Current Mood : Happy and busy - the way I like life.

Current Image Notes : This is from National Doll World magazine, October 1977. I always liked this cartoon - not just due to it's ‘we all started with just one' humor. I love that the solo doll in question looks a lot like Princess Leia ! She's the one who started ‘it all' for me. :)

Today began with an unpleasant surprise - our power was out again ! Arrrgh ! But at least I learned something last week, and immediately got busy with something that'd take my attention away from being cheesed. I started organizing doll clothes that've been sitting around here for months, and going through all the Barbie clothes. That takes serious time ! I try to do that once a year too, see what needs repair or laundering, or what I know my dolls will never use.

There's also six dolls going to the Center this week, and I didn't want to send them nude with nothin'. So I got busy, dressed them all in mostly Mattel clothes with more to send along, and stored the stuff that's been cluttering up the Lab. That felt good. I have a bad tendency to glom onto whatever crosses my path, and it takes a real effort for me to not justify keeping the fuchsia Capri pants with the yellow flowers - it's mine ! Even when I know I don't really like it, so my dolls won't ever wear it. I really have to push myself to go through it all and give some back, which is kinda shameful, ‘cause I'm 41 ! A rather selfish 41, I might add. Now all the dolls need are shoes and some props, and they can be happy in new homes tomorrow !

Second thing I learned was that I'd always regret not doing something. There was wet laundry in the washer and the shower I hadn't taken yet, piles of weekend dishes and the world's messiest living room to clean up - but without power, it was questionable when all this stuff would get done. So, I needed to start getting stuff done. Fewer regrets = less frustration, anger, and upset. Since it was a bright pretty day (dunno what's with the power - it's not like more ice or wind snapped a wire, it's 50 degrees outside), there was enough light to do the fun stuff. Once that was out of the way, I could work on less-fun things. Long as I was busy, I wouldn't be so wired and upset.

About two hours after it winked off, the power was back. Alleluia ! I'd just finished putting the last of the Barbie clothes away. I was pleased and proud of me for getting it done and not getting upset, and the day went pretty well. Since I didn't let it get to me, nobody else did either, so it was a good day all around. I forget how much my behavior can influence others'. Right after breakfast, I got the new sewing photo up on the Home page, and moved Jem and Rio to the Barbie one. I really gotta get going on Han's shirt already !

But I didn't sew today. I did dishes and laundry and slept. No, I didn't get nearly everything done, and if the power cuts out again, I'd have some laundry and living room regrets. But it's nowhere near what it would have been. I'm sure I'll have to be reminded of these little lessons - especially about the ‘do it now !' one - fairly frequently, but I'm pleased with me right now.

Stay tuned - coming up, it's Disney Princess Christmas images, freshly scanned from a package of holiday gift tags I found at Dollar General. Two identical sheets for a buck. I'm erasing the unnecessary bits and putting up just the Princess part for ya. There's six of these, starting with Belle tomorrow, that you can save, cut/paste, and print, use on your own site or whatevah. Never say I don't do nothin' for ya !

After that, I'm gonna use something else I got from the ice storm. While bored and restless, I found two nearly-vintage ‘Hints From Heloise' desk calendars in our bookshelves. I'd gotten them in a box of books from a yard sale some time ago,  and promptly forgot about ‘em. I'll be scanning some of the images and adding my own wry twists, and those start just in time for the annual pre- and post-holiday malaise.

Posted by dorriebelle at 8:26 PM CST

Updated: Monday, 2 May 2011 11:10 AM CDT

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Current Mood : Pretty darn happy !  

Busy, busy day at Chez Insanity - even though we didn't have to do a darn thing ! It snowed, just a bit, just enough to see the flakes swirling in the 15mph winds that are so common here, it's called a light breeze. A dust mote wafted down as I was watching out the window, and for just a second, I thought a snowflake had come to visit. I really am a lousy housekeeper.

Last night, I increased the pattern 130%, got a printout, and Fray-Checked the soon-to-be dress you see on Abbie - whoops ! In all the writing yesterday, I never told you the Tyco Ariel's name, much less the Mattel Ariel's names. Can't have three Ariels running around...actually, I have six Ariels of different sizes, manufacturers, and ages ! Well, starting from left to right in the current picture, Abigail (Abbie)'s first, with Arienne in the middle, with Adelaide (Addy) at the end. Abbie and Addy aren't identical twins - there are distinct differences between them, mostly around their eyes. Addy's your wilder child, Abbie is more innocent-natured. Outdoorsy Arienne just tries to keep up with her big sisters, which isn't easy !

