Happy New Year! Sorry, I know it’s a little late; the days in this new year are already full and flying by. I am trying to catch them before they’re gone…

Big news! I have a new Christmas doll. She is the Ruby Red Fashion Friends 2020 Holiday Stella, and I’ve been wanting her in my collection since I saw her over a year ago. Stella is the holiday doll from 2020, so she is pretty much sold out everywhere, however, she was found for me at FAO Schwarz, and I am so happy she was! She has such a sweet face! I LOVE her!!! She is a most special gift!

I think I was drawn to her because she reminded me of Holly in one of my favorite stories, “Holly and Ivy”. Therefore, I am renaming Stella. She is now Holly. This is a first; I don’t think I’ve ever renamed a doll that has come to me named, but she is definitely Holly.

Maybe for Christmas 2022 Holly will be dressed as Barbara Cooney, the book’s illustrator, envisioned her.

Last year I took some video paging through this book on Christmas night. Here is a link to that video. It’s 1:32 into the video. I first came across this charming story at our local library when my daughter was young. That book was the 1985 version with Barbara Cooney’s illustrations. (This story, text only, was originally published in Ladies’ Home Journal in 1957.)

After checking the book out a few years in a row it had become an absolute favorite of mine. I found the illustrations cozy and charming, and the story heartwarming–perfect for Christmastime. I was thrilled to find the book on Amazon in 2009. “The Story of Holly and Ivy” had been republished in 2006. Now, over 10 years later I still look through, or read, this story every year.

Holly looks so sweet in her Christmas fancies, but I am currently working on something a little more for every day, and warmer, for Holly. I’ll show you soon.

I hope you are starting off the new year healthy and happy. Sending you a big hug for 2022. 🤗