I'm back to Elphie's story !
Mood:  a-ok
Now Playing: XM 80s - ' Perfect World', Huey Lewis and the News

I used a different photo on the Home page, but I actually prefer this one, so I wanted to share it with you here.  I like to save the good stuff for  you, when I have it. 

 

Anyway, as mentioned, a similar image is at Home, with a story. Don't worry, it's a happy ending ! Just hope I have time to sew it !

 

This was a women's blouse - or maybe a girls', it was darn small ! In either case, the nice lady only charged me for a kids' shirt, so that was nice. The trim around Elphie's ankles was already on it, but I took it off and redid it, to get the angle I wanted. I only kinda got it, but it was fun !

 

As you can tell, it's a simple tube, angled at the ankles. The blouse already had elastic at the top, so I used it. Took me longer to get two good photos - that didn't reflect of Elphie's left eye - than it did to sew the dress. I really need to get her some plain black pumps. The ones here are OK, but sleek solid black would probably look better.

 

The chaise she's sitting on was also at GoodWill. I have no idea who it was made for, it looks like something Gene would have. Elphie's bare feet dangle about a half-inch off the ground when she's sitting all the way back, so it definitely wasn't made for the shorter Gene. But it certainly is pretty !

 

Packed a new-to-me case - it's a square see-through one, clear and silver, like a squared-off footlocker, with a handle - full of everything I'd need to sew snaps while I waited for Dearest Son's class-day to end. Got the needle all threaded to install snaps on Mia's jumper when - "Mraahiow ?". Tuna had hitched a ride and didn't let me know she was there until we got to school ! It was too late to take her home and come back, and one van window is permanently down now, so it was a tense few minutes. If she jumped out while I was getting Son buckled in, there was no way I'd be able to chase and catch her.

 

But I guess she understood that, because she curled up on a seat and slept. Son thought it a wonderful lark, and laughed about it all the way home. He wouldn't have been so happy if he knew I'd planned on taking him to Dollar Tree after school, and Tuna's presence required us to go straight home !

 

Did a few more snaps, and that was about it for excitement and doll stuff for the day. I hope to make Elphie's matching earrings and a second outfit for another doll - I wonder who ? - tomorrow. Hope your sleep is sweet tonight !  

My back hurts...
Mood:  chillin'
Now Playing: XM 80s - 'Bang a Gong', Power Station

 

...but it's a good kind of hurt, the kind that's temporary, and was earned doing something fun. Just spent an hour and some more cleaning all the sixth-scale (i.e., Barbie size) dolls. The dust on Naru and Neffy was pretty thick, I noticed, so today, I cleaned everybody. Shelves, too. Last time I did that, I think, was the time Dearest Son got a hold of the cornstarch powder and applied it liberally to all my dolls ! 

 

 And I embarassedly (is that a word ?) redressed a few who were still in their issue clothing. Five of my seventeen male dolls were sadly neglected, especially considering that I haven't bought a new doll in that size in over a year. So, while I was cleaning, I was dressing, too !

 

Why the male dolls ? Well, unlike the over-abundance of second-hand Barbies, it's pretty rare to find used male dolls in good shape. So most of mine were bought new on markdown , or were bought off eBay, in pristine but no-box-cheap. And often, there's not a lot to change them into ! For every hundred fashion doll dresses, there's maybe one male outfit. It was this lack that got me into sewing - but women's fashions are almost always more interesting to sew ! So only Fiyero's benefitted, and that's because he arrived nekkid and I was too broke to buy him stuff.

 

So today, First Issue Happy Family Alan (2 for 1 TRU sale), First Year Cali Guy Ken ($5.), Ken as Shaggy from Scooby Doo (50c at a yard sale), and Stars 'n Stripes Army Ken ($6. shipped, off eBay) got new clothes. Generation Guy Blaine (First Issue, $4. off eBay) remains in his cool disco outfit, because I like it.

