Mood:  happy

Yup. That was most of today, rippin' up bras. Not mine. Ones I got from yard sales and such. If you look at the new Leia photo on the Barbie page, you'll see her latest dress has a white ribbon belt with a silver buckle. That buckle used to be the sliding adjuster on a bra. So, whenever I come across interesting or unusual colors cheap, I buy 'em. Take 'em apart, salvage the sliders, the hooks and eyes, the o-rings, the elastic, the bow, etc. I even have a couple of interesting 'belt buckles' that used to be front clasps on Victoria's Secret brassieres. Just need to rename a doll with something that starts with a 'V'.

Taking bras down to their component elements is easy. Seam ripper and scissors is about all you need, and you can get a lot from a well-chosen one. I keep 'em in a sewing bag - you can take them apart anywhere. Although you might get stared at in the library... 

And, as mentioned,  I made Leia another dress. This one was adapted from a pattern in 'Fashion Doll Fun' by Lynda Milligan and Nancy Smith. If you ever wanna start sewing for your dolls, I'd recommend this book. Most of the patterns are easy, one piece outfits in basic shapes that would adapt well for other doll sizes.

Since Leia isn't as narrow as a standard Barbie, the 'Everyday Dress' wouldn't fit without some changes. I scan all my patterns, so I printed a fresh one as-is, split it in the middle from neckline to hem, then spread it apart, taping it to scrap paper and paper-fitting until I had one that would go all the way around her. I then taped it well and made a test garment. Not bad, but I want a bit more fullness around her butt next time. Still, it was easy to alter, and it's basic shapes with simple sewing. Not counting the alterations, it only took about a half hour to sew it, start to finish. 

I also redid Leia's photos. And wrote a short book about fitting her. Sheesh. I redid the photos to save space, and ended up with a huge block of unbroken text instead !

I got to read and watch 'Herbie:Fully Loaded' again, per Dearest Son's request. It helps that star Lindsey Lohan is mostly dressed. From the promo photos, I thought the film would be butt-ruffle skirts and elastic cleavage from start to finish. I have a bit of fondness for Herbie, having grown up in the late 70s - and he spit water at me from his driveway at Disney-MGM during Spring Break 1990. Hard to believe it was so long ago...

I've had fun at YouTube.com. Just about every MST3K short is on there somewhere, and I've watched videos of other stuff I still don't believe I saw. In case I haven't said it in public lately, I freakin' LOVE the internet !

Beloved Hubby did some work on my car this evening, so here's hoping. With 109 degree days, I can't help but worry about Leia-chan, but I have a cell phone and I'm never far from help, so it's not so bad. I just need to calm down and get my butt to bed !

Hope your weekend was stellar - and as nice as hearing from a great friend ! :)  

Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CDT

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Mood:  a-ok

New Leia photo on the site - here's the same outfit, different angle ->

The photo makes her look shorter-waisted than she is, and the pants' crotch looks low, too. But it's all angle. Everything fits - well, the blouse arms are a bit tight. I misread my notes. Maybe if there's time tonight, I can make another. Blouse fabric is super-fine recycled men's shirt that frays like nobody's business.

Rented several movies yesterday - so far Batman Begins and Herbie: Fully Loaded have been surprises. I guess I'm nostalgic a bit, working with my Princess Leia doll, but... frankly, the latest Batman was what I wanted for another movie series. Namely Episodes 1 - 3 of Star Wars. 

After being a dedicated LucasFan for twenty years, it was hard for me to see that the man I so admired was just a man. One with his own family, and out of touch with the fans.  Hell, it's not like GL owes us his life. It was our choice to throw tons of money at him. I guess I expected too much when, given unlimited funds, unlimited special effects, and unlimited control, he told the story he wanted to, instead of telling us the story we wanted to hear.  IMho, the 'story'. buried as it was in digital effects and delivered by actors who clearly don't give a wet Wookiee, was unlimited crap. Shoulda seen it coming when Return of the Jedi was such a....fuzzy-wuzzy disapointment. Empire Strikes Back seemed so real. So adult. Like we were growing up, growing jaded, growing hurt along with the series. So for Jedi to be almost "Disney does Home Alone", well... I kinda felt cheated. Just like I did in 1999, 2002, and 2005. I have to keep the 'new trilogy' from tarnishing my memories of the ones I loved.

