Happy Birthday Biba

I just had this photo framed in memory of my grandmother, 'Biba', who would have turned 89 on August 21st.

She was my best friend who made me feel completely safe, happy and secure in a world where I had no idea who I was. She got married to my grandfather when she was 18 and he was heading off to war. She got married at her mothers home in a surprise wedding. Everyone thought she was hosting a cocktail party and out she came. 

I took it to my favorite framer in the world, Jack and he said "I'm going to go crazy but just trust me." It came back with a brown suede mat with a dusty pink boarder and a silver frame. It worked. I can hear her now looking at it, "Mmmmmmmmmmmm! How I remember that day like it was just yesterday," in her sweet southern drawl. 

I miss her every day.

Welcome to the Dollhouse Redux

As most of my friend and family know, my Great Grandfather's home is one of my favorite places. I grew up going there with my grandmother learning about my namesake and hearing her tales of living in the home in the 20's and 30's with fresh cut flowers from the 12 acres of gardens and the tea dances and debutant balls she enjoyed. Today it is home to the Atlanta Hospital Hospitality House (click on title for a link).

I have been passionate about keeping the house up since I was a teenager, raising money to replace windows and lending old pictures to decorate the house and to show restorers how the house originally looked.

About a year ago, the dollhouse that Mr. Cator built for his two daughters finally succumbed to termites. It is unimaginable how the little house built as a play place for two young girl's in the 1920's has stood this long since it was built with no foundation, just on the dirt. The little house (which I have a silver pattern from and several pieces of miniature furniture) was used as extra bedrooms for AHHH and was great for handicapped guests who couldn't climb the staircase in the main house.

After much fundraising and great donations from Home Depot the Dollhouse is being rebuilt bigger and better! Thanks to some pictures I sent them AHHH is trying to build it as close to the original as possible but of course they had to make it bigger for more rooms and an apartment for Kay who is the true heart of the house and has managed the place for years.

Looking forward to the opening hopefully in February!