 

Got a few surprises, too - Alan's t-shirt and the one on top of it are separate pieces - it was hard to tell, as packaging threads still held them together, and Mattel's notorious for making two-piece outfits one piece. Cali Guy Ken doesn't have the molded brief hips - he's just like the Ken I remember as a kid. With 'the bump'. You know what I'm saying. Once the gunk got rinsed out of his hair, that odd cowlick of hair smoothed down, and he had jeans instead of those rust-colored corduroys, Shaggy didn't look nearly so goofy. While Army Ken was a used-only-once headmold on a standard 1991 Ken body, he somehow looked more buff than Cali Guy and the other Ken guys. 

 

It was satisfying to get everyone cleaned up. I really enjoyed it, and I could swear, I was seeing them all over again. Switched them around, being careful to keep couples together, but trying to give everyone 'someone new to talk to' ! I know it's silly. But it's also fun ! 

 

Also redid a bit of the Barbie page. You'll be seeing more updates there, now that everyone's clean and ready for their close-ups ! I also have to get everyone redressed for Fall - I don't like my dolls catching colds or getting overheated ! 

 

For now, though, it's dinnertime, and I still have to cook it. See ya tomorrow !  

Neffy and Naru's photos - you see 'em here first !
Mood:  a-ok
Now Playing: XM 150 - Uncensored Comedy

 

Well, I did it. I stared at the anime images of Nephlyte and Naru (aka Neffy and Molly), and picked up the scissors. There was another reason I was unsatisfied with these dolls - Nephlyte had too much hair ! I cut out a handfull of it from the undersides, mourning how I'd cut it earlier, but before long, I was much more satisfied with the 'finished' doll.

 

But before I could do their photo shoot, I had some work to do. Spent over two hours cleaning, sorting, arranging and tossing Dearest Son's toys. Got a bagload of donations (stuff he hasn't touched except to get to other stuff since 2003) and two loads of broken pieces and assorted mixed-in trash. He still has an abundance of toys, but now it's a bit more managable.

 

At least until Christmas. (sigh) He was happy to have the 'play space' back, and agreed to help me keep it picked up. He then fell asleep two hours before his usual bedtime, on the markdown Spiderman 2 carpet/playmat I got him because it looked like city streets, and was darn well made for $5. For some reason, the day I clean up his toys, he's soooo tired !

 

Oh, and you get to see it here first - Neffy and Naru's comparison photo !

 

This is after his haircut, and I wanted you to see how they're supposed to look. It's been great to spend some time with them ! They're my favorite anime couple, and making their dolls helped me get over a few things. 

 

They both got rerooted, but only Molly/Naru got a repaint. I altered her eye color and reddened her lips a bit. I also ditched the yellow moon earrings (she was originally a Sailor Moon doll) for tiny gold stars. Her hair is pulled back and her trademark bow (it's black here) is on a pin slipped in between. Originally, her hair was held back with a brown rubber band, but it either rotted or broke (or both), so now a small snap-clip does the job. I may need to trim her hair, too. 

 

They both got boil perms, which accounts for the waves. The perms were done in 2001, and withstood numerous brushings yesterday. Clothes are standard Mattel stuff - they're a bit smaller than Barbie and Ken, all over. 

 

I hope to have some time to redo the Barbie page tomorrow. I've never really liked it, and I'd rather shift the focus to the custom dolls rather than the clothes. After all, Babs and co. have millions of garments, but there's darn few of my customizations ! Just not sure how I'm gonna do it yet. I may instead post the dolls that mean the most to me, with a brief 'bio'. Especially when they're wearing clothes I made ! :)

 

Found the shirt I bought at that junk shop Saturday. It's from #1624,  'Fun at the Fair'. I just have the shirt, but since I only paid $1. for it on a doll, that's fine with me ! It's in remarkably good shape, just a few loose fray threads and a snap that came off on one side, but is still there. Even the faux buttons are both there. Once I get it cleaned up and fixed, I'll post the image - probably on Midge !