Well, I still have my imagination. My only doll remaining from childhood. And the memories of a thrilled eleven-year-old. I understand that there's gonna be a new release of the 'original' movies (SW, ESB, ROTJ) as seen in theaters. No new 'special edition' footage, no additional sound editing, nothing that wasn't there in 1977, 1980, and 1983. I'll probably want it. Heck, I still sometimes watch my old VHS versions. The ones where there are no fan squabbles about who shot first, Greedo or Han. The ones I loved. 

Aaaanyway... Beloved Hubby worked darn near all day, so I gave him a break and picked up Dearest Son from his grandparents'. We all need some time alone. I finished cleaning the house while he was at work, and did some banking. There was some confusion about the deposit - I thought I'd shorted the bank, but I forgot I had that $20. from the day before. Glad I got that sorted out ! Tonight we saw Herbie, and it was better than I thought. Son loves just about all car movies, so we've seen the others in the series, and most make me cringe. I actually enjoyed H:FL. 

Tomorrow, we get to work on Leia-chan, my car. Hubby's gonna try to fix the radiator instead of replace it. I mean, heck, I've driven her twice in 102 degree temps without even losing much water. It's possible we can repair it, but we won't know until we dig in.

Wish us luck ! 

Posted by dorriebelle at 8:46 PM CDT

Updated: Monday, 2 May 2011 9:38 AM CDT

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Mood:  a-ok

We got Leia-chan, my car, home safely. Only took one gallon of water to fill her reservoir, and she drove as if nothing had happened Wednesday. Go figure.

Since Dearest Son was at Granny and Grand-dad's, I went through most of his toys. What a job ! Two and a half hours, and I didn't get 'em all. There's some in the 'Cocoon' I have to go through, too. (the cocoon is where the TV and family room is) Only two bags of broken parts this time. Got 'em into the trash and the trash out ten minutes before the collection truck came. Whew !

It was unusual for him to have this many toys - and I pondered why. We really haven't been buying him much besides Cars miniatures and modules for his LeapPad. Then I remembered. Very few of this year's Christmas toys have bit the dust. The Thomas the Tank Engine Ultimate set has been surprisingly durable. Even now,  it's snaking under my feet, and it's in daily use. Many of his requested vehicles have been quite sturdy, too. 

Debated going to GoodWill - with Leia-chan unsteady and there not being much I needed, it seemed silly. But when you add in 'house-bound since Wednesday afternoon', it doesn't seem quite so reckless. I did want one thing - a shallow plastic container for Son's Hot Wheels-size cars, but GW was unlikely to have one.  Still, it'd do me good to get out for a bit.

And, they had a perfect shallow plastic bin that fits right over the other one his cars are stored in - for just 99c !  Found two books for Beloved Hubby, too. Ironically, I didn't find anything for myself, but Hubby told me to go ahead and get one pattern I'm looking at. Yaay ! I'll order it later this week. 

Oh, and I did get the shoe pattern, finally. Ordered it at the first of the month, two mere pieces of paper. It just arrived today. For some reason, even though I used PayPal the day I 'won' it, the seller took over two weeks to mail it. Guess I should be happy I got it at all. Man, I am so done with eBay and Prego. Both give me a lotta grief for very little pleasure.  

I'll probably post a new photo of Leia's clothes on the Barbie page tomorrow. Leia the doll, not my Leia-chan car ! :) I forgot that Barbie-size  clothes are a little harder to sew than Elphie's. But it's like realizing a long-ago dream to sew for Leia. And when it comes out good, I feel amazing ! I forgot how beautiful she is.

Yaaay ! Hubby's home ! Gotta run - have a good Friday night !  

Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CDT

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Mood:  incredulous

Home all day today. We're gonna go retrieve Leia-chan tonight, wish us luck.

I got into it today. Because I was bored at home, I visited Prego. You know, every time I go there, I get pizzed about something. So why do I keep going ? I can only assume I want to get upset.

And today was no exception. Few days ago, they posted a red note at the top, urging all members to read. Seems a site star had some setbacks and declared bankruptcy, but decided to keep her 'sewing for people' and her 'sewing for dolls' businesses.  After a helper quit, she decided to toss her 'sewing for people' business into the bankruptcy, but keep the 'sewing for dolls' one going. She added all her creditors to the bankruptcy.

