Mood:  celebratory

Every time I miss a day or week, I have to read back for at least the previous week, so I won't repeat stuff. I couldn't remember what I last wrote about...'cause it probably wasn't much.

Well, we've had some problems with the new computer. Video card is...not what we need. So we upgraded it tonight. Much better ! And we backed up the operating system. Now I can start reinstalling stuff, like printer drivers and patterns and phots. I'm so glad my site has most of my favorite photos...most were lost when the old computer got fried.

This is about the only doll-related thing I've done all week. These are photo frames from Dollar Tree - and as you can see, they fit sixth-scale dolls pretty well. Maybe just a bit low. That's Janice enjoying her new patio furniture. I also sprayed the posters with the Krylon Matte Finish, and it really cut down on the glare. Only problem is, I sprayed it too heavily, and the posters rippled from the fluid weight. It's not too bad, I just shoot around it, but I really could boot myself sometimes.

I don't have this set of chairs anymore. Eclectic Blender had contests this weekend, so I offered them as a prize after winning a cute set of Barbie-size shoes. I soon had a happy winner, and trundled back to DTree after mailing them to her to get another set. I won a magnificent Susie doll - a sixth-scale brunette beauty - the next day, and offered the second set to the donor. She just loved 'em, but her DTree didn't have any at all. Got those mailed Monday, and got my third and final set afterwards. I got two blue, two yellow. The only ones left there are so badly scratched and dented that there was no way I could offer anyone a third set. Or I would have. Like I said yesterday, EB is a nice group of people !

Found a gorgeous poster at Mal-Wart today that would be perfect for photo backgrounds, but decided to hold off on more spending. Not only because of all the chairs, but because earlier this week, I won a Midge case ! It's not perfect, but it's fine for my needs, and the price was just what I wanted.

The project I mentioned last week was to *make* a Midge case, using a cardboard suitcase from  Hobby Lobby and some decoupaged Midge images. But...our color inkjet's shot and getting copyrighted images color copied could get difficult. I haven't completely given up on the idea of making my own case, but I need to use my own graphics and images for it.

Besides, thanks to an image on Eclectic, I already have my next project in mind. I'm gonna reroot a Malibu ! Growing up in the blonde-only Barbie years, I longed for brunettes. My Kenner Princess Leia came just a bit too late into my life for much play, and Malibu was my first Barbie. Christmas '72, I think. Gift from the Bragg family. So having a brunette Malibu would be so fantastic ! And she looks good with darker hair ! So my eyes are on the alert for a doll to reroot.

Also a Midge case, Barbie shoes, and that magnificent Susie doll  to arrive in the mail ! While mine is nude, I deduced that she's a Hong Kong In The Mood Susie (photo here !) and she's gonna be fun to sew for. She has a slightly smaller-than-Barbie body, something I've needed to sew for, too.  Yeah, I haven't even reinstalled Doll Shop Deluxe yet - thank Everything I printed out all the doll measurements a week or two before we moved !

Hmm. Guess I have been busy with my dolls, after all !

Posted by dorriebelle at 8:21 PM CDT

Updated: Monday, 2 May 2011 9:57 AM CDT

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Mood:  a-ok

Sad thing is, I'm still tired as anything, and I didn't do much doll-related during my 'break', but I feel up to blogging again. I'm starting to understand Windows Vista, and tonight's thunderstorm didn't freak me out. I just wanted to make sure precautions were taken this time.

Reinstalled PaintShopPro - it's funny, but Vista makes it look different. More...sleek, somehow. I love how the 'close', 'expand/contract' and 'minimize' buttons now glow when you hover over them with the mouse.

Snagged some fabric remnants from Hancock Fabrics - an adorable wine-colored Valentine's Day print and a crinkly eyelet lace piece. Our store isn't one of those scheduled to close, which is a relief, since our Mal-Wart's fabric section is. Actually, it's not that big a deal either way to me. I have enough of a backlog to keep me sewing for the rest of my days without ever buying another inch of fabric, and while Hancock's has sewing feet now, they're ridiculously expensive. The ruffler foot I bought off eBay for $12. shipped was $29.95 there. For-get-it !

Other than that, I spent most of the week catching up on housework - endless laundry and doing the Cinderella act (hand scrubbing) on the floors, and some volunteer work at Dearest Son's school.

