Current Mood : People-frustrated 

Spent on Dolls : $1.82

Spent on Lab décor : 50c

Spent on eBay Speculating :  $1.60

It was silly of me, but I hit two of the few yard sales out this morning. A dollar at the first one got me a denim kids' skirt (for the MSB girls), a pair of knit boots with leather soles (for Baby Crissy), a patriotic star ornament set, a flag-themed plastic jar that I thought came from Dollar Tree, but was marked $4.95 from Paper Warehouse, two action figure display boxes (always great for doll accessories), and a brass star ornament.

The second sale didn't yield as much, unless you count the train-wreck behavior of some other attendees as entertainment. Perhaps I should. After driving about two miles out of my way, I found the sale, and should have kept on driving, it was the dreaded Estate Sale. (sigh) That was NOT part of the ad. The sale was held in the house, typical for Estate sales, so the parking area in front was jammed, also typical. It was also on a very busy thoroughfare. So I circled the block and parked down the street a bit, a comfortable stroll on a wide sidewalk away.

While I walked, a van stopped in the middle of the street, right in front of the house, and disgorged two passengers. This narrow street has no shoulder, so this maneuver blocked both lanes. This was also during pre-football frenzy in a college town, about six blocks from The Game, so I thought it was amazing that no one honked. Little did I know this minor discourtesy was just a cherry on an amazingly entitled sundae. And these weren't silly teenagers - they were my parents' ages !

After the two ladies exited, the van driver backed up, which did set off horn-honking, and he proceeded to wedge said van in between the driveway and a very large live oak tree, half on the drive, half on the roots. Now nobody was getting out before he did ! He was in so tightly, only his door could open. I was amazed he even got it in there, I didn't think Molly-car would fit, much less this big van !

Once inside, the driver met up with the two women, who had pretty much taken over the sale. They'd decided one seller was there to carry around their purchases while they looked around, and twice examined what I was carrying, as if I was merely holding it for them. They pushed another shopper out of the closet by barging into it - she really had nowhere else to go but out ! - and sniped about the quality of the stuff for sale, loudly.

I was sooo lucky to have gotten behind them at the cash-out. They'd bought $200. worth of stuff, but proceeded to dicker about all of it, so they only ended up paying $100. for it all. Sorry, but with three folks behind you, there had to be somewhere else to complain about prices ! By the time they departed, there were five people behind me !

Signs all over the sale announced that they had to charge tax. OK. May be a scam, don't know, but I can't complain about it if I choose to buy stuff there, I've been adequately warned. Not these women. They loudly criticized it, and when the cashier offered to take their tax number, which they said they had, it was a horrible insult to them both. While one wrote it down so scratchily, I couldn't read it, and I was two feet away, the other quite literally threw their payment at the cashier. She had to catch it before it hit her ! They then expected their previous personal shopping assistant to carry everything to the driveway-juggernaut van, but she'd wisely vanished. This made the driver guy complain and whine. I paid for my $1.50 of stuff - a pair of themed Fashion Plates-type toys, one from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and the other a Crayola Creature Maker - and began the trek to the car. I was able to hear them try to cram everything through the driver's door, and complain about how bad the parking was. And that someone else had pulled basically the same stunt on the other side of the tree, so yeah, they really were stuck. Couldn't even get into their vehicle, either. Yep, I enjoyed my little walk...

Since I didn't laugh in their faces, I rewarded myself a little for keeping my mouth shut, in hopes I'll do it again later. I was less than five blocks away from Hancock Fabrics, so I went in, even though I'll be there next Friday for the 5 Simplicity patterns for $5. sale. Hadn't planned on going today, but I was so close, so... They had no Betty Boop fabric that I wanted to use for Baby Boop, and nothing else I really wanted. Heck, just yesterday, I got my sewing labels, so... Even though Butterick, and McCall's patterns are also on sale next Friday, the McCall's were 99c today, so I snagged #4338, clothes for small (11 to 13-inch) and medium (14 to 16-inch) dolls. There's a lot there - jumper, long sleeve and short sleeve shirts in two different styles, jacket, romper, dress, pants, panties, hat, headband, and booties - to sew, so we'll see how it goes.

Salvation Army's in the same strip, and even though they're more or less completely redone the whole store, it still didn't have jack. And now it looked bad from all the renovations that weren't yet complete. Beloved Hubby called - the Craigslist folks had shown up, bought the stuff and left. If I could snag lunch on the way home, we'd be off to buy the computer right afterwards !

And that's been the rest of our night. Unpacking the new computer and getting the laptop ready for Dearest. He's gonna be so excited ! And we'll each have our very own ‘puter. Awesome ! The newest one - Dearest offered it to me, but I have this one the way I like it, and he deserves the new one, in my opinion - is stunning, and it came with a 22-inch monitor ! It's huge ! And it was actually cheaper that the other model we were looking at. Came with everything but a printer (we didn't need another one anyway) and a cable to feed from the modem, for less than $600. Wow. The one we were looking at was from a less-well-known manufacturer, with a 19-inch monitor, but this one went on sale this week, and is the same brand as mine, which has been stable as a table since we deboxed it.

