Volunteering - is sometimes like a charity you donated to that won't go the *&^% away...
Now Playing: washing machine jeans load
 

Current Mood : Slightly cheezed off.

Current Displayed Pattern - complete, right down to the slightly creepy 'disembodied head in an omnivorous plant' embroidery transfers. I'm hoping the sweatsuit fits Timey and Dottie !  Another not-yet-scaned 9c special from last Friday.

 

I've gotta quit answering my phone during the day. Seems no one volunteered to help the Safe Kids ID vendor visiting Dearest Son's school. And they needed someone. (sigh) I stupidly said I'd do it, so there went my morning. I shouldn't whine, because I said I would, but...most of my ‘job' was walking the hallways, gathering and escorting students whose parents ponied up the cash for these optional ( read : useless in my opinion) ID cards. Um, why didn't they use the intercom to call the kids as the vendor was ready for ‘em ? That's how they did it back in my day ! (hunts for rocking chair, settles in for a good rant)

 

From there, I measured height and weight of the kids. Again, why am I doing this ? Isn't that the vendor's job ? We were done for the day by noon, but still, it was three plus hours of no-break actual work. I don't mind painting the playground equipment, or helping the librarians with Book Fair, or counting out weekly folder inserts, or helping with the class holiday parties. That's fun, and directly helps the staff, teachers, and students. But this is the second time I've done grunt work for someone making money off the school, someone who has no ties to it or even lives around here, and it's kind of getting on my bad side.

 

My time is limited, same as anybody else's. So I'd rather spend my volunteer hours doing what benefits the kids and the school - not help line someone's wallet for free. If the vendor needs someone to do the heavy lifting equivalent, let ‘em hire somebody. It's not like I had an awful time or anything, but I got tired fast of doing all the scut work while the vendor sat in her chair to take photos, and didn't have to do much else. If it's sooo difficult to find volunteers, then why squander what you get on crap ‘opportunities' like this one ? School asks for all parents to do three volunteer activities. I've already done eight, and we've just now passed the first quarter of the year. I'm kind of tapped out, ya'll.

 

Anyway. I got even less done today than I'd hoped. Didn't get near the Lab, but I did get the Ken pattern scanned. I'm really looking forward to using it. Reason I did that instead of sewing is because I wanna put the ironing board away. It takes up half the Lab when I have to use it, and that pattern was so wrinkled, I had to, or the scanning would have been waaay off. I also use the iron to flatten it a bit before it gets stored. Plus I was in a rather cheesed-off mood anyway, might as well do something with the energy of it. So I at least got that done. I had time to read the directions for View 2, and the hardest part of it will be finding the right size lace for the collar and jabot. Hopefully, I'll have time to cut it out tomorrow, maybe even sew. But the housework I should have done got delayed, so I'll be lucky to cut.

 

Heck, I should be grateful for that and knock off the whining. My car Molly goes in the shop tomorrow, I got *more* fabric to wash, and I still haven't put away the stuff I got on sale Sunday. Man, I'm bein' a whiner baby today ! Sorry about that !

 

Ps to Michelle - next time I find a Leia doll, I'm gonna snatch her up and mail her to you ! She's lovely, and her not-Barbie figure is a challenge, but a fun one. Here's one of my fave Leia doll sites, I just wish it'd get updated soon...but since the last update mentions ‘November 2005", I guess we shouldn't hold our breath !

https://www.angelfire.com/theforce/leiaasylum/

 

And Ps to Manda - thanks ! Frankly, finding, editing, and finishing the coloring book pages was fun, but it took longer to do that than write the day's entry ! Sorry today's is kind of blah, but I promise something cool and vintage tomorrow !

Memorials and new directions
Now Playing: "Episode 1 : The Phantom Menace" - nearly ten years gone by, and I still can't call that thing 'Star Wars'...
 

Current Mood : Tired. So very tired.

Quick Pattern note - this is the one that I only have View A, D, and F for. Darn. For 9c though, I can't whine too much !

 

Usual busy Monday, wherein not much doll or sewing stuff got done. Didn't go near the Lab (formerly the Studio - ‘Lab' is a rather snarky Venture Bros. reference), but I finished ironing the Ken pattern Sunday night. It's ready for scanning, but I'm fryin' other fish first.

 

The Veteran's Day program at Dearest Son's school was very sweet and thoughtful. I felt like I was there more for those who came before me and would go after me than I was there for myself. One former soldier I spoke with was glad to see me, ‘cause ‘the girls need to see more strong women in service'. Well, as long as he put it that way...plus, the principal's already invited me back for next year. I even got to give a short talk to Dearest's class while his teacher prepared for the day's first lesson. I proudly wore my ‘Minuteman' pin (the only military issue I can wear while in civvie gear), and just ‘cause, I had my old Signal Corps insignia in my pocket. It came in handy during my brief chat !  Dearest was bragging (‘that's my mommy !') a bit, and yelled ‘Signal Corps - Hoo-rah !' (urged on by his Daddy !) tonight. It was a memorable day.

