Disney's Cinderella

Like many little girls throughout the ages I dreamt of growing up to become a princess.  (Nowadays I aspire instead to a quiet life with a veggie patch, a rose garden and maybe a bee hive).

Perhaps the most accessible princesses during my childhood were the Disney versions.  I loved all the classics of the time, but Cinderella possibly had a slight edge when it came to my affection.

I think the appeal of Cinderella is the 'against all odds' aspect of the story.  She endures great personal tragedy, reduced circumstances and overt cruelty - and then just when life seems at its bleakest - fate (and a fairy godmother) step in and whisk her away to a new life of happiness and promise.

When we went to Disneyland (Paris) I chose a small figurine of Cinderella as my memento of our holiday.  

 I can't seem to photograph her successfully but she stands on my dressing table with all my other little treasures.....

.... . And then last Christmas I bought a 'vintage'ornament for the tree.  It was a bit of an impulse buy but I couldn't resist it and she looked really pretty amongst the other decorations.. 

The most bizarre thing has just happened.  I was busy adding these pictures to my blog when I saw a Google notification. It told me 'an awesome photo has been added' and someone else has included this effect of the tree sparkling - how strange is that! 

My Mom owned these two identical little books of Cinderella and she loved them.  The books are really small - like the little pocket dictionaries I used before we were able to look things up online.  As a child I could never really see their appeal.  They were not big or colourful enough for me, but I treasure them today because they meant so much to her.

Something that has always intrigued me is that Disney brought out two versions of Cinderella.  I've always found both quite magical.  Does anyone know if the alternate version was ever made into a movie?  If it was I've never come across it.

There is a well known paper doll book based on these illustrations - I've never owned a copy but have seen it advertised for sale and have often been tempted.  

When I was eight years old (don't laugh I know I was that age exactly!) one of the big South African supermarket chains gave out a page of card when you shopped there (it must have been some sort of promotional offer) that had a game on it - I think it was a bit like snakes and ladders.  It was similar to the sort of thing that appeared on the back of cereal boxes.  The illustrations all centred around Cinderella wearing the ball gown from this version of the story.  I would love to be able to see this game again but doubt any are still in existence.  I do own a book with the full story and all the illustrations - I've scanned my favourites from it and have included them here:

I've always thought this paper doll book a particularly lovely one.  It first appeared 4 or 5 years ago and looks like it is from somewhere like Russia.   The dolls and dresses are gorgeous.  I'm not going to repeat them all here but will instead give two blog links where you can see the complete set (including other Disney princesses as well)

One can be found here at Paper Doll Collections and I also spotted them on the blog belonging to Miss Missy  (a fellow OPDAG member).

Of all the blog posts I've ever done the one that still continues to be visited the most (at least 50 times every day) is my compilation of Disney love songs.  I shouldn't be encouraging more traffic to it but the link to that post can be found here.  I wanted to put the same version of the song at the end of this post to finish but can't get it to list in the YouTube search so have included another one instead.  

   

                                    

                                          

Cinderella - Jack and Jill Story Favourites - Merrill #1547

Many of my original paper dolls, especially those that date back to early childhood, are reduced to a few tattered remnants, patched and worn after hours of play.  The two dresses included below are all I had left of this book, together with a hazy recollection of a set I remembered as being extremely special.    

Its hard to put into words how I felt when I saw this book again for the first time after so many years.  There is a definite sense of wonder at discovering something again that was lost in the mists of time.

This particular paper doll book is easily obtained today in reproduction form if an original copy is not available.  The reproductions I've seen are of very good quality and depending on your reason for collecting 'vintage' paper dolls can be well worth buying.

Cross Stitch Project

This cross stitch is so much bigger than I was expecting it to be when I bought the kit!  There is an awful amount of blue.  Luckily it is one of my favourite colours.  I've found it quite interesting how the shading of the various hues of blue is graded.  Between the dark and light areas there is a 'mixed cross' section where both colours are used.  I'm putting the darker shade at the bottom of the cross and the lighter one on top.  I'm assuming it is supposed to be done like that but as all the instructions are in Chinese its hard to tell! 

Our 'Pet' Robin

When this little robin was a tiny baby he came skidding inside like a comic book character one day chased by a nasty magpie.  The robin survived the ordeal and now considers himself one of the family.  If I work outside in the garden he joins me straight away.  When I brought my camera out to photograph him the robin was more curious than frightened about what I was doing.





Kewpie Paper Doll

When I was looking for the two dresses from the Jack & Jill book I discovered this additional outfit for doll #5 in the Kewpie set I posted in April.  I knew there were some outfits missing.  Hopefully one day I'll find the others.  

Ladybird Books

From time to time I check to see what search results have brought people to my blog.  The main reason I do this is to determine whether I may have images to post that someone is specifically looking for. My second post (7 January 2011) was partly devoted to Ladybird Books, particularly the fairytale stories including princesses.  This week I've decided to expand on that with some more of my favourite illustrations from these gorgeous, sumptuously illustrated little books.  Last week I noticed a few searches for Ladybird, particularly Cinderella which is probably the most iconic story in the range.

Please note that these images are all subject to copyright by Ladybird Books Ltd:

Cinderella

Vintage Ladybird which can be accessed from the main Ladybird Books site contains some fun activities related to these lovely little books that many people of my age will count amongst their most vivid childhood memories.  Ladybird no longer sell old editions but do provide some useful links to specialist collector's sites.  They also provide a link to the Ladybird Prints site, a wonderful treasure trove of images.  I've included some of my favourites here but a far more extensive collection can be found at this site broken down onto different categories.

Sleeping Beauty

Rapunzel

Nursery Rhymes

Malahide Castle (County Fingal)

I never get tired of going to Malahide Castle.  The first time I went there was 10 years ago and it has been one of my special places ever since. The castle demesne is set on over 250 acres of parkland so even through it is a popular place to visit the grounds never feel crowded. 

There is a paid tour of the castle itself (well worth it) and you also have to pay to see the formal gardens, but entrance to the parkland and forests that make up the castle demesne is free.  It is a gloriously beautiful place to wander around and every time I go there I find something new.

Unfortunately the wonderful Fry Model Railway and Tara's Children's Museum are no longer housed at the castle which is a shame as the railway was fabulous and I'm not sure if it has found a new home.   

The first time I came here this path through the forest was not yet tarred and was still a dirt track.  It was (and still is) magical to walk through and I kept expecting Cinderella's carriage to come past me on her way to the ball.