help relieve depression:

wear bright colors

I really think I have shared these paperdolls before, but I don't have it noted

so here are some fun, bright and summery paperdolls for you to play with:

This is an incomplete set, as there are clothes for 2 more dolls (Kate and Kerry)that I don't have the dolls to go with them.

Also, I'm thinking there are probably more clothes that go with the original set too....

If you have a complete set and would like to send me the missing bits -

that would be great!

I got these from OrigamiBears I believe.

an Allen's Hummingbird male

There was an article on Yahoo today about colorful houses.

This is one of the pictures from that story:

"The Polka Dot House"

Grand Forks, MI

photo credit: Eric Hylden

Oh!!

I just realized I haven't shared a Barbie in ages!

Here she come....

peach "Birthday Wishes Barbie with gift bag", released 2005

One of my absolute favorite flowers, anytime of the year:

found at www.whoisjordanbrown.com

Because I love animals so, I have to include this photo of

an adorable English Sheep Dog from the Netherlands:

http://www.thedailygreen.com/

A lovely Spring frock from a 1916 ad:

I love the handkerchief hem over the underlying lacy skirt.

"Eat oranges

Hear the larks

Wait on the sun."

- John Muir

Cherry blossoms

found at www.americanwaste.org

Feel happier?

a bit more cheerier?

I know I do!

See you soon!

inkspired

http://www.myinkspired.com/

http://www.inkspired.etsy.com/

http://www.collagepaperpainting.com/

http://www.collagepaperpainting.etsy.com/

dominoes@myinkspired.com

Thanksgiving Hymnology We Gather Together

Vrolijke gedenkdagen

(Happy Thanksgiving in Dutch)

vintage Pilgrim illustration

We Gather Together Thanksgiving Hymn

We gather together to ask the Lord’s blessing;

He chastens and hastens His will to make known.

The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing.

Sing praises to His Name; He forgets not His own.

Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,

Ordaining, maintaining His kingdom divine;

So from the beginning the fight we were winning;

Thou, Lord, were at our side, all glory be Thine!

We all do extol Thee, Thou Leader triumphant,

And pray that Thou still our Defender will be.

Let Thy congregation escape tribulation;

Thy Name be ever praised

close up of a Chrysanthemum, November Flower of the Month

'We Gather Together' is a traditional Dutch hymn sung in Thanksgiving Day services. It is as an expression of thanksgiving to God as defender and guide throughout the past year. The original text writer is unknown, written at the end of the 16th century to celebrate the Dutch freedom from the Spanish domination.

vintage Dutch children illustrations

To appreciate this hymn, it is necessary to know its historical background. For many years, Holland had been under the scourge of Spain. In 1576, Antwerp was captured and sacked by the Spanish armies. Nine years later, it was captured again by the Spanish and all of the Protestant citizens were exiled.

'Wreck of the San Felipe - 1576'  by Gordon Miller

These historical events can be seen from the references within the hymn's text,

 that God will continue to defend:

"The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing," (in first stanza)

"so from the beginning the fight we were winning," (in second stanza)

"and pray that Thou still our defender will be." (in final stanza)

Many other Dutch cities suffered similar fates. William the Silent, one of the revered leaders of the struggle against Spain was eventually murdered by a Catholic assassin.

'William the Silent'

Loutherbourg, Spanish Armada against the Dutch, 1568-1648

 His youngest son, Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange, assumed the leadership for more than a quarter century. His rule was called the great golden age of prosperity where rich post-reformation culture developed throughout Holland.

 

'Motley's Dutch Nation' by John Lothrop Motley

 with photo of first royals of the 'Dutch Republic'

Commerce was expanded, and this was the period of great Dutch art, with such prominent painters as Rembrandt and Vermeer. In 1648, the Spanish endeavors to control Holland were finally destroyed beyond recovery.

'the Guitar Player' by Jan Vermeer, 1672

"We Gather Together"  was first published in Adrian Valerius's Nederlandtsche Gedenckclanck, in 1626, in Haarleem. Initially, the singing of this hymn was limited to the Dutch people, until more than two centuries ago, in 1877, it was discovered by Edward Kremser, a Viennese musician who published it in his collection Sechs Altniederlanddische Volkslieder. The English translation of the text was done by Theodore Baker in 1894 and set to a Netherlands Folk Melody.

'Pilgrims' Prayer of Thanksgiving'

Theodore Baker was born in New York, and was a highly respected music researcher. His famous 'Biographical Dictionary of Musicians' became THE authoritative reference book for all serious students of music.

For those of you a little more into music publications, Mr. Baker served as the literary editor for the G.Schirmer Music Company from 1893 - 1926.

Mr. Baker returned to Germany - where he had received his earlier musical training. He died in Dresden, Germany in 1934.

'We Gather Together' was first seen in hymnals in 1903.

'Good News Hymn' compiled by Benjamin Franklin Butts, 1914

This charming paper doll is from Holland, with traditional costumes:

I hope you have had fun with this little slice of history today.

I know I have!

We in America have such a rich and diverse background

given to us from countries all over the world.

I feel so privileged!

I love to learn about how some of 'our' customs

are actually customs from other countries, just like this hymn!

See you tomorrow!

inkspired

http://www.inkspired.etsy.com/

http://www.inkspiredmusings.blogspot.com/

http://www.myinkspired.com/

(my web site is certainly a work in progress....)