Half-Off = Well - stocked !
Mood:  happy
Now Playing: Old "Urusei Yatsura" VHS - what can I say, I was an old-school anime girl...

 

Waaaay overspent at Hancock Fabrics' 50% off notions sale. But it'll be a long time before I need to go back there ! Scored 48 size 4/0 snaps (tiny) and 24 3/0 ones (next to tiny), twenty 1/8" buttons (10 black, 10 white), and four bottles of Fray-Check, all for $10.48 ! The Fray-Check was a major score. It was packaged as a two-bottle Bonus Pack for $3.69, but I got half off that ! In essence, I got four bottles for not much more than the price of one ! 

 

Didn't buy a millimeter of fabric, either. You know I looked, but nothing appealed, and I already have what I need for the projects in my mind. I did see an attractive blue stripe fat quarter that I may snag next time I go, but for now, I'm well-stocked and happy. So it'll be a while.  

 

And I forgot to tell you what happened yesterday. Took Dearest Son with me on errands, including the GoodWill down the street. I found something I'd wanted since I was a kid. It's nothing special...you know those wicker doll chairs that are everywhere, and have been for about twenty or thirty years ? About the same time I bought Leia, I found the set - chair, loveseat, and table - sold separately at another store, in the Craft section. It was the first time it had ever occured to me that not all potential doll stuff was located in the Toys section of the store !  

 

Anyway, since I had Leia, I got the chair, just for her. And she sat in it (when I wasn't playing with her) for years on my dresser.  I'd always intended to get the other two pieces - chaise and table - but it was either sold out when I had the money or in stock when I was broke. And once I was out on my own, it didn't seem important - after all, I'd long since given all my other dolls away, so why buy more doll furniture ?  Well, yesterday, I found the chaise. Happy !  That's 50c well-spent ! I don't really need the table...

 

Oh, and before we get into more doll stuff, be thou warned. I got an IRS phish today in my e-mail. It looked official, too, but the IRS says, right on its website, that they NEVER contact anyone via email, much less ask for checking account numbers or passwords. Mine said I was qualified for a $63.80 refund, for clicking on the link and sending them some info. No way, Jose Phish !  

 

Now then. I tore out the side seams to Version 3.0 of Leia's Flight Suit and added the sleeves and collar, and hemmed the pants. Sleeves went in beautifully, but that collar...(sigh) I guess collars still don't like me.  Again, it's hard to tell if the collar ends before the front opening edge or not - photo's at http://www.toysrgus.com/index.php?action=disp_item&item_id=39560 - but it looks to me as if it does. I can see that it definitely does on the companion Luke outfit 'Fatigue Suit'. Mine doesn't. And I know it enlarged at 200%, it printed on the same page as the back piece of the pattern. So I guess I get to play with it a bit. 

 

I forgot how hard collars that small are to sew. It took me about seven tries before I got it...well, not right, but acceptable.  Another reason I wanted to learn to sew was to make Ken clothes. Now I know why I never got far with that ! My skill level wasn't near what it needed to be to make what I wanted to. It just barely is there now !

 

So. If there's time tomorrow, I'm hoping to make the whole outfit, start to finish, fresh. Elastic and sleeves and collar. If there's no time, I may just add elastic to today's work. Version 3.1 is on the home page, if you wanna see. I think it won't be too long before I can post 'Challenge Met !'.  

 

Then, I really need to get back to the 'shoes' thing I abandoned last month. I saw the most amazing vinyl at Hancock Fabrics today... 

Flights of fancy continue...now boarding at Gate Eight.
Mood:  chatty
Now Playing: "Hamtaro" - Dollar Tree DVD

 

Still workin' on the Leia Flight Suit project. Y'know, it's amazing I'm doing this. Not that it's difficult - it isn't, anyone could do the same thing - but I normally like for everything I spend time on to be a 'keeper', know what I mean ? And for me to make prototype jump suits knowing each one will end up in the trash when it isn't right is odd. Normally I'd try to salvage something out of my time and efforts, but on this project, it's OK to try 'til I get it right, and trash-bin anything that isn't. 

