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Dorrie's Doll Diaries
Thursday, 25 October 2007
Put 'em on like I should have months ago...
Now Playing: "Collier & Co." - DVD rental. Imagine a 'Dukes of Hazzard' fan film, but with all the identifying marks scraped off. Not good.

 

 

Current Mood : Puttin' on the big girl...well, shoes, I guess...

Spent on dolls today : $1.94

 

Sorry, everyone. Today I had to deal with stuff I've been putting off for months. About the only doll-related thing I did today was pretty bad of me. I've been eyeing a men's shirt on markdown at Dollar General, and today it was 90% off. So I paid 80c for this brand-new, plus-sized shirt that I'm gonna cut up for doll clothes. Like I need more fabric. It's a nice print, though. Doubt the price would go any lower, too.

 

Also found a lip gloss inside a miniature gallon paint bucket, complete with matching flat, wide house-painting type brush. It's about Elphie sized, but I bet it could work for Barbies. I'll have to take some photos later. Still no Enchanted Robert dolls, and about the only places I haven't checked are non-franchised eateries and Laundromats. If I get another PineCone survey, I'll probably just order the bloke and be done with it.

 

Anyway, I'm about wiped out from it all, as putting on those ‘big girl' panties still takes a lot outta me. At least it's done, and begun. Beloved Hubby was sympathetic, and ordered Chinese. Isn't he the best ? (happy sigh)


Posted by dorriebelle at 10:40 PM CDT
Updated: Monday, 2 May 2011 10:20 AM CDT
Wednesday, 24 October 2007
Wednesday whirl...
Now Playing: "Digital Love" - Daft Punk

Current Mood : Denim blue

 

The noble denim jumper, purchased at a yard sale as part of a ‘stuff a bag for a buck', is nearly depleted. It made three pair of male doll jeans (at varying levels of success), a Jem two-piece dress, part of a 60s-era dress, and half of a pair of shorts before selflessly sacrificing its largest parts for a belt. Dearest Son needed one this morning for his robe - it's pajama day at school - and when I couldn't find the red/white/blue plaid matching one, I quickly whipped up a denim sash from the jumper. Took me longer to cut out than sew, but that's typical. It would have taken me longer to launch a more in-depth search for the original one. Beloved Hubby complemented me with ‘It's good to have a well-stashed seamstress in the house !'.

 

Got another look at the castle in the morning light. It's not too bad, and I dearly love the floors. We picked up some paint catalogs at the hobby shop this morning, and as soon as I find what I like, we'll probably start with the hand-painting.

 

Beloved also took me to Lowe's, to pick out some elements of the dollhouse he's making me. We found a leather-texture painted panel that'll make a great wall, and the textured plastic for windows was pretty inexpensive. I'm gonna have an awesome dollhouse for Christmas !

 

But right now, I'm more involved with Halloween. I volunteered to be Homeroom Parent because I'm really lousy at planning parties. It was a way to duck out of staking out a party to participate in. Guess what ? Yup. Homeroom parents supervise *all* of the parties, year round. <sigh> Man, if there's one thing I hate, it's getting off my butt to motivate everyone else off theirs.


Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CDT
Updated: Monday, 2 May 2011 10:20 AM CDT
Tuesday, 23 October 2007
'Paint' is only one letter different than 'pain', did you know that ?
Now Playing: another "Dukes of Hazzard" episode, I couldn't tell you which one or which season.

 

Current Mood : Frustrated and aggravated. Plus, I hate paint. 

 

Installed the former map chest in the Studio today. It was much too heavy for me to lift - heck, even Beloved needed a hand cart to get it inside - but I could nudge and slide it. So I used my hips and soon had it in place. Never doubt the power of  your hips when it comes time to get something you want done ! All the patterns are in place, and there's cards taped to the shelves detailing what's where. Moved some fabric around, since the new pattern cabinet takes less space than what it replaced. Didn't gain much room (nowhere near what I'll need when the dollhouse comes up here !), but every inch is used somewhere !

 

Otherwise, ugh, what a day. Please, don't talk to me about paint today. Seems like every time I picked up a can and approached the castle with it, I screwed up, big time. The off-white made more of the previously applied stuff crackle, and it ran like anything. And even I have a hard time telling the difference between the colors. I am so ready for this *&^^%%$#*$ ing thing to be done and finished already ! Instead, it's even more messed up, and I am sooo tired of dueling with it.

