New Etsy and Boutique Showcase

Are you looking for a fun way to discover beautiful products?

Or maybe you are an artist who sells on Etsy

or your own Web Boutique and are interested in

another venue for showcasing your craft.

Monday Marketplace has made its debut today!

Today -- and every Monday --

Common Ground will allow their blog friends

to post a link to a specific product available

for sale on Etsy or a Web Boutique.  

This is SPECIAL.

Most "link parties" specifically exclude

promoting items that are for sale.  

So, whether you are a small business

selling vintage items or amazing creations,

or you are a shopper looking for these types of items,

visit Monday Marketplace.

This is the place 

where vintage, handmade or unique products

will be found.

Doll in the Looking Glass

has joined in the Monday Marketplace fun!

Until next time, live and love well.

This forum reveals random thoughts and reflections on topics of interest and events impacting the life of the founder of Doll in the Looking Glass.  Our boutique specializes in custom designed dolls that look like your child. We also design toddler and baby dolls that look real using vinyl doll components manufactured in Midland, Michigan USA by Apple Valley Doll Works.  The goal of Doll in the Looking Glass is to delight our customers with our creations.  We would love to create a special doll for you!

Leap Day Proposal

Were you aware that Leap Day (February 29) was historically a day for marriage proposals?

In times when courtship traditions were stricter, it was the responsibility of the man to ask his sweetheart for her hand in marriage.  Unless the date was February 29…

That single day that only comes around every four years was set aside for women to take the initiative and propose marriage.  And, men were subject to a fine if they refused the proposal.  

Some 1912 postcards depict this day in a comical fashion.  Men went into hiding on February 29 and those women wishing to propose had to hunt for their man.

The legend goes back to 5^th century Ireland.   St. Bridget interceded for women who were losing patience waiting for their suitor to propose.  St. Bridget made a deal with St. Patrick that gave women the privilege of proposing marriage only on February 29.  The thinking was that since Leap Day existed to fix a flaw in the calendar, the day could also be used to fix an unjust courtship ritual.

Antique Postcard from my Personal Collection
Copyright 1912 by E. Nash, L.Y.-2

Antique Postcard from my Personal Collection
Copyright in 1912 by E. Nash, L.Y.-2

Ladies, if you are waiting for the perfect opportunity to obtain a commitment from your man, you may want to follow a long-standing tradition and consider invoking your privilege on February 29.


Until next time, live and love well.

Linking with

The Bunny Hop at Bunny Jeans Decor and More 
What's It Wednesday at Ivy and Elephants

This forum reveals random thoughts and reflections on topics of interest and events impacting the life of the founder of Doll in the Looking Glass.  Our boutique specializes in custom designed dolls that look like your child. We also design toddler and baby dolls that look real using vinyl doll components manufactured in Midland, Michigan USA by Apple Valley Doll Works.  The goal of Doll in the Looking Glass is to delight our customers with our creations.  We would love to create a special doll for you!

In Celebration of Presidents' Day

When was the last time you sent someone a greeting card to commemorate Presidents' Day?

Or, before Presidents' Day was declared in 1971,

did you share greetings for

George Washington's birthday on February 22?

Or Abraham Lincoln's birthday on February 12?  

It was once common to exchange postcards on important dates and, like other major holidays, our ancestors sent postcards to celebrate the Washington and Lincoln birthdays.

I have prepared a small vignette for Presidents' Day

to honor these two important men in our history.

Antique Postcard from my Personal Collection
Signed R. Veentliet
No. 51766, Printed in Germany

Antique Postcard from my Personal Collection
Copyright International Art Publishing 1908
Signed C. Chapman
No. 51658

Until next time, live and love well.

This forum reveals random thoughts and reflections on topics of interest and events impacting the life of the founder of Doll in the Looking Glass.  Our boutique specializes in custom designed dolls that look like your child. We also design toddler and baby dolls that look real using vinyl doll components manufactured in Midland, Michigan USA by Apple Valley Doll Works.  The goal of Doll in the Looking Glass is to delight our customers with our creations.  We would love to create a special doll for you!

Happy Birthday, Teddy

According to the Dates in History website,

the first Teddy Bear was introduced in America
on February 15, 1903.

Image from Smithsonian Institute,
Original Michtom Teddy Bear

You may already know that the Teddy Bear was named after President Theodore Roosevelt.  But what is the rest of the story?

The Governors of the states of Mississippi and Louisiana invited President Roosevelt to visit their states in 1902 to arbitrate a dispute about the location of their common boundary.  Since the boundary was on undeveloped land and the President was an outdoorsman, he decided to combine a black-bear hunt with the trip.


After days of unsuccessful hunting for a trophy bear, some hunting companions found an old injured bear and tied it to a tree.  The President was invited to shoot the bear so that his reputation as a successful hunter could be reported by the press that accompanied the hunting party.  The President refused stating that he only took prey that had a sporting chance of defending themselves.


The event was documented in a series of political cartoons intended to demonstrate the President’s compassion.  In the cartoons, the image of the old bear was changed to show an image of a bear cub.

Morris Michtom saw that cartoon.  Morris operated a small shop in New York selling notions, candy and other small items.  His wife, Rose, sewed the toys sold in the shop.  Morris suggested to Rose that she sew a replica of the bear cub depicted in the cartoon.  Rose cut a piece of plush velvet into the shape of a bear and stuffed it, adding shoe buttons for eyes.  Morris placed it on display in the store’s window and labeled it “Teddy’s bear”.


