Then and Now Barbie - she looks much better without those pink earrings !

 

 

Current Mood : Slightly bleh

 

Interesting morning. It was going as usual when Dearest Son asked me, "What's DC got in his mouth ?". Um, it was a small field mouse. Small, grey...and not dead. DC had a merry time chasing, catching, then releasing the hapless rodent before chasing and catching him again, over and over. And I thought the living room was wrecked from the weekend before DC fetched in prey. Poor valiant mouse. I still have to clean up the last of him from the bathroom floor of Beloved Hubby's Studio.

 

It's still raining. On the plus side, we've had the air conditioner off for three days straight, but on the negative, Beloved Hubby can't quite finish his current job, but it's been nice to have him home. At least he gets to enjoy the cable !

 

Oh, and as expected, I didn't win the In The Pink Midge contest. Knew I wouldn't. I just won a prize package from Joanne, and some of the more oblique jabs I made at Barbie and some Barbie fans that I made in the story were either too pointed or maybe slanted too much the wrong way for comfort. Thing is, they were mine, and I made ‘em. It wouldn't be a writing of mine if it didn't have those. Maybe I'll post the thing as a secret link, if anyone wants to read two and a half pages of my meanderings.

Catch-up Sunday
Current Mood : Sleepy

 

 

Quiet Sunday. Decided to visit McD's for lunch, and after reviewing the latest Barbie toys online (http://www.happymeal.com/en_US/standalone.html?s=GirlIntro&swfH=450&swfW=772&bs=GirlToys&swf=/en_US/swf3/sections/toys/girlintro/intropreloader.swf&bgc=%23000000&ID=#GirlIntro ) went for a girl Mighty Kids meal. I got the one I wanted, too ! The memo-pad purse-book, with two sheets of stickers. It looks great in my Barbie purse ! And some of the stickers are so tiny, I think they're doll-sized.

 

We ended up ordering the Clone Wars action figure - the R2D2 clone called ‘Goldie' - from Hasbro online. It's just not available anywhere near here. And since it'd cost us $15. no matter where we went, from eBay to collector shops, we may as well go to the source. Kinda ranks to pay twice as much for the thing because of shipping, but I'm also grateful it's not so super-rare, we're shelling out $30. At least it's only a ‘week' of savings for Dearest Son. We're thinking of going to an allowance for him, probably by month's end.

 

Even after sitting out all night to dry, the ‘I Still Play With' re-framed piece still has glue streaks. And some spots on the cardstock didn't fade, either. Not much I can do about the streaks, but I covered the spots with a Barbie skate and a sticker. It's hanging up now, at least until I do it again. From a distance, it doesn't look too bad...

Saturday belongs to Midge...

 

Current Mood : A bit upset at my attempt at a re-frame...

  

Decided to enter an In The Pink contest, mostly because it's Midge-centric. The prize was a vintage blonde one, too. Anyone who wanted to had a choice of naming the Happy Family Midge's baby, photograph or describe their favorite Midge, or write a story describing where she was between 1967 and 1987. I decided to take the photo I'd always meant to - one with each Midge I had. The first Midge, the California Fun 80s Midge, and the 90s Happy Family Midge. And there it is. And yes, they're on the Scene-A-Rama stage, with the ‘starburst' paper I bought Friday.

 

But, even though it took 27 photos before I liked the result, I still wanted to tell a story. So I did. I tried to keep it short, but it sprawled over two and a half Word pages. I really enjoyed writing it. I don't stand a snowball's chance of winning, but I enjoyed the mental activity, and I'm proud of both my story and my photo. Truth be told, it took me longer to get the photo right than it took me to write the story. Contest ends tomorrow, and the winner's announced on Monday, but I'm not worried about it, I know I didn't win. I already got what I wanted out of it.

 

I also re-framed the ‘I Still Play' stitch-out - and totally screwed it up. The Gorilla Glue soaked through the fabric and didn't dry clear. The streaks are still there, and it's been over twelve hours. At least the cardstock matt looks pretty good. Guess I'll redo it sometime. From scratch.

 

It's rained all weekend, so I haven't been out much. Went along with Beloved Hubby on a job bid, and we went out for taco salads. So it's been a good weekend to me !

Here's the 'Scene-A-Rama' !

 

Current Mood : Exhilarated 

Spent on Doll Stuff :  $10.79

 

Visited two more stores I've never been in before, on the hunt for Dearest Son's ‘Goldie' action figure (that's basically a repaint of an R2D2, nothing more). Came up zippo for him, but I found some stuff for me !