Anyway. Abbie got the more or less straight version of the pattern, increased 130%. I could probably do this pattern with a non-stretch fabric, as it's kind of big and shapeless without the scrap-ribbon belt. I liked the way the collar angled at the shoulders in the original photo, but even gathering it a bit didn't shape it in my version. I even paid closer attention to the collar directions than I did with Arienne's first trial. Still, it looks nice, and fits just about all my dolls, so I'm happy.

You already know about Arienne's dress, so moving on - Addy's is actually two separates. Using the same pattern, I took an inch off the sleeves and an inch and a half off the hem to make a high-hip length blouse, and hemmed the top instead of applying the collar. Since I had some trouble with keeping the sleeve seam allowance constant on the other two tries, I measured and drew it on with pencil, on the wrong side. Much easier to follow pencil marks than try to figure it out while sewing. Fit's better, too.

The skirt was a test for me - could I make a simple skirt with no pattern, that didn't use elastic ? Yup ! Simply measured Addy's waist (3.5 inches), added a half inch for seam allowance, and cut a strip of the pajama top's hem 4 inches long for the waistband. It was already stitched and hemmed, so less work for me ! If I had to do it again, though, I'd have made it 4 ¼ inches long, to have more of a foldover for the back closure. The skirt fabric was a sleeve, hemmed and gathered and sewn to the waistband.

I wasn't really watching my time on the other two efforts, but Addy's blouse took about an hour, start to finish, and her skirt was about 45 minutes, mostly because I forgot to Fray-Check it until it was about 1/3 done. I've used well over half of my second bottle of F-C - my first bottle took me about five years to use ! But now that I know how useful it is, I use it on just about everything I sew. It's a pain, but I'm so fast at F-C now, I have to go do something for a few minutes so it can dry. Used to be, it took me so long, one side would be dry before I finished F-C'ing the second ! I look at some of my earliest efforts and cringe - so much of my stuff has frayed and looks bad on the inside. And I hate it when my doll's fingers catch loose threads and frays while I'm dressing them. No more of that anymore !

I'll post a photo of this to Doll Divas, so DebbieFS can lament what I've done to her pattern ! But you always see the new stuff here first, it's the way I roll. For a 50c pajama top, I sure got a lot - and most of the fabric's still waiting for more sewing ! I detached the tiny black bow on the top's front, and added it to the bag ‘o bows in the lace, ribbon, and trim tote box. Also stored some stuff I had sitting around, and consolidated the stuff that needs to go to the Center - some dolls need dressing and shoes and props before they go. Just gotta get off my rump and do it !

Hmm. Wonder if Han would like a starry blue shirt... I still have to work on his pattern, and the sewing machine's all set up for knits...

Ps to Michelle and Manda - I see I'm not the only Ariel fan ‘round here ! Hope today's picture pleased ya ! I think Abby is 1998's ‘Valentine Ariel', as one of these girls was wearin' that swimsuit (no fin, sadly) when I found her at the thrift store, I just can't remember which one. Not sure who Addy was, but some quick Google research shows she looks most like ‘Seaside Holiday', from 2000. Since I got them both around 2001-02, that'd be about when they might hit a thrift store.

Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CST

Updated: Monday, 2 May 2011 11:10 AM CDT

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Current Mood : Slightly perturbed and eager to go sew some more ! 

Spent on dolls/sewing today : $1.48

Got to do a little shopping and a little sewing today ! Replaced the storm damaged or eaten up groceries, with a few little treats besides. And I got my prescriptions - Beloved Hubby said that was a big load off his mind. I got to talk to some folks in line at the pick-up window - still lots of people without power. Mal-Wart had storm supplies stocked and waiting, but no lamp oil. I poked around the dolls and fabric sections, but didn't find anything but the D-rings Beloved needed for his new AirSoft gun. They're about half as much there than they are at Hancock Fabrics.