 

I think this project is exactly what I needed. There's lotsa stuff I've never tried because I didn't want to flub it or 'waste' the time and material. Sheesh, material I got in over-abundance. I have a full rack of thread, and a box of more, with a jar of small spools. Time I can find as needed. Skills can only be gained by effort, and until recently, I haven't wanted to invest that effort since it may or may not pay off.  It's nice to know that skirt will work, 'cause you've worked it 30 times, but even fun stuff can get boring quick if you don't add the occasional new twist or non-guaranteed gamble. 

 

And we all know that an easy victory is the one least celebrated. By the time I get this flight suit perfected, I'll be proud - and I'll have earned it. That's the victory we all want !

 

Plus, it makes me happy that I'll have something Kenner (RIP) decided I couldn't have. I know the 12-inch  'Large Size Action Figures' didn't sell well in 1978, but since they put all that effort and time and work into producing the outfits, why not just do a limited release to sell 'em ? I guess I don't understand toy marketing as well as I thought I did. Heck, even now, when the 12-inch dolls *do* mostly sell, Hasbro (who bought the remnants of Kenner when it went under, but had to negotiate Star Wars rights on its own) doesn't make clothes for them. Just makes a doll with new clothes. If you're lucky ! I still don't have a Bespin dress...

 

Does anyone wonder, as I do when I'm bored, that if Mattel had won the Star Wars license, would Leia and Amidala would have vast, huge wardrobes to go with their new Barbie-like bodies ? If you like to imagine alternate realities, that's a fun one. Your most favorite doll - how would he or she differ if she was made by the toy company you absolutely loathe ? Would Barbie have girl-sixpack abs and a kung-fu grip if Hasbro made her ? Would Elphie have big blue eyes and an oversize head with curly hair over at Mattel ? Would a basic Barbie suddenly cost $80. and have $15. shoes if Tonner or Madame Alexander created her ? Would Ideal Toys still exist if they had a solid property like Gene or Barbie ? 

 

Sorry. Leia tends to bring out my childlike daydreaming side. I remember when I got her - I was 'too old' for dolls, and all my sighing longing wasn't gonna get me one. Even saving up my allowance wasn't helping. After several sitcom-quality stunts, however, I finally had the money. A little over $10., I'd spent days computing tax and counting funds to the last penny -  and after two weeks of asking, I got to go to the one store that had her. For the first time, I noticed all dolls weren't the same, but one 'called' to me. I had 'my' Leia.

 

Once home, though, I faltered at the sealed tape. I was kinda old for dolls. Should I keep her always pretty in the box ? It was something to think about...but you know me, the thought didn't last. I could almost 'hear', "No ! I'm no fun in a box ! Let me out and let me live in your mind as something more than a pretty doll. I can't share adventures with you in this box !" and a few minutes later, she was out. And I've never regretted that. What I have regretted is seeing boxed Leias on eBay. Poor things. They never got any adventures.

 

Sure, any doll is worth the most if it's never removed from the box. But can you put a price on the memories of fun you had with the doll out of it ?  Why buy a doll just to keep it in a box ? If you wanna resell it, it probably would have been a better idea to not buy it in the first place. Doll market's too chancy to use as an investment. That's why I only buy what I adore. It's easy to lose money on a doll. It's impossible to call a loved, played with, and enjoyed doll 'a loss'. 

Flighty times
Mood:  a-ok
Now Playing: XM 71 - Watercolors (light jazz)

 

Sorry this'll be late and quick. Tummy's still giving me off-and-on problems, so I'm going to give up popcorn for a while. I know, it doesn't make sense, but the day after I eat a cheesy bag from the microwave, my stomach erupts in pain. We'll see what happens when I don't go near the stuff for a week or two, then have some. I'm sure we'll know.

