Wednesday, January 11, 2012

The Old Cradle

In 1888 Media Dorothea Seline was born.
She was my Great-Grandmother.
She was called Thea.
She had a sister named Emily.

Thea and Emily each had a china doll and a cradle.
One china doll sits in my curio cabinet,
waiting to be passed on to the next generation.

The cradle was not given such care.
My Grandma played with it.
My Mother played with it.
My sisters and I played with it.

My girls weren't impressed with it.
I am not sure how many colors of paint has covered it over the years, but the nails were rusting and the paint (most likely lead) was chipping.

I decided to resurrect it.


It was made from an old fruit crate.
It has been many colors over the generations.
The crude workmanship has held up quite well.
One end has been broken.



I had some fun vintage fabric, so I sewed up a little cushion for the bottom.


And of course I couldn't resist this wooden mobile that I found at the Goodwill.


And because the latest generation is more into bears than dolls....



 (I didn't get a very accurate picture of the color....one was in the sunshine and the other at night under the light)

~~~~~~

I have a confession.

I had no idea Great-Grandma's name was Media until yesterday!
I feel rather sheepish about not knowing.

My Grandma emailed me the information when I asked if she knew any history about the cradle.

This was my reply,
"I never knew her name was Media! ....not that I would have named either of my daughters that."  ;)

(I do have an Emily, however)!


3 comments:

Lynda Halliger Otvos (Lynda M O) said...

Love the rocking cradle; drooling over mobile. Great finds, both.

Joanne Lendaro said...

Love it all!! Very cool! Perhaps your girls will appreciate it at some point, it is fabulous!

Judy S. said...

Great job on the cradle, Sheila. Happy New Year, too! It was fun getting caught up with the goings-on up your way!