The Many Looks of Minerva - The Dress Form Ball

Today is the Dress Form Ball over at The Polka Dot Closet and Carol is our hostess....

Last year's Ball was so much fun.....

For this year, I want to share the many Looks of Minvera.......

Minerva is a Wicker Dress From that I bought in a local Consignment shop a few years back and she usually resides in my Living Room...

This is how Minerva looked at last year's Dress Form Ball......

Since then, I have tea stained Minerva's white lace dress that I bought for $5.00 to age it a bit. This is the dress that she always wears....

She is now dressed up in her Easter Finery.

Since my Living Room is peach, Minerva has peach accessories to accent her beautiful lace dress.

She looks very Spring like, doesn't she?

Usually, Minerva's immediate surroundings are decorated for each Holiday....

I have added peach roses........

One on her hat.....

One on her collar....

And a pretty vintage pin also on her collar....

She is wearing her pearls and a cameo necklace....

And another cameo pin on her belt which is made from a fancy peach trim......

Another rose on her lace gloves.....

And she has her parasol and hand bag......

Her hand bag was made by my dear friend, Rose Marie, who passed away a year ago. I embellished the bag......

Minerva is all set for the Easter Parade and then she will go to the Ball....

Yes, I have an uplight under Minerva's dress so she glows at night!!

I will be posting more of my Easter decorations in my next post!!!

This past year, I have gotten a kick out of changing Minerva's accessories for different Holidays!!!

  Minerva's Valentine Outfit......

Here is Minerva all dressed up in her Valentine's Day attire!!

Same dress, different accessories.......

Minerva blends right in with whatever my Holiday decorations are at the time.....

Same white hat but with a red rose and a red ribbon......

She always wears her pearls.....

A red rose on her collar and a red rose brooch.....

Her red beaded sash is actually a table runner!!!!!

 Look! Someone has given her a box of chocolates!!!

And you know I have to show you her at night!!

 Minerva's Halloween Outfit

Now at Halloween, Minerva was transformed into a Witch!!!

Well, sort of a skeleton Witch!!

She is a bit scary looking, isn't she?????

Once again, Minerva is wearing her signature lace dress.......

But Boy!

 Has her accessories changed this time!!!!!

Her veiled black Witch's Hat was bought on Clearance the season before....

So was the case with her black lace cape.....

Around her waist is a black lace sequinned scarf bought at a Flea Market....

But she still has her pearls!!!

 A Lady can never be without her pearls, can she????

And her brooch is actually a Halloween ornament!

Her Black sparkly shoes were bought at Salvation Army....

And she does look a bit spooky at night.....

BOO!!

 I think Minerva will be celebrating the Patriotic Holidays this Summer by wearing Red, White and Blue!!

Now Minerva isn't my only Dress Form......

This is Victoria.......

 Victorian was in my Bedroom for several  years but she has now been moved into my Guest Room.....

 Victoria is a sewing dress form that I bought several years ago for $1.00!!!

 For the first year, I had a vintage night gown on her but I then decided to display my wedding gown on her.....

Yep, that is my Wedding Gown from 1978!!!

Of course, Victorian is wearing pearls, along with some brooches.....

She is holding her fan and pink gloves.....

The gown has a ruffled bottom.....

 I like the way she looks in the Guest Room.....

 Victoria goes well with my Hat Heads too.....

I also have some smaller dress forms......

Jewelry Dress Forms.....

 
A Decoupaged Dress Form.....

And this is Rose......

Please excuse her nakedness, I should be ashamed of myself........

 I bought Rose through the link that Carol has provided at the Ball and I truly intended to have Rose prettied up but time got away from me.

So I will be getting ideas on how to finish Rose from all of those that are participating in the Dress Form Ball!!

I love Rose's base......

So pretty!!

So are we ready for the Ball?????

My girls are.....

See you there........

I am also linking up to these great parties:

Knick of Time Tuesday
You're Gonna Love It Tuesdays

The Scoop
Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Tweak It Tuesdays
Totally Transformed Tuesdays 
Show Me What You Got Tuesdays
 Twirl and Take a Bow Party
Transformation Tuesday
  Tuesday's Treasures

What's It Wednesday
 Rednesday
Wow Us Wednesday
Winter Blues Wednesday Party
Wednesdays Adorned From Above Linky Party
Primp Your Stuff Wednesdays
HOME Party on Wednesdays
Welcome Home Wednesday Party
  Show and Share Party 
 Show It Off Wednesday
 Budget Decorating Party

Treasure Hunt Thursdays
Show Off Your Stuff Party on Thursdays
Home and Garden Party Thursday
Share Your Cup Thursday
Vintage Thingie Thursday
Transformation Thursday
Inspired Creations Linky Party
Time Travel Thursday
 Open House Party
 Everything But The Kitchen Sink 
The Busy Bee's Blog Hop
Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop 
 Pearls and Lace Thursday
  Grace at Home Party

Anything Goes Linky Party
Home Sweet Home Friday
Show and Tell Friday
Be Inspired Fridays
Thrifty Things Friday
Simple and Sweet Fridays
Tickled Pink Party
Inspire Me Fridays
Favorite Friday Party
 What To Do Weekends
Homemaking Weekend Link Up Party
Flaunt It Fridays
Fabulously Creative Friday Linky Party at Jennifer Rizzo's

Weekend ShowOff Party
Pink Saturday
 Strut Your Stuff Saturdays
One Great Idea Saturday Party
 Finding the Pretty and Delicious Party
Saturday Show and Tell

Seasonal Sunday
Sunny Simple Sundays
Bouquet of Talent Linky Party
Sunday SHOW-licious Craft Showcase 
Clever Chicks Blog Hop 
That DIY Party 

Masterpiece Monday
Mod Vintage Mix Monday
Metamorphosis Monday
Make It Pretty Monday
Mop It Up Mondays
 Mondays at Countrified Hicks

Please take some time to visit these terrific hosts and all those joining in on the fun!