 

Because it took me sooo long to find the Minuteman pin, I cleaned out the jewelry armoire. It's just so ‘me' that the chest is worth about three times the contents ! Dumped a bunch of old Sailor Moon kiddie jewelry (did I use to actually *wear* that outside the house ?!) and some other oddities in the donation box.

 

I still plan on starting View 2 of Simplicity's 6097 tomorrow. But I also gave some idle thought to dressing Han and Luke, now that Leia has a nice sweatsuit. I confess, I wasn't eager to begin another round of sparring with Doll Shop Deluxe to clothe those dudes. Then I remembered - Leia's flight suit ! (It's on Leia's page on the main site  - https://dorriebelle.tripod.com/id36.html , if you're interested) In short, I took a photo of a Kenner never-mass-produced pattern on a website, enlarged it and sewed it several times until I had not only a working pattern, but my own version of the finished item. I was happy for weeks on that success !

 

Now, the nice guys at the Star Wars Collectors Archive didn't stop at showing images of Leia's never-finalized patterns and clothes. They also had Luke's proposed X-Wing flight suit, his Awards Ceremony outfit, and his Fatigue Suit (similar, but not quite the same as the flight suit). I figure Han's clothes would have been about the same, just in other colors, as no patterns seem to exist for him. Luckily, he and Luke have the same body. So, three guesses what I did this evening...and I don't think you need all three. Copies of the original website photos now rest on my hard-drive, awaiting a tweaking and trial similar to what Leia's flight suit got.

 

Hmm. I may have to alter Leia's page to become a Star Wars Large Size Action Figure (truly, that's what they were marketed as !) page. Or simply add a Han and Luke one. Finally, I can retake the Han Solo vs. Indiana Jones photo, and keep it up permanently. Yup, we have both -  I have Han, Beloved has Indy. Both were darn near buck nude when we bought them as Han dolls. It wasn't until I noticed they had different eye and hair colors that I did a quick ‘butt check' for copyright dates.

 

So I did a lot of running in place, doll-wise, today. I'm hoping to get the Ken pattern scanned and View 2 begun tomorrow. I'll have plenty of home time this week, as my sweet Lightning Molly goes into the shop Wednesday or Thursday, to get her squeaky rear passenger wheel repaired. I'll miss not having her, but it'll be sooo great for her to be as quiet as she is beautiful !

Last of the big time sale spenders...
Now Playing: "Smokey and the Bandit 2" - of the DVD three-movie set bought cheap
 

Current Mood : Stunned

 Spent on sewing today : $28.60 !

 

After a wild shopping spree like yesterday and a lucky series of finds Friday, you'd think I'd skip the big sale at Hancock Fabrics, stay home and count my blessings. Naaaaah ! You're darn right, I went ! I'm wearing my tiny little sewing machine charm, and I've stored away the tiny plastic yellow box of seven rotary blades. Beloved Hubby encouraged me to go, saying that I shop less when I feel well-stocked ! Rate I'm going, I won't need to leave the house except for errands, groceries, and volunteering until 2012 !

 

If nothing else, the sales are fun, just for the community of it. The store was, in a word, busy. I arrived about a half hour after the festivities began, and snagged the same blade set I'd placed on a separate, price tagged slot last week, then went cruisin'. While I have plenty of small silver snap fasteners, I was fresh out of black ones, so I picked up four cards of 4/0 and 3/0. And a fresh pack of soft-sculpture needles. I use ‘em for reroots, and it's about time to start those. At half-price, it's a good idea to stock up. That'll last me at least until the next 50% off notions sale, which may be next spring, or next month. Or next year, with all the Mal-Warts closing their fabric and notions sections.

 

Considered getting another thread box for all the spools I bought Saturday, but the box was $7. - I'd only paid $5. for the thread. They had the softest, most incredible fake furs available - I selected a calico mix of colors. At 60 inches wide, I wouldn't need much. Normally $16.99/yd, it was half price, and I only got a quarter yard. So this amazingly wonderful fake fur was only a bit over two bucks. I'm seriously considering making a few Christmas gifts from what I don't need for the project I'm pondering...

 

And I broke down and bought the two fat quarters I was eyeing last visit. Heck, two bucks, why not. One is a cheery multi-colored polka dot on white, the other is a sleek black/silver. And there went $28.60 ! At least I'm helping the economy...

