Current Mood : Cheery
Spent on dolls today : $2.69
Busy day, as usual. I got to visit the Thrift before grocery shopping, but I only found one thing - a six inch doll in one of the 50c ‘small toy' grab-bags. Her blouse was missing, but her jeans were well-made... and they'd probably fit the Musical DPrincess dolls ! So I went out to the car for change, having spent all my cash at the yard sales Saturday, and paid.
And I got to talk to the Thrift owner. We've spoken before, and she's always been up-front with the trials and challenges of running a second-hand venue. She probably knows I mostly buy toys, so she told me she was sorry she hadn't had anything new in for a while, but donations were waaaay down, even from what they were this summer. I mentioned that yard sale season was going on much longer than in previous years, could that be part of the problem ? I mean, it used to be that I never saw a sale in November. The stream of sales usually dried up before Halloween. Were folks selling their stuff rather than donating ? Goss knows I've cleaned up this year ! (I didn't say that part.)
She thinks that folks are simply keeping things longer, instead of buying the newest whatever down the pike. With toys, that could mean they're finding it easier and less expensive to trade with other families for ‘new' stuff, or they're simply trying to not buy more. Normally this time of year, parents are eagerly cleaning out Kaitlynne and Tylorre's toyboxes, in anticipation of the holiday bonanza that'll soon overflow them again. Not this year, it seems.
She also told me that the too-familiar ‘Clothes Donation Drop' bins aren't hers - which I knew - but rather some Texas company that sells the garments overseas, or as rags to paper or rug makers. Said she'd seen ‘em all over Arkansas, where she just visited. Not a charity at all, just a money-making scheme that preys on nice people with good intentions.
I promised her I'd go through Dearest Son's toys as soon as I could, drop off as much as possible. And I mentally added ‘and my toys, too'. Most of Dearest's unused toys are of the small bag-stuffer Happy Meal type. I got a buncha dolls that could use a new home. Problem is, I'm the one who buys most of what they sell !
With her words in my ears, my weekly fun grocery shop became ‘Stock up for the harsh, unforgiving winter ahead !', and that's about what I did. Got more allergy and Dearest headache tablets, more soup, more soup stock, bathroom tissue, canned fruits, powdered coffee creamer, and a new thermal shirt for Beloved and sweatpants for Dearest. I didn't even slow down at the fabric section, but did secure a Cars Dale Jr. car for his stocking.
I still bought something silly for me. Mattel's selling a revamped version of tiny ‘Little Kiddles' dolls, and they are cute. It's just hard for me to justify spending $7. for a two-inch doll when a Barbie is $10. - and a Barbie with a kitchen playset I like is $20. ! But they're in with the rest of Mattel's dolls, so I always look... and this week, the Halloween ‘Peek A Boo Petites' were marked down to 50c each ! I eagerly snapped up a whole set of four - Witch, Ghost, Kitty, and Vampire - and a second Kitty. Love her huge green eyes ! I also sort of like the crowned ‘Barbie head' silhouette on the heart charm that apparently comes with each PaBP - I think the orange beads around the bubble the doll's in is a necklace or something. While I don't much like the current Barbie Head Silhouette - the ponytail looks like it was sunk into the head like an arrow, and somehow, the whole head attitude seems sullen - in this tiny a format, it looks cute.
Not entirely sure what I'm gonna do with the Cuties, but for 50c each, I just couldn't resist ! I've never made clothes that small before, either... she's about 2.5 inches tall. Oh, and the Thrift baggie contained not only the doll, but also a large saddle. Might come in handy for the Pegasus I have, I'll make sure it fits. Then spray-paint it white. It's a very dark brown that would probably look awful on the pink/purple of Peggy's back.
The doll has Breyer markings, so I had some fun looking around. Looks like she was part of a set, Breyer Ponies Grooming Set #7039. Found it on eBay. Jeans, boots, hair, and face match. She's missing two hair plugs in the front - if I decide to do anything with her, I'll have to do a quick transplant.