So I'm excited and happy, and so is Beloved, but he feels some mild guilt. Heck, I don't know why he does, but I hope he's over it soon. I just want everyone to enjoy our latest ! Busy, happy day - and tomorrow's gonna be great !

Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CST

Updated: Monday, 2 May 2011 11:47 PM CDT

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

Current Mood : Whimsical

Spent on Sewing/Crafts today : $6.57

Spent on Disney Princess décor : $4.30

Lazy but fun day. I still have Barbie on my mind, but there's lots of other stuff going on, so...

Beloved Hubby and I talked, and we've decided about Christmas this year for Dearest Son. He's getting his own computer ! Wow. We're gonna upgrade to a new desktop and allocate the laptop to Dearest, mostly because he loves it so. And we found a fantastic deal on a new desktop ! If tomorrow's Craigslist sale goes through, we'll probably do it all afterwards - getting the new one, cleaning up the laptop, etc. We could put it away for Dec. 25, but why ? Dearest will see the new computer, and wonder where the laptop went ! When a gift is this big, and it's ready, why not celebrate early ? He'll still have smaller stuff to open on C-day, and most of it has already been purchased !

I had a small surprise in the mailbox - my ‘Specially Hand Made By Dorrie' labels had arrived ! Only 24 days after I mailed ‘em off. All 48 of ‘em were fanned out in the plastic baggie. Wow. I have like 66 of ‘em now. Guess it's time to start using them !

Hit a yard sale this morning, just for fun. Circled the block once I observed a Parking Enforcement vehicle tagging a car parked on the corner of a curb. I wasn't gonna take the chance of being too close to the stop sign, so I tried again further back. Snagged a bucket-style hat made of heart-shaped lace and interfacing for 50c, once I figured the stitching would be easy to remove. It was really pretty lace ! Also found a pair of shelf-lining rolls I hope to use soon, and a huge box of ancient sewing notions for five bucks.

The box was so much fun to go through. I now have a copy of Singer Sewing Skills, dated 1955, a Grit catalog of patterns from 1979, simply called Fashions to Sew, and Adventures in Conversation, a sales brochure for the Ethel Cotton Conversation Course, which bears a 1963 copyright. So I have some awesome reading ahead of me ! There were vintage patterns, all too small for me, but pure eye candy to look at, and a buncha handmade patterns on cardboard and paper. I'll have to study ‘em to figure out what they make.

There were gallon-size bags of buttons, most still on their cards, of zippers still in packaging, of bias tape, rick-rack, and ribbon. Some of the last were never opened, and still bore price stickers that read ‘3 for 25c' ! And a huge bag of ‘Aunt Martha' design transfers, for embroidery. I wonder if they still work...

From there, I visited Dollar Tree, and scarfed up a buncha Disney Princess stuff. Two different sets of window clings, the two best of the four designs of DP wrapping paper... I indulged me. But it took a few minutes to find rolls that were well-printed. Some were so off, the paper looked out of focus ! Got a pretty pair of white socks with gold snowflakes to make a new Elphie sweater, and a soup mug close enough to match the two I got at a yard sale this spring. I like for us to have matching bowls ! I also grabbed a set of wire star ornaments, just the size I want the school project ones to be, and a garlic and sea salt grinder for Beloved - he loves garlic. We'll see how well it grinds later !

Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CST

Updated: Monday, 2 May 2011 11:47 PM CDT

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

Mood : Weird.  

I've had Barbie on my brain since yesterday. I was so touched that Dearest Son gave me the bonus miniature doll from his Mighty Kids' meal that I held her for a while, remembering and thinking. My brain hurt, so I went to bed.

But the topic was waiting for me when I woke up today, as if it was crouched on the alarm clock. Sometimes I'm upset at Mattel for the cheap crap they try to get away with. Sometimes I'm utterly fascinated by a Happy Meal toy that bears little resemblance to the fashion icon doll. And ‘London' here is incredibly well-made for such a small, throwaway toy. The hair rooting is nice and thick without being overwhelming, it's cut well, and has a good curl to it. The eye decals are straight and even - something I'm finding increasingly rare with the full-size girls - and she actually has a nose. Her hands are kinda clumsy, but for the size and age requirements, not that bad, and she can stand on her own. Like the Musical DPrincesses, a shoe shape is indicated, but the heel and sole are one solid piece, like a wedge shoe. Guess they figured out the dolls don't need a stand if they can stand alone.