 

After that, I had plenty of time to do blessing counts. Took an OK photo of Leia in a backyard tree, wearin' the sweatsuit. It actually fit her ! First time I've made a Barbie pattern garment that fit Leia without basic alterations. It helps that it's mostly elastic and stretch knit in a loose design, but I'm still very happy about the whole thing. After I try View 3, the fancy blouse and pants, I have to work on something for Han - and he and Luke do NOT fit Ken clothes very well. Crotch rise is too short, pant and sleeve lengths are too short, and both guys are a bit beefier in the chest, too. I've put off making stuff for them, but the time is here. Wonder if I can fit in some of what's left of Carol's green knit into their outfits somewhere...

 

Oh, and the Cinderella Jedi doll ? Well, she's more of a sewing fitting doll than a playing one. She's too adorable to donate, but I don't play with her much, either. Every time I take a picture of her, I wanna keep her, but a week later, she's languishing half-nude by the sewing machine again.

 

Well, tomorrow's another busy one. It's Veteran's Day, and Dearest Son has an assembly I've promised to attend. My service wasn't much, just three years in Europe during the Reagan/Bush years, so I barely believe it counts, ya know ?

 

And thanks, Michelle and Manda, for ID'ing those funky needles for me ! Would ya'll like 'em ? Woudn't cost anything to mail 'em, and there's about ten here - be glad to split 'em between ya. I'm certainly not gonna be able to do anything with 'em, and it'd make me happy if ya'll could use them. Lemme know what ya'll think !

Fun at the flea market - more dolls ??!
Now Playing: "Smokey and the Bandit" - DVD three-movie set bought for just $5. !
 

Current Mood : Overwhelmed in happy - and rather tired ! 

Spent on dolls and sewing yesterday and today : $14.29

 

Aw, I went sooo nutz at the flea market today ! Bought three ‘My Scene' dolls, mostly for their shoes for Lila and their clothes - two Madisons and a Chelsea. I'll probably redress and donate the Madisons along with the Un-Fur-Gettable Kennedy(Barbie) and the Roller Girl Chelsea I bought new, and keep the flea market Chelsea. She has less-fussy hair than RG Chel does. It's pretty, a gorgeous shade of mahogany, but straight with a bit of a wave to it. RG Chel has an elaborate bun hairstyle I haven't been able to bring myself to undo. They all have arresting faces, but I really like my flea-market Chel the best.

 

Here's a link to the photo album of a couple of images I took of her last night. Not sure what I'm doing with my doll imaging project lately !

 

https://dorriebelle.tripod.com/dolls_of_my_life/index.album/another-chel?i=14

 

It's grown to two pages now, so don't forget to click the ‘2' at the top left.

 

I also got a display box from the lady who does the overpriced car kits. I really should have known better. I can't fault her for the item, a Mattel box with a window and chest that's actually paint on the reverse of a plastic box liner, nothing there as solid as it appears, but I think she knew the window was cracked, something I couldn't tell in there. Oh, well. I should have known when she sold it so cheaply. I can still use it, but I feel kind of ripped off. At least I didn't buy the Bratz Mercedes with two dolls shoved in, but with no remote or doors, for $20. She tossed in a ratty-haired SuperStar doll in a torn swimsuit with my purchase, but I soon had hair and suit repaired. Dearest Son's playing with her now !

 

And here's where you'll laugh at me. I bought a sewing kit, an ancient one, for another $5. I am such a sucker for these things. 52 spools, in varying sizes and degrees of use, all wooden. I missed my wood spools ! Spent about half an hour untangling most of a huge wad of thread, before I gave up. At least I gave each spool about a foot or two of more thread ! Most of it was wound around some sequined and pink bead trim. I thought the pink bead stuff was plastic cuplike pieces, with a sequin and a bead inside. Nope - those plastic cups were actually tiny seashells ! Not sure where or how I'll use that, but it's certainly pretty. Tiny shell earrings, for one...

 

There were also the thinnest needles I've ever seen, with eyes that might take two strands of hair, but no more. They were like thin guitar strings with eyes. There was a wealth of odd and fun things in there, too - a tomato pin cushion with a strawberry emery, some random buttons, a safety pin full of other safety pins, a Pfaff tape measure too deteriorated to use, a small, smooth stone, two 1965 pennies, two wide strips of burgundy ribbon, a swatch of bright orange corduroy, a label from a Neiman-Marcus garment, a small crochet hook, a few square snaps, and a tiny, thin pencil that is just Barbie sized ! It's long, so I can break it in half and have two. Really writes !

 

Got Beloved Hubby two books I thought he might like, then a selection of back issues of Guns and Ammo. He's sort of getting into that. We went to a firing range today, too. It's been a long time since I fired a weapon. My first shot was fantastic, but several of my others would make Drill Sergeant Orfield (when I went through, they were DSergeants, not DInstructors) weep in frustrated anger.

