Current Mood : Digitally creative ! 

Rather quiet for a Saturday. Dearest Son performed a pop star-level trashing of his room this morning - resulting in the two of us cleaning and sorting through it all for three hours. His grandparents helped him clean two weeks ago, but it was mostly packing the loose toys on top of the less-played-with toys. I asked them not to do that, because sooner or later, he'd go prospecting for something, and it wouldn't end well, but, well, it didn't end well. It's not like I haven't lived through this exact chain of events before, or know my son at all at this point. (sigh)

 About the only way to clean Dearest's room is to sort, organize, and toss as ya go, that's why it always takes forever. Dumped five full Mal-Wart sacks of broken toys and scavenged two more with outgrown-but-still-good ones to donate. Since we all hate finding junk toys at second-hand venues, you know the stuff I reclaimed is at least fairly decent. Hope someone enjoys all the Winnie the Pooh figurines.

Why the trashing ? Two years ago, amid some yard-sale Lego, I found the three pieces of a die-cast Darth Vader TIE fighter toy. Two years ago, Dearest was unimpressed. Last week, he found two out of three, and the hunt/obsession was on. We found the last piece, a wing, about ten minutes after we started. He wasn't terribly happy about having to continue the clean, but honestly, neither of us could get out of there by then ! It was clean to escape time !

From there, I spent an hour cleaning our bedroom, and three hours washing, drying, sorting, and putting away a mountain of clean clothes. I'm wiped out ! I was lying down, about to sleep, when Beloved told me he'd downloaded the latest Paint Shop Pro, for a 30-day trial. If I liked it, he'd get the upgrade for me for Valentine's.

How sweet ! I'd been whining about our current PSP for weeks. Only problem is, I was up late tonight playing with it. There's a few hundred new filters and effects, and even gradients ! So tonight, you get a simple Ariel coloring page, done in Paint Shop Pro Photo X2 - it's probably PSP 12, a noticeable improvement from PSP 5.03, which is what I've been using. She sort of looks like the old ‘Columbia Pictures' logo - I just can't resist a lens flare. It's on a ‘night' filter, with a dawnlike gradient. Tomorrow night, I'm playin' with transparencies !

About all I did with dolls was peel the pin part of the sunglasses brooches I bought yesterday off - they fit the DPrincesses perfectly ! And wash fabric. I've really got to get to sewin' something already !

Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CST

Updated: Monday, 2 May 2011 2:37 PM CDT

Share This Post

Post Comment | View Comments (1) | Permalink

Current Mood : Mixed

Spent on dolls and videotape today : $4.31 

Have ya ever bought anything, then wondered if you were happy about it, or sort of unsettled ? Happened to me today, and I realized that, any time you can say, "Remember when...", you have a connection, even if it's not one you like or want.

Now that the cryptic part of today's meanderings are done, I can try to explain m'self. Got my housework done sort of early - hey, that laundry out on the clothesline isn't gonna dry any faster with me here ! - so I contemplated the day. Simply too wired to sit still and sew. And it was such a lovely day, too, and my beloved Molly has a sunroof...

Ten minutes later, I was on my way to the junk shop. It's a bit of driving, so I only go every few months, but it's usually worth it. Today was no exception. I found a lovely Black Barbie - the first one, too, from 1980 ! Her short hair was so pretty, and I loved her Steffie face...but her chin had a gouge out of it, and her legs looked to be chewed by a possessive Rottweiler. And it's rare to find that skin tone for a replacement body, so reluctantly, she got returned to one of the three doll-filled boxes. A SuperStar Barbie floated to the top, notable because of her apparel. One, she had some. Two, it was a Best Buy fashion of an orange knit tube top matched with an orange gingham skirt. Three, she wore the ‘Fashion Photo' fuchsia/orange/yellow tulle skirt around her neck as a scarf. She even had a yellow plastic ring with a red center, and soft vinyl red ‘SuperStar' shoes.