 

It's funny about the junk shop. I used to go about every three months. They had a wall of toys,  haphazardly tossed into various bins, any which way. It was always fun to root around in there. I found the very Maxie doll I wanted, and my #2 brunette painted-hair Ken there. I think the Maxie cost more, at $2. ! I even found a very worn 80s Ideal-made Shirley Temple once. This doll had been very well loved by a child, to be that tired ! I realize what a cultural icon Shirley is/was, but there are times I get tired of the endless articles about her in doll magazines. I'd rather read about Dusty and Crissy and gimmick Barbies, but that's just me.   

 

Anyway, when I went Saturday, it'd been a year or more since my last visit. Some things had changed, but it was still a dusty temple of hope, and I beelined it for Toys. There must have been over 200 Barbie dolls - my arms actually started to ache going through them all. Nothing vintage this time, save the blouse, but the blonde array was endless. Saw about six Kiras, about twelve Teresas, and five or six Disney Princesses, even some small-scale Skippers, but only three male dolls. Found a scratched Western Stampin' Tara, and I thought about getting her, but her legs were badly damaged, and I don't have the spare dolls to go head/body matching anymore.

 

In the end, the 'Fair' blouse was on a painted swimsuit Teresa, so I just bought her. They don't sell doll clothes separately. Teresa's been cleaned, redressed, and stored for the next charity who calls. I've been beating back the urge to go back to the junk shop with a trunk full of clothes and some good hair brushes all week. Just spend a few hours brushing hair, dressing nudes, and making them all look their best so they find homes.

 

Oh, don't I wish I could !  

 

 

Molly, Neffy, and me...together again !
Mood:  party time!
Now Playing: Dearest son snores.

 

Had a fun half-hour this evening cleaning up Nephlyte and Naru for their photo shoot tomorrow. A long time ago, I promised some folks photos of them both - although Naru is portrayed on the Barbie page, her hair has since changed - and for many reasons, I never followed through.

 

A long, long time ago - about five years now - I got tired of sighingly longing for *somebody* to make dolls of my favorite Sailor Moon characters, Naru and Nephrite (original Japanese) aka Molly and Nephlyte (English translation). Being minor characters who are seldom seen past the first season, it was unlikely they'd be produced by Bandai (the license holder in most countries) in sixth scale. Despite the fact that Sailor Moon had pretty much circumnavigated the globe, no commercially-made dolls of either character was ever made. 

 

Sailor Moon hit the North American airwaves about 1995. I bought several of the made for the US market 'no nose' Bandai dolls, but I never really liked them. A second wave of Moon madness hit in 1998 when Cartoon Network not only re-ran the previous series, but ordered more episodes from later seasons translated and dubbed. Since the original dolls and toys (which were, admittedly, on the campy side) had long since been clearanced, Irwin Toys stepped into the fray. 

 

These dolls were a *vast* improvement, IMhO. They actually had noses, the costumes and shoes were better, and they seemed to have that certain something that the first series lacked. After a big opening, however, these dolls also undersold, leading to most fans finding the entire doll series on markdowns of around $5. each. 

 

In 2001, I was living in the heart of outlet central. I had my choice of three stores to score the Sailor cast at that great price, and I found all but one that I wanted. Saturn was found four states away and traded with an online buddy. So I had the dolls I couldn't afford when they were Japanese imports, didn't like when they first came out...but I had a shelf fulla sailors now ! Wheee ! I found Barbie clothes and even Barbie shoes that fit, and life was good.

 

But...it wasn't enough. I still wanted Molly and Neffy. Should I dare learn to reroot and make my own ? It seemed an outrageous idea at the time. My family was quite strict about my toys when I was a kid - I once got chewed out in whispers at a PTA-based school assembly when mother-unit discovered I'd taken down Ballerina Barbie's hair. In retrospect, it was kind of silly of them to expect me to keep my dolls pristine - they were toys. And I ended up giving them away less than three years later. So the notion of removing perfectly good rooted doll hair because little ole me didn't like it, and then rerooting what I did want...it bordered on heresy !

 

Besides, everyone knew that rerooting was an expensive, exacting skill. If you wanted a doll of yours rerooted, you'd have to send it to a doll hospital a few states away and hope she came back in six months - after you paid the $300. or so bill ! So I fidgeted and thought...and bought two more markdown Sailor dolls, a Moon and a Tuxedo Mask. 