 

First stop was a local toy store - nothin'. Might as well have called the place ‘Utopia Toys', since everything was handmade in Sweden, or made of wood. The kind of stuff well-meaning childless folks give kids...that kids never play with. It always looks good, but when was the last time you saw any kid who wasn't bored beyond belief playing with a wooden set of paper dolls ? Sure, it'd last forever, and look great, but most kids tend to gravitate towards plastic ‘as seen on TV' stuff. Usually licensed.

 

Second stop was pretty much the same, but with more of a teacher-supply slant. I found the ‘Scene-A-Rama' - a blank diorama set that looked to be a great addition to my doll photography collection. The base was super-brittle thin plastic, and the included blank board was a bit short for standing dolls, but I could easily use both pieces in other ways. Can always angle the shot, use bigger cardboard or foamcore, seat the dolls... all easy and fun. The set was only $8., and I look forward to lots of photos with it !

 

With the set tucked safely in the car, I made one more stop. The scrapbooking place across the street should have lots of fun papers to use with it ! Scored a lovely two-sided ‘star field' one, a pretty cloudy one, and a bit of cardstock. Hope to use it as a matt when I re-frame the ‘I Still Play With Barbie' stitch-out. I don't like the way I have it framed now.

 

I also mailed off the Pink Shopping Barbie - the winner lives in Australia ! (sigh) So much for shipping it for less than $10. It ended up costing more to ship than I paid for  the doll ! Next time, I'm gonna limit my drawings to state-side winners...

 

Having already spent my ‘mad money', I went home and played around a bit. You'll get to see a photo on the Scene-A-Rama soon !

 

I got the dress form I wanted !

 

Current Mood : Weary

Current Image Notes : Here's the playline 'Shopping Barbie', with all the stuff I wanna keep - the dress form, her shoes, and her coffee cup - removed. Gonna give it away on In The Pink, as a way of paying back Joanne for all the goodies she sent me !

 

Dearest Son was pretty sick yesterday, so we kept him home today. I still had to get up at near-normal time to call Transportation, so our bus driver would know, but all I ever got - even five minutes before the bus was due - was an answering machine. So of course, good ole #50 sat out there for several minutes before I noticed and waved them on. Kinda defeats the purpose of calling Transportation. (sigh)

 

But with a bit of cough syrup, he was soon feeling much better. By mid-afternoon, he was pretty much back to normal, so we went out for a bit, to find a particular Clone Wars figure he wanted. Never found it, though. It wasn't at Target, Mal-Wart, or TRU. I'm gonna be out and about tomorrow, so if we don't find it, we'll order it. Only problem is, even from Hasbro.com, it'll be $15. with shipping. Oh, well. Ya gotta do what ya gotta do... At least it isn't super-rare or something, so we don't have to shell out $30. or more to some mean old toy speculator.

 

I did manage a quick run through Big Lots - ours still ranks. After all the searching, Dearest chose a General Grievous figure to fight with Anakin Skywalker, and I snagged a Disney Princess Halloween-themed ‘Pencil Favor Set' for $2. I now have four erasers, four sheets of six stickers, and four pencils, all with various Princesses in their signature outfits, enhanced with masks, fans, and baskets of goodies. You know what a total sucker I am for that stuff.

 

Since I spent most of yesterday cleaning the kitchen and washing dishes, I was pretty tired today. And with Dearest home, I didn't get much done. At least the clean ones are put away, and the kitchen was clean enough to cook in. I made Dearest a deal - in the evening, while he's picking up toys, I'll clean up the kitchen after dinner. Since I normally figure his tidy-work takes about a  half-hour, I'll have a good opportunity to keep the kitchen a bit cleaner.

 

After he crashed and Beloved was absorbed in an episode of Burn NoticeTop Gear, I decided to hang out in the Lab. It seems like it's been a month since I was last in there. And I had a lot to put away. I finally bought the ‘dress form' Barbie, and gave away the doll on In The Pink, and I had several yard-sale dolls and several more from my ITP win from Joanne to put away, along with a bag of fabric scraps I'd scored from the thrift store yesterday. and then

 

(sigh) I'm a fabric-holic ! I'm powerless in the face of cheap material ! And this $1.99 bag of it was choice ! Tiny green dots on white, and tiny white dots on dark green pieces, some velvet and satin scraps, a strip of velour zebra-print, a lovely quarter-yard of white-on-white eyelet fabric - there was more, but oh, all but the large flannel print was so pretty ! Surprisingly, no star-prints. The flannel's going to be re-donated, and some of the teddy-bear print is going back. I'm gonna cut away some of the paper-bag brown with navy dots to keep, and donate the bear border.