Well, for $1., I certainly wanted that Best Buy ! And I'd always been intrigued about the 1978 Fashion Photo doll. Owners would pretend to take pictures with a plastic camera that housed pre-made images, and as the shutter clicked, the doll would ‘pose' - shifting her head and torso. Now it looked like I had one, minus most of the props.

Two versions of the wrap-around skirt from ‘Growing Up Skipper' swirled within sight and touch. I'd had so much fun with that skirt as a kid. Barbie could wear it, so could Leia (but that bold red houndstooth didn't look good on her), as could several of my stuffed animals. I once ‘spaced out' staring at it for a while. Good times. I was the only girl who had that particular doll (I also owned the only Ken in the whole subdivision for two years), and she always got passed around and shifted into teendom while a hand almost casually lingered where the bust would pop out shortly. In an effort to save her modesty - although I did it myself, pretty frequently - she never came out of that red bodysuit she came in. You'd think a doll that makes such a big deal about breasts would come with a bra instead of Lycra.

Snagged one, and reached for the other - to find it was still attached. To a Growing Up Skipper ! Now this was interesting. Despite having GU and Quick Curl Skippers as a kid, I never really liked either. In my play, Skipper tattled, got others in trouble, tagged along when her presence wasn't welcome, and was basically a priss - one of the worst things you could call another little girl when I was one. ‘Stuck up' was also frequently levied her way as a character assessment. Always a catalyst, but never a good one, that was Skipper in my youth.

And if there was money for doll clothes back in the day, it went to Barbie - even Ken got new clothes before Skipper did, so she was constantly in the Barbies' closet. And here I held one I clearly remember playing with, along with a Malibu Skipper with a chewed nose. The price tag read the same as the FP Barbie, $1. Do I want her or not ?

I must've stood there like an idiot for five minutes, holding a doll I never particularly liked, but flashing through a short eternity of ‘Remember when...' anyway. I realized that I had a bond with this doll, even if I didn't like it or her. After a while, I sighed, and rotated her right arm. I laughed - if she didn't work, there's no way I'd buy her ! She remained young. Then I remembered. It was her left arm that triggered her immaculate puberty. The shifting plate didn't engage for the first two spins, but it did on the third. Perfectly. A small gouge barely visible under surface dirt was the only mar to the still-perfect rubbery vinyl. She went back to preteen just as easily. I used to make mine jump rope - I was kind of mean back in the day.

She and FP Barbie, a second GU skirt and a fuzzy yellow vintage Skipper coat toured the rest of the store with me. Found some plastic sunglasses pins that had hinges at the temples that should be the right size for the Disney Princesses - five in a baggie for another buck. Nothing but porcelain in the Collectable Dolls nook, located half a store length's away from the bargain Barbie bins, but I found a like-new VHS copy of Disney's Sleeping Beauty. Realized that I'd only seen it once, so it went up to the register, too.

Skipper got cleaned up while we waited for Dearest Son's bus. Aside from the slight chest gouge and a single missing hair plug in the very front, she's darn near perfect. Wish me luck finding shoes for her, though. On her, this Fashion Fever blouse is a short dress, so it shouldn't be too hard to dress her. One day soon, I'll pop her head off again and reroot that missing plug. I remember mine as more of a strawberry blonde, but that could just be an interpretation. Always wondered why she had such a stumpy neck when her sis' was like a swan's, and why her scalp was painted brown when she's a blonde. I doubt this one will solve those mysteries, but it's nice to have her again. And also sort of unsettling.

Maybe it's because now, I'm meeting her anew as I'm approaching the other end of a ‘certain stage of life', and part of me is still thrilled with her version of it - and a bit jealous. But to my eyes now, GU Skipper looks older and more tired than your average tween.  Then again, she was that before the term entered popular useage, so if anyone has reason to be wiped out, it's her. Switching roles constantly at someone else's whim has to be exhausting !

It's funny how sometimes, you have to make your peace with your youth - and the dolls that were in it.

Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CST

Updated: Monday, 2 May 2011 2:36 PM CDT

Share This Post

Post Comment | View Comments (1) | Permalink

Current Mood : Lazy. 