And yes, I said it. Throwaway. Back when Dearest and I haunted the McPlayPlace a few summers ago, I saw them get tossed out with the rest of the lunch trash when Mom didn't want more junk in the car. I routinely see boxloads of ‘em, both sealed and open, and when I evidence any interest in the contents, I'm routinely offered the whole box for a buck or two.

In many ways, Barbie at nearly any size is throwaway. Of all the dolls I bought used this year, how many thousands more did I see ? For them to sell at a yard sale or flea market for a dollar - sometimes less - they're certainly not valued very highly. Certain ones are worth real money, but it takes interest and research to know which ones, and no matter what you read, most people don't care. If they paid $20. for it and Kaitlynne played with it for ten minutes, well, that's the best that can be hoped for. Making back a dollar from a yard sale customer or writing a bunch off the annual taxes as a donation is almost a bonus.

So, if Barbie is so cheap, is there anywhere a child who wants can't afford one ? Even when there's ground-down poverty, there's usually a few toys, especially durable dolls. Barbie, even as a fast-food promo, is pretty durable unless someone wants and intends to destroy her. Used ones are usually available about anywhere, and there's brand-new dolls out every year for $5. A little imagination and creativity, and hopefully a supportive home, and a child won't ever need to buy anything else for the doll. Clothes, props, environments can all be made or found around the house. I've heard that toy sales often go up a bit during recessions - $10. won't make most adults happy for very long. But $10. in toys can make both parent and child happy for a while.

I think that's part of Mattel's problem, and why they can't demand or get the big-ticket prices they'd surely love to get for Collector/Adult dolls. Barbie, at her core, has always been a child's toy, inexpensively priced, made for the masses. Some of the made-for-adult dolls out now never started out as a toy, but as a Collector's Item, something to be passionate and obsessive over, with the price ticket to prove it. Very few dolls have Barbie's long ‘life' and history, but it usually works against her. Meanwhile, these same-size dolls over here can command $300. and more as soon as the factory releases ‘em, because they're already rare and sought after. Even the very rare Barbies almost never bring that much out of the gate. Even the super-special SilkStones are only $70. or so at most, and that's a whole new manufacturing process and material !

I guess what I'm trying to say is that Barbie is sort of like Madonna. She's been around a while, but she's re-invented herself so many times, we still don't know who she really is. Meanwhile, a new pop tart has entered the entertainment arena, and she doesn't have to establish herself to get the Heaven's Gift Superstar treatment - she doesn't even really need talent. She has PR and backers to promote anything she touches into platinum, and an eager audience ready to buy anything bearing the logo. Some folks love both, some can love only one. I just wonder if the devotion to either helps us understand who we are - or just fattens someone else's coffers.

This is what happens when I spend two hours doing dishes with my MP3 player charging. Too much time to think, and I get all weird...

Posted by dorriebelle at 10:11 PM CST

Updated: Monday, 2 May 2011 11:46 PM CDT

Share This Post

Post Comment | View Comments (4) | Permalink

Current Mood : Well-rested 

Slept in once Dearest was on the bus, for hours. And we'd all gone to bed early last night ! Guess I needed the sleep...

Not much of a day today - tried a craft project, didn't work. Kinda upset due to a phone call today. Some telemarketers offered to send us free information about their services, but I didn't really care, I just wanted them off my phone - but then the operator slipped and murmured about a bill. Ahh, what bill ? The $49.99 they were gonna bill to our phone line for the ‘free trial' of their computer troubleshooting business. Y'see, as an online business...

Um, no. We're not an ‘online business' - we just have a website. And we certainly don't need your services for that ! The op said I'd already agreed to it. No, I hadn't, I'd agreed to receive information by mail, and while I could authorize billing to the phone line, I certainly had not done so. Ended up talking to a supervisor for ten minutes. They listened to the call, said I hadn't agreed, and nothing would be billed. I requested to be removed permanently from their calling lists, because I certainly did not appreciate being pushed to accept a service I had no use for and hadn't agreed to, then being called a liar.

Sheesh. And I thought the yellow pages ‘this is not a bill' scam was bad. Did I ever tell ya'll about that one ? We had an ad with one phone book - there's about five here, and we're not even that big a community - and another kept sending us these ‘not a bill' notices that, amazingly enough, looked just like an invoice for a phone book listing. Just with a red ‘not a bill' at the top, in a font smaller than the rest of it. If we weren't paying attention and accidentally paid this non-bill, we just obligated ourselves to paying for a listing in the other phone book, and for an additional 11 months of billing. We've since dropped our listing from the phone book, we got all of two calls off it, and both were from folks wanting us to paint their entire houses, inside and out, for around $300., including materials. The blasted listing cost almost three times that !

Aarrrgh. When that was over with, I pounded nails into the floor of the Lab. Not just for fun, but to anchor that Snow White rug down. The cats just love trying to kill each other on it, and I'm tired of constantly straightening it out and putting it back. So I nailed it down. It'll still flip up for cleaning and cat-wrestling, and the nails can be removed, but for now, they're pounded down well so I won't hurt me or the cats with ‘em. And hopefully, now a simple toe-nudge will straighten it out even after the most rigorous cat fratricide efforts.