The community thrift store had lots of dolls, but nothing I really liked. Found some bright orange felt for 29c, a magnetic paper-clip holder/pen cup combo for 49c, and a blue knit pajama top with moons and stars for 50c. I can always use felt, and the pen holder could replace an old cup (from the L & L scavenge, nearly two years ago now) and the magnet dish I use for pins (I glued fridge magnet bits to the bottom of a small, old saucer) on my sewing table.

The pajama top I thought had doll clothes possibilities. I wanted to try that stretchy dress pattern I downloaded from Doll Divas (http://members.boardhost.com/DollDivas/msg/archive/1196456007.html ) last week, because I was curious if my understanding of the sleeve seams was correct. This top was a stretchy knit....Ummm...well, much as I like the fabric, it must not have been stretchy enough. Printed as downloaded, it only fit my Tyco Ariel, who has a pre-teen Skipper type body. She's only about nine inches tall without her mermaid fin - with, she's closer to 11 inches in height. Found her in a thrift store in about 2001, lost in a Barbie dress.

Tyco got bought out by Mattel in 1997, nearly ten years after the first ‘strawberry blonde' Ariel went on shelves - and was quickly replaced with a more film-accurate tressed version. Those are semi-collectable, but not much. The face is much more ‘blah', bland and not as vivid as the movie character or the 2.0 doll. It seems between the unremarkable face and the washed-out lookin' hair, nobody really wants the original one, except mint-in-box to complete a collection. Not sure if Mattel had to renegotiate with Disney to make their taller Ariel dolls, or if the right came with the purchase of the company, but they have the current Disney Princess vinyl fashion doll lines pretty much sewn up.

It's also worthy of note that, in 1989, Tyco purchased the Ideal/View Master group. In 1992, they purchased Matchbox, maker of tiny cars and Robotech dolls. And then Mattel bought them five years later - and got all those revered toy lines, names, and technology.

Anyway. It could be the pattern didn't print at the right size. There's no seam allowance marks on the pattern, no ‘this line is one inch long' key on the source. So, time permitting, I'm gonna try it again, increased 30% this time. At least it'll be longer ! While it wouldn't close on a standard Barbie body, it fit elsewise - as a blouse ! Didn't even cover the molded-on panties. Yikes !

Ps to Monika - Hey, hon ! I still owe you a letter...but my sewing machine's singing its siren song ! I can barely eat and type right now, for hearing it and wanting to go try Doll Divas Dress 2.0 ! Beloved agrees with every word you wrote, about those harridans at Book Fair. I'm considering making a small beanie-baby size insect, and calling it my ‘slug bug'. It'll reside in my purse until I need to whack somebody ! (lol) Or I could hand out ‘clue by four' stickers to victims I'd rather apply the real thing to...

Posted by dorriebelle at 10:07 PM CST

Updated: Monday, 2 May 2011 11:10 AM CDT

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Current Mood : Lazy and lounging

Spent on dolls today - $2.14

As you can see, Elphie's made a cuddly new friend ! Shinobu, her best friend (she made those cool pink PJs !) also volunteers at an animal shelter. While it's more common for bunnies to be in need of new homes in the spring, ‘Alfred' was a special case. He was found by another volunteer tracking a stray dog, shivering in an outdoor pen, with no real warm shelter and little food. And a stray dog barking and digging at him. The family inside the home didn't notice the commotion, and didn't protest when the rescue unit responded with bolt cutters to free him. He was soon a favorite at the shelter, having a people sociable nature - rare with rabbits - and evidencing no interest in phone or power cords, rarer still.

But he needed a home, not a shelter. Shinobu's cats loved Alfred - as a snack !- so that was right out. She'd tucked him in her cozy sewing room when Elphie came by for their annual Christmas Shopping Insanity Tour. Of course, Shinobu eagerly introduced their weekend visitor...and it was love at first sight between mini lop and lovely Elphie. The Insanity Tour was brief this year - because it only went as far as a shelter-friendly pet shop. Then it was straight back home for Elphie and Alfred. Wonder how Fiyero's gonna take this new guy in her life !

"Alfred" is, of course, a $1.99 plastic miniature. He's sold in Atwood's farm supply stores, and the same manufacturer - Schleich - stocks similar animals at Target. There were three different rabbit figures, but I liked the ears and coloring on this the best. I figured it was time Elphie had a pet, and a bunny would suit her well. Of course, rabbits are destructive little bundles, but they can be house-trained and very, very sweet. Beloved Hubby was hoping I'd get El a pet squirrel, but the only domestic squirrel I ever knew was Blaine's in high school, and he was kind of mean. The squirrel, I mean - Blaine was rather nice to me.