I don't know what's with me lately. The day seems to pass by and before I know it, it's time for the bus, dinner, homework, and bed. I've let too many days go by without doing anything. Gotta get moving.

At least I've had some doll fun this week ! Restoring the three I got yesterday was a blast. Late last night, I ‘restored' the Dollar Tree Goth Snow White - mostly arranged her hair back the way it was, retied the ribbon, and gave it a quick brush. I'm sure I saw her at either Dollar Tree or Dollar General, she was just a buck. But since she's a bit over eight inches tall, I couldn't use her costume, and her gaze kind of makes me uncomfortable. Kinda cute, though, but I doubt I'll keep her. Some dolls have a destiny that just barely touches yours.

I'm also about to give up on the Dancerina doll. $30. plus $15. shipping for a nude doll that doesn't work seems a bit high to me. Most of her appeal is that she looks like Timey and Dottie, and I already have them ! I'll most likely keep my eyes open and wait for a deal or find. I was this way with ‘Baby First Step' too, and I never got her. Plus, I can't be too spendy - the Speed Racer set comes out next month or April, and I definitely want a look at it.

So, like this week, not a lot going on. I really need to sit down and sew something - like the mini trench coat I bought that pattern download for ! Don't know why I'm so lethargic lately.

Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CST

Updated: Monday, 2 May 2011 2:36 PM CDT

Share This Post

Post Comment | View Comments (3) | Permalink

Current Mood :  Slightly aching wrists from lots of hair brushing ! Otherwise, very pleased with me.

Spent on dolls and sewing today :  $5.37

Not quite as busy a day, but I still managed to squander most of it ! Before I knew it, Dearest Son's bus was on the way, and I'd promised to take him shoe shopping. His once much-loved Transformer ones were wearing out fast, and his feet were uncomfortable. For him, six months is about the right life for shoes. He's usually fast on his way to outgrowing ‘em by then, and the lights or other gimmicks don't work well anymore.

The saleslady couldn't have been nicer. She gave me a coupon and Dearest about 30 Lightning McQueen stickers - we got Cars this time. Found a few pairs I liked, too. Maybe later.

For giggles, I decided to hit the thrift about a block away. And that's where I found Aurora. Now, you can get mad at me if you want - I kind of am - but a few months back, I gave away Cinderella, for a toy drive. And now, here I am, dragging another Toddler Princess home...but I just couldn't resist. She was trapped in a baggie with a goth Snow White (photo later) from Dollar Tree and a floppy soft-body Dollar General doll with the worst case of hair frizz I've ever seen. But for some reason, I just had to have Aurora. Maybe it was her Elizabeth Taylor-level violet eyes...

Of course, her hair was a mess, and she was a bit dirty. It always amazes me when the doll's hair is wrecked, but there's still strings from the packaging attached to their clothes. Beloved Hubby commented, ‘You don't want them when they're perfect, ya know." He's right. That was part of her appeal - she needed me to be beautiful again. So after about a half-hour of  brushing and a few minutes of bathing, she was back to her original lovely. It almost seems as though she had two layers of hair - soft and shiny on top, the frizzy stuff beneath. I was lucky that the ‘ribbon' pulling her hair into a ponytail was actually her original headband. And I've pretty much decided to collect ‘em all when I find ‘em second-hand.

It's funny, because I originally only wanted Belle, back when she was listed on eBay as a Park exclusive. But the rest sort of grew on me. I've been subtly eyeing that Tinkerbell one at Mal-Wart over the last two weeks. She was out a couple years back, and I semi-regretted not getting her then. I think the main reason I've been able to resist is because she's new ! Plus, they all have the same head and body molds - only eye color and hair color and style changes. Main difference between Tink, Cindy, and Aurora is costumes - they're all blue-eyed blondes. But Playmates does a good job, they all have different shades of blue and blonde. And I still want ‘em all ! Provided I find ‘em in someone's yard sale or thrift store.