 

Oh, and holiday heads-up - if you're thinking of easy gifts to make, McCall's has one for the ubiquitous Snuggie ! Yeah, it's a backwards robe, or a blanket with sleeves, but if it's easier to use a pattern the first time, why not ?  Especially when you can snag it for a buck during one sale or another. It's McCalls 5970, and it offers a kids and an adult size. It'll take four yards of 60" wide fleece to make the biggest one, and you won't have to settle for the often lurid colors the official Snuggies tend to come in. According to the pattern envelope, it's easy and only takes an hour and a single measurement. Hancock Fabrics'll have McCall's on 99c sale for four days starting 09/17.

 

Taking the easy out...

 

Current Mood : Sleepy from busy

 

Busy day. Bus was early, so Dearest had to scramble for it, then realized he forgot to kiss Daddy goodbye. The driver was OK with him making a quick run for it, but Dearest wanted something to pout about. (sigh)

 

After he left, I realized that I'd forgotten to give him the week's lunch money, so I ended up driving to school anyway. I got to talk to two of his specialty teachers, and was pleased to hear he's doing well. I was hopeful, especially when he read a Star Wars reader all by himself last night ! He's still a bit behind in reading, but give him something he's interested in, and watch him go !

 

Then it was grocery run time. Our Mal-Wart's setting up for Halloween, and, wouldn't you know it, there's an Anakin Skywalker costume, in his size, ready to go. Twenty bucks. It'll cost me about that to make it - four yards of red/brown cotton, and at least a yard (maybe two) of black vinyl. Took a couple photos of it, and let Dearest decide. He wants the store-bought version, and I can't blame him. It looks OK, and will be fairly accurate.

 

In an odd way, it's quite satisfying to let him choose something ready-made. When I was his age, all I wanted was one of the ballerina or princess costumes that always appeared in the Sears Christmas catalogs. Never got one. Really, Halloween wasn't as big a holiday in 1975. My last few years of trick-or-treating were always spent wearing a cousin's hand-me down witch outfit, jazzed up with a mask or something. I think one year, when we still lived a state away from the family, I got a Josie (of Josie and the Pussycats) boxed Ben Cooper costume - and the next year, it was a Sabrina, the Teen-Age Witch one.

 

(stupid grin) I remember the year I tried to talk Mother into giving me a white sheet and matching thread. I just knew I could sew myself - by hand ! - a Princess Leia gown, in two days. I think she laughed both days, and I know it was an especially hard laugh as I dragged myself into the witch costume again that year. I think the following year - 1978, probably - I volunteered to stay home and hand out candy. At least I never saw that witch costume again.

 

Ironically, if give my choice of any costume now, I'd want a version of Elphie's black witch costume, just like the Tonner one, in my size. Oh, yes, I would tint my skin green and find striped stockings, and red glittery pumps. And I'd walk around town, like it was any other day, spending it as a big emerald girl in a long black dress, spinning around grocery aisles and book stores, looking mildly pensive instead of threatening.

 

One day, maybe I'll go for the princess dress instead.

Halloween calls...

 

Current Mood : Re-engaging, if slowly...

 

Don't ask me why, but for some reason, I was obsessed today with Dearest Son's Halloween costume. Last time we hit Target, they already had those listed in the ads as on sale, and with kids, ya just can't wait ‘til the last minute -especially when you prefer to make yers outta scratch ! Learned something very important. If you're looking at designs and specs, never look at adult costuming pages. You'll soon give up, because most costumers are detail-oriented to the nth degree, and many are quite a few dozen degrees beyond.

 

Instead, see how the cheap companies do it. And look at the toys. After shaking free of the Padawan's Guide to Star Wars Costumes website - whew ! - I got a good look at this year's character, Clone Wars- era Anakin Skywalker. Found Dearest's action figure, looked up the $20. version and the $40. one. I soon had it down to a reddish brown karate gi uniform, with a vinyl vest and belt in black, and maybe a matching yoke collar and knee boots. Could go all out with a matching robe, but I think I already have enough ahead of me.