 

I decided to gain some experience before I granted my own wish, so with cheap Sally Beauty Supply hair, junker Barbie heads, and online directions, it began. As it turns out, rerooting isn't that hard. Just tedious as h#ll, and it takes time. I never got good at it enough to watch TV at the same time, but I could leisurely do a Barbie head a month, in colors I wanted. Barbie was still mostly blonde-only at that time, but Mattel was starting to sell other hair colors, too.  Still, there for a while, I was making a childhood dream come true, too - I had a brunette Barbie all my own.  Then one with lavender hair that really looked great !

 

So. It was time. I scalped Moon first, and fitted her with a temporary wig from a Dollar Tree doll - it was the first time I'd done the 'cheap wig' thing ! Yep, Molly was the basis for the 'Give Ken Some Hair' page ! I soon found out that the Irwin dolls weren't quite like Barbie - the head vinyl was thicker, and there was a sort of 'shelf' within that made guiding the needle harder. But I persevered, and when Molly was done, I started in on Neffy.

 

A month later, still in 2001, I had my Molly and Neffy. I was proud and happy. I made my own dream come true ! So...why has it taken me five years to do a simple photo shoot ? Well, there were other things going on. Had some real issues to deal with, and I took my anger and frustration and grief out on myself, and those dearest to me, Beloved Hubby, Dearest Son, and my dolls. I had to put away most of the Barbie-scale dolls - almost all I had - away, so I wouldn't hurt them. How could something I made be worth anything ? I didn't deserve to enjoy anything ! I wanted to destroy both Molly and Neffy, because they were products of me, and I was utterly worthless. So I hid them away, to protect them. 

 

 I've dealt with a lot of that since - it's not bravery or anything, I just didn't have a choice, it was interfering with my entire life ! - and while I couldn't really look at them, I had them out, and I'd have no more donated or destroyed them than I'd spray-paint the Sistine. My stuff wasn't art, but it was loved...and maybe someday I'd see that, instead of anger and frustration, instead of seeing all the errors and the badly cut hair. 

 

I guess today was that day. I took them down, gave them both a thorough dusting, and brushed their hair for the first time in years. Yeah, it's not perfect on either of them. Molly's bangs still don't cover her Sailor Moon tiara holes, and Neffy's long locks are uneven still. But I remember the surge of power I felt when they were done, the pride at doing what I didn't think I could - or even should - do, and finally having what I wanted and knowing it. There'd never be another set like mine, and that was also wonderful. 

 

So tomorrow, we're doing a photo shoot. It'll be inside, as our camera's still spazzing out at sunshine, but I'm looking forward to it. The lovers smiled at me as I cleaned them, and I felt...connected.

 

Maybe that's what I've been missing all this time.  

Sometimes, I just can't stand it...
Mood:  blue
Now Playing: XM 80s - "In My Dreams", REO Speedwagon

 

I went ahead and posted Mia's new jumper photo on the Home page, because I'd written Beth Colvin (formerly Beth Gunther), author of Crissy Doll and Her Friends, to tell her of the patterns and misc. I knew. Figured she'd rather see the photos on the site rather than get unexpected photo attachments in her e-mail. To make up for that blunder, I'd like to show you a photo of my Belles..

 

Crissy is wearing Interactive Belle's ball gown (Playmates, 2002), Mia relishes modeling 'Before Once Upon A Time' toddler Belle's play dress (also Playmates 2002), and ever-lovely Princess Leia relaxes in a satin and velvet gown from the 'Perfectly Princess' line of soft Disney dolls (Playmates 2003). There is another 'Perfectly Princess' line by Hasbro, but those dolls wouldn't clothe a Leia action figure, much less mine here !

 

And now, to the title of today's notes. Sometimes I just can't stand it. Two years ago, I fell in love with a doll completely out of my league. She was bigger, more expensive, and I seriously believe any of these dolls would self-destruct before allowing herself to be found in a thrift store or yard sale. Plus, her manufacturer tended to attract *serious* doll folk, the ones who bemoan the 853 in their closet while they're pre-ordering their next 167. If I thought the 'country club' mentality of Barbie collectors got bad at times, well, these fans could teach lessons in black-belt snobbery. If they realized they were snobs, it was more of a second-nature with some of these folk. Not all, just some. 