After getting Aurora settled in, I turned my attention to the wild-haired Gi-Go Toys doll. Not a lot of information about them - there's a ‘Gigo Toys', but they seem to be more science-toy than doll oriented. And frankly, she's the doll you've seen a few hundred times at thrift stores - inexpensive vinyl head and limbs, understuffed soft torso, cheap eyes, wild hair. Yet, I felt I needed to clean her up, too.

Her hair was beyond my skills. So I soaked the matted mess in the bathroom sink and used a sample size pouch of conditioner on it. Not recommended - unlike human hair, synthetic locks will never absorb the oil, and it'll dull, could attract bugs, and possibly even eventually destroy the strands. But it was either condition or trash her, and I hate to waste a good doll. She was mostly pristine, except for her hair.

About an hour later, I had a really nice doll ! Her hair was drying, it was smooth and shiny, and I put it up the way the rooting pattern suggested. Beloved couldn't believe it was the same doll. Dearest christened her ‘Baby Leia', and bore her off to sleep next to his baby, who is now named Luke. So the doll no one wanted is now a princess, and I hope she likes it here. At least she'll have plenty of company in the Lab when everyone's gone out for a while. All three dolls were in a bag for $3. Cheeep fun !

And I have something to hunt for, now that yard sale season's coming back ! I also found some tiny lace, maybe about ten yards of it, still on the cardboard bolt, for $2. I can always use tiny, inexpensive gathered lace ! This stuff even had TG&Y price stickers on it - it's been quite some time since I saw a TG&Y, even though my second-hand haunts yield stuff with their stickers frequently.

Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CST

Updated: Monday, 2 May 2011 2:36 PM CDT

Share This Post

Post Comment | View Comments (2) | Permalink

Current Mood : A bit wired and tired.

Spent on dolls so far this week : $ 13.12

Curtains are finished ! Finally got ‘em right this time. At least the fabric was only $2.  a yard, and there was plenty of it. I got lots of cutaway, too. Cheap-serged the two new half-yard pieces I bought Monday while I was at the machine - a pretty floral and a denim-look blue cotton, both from the dollar-a-yard table. Any time I can find thin cotton that'll look like denim, I snag it. I can find denim at any one of a few thousand yard sales, but the usual thickness makes it hard to sew in doll-scale. Chambray makes an excellent substitute, and it's nice and thin and easy to sew. Usually pretty cheap, too !

While I was at Mal-Wart...I went down an aisle I rarely frequent (Home Décor - I got plenty of décor already !) and found the posters ! I was wondering where they were. Had a pleasant fifteen minutes going through them all. Selected two, a photograph of a European street, and a ‘bad impressionistic' (Beloved's opinion) of another street scene. It's what's behind the still-awaiting-reroot Casey in today's image. It's so hard to find images in scale ! When I do, I buy ‘em right up. These posters are 16" x 20", $3. each, plenty of space to pose dolls in front of, and crop away flash bounce, etc. I was just messin' around with both of ‘em for test photos, but this one looked so good, I had to share it.

The jacket Beloved bought Friday has a broken zipper. While trying to fix it, more of it broke, so I'll be replacing it soon. He's so practical. When I kvetched about taking half the jacket apart to remove the old zipper and put in a new one - it's a lot of work, possibly beyond my skill  - he said I could just sew the new one on top of the old one. We'll see how that works out !

It's funny to me, because I had a bagload of zippers, bought from just about everywhere, but mostly a huge misc. lot dirt cheap from eBay. Most of these things are 30+ years old, still in the packaging. The one the jacket's getting is darn near vintage, but it's brand new and works much better than the current one. About three years ago, I learned how to do zippers in doll clothes, and bought tons. Thing is, not many patterns call for zippers, and even then, they can be tricky. Seeing all those spread out on the floor and ironing board made me realize I  need to work with them some more. And soon !

Dearest's school concert was this afternoon and tonight. Part of his particular brand of autism is a hyper-sensitivity to sound. So you can image how much fun this was for him and various others. At least it's done with for this year ! And I got everything to the other homeroom parent, so I'm happy. Now all I have is our anniversary next week and the V-Day school party the next day. Then, maybe, I'll get a doll break ? I'm still hopeful and happy, which is better than I was last month !