 

If you haven't been to the main site page, you may wanna. Started a new project yesterday. I'm using the 'Leia Flight Suit' never-produced Kenner prototype pictured on this site - http://www.toysrgus.com/index.php?action=disp_item&item_id=39560 - to make my own Leia Flight Suit.

 

Basically, I saved off the image, traced it, greyscaled it, and I'm in the process of finding the right enlargement for it to fit Leia correctly. When I'm done, I'll have a working pattern one-offed from vintage Kenner stuff, *and* as many Flight Suits as I want ! Yeah, it's just a collared jumpsuit. And I could probably crib the same thing from Doll Shop Deluxe like I did for Crissy. But it's actually been kind of fun to do it this way !

 

I mean, scrawling '175% ver. 1.0, 8/02/06' on a pattern is pretending. Pretending it's important, yeah, I know -  but the fantasy of being an actual professional designer is amusing, too.  Haven't you ever imagined being in the final lap of a thrilling NASCAR race at a banking turn on the way to work ? Or gave a splendid  burlesque show as you're stepping from the shower ? Same thing. I'm pretending in my own mind, and as fantasies go, it's pretty tame. But I'm enjoyin' the heck out of it !

 

Tomorrow, we're gonna try a 200% increase. I'm getting pretty good with these !  It's getting updated like the rest of the site, newest at the bottom. Hope you'll hang around until I get it right, although that might take a while ! :) 

DB, your *non-authorized* LeapPad repair person...
Mood:  energetic
Now Playing: XM XL 150 - Adult Comedy, 'Louis Black'

 

Yeah, Dearest Son's beloved "My First LeapPad", a Christmas gift from his doting Grandparents, met about five drops of water  from a nearby splash yesterday. I got it cleaned off and stored upside down, in case any squeezed inside, but today, Son couldn't get it to work. I couldn't either. Pressed the 'on' button, nothing happened at all. So I changed the batteries. Still nothin'.

 

So I took it apart. Wasn't at all difficult, which makes me think LeapFrog allowed for this probable contingency. Noticed a tiny bead of water on the cartridge slot, and gave it a hearty shake, to make sure there wasn't any more anywhere. Then it got a thorough air-can dusting all around, in and out and under. Go figure, now it works. Sorry, Son. If momma can fix the one you have, we don't have to buy you another ! Besides, I don't think that LeapPad even makes that model anymore. It's hard to call it 'My First' when they now have a version for infants. Seriously. It's called 'Little Touch', for six-month olds. They have stuff from that age to sixth grade, probably beyond. I keep waiting for one for college students... guess that's a side effect from living too close to a 'major' university. 

 

You may remember I was working on an alteration for the simple blouse pattern from Fashion Doll Fun, because the one I made Leia was too tight in the arms. My first trial with the slightly enlarged version is pictured in yesterday's blog, if you can see around the belt ! Since Leia's arms are nearly the same soft, rubbery vinyl as her legs, anything snug is a real pain to get on her. Even if I use cornstarch powder.

 

Well, I think I finally have it. Took a ruler and marker to the current pattern, folded and cut and traced. Did a test run with the revised pattern in the omnipresent red fabric - but this time with black thread ! While I need to work on my top-stitching around curves, it came out fantastic. Still bunches a bit at the shoulders, but the original pattern does the same thing on regular Barbie-size dolls, so it's OK. And, guess what, we're nearly out of red fabric. Maybe a pair of Capri pants can be found in what's left, and afterwards, it'll all be tiny shreds. I don't know why the idea of using all of it makes me happy, but it does.

 

I love having all my patterns scanned and in the computer. I can print one, make changes to it, but still have the original. And then, if the alteration works, I can scan it and make more anytime, too.  Some sewists say they won't sit down to their machine without a serger. I wouldn't want to sew without a scanner/printer ! 