Decided on the big Christmas project. Everyone who got a shoe pincushion last year will be getting an unbleached muslin star ornament this year. I'll sew two stars together, stuff ‘em, then fray the edges for that ‘shabby chic' look. That way, I won't have to turn ‘em right side out and sew up the opening by hand. It took forever on those candy corn stuffies ! A simple red or green ribbon will work as a hanger, and if there's time, I may attach a jingle bell - with a jump ring, so it can be removed. I already have the muslin, left over from the kitchen curtains, and ribbon. Small enough to be cute, hand-made, and not a huge effort. Anyone can find space on a tree for a muslin star, or give it away easily. I just hope I can motivate myself into working on them before the day before school lets out for the holidays ! I already have some muslin out from making one of  those ‘sack bag' things, maybe I'll try a prototype tomorrow...

Awww ! Beloved Hubby brought us home McRibs for dinner, and a Big Kids meal for Dearest. For some unknown reason, he got four toys in the box, and he gave me the ‘London' Barbie ! How sweet ! I feel like I got a super-Happy meal !

Had some doll time after dinner, so I took some photos and updated the neglected Blog. Found out that Breyer doll clothes fit the Musical DPrincess dolls very well ! Snow White looks very cute in jeans. Now I just have to make some shirts.

Posted by dorriebelle at 8:31 PM CST

Updated: Monday, 2 May 2011 11:46 PM CDT

Share This Post

Post Comment | View Comments (1) | Permalink

Current Mood : Happily exhausted

Spent on dolls today ; $1.07 

Whoo. Today was the day-long volunteer at Dearest Son's school - it was Healthy Kids day. Local hospital sponsors screening - hearing, vision, blood pressure, height/weight, lice, etc - and getting 500-some kids corralled and checked without missing anyone or any stations requires a massive group effort. Our school's nurse, M, forgot to send out volunteer requests, so she called us and grabbed us as we did other school things last week. She sounded so desperate, I agreed.

Turn out, volunteer-wise, was really good. They almost didn't need some of us, but when things were rushed and there were lots of kids, we needed everyone, so it worked out. If we stayed all day, lunch would be provided - I figured, hey, it's been a while since I had a grey-meat cafeteria hamburger, what the heck.

Nope. They catered ! Panera Bread, a sort of upscale Subway, brought in sandwiches and salads, and it was wonderful. I even got to spend a few minutes with Dearest, and got a logo t-shirt, too. So, while I was on my feet all day, and running around a lot, it was fun and I'm glad I did it.

But I was so tired when it was over ! We were done an hour before school let out, and Dearest had a science activity afterwards, so I had two hours until I needed to pick him up. So I hit Target and Hastings, picked up a copy of Wall-E, and went through doll magazines. There's a pattern for Ellowyne and her male-doll companion in Haute Doll, but I don't need prom outfits for Elphie and Fiyero, so I didn't get one. I was hoping to snag a peek at the new FDQ, which reportedly has a Barbie pattern - called Barbie Learns to Cook, I think - but Hastings didn't have any copies.

The Target Dollar Spot yielded Hasbro ‘Game Night' candy, in Barbie-size logo boxes that, from the sides, look just like the real thing. Unfortunately, the fronts have CANDY on ‘em in big letters, so it'll take a bit of artful arranging to use in dioramas. What surprised me were the candies inside. Sorry ! had blue and yellow pawns, Life had pink peg cars and blue spinning wheels, Monopoly had pink dogs and blue car pawns, and Clue held green candlesticks and blue wrenches. Taste-wise, they're like extra-hard SweetTarts. You could print out your own version of these games, fold ‘em up yourself, but if your printer ink is as pricey as ours, it's often best just to pony up a buck. Besides, I don't have any game box scans to use.

If you're looking for inexpensive gifts and stocking stuffers, and the ones you love are into Cars, Hello Kitty, or Disney Princesses, the Dollar Spot had tons of stuff. Color-in mini-standees, complete with markers and stickers, dry-erase boards, purses, wallets, cosmetics, jewelry - all cute and pretty small, save for the dry-erase boards. Those are about the size of a piece of copy paper.

They also had some of the Barbie sets on sale. The ‘I can be a TV Chef' set I've had my eye on is marked down to $16., and the single-floor fold-up house is down to $27.  I'm really wrestling with myself over the TV Chef set. I don't want the fridge, the oven, or the doll. All I want is the cabinet, the camera, and the small pieces. Even at $16., it seems kind of a lot of money for not much...

What really had my attention, though, was the Barbie Advent calendar. Instead of chocolates, there were small doll props inside ! Purses, shoes, skirts, etc. Not sure if it's worth the $20. on the shelf talker, but I'm thinking it over.

Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CST

Updated: Monday, 2 May 2011 11:46 PM CDT

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

Current Mood : Cheery

Spent on dolls today : $2.69

Busy day, as usual. I got to visit the Thrift before grocery shopping, but I only found one thing - a six inch doll in one of the 50c ‘small toy' grab-bags. Her blouse was missing, but her jeans were well-made... and they'd probably fit the Musical DPrincess dolls ! So I went out to the car for change, having spent all my cash at the yard sales Saturday, and paid.

And I got to talk to the Thrift owner. We've spoken before, and she's always been up-front with the trials and challenges of running a second-hand venue. She probably knows I mostly buy toys, so she told me she was sorry she hadn't had anything new in for a while, but donations were waaaay down, even from what they were this summer. I mentioned that yard sale season was going on much longer than in previous years, could that be part of the problem ? I mean, it used to be that I never saw a sale in November. The stream of sales usually dried up before Halloween. Were folks selling their stuff rather than donating ? Goss knows I've cleaned up this year ! (I didn't say that part.)

She thinks that folks are simply keeping things longer, instead of buying the newest whatever down the pike. With toys, that could mean they're finding it easier and less expensive to trade with other families for ‘new' stuff, or they're simply trying to not buy more. Normally this time of year, parents are eagerly cleaning out Kaitlynne and Tylorre's  toyboxes, in anticipation of the holiday bonanza that'll soon overflow them again. Not this year, it seems.

She also told me that the too-familiar ‘Clothes Donation Drop' bins aren't hers - which I knew - but rather some Texas company that sells the garments overseas, or as rags to paper or rug makers. Said she'd seen ‘em all over Arkansas, where she just visited. Not a charity at all, just a money-making scheme that preys on nice people with good intentions.

I promised her I'd go through Dearest Son's toys as soon as I could, drop off as much as possible. And I mentally added ‘and my toys, too'. Most of Dearest's unused toys are of the small bag-stuffer Happy Meal type. I got a buncha dolls that could use a new home. Problem is, I'm the one who buys most of what they sell !

With her words in my ears, my weekly fun grocery shop became ‘Stock up for the harsh, unforgiving winter ahead !', and that's about what I did. Got more allergy and Dearest headache tablets, more soup, more soup stock, bathroom tissue, canned fruits, powdered coffee creamer, and a new thermal shirt for Beloved and sweatpants for Dearest. I didn't even slow down at the fabric section, but did secure a Cars Dale Jr. car for his stocking.

I still bought something silly for me. Mattel's selling a revamped version of tiny ‘Little Kiddles' dolls, and they are cute. It's just hard for me to justify spending $7. for a two-inch doll when a Barbie is $10. - and a Barbie with a kitchen playset I like is $20. ! But they're in with the rest of Mattel's dolls, so I always look... and this week, the Halloween ‘Peek A Boo Petites' were marked down to 50c each ! I eagerly snapped up a whole set of four - Witch, Ghost, Kitty, and Vampire - and a second Kitty. Love her huge green eyes ! I also sort of like the crowned ‘Barbie head' silhouette on the heart charm that apparently comes with each PaBP - I think the orange beads around the bubble the doll's in is a necklace or something. While I don't much like the current Barbie Head Silhouette - the ponytail looks like it was sunk into the head like an arrow, and somehow, the whole head attitude seems sullen - in this tiny a format, it looks cute.

Not entirely sure what I'm gonna do with the Cuties, but for 50c each, I just couldn't resist ! I've never made clothes that small before, either... she's about 2.5 inches tall. Oh, and the Thrift baggie contained not only the doll, but also a large saddle. Might come in handy for the Pegasus I have, I'll make sure it fits. Then spray-paint it white. It's a very dark brown that would probably look awful on the pink/purple of Peggy's back.

The doll has Breyer markings, so I had some fun looking around. Looks like she was part of a set, Breyer Ponies Grooming Set #7039. Found it on eBay. Jeans, boots, hair, and face match. She's missing two hair plugs in the front - if I decide to do anything with her, I'll have to do a quick transplant.

Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CST

Updated: Monday, 2 May 2011 11:45 PM CDT

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

Current Mood : Lazy 

Well, I like for stuff I don't want to still be happy, but it just wasn't in the cards for Mr. Golfing Bear. DC attacked him and bore him off from the lab, as a part-time companion, part-time punching bag. Poor Mr. G. Bear...

Not much to report on today - spent three hours getting the kitchen cleaned up and dishes washed. I'm not finished, so that should tell you how bad it got when everyone was sick. I'm wiped out, and haven't done much else today. At one point, I got so overwhelmed by some food gone south that I had to lie down. And I fell asleep for an hour !