Now, she doesn't make cheap blouses. She makes really, really elaborate and expensive gowns for historical recreationists. So when she tossed her 'people' business into the bankruptcy (which you can't do after you've declared - her lawyer is either stupid or it's her), she cheesed off a buncha people who'd paid her upwards of $400. and got zip but a notice from Bankruptcy Court. 

These people were, in my opinion, justifiably upset. And when they found out she had a still-running doll clothes business, they took their anger there. Not a brilliant move, but I can understand. Prego said any mention of this in any form would be immediately stricken, 'cause after telling us all this, it would be a form of harassment to discuss it, according to Bankruptcy Law.

Fifteen minutes and Google later, I had the other side. Sorry, Prego. Don't make a big deal about showing me the curtain and then tell me not to look behind it. I found that she'd taken orders *after* she declared bankruptcy and told one woman who'd shelled $1300+ for her wedding dress and his wedding suit that she'd mail the items next week, ensuring she had the bride-to-be's address. Instead, what the b-t-b got was a notice from the Court saying she had five days to protest. She wasn't getting her money back, or the gown, or even the fabric.

Um, no. Creditors in a bankruptcy get 30 days to file. Not five. And while you are allowed to add a creditor you forgot, you can't add a whole business after you've filed. I know. The Prego message itself said she filed in April and added the 'people' business in July. Can't do that, dear. That's fraud. And the creditors, led by the ripped-off bride, have started proceedings. Department of Justice has a file on her and she's being investigated. If she doesn't get bankruptcy - and frankly, I don't know how she can at this point - she can be sued. There's at least 31 people in this fight. She knew darn well she couldn't fill orders after April, if she had intended to declare the business along with the rest. But she did. And accepted money.

I'm sorry. She's embezzled from her own company, took money for orders knowing she can't fill them, then lies to circumvent bankruptcy law ? No. I got no dog in this fight, but I can't sit back and take Prego's approval of all this. They actually said that with her 'hard work and determination', her doll business should succeed. I have no idea who could still trust her after she ran a business into the ground, defrauded over 30 people and lied on government documents - but I'm supposed to buy her stuff 'cause Prego says it's OK ? If 'hard work and determination' was enough, her 'people' business wouldn't be part of a bid to defraud dozens of folks and the courts.  

It's just another example of how insular they are over there. It doesn't affect the doll folks, so why should they care ?  I can understand how Prego doesn't want flame wars over it, but it's still rather reprehensible to take her side on it. If I can find out all this with a ten minute Google search, why didn't they bother ? And you know d@mn good and well they wouldn't do this if I asked, nope just for one of the site stars. I know, they don't wanna see both sides, they wouldn't be able to take her side. But still... it's still wrong what she's doing. 

So I wrote the women who got defrauded and told them of the Prego announcement. They needed proof for the DoJ attorney that she declared then tried to add the business. Well, that's all over the Prego news release ! I know it doesn't affect me. But I am not gonna sit by with information that can help, just because I personally wasn't hurt. She did these people wrong, then hid behind bankruptcy. I don't think she should get to hide. I have a responsibility to do what's right, even if the 'woman' (gosh, I hate to call her a woman !) can't. I can completely understand things hitting the fan. I have no idea where we'll get the cash to fix my car. But I'm not gonna take a buncha cash for doll clothes then say "I'm out of business, your bad luck, huh ? " .  I'm sure she could have worked with these people. But she didn't. I'm sure I should have stayed out of it. But I can't. 

Upshot of the whole thing ? Her doll clothes site says there's a 90 day wait for any orders. If anyone's dumb enough to order from her, knowing all this, then I can't work up much sympathy for 'em.  And she wrote Prego, asking if she should sell some fabric scraps.  Man, if I saw my wedding gown fabric cut up and made into doll clothes, my fury would be visible from Mars ! I wouldn't buy a hundred dollar bill for $1. from her. Can fabric contain karma ? I wouldn't go near any of it if it was free on the stop-sign corner at the end of the street. 

So that was my day. Hope yours wasn't so involved ! 

Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CDT

Updated: Friday, 21 July 2006 1:53 PM CDT

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Mood:  down

Oh, man, what a day. Yesterday, Beloved Hubby's truck had a flat. I took it to the tire place to get it fixed, and it was gonna ride in my trunk until he swapped tires this weekend. Today, coming home from Dearest Son's summer school, Hubby passed right by us, so we followed him. While we chatted and hugged, Son kept walking to the front of my car, Leia-chan, looking at it, then walking back. It wasn't until we went to leave that I saw this large green lake flowing under Leia-chan. Well, scratch one radiator...