 

And I wonder - since I enlarged it, then changed the sleeves, the side seams, and the neckline, does it count as a new pattern that can be legally shared for free ? There's precious darn little for Leia dolls out there. 

 

Took Dearest Son to Dollar Tree. It was so funny, he told me exactly what he was gonna buy (I let him choose two things usually) before we left, and that's exactly what he did get ! It's getting harder to get me to spend money, though. I'd thought to get a special box for his baby teeth, but I remembered I had one already that was too small for what I'd intended to make for Elphie. Perfect for his teeth, though. I then toyed with the idea of getting a plastic shoebox for Leia's new wardrobe, since most of it's too big for Barbies. But then I remembered that 1) Beloved Hubby has new shoes, hence a bigger cardboard shoebox and 2) I still have a 20c pencil box from last year's back to school clearance sales that's just sitting around. 

 

They didn't have any sewing notions I wanted, either. So I ended up just getting some fancy herb crackers that are quite tasty.  At least those we didn't already have ! :)

And now, a very special episode of 'The Young and The Toothless'...
Mood:  a-ok
Now Playing: "Herbie: Fully Loaded" - yeah, we bought him his own copy...

 

While Leia and I have been busy with minor things, we do have a major announcement here at Chez Insanity. Dearest Son lost his first baby tooth ! (sigh) I thought I had another year or so, but it's that time, I just need to get used to it. His smile is still the sweetest, and I'm glad Beloved Hubby took care of the slight pull. The tooth itself is safely in a small wooden box, and Son is none the worse for wear. Actually, he's doing OK - he got his own copy of Herbie: Fully Loaded, and we got him a Happy Meal for being so brave. I'm seriously tempted to go get another one, the treasure chest he got is seriously cool !

 

In minor but more doll-related news, I finally got all the elastic I salvaged from all those yard sale bras put away. Had to get a larger bag to put ‘recycled elastic (colors)' in. There's also ‘decorative elastic (new)', ‘cord elastic', ‘narrow elastic (new)', recycled elastic (white)', and ‘misc. pieces' bags. It sounds silly, but when I'm looking for something specific, the organization makes it a lot easier to find. And yes, I do have that darn much elastic !

 

While I was bra-shredding, I kept a couple of sliders on their elastics. Idea was that I'd make a belt out of ‘em, since it was still attached. Made three today, and used one to make a matching belt and headband.

 

Yeah, the bra it came from was pretty wild, too. But the black 'buckle' you can see on the belt was originally sewn there for the bra - all I did was mark where to cut it, Fray-Check the ends, and sew a snap to the inside. 

 

The matching headband wasn't quite long enough - or stretchy enough - so it has a short length of cutaway black elastic sewn to the Fray-Checked ends. Now it slides on to fit. While neither look great with this particular outfit, it's an idea ! 

 

Plus it's been a while since I shared a photo. I'd post one of Son's new gap-toothed grin, but he got tired of the flash from the shots I sent Gramma and Granddad and wouldn't pose anymore. And he can be a real bear if I share without getting a signed model's release from him...

 

Still working on adapting that blouse in the photo. And I'm also gonna try to make one of the never-produced prototype outfits Kenner had made for her. It's a basic jumpsuit, and the outfit - including a shot of the actual pattern ! - is shown here - http://www.toysrgus.com/index.php?action=disp_item&item_id=39560 . Sorry about the ugly text - I can' t do links anymore on the blog. Darn Tripod update !

 

Anyway, we'll see if I can use that photo to develop my own pattern. Wish me luck - and time !  

Goodbye July...
Mood:  chillin'
Now Playing: XM 71 - Watercolors

 

Kind of a dull Monday, too. Summer school is over, which is good as Leia-chan's radiator leaked again Saturday afternoon. Took Beloved Hubby some lunch at the shop, and there was another puddle. But she drove home fine. I think I put too much water in her the other day,  and it's possible the leak is the excess venting out under pressure. At least, we hope.

