Dick Whittington and His Cat

"Do not grieve Dear Master!" c. 1920.

You can see why I had to have this when I found it in Paula Hill's shop. I imagine the kitty has a deep sonorous voice.

I think this is a bookplate with a scene from Dick Whittington and his Cat.

American Indian Wedgwood

There is a room in Paula Hill's remarkable house with a lovely display of sage green Wedgwood depicting Native Americans. Did I miss it on previous visits? Or was it newly displayed? It is one of the most beautiful collections I've ever seen.

The beaded buffalo that Carol was holding in yesterday's picture.

A spectacular dream-catcher on the door.

Paula Hill's Open House, 2013

The annual Christmas and birthday celebration at Paula Hill's was as spectacular as ever. Wonderful people, trays of delicious food and desserts (does anyone use the term "groaning board" anymore?) and Paula's amazing house, decorated in the true spirit of the season, with beloved items, old and new.

 Handmade Santas.

Ready for his close-up.

Dear friends...

Carol Sullivan, Carol Carey and Karen Ham

In the picture, thanks Carol S.!  Carol C. is holding a beaded buffalo.

A handmade angel.

A Russian doll.

You can see pictures of Paula Hill's annual open house in past years by clicking here.  You might recognize some of the dolls in this post from my previous visits.

Nestle Poupee, c. 1910

Last Sunday was Paula Hill's annual Christmas/birthday party. Paula, her husband Blaine and their son Zandor open up their wonderful historic home (it was a 19th century one-room schoolhouse) to friends, and the salesroom in the basement is always filled with treasures. I came home with this beauty, a Nestle advertising paper doll c. 1910.

Dollhouse, 1975

It was wonderful to receive this dollhouse in the mail today from Paula Hill: A  4 x 4.5 inch card (when closed), it shows a modern dollhouse (1975) built in the Victorian Gothic style, from the Bethnal Green Museum in England. You can see the rooms on the back.

Bridge Tally, stylish wrap, c. 1920s

Bridge Tally smoker, c. 1920s

Paula Hill had this beauty on her table at the Ephemera conference.

Don Quixote, L & B vintage scrap

Paula Hill's Open House 2012

 The holiday season isn't over until Paula Hill hosts her Christmas-New Year's -Birthday open house.  This year her event fell on her actual birthday, Jan. 15.

 Always something new to see, or to see for the first time. This lecherous Santa has his clammy hands on two flappers. I never noticed it before, but you can spot it in a picture from my 2010 visit to Paula's.

A wire tree decorated with pantins.

 Lovely and odd tableaus found on dressers and table tops throughout the old stone school house in Harriman, N.Y.

Down in the basement, Paula's antique shop. Shelves and tables overflowing with books, dolls and dollhouses and several cradles. Cabinets filled with paper dolls and toys and postcards...

An array of stuffed animals clamber out of a dresser drawer

Some lovely old books

Karen Ham with Puppetrina

Carol Sullivan and Joan Burke

A sweet doll

Now Santa can make his exit. Until next year...

Paula Hill's Open House 2011

The Christmas season isn't over until Paula and Blaine Hill hold their open house in mid-January. It's a magical setting: A mid-19th century one-room schoolhouse in Harriman, N.Y. High ceilings, wood plank floors, and everywhere on display the vintage and antique items they have collected over the decades. Dolls, teddy bears, jumping jacks, books and tons of Christmas items: nutcrackers, Santas, nativity scenes, ornaments, etc. These pictures capture only a small segment of the house and its contents. The Hills have a shop in the basement, filled with vintage scrap, postcards, paper dolls and children's books. I'll post my purchases in the coming weeks.

 Carol Carey adored the lovely glass reindeer.

Carol's mary janes.

Karen Ham.

Joan Burke. The four of us will share a room at the Philadelphia paper doll convention in August.

 Blue glass reindeer.