Dearest Son got an early weekend with his grandparents, so Beloved and I got the never-worked propane heater repacked and returned. Since we didn't want another one, we got store credit, so Beloved got the AirSoft gun he wanted. It looks a lot like my old M-16 ! We also found a space-themed VW Beetle toy for Dearest's stocking, and a couple of oil lanterns - snow's expected this weekend. And a cute little bunny for Elphie !

Tomorrow, I get to go on a thrift store run - I haven't been out since we found the new Han doll. We need a few groceries to replace what little we lost due to the power outage. We tried to eat up most of it, so we only lost about $10. or so. And I have to pick up my prescriptions, although I don't need ‘em for another week. Beloved wants to get ‘em while we got the cash, and I don't blame him. Things can get crappy fast, as we've learned recently.

Suffering is always a waste if it doesn't teach ya something. And I don't like waste or suffering, so I try to make the unavoidable work for us. Now, if I could just get back on the stick and finish the dishes and sew again, instead of just sittin' around !

Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CST

Updated: Monday, 2 May 2011 11:09 AM CDT

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Current Mood : Overjoyed ! 

Spent on dolls yesterday : $19.41

Current Image note : This is the last of the 'Cabana Cool Barbie' fabric series !

Aaaahhh, sweet, sweet electricity and water ! These came back to us today, about 10pm, so while I'm sorry this is late, I spent hours rejoicing in the tiny ‘clink' of the heater, the late night toilet gurgle, and the fact that I could actually read something and sleep in a nightshirt in my own darn bed ! Plus I found my cell phone, lost since Monday. Things returned are the greatest gifts of all... thanks for all your white-light thoughts and prayers !

It's sad, though, to see all the beautiful trees split to the earth, boughs littering the streets. I've driven under so many of those branches a few thousand times, they were almost like nodding acquaintances. So seeing this ‘tree Armageddon' as we drove into town for a bit nearly had me in tears. And we passed many still-dark homes, which was just as sobering. I'm happy that we have our stuff back, but I hope and send my own wishes to those who haven't been so lucky.

That said, I still danced around the house sans pants tonight, because I could. When our power went out early Monday morning, we figured it'd be back soon, so we sealed the freezer part of the fridge shut, and put the regular fridge stuff outside. Then we opened all the window blinds and lounged around the living room. Three squirrels - one red, two grey - searched for the pecans they buried earlier amid the shattered limbs, and birds picked around the bits they left behind. They were fun to watch, but I wondered how they didn't freeze their feet and tails off, as it was sleeting off and on.

After a few hours and the hopeful flickers of power died off, we took stock of the situation. Gas worked, but the furnace needs electricity. So does the regular telephone, the propane space heater, and the stove ignition. We had water for a while - but the pump is also electric. We slept a lot. At night, we lit candles, and bunked together on the pit-group sofa. Tuesday, we were using the gas stove to heat the house - chancy and seldom, since the gas didn't have a vent - but with Dearest Son sleeping so much, we threw in the towel. The new propane heater we bought that afternoon didn't ignite, and we were contemplating a hotel. But Great Grandmother (my Beloved Hubby's gramma) and Uncle's power came on, so they invited us to roost on the pullout sofa. So we packed up the snack food, the Wii, some clothes and towels, and headed over.

Uncle, my cool Brother-In-Law, and Beloved were still up at 3am, showing each other choice bits on YouTube and tellin' stories, with occasional forays into Wii Sports and Lego Star Wars. Beloved bought me the latest issue of Haute Doll and an inexpensive used hardback copy of The Story of Barbie, by Titturah Westenhouser. I tried to read ‘em, but ended up sound asleep with the book still in my hands ! Dearest enjoyed the Lego Stormtrooper set Beloved bought, too - I rolled over two of ‘em that night ! Darn sharp little laser pistols !

It was so sweet of everyone to host us, but there's nothing like your own place, so we couldn't wait to get back. You should have heard us when we saw the stoplight flashing on the corner - you'd have thought we won a lottery ! Found out that Dearest doesn't go back to school ‘til Monday, so we spent the short night hours watching the formerly useless DVDs and enjoying fresh popcorn...and heat !