Beloved Hubby and I are talking about getting Dearest Son a major gift this Christmas - his own computer ! Seriously, have you seen the prices on them lately ? While eMachines don't have the best reputation, it astounds me that you can get one with a monitor, keyboard, and speakers for less than $400. ! I saw a small laptop last week at Mal-Wart for $350. ! So it's up for consideration, but nothing's decided yet. We'll have to see how things go after rent's paid.

I've been seeing promos for bfads.net, but I'm not interested. ‘Black Friday' is the day after US Thanksgiving, the ‘official' start of the Christmas buying frenzy. Supposedly it's named such because that's the day many retailers begin operating ‘in the black', at a profit (as opposed to ‘in the red'- in debt). Honestly, I kinda feel bad for any company that doesn't start earning money until late November...

Anyway, the ads for the big ‘doorbuster' loss-leader sales normally come out in the late Thursday (Thanksgiving) edition of the newspaper. It's now a ‘fun' sort of espionage to somehow secure some of these ads from major retailers ahead of time, and post them online, so shoppers can plan their ‘attack' earlier. Since some specials are really extraordinary, and extremely limited, lines begin to form at those stores as soon as the cranberry sauce begins to melt. For the last several years, pushing and shoving riots have led to injuries when 200+ people try to get the twelve $100. laptops their local Mal-Warts have.

After numerous years of insane parking, negligent driving, and huge, loud, thick crowds and hours-long lines to check out even if you manage to get the coveted item, it seemed to only get worse the next year. I stopped going. If I wasn't willing to stand outside in the cold and dark for the special all afternoon Thursday and all night until Friday, I wasn't gonna get it, so showing up at 7am wasn't worth the hassle. Besides, there was darn little I even wanted in most of the ads. I'd much rather get up early on Dec. 26 ! Sometimes dolls go on sale the day after !

Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CST

Updated: Monday, 2 May 2011 11:45 PM CDT

Share This Post

Post Comment | View Comments (1) | Permalink

Current Mood : Playful happy 

Spent on Dolls : $1.50

Spent on Disney Princess junk I liked :  $2.50

Whee ! I had sooo much fun at the yard sales today. Despite the heavy fog and not-above-60-degree weather, there were lots of ‘em. Never found two I went for, but their bad signage lead me to others that were packed with awesome. Went out with $6. and some change, came back with two Mal-Wart sacks stuffed full, a can, and a small suitcase.

Oddly, the only doll I bought isn't for me. My DFIL collects and adores Betty Boop (and no, he doesn't read this !). I was planning on snagging some Boop fabric and making him fresh handkerchiefs for Christmas - the ones I made him from some cool Southwestern fabric I got in a grab bag when we were broke are nearly strings and thread. But here in a plastic box crammed with plush was a Baby Betty Boop doll ! Well, she's actually more of a soft stuffed animal-type toy, but she's cute as hell. Darn near pristine, but for a stain on the back of her pink satin bonnet. Within seconds, I determined that the bonnet was removable, and if it didn't come out clean, I could simply make a new one. If the bonnet had been part of her head, I'd have either tucked the stain where it couldn't be seen, or covered over it with some lace or ribbon. Or a big silk rosebud.

She's nude but for her diaper, and that just won't work. So tomorrow or Monday, I'm gonna hit Hancock Fabrics for a yard of Boop, make her a dress or two. Get her all nice and cleaned up, and dressed up, and DFIL has a fun Christmas gift. I'm thinking of making her a red satin strapless dress with a slit... and a garter, of course ! She was only a dollar, but I'm having fun imagining... and she's not even mine !

Same sale netted Dearest Son a stuffed Lightning McQueen, tags still attached, for 50c. One of the tags shows he was from Disney Store, and they paid $6.50 for him. I may save him for Christmas, too. My greed wasn't neglected at this sale - I scored a small Little Mermaid ‘goin' to grandma's'-type suitcase, a three-person mini tea set for the LDPs, a green St. Patrick's day bear I got for the wicker chair she was sewn to, and a copy of Do You Remember : Technology, a small book of ads and photos of 8-track tape players, TRS-80 computers, and color TVs. It's a great ‘leaf through' book. $3. for the lot of it !

That was one of two sales I found while looking for another one. The next one netted me a Disney Princess bathroom set - a trash can and a lotion pump. What's kind of funny is that both pieces are both lenticular, you know, those images that change a bit when you move them ?  On these pieces, Cinderella, Aurora, and Belle dance a little, but it's funny to me, because really, who handles a trash can that much ? It amused me so that I paid $2. for the set, and they tossed in a complete deck of DP Bicycle playing cards. Very nice cards, with some beautiful graphics I've never seen before, and there's a few with Mulan and Pocahontas. I'll be scanning those soon !

