Current Mood : Whiny 

I admit it. I blew off sewing the rough draft robe today. I just wasn't into it, and the small mountain of clean laundry was bellowing at me to be put away. It was even louder than the crowd of dirty dishes in the kitchen. Did three more loads of laundry while that was going on. How such a small family like ours generates at least a load every day continues to astound me.

I know why I just couldn't bring myself to sew. I'm nervous and a bit scared. I mean, I sew myself a blouse, I know there's thirty errors in it, but it's mine and I can deal. Even if I completely boot it, it's three hours and maybe two yards of (markdown/second hand/sale/clearance/recycled/cheap and crappy) material. I'm really not comfortable sewing for anyone else. And while the material for the rough draft robe and the final version one weren't expensive, it is someone else's money, and I don't wanna have to replace it. So I sort of locked up, and decided to give myself a day.

Evidently BIL is a bit worried I won't have either done in time, because he called yesterday. So I'm rebelling against that, too. I told him I hoped to have it finished tomorrow, but it's doubtful. I want to do a good job, and I want to keep my long-ago promise...but blast it, this is all getting on my nerves. If it takes me six bloody months to sew the blasted thing, so be it. It's not like I'm getting paid here. I'm being nice. And I'm kind of tired of feeling put-upon and pushed into making two of these things instead of one.

But once it's done, I'll be d@mn glad. And I can't wait to sew for just me and my dolls again.

Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CDT

Updated: Monday, 2 May 2011 4:34 PM CDT

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Current Mood : a bit strung out 

Finally began work on BIL's robe - it took me two hours to cut the thing out. And the nice young lady at Hancock Fabrics who told me the material was 60 inches wide was blasted wrong. So one part has a seam it shouldn't have, but ya do what ya can with what ya got. I've reread the directions, and begin sewing tomorrow. Man, human clothes take forever !

Did my usual grocery run - this time to the ‘high side' Mal-Wart. Back on the 17^th, less than a week ago, I found out their fabric center was closing. Sad, but I stocked up on fabric and hoped to return. So today, I did - and it's nearly gone. There's maybe 40 half-empty bolts of fabric remaining, plus the not-discounted buttons, patterns, and sewing machines remaining. Large flats of big storage containers and tall plastic cabinets filled the empty space. It's pretty apt, since people were buying material by the mile last week, but still, rather painful to see.

Vulture that I am, I drifted over to the still surprisingly abundant trims section, and stocked up on rick rack and piping - I had a minor brainstorm about how to use some last night, and at 75% off, now was the time to snag ten or eleven various sized packages. Of the remaining fabric yardages, there was nothing I wanted, and I kinda wanted to get out of there before I got depressed. Or wanted that blue/green shelf tower...

Got the haul for the week home and stored, and went to the community thrift store. Wanted to look at that Cinderella doll they've had forever. This time, I actually looked at the price on the bag. Since Cindy was sharing bag space with a Cabbage Patch Kid and Strawberry Shortcake doll, the price was $9. Too much for me. I'd rather find ‘em for a buck or two at yard sales. And heck, of the lot I bought last week, those averaged out to only $6. each, shipping and all ! According to the USPS, they left Jacksonville, FL today - which is odd, since the seller lives in Georgia !

Made some other discoveries, though. A pair of glittery baby shoes was half price - 49c ! - and a package of fairly small black gathered lace also found a home with me for the same price. Snagged two idle reading books for a buck, and  an unopened pack of gold grommets for 50c. Beloved Hubby's planning on making Dearest Son a cubby storage set like mine, so we'll need grommets, and I'd much rather pay 50c than the $3. I paid for my silver ones ! But you know how I am, I'll always choose silver over gold when it comes to fake metal tones !

The big score, though, was a box of odd sewing machine feet. I sincerely have no idea how to use most of ‘em. And some, I can't even tell how they'd attach to any sewing machine ever made. But a rolled hem foot caught my eye, and I shelled the $2. for the box. Those things are $12. delivered on eBay, and $20. at Hancock's. I wasn't sure how they'd work, and buying used ensured I'd be SOL on directions, but I took the chance.