 

I was about five seconds and two centimeters from pitching the whole sorry mess out the door when Beloved Hubby offered some help. I really wanted to just pick up a can of spray paint and have something OK look spectacular, you know ? I also wanted it done in a week. Neither were gonna happen, though. He told me that even he would have problems in such tight areas with notoriously hard to control spray cans, so it's no wonder I was frustrated and upset.

 

He proposed that we kind of start over. Paint the floors with the Fusion I already had, then repaint the walls by hand. With paintbrushes. He'd help, and I'd have the control I needed for some of the smaller areas. I'm a bit nervous about it - I mean, paint over it again ? There must be eight or ten coats on some of it already ! But since the alternative is dumping it, and I've come this far already, I may as well take the chance. Can always afford to learn something, too.

 

So there's a new entry on the ‘This Old Palace' page, and I'm seriously considering a wine cooler so I can calm down. Got to go with Beloved to Dollar Tree today - nothing new, but I got some stuff for Dearest Son's Halloween party. And it's always nice to look around when you don't need anything. Friday is Dearest's trip to the pumpkin farm, and yes, I'm helping out with that. It occurs to me that there may be a reason I stare into space when not much else is going on...


Posted by dorriebelle at 9:24 PM CDT
Updated: Monday, 2 May 2011 10:20 AM CDT
Monday, 22 October 2007
Sleepy stars circling
Now Playing: "The Aristocats" - I can't believe this used to be my answer when asked for my fave Disney film...it's bad.

Current Mood : Wiped out, but happy

Spent on dolls today : $2.58 

 

Sorry for the repeat image - at least this time, the background is different ! It's the box liner for Chelsea, the My Scene RollerGirl I bought Saturday, photographed and resized. I'm getting better at digital image layering, bit by bit ! 

 

Usual busy Monday. Picked up a cheap can of off-white spray paint for the castle. I figure the bottom floor needs more light, since most of it's overshadowed by the floors of the second story. Maybe an off-white instead of a beige would give it that. No time to play with it, though. Went grocery shopping this morning, had a parent/teacher meeting with Dearest Son's instructor this afternoon, and Beloved Hubby needed help with wiring the cargo trailer with lights.

 

But this morning, he got the map chest inside ! It was still wet, so I'll let it dry and move it tomorrow. Today, I got it all cleaned up and wiped down. Darn mud dauber wasps had nests all through that trailer, and my soon-to-be pattern cabinet was no exception. Yesterday's rain loosened it, but it didn't fall off when Beloved hauled it up here. Luckily, all the nests were long vacant.

 

No Enchanted doll this time, either. Not even at TRU. I'm about to give up and order one from Target.com, and get it over with. I already have $10. from PineCone Research surveys...

 

You'd think with so little to want, I'd be sewing like crazy. Especially once I get the map chest installed. But I keep finding myself reading the same sites over and over. I'm still in a stupor, evidently.

 

Maybe some paint fumes tomorrow will shake me up...


Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CDT
Updated: Monday, 2 May 2011 10:18 AM CDT
Sunday, 21 October 2007
Rain and trailers
Now Playing: "Cars" - for the Wii, with Beloved and Dearest playing
 

Current Mood : sleepy after a good workout.

 

Beloved Hubby needed help with the cargo trailer today, so that took up a good chunk of the day. Boy, what a mess that thing was in ! We got the map chest unbolted from the walls when we took the walls down, but unfortunately, it began to rain before we could get it inside. That thing weighs a ton ! So it's gonna sit and get rinsed by rain, and Beloved'll bring it in tomorrow. He was planning on buying a dolly cart anyway, and this'll need one to get inside.

 

Not much else going on. Tidied up the studio a bit in anticipation. I know where it'll go, and which patterns will go in what drawers. Hope to replace the drawer pulls soon. If it's anything like the rest of what we found in the trailer, the ones on it now were was bits and pieces of leftover from various projects or give-aways.