The bears became so popular, the Michtom’s dedicated their full time to producing them.   This labor of love grew into the Ideal Toy Company.


The original bear created by Rose was given to the grandson of Teddy Roosevelt in 1963 by Benjamin Michtom, the son of Morris and Rose.  The Roosevelt family then donated the bear to the Smithsonian Institute.   

Until next time, live and love well.

Joining these lovely parties:
Bunny Jean's Bunny Hop

Ivy and Elephants What's It Wednesday

This forum reveals random thoughts and reflections on topics of interest and events impacting the life of the founder of Doll in the Looking Glass.  Our boutique specializes in custom designed dolls that look like your child. We also design toddler and baby dolls that look real using vinyl doll components manufactured in Midland, Michigan USA by Apple Valley Doll Works.  The goal of Doll in the Looking Glass is to delight our customers with our creations.

Cupid or Cherub?

Happy Valentine's Day!

Today I am sharing some sweet images 
of some romantic tiny winged spiritual beings.  


Tiny winged spiritual beings ? ? ?


I originally planned to refer to these images as cherubs.
According to Webster's dictionary,
one of the definitions of cherub
is a beautiful winged child that is represented in art.


OK, that definition fits.

But then,
I questioned whether these were images of Cupid.
Can you have more than one image of Cupid
depicted in a single piece of art?




Again, according to Webster,
cupid (with a lower case c)
is a winged infantile figure representing Cupid,
often holding a bow and arrow.


OK, one of the spiritual beings
 is carrying a quiver filled with arrows.


Cupid or Cherub?  What do you think?

Antique Postcards from my Personal Collection,

PFB Publishers, Series No. 8032,

Printed in Germany, Circa 1910




Until next time, live and love well.

This forum reveals random thoughts and reflections on topics of interest and events impacting the life of the founder of Doll in the Looking Glass.  Our boutique specializes in custom designed dolls that look like your child. We also design toddler and baby dolls that look real using vinyl doll components manufactured in Midland, Michigan USA by Apple Valley Doll Works.  The goal of Doll in the Looking Glass is to delight our customers with our creations.

Spooning Under the Moon

Do you know the meaning of the old fashioned word "spooning"?

It simply means to cuddle and kiss.

What better place to share this affection than under the light of a silvery moon!

Here are some closeup views of this series of vintage postcards.

Printed in Germany

PFB Publishers, Series 6809, Circa 1908-1909

By the Light of the Silvery Moon

Song published in 1909. The music was written by Gus Edwards, and the lyrics by Edward Madden. 

Place park, scene dark, silvery moon is shining through the trees;

Cast two, me, you, sound of kisses floating on the breeze.

Act one, begun. Dialogue, "Where would you like to spoon?"

My cue, with you, underneath the silvery moon.

By the light of the silvery moon,

I want to spoon, to my honey I'll croon love's tune,

Honeymoon keep a-shining in June,

Your silvery beams will bring love dreams, we'll be cuddling soon,

By the silvery moon.

Act two, scene new, roses blooming all around the place;

Cast three, you, me, Preacher with a solemn looking face.

Choir sings, bell rings, Preacher: "You are wed for evermore."

Act two, all through, every night the same encore.

By the light, (By the light, By the light),

Of the silvery moon, (The silvery moon).

I want to spoon, (Want to spoon, Want to spoon)

To my honey I'll croon love's tune.

Honeymoon, (Honeymoon, Honeymoon),

Keep a-shining in June. (Keep a-shining in June)

Your silvery beams will bring love dreams,

We'll be cuddling soon,

By the silvery moon.

Your silvery beams will bring love dreams,

We'll be cuddling soon,

By the silvery moon. (The silvery moon).

Sharing with these lovely parties this week:

Home Sweet Home at The Charm of Home
The Valentines Party at Holiday Haven
Vintage Inspiration Friday at Common Ground
What's It Wednesday at Ivy and Elephants

This forum reveals random thoughts and reflections on topics of interest and events impacting the life of the founder of Doll in the Looking Glass.  Our boutique specializes in custom designed dolls that look like your child. We also design toddler and baby dolls that look real using vinyl doll components manufactured in Midland, Michigan USA by Apple Valley Doll Works.  The goal of Doll in the Looking Glass is to delight our customers with our creations.

Heart of the Home

Valentine's Day is the perfect excuse to add a bit of pink to my home's decor.

Some Spring floral garland, white net ribbon, paper doily hearts

and scrapbook embellishments add some seasonal inspiration

to a collection of candle sticks on the mantle.

From another angle, you can see both the fireplace mantle and the wall hanging

I told you about in my post titled "A Hug and A Kiss".

A vintage postcard published by John Winsch in 1910

 has been framed and exhibits the romance of the Victorian era.

A nosegay of pink roses sits on a table
 next to an angel who carries a Valentine token.

Two pillows featuring love birds are displayed on a favorite chair.

And of course, my seasonal doll is dressed in a delicate white dress

with pink trim as she welcomes Valentine's Day.

Thank you for visiting.  Until next time, live and love well.

Sharing with:

Bunny Hop at Bunny Jean's Decor and More

This forum reveals random thoughts and reflections on topics of interest and events impacting the life of the founder of Doll in the Looking Glass.  Our boutique specializes in custom designed dolls that look like your child. We also design toddler and baby dolls that look real using vinyl doll components manufactured in Midland, Michigan USA by Apple Valley Doll Works.  The goal of Doll in the Looking Glass is to delight our customers with our creations.