It kinda works and kinda doesn't. Frankly, if I can fold the material that small, I can hem it without the rolled hem foot. And it slipped out of the foot constantly. I got it to work several times, but had as many failures. If nothing else, at least I won't spend $20. for one now ! I can probably work it better with practice, but there isn't much time for that lately. I was able to find directions on line, but honestly. If I can press a 1/8" hem, I can sew it. I don't need this foot for that. Seems like a waste of time/money to me.

I've come to that conclusion about most sewing machine feet. Most will help you do something either a little faster or a bit more accurately, but that's about it. The pinktuck foot, for example, only really helps you keep an equal distance between tucks, but you still have to watch it like a hawk. You could as easily draw or transfer straight lines to the fabric, and save a quick $20. All I really need is a zig-zag, a straight, and a zipper foot to do pretty much all of yer regular sewing. The rest...well, I've yet to be sooo impressed with one, that I'll only use it for this or that specific job. But, heck, that $2. saved me $20. and a bit of longing, so...

Well, tomorrow, I should start work on the first robe. It's gonna be just a ‘rough draft' version, out of some inexpensive silky polyester that feels nice. After it's done, and BIL's indicated what changes he wants (I already know the sleeves will be too full for him), I make it again, out of more expensive fabric. But once they're done, I've kept my promise. It'll be a while before I promise to sew someone else anything - because keeping my word on this one has been a challenge !

Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CDT

Updated: Monday, 2 May 2011 4:34 PM CDT

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Current Mood : Rather amused at myself. 

Man, what a weekend ! I thought the biggest thing was gonna be finding a Wedding Midge, but that was just the beginning ! Ya'll are sooooo gonna laugh at me when you find out what I bought !

I was all set to stay home Saturday, and work on that BIL robe. I was pretty broke anyway, and had lots to play with, and even more to do, so... plus, Beloved Hubby had to work, so I may as well take advantage of the solo time with Dearest Son at his grandparents', and get it well-begun, at least.

I was halfway through my reheated leftover biscuit breakfast when my phone rang. Beloved spotted several yard sales down the street - might be worth my time to check out. Well, I took that as encouragement, and raided the change jar. It wasn't even 8am, so I had plenty of time...

I followed a set of directions to the same sale we attended yesterday. The one that got Dearest the pirate ship. No matter, I could give all that a second go-round. Found a yard of lacy fabric with large five point stars...mine ! Also a pair of suede hiking boots that'd fit Baby Chrissy, several matching button and ribbon sets (probably from a scrapbooking kit), and Tinker Bell's Secret World - a sort of kids' scrapbooking set, with sheets of untouched stickers and suggestions for drawings and photos on the book's pages. Pretty art - and I always love stickers. For $1.75, I got quite a bit there ! Didn't find the second mast for the pirate ship, though.

The next two were a waste of gas, and I nearly skipped the one after. But the sign said ‘toys' on it, which is a guaranteed Dorrie-catcher. Didn't see much - until I rounded a corner...and there it was. Another Swan Lake Barbie castle ! I'd say it was nearly identical to the one I was painting, but it was in much better shape. Tower was intact, the wall stuff was complete, and there was a sack of accompanying furniture. I doubt it'd ever been played with. My eyes caught the sticker - $5.

Oh, &^%$. Now what ? Did I honestly need another castle ? I never finished painting the first one ! And I had maybe $2. in change left. I nervously watched another shopper examine it, and I knew then that I wanted it. When the other lady left it behind, I asked the seller if I could come back with cash, would she hold it for me ?

She agreed, and it was marked ‘sold'. I dashed off to grab my checkbook and head to my bank, luckily already open. I could just use the ATM, but I didn't wanna withdraw $20. I wasn't sure, but that big a withdrawal might bounce. Just $5. would be fine, I'd have the castle, and I'd head for home with my guilty treasure.