 

And I sewed up the sweatpants today. They came out OK, but I stretched one leg at the hem a bit, so the cuff threads don't match up on both legs. Darn it. Otherwise, though, they fit and look good, so I shouldn't whine. Hope to have a photo up on the Home page tomorrow, there's no time today.

 

Didn't get very far with the pattern ironing today. About all I did was View 1 of the Ken one. I'm still amazed I have those now. Lots of ironing ahead for me, that's for sure. Then scanning !

 

Had a really busy, wonderful day. And tomorrow, I go get rotary blades ! Hopefully after that, I won't find anything irresistible. I already feel so bad about spending so much !

Lila, Bratz, time, new ideas, patterns, and the wonder of another great day...
Now Playing: "Transformers" - DVD rental. Too bad it's waaaay too violent for Dearest Son, it really was a good movie !

 

Current Mood :  Amazingly happy... :) 

 

So many new, fun discoveries today !

 

Found out that ‘cut/Fray Check one day, sew the next' really works for me. I tend to hang up at cutting fabric. It's the worst part of sewing, even with a great rotary like the Olfa. I keep remembering this passage I read once - ‘Doll clothes sewing must be incredibly precise. Even a variance of 1/32 of an inch will show, and glaringly, in the final piece' -every time I begin to cut. Well, it's sort of true, but not really. You can get around or fix errors. I've been off more than that before, and if I were to tell you which piece was off a half-inch at one point, you could search the garment and not find it. Unless, of course, you're a better doll seamstress than me (which is not at all difficult !) or you've sewn the same pattern. Either way, it all starts with cutting, and even with the ridiculous abundance of fabric I own, I still hate the idea of wasting it or time.

 

Getting the ‘hard part' over with makes me very eager to tackle a new project. And even on busy days, I can cut out and Fray-Check something in less than a half-hour. So I'm hoping to do at least two new pieces a week. There's just no way I can sew something start-to-finish five days a week. Not happening. Other stuff to do.

 

Broke open the Bratz Boyz outfit I bought at the thrift store a few days ago. Ever since I discovered that Lila (my Lanard ‘Catwalk Kitties' doll) can swap shoes with Bratz, I've been on the lookout for more. I knew she couldn't fit the girl-doll's clothes, they're much too small, and Lila actually has a Teen Skipper-like figure. But what about the Boyz stuff ? Well, the shoes are a no-go. The pegs for Girlz are smaller than the Boyz ones. Go figure.

 

But the shirt and jacket fit great ! Looked great on her, too. Displayed in the package like it was merely missing the doll, the shirt was inside the jacket, and I was surprised to learn that the shirt was long-sleeved. Mattel normally cheaps out, and nearly all male doll clothes are short-sleeved, especially if there's a jacket or coat included. The Bratz shirt also had cuffs with Velcro ^TM, probably to aid in dressing. I have no idea if they have oversized hands as well. But it was very neatly and cleverly done.

 

The pants were much too small, but I loved the tailoring and the neat belt with the eagle ‘buckle'. I was again surprised to find that the belt could be removed ! I was just tryin' to figure out how to salvage that eagle. I think my Tyco Little Mermaid Ariel - much smaller than the Mattel Ariels - can wear the pants. They're well-made, with nice decorative stitching. So, about the only thing I'll end up donating out of that $2.99 buy is the shoes I bought it for !

 

I also stumbled onto a project idea, something I wanna write up for the main site. Involves some fake fur and about five minutes of hand-sewing. I'll keep you posted.

 

You may notice that I'm sort of obsessed with time. I always report about how long it takes me to finish something, etc. I'm not sure where I got this idea, but I always figured that if I spent more than two hours on any doll garment, it was a waste. An hour was optimum. Maybe, with ready-to-wear doll clothes selling for as little as a buck even for Barbie stuff, it seemed ridiculous to spend an hour or more to make the same thing. Yesterday, however,  when I finished the three-hour warm-up jacket, I was so proud of it, and glad I'd taken my time, and done it right. I'll probably always have this time hang-up, but I'm slowly learning that it's better if I do more challenging things that take more than ten minutes, but yield something more than a blocky square with elastic and hems. I mean, shoot, I can do a tube dress in either knit or cotton fabric in less than a half-hour. Put a zipper up the back in another 15-20 minutes. But who in heck wants tube dresses ? Especially when you're already capable of more and better sewing.

 

I think sometimes that we all want challenges, but we're also afraid of screwing up. But it's the only way to learn new stuff, figure out what we're capable of, and what we still have to study and learn. It's maddening ! 

