Another Look back

Here is another blast from the past. This picture shows the four girls. Why were we always known as the four girls? Because that is what we were. It must be Christmas time because we are holding the "dip and drape dolls" that Mom made for us one Christmas. Back in the "olden days" Relief Society kept Mom busy with projects she made for us. This was one popular project back then. The dolls are formed over a soda bottle body with special muslin fabric that was dipped in a solution kind of like modge-podge and draped and shaped over the body. The faces are painted on a large ball that was covered with the same fabric. The hair is like a fake fur that was curled and pinned into place, then the hats were molded from the fabric and placed on top of the hair and head. After drying, the entire project is then hand painted. I am sure each individual doll took several hours to do. I am also susre they were each done at the same time, all the dipping and molding done at the same time, then painted individually by hair. Mom was always a perfectionist at her crafts so they were done perfectly.

I'm not sure exactly what year this is, but since I am in contacts it had to be at last my sophmore year in high school, so at least Christmas of 1971. We are a nice looking family of girls, don't you think? I remember that outfit I am wearing. It was always one of my most favorite, also one of the first that wasn't made by Mom. That isn't what made it my most favorite, I just really like the outfit. For some reason I really liked the high turtle-necked sweaters. The layered look was really in style then, and I loved this little sweater over the red one. It was a shorter vest, called a bolero. The pants that went with the outfit were gray, wide-legged, high-waisted really neat pants. Because of the high-waist I felt so much taller. My hair was also naturally wavy. I had to use steam rollers to take out some of the waves. I don't think I look too bad in this picture. Too bad I didn't stay looking that way.

The rest of my sisters also look really great. I think this is one of the few pictures when we aren't all lined up according to age and standing straight and tall. It is nice to see a natural pose now and then. Anyway, a memory of clothes, hair-styles, and Christmas gifts.