 

Hancock Fabrics has another 'half-off the notion wall' sale Friday. I'll probably go, get some snap fasteners. Ordered a bunch off eBay a few weeks ago, but most were too large to use. I mean, these things are ginormous ! I had to go back and look at the auction page, as they didn't look that big when I bought 'em. Oh, well. Live and learn, and don't do it again !

 

Ever since our W-M reorganized, the notions are few and none. There's now one card of snaps, four sizes to the card. One size I can't use, and it's 1/3 of the card. It's good I don't want any more fabric, because that's been about halved. I'm sure Hancock's and Hobby Lobby love that ! 

 

Got to watch an episode of the live-action Sailor Moon TV series on YouTube.com. I knew it'd be cheezy, but whew. I feel sorry for the actors. The 'sailor' uniforms look to be about half foam-rubber, half Lycra, and the actors actually look small inside the clothes. They got a fantastic Queen Beryl, but the poor guys playing minions Nephlyte and Kunzite are really having to ham it up just to make their over-the-top costumes move with them. I'm still making the mental adjustment to Naru (Molly) being accentless and having only a red tinge to her hair, and Neffy being a *real* redhead. I mean, his hair is Crayola red ! 

 

 Also, most of the actors have to play against digital sparkle effects that of course aren't there, and a tiny remote-control toy Luna, so it can't be easy for them. What's kind of cute in a cartoon really looks...ridiculous in live-action. Odd as it sounds, the live-action is more cartoonish than the animated series ! 

 

Speaking of red, I made Leia a blouse today - a simple shirt from Fashion Doll Fun, enlarged a bit. Sleeves are still tight, though, so I'll have to fix that on the pattern manually. Looks good with the shorts I made yesterday. Photo's been added to the tunic suit one on the Barbie page.  Got the snaps sewn on and everything.

 

Not sure what tomorrow's gonna bring - except August !  

Of course I'm out of my mind - it's dark and scary in there !
Mood:  cool
Now Playing: "The Aristocats" - as "Herbie" had to go back to the video rental store

 

Quiet day. It's also Day #2 of me not going to Prego. Helps that Beloved Hubby needed the terminal for work, but I'm done there, as stated before. After reading a few choice comments Friday - no eavesdropper ever hears well of themselves -  I really don't belong.

 

I do belong in front of a sewing machine when I'm in the mood for it, though ! Knocked out a pair of Leia shorts, but couldn't print up any more patterns (Hubby on terminal), so I sewed snaps on a bunch of backlogged doll clothes. Dearest Son appreciated the company on the sofa, and even consented to watch an MST3K episode. Unusual for him, because even though he can sing most of the theme song, there's other tapes he'd rather watch. 

 

So, once that was caught up, I was again at a loss. Leafed through some old doll magazines, played with Son.  Took a nap. So it was a quiet day. You'd think I'd get bored enough to clean, but I don't think anyone gets that bored. And every so often, especially after a turbulent week, it's good to just meander in your mind. 

Moving on...
Mood:  a-ok
Now Playing: "City on Fire" - MST3K DVD, Season 0 (the KTMA years)

 

Sorry I'm late getting today's entry going. Usual Saturday - everything going on at once !

 

I'm still recovering a bit from yesterday. Been wondering if I didn't misread some posts, kinda smarting from a few insults that mention me without using my name. Oh, &%$@ it. I did what I felt was right, and I did it without insulting anybody. Something others on that damh Prego pit clearly can't accomplish. Thanks, John, and everyone else who wrote without referring to me as numerous other creatures.

 

I sometimes think that the way to tell if you did the right thing is by how much it hurts.  There's been several times I stood up for myself, and several times I've had to go away and lick wounds for a bit before I could stand up again. Part of the cost, I know. 

 

Anyway, it's not like dwelling on it improves the vintage. Crap is crap, it's just new crap or old crap. About the only difference is how much of it you allow yourself to smell before you do something about it. 