There was one problem with that. A local religious-based thrift store was having its big sale, across the street from the bank. I've never caught this thrift open before - and there were tables and tables and tables of stuff ! So I tore up the ‘Cash, $5.' check and wrote a ‘Cash, $10.' one - that'd leave about $8. in there until Monday's expected deposit. Fifteen minutes later, I was on my way to the last sale of the day at the thrift store, a huge Barbie castle taking up most of Molly's back seat. I knew that, if I saw it at the Barbie Car Set lady's flea market booth next month, with a $50.+ price sticker, and the furniture sold separately, I'd be upset, so I'm glad I got it. I was actually rather excited - and surprised that I was so.

At that final sale, there was tons of stuff, but darn few toys. Mostly tired stuffed animals. But I found HUGE ceramic cat bowls - for the kittens to upend this water bowl, it'd take the lot of ‘em and a lever ! - and a cassock and surplice McCall's pattern that had to date to the 70s, untouched. Also an oversized mug (Beloved loves ‘em for salsa) and a baby doll infant carrier/seat with an Ariel print found their way into my rapidly tiring grasp. $2. for the lot, and I know those pet bowls were at least $8. each, new. Baby Ariel looks so adorable in her new infant seat ! And the kittens love the bowls, which, for all their size, don't hold much more than the Dollar Spot Melmac ones I was using.

On the way home, my phone sounded again. Beloved had a surprise for me, at his Shop. I left everything in Molly and headed down. A homeowner gave him a Nordic Track UltraLift fitness center, for free ! I hopped on it, set it to the lowest resistance, and did numerous butterfly pulls and leg lifts. I really like it ! It doesn't use heavy weights, it uses your weight ! Went through every exercise I could think of on it, and it felt great. So I now have my own fitness center, whenever I want it. I told Beloved he just saved us $90. on a Wii Fit, which he thought was funny.

Y'know, I never got to that darn robe. Today, I cut out the pattern and read the directions, and it's not at all difficult. Even the adaptations BIL wants won't be hard. For all the sizes on the envelope, the robe pattern itself is just one size. Instead, I got the Lab all prepped and cleaned, ready for sewing ! I'm hoping to have the first test one ready on Tuesday, with fittings on Friday, and the final one well-begun by month's end.

Later this evening, I was reading The New Simplicity Sewing Book, a thick 1979 book/magazine I got at another yard sale a month or so ago. It'd been unearthed from its neglect during the lab clean-out. And now, thanks to it, I finally understand how to do front-placket shirts, like golf and Henley shirts ! I've made several for Elphie's Fiyero, but I never understood the directions, and the shirts show it. Now I get it ! I even worked it out with paper and tape, and it works. Whoo-hoo ! I doubt there's a book so old that I can't learn something from it ! Especially a sewing book.

But when the weekend's over and I look around, I still can't believe I bought the castle. Or how happy I am that I did !

Edited To Add : My photos were well and warmly welcomed over at In the Pink, a Barbie-exclusive message board. I was completely wrong in assuming they only wanted the high-end stuff, and I'm very happy to be so wrong. Also very embarassed. While they do like their more expensive dolls over there, there are lots of fine lovely ladies and gents who yard sale, sew, and customize the Playlines, too. So if  you like Barbie dolls at any price or collectable level, I heartily recommend checking out In The Pink frequently. They are much nicer than I initially gave them credit for, and I humbly apologize for any bad feelings I may have caused.

Hope we - I love using ''we" for once ! - see you there !

http://members.boardhost.com/inthepink/

Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CDT

Updated: Monday, 2 May 2011 4:33 PM CDT

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Current Mood : Harried but happy 

Cross-posted today's image to the Barbie message board, because I really hate to give up so easily, and I could be misreading things. And I really want to belong...somewhere, I guess, that isn't my place to begin with. I'd really, really like to be wrong, and I hope I am...but it seems as though this weekend, most of the chatter is about a longing to be at  the National Barbie Convention (probably another place I don't belong). I'm sure it's a lot of fun, but when I have this many feelings of being shut out of mainstream collecting over a message board, a Mattel-sponsored convention - where every theme meal and each workshop is a separate fee - would probably blow my inferiority complex sky-high. And I'd feel dirt poor all the time.