Well, mostly happy. Haven't had much doll time, and the sewing I've done is home stuff. I need to get going on those reroots, too. Poor Casey - I need to rename her, I already have a Casey (My Size Barbie), and ‘Becky' doesn't quite seem to suit her yet. D'ya think ‘Cynthia' would work ?

Oh, and stop me before I do it - I really *really* want a Dancerina doll. Not ‘Dancerella'. Dancerina. Two feet tall, Mattel, late 60s, blonde, with a face that sooo reminds me of Timey and Dottie. If I'm lucky, I'll find one for $25. shipped...and I don't want to want another doll, but I do. At least it gives me something new to hunt for !

PS - Thanks for the anniversary wishes, Michelle ! We tied our gordian knot on Feb. 13th, so we wouldn't be cliche. Plus, the Magistrate's office was open Friday, 13 Feb 1998, but not the next day. Yup, courthouse wedding ! Maybe we took the 'not cliche' theme a bit too far...

Manda, if I lose the bid I have that ends in a couple days, I'll come get'cha. It's for Simplicity #7737, and has jumpsuits. Won't it be hilarious if I did all that work to make Leia one when there's been a pattern for it since 1976 !

Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CST

Updated: Monday, 2 May 2011 2:35 PM CDT

Share This Post

Post Comment | View Comments (2) | Permalink

Current Mood : A bit winded, but pretty happy. 

Current Image Notes : Guesting is a Clone Trooper figure of Dearest's, taking aim at a poorly painted gumball machine cat miniature. I bought the poor kitty today, for 50c, and had to laugh at the awful paint job. I mean, the ones wired to the machine's display card weren't exactly precise painting at its finest, but this one's really, really bad. I almost feel ripped off ! Had the cat on the desk, amid several toys and bits of Lego, and this image just happened. Poor kitty ! What he needs is a paint makeover ! (evil grin)

The usual run-around scurry after the weekend. As with any home improvement, the new bits look fantastic, the rest of the house got trashed in the effort. Busted butt for three hours, but at least now, I'm not ashamed of the living room. It took me over an hour to vacuum, too.

And this'll make you laugh. The curtains I made yesterday needed just one more slightly wider panel, then they'd be done. I dutifully bought the half-yard of fabric (and two more pieces for doll sewing. (sigh) I'm hopeless ! ) and got to work. The other pieces were 13" wide by 16" long. The new piece needed to be 16" wide. Guess what happened ? That's right - I cut it 16" wide...but 13" long ! D'oh ! Adding more fabric to the back didn't help much. It faces the sun, so the seam showed through, big and proud. Well, back to Mal-Wart tomorrow for another half-yard ! Don't be surprised if my dolls suddenly start wearing unbleached muslin...LOTS of unbleached muslin...

This Friday is the big Bingo fundraiser for Dearest Son's school. As homeroom parent (see if I EVER do this again !), it fell on me and another mom to prepare a theme basket as a prize. So while out doing grocery hunting, I scouted around for stuff, hoping I could squeeeeeze enough out of the budget to do a decent job. Then called the other mom. Turns out, she's already done it, loves doing that stuff. She only needed some sort of plastic wrap for it and some ribbon. Whoo-hoo ! Since tomorrow is Dearest's music class recital - that school keeps me hoppin' ! - I'll drop that off to her then. Plus a big candy bar or two, our theme is ‘Dessert Lovers'. Big chocolate bars are always kid magnets.

What a relief ! Of course, Bingo is Friday, recital is tomorrow, and Valentine's is next Thursday. We also have our 10^th wedding anniversary Wednesday. Whoever said ‘February is the cruelest month' must have been thinking of my car Molly's engine ! I'm gonna be ‘Dorrie Everywhere' for the next couple of weeks !

Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CST

Updated: Monday, 2 May 2011 2:35 PM CDT

Share This Post

Post Comment | View Comments (2) | Permalink

Current Mood : busy !