 

Ended up buying the doll - or rather, Beloved Hubby did, as a combined anniversary present and Valentine's day gift. You know her well, her name here is Elphie.  And because of her, my thrift-store Barbie ways kind of bit the dust, along with my interest in Barbie herself. I'm still struggling with the 'Barbie and me' part of my life - does Barbie still have a place in my life ? Is my interest waning now that I truly have a doll who represents me that I'm happy with ? Or was I only into Barbie in the first place 'cause she was cheap ? I had a happy history with Barbie - but what was our future ? Was there one ? 

 

Those issues continue. There's aspects of Barbie I still love, there's others I still hate. Many of my issues are more with Mattel than with their product, but I can't separate them completely. Lotta things Mattel does just burn me up, and I react with noxious glee when I hear Barbie sales are down for the eighth or fifteenth quarter in a row. 

 

(sigh) So, while all this is going on, I find this, while I'm researching a vintage Barbie blouse I bought at a junk shop today (old habits die hard):

 http://dollattic.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/product2482.html

 You really might want to go have a look at it. I'll wait here for a while. 

 

Ok, you're back. So. Evidently Mattel realized it missed the boat by ignoring all the fans who asked for a Barbie-size Wicked Witch over ten years ago, and will soon have its own out in March '07. Despite the fact that Dorothy was originally available in 1994, Glinda in 1995, they've decided to redo the entire line. Dorothy looks even worse, IMhO. http://dollattic.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/product2481.html    <- Same cheap-azz rayon dress, though...'Dorothy' looks less like an innocent ingenue and more like somebody smacked Paris Hilton with a dead fish and dyed her hair while she was out cold. And Pari..I mean, 'Dorothy' is still a bit red-eyed and bleary, and not at all happy about this d@mn yellow road. 

 

Am I getting this Barbie Witch ? Oh, hell, naw. In many ways, Mattel did me a major favor by ignoring its fans once again, leading me to explore other alternatives. But I still feel like they're yet again riding other manufacturer's coat-tails. Elphie is still a vastly superior doll - even in their own studio photos, their WW is stiff armed and not as expressive. But it does look like they took careful note of Tonner's pensive expression and gave it to theirs, as well.

 

I know, it's silly of me to get upset about it. Mattel's gonna do what it always does, market and sell whatever'll make them money. The fact that it's too late and too derivative for some of their intended audience won't matter a whit to them. At least they didn't make their WW ugly - but then again, neither did Tonner, and theirs sold, big time. It's just like Mattel to rip someone else's idea, or let someone else go first before they decide to throw in. 

 

It saddens me that I'm once again disappointed in Mattel - when I thought I didn't care anymore.  (sigh)

I sew, therefore I exist. So there !
Mood:  not sure
Now Playing: YouTube - the promo for Star Wars Lego II !

 

Sort of an up-and-down day. I'm happy because it looks like The Monarch and Dr. Girlfriend are back together (Apologies - that makes zero sense if you're not a Venture Bros. fan), *and* I found out that Star Wars Lego II is available for PCs, so I don't have to wait until we can afford a PlayStation 2 ! 

 

I sewed a new ensemble for Mia - using the Doll Reader pattern from Aug/Sept 1987. Mia now has panties, a hair scrunchie, and a jumper dress that match, and look really cute on her. For some reason, Doll Reader patterns never have 'cut 2' on them anywhere, and it's rarely mentioned in the directions. Yeah, I know, it's not often necessary- I mean, you're always gonna have to cut 2 sleeves ! But on this one, it would have been nice to know you needed a front skirt and a back one. I ran out of lace, so about two inches in the back is trimmed with a different kind. I promise to post a photo tomorrow. Right now it's kind of late, and I still wanna Blog some more. 