 

Also learned to be careful when tossing around words like ‘always' and ‘never'. We hit a thrift and a yard sale while running errands today, and after the first sale, I commented that I never found good doll clothes patterns used. Always had to get ‘em off eBay. I was dusting my knees off - grass stains - while I was saying it. But at the thrift...wow ! I scored a half-complete generic Barbie and Ken Butterick 3317, a missing directions but complete pattern Skipper McCalls 7480, a missing one piece that I can easily duplicate Ken Advance Group E, and a complete Cabbage Patch Butterick 332. Plus two others - robes and 70s era vests. All for the princely sum of 54c ! Since most are quite old, they're wrinkled and fragile, so I'll iron and scan ‘em this weekend. Tomorrow, the new doll sewing image goes up on the main page, and the pattern envelopes will be pictured here.

 

In the meanwhile, enjoy Lila in her Bratz Boyz outfit. Isn't she just so lovely ? There's also a flea market tomorrow - it's been such an incredible week, I almost don't want to go ! :)

So Happy
Now Playing: "Star Wars Lego : The Complete Saga" for the Wii. Really.
 

Current Mood : So Happy

 

I'll confess it right here, right now. I was so worried about screwing up this great, soft, stretchy beautifully green knit fabric that Carol gave me, I gave myself a blasted migraine. Had to lie down for two hours to outsleep it. There may have been other factors - dropping hormone levels, new medicine, that Fuzzy Navel I had before bedtime last night - but I think it was mostly worry. Oh, and I also freakin' loathe elastic thread. But you'll hear more about that later.

 

Anyway, all Star Wars jokes aside, I really really wanted the sweatshirt jacket to go well. And it was all cut out, Fray-checked, and ready to go. But I couldn't start. After my migraine-chasing nap, though, I couldn't come up with any excuses. Especially since I'd spent two hours yesterday cleaning the kitchen and living room. It was time. Past time.

 

All in all, the only things I did differently from this and the usual project is that I simply relaxed, took my time, reloaded the music onto my MP3 player, and armed myself with lots and lots of cheap stabilizer. I may not have mentioned it before, but I use old dryer fabric softener sheets and cutaway interfacing. You can use tissue paper, too.

 

Stabilizer, at first, doesn't make much sense. You're adding something to the knit fabric seams that you don't need - and that isn't mentioned anywhere in the directions ? Then you have to cut away as much as possible, so it won't show ? Why ? Well, knit fabric stretches. A lot. Without a stabilizer behind it, simply running it through the machine will stretch it. A lot. And if you tug or push it, it'll really warp out of shape, catch in the feed dogs, skip stitches. In short, a real bad sewing experience, usually involving words that have to be fumigated before letting ‘em in the house. Stabilizer won't keep it from stretching, but it gives it less of an opportunity. And it's a good way to use up scrap interfacing and dryer sheets. If you don't use either, visit a Laundromat - tons of those things floating around - or hit a fabric shop. You can buy stabilizer made for just this reason, but why pay more than 79c a yard that brand-new interfacing costs ?

 

Also, I sang, took breaks, and frequently matched up pieces in progress, to make sure nothing'd really warped out of shape. And it came out beautifully, better than I thought I could do. Yeah, it's just an approximation of a sweatsuit jacket. A full-size one for a plus-size person like me is less than $15. But I wanted this fabric to make something that I really wanted for my dolls and loved in my own closet. Sort of my ‘thank you' to Carol, for believing in me back then.

 

About the only thing I'd change is the waist elastic. Pattern called for five and a half inches, but I'd have used less. Maybe five, or four and a half inches. On the plus side, this baggy jacket could probably fit Leia, or even Jem, so I'm overall happy. Still have to put snap fasteners in - hence the pins - but otherwise it's done.

 

Broke down and used that &^%$ing elastic thread in the sleeve cuffs, just like the directions told me to. What a useless product ! Had to use a huge needle so the eye was big enough for the elastic to go through, then it didn't tighten much more than regular ole elastic would have. And it took twice as long, because I had to hand-sew it. Next time, I'll either use regular elastic strips or use the sleeve hem as a casing, feed this &^%$ing elastic through there.

 

All told, this project took about two and a half hours. Three once I put in snaps. It may not look like much, but the sewing is great, all the seams match perfectly, even the clipped curves got Fray-Checked, and the hood can accommodate the usual ton ‘o Barbie hair. The ‘denim' skirt, a dime find in last week's yard sale spree, is actually kind of big on Obi-Blonde Cinderella here. I hope to make the matching pants tomorrow, from the same green fabric. That'll use about 75% of it. Pattern calls for a ribbon stripe down the outside legs and more &^%$ing elastic thread at the cuffs, but I'll probably skip them. Want the pants to be more versatile, since the fabric is so nice.  

 

For possibly the first time, I'm completely happy and satisfied and flat-out overjoyed with something I made. I think I did better than Mattel ! Sure, you'd normally never catch a glamour girl like Barbie in a baggy sweat-jacket - or at least, not without it being all rhinestone'd and glammed up - but my dolls needed one ! And I made something I really love.