Hubby got us home safe, even though his truck isn't set up with three seat belts. He returned to work...well, he tried to.  Twenty minutes later, he called. Another flat. On a different tire. And the repaired one was in my trunk, halfway across town. Luckily we had family to help, but what a pain. Leia-chan's still in that doctor's parking lot, and I hope she doesn't get towed until we can get her tomorrow. 

Soooo, scratch my plans for the day and the next. Oh, well. Hubby's already scheduling a radiator replacement, and hopefully she'll be back up in time to get Son to school next month.

You never know where you wanna go until you don't have a car to get there... I'm not as upset about it as you'd think I'd be. Radiator's had problems off and on since we got Leia-chan, and the fact that it's finally belly-up is a relief. At least we don't have to anxiously await it to blow up any more. And it was lucky that it went the way I did. Imagine that happening while I was driving her ! 

I really need to make Leia (the doll !) a shirt. Tuesday night, I made her a peasant blouse, using the directions from the site, but I used fabric that frayed like anything. Even though I sewed well above the raw edge, it frayed to the stitches by the time I was done, so I don't think I'll keep it. Maybe I'll finally break out that B224 pattern and use it...

Instead of making something, I tried to figure out how to make something.  I'd love to make Fiyero a polo/golf type shirt, with the front button placket. For the life of me, I can't figure it out. The only directions I have are for people clothes, and telling me to cut the opening a half-inch off center ain't happening...and adjusting the measurements as I read is giving me a headache ! I think I'll just buy the darn pattern already.  

Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CDT

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Mood:  chatty

Sorry for my absence yesterday. I got into something that my stomach did not like one tiny whit, and it let me know about it. Or whatever I ate was trying to bludgeon its way back out, one of the two. Ended up napping off and on, while Dearest Son indulged me by letting me rest and gently playing with me when I was awake.  

Got him the Cars module for his LeapPad, and he was beyond thrilled. He's just loved it. They acually got the movie's voice actors to do this, and it's so funny to hear George Carlin and Cheech Marin coming out of Son's learning toy. 

As is usual for me, I printed out a pattern - namely Leia's pants - Monday morning, intending to work 'em up that afternoon. Luckily, the gremlin in my tummy didn't start sounding off until after I picked Son up from summer school, but it meant I didn't sew anything. However, while I was shopping I did have a doll score.  Few years ago, I saw these keychain sneakers at Wal-Mart, and I've kicked myself ever since for not buying 'em. They looked like a perfect fit for Crissy.

So when I saw 'em again, I pounced on a pair. Not that pink glitter-dot sneakers are my style, but if I can get something to fit Crissy for $4./pair, I can learn to live with 'em. They fit beautifully, and they even fit Isabella (Interactive Belle). For kicks, I tried them on the Disney Princess girls - and they fit them, too. Even though Crissy and Isa are much taller than the  DPrincesses, their feet are nearly the same length. DPrincess feet are wider, but not much, so they were great for them. Goes to show, you never know when you'll find doll stuff.  

Beloved Hubby put me to bed early, where I slept twelve straight hours. And since I woke feeling much better today, I got to sew. Leia now has pants that fit. Not baggy like the Ken ones, not impossible like the Barbie ones, not $$$ like the Dusty ones. Didja know that Leia and Dusty have the same body ? They do. If you don't remember Dusty, she was Kenner's 'Sports' doll - she played golf, tennis, volleball, etc.  It's not as svelte a body as Barbie's, but it's respectably fit. 

It just amazes me. I used to dream of having well-fitting clothes for Leia. Couldn't afford 'em as a kid, and didn't know enough to hand-sew what I wanted back then. Mother refused, since I'd given away my childhood Barbies, to sew any more doll clothes. I was in awe of the dress she came in, and tried like heck to get Barbie ones to fit her. Before I started sewing, I wondered if I could pay someone to make some of the stuff I wanted, but figured 1)I'd be too embarassed to ask, and 2) It'd be too much cash at a bad time (during Son's first year).

Now I could do the dress myself - it's not that complicated - and may someday make her the Bespin dress. Or the prototype outfits that were never produced - I'll put links at the bottom. For some reason the new (&%$# !) Blog editor won't let me put links in the text here anymore. Growlmuttergrumble...