Current Image Notes : New pattern ! More below !  

I did indeed make curtains today - sort of like the ones that decorate the top edge of door frames between kitchen and living area in Japan. Short squares that sometimes overlap. Ours has two sheer panels (cutaway from the sheers I sewed Friday !) underneath for privacy. Both the super-simple rectangles and the hemmed sheers are stapled to a wooden frame made by Beloved Hubby, then drilled into the wall. Miscalculated the width, so I have to go back to Mal-Wart for half a yard more to finish, but when new curtains only cost $6.50,  yer still ahead of the game ! That's four sets of trashed miniblinds so far !

I went ahead and ordered the download of that one pattern I wanted - and I have a bid on one of the remaining two. For all the runnin' and sewing I've been doing, I figured I was worth the $4. reward ! the payment and transfer went smoothly and quickly, it's a good quality scan (bonus ! I don't have to scan it, it's already done !) and I hope to sew something next week from it. Seller just doesn't have a wide selection. Let me know if you want me to post her link. Remember the Francie pattern I was thinking of getting ? It's sad, but I've already found a place who sells it cheaper. I have no loyalty.

Helped Beloved with a variety of small things, and before I knew it, the day was over. I barely had time to even look at the new pattern. But, hey, I got it !

And someone else got stuck with a lot of ‘em for $38. (plus $5. shipping !). Glad I bowed out at $20. !

Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CST

Updated: Monday, 2 May 2011 2:35 PM CDT

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

Current Mood : Cheerful

Current Image Notes : This is a pattern I snagged from a thrift store a while back. When the're 25c, it's hard to resist a nice image ! And a bit of curiosity - how'd that Lubbock pattern end up here ? Promise to have the February Disney Princess calendar page up soon - I just haven't had an hour and the computer at the same time to do the image editing !  

Beloved was back to work today, so I had it mostly to myself ! I'd promised to take Dearest shopping - he's earned several coupons to redeem for a treat - so he decided to go to Mal-Wart. The Indiana Jones motorcycle Lego set that wasn't interesting the week after Christmas was high on his list this week, and luckily, it was in stock. He also scored a die-cast Jedi Starfighter, complete with hyperspace ring, in bright orange.

I found the Barbie ‘My Home Barbecue' set, the one that's got many of the doll boards atwitter with Want. It's nice, attractively packaged, and there's lots of fairly-accurately colored food props, but for $20., I put it back. Didn't want the doll, already have several picnic tables, and I'd have gladly paid $10. for just the grill, that wasn't an option. And I already have several smaller grills, and directions to make others out of tin cans. Still, it was tempting...until I thought about what I already own !

Got home and looked up various doll patterns online. Found a lot I liked, levied a bid twice what the current one was. And got outbid three hours later. Forget it, it's not worth that much. I've been saying that a lot today ! Went through my pattern catalog - and updated it with the ones I found at that thrift store late last year - and realized that one of the reasons I bid I had already !

There was one special one there, one I've never seen before. It seems to be fairly rare on eBay, but I soon found a site offering a download of it for just $4. I'm considering that ! There's also a Francie pattern there, for $6. Thinking of that one, because most of the female dolls I still need to sew for have petite bodies. I'm gonna try the ‘Happy To Be Me' patterns I got from the pattern exchange first, though. Might as well use what I have before going out for more !

After that, it's all guys ! I've hardly sewn a thing for the male dolls, which is a shame. I got interested in doll sewing because I couldn't find male doll clothes I liked at Mal-Wart or TRU. Mattel stuff is always high-water, usually with a ‘Ken' decal or ‘Barbie' in the print, and frequently, ya see that awful ‘jumpsuit' type outfit of shirt and pants fused together. But the truth of the matter is, it's more fun to sew for the girls !

The other pattern I really want - but stunningly, don't already have - is the one made for Dusty dolls. Since Princess Leia has the same body, I'd really like to try it out. Download service doesn't have that one.