I've also visited a new doll board, Eclectic Blender. It's for all dolls, not just Fashion Royalty, Tonners, or Barbies. I've posted images of various favorite dolls, and there's already a Crissy fan there. It's very nice, and so far, it's been polite and friendly to a fault. Maybe this time, since I'm coming in to it just as it begins, I can feel like I belong there. Come visit, everyone's been so nice !

Well, I'm trying to get to bed earlier - like 10pm, believe it or not - so I'm not so wiped out that I'm nodding off during any unoccupied ten minutes. So I'm gonna hit it. Hope your day went well, and I'll be back tomorrow !

Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CDT

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Mood:  down

...and with lightning strikes, a new computer, a still-barely-cleaned new home, and various other volunteer and special projects, I'm gonna take a week or so off. I'm exhausted, and even a half-hour could make a difference between being alert and hitting that darn bicyclist who jumped in front of my car when the light turned green this morning.

Back soon - and hopefully then, I'll even update the site !

Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CDT

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Mood:  chillin'

Today was kinda boring considering the high drama of Friday. Beloved Hubby was everywhere today, and I wasted a good chunk of mine waiting for the heater repair folk to show. They never did. Maybe tomorrow...

Well, not really 'wasted'. Got the living room, dining area, and the office cleaned up and started on the kitchen. Got some laundry done, too. Well, by 'wasted the day' I mean, it was more along the lines of 'didn't do any fun, challenging sewing or doll stuff'. While it doesn't seem like much, adding my own touches to the studio was quite exciting for me. I don't decorate, really. By the time the walls are painted, furniture's in place and the photos and family stuff's on the walls, there isn't much space left for decor. Hubby fully intends to do all the things he's created in his mind, but his work keeps him hopping, so I don't hold him to much. So having my own space, that I could do my way without considering anyone else but me - well, it kind of locked me up for a while. But I've been restarted, and there's more to come !

One of the files lost was a running tally of what I'd made and spent during the year. I've done it since 2002. But now that it's gone, I don't think I'll restart it. It was more limiting than anything else, because I always wanted the current year to top the year prior. So I'd do lots of small things and shy away from more involved projects - that made it tally up that I'd done more. Silly, isn't it ? Now, the spending one was probably helpful, but heck. I know I need to spend less, but I also need to cut the guilt about buying stuff. These days, if I want it for more than two weeks, it isn't a passing fancy.

Our music files were lost, too, but that's for the best. We (ahem) had some that we might not should have had. Hubby and I are now going through our CDs and ripping (copying into computer files) the ones we like best. Before, it was easier and faster to just grab what we wanted, even when we did own it. Well, from now on, if it's on the computer, we paid for it and 'own' the right to play and use it. We're also rediscovering what we have, which is always fun. Only problem I'm having is that occasionally, Vista completely deletes the artist or song title I type in. 'Mask' soundtrack, I had to type in three times before it 'stuck'.

Well, as you can see, Beloved Hubby came home bearing a modem and a new DSL filter. So I'm back ! Wheeee ! Still cleaning up from the storm, but I'm happy and hope to clean up the studio so I can try taking a better photo. The ones I've taken reek. Hope your week will be uneventful - unless it's all good stuff ! :)

Posted by dorriebelle at 11:23 PM CDT

Updated: Monday, 2 April 2007 11:25 PM CDT

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Mood:  celebratory

I made the curtain swag for over the door to my studio today ! Found two yards of a blue sky/white star fabric I'd intended to make a shirt from, but its destiny just got changed. Two yards was both too thick and too short to make what I wanted, so I cut it lengthwise and sewed the halves together. Four narrower yards ! Put in hems and ironed it and, poof, swag !

It doesn't drape to the floor, but I like the look it has. Mental note - if I want it floor-length, I need three yards with a middle seam, six without the seam. Eight if I want a matching valence for the window. Bunched it together over the pegs a bit,  leaving the ends free to drape, and tied a wide white satin ribbon over the seam, to both hide it and gather the fabric. I've tried to take photos, but I haven't quite 'got' it yet.

In the midst of this project, I had to answer the door. Amazingly, the phone company sent someone over, to fix our lines. Wow. Who'd have thought they'd do that on a Sunday ? Well, we have phone service again, and we should have internet tomorrow - we'd planned on the modem and filter purchase after the repair, which wasn't expected until Monday or Tuesday. And we can get along without internet for another day or three.