The next sale I should have skipped, because to me, ‘Estate' sales mean ‘Let's try to sell the muffin tin Aunt Sadie used for 15 years for $6., which is more than a brand new one costs at Mal-Wart', ‘cause I've seen that scenario too many times. When the heirs are trying to push an open box of Tide laundry detergent for $4., and it's not even a big box, you know you're just not getting any deals. And that was the case here. They even put higher price stickers over the ones printed on the package, which was funny. Especially if you know that pack of hand-sewing needles is $1. all day long at Dollar General, but they want $2. for it, and it's missing several of ‘em.

Hit one last sale for the road, netted three blouses for me, two Gap t-shirts for Dearest, and either a dress for Baby Chrissy or a blouse for the MSB girls, either would work. Also scored a teddy bear dressed as a golfer, complete with ball and club - his two-tone shoes fit Timey Tell and Hi Dottie, and his shirt/pants combo and vest fit the LDPs, just a bit baggy. All that was a whoppin' big $2. Luckily, I'd thought to grab the last of the change from Molly-chan's dash ashtray. Aurora's wearing everything but the poor bear's shoes in today's image it needs ironing, especially on that won't-lay-down collar and a bit of a take-in at the back, but it fits pretty well as-is. Anyway, by the time I left that sale, I was broke, and a bit hungry, so I headed for home.

Tried on the three blouses- one's a bit snug, but I can wear it over a t-shirt for now. Other two fit and look great. Cleaned up the Little Mermaid suitcase, evidently before consigning it to the yard sale box, someone tried to eat Frosted Flakes and soda out of it. Two Lysol wipes and ten minutes took care of most of the stains, save for some small scratches. The wicker chair has been de-beared, and I'm planning on snagging the bear's apron and hat, too. I may keep the bear, ‘cause she's green, but the Golfer bear is definitely being donated.

That always amuses me on some levels. That I can buy a dressed bear for less than a buck, score a doll outfit, shoes, and often a prop or two, and still have something left to donate. I always eliminate any loose threads or any indications that the bear was ever dressed or holding anything before he goes to the Thrift. It's the last kindness I can give them. A bare bear is still a good toy, but if it looks like anything's been removed, he might not sell as easily. While I'm not a big ‘stuffie' person, I do want anything that's passed through my life to be happy...

Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CST

Updated: Monday, 2 May 2011 11:45 PM CDT

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

Current Mood : Worn and exhausted

Spent on Dolls today : $1.

Spent on Sewing/Crafts today : $1.50

Personal Note : Happy Birthday, Dear MIL !!

Oh, boy, what a day. I was scheduled to read to Dearest Son's class and then help out with Popcorn Friday, a weekly fund-raiser for the school. Basically, we pop and sell a bag of corn for a quarter to the kids on recess. My first time on that duty. While at the school, I got roped into helping for Healthy Kids, a free screening done at each school for all the kids, on Tuesday. (sigh) I gotta learn that ‘No' is a complete sentence...

I also dropped off some sack-keeper bags, and the cat-print one I made specifically for the co-Librarian made her so happy. She handed me two lengths of fabric she didn't plan on using - one was a large Barbie print, the other was a Disney Princess one ! How thoughtful of her !

Reading was fun as always, but Popcorn Friday... let's just say today may be my first and last one. Despite being assured that we'd be gone by noon, we started at 10:30, and didn't lift our heads up until 1:45pm. We were that busy, that slammed. We finally left a few minutes shy of 2, after cleaning everything. At least I was weather-savvy enough to bring a jacket, my co-volunteers forgot, but my feet ached and were frozen after 3+ hours of bustin' butt in one place, in the wind.

It's not that it wasn't fun. My fellow volunteers are great women who busted just as much butt as me. But between the kids screaming when popcorn ran out - and we ran that thing heel-toe, nonstop - and the teachers' unhelpful advice, and the cold, I was pretty worn out when it was over, and not eager to repeat the experience. Plus, I still have the smell of popcorn in my nose, normally a nice thing, but today, it just makes me more weary.

The reason they finished at noon before is because they ran out of popcorn. That wasn't a problem today - and we probably pulled in close to $50. So now, I don't feel bad at all for ignoring the ‘Cheap But Expensive Catalog Fund Raiser' back in October.

On the plus side, I got to hit two yard sales. Dearest got a new t-shirt, I snagged two new skeins of yarn, a length of Tinkerbell-green cotton, a bag of mixed Polly Pocket / Barbie props, and a handful of Barbie clothes that desperately need a wash. That sale was a bit weird. The seller insisted that I take ‘Ernie', a Sesame Street soft doll in his pajamas and bunny slippers. He cheerfully announced, "I feel great today !" every so often, but there was never anyone within a five-foot radius of him. Seller said he was freaking her out, and could I please find a good home for him ? Um, OK. He told me about his stellar day  twice while walking back to the car, so I took out the freebie Duracell screwdriver I always keep in my purse and removed his batteries. Much better ! I'll donate him - with his batteries separate but enclosed in the speaker space - sometime next week.