 

Wow. I'm starting to wonder who I helped, because I'm having such an amazing week !

Rotary cutters and fun folks and stuff from Canada
Now Playing: "Star Wars Lego : The Complete Saga" for the Wii.
 Current Mood : In love and eager to sew !

 

I got View 3 (the blue sweatsuit) all cut out and Fray-Checked, from some soft, stretchy (I read the directions this time !) knit that Carol, of Perestroika.ca fame, gave me, so many years ago. I hope I do well with it, it's great fabric. Carol, if you ever visit, I think of you fondly. We were part of the same online doll group before it went replonza. And Perestroika patterns are fantastic - I really need to reinstall my two. And ask for Vol. 3 for Christmas !

 

Didn't sew it because Beloved Hubby swept by and took me out for lunch ! Had the best roasted chicken breast of my life, with tasty fries and artistically arranged peach slices. Yum. But the best part was simply riding home with him on some backroads, discussing stuff we'd read or heard on NPR recently, looking at leaves and just having some together alone time.

 

It's kind of funny that I just remembered the third volume of Carol's Barbie-size pattern sets. With me finding and not wanting the Robert doll, I thought I was out of things to want ! Turns out it's not so. Last weekend, I went to Hancock Fabrics and found a set of Olfa rotary blades - my original's OK, even after two years, but it'll need replacing soon - but what got my attention was the free charm attached. Designed to go in the hanging hole, there were scissor charms, needle and thimble charms, and my favorite, sewing machine charms. Only problem is, it was a 7-blade pack, and kind of expensive.

 

All good things to those who wait ! Got the new Hancock's flyer, and Sunday, all notions are 50% off ! So I'll get 7 new blades and my little silver sewing machine for less than $20. And lemme tell ya, my Olfa rotary is great. I started out with a Mal-Wart Fiskars, and it did OK, and was certainly cheap enough. But the blades went dull fast, and one day, I pressed too hard with a dull blade and broke it. No repairs. So I used a coupon at Hobby Lobby and got the Olfa for about two bucks more than I paid for the Fiskars.

 

You can see the rotary I use, and the blade charm-pack here :

http://www.marathonthreadscanada.com/olfa.html

 

I have never had a moment's problem with the Olfa. Cuts smooth and accurately, it's a tool I can depend on, long as I'm paying attention ! Get a Fiskars or Clover if you're watching your pennies, they're good experience. There's a definite learning curve when it comes to using a 45mm rotary to cut fabric destined for 29cm doll clothes. But when you're ready to step up to a serious, quality rotary cutter, go straight for the yellow Olfa packaging. My blade is still good, even after two years, and it's the one that came with the rotary. The Fiskars needed replacing after six months, tops.

 

I've also not been impressed with the Fiskars-branded cutting mat, either. It's chewed and chunked, probably mostly due to my own inexperience. But DMIL found an Olfa-brand mat for me, and wow ! I'm still using the Fiskars, it's bad but not horrible, but the Olfa didn't pit, or lose chunks of itself. Those little pits make it very difficult to get a straight, even cutting line.  Sooner or later, I'll get tired of angling my fabric around the pits, and I'll toss the thing, use the Olfa. Dearest Son has already begun to eye the Fiskars mat, it's great for his toy cars ! Pits and all.

 

Once home, I got the last of the cheap-serging done, and while the new-to-me fabric washed, I oiled and cleaned the sewing machine. Even took the bobbin race apart, cleaned some carbon, and got that oiled. Adjusted the bobbin tension, too, it's been slipping a bit, but it's really only noticeable when I zig-zag/cheap-serge. So she's running nice and smoothly now. Hung the green, red, and Christmas-themed fabric on the line, and I'm sure I made some folks pickin' up their kids from day care cringe, seeing the holiday reminder wafting in the wind.

 

After I get View 3 sewn, I'll probably go for View 2 - the dressy blouse and pants. One day, I wanna make a Barbie tuxedo. Not for Ken, but for the girls. One day... I probably won't do the red or purple dress from this pattern, they're blocky and - get this ! - too easy. And I don't like to sew ruffly wedding gowns. For a pattern I didn't even want, I'm getting a lot out of it !

 

We're still having fun with Star Wars Lego for the Wii - Beloved wanted to play tonight, so we got McRibs for dinner. What a nice day I've had ! Hope yours was sweet, too !

All that's wonderful in a day...
Now Playing: "Star Wars Lego : The Complete Saga" for the Wii.

Current Mood : Feeeelin' wonderful (with a slight headache) 

Spent on dolls/sewing supplies today : $8.83

 

No cutting or sewing today - all the errands that didn't get done yesterday had to get done today. Plus, I had to pick up my prescripts and the Star Wars LEGO Complete Saga for the Wii that Beloved Hubby preordered for me last month or so. And recycle all the stuff I crammed in my car last night.