 

Got to look at the new Haute Doll and Fashion Doll Quarterly issues. One had a pattern in Elphie's size, but it was for Ellowyne and much too girly for our green girl. Well, it wasn't so much ‘girly' ruffles and lace - that I can skip - but the design itself suggested that someone not yet into their later teens would best suit it. No real darts or anything a woman's figure would need to fit well. The other had a pattern for SD13, which is about Elphie's size, but it wasn't anything I didn't already have. There was much ink involving ball-jointed dolls, like the SD13, but I'm simply not into it. Also not sure why there's suddenly tons of paper dolls within the issues, but it probably makes other readers very happy. Again, not my bag.

 

(snort) That coming from a woman with three magnetic paper dolls on the fridge !


Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CDT
Updated: Monday, 2 May 2011 10:18 AM CDT
Saturday, 20 October 2007
Skater's boogie
Now Playing: "I Love Your Smile" - Shanice, on MP3
 

Current Mood : Daydreamy 

Spent on dolls today : $2.14

 

I guess the Happy Meal miniature "My Scene" doll I got last week was a sign or something. Because I bought the Chelsea ‘Roller Girl' doll today. I just couldn't resist ! She was on markdown for $9.99. Then there was a 30% off all Barbie dolls sale. And I had five $1. TRU coupons from the McD's "Monopoly" game. Ya can use five of those coupons on one purchase, so she was only $2.14, when everything was said and done and spent. Sweet !

 

It's kind of sad the "MS" line is going out on this. The packaging was fairly easy to open, and I only needed scissors to cut threads and plastic. The skates are just adorable, and the outfit, while a bit too skin-baring for my taste, is useable with other pieces and nicely detailed. There was even a second outfit - a cute cartoon character dress - included, that, for some reason, I never noticed before.

 

Of course, I had to get Chelsea. Between the green outfit and skates, and star-themed jewelry and sunglasses, there was no other choice for me ! I think the brown hair/green eyes thing wasn't even a consideration - but it was nice that it was all there in one package ! Shame the sale ended today. Not like we could eat five more large fries in one day anyway.

 

Just not sure if I'm keeping her. She looks so different from the other dolls. And she also skirts the edge of having that p*rn-star mouth I don't like. Her eyes are more wide open on the box packaging than the doll's actually are, so she sort of looks as though she's getting a lot more out of skating than I ever did !

 

They also had the Hillary Duff doll. She was already on markdown for $6.98. Minus the discount, she was less than $5., so with my coupons, she was free. But I could easily make her dress, I already had most of her props, and I didn't like the doll itself. I've seen several Fashion Royalty dolls wearing her dress, with the waist bow removed. It's a simple dress, though. Thought about getting a Fashion Fever outfit - they're $5.95 there - but my dolls just don't need more clothes. Heck, they don't really need the ones I make for ‘em, but I love doing it !

 

It was a shame the discount was for dolls alone - I'd have probably bought the Island Princess playset instead, since it'd have been less than $10. with the coupons.  Mostly for the screen. It has cutesy animals on it as-packaged, but I could fix that right quickly. The shape is unusual and versatile. But $20.99 was a bit much. There's also a version with a doll included, for about $10. more. Here's the one I liked -

http://www.toysrus.com/product/prodpop.jsp?LargeImageURL=http%3A//TRUS.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pTRU1-3586191dt.jpg&displayTab=enh&productId=2647195&totCount=0

 

I could easily pop out that cardboard, replace it with some plain white paper, and be happy. Or use scrapbooking paper for a decorator touch. Not sure what I'd do with the vanity and monkey, but I'm getting fairly handy with a spray paint can these days...

 

Planned on touching up the castle today, but never got to it. We had a guest, my Beloved Hubby's brother, today. He's the one who gave me Harley Quinn for Christmas a couple years ago. They played pool, and I agreed to do some sewing for him. Not entirely sure how I'm gonna do this, but it's more a matter of ‘gear down and just do it' than anything else.

 

Tomorrow, I'm helping Beloved clean out the cargo trailer. That means I get the map chest ! It'll be so great for storing my print-out patterns. I can't wait !


Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CDT
Updated: Monday, 2 May 2011 10:19 AM CDT
Friday, 19 October 2007
Looking for shoes for Gloria...
Now Playing: "Dreams to Dream", Linda Ronstadt ('American Tail 2')

 

Current Mood : Pleased

 

In a surprising turn of events, today I found out that the GoodWill ‘World of Cinderella' doll I bought Wednesday is not one whit like the ‘World of Ariel' I bought new last year. I figured the head mold was different - I knew it wasn't the same one, my Aria has a much bigger, rounder head - but the body would be the same. I mean, they're made by the same folks (Playmates) only a year apart. Goss knows Mattel uses the same body for decades in their dolls !