Thanks so much for stopping by today and every day that you take the time to visit with me!

Hugs,
Debbie

The Day My Life Changed.....

 Feb. 26th, 1987

26 years ago , my life changed forever on that day......

Life , as I knew it, would NEVER be the same.....

Below is what I posted last year about this day.....

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On Feb. 26th, 1987, My Dad passed away suddenly of a massive heart attack.

He was 67 years old. I was 29 years old.

My Dad, was a Master Sargent in the Army during WWII

He woke up that morning to see my Mom off to work. Dad was retired. He waved Good Bye from the Living Room picture window to her as she pulled out of their drive way. Shortly afterward, my sister would call him and there would be no answer. She would call me, who just got home from work, to tell me there was no answer.
Both of us knew what she would find as she would be the first one to reach my parent's home as she lived closer.While waiting anxiously for her call back, I would then call my husband at work telling him to be on stand by to leave and come and get me ( we only had one car at that time) because I knew my sister would find that my Father had passed away.
She found him laying on his back on the bed as if he had just sat down and fell backwards.

Dad, Me and Mom

I remember that day as if it was yesterday. Joe and I were the ones who went to where my Mom worked to tell her that the Love of Her Life was gone. When she saw us in the office of the Dress Factory where she worked, she knew....
She was never the same......
My life changed forever that day. My HERO and my ROCK was gone.
3 months later my Mom would sell the home in which I lived in since the age of 4. The home that my Dad built. Every tradition that we had was gone , along with my Dad.
We all would go on , including my Mom. 18 years later, she left us to return to his side, where she belonged. They both would have been 92 years old this year.

The last picture taken of my Dad shortly before he passed away...

There is not a day that goes by that I don't think of him. I still hear his voice and words of encouragement and he is forever in my heart.
I am proud to say that I am a Carpenter's daughter. I only wish he could have passed on his vast knowledge to my sons who were only 3 and 5 years old at the time. How ever, that was not meant to be........

Frank Kolojejchick
1919 - 1987

If you would like to read my first tribute to my Dad that I did on this Blog, please click HERE

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Now it is 26 year later........

I lived with regret for several years after my Dad passed away.

I was doing Private Duty that morning and had the thought that I should go and have a cup of coffee with Dad as I was not far away from my parent's home.

But I decided against it to go home.

For years, I thought that maybe if I would have gone to my parent's home that morning, I could have saved him.........

Or at least, maybe I would have got to say Good Bye and tell him just how much I loved and adored him....

It took me a long time to realize that "What is Meant to Be , is Meant To Be"  and "Everything Happens for a Reason".

That day happened exactly as it was supposed to happen......

It was God's plan and I have learned to except that.....

As I said in last year's post, not a day goes by that I don't think of my Dad.

He was the first Love of My Life......

And I still miss him.....

He taught me many things but most important of all was "To Never Let Anyone Use You as a Door Mat" .

You may not all pick it up from my Blog but in my life, I speak my mind , I fight for what is right and for my beliefs and someone may take advantage of me once but they don't get a second chance to do it again.

I have passed these ideals on to my sons......

If your Dad is still living, please give him a hug today and tell him how much you love him.

In a fleeting moment, he could be gone so say what you need to say to him now.....

Before you can no longer do that....

And give him a kiss on the cheek and remember me and my Dad.....

I am linking up to these parties;

What's It Wednesday
Wow Us Wednesday
Wednesdays Adorned From Above Linky Party
HOME Party on Wednesdays
Welcome Home Wednesday Party
  Show and Share Party

Delightfully Inspiring Thursday
Treasure Hunt Thursdays
Show Off Your Stuff Party on Thursdays
Home and Garden Party Thursday
Share Your Cup Thursday
Vintage Thingie Thursday
Time Travel Thursday
 Open House Party
 Everything But The Kitchen Sink 
The Busy Bee's Blog Hop
Thursday Favorite Things Blog Hop

Home Sweet Home Friday
Simple and Sweet Fridays
 Be Inspired Fridays
Tickled Pink Party
Favorite Friday Party
 What To Do Weekends
Homemaking Weekend Link Up Party
Flaunt It Fridays
The Feature Friday Linky Party 
Anything Goes Linky Party 
 Grace at Home Party

Weekend ShowOff Party
Saturday Nite Special
 Strut Your Stuff Saturdays

Seasonal Sunday
Sunday's Best
Sunny Simple Sundays
Clever Chicks Blog Hop

Please take some time to visit these terrific hosts and all those joining in on the fun!

Thanks so much for stopping by today and every day that you take the time to visit with me!

Hugs,
Debbie