 

There's a new Leia photo on the Barbie page. After the super-tight black skirt mess, I remeasured her, but it didn't change the DSD pattern. So I went into the 'Ease' menu and added 3/4" ease to the hips. It's just a fix for that one pattern, but since pants and the red skirt fit fine, I didn't want to alter the measurements any more than I had to. I'll just have to remember next time I use peachskin fabric.

 

New skirt worked up fine, and I think it looks good. I love making simple skirts and pants. If things come together well, they each take less than an hour. Unless ya gotta fray-check stuff. And peachskin frays like anything !

 

Didn't have much time for more sewing today - Dearest Son barfed in our bed Friday afternoon and didn't say anything. He wasn't acting at all ill. He's fine now, too. Just meant I had four loads of laundry this morning, and actually, those pillows needed it anyway. For fun tonight, I drew a '53' logo on his chest in purple Cars marker, and he raced around the house, pointing to it and saying he was Herbie. Why do I get the feeling that his first car will be a Beetle ? Was sorely tempted to add red and blue stripes...

 

Well, I'm going back to bed. My tummy's hurt off and on since Thursday, and believe it or not, that makes me tired ! I't's long been my storied opinion that when your bed isn't sanctuary, isn't the most comfy place in the whole house, something may be a bit wrong !  I love our bed...

OK, that's it. I'm done. Prego can burn in hell without me.
Mood:  irritated
Now Playing: XM 71 - Watercolors (a calming effect sorely needed right now)

By everything that is holy on this mud-ball planet, why did I have to waste time at Prego during lunch today ? (heavy sigh) First it's the "Oh, I must have these 6587 dolls coming out this year - does anyone want the 8764 I bought last year ? I'm cutting back." attitude that pervades the place like a roiling stench. But I ignored it and made visiting Prego a part of my life while I waited for my first of only two Tonner dolls to arrive. It felt so good to be part of a group !

 

Then it's the "I'm such a wonderful guy- I own more dolls than you've eaten meals in your life, and I'm playing stupid games with all of you because I know I can, and my little minions will grind anyone who dares disagree with King W. - that's me ! - into figurative dust. I'm selling dolls you can get cheaper anywhere else, but where could you get the panache that comes from the doll being in my possession for 36 hours ? Have I bragged to you lately about all I have, and made you feel poor in comparison ? No ? Well, remain standing and I will, since I don't want you to be left out of the glory that is W." butt-plug. I didn't want to believe anyone could be such a self-centered, mindless braggart, so I said my piece, tried to understand. Came to the "I have a quarter-million dollars worth of dolls, and here's how I dust every mother-lovin' Swarovski-crystal bearing one of them"  follow-up post and knew he was what I thought he was in the first place. So I ignored him, too.

 

I ignored the ‘How can anyone possibly *like* that Wicked Witch doll ? She looks like something out of a Concentration Camp' comments. While that is opinion, couching it as ‘how can anyone not agree with me ?' was rude and judgmental. And now, I know it's merely typical.

 

It was about over when they provided support and encouragement to a woman who's swindled over 30 others, stolen, embezzled, lied under oath, and is even now trying to abuse bankruptcy law. But, according to Prego, that's OK, because she didn't swindle or screw over any doll people. Or anyone that they know. So we should support her, and never say a negative word ! People, I know right from wrong. What she's doing is wrong, even if she isn't doing it directly to me or anyone I know. Who you support shows me who you are. And if you're so d@mn determined to plug those holes in your life with her stuff, it shows me you have no scruples, no sense of fairness, no concern for anything not within the grasp of your desperate fingers. I've had enough desperation and stupid choices in my life. I don't need yours.