But the whole thing got me thinking. Since part of the Challenge is trying patterns I never sewed before, it'd be a good idea to mark the ones I've tried. So I wafted through the catalog again. Well, that was depressing. It didn't take very many stickers to do that. I have sooo many, never touched. And here I am, lookin' for more. (sigh) I thought my fabric addiction was bad...

At least I lost the auction. At last glance, it was down to two bidders, both newbies who're trying to ‘win' by bidding one dollar at a time. My eBay auction philosophy is to bid my limit and walk away. I lose a lot, but rarely overspend ! And most of the time, I'm glad of both !

Looks like I'm sewing dining area curtains tomorrow. Beloved's planning on making the valence in the Shop, along with the wainscoting. He's determined to use that router every chance he can. I can't complain - I get a much-improved home and it's a lot cheaper than buying ready-made. Plus, it's more of us in it !

Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CST

Updated: Monday, 2 May 2011 2:35 PM CDT

Share This Post

Post Comment | Permalink

Current Mood : Basking at the end of a great day...

Spent on dolls today : $5.37

Today, everyone, I just goofed off. I got laundry done and helped Beloved work on my car and the PIL's van. They were just gonna leave it there, but we bought a battery and got it here. The main problem was its racing high engine - turned out an idle device was stuck open with crud. $63. part and twenty minutes later, it's like new. Beloved wants to use it to transport work supplies in bad weather. We'll switch the title and papers over next month - or whenever we have the cash, the PILs said we could have it back - so it's great for us. I drove this thing during Dearest Son's year in Kindergarten, and it was a decent vehicle, but that idle was a problem.  I spent $100./month in gas, and barely drove anywhere but to school and back, it was too expensive to go on jaunts like I do now.

My car's doing well. Her alternator, once removed, tested out fine at the parts shop, so he put it back in. It's either the wiring or a bad alternator connection, Molly's doing fine now. I don't have to charge her battery all the time now. Hope she stays that way !

Beloved's a bit worried about being home so much. It's true that when I got Honey, I gots no money, but, heck. I'm glad he's having a chance to do other things besides work (he admitted last week he was overworking himself so he wouldn't have to deal with PILs and me upset at PILs), and the bills are more or less paid for the month. Even straightened out the crossed wires with the hospital bills today. Things are looking up on that front ! So I'm happy.

He also asked me to sew up the sheers, he'd make the curtain rod brackets in the Shop. Done and done ! Last year, I ‘bought the bolt' of some dollar-table brown/cream sheer fabric - 8 yards and some change - as we'd intended to ditch the mini-blinds and hang curtains in our under-lit living room. Found curtains cheap in the package at a thrift store, so I sewed a couple straight lines, and instant sheers for ‘em ! Our living room looks much better now - and brighter ! Sometimes it's sooo great to know how to sew !

He's invited me to go through all his leftover paint and select one - or five ! - for the Lab. Last weekend, he textured the living room and dining area walls, and painted ‘em this week. Just beautiful. And I think we've settled on a new lighting fixture for the dining area, too. Now, if I could just decide which of the 3000 partial gallon cans and five-gallon buckets of color I want...

After all that work - thank Everything it was a day off for him ! (grin) - we decided to relax with a few movies. Rental place is right next door to GoodWill, so... He found a winter coat he likes - nice and warm, but just worn enough so that work stains on it won't be a tragedy. I found a little toiletries cabinet that looked just about right for either Barbies or Elphie. Here's one on eBay - http://tinyurl.com/yt4gur -  just like mine. It's about 11 inches tall (Elphie may need a block of wood under it), and came with four of the six toiletries, but I didn't care about them anyway. I just wanted the cabinet ! $5., and I may stain it someday. Put in a few extra shelves. Possibilities are always endless...

For a day that didn't see me do much, I'm awfully tired. I'm gonna hafta see ya'll tomorrow ! And thanks for the complements on the lace dress. I really like it, too !

Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CST

Updated: Monday, 2 May 2011 2:34 PM CDT

Share This Post

Post Comment | View Comments (3) | Permalink

Current Mood : Happy ! 