 

But this time, it's not even close. While searching for clothes (and shoes, ironically) to fit her, I kept hearing "Gloria" by The Doors in my head. I'm not really a Doors fan, but I figured that was her name. So, ‘Cincy' is now ‘Gloria'. Cincy was kinda tacky as a name anyway, it was a mistype the day I got her.

 

Anyway. Aria's clothes fit Gloria like a bag. I mean, they were all huge on her. Only one pair of elastic-waist pants fit, and the white blouse only fit because I cinched it in with the experimental bodice. It's funny how it looks great to me ! It's sort of like having a SuperSize Jem !

 

Her shoes were a real challenge. Her feet are tiny. Much *much* smaller than Aria's. Nearly all the doll shoes I owned were too big. Crissy's were too big, and Gloria's feet were more narrow and flatter than the little-girl Disney Princesses'. In fact, Ken's shoes just barely didn't fit. Gloria needed just a twitch more width and length. Hmmm...

 

The finger shoes I bought for Elphie also almost fit. Too tight. One pair was big enough, so there's one pair. And a pair of flip-flop type ‘Shoozies' fit OK, so that made two.  Another pair that was too big for Elphie fit Gloria fine - they came from a markdown Victorian-style dress-me doll I bought a few years ago. I also found an outsize pair of Ken sneakers that could be persuaded to fit, but not something I'd leave on her for long.

 

Tonner's shoes for Matt O'Neill (Fiyero Matthews here) were also too big, but the Old Navy athletic shoe keychains that fit him also fit Gloria, it's not as obvious that they're also rather big. They'll work for photos, at least.

 

While I was messing around with doll shoes, I stored a bunch of ‘em I've had scattered around. Finally sorted through the baglot of stuff I bought when I got Gloria, and it occurred to me - I have Bratz shoes now. And the Catwalk Kitty doll I bought years ago also has the peg-feet thing for shoes. I wonder...Yup. Lila Gamboldt (see the Home Page Histories for more and photos) can wear Bratz shoes. Only problem is, she's a violet cat, so that rules out skin-tone shoes, but boots and sneakers should be fine. I got one complete pair of bootz, and those work. Cool ! And the flea market's coming ‘round again next weekend...

 

One thing I just realized about Bratz. Much is made about the multiethnic quality of the dolls. But most of the shoes I've seen have basic white-person skin tones. Don't those look weird with the dolls of more vivid color ? Or is each doll stuck with her color (or even style ?) shoes ? Guess no one else has noticed, or thought to ask.

 

I wonder why I'm more obsessed with doll shoes than footwear for me ?


Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CDT
Updated: Monday, 2 May 2011 10:17 AM CDT
Thursday, 18 October 2007
Huh ?
Now Playing: my ignorance is surpassed only by my indifference.
 

Current Mood : Tired and somewhat detached.  

 

I got to sleep in until 6:30 this morning, but I'm still tired. I think I mostly stared into space today. We retrieved the new cargo trailer from where we had to leave it Tuesday, but that only took three hours. The map chest is bolted in, but Beloved Hubby says he'll get it out this weekend for me.

 

Got to visit with DM&FIL, who loved the trailer and the dollhouse. Beloved got to play pool with his folks, while, again, I think I just stared. I don't know what's wrong with me.

 

So I'm going to bed. Hopefully, tucking in early will shake me out of this stupor !

 


Posted by dorriebelle at 9:47 PM CDT
Updated: Monday, 2 May 2011 10:17 AM CDT
Wednesday, 17 October 2007
Is 'Cincy' too chintzy a name ?
Now Playing: wonderfully quiet house

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Current Mood : New Doll Happy !

Spent on dolls today : $5.40 

 

Still recovering from last night's late night. Dearest Son had complained of headaches yesterday, and the last time he did, he had a seizure. So every little sound he made woke me in worry. Plus, for some odd reason, the 7-11 parking lot - normally pretty dead after 10pm - was rockin' all night long with some wannabe drag racer and his ‘I can only prove my meager, pathetic existence by annoying the rest of the planet with crappy music' boom-bass stereo. I hope someone wrecks his sleep by being a jerk real soon.

