Creative Challenge ~ 117 ~ I Remember ~

 

Creative Challenge 117

Photo above courtesy of Hans Heysen Collection.

He was a very well known local artist.

The famous painting is of Hans' wife at her sewing machine.

 

 

The Bride Doll

I remember well when I was a young girl

My mother sitting at her Singer sewing machine

Hurriedly making the Bride Doll out fit from left over laces and satin

 For a beautiful new doll

She had scraped some money together to buy and dress this doll

As a Christmas present for my sister.

I thought the doll was beautiful

And mum made such a beautiful dress for this

Gorgeous big doll with dark hair and blue painted eyes.

As was customary in my home

I being the eldest child would receive a letter in the mail

Towards Christmas time and I would present a small card

To the Station Master at the local train station

Where by he would then hand me a large box for

Which I would sign my name.

In the box would be Christmas presents from my father

Who was estranged from our family and living his life

Hundreds of miles away in another state of Australia.

On this occasion as my mother and I unpacked the parcel

There was a surprise in the parcel for my sister.

Yes you guessed it.

Another beautiful Bride Doll.

Complete with short blond curly hair

And a beautiful lacey tiered bride gown

She was exquisite and dad had chosen well.

Now this must have presented a slight

Dilemma for my mother who promptly took the doll aside

Whilst saying nothing more to me.

It was not until Christmas morning that I found out

 The Bride Doll wearing the elegant gown

And so lovingly dressed by my mother 

Had been placed on my bed for me

And the beautiful blond Bride Doll was

Placed on my sisters bed for her.

Our Special Presents

From Father Christmas.

I kept the secret as I always did

From the Younger Children

They never knew that it was my job to help

Sort and wrap the Christmas presents every year from Dad.

This particular Christmas though

I remember well

Because Katherine, as I later called her

Became my first and only very special

Bride Doll.

Milli 10

 

 

The photo above is a photo I took in a shop window. The doll is similar to Katherine who is nowadays beyond repair I feel.