Wheee ! I got to end January with a BANG ! It's like the fireworks of success ! I managed a lace overlay, not once but twice ! What'cha think ?

Lilly (Rose Barbie, 2001) is wearing the bodice I sewed from Denise Devoto's "To Have and To Hold" pattern, featured in Autumn ‘07's Barbie Collector. It's the only issue I ever bought of that magazine, mostly because the lace overlay intrigued me. The small inset image is part of the pattern, to show you what it's supposed to look like. It went together well, all three layers. I thought it even looked pretty good for a first effort ! Only problem was, there was no way it'd close in the back. It was about a half-inch shy of doing so. The rounded bottom edge even fit over the hips, beautifully...it just didn't overlap.

Well, shoot. Looked at the directions, this time reading the "Materials" box. Since I wasn't planning on sewing the skirt, and I was using leftover cotton in a much loved design - only scraps remained, so I had to get creative in cutting the pieces out ! - and lace from a girls' thrift store dress, along with worn-thin pillow ticking for lining, I kinda skipped over the ‘1/3 yd silk' part. I shoulda read it more carefully. The pattern is designed for the 2002 TNT body and SilkStones, not the 1966 body I was trying to squeeze into it. And I had not one 2002 body. The ‘belly button' body was too big in the hips to fit it, and the smaller-body dolls like teen-Skipper body Velma swam in the thing.

Darn. I thought I'd done a decent job on it, and wanted to save it. So I used hooks and eyes as closures, recycled from a yard-sale bra. That gave it just enough to fit snugly, and would be hidden in the back. I plan on extending the back of the original pattern to fit the classic 1966 body, probably this weekend. I really liked the pattern and the results, and want to use it again !

With that done, it needed a skirt or something. So I pulled up a straight skirt pattern from Doll Shop Deluxe and tried the same technique on that. Hooo-ah ! Again, I had to get creative on the cutting part, and forgot the lace had a definite nap (it only goes one way - you could tell if it was cut upside down) and cut it sideways. Oh, well. The point of this whole exercise was to learn the technique, so having a useable garment was a bonus.

And my first denim-and-brown-lace attempt some years back wasn't far off. I just didn't baste the lace to the fabric before sewing it ! That's really about all there is to it. Cut out yer pattern piece in fabric and again in lace (plus lining if ya want it).  Ironing the lace and material together helps bond it a bit, then ya baste the lace and fabric together, within the seam allowance, both with the right sides facing up - like you'd want to see it on the finished item. From there, the lace and fabric are one piece, and you sew the garment normally. Wow. About all I did wrong back in the day was trying to hold the lace and denim together without basting. And, predictably, it shifted and screwed up. This one went beautifully.

Decided to leave the skirt's waistband plain, so it'd be a natural contrast at the waist. Personally, I think it came out all right - sort of like a bridesmaid's dress for summer, that actually *could* be worn again ! I'm lookin' around, trying to find suitable overlays to try. No one says it always has to be lace ! I'm examining tulle, netting, sheers...all sorts of new possibilities just opened up ! And I don't need to restrict myself to just that one bodice either - I can do this to any pattern !

So I'm proud and happy. Not much else has changed - oh, I had a tiff with a hospital bill collector, who didn't know I'd already straightened most of this mess out already - but I hope I have.

Oh, and I forgot to tell ya'll - I got fasteners sewn on just about everything ! Did it last week. And I think all that repetitive snap-fastener sewing has given me the tools I needed to make that bit of  hand-sewing less visible. That's the one part of my sewing that hasn't improved much over the years, my fasteners/closures always look bad. Chief reason I don't sell my stuff. But just maybe I've figured that out. Time will tell ! Ya can hardly see the snaps' sewing on this one, but that's mostly due to the lace camouflage !

And just think - if I hadn't been so lazy and put that off, and did them all along like I'm supposed to, they'd still look awful. Had to learn by doing it over and over and over and over. Sometimes, there's something to be said for lazy procrastination !

Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CST

Updated: Monday, 2 May 2011 2:34 PM CDT

Share This Post

Post Comment | View Comments (3) | Permalink