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.