I'm hoping to sew a nice blouse tomorrow, so I can post a photo of her newest clothes. Just not in the same red I made the pants and jumper from ! Right now, she's wearing the pants with that striped 'My Scene' shirt I couldn't get to fit Elphie. Looks pretty good, I think ! I just like to post photos when I made everything in it !

 Unproduced Leia prototype, Bespin Gown :

http://www.toysrgus.com/images-unpro/doll-esb-leia2.html

Other Star Wars prototype photos - look under 12" figures for Leia clothes :

http://www.toysrgus.com/images-unproduced.html 

Posted by dorriebelle at 7:30 PM CDT

Updated: Tuesday, 18 July 2006 7:47 PM CDT

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Mood:  lazy

Finally got off my round rump and got my 1978 Kenner Princess Leia measured in Doll Shop Deluxe. I've put it off for so long - even bought a near-vintage 1979 Butterick 224 pattern that had her on the envelope, so I wouldn't have to use DSD. Not a good sign.  Guess I should confess that I haven't used B224 either, so...

I don't know why I'm so timid about making Leia clothes. I mean, she's the only doll left from my childhood. And her so-close-but-not-quite Barbie figure means she needs clothes, even more than most of my others.  Sheesh, Elphie has enough of a wardrobe that the box I bought to store her stuff in is approaching max load already. Just bought that box this spring !

I learned my first sewing steps in the attempt to make Leia clothes - many of 'em the hard way. For one, it's not enough to have fabric. The sweatshirt I tried to make her a dress from (using a Barbie pattern) just did not work. Not just any fabric will work for doll clothes. In addition to paying attention to any print's scale, ya gotta keep an eye on thickness. The never-finished dress was not only huge, it made Leia look even more awkward than the pinned-up Ken clothes did. 

Tube dresses, even if you gather them a bit in the front to make a neckline, don't work for some dolls. Leia's one. She just looked like she was wearing something else that didn't belong to her. That may be the problem. She's a 70s doll, and has the aesthetic from those times. Which means she looks rather silly in ballgowns and fluffy things. Simpler clothes, with straight lines - like straight skirts - look good. Non-ruffly peasant blouses look good, too. I guess I just never considered her time - while supposedly the future, was actually the 70s - when contemplating her wardrobe.  Because I didn't want to make stuff she'd look bad in, I didn't make anything.

Well. I think I can fix that now ! I usually make the jumper first  - what'cha think ? Photo's been posted to the 'Barbie and Sixth Scale' page, too. Think the last time that page got anything new was 2004 ! Yikes.  

Anyway, had numerous problems with this one, mostly due to the fact that I must've sewn the shoulders too high. Oh, well. That jumper that small isn't very easy anyway. Tomorrow, if there's time, I'll work on a blouse or something. Maybe a skirt. All else fails, I can use B224, for kicks ! 

Otherwise, it was a quiet day around Chez Insanity. Pizza for dinner, wrecked house. Like most Sundays. Before I started on Leia's dress, I did some more fabric sorting, ditching a bag of stuff I know I won't use. Maybe Dearest Son's school can use 'em, I'll ask. 

You'd think all this sorting and ditching would give me a ton more space. Nope. Getting it all organized and visible simply means there's less of it in the same space. I can see it all at a glance, but that means there's less in the container. But, heck, I make mostly doll clothes. Five milk crates half-full of folded stuff, two plastic bedding bags full of larger cuts, and a laundry sorter in three sections : small bits, old clothes, and nice stuff that doesn't fit in the milk crates - all that is plenty of stuff. About all the sorting and ditching does is make me feel horribly guilty for even thinking about going fabric shopping in the near future !  

In other news, it's been a busy, and rather long day. Hope your weekend was happy and satisfying. Right now, my eyes are tired, and this new Blog Editor is a PITA. So I'm gonna logoff before I get snarky. OK, snarkier.

Rest well tonight.  