 

Had another few  'Do I exist ?' moments today. The fabric I used for Mia's clothes came from GoodWill. Surprisingly, the Crissy doll is gone, but Cinnamon is still around. They moved her to the cabinet display. Anyway, found this floral remnant that reminded me of the roses in Mary Englelbreit fabric, and I liked the background shade of blue. Knew it would look great on Mia ! So I went to buy it...and I entered another personal wormhole. Lady in front of me was debating whether or not to buy the stuff she brought to the register, one piece at a time. She also wanted to see about eight things on display behind the counter and some just-donated jeans. Not a big deal, I wasn't in much of a hurry. I just think things go easier when you've already made up your mind what to buy *before* you take it all to the cashier.

 

The pair behind me had a shopping cart full of stuff, too. I had this one bit of fabric, and that was all. So, of course, they open another register, and while the second cashier looks dead at me, starts ringing up the folks behind me. Of course, the lady in front of me is still debating the tarnished silver service and wants a bigger discount on the swim trunks...

 

I know I shouldn't take it personally. It's just that, when the cart-folks were all done and rung up, and the lady in front of me is still haggling and shopping, he again gestures to the person behind me and rings her up. This time I'd about had it and deliberately stood behind her. Maybe sometime this week, I'd get my 25c remnant...

 

Well, I sort of did. Despite the fact that it was less than half a yard, he charged me the full yard price. By now, I just wanted to be gone. I slowly counted out the change using the smallest coins I had. I know, I'm petty. But at least he won't need pennies for a while. I had quite a few.

 

I'm still trying to figure things out. I know no one meant to ignore me.  But d@mn, that's how it felt ! And they wonder why I don't go out much...

 

At least I exist when I sew ! And despite the slight errors in Mia's outfit, it's darn cute, and I'm proud of it. I hate to cut myself off from people, but it's a lot less damaging to my psyche when I do !

 

Maybe I'll feel better after some sleep...or a small shot of Captain Morgan in my orange soda !  Wheeee !

Ever wonder if you exist ?
Mood:  incredulous
Now Playing: XM 71 - Watercolors

 

I mean, really wonder if you actually have corporeal form ? Sometimes I wonder. Just yesterday, when I had to do the run-around for the right color drinks for Dearest Son's turn at snacks, I went to the Mart. Yes, one could (and probably should) say I had it coming. But anyway...

 

Several times I had to dodge out of someone's way. Really. Twice I had to dive into an aisle I had no intention of visiting, once I had to swerve to avoid these people who, while they were clearly awake and pushing large steel shopping carts, just were not registering anything beyond whatever occupied them. Blank faces that didn't reflect anything, any emotion, any recognition. After the third 'duck and cover', I had to beat down the insane urge to on-purpose smash into the next 'Obliviant', just to get them to recognize that, yes, other people do occupy space and have mass...often not five feet from their noses. Even if all I got was the blank "WTF ?" stare, at least it'd be focused on someone...not oblivion.  

 

To add to the fun, the cashier addressed the person behind me in line, while I was standing right there.  I'd made two efforts to recognize her, but I didn't get a grunt in reply. So I went home in a funk, trying to figure out if I did exist or not.

 

What's sad is, I'm still not sure... 

Saw an interesting Barbie today...
Mood:  a-ok
Now Playing: XM 150 - Uncensored Comedy

 

Had to go back to the Mart today - Dearest Son's turn to provide the class snack is Friday. I had the snack, but bought the wrong drinks. Since the classrooms have new carpet (!), they've asked us to not send red-colored drinks. I bought a box of various flavors, and one of them's red. Darn. So I had to return 'em and get Capri Sun pouches, which are not artificially colored (i.e., staining). 

 

And, like all of us do, I hit the Toys section, even though there's rarely anything there that's interesting. The big Barbie movie-tie-in for 2006 is 'Twelve Dancing Princesses', as you're already probably aware. I have to admire it - instead of selling one doll, you have the chance to push twelve ! Wonder how many princes there are...?