We'll have to return the never-worked propane heater tomorrow - hopefully in a week or three, we can find the one we wanted to buy, instead of the only one the store had. I'm also gonna make darn sure to have at least three gallon jugs of water and a flat of bottled drinking water ready to go at all times. Preferably more. If we don't learn something from all this, then it's wasted, so maybe we needed a bit of a wake-up call. I just hope that everyone has their power back tomorrow.

I like to hope for things, even when I know it won't happen like I'd wish it to.

Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CST

Updated: Monday, 2 May 2011 11:09 AM CDT

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...but at least I finally got Elphie's pajamas made ! My fingers are just itching to sew, but it'll be at least another day or week...maybe two.

Ummm...still have any of those white-light thoughts and prayers you could spare for us ?  

Posted by dorriebelle at 6:33 PM CST

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Sorry everyone - the ice storm knocked out our power and water. So I won't be updating any time soon. Wish us luck ! One in three families in our state is without power, so I doubt we're high on any lists.

We'll be fine, but white-light thoughts and prayers for other families are always appreciated !  

Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CST

Updated: Tuesday, 11 December 2007 6:31 PM CST

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Current Mood : Celebrating ! Wheeeee !

Oh, the weather outside was frightful, and it still is. Icicles on the overgrown rosebush under the office window grew from an inch to three inches long as the day progressed. And the worst is predicted still to come. Perfect day for staying warm and snug inside, with yesterday's cookies and a challenge.

A few weeks ago, I found several adorable flannel prints at Mal-Wart, and I could literally *see* a pair of pajamas for Elphie in the variegated pink with white stars and moons. Only two problems with my little vision - Elphie hates pink, and the pjs I saw in my mind had your typical notched-lapel collar. I have yet to have a true success with notched collars or lapels, even with Simplicity-type patterns and directions. I just didn't ‘get' how to sew them. Some block in my mind simply doesn't decode it the way I needed so I could understand it correctly, or something. But I bought a half-yard of three flannel prints anyway, including the pink with stars, knowing that flannel's not terribly stable, and doesn't put up with a lot of handling. My vision of Elphie's pjs was just too clear and sharp.

Before I had the flannel washed, I had a photo essay brewing in my mind, and it included an explanation of how Elphie got caught wearing pink. I hope to get that started on the main page tomorrow. Kind of a ‘Winter is...' kind of thing. The Kohl's sweaters, some Happy Meal toys, and an action figure feature prominently, as well as whatever else I can come up with as the season continues. I figure that once Winter '07 is over, I can store it in a photo album and link it to the main site.

Well, I have the Kohl's sweaters, and some of the toys I want...what about Elphie's pajamas ? The fabric's been sitting around since October or so, waiting for me to take a breath and take the chance. With a miserable day outside, it was a great day for hanging out with a warm sewing machine located right over a heating vent and do it !

I've tried the ‘simple, basic' notched collar a few dozen times. Mostly on Fiyero wear, and it never came out right. Didn't matter if I used a kitchen-table type pattern or a commercial one, I just never ‘got' it. Or got it right. So today, I went for broke. Pulled up Doll Shop Deluxe and printed out an ‘unfitted shell' blouse, with the dreaded notched collar and full button front. Got it all Fray-Checked and ready to go.

Now, bear in mind that DSD does *not* have directions for anything. And if Simplicity says ‘sew this, then this, then attach this to that', it's a virtual guarantee that if you try that same order and procedure with DSD, you'll end up with a waste of time and material. Ask me how I know. (sigh) But the only way through it is to do it, and futzing around with it until it made sense to me was probably gonna be the only way I could ever master it.

So....I ended up redoing the shoulder seams three times, the facings twice, the waistband three times, and the collar four times. Until it made sense. And, poof, suddenly it did ! Ta-daaaah ! Elphie's new winter pajamas !

I had to redo the waistband because I didn't refigure the casing correctly for the elastic I wanted to use, otherwise the pants were fine. And what I never really understood about that collar was that the collar is sandwiched between the facings and the shirt, the layers have to be ‘just-so' and in the right order and position, and it requires some skill to get right. In fact, I didn't really get it right - the collar's not even on both sides, and it should be wider than it is, but I'm darn happy with it. I understand. Finally.