 

A quick spin through Simplicity, McCall's, Vogue, and Butterick sites soon revealed that not only were there no- zero, nada, zilch, goose-egg- Jedi-style patterns available for Halloween '09, but there was only one gi pattern. It looked familiar, so I wasn't too surprised to find it in the pattern stash, but I was relieved ! Lucky, too - as Dearest is already at the largest size in the packet, and there are no teen or adult sizes of gi from any company.

 

But, it's doable. I can free-hand the open-front, open-sided vest and belt easily. Can probably knock together simple boot covers if I don't find any in his size between now and mid-October. There have been Star Wars patterns in the past, both officially licensed and loose look-alike knock-offs, but I was surprised to see none this year. With all the toys and clothes and videos I see, I thought the Clone Wars franchise was stronger than that...

 

Dearest already has a gi, but it's stiff canvas, and not very comfortable. I'd have to dye it, and he wouldn't really enjoy wearing it for long. So I'd rather just make it from scratch. Hoping that I can find a good color of cotton or cotton blend fabric - wonder if I should go with a ‘crinkly' texture, or a smooth broadcloth one - this weekend. Only need four yards of that, and maybe a yard or so of thin black vinyl.

 

Got three loads of laundry done, and I'll probably do another Thursday, when we'll have a full load ready.

Labor Day - and I did nothin'.

 

Current Mood : Relaxed

Current Image Notes : Beloved Hubby drew that ! I'm hoping to use it as an embroidery design soon. Just gotta get back to learning Stitch Era Universal.

 

We just sort of sat around on this Labor Day - I was just glad Beloved Hubby took the day off. He didn't want to go anywhere, so we didn't. Hope you had a sit-around day, too, and that there were many tasty snack foods included !

 

New dolls from Joanne !

 

Current Mood : Indolent

 

Today, I puttered around some in the Lab. I can't remember when I bought it, but at the last flea market, I snagged an ice-cream table and chairs set that'll fit the AG clone dolls. Seat cushions and table top need to be either covered or replaced, but for $3., I'm glad to do it. I need to take some photos.

 

Speaking of the flea market, I'm undergoing serious withdrawal. Yard sales aren't good lately, and the thrifts have been lots of hunt for little find. Too bad the next flea isn't until 9/25...

 

I also played with some of my new dolls. There's part of what was in Joanne's wonder box. (sigh) Once again, I need to go through everybody, and decide on who's going and who's staying. Between the ones I bought for their clothes and the ones I've ended up with, I need to do a culling run. Lab's getting cluttered again, with all the new goodies, and I like it not so crowded in there.

 

And I decided to go ahead and buy the playline ‘Shopping Pink' Barbie, but mostly because I want the dress form that comes with her. Joanne encouraged me - and I thought I could donate the doll and pieces I don't want. So I will be. And I'm looking forward to it !

I got a surprise package today !

 

Current Mood : Doll Heaven ! 

 

Today, when Beloved Hubby took me out for breakfast, I saw a Life Flight helicopter on the hospital's landing pad. Lots of eateries near City Hospital. About two years ago, I had a perfect view of the pad from my hospital bed after surgery. Luckily, no whirly-birds landed while I was there. I would have felt terrible to be a witness of someone's life-and-death struggle, but I would have still watched. Our hospital has three red/black/white Life Flight helicopters in use, and others land there, too. I can't imagine how scary it must be for the family of the person being airlifted to a hospital. Yet I kept watching this one, wondering if it was just taking off or just landing - the blades were still spinning. And praying, in my fashion, that the patient was steadily improving, now that they've arrived.

 

I wanted sooo bad to go shopping today, but it's kinda not a good time. And then, there was a box on the porch ! Joanne, of  InThePink.com, sent me the prize I won last month, the lovely green silk dress from the Tarina Tarantino Barbie - along with a bunch of other dolls ! Shinobu welcomed them to Chez Insanity, and you'll see them soon. DC was very curious about the package, though.

 

Ironically, the main thing I liked about the Tarantino doll's clothes was the pink belt, decorated with a 70s-era Barbie illustration on the buckle. It was the one thing not included in the set. Joanne told me to let me know if anything was missing, she'd give it to me off her doll, but there's no way I can do that. She sent me a magnificent box of goodies, full of treats like the ‘My Melody' doll and sweet pins and decorations. No way am I gonna tell her about the belt.

 

And I love the ‘Melody' doll. Much as I don't favor the ‘Model Muse' swayback body, and I'm not much on the ‘whistling puckered' version of the classic Steffie face, I find myself very happy to have her !