Posted by dorriebelle at 8:32 AM CDT

Updated: Monday, 2 May 2011 9:38 AM CDT

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Mood:  chillin'

Slow, quiet day. We mostly watched rented movies. Sahara and National Treasure were both better than we thought they'd be, but the real surprise was Kinsey. I thought it'd be arid and a little boring, but like the titular man himself, I was curious. It turned out to be witty, even a little difficult, but full of life. The characters were solid and believable, just normal folks in their day-to-day lives that just happen to be soaked in sex research.  I wouldn't hesitate to recommend any of the three, but for a more adult movie, Kinsey was more than expected, and very, very real. Be thou informed, though - both male and female nudity here, especially full-frontal from the eye-friendly Peter Sarsgaard, portraying a research assistant with...well, I'm not gonna go there. 

Actually, we didn't even leave the house until it was time to pick up Dearest Son from his overnight at DearILs. Some days it's nice to just putter around. But I didn't get anything really done. I'd thought to hit a yard sale or two, maybe the GoodWill down the street, but really, why ? Everyone's closets are crammed, toys and hobby supplies take up most of what would be available floor space in anyone else's house, and we're well-fed. Maybe I'm so used to spending a few bucks every weekend that it felt weird to not do so, even when there were other things to do. 

I still feel like a weird bird in any flock of 'doll collectors'. I'm a member of one group, owner has a pattern CD I bought. Not a ton of traffic, so even though it's not a lotta help, I stay with it from a sense of wanting community. Wanting to feel like part of a group's not a bad thing, but it can turn quickly if you expect too much. Or if the group expects everyone to be just like them, financially, religiously, or politically. Ask me how I know (MSBgroupcough).  Anyway, the owner, a nice person, bought a certain Tonner doll. Not realizing she'd already bought it. So she's offering the second one for sale at a slight loss. I can't help but scratch my head in wonder.  Unless a doll shop double-billed and double-sent, I have no idea how anyone can not realize they already have that one. I know lotsa folks have more resources than me, but if there's that many, how can you treasure and love what you have...especially when you can't keep track ?

Prego had a poll a few weeks ago, 'How many Tonner dolls do you have ?' and I was all set to supply my shocking answer. I mean, '2' is gonna be surprising to folks with triple digits in theirs, but they're not actually sure how many they have, there may be more. But I didn't finish my reply. Someone else confessed to a small number - say, 14 - and the Pregoites were shocked to their socks. I was concerned my answer would either engender heart failure or garner me harsh words for not supporting doll manufacturers. So I took myself out of it. 

I think the hardest thing is to realize that your rules aren't everyone's rules. Your situation is not like everyone else's, even if you agree with everyone in the community. Even the self-proclaimed 'po folks' in any group still manage to find ways to get what they want, and they probably don't use ways you'd do yourself. I can't judge or even get indignant anymore. All I can do is sigh and wonder how many people plug the holes in their lives, one $75. piece of vinyl at a time.  I plug mine one creative project at a time, doesn't make me better. If we had unlimited funds, it's possible I'd have a doll house - a full-size house of nothin' but my dolls. But we don't, and my doll-spending is averaging about $5. a week. Hell, my allowance was about that when I was twelve ! :) 

But I'm happy, even when I'm sewing something for practice rather than need or even desire.  Sometimes it's enough to know you can. Sometimes ya just want something new. Often there's a hole. But your life's experiences can't possibly lead you where you think everyone else is going. Really, we're all going to our own destinations, it just looks like we're a herd. It's OK to go your own way, but still want the security and enjoyment of a group. Just don't lose who you are in a herd. Herds are cheap. You are priceless.  

Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CDT

Updated: Sunday, 16 July 2006 7:49 AM CDT

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Mood:  not sure

Still learning the new blog editor. Wondering if I should switch fonts, or use a larger one. Want it to be easy-to-read, but I don't want it to look like an elementary reader, either ! Sheesh, before, I didn't have a choice, it was all pre-set. Now I'm all worried about everything.

Wasn't really into anything specific, so I made Dottie a shirt that doesn't really 'go' with the corduroys I made yesterday. My fabric choice was from that last Hancock Fabrics grab-bag, instead of using something I really wanted to - I mean, I was mostly making something to make something, so why use up special material ? So, more in an effort to use up the fabric than to really make anything, I sewed a pair of shorts to match. It's cute - you can see it on Dottie and Timey's page - but nothing special. Simple sewing, all of it, although I do have to tweak Dottie's arm measurement in DSD. That left sleeve was super-tight, and that was after I let it out as much as possible. Overall, though, the fit is good, and I'm happy with it, but there was really no need for it, ya know ?