 

Amazingly, there was $72. worth of copper and aluminum in there ! Soda cans made up most of the aluminum, but the copper came from the cargo trailer Beloved got off Craigslist. Wow. We were sketching things a bit thin, so that helped a lot. And I no longer have to take our cans to those awful machines for pocket change. I always felt those things ripped us off ! The guys at the recycling depot were so nice, too. Our cans might still be pocket change, but even $3. a month is $36. at year's end. And with my impulsive, wild doll spending, we need it all !

 

With that chunk of happy in my face and wallet, I headed off to TRU. I'd heard that someone in Ca. had found the elusive Robert doll from Enchanted - the one I'd been looking for since September - in their local store, for just $11. And I was only a mile or two away, so...

 

Get this. They actually had it. It was $15.99, and I'd get a free Disney coupon calendar, ooooh, but...I didn't like him. Seriously. This is why I always insist on seeing dolls in the harsh light of retail - it cuts down on the regrets. And the spending. The prototype looked friendly and unique. The real one was unique, all right. He looked like Christian Slater or Dennis Leary doing their take on The Joker (Batman). Facial wrinkles were much deeper than showed in the proto photos, and the eyes were small and squinted. I lined up six of those bustards - our TRU  had about 40 of ‘em - and they were all that way. Hair was heavily starched, so I have no doubts that once free of the spray, it'd be a real mess.

 

Also - and I really should know better by now - the thick wool blend overcoat shown in the proto photos was paper-thin transparent cheap nylon in the box. Suit was also nothing special. Sure, it's better than what I can sew right now, but not sixteen bux worth of better ! I carried him around for a while, with ‘but, you finally have him !' and ‘too bad he ranks !' warring in my mind.

 

I finally settled it thusly : if he was $5. in a swimsuit, would I want him to pair up with one of the dolls I already own ? Answer : No. I don't think any of ‘the girls' would want him, he's actually kind of creepy. He went back on a shelf with his identical brothers, and I headed out the door, idly wondering what the calendar looked like. You were right, Erika - he's not worth it. And I still owe you a letter ! Bad me ! Bad !

 

Beloved came home for lunch, and we split the cash. Wheee ! Feels good to be bringing some in ! Put gas in the car and got my scripts, picked up the game, and hit the thrift store across the shopping center. Score ! Lots of Barbie stuff this week - about 30 dolls and 20 $2. baggies of clothes. Selected two, one of mostly male doll clothes and another for the sparkly white pumps, the odd clothes included will probably get donated, I just wanted the shoes. Scored a Bratz Boyz outfit for the shoes, too. We'll see if the cool shirt and ‘leather' jacket will fit anyone around here.

 

Which brings us to the odd thing in the photo. It's a Barbie version of ‘Flip and Fold Fashions' a Tomy toy, the same folks who brought us Fashion Plates in the early 80s. I think I wore mine out (and yes, of course, I have a set now. Not the same set, but definitely a Fashion Plates set. I'm so spoiled !) ! However, this nearly identical Barbie one is from Tara Toys. It's like the Barbie one was branded with an approved Babs face, then mirrored. The legs and feet are darn near identical, just reversed in position, and the arms and hands are repositioned. But the two toys are far more alike than different. If you look up ‘Flip and Fold Fashions' then ‘Barbie Fabric Fashion Plates' on eBay, the comparison's easy. I'd post side-by-sides m'self, but I don't wanna rip off someone else's images. I can't find any evidence that they two companies - Tara and Tomy - are connected, either. It may be just one of those odd things.

 

It's pretty fun to play with. I have most of the fabric that came with it originally, but none of the shoes and accessories. I wonder if I found a regular ‘Flip and Fold', if they'd fit. Hmm. I could always color in shoes with a Sharpie if I wanted to. Anyway, if you find a look you like, it locks into place, and an easel back will enable ya to display it like a photo.

 

But here's why I bought it. The doll-shape within is about eight inches tall. A bit shy of Barbie stature, but it still has potential. I can use this thing - whatever its real name is - to gauge if fabric will look as good as I hope once sewn. It defaults to a pants shape, but simply repositioning the fabric can make it a slim or fluffy skirt. I can also experiment with trims and lace on it. For 99c, it was a no-brainer !

 

Week or three ago, I found some lovely sun and stars flannel. It came in a greenish blue and a bright pink. Got a half yard of the blue. Today, there was a quarter-yard remnant of the pink for...a quarter ! I may do the lapels of some pajamas in one color, the rest of the PJs in the other. Cute !

 

Well, Star Wars Lego has given me a massive headache, and it's time for Dearest Son to put down his wii-saber and do homework. What a great day this was ! Hope yours was wonderful, too !