 

Anyway, there was one that was a bit different. Heck, she was almost Elphie size ! Here's a link to the doll I'm talking about - 'Dance With Me Barbie' -> http://www.kbtoys.com/genProduct.html/PID/4718147/ctid/17?cpncode=12-12655931-2&srccode=cii_9324560

There's also an African-American version of the same doll. IMhO, she's prettier.

 

According to various websites, she's 15 inches tall - I measured her from en pointe feet to crown at 14, but she's in a plastic sarcophagus - either way, a bit shy of Elphie's height. I'd consider buying her to rip the outfit, but the doll's $55. at the Mart, and Elphie wouldn't wear a pink tutu on this planet ! 

 

Still, it's a neat doll. Has three modes - she'll dance on her own to her music, will teach you to dance by showing the position, or you can put on these little sensors and she'll copy your moves. Pretty darn cool ! Her arm and leg joints are similar to those of Tonner dolls, and her feet are permanently in pink ballet shoes. You may wanna check her out, add her to your holiday 'I'm a good person' list.  

 

Today was another run-around day. The van, now christened 'White Jade Dragon', or 'Jade' for short, needed a tire replaced and another one plugged. So I got that done early. Then I had to exchange kindergarten beverages, and by the time I got home, I was hungry ! Well, shoot, it was close to lunch...

 

Beloved Hubby came home, and we had a nice lunch together. He worked on Jade for a bit, and then it was time to pick up Son. So it's been busy, about all the 'doll time' I've had besides with the dancing Barbie, is researching Mia patterns and clothes. 

 

For a doll I didn't have until yesterday, I have numerous sewing patterns sitting here, just for Mia. There's some in Doll Reader (Aug/Sept 1987), a few in Sewing for 20th Century Dolls. I have an up-and-down relationship with 20th Century. After numerous attempts to get a Crissy pattern to fit a Crissy doll, I'm a bit reluctant to try it for other dolls.

 

Oddly, the Crissy failure is a bit of a mystery. The Crissy on the cover is wearing it, a madras plaid sundress. It's described as 'an original tagged dress', but I'll be d@mned if I can find it anywhere. I've combed through all the photos in Beth Colvin (published as Beth Gunther)'s Crissy Doll and Her Friends, of her official wardrobe by Ideal and the Christmas catalog extras, for all sizes and all manufacturers, and that dress *does not exist, anywhere, for any of the Crissy dolls, in any size*. Adding to it, the plaid is a bit large for the doll, and Crissy is wearing too-small-for-her Velvet doll shoes. 

 

So I have no idea how it's an 'original tagged dress'. And I could never get  it to fit. Finally figured it was for a Velvet-size doll, and modified it as best I could - it's the tenth photo from the top, the one with the heart-shaped buttons. This was about the sixth effort, and I never went beyond just the bodice. I'll probably try again, since Mia shares the Velvet body. 

 

Yesterday, I had a bit of time, so I gave Leia her own page. Moved the 'Flight Suit' photos over, too. Mia now has top honors, and I'm hoping to have some time to sew tomorrow. In the meanwhile, I still have to snag another DTree bear sweater, and clean some house. It's getting harder to walk in here every day !  

I bought a 'new' doll !
Mood:  happy
Now Playing: XM 150 - Uncensored Comedy

 

It's hard to believe, but I did. After all the 'I got 55 dolls, and that's enough !' statements, especially. Regardless, I bought a new-to-me doll. I've seen her before, in magazines and books, but wasn't interested. Still, I'd never seen one in-person, so to speak, and once I saw her, I couldn't leave her there. Besides, $4. was pretty darn cheap !

 

Please welcome Mia !

 

'Mia' is the issue name for this lovely 'grow hair' girl from Ideal. Yup, she's a member of the Crissy doll family. She's the same size as Velvet, listed as 'Velvet's Beautiful Friend' on her box. From what I can find about her in Crissy Doll and Her Friends by Beth Gunther, she was only out for one year, in 1971. Her eye color is listed as blue, but my Mia's look green, and I love her brunette locks ! Her hair works perfectly, no white eye mold, and aside from some play-wear scratches and some light dirt, she's in fantastic shape. If my Crissy's hair had been this nice, I wouldn't have had to reroot it !