I'm still really happy to have found Wedding Midge. You'd think a big fan of hers like me would already have her, but I really restricted myself, in those pre-Dearest Son days, to brunette dolls only, because back then, I didn't want several hundred dolls. Go figure. I could have bought most of the dolls I'd like to have now, brand new, but I didn't wanna go overboard. Well, I'm thoroughly overboard now, and I love it ! Finding this Midge made me realize that. She's still got all her jewelry, and she's wearing her wedding minidress and ‘getaway' jacket she came with. Amazingly enough, I already have Midge's wedding dress overskirt and sleeves, part of a lot bought years ago. It's gonna be a bit of a wrench to remove that veil, it's been there for eighteen years, but it's kinda dirty, and I'm sure Midge would like to wear something new - or at least, new to her !

Found out that the blue dress the blonde Barbie is barely wearing belongs to Princess Courtney, of 12 Dancing Princesses. She's a teen body doll, so it's no wonder it doesn't close all the way on Barbie ! Luckily, I have several smaller bodied dolls. I just have to fix the frayed edges - very few edges on this dress were finished, so they're all darn near fraying ! The doll herself has a bad neck split, so I may try to fix it, for the experience. Then dress and donate her. Wish me luck !

I'm also darn near delirious about my Pocahontas Disney Little Princess doll. I'm so lucky to have found her - and I can't wait to start customizing Dorrie and Molly. But today belongs to BIL's robe, and I gotta get to it. Updates if they're warranted later !

Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CDT

Updated: Monday, 2 May 2011 4:33 PM CDT

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Current Mood : Slightly guilty, overwhelmingly happy 

Man, I am just beyond lately. This darn "Little Princess" doll obsession is getting out of hand. I can say that now, I've pretty much got all I want - and then some ! - until the new ones come out in August/September. I must be insane...and I know I'm darn grateful Beloved Hubby hasn't had me up for a brain scan !

Falling back on my own advice, after coming up zilches on all my ‘Pocahontas doll' searches this week, I misspelled her name. And I found her. In full costume, gently played with, and in fantastic shape. With her were her four sisters, Aurora, Belle, Cinderella, and Aurora. Sold as a lot of five, no splitting. That many dolls makes shipping kinda high, too. I kvetched around and wrung my hands...then Beloved called. I explained my dilemma...and he refused to let me off the phone until I'd made arrangements to buy the whole set. Payment's already been tendered, so soon, there'll be five more ‘Little Princesses' in here.

You may be wondering...about my sanity. So am I. Next question : what'cha gonna do with more Cinderellas and Auroras ? Pocahontas, you wanted, and Belle's gonna become Little Princess Dorrie. But that leaves you with three duplicate dolls. Even if you claim the two dresses ya don't already have, it's still a lotta dolls you don't really want...

Have no fear - I'm gonna CUSTOMIZE ! Cindy tends to have ‘straight' eyes. Aurora's eyes are tipped high at the corners. So. I'm thinking of making a Kida (Atlantis) from one Aurora, and maybe a Megara (Hercules) from the other. Cinderella, however, is gonna get a whole new look. She's gonna become the world's first Little Molly (Sailor Moon)  doll ! Yup, my very first custom is still one of my favorites - one I want to make again. I'm gonna make Sailor Moon's abandoned best friend as a little girl. If Cindy's hair is good, it'll get dyed, if not, rerooted.