Fall afternoon...with wind.
Now Playing: traffic and lawn mower sounds

 

Current Mood : Wondering 

Is anyone else having a hard time believing it's November already ? Seems like just yesterday I was waiting for the '07 Toy Fair images, back in February.

 

Well, one thing hasn't changed. I neglected the housework - again ! - and sewed ! Since I had half of Simplicity 6097, View 4 printed when I ran View 7, I went ahead and sewed it. I now have all but one part of View 3 printed (sweatsuit, with hood), so that's probably next. This material, also from the weekend-before's yard sales, is thicker than the usual cottons, and you know the rule - > heavier/busier the fabric, simpler the design has to be. And this one is *really* simple. No darts, no tucks, just front, back, sleeves. As you can see, I still need help stitching necklines, although the invisible presser foot on the sewing machine helps. Bonus - ‘Erin' modeling is a Happy Family Midge. She could probably wear this dress with the pregnant belly, too !

 

Other than that, not much going on today. Lightning Molly, my car, was having some minor issues, and Beloved Hubby asked that I stay home until he got home to check them out. He's home, she's fine, but it means I didn't get to do the grocery shopping - and check for any new doll developments. Well, that's what tomorrow's for !

 

When there's time. I gotta do the groceries, recycling, and other minor errands tomorrow. So if there's some unused time tonight, I may just cut out View 3. It's been a while since I made female doll pants !

May I introduce the recently restored Charlene ?
Now Playing: "Tremors 3" - DVD rental. Cute, if a bit gory.

 

Current Mood : Relaxed and pleased.

 

You *always* get the new stuff here first ! So here's ‘Charlene', fresh from a hair transplant and dressed in the latest of my efforts, the plaid dress I sewed Friday. She's seated in the plush blue ‘moon chair' that came with the Kennedy ‘Un-Fur-Gettable' doll Beloved Hubby bought me Friday, too. I'm still thinking of going back for the purple chair that goes to Chelsea... Same photo, a bit larger, will be on the Home page later tonight. But I like posting it here first.

 

Charlene was missing three hair plugs in front, and it showed badly. Perhaps it was the blank, never-rooted spot just behind the empty ones, but she really needed the hair there. It's funny, because the late 80s dolls I'm used to have so much hair, even empty front plugs wouldn't have mattered much. Just like real hair transplants, I cut a few from the very back and bottom of her head and rerooted ‘em in front. Those locks are shorter than the rest - I will say that Mattel did great hair styling back in the day, it was all even and wavy, even after a flea-market found play doll's possibly 29^th birthday -  but it doesn't show much. Hard to believe, that SuperStar dolls debuted in 1978, nearly 30 years ago.

 

I both loved and hated the SuperStar dolls. Perpetually blonde with a rather vapid smile, she was both glamour and trash to me. I was supposedly growing out of Barbie when she came out, so I never got the one I wanted for Christmas, etc., and I'm sure that added to my psychological conflict. The fact that Mattel rarely used any other mold for nearly 20 years made it seem boring and too-often-seen. Now there's about 30 molds, it's hard to tell ‘Teresa, 1996' from ‘Racquel, 2007' sometimes, and I've come to appreciate the beauty of the SuperStar. I just needed time and distance.

 

Charlene seems unusual to me, now. Her bottom eyelashes are the same blue as her eyes, not black. And she actually has a flirty but friendly look on her face. I may someday replace her earrings, but for the most part, I remove those. They get hair tangled around ‘em, and it's often a snarled mess by the time I find the doll in a ‘donate' box or jumbled in a flea market trunk. I'd thought to reroot the blank spot with the blue fake hair I bought for the Casey head, or any of the black/red/brown colors I have left from other reroot projects, but it seemed too...dramatic, maybe. Get this, I actually wanted her to be blonde. Any of the ‘real hair color' streaks made her look like a refugee from a skunk costume factory, and the blue didn't seem right either. She simply looked best blonde.

 

Under her first picture dress - she was wearing a snug green Christmas gown - she had a pair of vinyl shorts from the first RollerBlade Barbie. The one with the 'flashing' skates that ignited someone's gasoline-soaked underwear back in '91 or '92, thus making themselves a laughingstock. They were badly deteriorated, and flaking. Took me about 20 minutes to get that stuff off her, and I trashed the shorts without a second thought of saving anything off 'em. Ugh.

 

Rest of the day was spent napping and looking idly through doll books. I'm considering doing another online photo album with all my dolls modeling those classic ‘Best Buy' fashions. Sort of a personal supplement to the Sarah Sink Eames Barbie Fashions books.  

 

Wanna quick irony ? I still haven't used the full 20meg that was my ‘free' space with Tripod ! I'm at something like 19.3. It's funny, I was so worried for so long about using all my web space. And I haven't yet !