 

On the left, of course, is her 'Before' photo. She even has matching panties under her 'Native American' costume. The shoulder seams are coming apart, and there's no hemming anywhere, the neck, sleeves, bottom edges, all raw, nothing's hemmed. It's kind of a shame, as the design's very nice. The moccasins are cute, but they're tied on with string. On the plus side, that means they'll fit most of my dolls around here, but on the negative, they're pretty saggy. 

 

And there she is on the right, cleaned up and re-dressed. She fits the outfits I've made for the Disney Princess dolls, even this one, which was altered to fit the Princesses from separates I made for a Baby Face doll. Her feet, however, are narrow like Crissy's, noticeably more narrow than the Princess dolls'. Here, she's wearing simple slides I made for her 'big sister' Crissy, but they're too big. Looks like I'll need to make her shoes all her own. Yup, after years of being a bit jealous of Isabella and her little sister Belle, Crissy now has her own little sis. :) 

 

GoodWill also had another Crissy, but 1) I already have a customized-by-me one and 2) she wasn't in very good shape. I'd never seen one of the poseable 'Movin' Groovin' Crissies before, and didn't like the super-loose waist. Her head also looked smaller, for some reason. I couldn't get her hair  to work, and her waist wobbled alarmingly.  Plus, her shoes were missing and her dress was sprinkled with rust spots, so there was nothing really there for me.

 

There was also a Cinnamon there - at 12 inches, she's the smallest of the Crissy family, listed as Velvet's little sister on packaging. She's the smallest doll in the Crissy line, but I've never really cared for her in particular. Much as I hated to break up what had to have been a Crissy collection, Mia was the only one I wanted. That impish grin is irresistable in person !

 

It was so funny. I was touring GoodWill, nothing in the Toy section you know I always check first. Unless there's 'fresh stock being placed' wagons out. I've found more dolls in the 'fresh stock' than on the shelves ! Anyway, nothin' in Toys, and my cell rang. Chatted happily with Beloved Hubby while I continued poking about. Rounded the bookshelves and - doll feet ! At first I thought they might be BabySitter's Club dolls - they're Crissy-sized, and can share clothes. Much more likely to find them (1991) than Crissy (1968) at a thrift store. But as I warp-sped my way over there, I found those three girls. Still have no idea why they were in the VHS bin, but it was a lucky find.  

 

I just hope Crissy and Cinnamon find good homes. I'm sure that, with a bit of TLC that all doll lovers have lots of, they'll be beautiful and happy.  Only problem is...now I have to go BACK to Dollar Tree, because I need another Halloween bear sweater ! Kinda wish I'd gone to GoodWill *after* I went to DTree today ! I swear, I'm the only one who's bought those ^%$# bears...

 

Run, run Monday
Now Playing: XM 71 - Watercolors

 

Mondays are normally busy. The usual back-to-school shuffle, plus Dearest Son's speech therapy, a weekend-trashed house and a bunch of errands tend to leave me with not much time to do 'my stuff' every time Monday rolls around. On the plus side, I start to really wanna sew when I can't, so it ends up good.

 

I'll head up to Dollar Tree tomorrow, for another spider-web doll sweater. When I was in high school, my best friend Becky and I had the same shirt. We didn't go shopping together, we'd each chosen that particular blouse weeks apart. But it was special to us, and most of the time we'd both wear it on the same day, even though it was rare for either of us to suggest coordinating our wardrobes. So I think Crissy and Isabelle will match, mostly because I remember a pastel blouse from around 1983, and it's a good memory.

 

Hopefully, whichever charity gets these five denuded Dollar Tree bears will find them some happiness, too !

 

Beloved Hubby's CD and Dearest Son's book arrived. When Hubby gave me the cash a while back, I went to Amazon to order both. It was one of the few things I was certain about purchasing ! Well, Son is in love with The Volkswagen Beetle, has even said he's taking it to school for reading time tomorrow. That is, if he remembers. He's alseep with it right now...

 

Sorted some doll shoes, got some stuff put away. But I think I need sleep more than craft work right now. See ya tomorrow !