And there's plenty more dolls to customize, if I find more at this year's yard sales. There's Esmerelda (Hunchback of Notre Dame), Jane (Tarzan), Melody (Little Mermaid 2), Wendy (Peter Pan), Elionwy (Black Cauldron), Lilo (Lilo and Stitch), Shanti (Jungle Book), the Blue Fairy (Pinocchio), Mary Poppins, Jessica Rabbit (Who Framed Roger Rabbit ?), Sally (Nightmare Before Christmas), Edna Mode (The Incredibles), Jesse (Toy Story 2), Boo (Monsters, Inc.), and who knows who else ? I could literally end up with over 25 of these dolls ! Mostly using the overruns of Belle and Cinderella. Wow.

So, as you can imagine, I'm in a fever, studying costumes and planning face paint. My mind's abuzz with all I can do, and I wanna do it all ! Granted, it's difficult to maintain this enthusiasm for a long time, but we'll see how far I take it !

Managed to hit a few yard sales today, too. Scored an older Snow White coloring book for a quarter - great for photos ! - an unopened ‘teacher' notepad for a later gift as Dearest Son enters second grade, some inkjet iron-on sheets. At the monthly flea market, I scored a lovely Wedding Midge doll - a Midge I've always wanted ! I could tell who she was easily. If the wedding band wasn't a giveaway, the gorgeous veil that's been sewn to her head since 1990 would have done it ! I also found a pretty Barbie in a dress I wanted, and a library copy of Modern Collectable Dolls by Patricia Smith. Sure, it's from 1973, but it was cheap, and even old doll books are fun to look at. You'll get the dolls'  photo tomorrow.

Another sale yielded a silver wall clock for Beloved Hubby's office, a Playmobil pirate ship for Dearest Son, and a pretty toddler shorts set that should fit the MSB girls. Also a wine bottle gift bag made of blue tulle with glittery silver stars and a silver ribbon - that'll probably become one of Little Princess Dorrie's outfits !

So it's been a big day around here. I'm just blooming with ideas. But tomorrow, I work on BIL's robe. I promised !

Posted by dorriebelle at 9:53 PM CDT

Updated: Monday, 2 May 2011 4:33 PM CDT

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Current Mood : Slight miffedness 

Learned something yesterday. Cross-posted yesterday's catalog cover image on a Barbie-only board, thinking somebody might be interested in seeing what's next with Playline, or at least be a bit happy that Mattel's rethinking small catalogs. You know, I thought a Barbie catalog would be of interest to readers of a Barbie message board. Got not one response at all. The link to a Hallmark Christmas ornament catalog - with miniature Silkstones in it - had responses within an hour of the original post. Cheapest ornament in there is more than I paid for most of my collection - most are more than Little Alice !

Oh, well. Now I know they're more ‘into' more expensive dolls there, so I shouldn't post mine. After all, mine are 50c at yard sales and $1. at flea markets and $2. at thrift stores...unlikely venues to find $$$ designer dolls, which seems to be what they want. Even the daily featured doll photo displays are all Silkies, something I'm just not into. I feel bad when I laud someone's Malibu, but say nothing about someone else's Silkie. I don't wanna lie and gush when I simply don't care about that doll type, but I hate ignoring anyone... Mine are also mostly ten or twenty years old -  not old enough for vintage, too old for latest and greatest. So I don't really fit in there, either.

I don't mean it as a criticism of the board. I just needed to know what they're ‘into' over there, so I don't make an idiot out of myself. And I'm seriously considering starting my own - no Fashion Royalty, no SuperDoll, no Sybarites, no Silkstones, no BJDs. No "Limited Edition Dilithium Release Platinum Circle Members Only" crap. No triple-digit price dolls, either. Just dolls from yer childhood, or used ones from second-hand venues, or fresh off the Mal-Wart shelves. Kinda hard to enforce those rules, and I'd hate to restrict anyone right out of the gate, but I get so tired of feeling out of place on the other boards, and there's not one much like what I'd like. Closest was "Eclectic Blender", when they first started out, but they're mostly FR now. "Apartment 16" was intriguing, but it's been shut down since April.

