Monday, May 2, 2011

Restoration of 1910 Wicker Baby Buggy

Today I will be joining Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Metamorphosis Monday, Skip to My Lou for Made by You Monday.   Thanks, to these two ladies  for hosting these  events!



Being a doll artist, I like to have "props" to display my work.  Recently, I found a 1910 wicker baby baby in an antique mall in Waco, Texas, about 175 miles from my home.  Dear Mr. B. graciously drove his pickup to the mall and delivered the buggy to our home.


This how the buggy looked when Mr. B. brought it home to me.


It is not in perfect condition but in good condition for its age. 


The buggy had the mechanism to hold the pram umbrella but sadly, it had no umbrella. 




Looking on Ebay, I found an antique pram umbrella that looked as if it would fit the buggy so I had it shipped from England.


(This is not the one I purchased, but it looks much like my black umbrella.)  I thought since the buggy had black wrought iron on the frame and the wheels, that a black umbrella would be best.


I went to work making the insides of the buggy so a baby could fit in it comfortably.  I made an ecru satin fitted sheet to fit around the pillows in the bottom of the buggy, a pillow, and a coverlet.  After researching photos of antique buggies of this era, this is what I designed and made.



Here are most photos of the completed little "treasure" that I want to share with you.




I had to have roses, lace and ribbon on a Victorian treasure.
















This is now the "home" for "Lillian Camile", a toddler baby doll that I made.  She is dressed in an antique lace gown purchased in an antique shop.





I wanted to share the hand made crocheted bonnet displayed at the bottom of the buggy.  A dear neighbor gave it to me as an heirloom.  It had belonged to her mother as an infant, made by her grandmother.  The bonnet is 95 years old and I shall treasure it, perhaps, framing it in glass too preserve the loving stitches.




Thank you for visiting today.  It was such a joy to share with you my wicker baby buggy.  Last evening I was invited to give a presentation on my dolls at a Mother / Daughter banquet.  Around 90 people were in attendance.  I used this buggy and "Lillian Camille" as display along with two other dolls that I have made.  Everyone seemed to like the buggy, and some compared it with buggies of today.  No one thought it would have met today's standard's for safety!  And, I would have to agree!

May you have a wonderful rest of the week and may each day be .........
a Tea Party Everyday with lots of giggles.




 




9 comments:

Sweetie1313 said...

This buggy looks amazing! Congrats on making it - your little Lillian doll looks so sweet in it, too. You definitely have some talent. I'll be checking out your future projects for sure!

Thanks so much for stopping by Helpful Daddy and leaving me the sweetest comment ever - you made me smile so much. If you'd like, check out my care bear cake, it turned out much better. :-)

I'm following you now - feel free to follow back. I noticed that you are a retired teacher - I'm a teacher, too. :-)

http://helpfuldaddy.blogspot.com

Rettabug said...

Wow...what an amazing transformation, Phyllis! You did a wonderful job & no wonder the ladies at the Mother/Daughter banquet loved it. BRAVO!

fondly,
Rett

Curtains in My Tree said...

Hi Phyllis
Thank you for visiting my blog I love it when I get to see new people who I didn't know was out there in blog land.

Your buggy is fabulous and I love the history behind it etc.
I had an old buggy from a second cousin dating 1920's my mother found it in the attic of my great aunt's with pictures of my Mom's cousin playing with it.
After I found out this cousin died I sent it to her daughter with the pictures. Never got a thank you or acknowledgement she recieved it. That story was a spur of the moment sorry it was so long.

Janice

PS you are very blessed to still have your parents

Curtains in My Tree said...

Ps

I forgot to comment on your baby dolls they are just so real looking. I don't think I have ever seen anything like them

Janice

xinex said...

Oh Phyllis, this is so adorable, so charming and so Victorian! You are very creative and talented...Christine

Lori said...

Wow!! That was amazing!! Was the buggy originally used to carry a real child or dolls? The transformation is astonishing. You did an awesome job on it.

Lori

Kathleen said...

How beautiful, and very unique!

Alycia Nichols said...

Oh, my goodness! You did such a wonderful job!!! I can see that you put a LOT of time and effort into this buggy!!! The umbrella is really, really special!

Slice of Pie said...

Thank you so much for visiting my site ... because now I've found you and this beautiful post. What a fantastic antique you've found ... and you've made it so beautiful again! Talents abound at your 'Tea Party Everyday'! Thanks for sharing ... happy to get to know you!