Im afraid there's not much to go on... both books were read by me/to me as a young child, late 80's/very early 90's.
One book I think featured a little girl and boy as the main characters, think they were friends rather than siblings. Anyway, the thing I really remember is the illustrations - there were people carrying around huge hand-shaped stautes in the background, or you could see them through the window etc. I think the last page had all the statues together in a park or something. This wasn't relevent to the story, just a fun thing going on in the background.
Second book was something with beautiful, picturesque illustrations. I vaguey recall it was about someone - a young woman I think - coming across three (?) dusty old wooden mannequins in an old house (shop?). I think the mannequins were presented as a little 'family' - mother, father daughter. Dusty and forgotton about. Maybe lots of hidden meanng in the story I was too young for? She paints them/dresses them, I think they end up artfully arranged smiling from a window. (It sounds a bit creepy now..!) I have a feeling this was a book from the US/set in the US (I'm thinking big house with porch).
Bit vague but been trying to remember for literally years!
Any clues welcome :) Thanks