I looked so beat that, when Beloved Hubby came home an hour after Dearest did, he darn near shoved me into bed for a nap. Two hours later, I felt much better. Didn't do anything really, but I felt much better !

Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CST

Updated: Monday, 2 May 2011 11:44 PM CDT

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

Current Mood : Thrilled and proud of me !

Spent on Dolls today : $2.14

Whoo-hoo ! I am pleased to announce that Jem's oxy treatment is done ! Oh, I can still see some shadow marks on her chin and on the left nostril, but they're faint and may yet fade. But for now, she's done with the windowsill and I'm happy ! Now I have a Jerrica (plain bulb earrings) and a Jem (starcap earrings) !

I was gonna wait to repaint her lips - her original paint was removed by the oxy, but there was no way around it, the purple stains were all over her mouth - but Beloved Hubby and Dearest Son were happily doin' their own things, so... no time like the present ! Plus, tomorrow's a heavy volunteer day, so I knew I wouldn't have time then. Dragged down the family collection of various arts and crafts paints - Beloved's old portrait paints and my even older craft paints - and selected Plaid's Paint for Plastics ‘cream' and ‘crimson'. I bought these on markdown so long ago, we were living in another state !

Originally, I'd thought to match her original lip color, but instead, I blended on a polystyrene plate until I had a color I liked. And proceeded to swash it across half her chin with the oversized brush. Wiped it down with Goof Off and started again. This time, with a toothpick !

Much better ! Now the color went exactly where I wanted it to, and the tiny tip didn't hold much paint, so it couldn't slop all over the place. I didn't follow the original contours, but I soon had it the way I liked it. Well, mostly liked it. One side of her lower lip is a bit thinner than the other, but I knew if I kept messing with it, I'd end up unhappy.

And, as it turns out, I used the wrong paint. ‘Paint for Plastics' is only designed for non-flexible plastic. According to the website's FAQ (on plaidonline.com), if the plastic can bend without breaking, the paint won't adhere correctly. Well, I doubt I'll be flexing Jem's face very much, and if it flakes off, well, I'll just start again. It's acrylic paint, and acrylics are what doll artists use, so it's probably OK. Bottle sez it's dry to the touch in 30 minutes and fully adhered in 48 hours, so we'll see how it goes. I think I did a fairly decent job on my first doll repaint !

Not so happy with Dancerella's treatment. Granted, it is just the first one, but it looks as though the stains didn't fade at all. I'll reapply a thick coat of oxy goop tonight and check next week. All else fails, I can attempt a third variation of the oxy therapy, and you can read it here : http://www.immediateweb.com/mef/ . If you're not up to reading, it's basically : Coat stain thickly with Oxy-10. Wrap with foil to prevent too-early dry-out. Place doll in front of heat source, like an old CRT monitor or desk lamp, making sure it gets enough heat to warm the doll, but not so much the vinyl melts. Check frequently. Reapply daily, and be careful. If you tend to forget, apply Oxy thick, wrap in foil, leave in sunny window. Check every two or three weeks.

I confess, I'd never heard of the foil part before, but ya gotta try everything if the usual ain't workin'. I just kinda hesitate before wrapping my dolls up like baked potatoes !

Ran out for a few forgotten groceries, and decided to make a quick stop in the Thrift. When I visited Monday, there was a certain Barbie dress in a baggie that might be the gown I've been wanting for a long time. Still in the 1977 Super Star box, it often goes for $75. This was wadded up in a snack size baggie for $1.99, but I wasn't sure if it was the gown or not, and you know me, I hate to waste funds. So I studied the image in my copy of Barbie Doll Fashion 1975 - 1979, and noted the tacky-to-me oversize flower at the waist. If the baggie there had it, then it was # 9836, Spotlight on Romantic White. I'd gladly shell $2. for it, and get it washed and pressed !

Well, it did, and I bought it. I now have a rumpled and slightly dusty #9836. I also have a Cali Guy Ken tank shirt, a stained pair of Barbie riding pants, a Barbie Collectables ballet tutu I haven't yet ID'd, and a knockoff cheerleader leotard. I hope to get the gown washed tomorrow. Seriously considering scissoring the tacky flower and the odd fur-like poufs on the tulle overlay. They've really flattened out over the years, and look weird. I'll decide once it's clean.

You know, I heard on a doll board several months ago that Mattel was issuing a repro of Super Star Barbie, with an extra gown. I was all set to pay $40. or so for this doll if the extra dress was Romantic White. It isn't - I think it's #9837, Dramatic Black & Silver Shimmer - but how nice it is that I have the real thing, and it was only two bucks !

Not much else going on - but today's had a lot in it ! I'm sleepy and ready to crash. Hope your day had some neat surprises !

Posted by dorriebelle at 9:33 PM CST

Updated: Monday, 2 May 2011 11:44 PM CDT

Share This Post

Post Comment | View Comments (1) | Permalink