And, as promised, you always get the first look at it. I'm still darn near dizzy. I can do this again, anytime. Tomorrow morning, I'll sew the hidden snaps - I've already done the buttons since the photo was taken - and maybe make some fuzzy slippers. In white, I think this is about all the pink Elphie's gonna put up with. Or I'll let her go barefoot, since I normally am around the house !

Also in the photo is the silver candle-stand I bought at a thrift store 28 November. I'll probably use a freebie CD-R as a table base, maybe cover it with fabric or a linoleum square cut to shape. It's just about right for Elphie and Fiyero for breakfast !

The black/silver/shiny oval thing is, of course, a decorator Kleenex box. A white piece of paper - salvaged from today's pattern print-out - covers the logo and dispenser. After seeing one used as a Barbie bar in a loft party diorama, I wanted one, too ! Found this cool design with some other holiday prints, but I thought this one had the most post-holiday potential. There's a ‘Kleenex" logo under the gold stripe on both sides, but that's easily covered with paint, ribbon, fabric, or a well-posed doll. It could easily be used with the gold stripe at the top or bottom, with something as simple as construction paper covering the dispenser or bottom label. This one also came from Mal-Wart, bought a week or three ago. I don't think I ever recorded the purchase as ‘doll spending' but it was a buck or two. I'll probably frequent the paper goods aisles more thoroughly now...

You can even design your own oval Kleenex boxes, at http://www.mykleenextissue.com/ for $5. each plus about $6. to ship 1 to 6 of ‘em. Hurry if your dolls need a buffet before Christmas ! I liked looking through the background images - they'd all make great doll furniture. Heck, Elphie could probably use one as a mod sofa, with a cushion running along the curved back. And you get tissues !

For it being a miserable day outside, I had a great day inside. What I saw a month or so ago I made happen ! and I finally understand collars. Wow. Now, if I can just get a move-on with Han's shirt and those shoe pincushions, I'll be almost a Galactic Empress of crafting !

Posted by dorriebelle at 9:25 PM CST

Updated: Monday, 2 May 2011 11:09 AM CDT

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Current Mood : Happy and full of cookies !

I don't care what the calendar says, I say we're in winter now ! Drizzy, miserably cold day ‘round here, with more wintry-type weather expected tomorrow. It was a good day to stay in, clean the kitchen, do another two loads of laundry, and make cookies and popcorn !

That was basically my day. I even got a sofa snooze in, for two hours. I rarely dream, but I did during my nap - of a yard sale in somebody's house ! The seller had so many wonderful doll things for sale sooo cheap. Stuff I've never seen before, she had custom-made and it was all perfect and most of it was inexpensive...I spent most of the dream trying to get as much possible for the $18.79 that's in Checking right now. One doll case was overflowing with 1600-series outfits, but for some reason, it was $1200. The rest of the stuff - 70s era cases, wonderful furniture, beautiful like-new outfits...I was almost disappointed to come out of that dream ! Very few dolls in the dream, though.

In between cookie batches, I boiled a small pot of water and partially undressed the new Han doll. Still haven't decided on his name, but your ‘Henry' suggestion is in the running, Manda ! Beloved Hubby thought ‘Harris' sounded better than Harrison, and it does have a certain charm. I just can't make up my mind.

So I boiled his hands. Turns out they are soft vinyl after all, but they took a lot of effort to reshape. Here's a before & after shot :

Reshaping doll limbs is fairly easy. Boil a pot of water deep enough to submerge the part you want changed - hand, elbow, etc. Have a cold washcloth ready to go. Undress and carefully plunge the hand, arm, whatever in the boiling water for 15 to 30 seconds. Avoid resting any part of the doll or you on the hot pot ! Pull from the water, and immediately place in the cold cloth, then gently ease the hot just-boiled part into the shape you prefer. Be careful to not burn your doll or you ! Hold the cold cloth onto the reshaped piece until there's no more heat in it. If it didn't bend enough, re-submerge. If you don't like how it looks when the bending is done, re-submerge. Each additional dip in the hot water will return the piece to its original shape, but holding it in longer will soften it up more, so the next reshape will hopefully be more of what you want. It may take several tries, but patience and holding tight is the key. Oh, and if you've got the right one where you want it, make sure it's as far from the pot as possible when you go to shape the left !