It's kind of funny. I have so much thread and so many miles of material, I actually get happy when I empty a spool or use the last of a cutting. But I'm so parsimonious with snap fasteners, you'd think I make 'em myself in the backyard with a hammer and anvil. I guess it's true - excess breeds contempt.

But I get a sort of comfort from having tons of something. I used to be happy with having 200+ dolls. Now it's down to around 50, and I have piles and miles of sewing goods. I could conceivably go six months to a year without buying any supplies at all ! I have numerous knock-off Velcro hanks, about twelve packages of sewing machine needles, the aforementioned stockpiles of fabric and thread, and so many patterns backed up on CDs that it now takes over two CDs to hold 'em all.  I literally could go probably to the rest of my life span and not use everything - and only buy according to want, only rarely having to replace depleted supplies.

Kinda chilling when I think about it, so I don't.  Not usually. About every month or two, I get that urge to go touch everything at a fabric store. For some reason, ole Wal-mart just doesn't cut it when I get that itch. Hancock Fabrics and Hobby Lobby coupons do not encourage me. 95% of the time, Ifind something from the markdown aisle, where coupons have no meaning. Man, I used to look forward to those ads !

Guess things change when you're not looking directly at them sometimes.  

Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CDT

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Mood:  chillin'

*Tripod has a new Blog editor. Much apologies while I re-learn a few things ! Looks like we gained color typing and new fonts, but lost the spell-check !*

Not much going on today. Dearest Son wanted a new Thomas train - like the ones at the library - so I proposed we skip McD's and go to Target. They don't have the wooden ones, but they have the metal versions, and he has several of those already.

 It's funny to me, as he has them in almost every toy media. Plastic, metal, wood, paper, magnets, and at one point, he had Thomas shoes. It's fun to see him play with the Cars and Thomas at the same time. Trains and cars can talk to each other, when they all have faces !

Their 'Dollar Spot' was having a 4 for $1. sale, so I picked up two hibiscus-print bandannas and some lobster-shaped candles. Guess what Elphie's having for dinner sometime this week ?  Took the opportunity to check out the dolls. Not much there. There were some markdowns on some 'Our Generation' dolls and clothes - but that Target's never had much to begin with. Thanks for the heads up, though, Lindsay ! 

And I ran right into what's been on my shoulder like a chip lately. Even marked down to $7., I could make all of it. In fact, I could probably make all four ensembles for the price of one. Less if I used the stash ! It's kind of sad how retail doll clothes just don't thrill me the way they used to, but I guess it's to be expected. Still, it was nice to see a display of new stuff and get all excited about going through it, and making a purchase. Now I just kinda turn up my nose at it and go home and make something.

 Saw a gorgeous male doll shirt on eBay yesterday. Well-tailored, nice fitting - doesn't pull at the underarm the way mine do, I have to explore that. Only problem was, it closed on the wrong side ! Whenever I make Fiyero a shirt, I either go stare at one of Beloved Hubby's, or look up one on Google Images, before I put the snaps and buttons in. I saw this one, and I verified. Yup. Wrong side. Gorgeously made, though. 

 I didn't get to sew until late, and thought I'd try something new, for a different doll. So I looked at 'pleated front pants' on Doll Shop Deluxe, for Hi, Dottie. I'd avoided pleat-front pants, figuring they'd be too difficult. Never even looked at the pattern before. Um, it's just a dart. This model's single pleat went all the way to the ankles, and looked more like a seam than a pleat, but heck, it worked and they fit ! 

Also found out that my cheap nature sometimes costs me. I've had some issues with DSD waistbands fitting. They always seemed to be too long. Well, there's a reason, and it's because I'm such a tightwad. Y'see, instead of printing out the waistband, I was measuring it off the screen, drawing two lines on scrap paper, and cutting it out. Last night, I realized that what's on the screen isn't what's printed, and the print-out waistband was a perfect fit. Grrrr. I could just slug me sometimes. 

Anyway, Dottie now has corduroy pants, made from that 25c yard sale Eddie Bauer shirt I made pants for Elphie from. I'm gonna make her a simple blouse tomorrow, then post a photo. Thinking of measuring Leia and getting some specific-to-her patterns this weekend. I can't keep dressing her in Ken clothes ! 

Ready for Friday yet ?  

Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CDT

Updated: Friday, 14 July 2006 8:40 AM CDT

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