At least now some of Beloved Hubby's more advanced graphics programs work. Even though the image software seems buggy, the Pinnacle image capture device is working much better than it did. I'm actually kind of worried about going online. I have no idea if the modem will be Vista compatible or not. And I hate to shell $70. (modem) and $15. (DSL filter) only to find out it doesn't work. But, heck, if someone besides me is reading this, well, it worked ! :)

Now that the projects I bought supplies for are being used, I can go get stuff for the next project ! Actually, that'll have to wait a bit - we just blew major money on replacing stuff we bought less than six months ago, darn lightning. I think I'll again focus on using what I have for a while - until I find a coupon or cheap supplies !

Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CDT

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Mood:  a-ok

It's Life Goes On at Chez Insanity (now with More Power !) today. Phone lines are still out, but we have Beloved Hubby's cell phone. I still feel a bit...apprehensive, maybe, but it's not like I could have stopped yesterday's events from happening.

Since it's the first day in a week it hasn't been raining, I got my star pegs and paper mache star box spray-painted. Not sure what fabric I'm going to use for the swag, but I'm sure I'll find something in all this material wealth ! Went with Hubby to get a specialty tool he needs for next week, and it was nice to get out for a bit while the weather was sunny. With rain all week, I'd been cooped up inside. We even had a bit of a picnic lunch with some fast food at one of their cafe tables. It's been a while since we talked about nothing and everything.

Told the tool store cashier about our lightning strike, and we were her *second* customers who'd been hit. She'd met someone yesterday who lost part of his roof to a bolt. He came in for repair supplies - it was still raining at the time. Wow. Ya always got it better than someone else, ya know ?

After that, Dearest Son came home from his grandparents', and we assembled Hubby's new tools and puttered. I got the star pegs and sign hung, but I mostly had a nap. Didn't sleep well last night.

Oh, and I made a simple felt dress for Dottie and Timey from that Simplicity pattern. Kinda growly about it, I figured the Disney Princesses and Mia would fit the 'Small' and Dottie and Timey would be 'Medium'. Nope. Small hung on the DPs worse than a cinched bag, and was even a bit wide on Dottie and Timey. It looked rather plain, so I sewed on some trim. For such a simple design with minimal sewing - ya don't hafta hem felt ! - it looks pretty nice.

A nice feature on the new computer is a built-in card reader. I don't have to turn on the cameras to download photos anymore. I just remove the capture card, apply it to the correct slot, and the computer reads it. Let's hear it for saving batteries ! Our camera came with a 16mb card, and we found a second one - now we can use them when we need to take only a few photos. Good thing I didn't toss 'em or donate 'em. It also has a total of six (!) USB ports.

It's funny, though, what the new computer doesn't have. No floppy drive, or modem. Yet it expects online connectivity. Keeps asking for connections to download and register things. Woe betides anyone who buys a computer but doesn't want to go online ! Today's computers can drive anyone insane with the constant nagging.

There's apparently a problem with the graphics drivers. Try to see a large image and the image viewer shuts down with a 'driver error' message. Bear in mind, we haven't installed anything at all yet. It's having issues with the stuff it came with. (sigh) This is why I hate getting brand-new Microsoft...you've gotta be online to get all the %$#* updates to fix all the %#@*& problems !

Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CDT

Updated: Monday, 2 April 2007 11:15 PM CDT

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Mood:  incredulous

You know how, lots of weekends, I catch up the last two or three days on Monday ? It always gets busy on weekends, so much to do, especially now that the weather's not so blasted miserable. But this week, I had an exceptional reason for not writing the Doll Diaries the days they're due - our new place got hit by lightning !

No joke. While I was waiting for Dearest Son in his school's pick-up area, a bolt hit a tree in the backyard. It went to ground, which was more of a lake than anything else, due to a solid week of intermittent rain. Power has to go somewhere, and it found a path of low resistance via phone lines. Blew the DSL filter apart, pieces landing eight feet from the socket. From there, it caught the DSL modem on fire, scorching the desk and propelling it off the surface and onto the floor, where it smashed and smouldered. The new monitor bascially became a high-tech Pop-Tart, and the less-than-one-month-old fax was similarly toasted. My cell phone was charging when it got a good dose of more power than it was supposed to ever have, all at once, and it's now a higher-quality toy cell phone for Son. Somehow, it also messed up the heat/air unit, so that hasn't been working either. Luckily, another blanket on the beds and we didn't care.