Of course, practice with a junker doll first. You don't wanna wreck an expensive or special doll until you've got some experience under your belt, and heck, you've really got no reason to trust me anyway ! (smile)  You can see how it worked with ole H up there, and that took about five boils for each hand. It's very thick vinyl, which is why it seemed more like plastic to me. Those Power Team dudes I practiced on so long ago only took about five minutes per hand. H over there took about a half hour.

I've checked in on him a few times since the photos were taken. While his hands do tend to curl back up a bit, they're still in the same shape as the ‘after' one. I had to shape them flatter than I wanted, due to that stubborn re-curling. I'll pronounce it a done deal tomorrow morning. I always like to see how things ‘cure' during the night.

His outfit really is amazing. All the tiny details - the never-explained loops on the vest's back, and the tiny pockets, the sharp pleats, the shirt collar - are there. Sewing's a bit hit-or-miss, with one sleeve matching perfectly, the other off about a quarter-inch. But it fits him great ! I still can't believe how lucky I was to find him in such fantastic shape !

Now, if I can just get him a name...

Posted by dorriebelle at 11:19 PM CST

Updated: Monday, 2 May 2011 11:08 AM CDT

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Current Mood : Happily surprised and a little day-dreamy. 

Not a lot going on today, either - Dearest Son's got a stripped throat and some coughing, so we kept him home from school. Poor sweetie !

Did four loads of laundry, and got the most recent fabric washed and dried. The laundry basket I emptied for all the new stuff is nearly overflowing. I'm hoping to get a little sewing in this weekend, before I have to start the shoe pincushions. Those have to be done and ready-to-go by noon on 20 Dec. So if I do two a day, I should finish in plenty of time. Made one today, carefully noting directions and measurements. While I've made about a dozen of these at one time or another, I've never written down anything. Today's went OK, but not stellar. Need to tweak the pattern a bit.

I've been toying with the idea of doing some doll videos. Not sure why, but heck, when ya got as many dolls and props - and that magnificent dollhouse Beloved Hubby's making me for Christmas - as I do, ya kinda wanna do something neat with ‘em. Beloved's been wanting to do a few things with his hobbies on tape, too. Camcorders are pretty cheap new or used...the pawnshop we buy DVDs from had about 50, with prices ranging from $60. to $300. We saw new no-name ones at Kohl's (when we were getting Elphie and Fiyero's sweaters) for $129. So we've both been thinking about it.

We had one, bought waaay back in '00, but never used it. And it's long gone. So while the interest is there, at least temporarily, we don't have the cash or the guarantee of continuing interest to buy one. I mean, I already have enough hobby stuff to take me into 2050 without a camcorder ! And you know me, it may be a passing fancy I intend to try, but end up chickening out when rubber = road. I'd hate to shell $200. for another one, just to have it sit around and make me feel guilty.

That's when Beloved remembered that our big-ticket family gift for ourselves last year was that super-nice Fuji digital camera I use for all the photos here. I'd broken our '02 Olympus digital a few months prior. Olympus still mostly works, so Dearest uses it to take his own photos, mostly of toys and himself. Anyway, we studied long and hard before investing $200. into a replacement camera, and the Fuji had all we wanted. And it has a camcorder function !

Cool ! With the memory chip we have, it can record up to 20 minutes of top-grade 640x480, twice that in 320x240. We can playback in either camera (battery sapper !) or the computer, to save the batteries. So we tested it out, and it's really very nice ! I've used camcorders that were far less steady than this camera. It's kind of fun to have your own digital ‘confession booth' that you can watch and laugh over - then delete !

So, as it turns out, we already have a camcorder ! And if I don't ever do a doll movie, that's fine, ‘cause I certainly use the camera enough already ! (smile) According to legend (and imdb.com), Mystery Science Theater 3000 classic "Manos : The Hands of Fate" was filmed with a hand-held camera that only held 32 seconds of film at a time. With no sound. Whole thing was edited and spliced and dubbed. I now have more filmmaking capability in my chubby little grasp than many theatrical films out the year I was born. Or even just 20 years ago.

Now, what to do besides rant about Book Fair volunteers with all this power...

Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CST

Updated: Monday, 2 May 2011 11:08 AM CDT

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