I went through a phase of buying souvenir costumed dolls that represented all the countries of the world. At thrift stores, of course. And then yes, I'd hang them on the wall. Mostly. Sitting them on a table or shelf or something was too boring and tacky to even contemplate but hanging them on the wall was absolutely not boring.
Now. Is it tacky? You tell me. In my opinion, no. Something as unexpected as dolls on walls is interesting. Besides that, people have made fortunes with tackiness. Let us consider the films of John Waters. Some would call him tacky, tacky, tacky.
Many call him a genius. AND an artist.
Am I a genius and an artist for hanging dolls on the walls?
Oh good Lord no. I'm just saying that "tacky"is the first cousin of "whimsy" and let's leave it there.
Let us ponder this lovely señor y señora. They are not dolls, exactly but rather plaster, uh, things that someone hand-painted, I am sure. I don't have the slightest idea where they came from. But they have graced a wall of my kitchen forever.
Do you notice the little white chips on both their noses? Makes them look like they've just snorted a few lines, doesn't it?
Moving on.
This is the top of my kitchen hutch and the things on the wall above it. Liz Sparks made me the beautiful Virgin of Guadalupe and I bought the angel at an antique and vintage store in Monticello a long, long time ago. It is made of celluloid, I think, and was meant to light up as she has a hole in the back of her neck where you could put a small light bulb. I've never done that but I'm sure she would be so very radiant if I did. I think she qualifies as being rather doll-like.
The clock is a clock. I like that clock.
Some dolls I do not put on walls. Here's a little tableau in my bathroom.
Okay, yeah, that snake plant is probably dead but maybe not. I love those two dolls very much and I like them right there where they are with their seashell and their hopefully not dead snake plant in a pot that had been my grandmother's. I think it is rather beautiful. I especially love the little bebe head poking out from behind the mother who is carrying her in a back sling which I just looked up and see that it's real name is a "manta." Now we know. Textiles, Boud!
The baby's eyebrows remind me of something Maggie said awhile back which was that she is starting to get eyebrows like mine.
Of course, mine are gray. Mostly. But yeah- if she means eyebrows like Eugene Levy's, she ain't wrong.
And this ALL reminds me of when she was born and Lily said, "She doesn't have any eyebrows!"
"Don't worry," said Jason. "She'll get one." His side of the family has very healthy eyebrow growth too.
So that's a little wander around my house on this drizzly, getting colder night. Before the rain this afternoon, I did some tending and tidying in the camellia bed. This is not a one-day operation. What I mostly pulled up today were spider plants.
Yes. Spider plants. Everyone's favorite house plants.
This is what happens when you put a potted spider plant outside in my yard and then ignore it for awhile.
Mr. Moon is at an FSU basketball game and I just got this picture from Vergil.
I know Boppy is so proud to be at the game with his boys and their parents. A few weeks ago it was Maggie he took. I asked her which she had enjoyed more- going to the basketball game with Boppy or going fishing.
"The fishing," she said.
"It was more relaxing."
Textiles!! It's our war cry. Now I could keep looking at dolls for a long time. As s kid I mostly made them or dressed them rather than doing tea parties ir whatever girls do.
ReplyDeleteI never knew spider plants could be invasive in the south. I learned something new today. I am not a sports watcher but the family looked happy to be at the game.
ReplyDeleteI knew about spider plants being invasive, which is why most people I know who have them keep them in hanging baskets and trimmings get incinerated unless they want to grow more of them. We had them hanging all over in the shoe factory where I worked.
ReplyDeletethe chipped noses on those faces would bother me and the cracked face of the bathroom doll, my fingers would be itching to paint those over. I'm weird that way. It's why I have repainted so many of my gnomes.
"Eyebrows like Eugene Levy's" made me LAUGH OUT LOUD! And I like your doll collection, but you know what caught my eye is the mirror with the absolutely delightful mermaids frame. You have a good looking family too, I must say. Which I think I've said before, but it is true.
ReplyDeleteYour house is filled with treasures, displayed in interesting tableaus. Of course it’s art. The much loved kind. That’s a happy looking family at the ball game. The boys do look cozy in their matching sweats.
ReplyDeleteI love seeing your house, so very interesting, thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteJason’s reassurance about eyebrows like Eugene Levy cracked me up. There should one day be a book “The Wisdom of Magnolia.” Wonderful three-generations photo. I love your collections. So many unusual things. That’s exactly where my mind went when I saw the white chips on those noses. Yes, you are a genius and artist!
ReplyDeletethe line between tacky and whimsical is often blurred by the eye of the beholder. love it! xxalainaxx
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your wonderful treasures with us. I just love to see inside your home, Mary.
ReplyDeleteTacky? Who cares. You like it, it gives you pleasure and that's all that matters. Maybe I'll post some of the stuff hanging on my walls. Not nearly as much as you have though.
ReplyDeleteMy eyebrows are weird. A thick clump with a skinny tail.
And yeah, I've pulled up many a spider plant. They travel.
I remember that "she'll get one" story! I love the señor and señora. I remember finding plaster heads like that of various ethnicities in Goodwills back in the '80s. They're very mid-century, the kind of thing you'd hang above your tiki bar in the basement rumpus room.
ReplyDeleteYou have a very nice, much loved, large and varied collection of interesting dolls. How long have you been collecting dolls?
ReplyDeleteDoesn't everyone collect something they love?
Finding the right display location is always important. For me, I like hanging art pieces at eye level, both sitting and standing eye level. Sometimes I hang things above doorways too. It all works.
Maggie being the only girl among many boy cousins and brothers is special. Like Maggie, basketball would not be my choice. Fishing was fun, but sailing was better. I wonder what Maggie's favorite interest will be. Boys love basketball, girls not so much!
Nothing about your posts makes me want to move on- I linger and stay for a while. I like visiting your life Ms. Moon. Thank you
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