 

But today, they crossed the line. It's the same line they've crossed over a few hundred times, but I'm finally pizzed enough and weary enough to not want another helping. So you don't have to read it - enough folks left enough hints for me to find out what everyone's cheezed at *now* - here's the situation. There's a travel doll - if you choose, you can be part of the doll's journey. You take photos, add souvenirs, etc. while the doll is with you. Then you pack it all up and send it to the next person in line. Ancillary rules : Post photos while the doll is with you. Post any additional photos to an online photo album, so the next person can post their images without competing with yours.

 

Fairly simple rules. Yet one site star, who routinely posts numerous photos nearly every day, chose to ignore them. Even when it's not a travel doll, she posts four or five versions of the same photo - same dolls in the same positions with the same props, with only the camera that's moved - in each of her ten or so photo posts every week.  Fine, whatever, I simply avoid ‘Shutterbug' posts unless I wanna see the same stuff over and over. She does a lot of detail and prop work, and that's fine. Happy she has something to do with the long days. But she continued to post an entire album of travel doll photos every day, it seemed - long past the time she packed the doll and sent her along. In fact, the next person rarely posted any images of the doll's stay, so as to not compete with Shutterbug. The doll has even gone on to the person after that, with only two photos that aren't Shutterbug's posted.

 

The next person - let's call her Patience - to get the travel doll had enough after about a solid week of continuing Shutterbug photo posts. She nicely reminded Shutterbug to let her post her photos, and Shutterbug could put hers in the photo album. Patience didn't want to compete with SBug, but the doll was gone to the next person, and she hadn't been able to post anything yet, due to waiting for SBug to finish. SBug said she wasn't keeping Patience from posting, so as far as she was concerned, they could both post at the same time - ‘cause SBug certainly wasn't gonna stop.

 

Well, this started another of the clique wars. And I am done. Rude little comments obliquely referring to this minor incident continued to pepper the messages for days afterwards, which is annoying. If I don't know what's going on, folks, and if it's best left alone, quit referring to it ! Well, you know how I am, so I soon had the whole stupid story.

 

Of course, someone had to make a ‘I can't take all this negativity, I'm leaving !' drama call, and of course, the few people who took Patience's side were ‘evil, insensitive nasties' who should be ignored, lest all the nice people leave. Um, guys, look around. About 20 people post messages. Everyone else either just posts stuff for sale, or lurks, probably scared of setting off another drive-by insulting, or unwittingly crossing a site star with (gasp !) a different opinion !

 

I'd had it when one little Pregoite said that some mean nasty people just like to hear themselves talk, so I let her have it. I'm mean and nasty because I have a different opinion ? Well, you're gonna hear mine, honey. Like it or not. Only reason I didn't get involved with the Bankruptcy B!tch situation in my post is because I didn't want my words deleted until someone read them, d@mn it !

 

So you don't have to go lookin' for it, here's a cut/paste of my words. I don't have the clearance to post hers, so I'm not going to. If you're interested, it's easy enough to find. I am done with Prego. They're doing quite well on their own path without me.

 

So everyone who doesn't agree with your opinion is an insensitive jerk ?

Posted by Dorrie on 7/28/2006, 3:07 pm, in reply to (deleted)

Umm...maybe it's time for me to leave, too. Seems like every time there's a minor difference in opinion here, no matter what the topic was, those who don't agree with the majority are mean, evil, insensitive nasties. Yes, what was said before could have been said in a more kind fashion. But from what I can tell, the tone wasn't the issue - the message was. I happen to agree with the 'mean, evil' side. Have on several previous occasions. I also think that Sybarite dolls look like men in drag. Those views doesn't make me a bad person. They don't intend to offend those who think differently. Just means I'm someone with her own opinion who learned long ago that Prego didn't wanna hear anything but 'oh, wow !' and 'sorry your cat is sick'. So I don't share my views here. By the words of your post, anything against the collective opinion is wrong and evil. I'm not part of the Prego Collective. I am me. I will not always agree with everyone, and that doesn't make me a black-hearted troll. Just means I don't agree with some folks sometimes, and I know not to say anything or risk a board-wide condemnation, because I dared to cross the more-valued and very vocal members. If anything, the ones who spoke up at least are brave enough to do so. Or would you rather everyone who didn't agree with everyone else just go away quietly ? It would be a quieter group ! When people can't share their opinions honestly, without fear of being trounced on, or stirring clique wars, what you end up with is a yes-person group. If that's what you want, be happy ! I only come by once or twice a week, and now I see that's a waste of time. To think, I was just gonna go without any drama... At least my absence will balance out Wayne's ! DB, signing off.