Problem is, the other boards that cater to FR and Sybarites and high-end Tonner fans seem to be doing quite well. Part of me is still smarting from the ‘Spaghetti Sauce Site' debacle. I've never felt so unwanted in my life - astounding when you think this is among grown adults who play with dolls ! So I doubt there's even a need or interest in what I'm imagining. Go me, I'd have my own board to sound off on ! And where I'd find time to moderate if anyone else did post is anyone's guess.

Besides, I haven't updated the darn site since March ! I need to focus on keeping what I have running, not going out for more !

Learned something today, too. There's not a really good way to reheat leftover Sonic onion rings. Microwaved, they're mushy. Oven baked, they're rock-hard and still cold in the center. Maybe I should try to pan fry ‘em next time.

Posted by dorriebelle at 9:25 PM CDT

Updated: Monday, 2 May 2011 4:32 PM CDT

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Now that I've had overnight to think about it, I'm not sorry at all I bought Alice. Aside from a few issues with her dress (more to come), she's a lovely doll with fair skin and pretty eyes. Her ‘Cheshire Cat' pal not only has poseable ‘arms', but a fluffy tail that can also be slightly posed. Cute ! I just wish they'd had more teacups and less ‘unbirthday' cake. I'm gonna hafta find a lotta miniature teacups soon...

Her dress really was a disappointment. Threads everywhere, and not from packing and presentation. Simply uncut threads, including some visible outside the sleeve ! What I couldn't figure out was why her dress was pulled up on the right. You can even see it in yesterday's photo - her left sleeve is much lower than the left. Turns out, sewing the underarm seam caught the trim from the sleeve, hitching the whole dress up on that side. I'm amazed no one caught that. It made getting the dress off her for examination much more difficult than it should have been.

I'm also gonna have to iron that collar down - it won't lie flat - and amazingly, the ribbon at her waist isn't a tie-back apron. The ribbon is the waist. Like the blue costume (read : polyester) satin is so expensive, saving a half inch of it is worthwhile, the bodice and skirt are attached to ribbon, not each other. Wild. Her hosiery bags awfully at her ankles, and doesn't meet at the crotch. Pulling it up to remove the slack is impossible, it's already that tight. While I love the shoes, and they're improved from 2002 Belle's loose ribbon-tie ones, these really are cheaply made. Seriously. I could make these. But I shouldn't whine - the doll and all, including licensing and packaging and everything else, is less than $20. new. And the doll is well-made, even if I got a poor example of the costuming. And I'm here for the doll, ya know !

I've gotta start BIL's robe - he needs it for an upcoming trip in July, and I haven't even washed the fabric, or read the pattern. Been too blasted sick ! So I can't start any new projects, save the catalog scanning, until I get those done. (sigh)  There's a test one, then a final. I don't know what I'm gonna say if he wants more. Maybe I'll keep track of how long all this is gonna take me...

Posted by dorriebelle at 5:59 PM CDT

Updated: Monday, 2 May 2011 4:32 PM CDT

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Current Mood : Jubilant ! 

So today was another thunderboomer morning, and Beloved Hubby was home - he even made breakfast ! He encouraged me to visit TRU after Dearest Son came home from school, as a treat. We'd done Beloved stuff all weekend, due to his birthday and Father's Day, so he wanted me to have some time of my own. By then, the rainstorm would be over and he was looking forward to some quality Wii time with Dearest. Plus, I had to go to Sam's Club anyway for a few specialties, and it was right over there. We all know that I was going just to see if they had any Toddler Princess dolls yet, and I've been in a itching lather to go for the last week. Still, I kvetched and tried to discourage m'self from operating in such a selfish frame of mind (dollsdollsdolls!), but it was no use. I hadn't been on a retail doll hunt in months, and really wanted this one.