 

So I'm pretty wiped out. Not sure why I didn't take a nap instead of going out this morning, but I had some minor errands, and I'll always take a thrift store trip when I can squeeeeze one in. And, as you probably already noticed, I found a doll. This is a ‘World of Cinderella : Cinderelly's Surprise' doll, found at the bargain price of $2. at GoodWill. Originally, long gloves hid her elbow joints, and she had a few extra props ( the usual Disney ‘animal friends'), but I don't need those. Her hair took about an hour to tame. I hate it when doll companies root a row of long hair *under* the bangs, and comb them through. But then again, Playmates only had to sell ‘shiny Cinderella doll in a box', not ‘wrecked hair generic blonde doll with ratted hair'. Still, pulling hair strands back and through over and over got old fast.

 

Ya gotta admit, she's quite lovely now that she's been brushed up a bit. And I take back all the sighs about dolls obviously played with but the hair still in the factory set. I'm starting to understand how and why that happens now. And appreciate it when I find a used doll that way ! Much as I'd wish for all dolls be loved and enjoyed, let's face it, by the time she/he/it gets to me, it's doubtful the kid wants the doll or the imaginary adventures she/he/it represents anymore. Her hair's much like Toddler Belle's - frizzy on the ends, something fierce. ‘Cincy' here may end up with a haircut.

 

I also scored a bag of various doll shoes and props. Mostly got it for a pair of Kelly-green Mary Janes. I'm such a sucker for those. There were Bratz shoez - four, all mismatched. About six handbags, three pair of Barbie boots, and a magnetic paper doll set of Barbie and Teresa from Princess and the Pauper. It's kind of cute. Some odd star-shaped hairbrushes, in two sizes, and unidentifiable plastic pieces. In short, it's a good thing I got the Mary Janes out of it, because aside from the fridge magnets, that $2. grab-bag didn't have much else of interest. Oh, and that one pair of boots is actually Bratz - so does anyone need three mismatched pumpz (one with a chewed heel) and a pair of funky-weird bootz ?

 

Dollar Tree didn't have anything new, save for some wooden placemats. Yup, quarter-inch thick wood planks painted black, and buffed to a high shine, blank on one side, silver circles inset on the other. So I got one. It'll show up in photos soon, I'm thinkin'. By the time errands were done, it was time for a quick lunch, then off to Dearest's school for my volunteer duties. I hope our friend the deaf dragster moves on to another parking lot tonight.

 

I'll probably start up with the castle on Friday. Dearest is out of school Thursday and Friday, and I'm too weary to mess with anything that might be permanent today !


Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CDT
Updated: Monday, 2 May 2011 10:17 AM CDT
Tuesday, 16 October 2007
Road adventures
Now Playing: annoying 7-11 traffic

 

Current Mood : Domestic Exhaustion

 

Lightning Molly started up just fine this morning, so I caught up on the grocery shopping. Also (sigh) bought a gorgeous blue Asian-theme floral remnant, and a thin cotton pink one. The pink one I didn't need, but I simply can't resist fabric that's marked "10c". Also bought another can of regular spray paint for the castle. Not sure when I'll get back to it, but I want to get it done. Just don't wanna wreck it.

 

I then spent about three hours doing dishes and housework. Ugh. It was bad how far behind I let it get, but I'm happy that it's tidier around here. I was just settling in after Dearest Son's parent/teacher meeting, thinking of sewing, when Beloved Hubby came home. He'd found a cargo trailer at the price he wanted...only one problem. It was on the other side of the state.

 

So we packed up some road stuff and hit it. I knew we'd be out late, but it'd be an adventure together. Dearest had just earned enough coupons for his latest Transformer dream toy, so he was eager to have some play time.

 

Long story short, we got the trailer, but it blew a tire about an hour out from home. Ended up leaving it with a note in a gas station parking lot, and coming home without it. Beloved's going up for it first thing in the morning, getting the tire fixed or replaced, and then bringing it home. There's a bunch of misc. stuff in it, and I'm sort of looking forward to seeing it in daylight !

 

There's a map chest in there. And it's all mine ! It'll be perfect to store my printed-out patterns in ! And now it looks like Beloved's running out of stuff to want. Right now, all I want is some darn sleep...


Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CDT
Updated: Monday, 2 May 2011 10:16 AM CDT

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