 

And there it is. I've deleted Prego from any bookmarks, and if you see me there again, you have the perfect right to slap me upside the head with a wet, three-days-dead trout. Or any other deceased fish of your choice.

 

Don't I have better things to do ? And better people to share my life with ? You betcherass I do.

Tupperware and tight skirts
Mood:  a-ok
Now Playing: "Herbie: Fully Loaded" - for the third time today...

 

Kind of a busy day today, too. Ran Beloved Hubby-based errands today, and Leia-chan drove fine. I think I may be filling her up with water, too much, and the expansion's what's causing the leak. Hubby's gonna have a look this weekend. Her coolant tank levels are hard to read, so it's difficult for me to tell if she needs more or not - or when I'm adding more than necessary.

 

Errands run, I took Dearest Son to GoodWill. He found a car that folds a bit, which causes the doors and hood to fly open. I'm assuming it's simulating a car crash, but what the heck, he loves it.

 

I found a blouse I liked and just as we were walking up to the register, I spotted a handful of Tupperware miniatures, keychains and magnets. I have a few already, from when the Barbie 'must have everything' monkey resided on my back in an all-weather tent and was considering bringing relatives for visits. While I thought mini Tupperware was clever, the pieces  were actually a bit big for sixth-scale, so I rarely used them. Most came from a short-lived thrift store, some were from an Avon and Tupperware dealer's booth in a flea market. 

 

At 25c each, I scooped up two of everything - red hard plastic bowls with trademark lids, white softer plastic bowls with blue snap-on lids, and these large 'big gulp' kinda drink containers that I later discovered were miniature mixers. You can see the lot on the 'Tonner Taste' page.

 

Also did a bit of sewing. Another DSD pattern - the tunic I did yesterday, the skirt was tonight. Just to show how photos lie. I made the same skirt in red first, to test it out. Fit was great. So I did it again in black. Same actual pattern - the very same one. While the red fits fine, this one, in thinner material, using a slightly more narrow seam allowance (adjusted during the sewing), is so darn tight, I could barely get it on her. 

 

It's not that the red fabric is stretchy. It isn't. Neither is the black 'peachskin' material here. But I get to re-make it tomorrow, maybe adding a bit of ease to the hips. I have no idea why thinner material with a slightly lesser seam allowance would be tighter, but there it is.

 

It's rather a shame, because here, it looks darn good ! 

 

At least it's not a total loss. With a slight repositioning of the snap, it fits standard Barbies just great. Annoying, but I'd rather fit it to another doll and make another - it's not like I don't have more fabric ! - than scrap the whole thing. It's only an hour, start to finish, but I do like to have something to show for my sometimes off efforts !

 

 Plus, I Fray-Checked the whole thing. This peachskin stuff frays with no encouragement from me. I think it took more time for the F-C application than it took to sew the skirt ! So I'm glad it's not going into the trash. I swear, though, one day, I'm gonna edge an entire doll outfit in clear nail polish. It's cheaper, smells as bad, and it's easier for me to brush that stuff on than it is to get that perfect F-C bottle squeeze tension going while I drag fabric over the tip.

 

And, heck, I know what I'm sewing tomorrow ! Since I'm gonna redo the pattern, I may make it a bit longer. As-is, it's kind of an 80s look, with those slightly oversized buttons, but I do like it.