Of course, I knew nothing of this when we got back. I just heard a high-pitched 'eeeeee' noise and thought I smelled smoke. Tracked the sound to the upside down modem and its ominous single red light. Picked it up and almost dropped it, it was still so hot. I noticed the front diode plate was missing and saw the scorch marks. Hastily put it down, and several capacitors and resistors, black with carbon and still lightly smoking, fell out. The wall plate now had black streamers of scorch, too.

Phone lines were completely out. Visited the Day Care center next door, they saw a bolt of lightning, but didn't know where it hit. Felt the ground move from the force of the strike, though. Still bloody raining, too. Hoofed it across the street to the 7-11 and its pay phones. Called Beloved Hubby with the exceptional news, so he wouldn't worry when not one communications method worked, and then called the phone company.

Two hours later, I was back home. Now, I don't mean to suggest that the phone part took that long. No, reporting fried lines for repair service took about 15 minutes. Dealing with the DSL people...that took most of my out-in-the-rain-on-a-pay-phone time. Bascially, since the modem's more than a year old, it's ours, and they're not gonna replace it. I could either pay $70. (plus $12.95 s/h) for a new modem like the Krispy Krittered one, or upgrade to $35./month service and get a $50. rebate on an $89. wireless router modem (plus $12.95 s/h). Or I could cancel our service for a $99. early-termination fee. At least that one didn't have a shipping/handling fee...and I was seriously considering it.

Then the tornado alarms went off. Geez, how much can I deal with in a single afternon ? Evidently more, because I just laughed. The tornado warning was about 15 minutes long, so we flipped the XM radio to a local station (heavy rains and clouds eliminated our semi-crappy TV reception) and heard the forecaster ride out the last few minutes. He even said, "Let's see what's gonna happen during the last minute of this warning !", which would make a cat laugh, it was so serious and silly at once. I heard there were funnel-cloud sightings, but we were fine, luckily. Talk about a day of fire and rain...we had one !

So we spent our 'rainy day fund' (Ha !) on a new computer tonight. Not something we were looking to do, but Hubby's business and most of the family's recreation and news run online so... And, as it turned out, where we bought it sells the exact same modem in their stores. Sure, we gotta pony up tax, but we'll have it in hand without waiting for shipping. Plus tax is cheaper than s/h. Not that the phone company told me this. I honestly thought, from their words, they were the only source of modems that work with their system. Bastids.

We have Windows Vista, which seems nice so far. Luckily I backed up my patterns a few months ago, so those aren't lost - just the three I scanned this week are. Can always scan 'em again. Someday. Lost about four months of Musings - my personal journals - and about a year's worth of photos. Gosh only knows what Hubby lost.

So while I'm a bit upset, I know how lucky we were. That modem could have caught the house on fire. And while I'd have liked to watch about $2k worth of equipment go up in metaphorical flames, it's probably best nobody was home when it happened. Nobody got hurt, repairs have either been affected or professionals called, and we still have power, the fridge didn't get hit, and there wasn't a tornado down Main Street. Beloved Hubby knew I'd be feeling morose, so he ordered Chinese food for us tonight. He's so sweet. So, on the whole, it wasn't that bad.

But I'm kind of mourning anyway.

Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CDT

Updated: Monday, 2 April 2007 11:14 PM CDT

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Mood:  happy

 OK, so she's a Happy Meal doll. But isn't she the cutest ? McDonald's has a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle/Madame Alexander Wizard of Oz Dolls promotion on, for their kiddie meals. I've known about it since the last toys - they always put the next one on the bottom of the box or bag, if there is a special one.

If it sounds interesting, I hit their website. So I've wanted this little charmer for about a month now. It kinda bugged me that my brother-in-law (yup, same dude who gave me Harley Quinn that Christmas !) got his before I got mine, but he was a lot more determined than I. He called around to the 12+ chains around here - I just asked at the drive-thru last night.

I'd planned on taking a series of cute photos of Tiny Witch here with Elphie, but the weather didn't cooperate much. Pouring down rain all day, ruined the shot I wanted. Darn it. So I took this one a few minutes ago. I can't get Tiny to stand by herself, so she's leaning against a plastic Chinese take-out box I bought for a bit over a buck at Hobby Lobby Monday. I think it makes a great background for her !

Her legs, shoes, and even her little molded-underwear clad bottom are all black plastic, and her skirt is inexpensive rayon with a ribbon belt. You could take the skirt off with scissors or a seam ripper, if you're so inclined, or wish to make her a different wardrobe. It's sewn into a slot on her back, so you'd need a *good* seam ripper. Her legs, jointed at the hips, allow her a wide seated pose, and her arms and head move, too. Her hands appear to be painted, and her head is, of course, green plastic with a non-removeable matching black witch hat and a bit of darn-near-impossible-to-style black hair.

Actually, the Happy Meal MAs almost all have some sort of headgear you'd need a hammer and air wrench to remove. Once, a long time ago, I got bored and took the plastic hat off one MA, she was from a yard sale lot, I think. Anyway, the hat held on her hair and was the top of her head. If I'm not mistaken, there was a screw I could get to on that one. I can't find it here, but I figure the basic construction's the same. Just don't count on Tiny here losing her head any time soon ! She's just toooooo cute !

Sometimes, it's darn amazing what you can get in a $3. Happy Meal.  Besides a light snack. This must do well for MAlexander, because I imagine it costs quite a bit. The toys are made and paid for by the toy company,  and provided to McD's - Ronald certainly doesn't pay for 'em. They also decide whether or not to pay for packaging, which is why sometimes there's a nice box, sometimes it's a specially decorated small sack, occasionally, just a regular small sack. There's also a WW of the East, but with fair skin and blonde hair, I wasn't interested. 

With all this *&%$ing rain, I still can't start my studio projects. So I've scanned all three of the doll patterns I bought Monday - Simplicity #3886, #4271, and #5419. Each was surprising in its own way. #3886 had 17 pieces - in each size ! 51 pattern pieces total. That'll keep you standing at the scanner a while ! It was also printed rather faintly, which meant I had a lot of redrawing to do. #4271 was just one size, for 15-inch dolls. Although it doesn't say so, the drawings on the envelope indicate it's for Bitty Baby Twins - and it had 37 pieces ! #5419, though, was done in a completely different font, and only had 8 pieces for each of the three sizes it serves - and those pieces were HUGE ! One piece had to be arranged five times on the scanner bed so I could get it all. Whew ! 

So here's hoping the weather improves ! I'm gonna go play with my Tiny Witch and Elphie - hope your night is quiet and peaceful ! 

Posted by dorriebelle at 7:36 PM CDT

Updated: Monday, 2 May 2011 9:57 AM CDT

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Mood:  chillin'

Woke up today with my right arm singing. Guess I slept on it wrong. Gosh knows once I got to bed last night, I didn't move until the alarm went off !

Even though the humidity is still heck-high, it's a nice day out. Got to test out my new clothesline ! Beloved Hubby got it strung for me today - the old wires were toast. I love hanging out laundry. Just have to remember to soften jeans and towels in the dryer before I put 'em away. Summer's coming, so the less heat I have in the house, the more I like it !

Got Simplicity #4271 scanned today. Took 2.5 hours to do just the pattern pieces and envelope. Usually does - most of yer Barbie-scale ones take three hours. I'm debating whether or not to scan the directions. Last time I didn't, I flipped through the pattern box 'til I had it and lifted the directions from it. Worked out fine, but I'd hate to lose the info sheets. I'd have to wait for another 99c pattern sale to replace 'em !

So there's not much else going on. If I get restless, I may cut out one of the other two. Right now, I'm gonna iron and store #4271. Hmmm. Or maybe I'll sew something, I'm waaaay behind in that ! 

Posted by dorriebelle at 3:26 PM CDT

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Mood:  a-ok

Stayed up late last night with Beloved Hubby, at his request. He was working on a project that required a late-night to finish, and he needed help staying awake.  So I didn't get much sleep. Got the Simplicity I cut out yesterday ironed, but that's about it. Had too much housework to do. Still too humid to do the studio work either. Checked the long-range forecast - the lowest humidity won't be until Saturday, and it'll still be over 50% ! But Monday on through next week is 100% or close to it. Drat. 

Oh, and here's a tip. The well water here is very soft, which means my hair is oily-looking, even right after a shower. I heard a vinegar rinse after a shampoo would help, and DMIL confirmed it. If you ever have a day when you just can't wake up, I suggest a nice, warm shower, with a sweet-smelling shampoo...followed by a cup of cold vinegar poured over your head ! You WILL be awake ! Not just from the cold sensation of vinegar going right to your scalp, but the smell will definitely stir your senses ! 

I know that last sentence wasn't parallel. Mr. Williams (high school English) is probably feeling chest pains right now.  But I am just too tired to care much.

Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CDT

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