I had in mind a more circuitous route than just TRU then Sam's. I planned to hit Target first, then the high-side Mal-Wart...after that, I'd visit the other stops. I just had to hit with quick, surgical precision, and not get distracted, so I wouldn't be out all afternoon. Beloved didn't mind how much time I took, but I didn't wanna be out in clouds like these for long. Target was a negative on dolls, but I did find a lovely Ariel hardback locking diary in the Dollar Spot. I sort of liked the Ariel gel pens and the fuzzy mini-poster coloring set, but not enough to snag either. They also had some infant t-shirts in patriotic themes, and I may go back for one or two later. They'd look cute on Gracie and Casey, the My Size Barbie girls. Maybe even Charmin' Chatty. I don't think I should get the ‘Made in the USA' ones, though - most of my dolls were made overseas !

The high-side Mal-Wart is where I lost it. Literally. They actually had Little Alice ! I'd never seen her before...and while Alice in Wonderland is not my favorite book/film/animation/anything, she was a pretty doll. $16.88, huh ? Wellll....she's not a princess. I can exclude her from the collection using that rule, if I wanted. Even the box didn't skitter around that - it had the familiar Diz logo, but not the DPrincess one. And she doesn't show up at all on the www.playmatestoys.com site. Honestly, I'm not even sure why Playmates chose this character. It's not like this line extension is severely lacking in blue-eyed blondes. That's why I didn't buy the Tinkerbell one I now really want...I already had Cinderella. Well, anyway. Decisions, decisions. I said I'd stick to only used dolls, but...

We both know she came home with me today. New rules : she's either a used doll, or she's less than $20. total, shipping and all. Of the ten Playmates Disney Toddlers, I now lack three. And two of them are being re-released this fall. So I predict a merry chase this summer for Little Pocahontas...

I'd also seen some lovely Tinkerbell print fabric used for doll dresses and bedding during my online hunts. So I checked the local Mal-Wart for it yesterday, and this one today. Nope. Found out the high-side Wart's fabric section is closing, which ranks. That one is bigger, with a better selection than the local one, which isn't closing. Still, they've been threatening to close it for two years now, so I shouldn't be surprised. Taking note of the 50% off signage, I picked up a few bolts of starry fabric I've always liked. They kinda  cheated, though. The fabric that was $4. was marked down to $3., but ‘half off' meant it was $2. a yard. Yup, they put it back to full price before taking the discount. Oh, well, it was still cheaper than the same fabric at our local store, so I got some variegated pink with silver stars, some variegated lavender with silver stars, more of that DPrincess ‘pearl' print, and an Ariel sundress remnant. Seriously, the sundress piece is already elastic smocked, hemmed and ready to go, all it needs is a back seam. Not bad at all for $1.50 - they charged me the full remnant price for that one, the stinkers. I'm probably going to make Jasmine's costume from the lavender star piece.

Since trim was also half-off, I grabbed packages of silver and gold baby rick-rack, and a gorgeous emerald green pack, too. It'll look great on that Ariel fabric I already have. I was kind of in a rush, and the cutting tables were seriously backed up, so I may go back later this week, after I recycle all these soda cans. But still - I'd spent $35. there already, and that was plenty ! Heck, I should not have even gone to TRU...

But you know I did. They also had Little Alice, but M-W was a buck cheaper. No other dolls in any line I wanted, save for maybe the My Scene Roller Girl Madison. She's still $ 5. on clearance, but I was feeling guilty about spending so much already, and they had six. Maybe next week or two. I did make a minor score, though - a Barbie catalog ! Man, I haven't seen a new Barbie catalog since Fashion Avenue outfits went under. I helped myself to two from the wire rack hanging from the Fashion Fever shelf. Called the ‘Barbie Every Girl's Gotta Have It List', it's sixteen pages of Toy Fair '08, culminating in an actual checklist on the back cover. Oh, heck yeah, I'm gonna scan it ! Hope you don't mind a delay before I start posting the 70s catalog, so I can post this one ! Starts tomorrow !

After that, I was in and out of Sam's so fast, I barely registered on the security cameras. Put off opening Alice's packaging until later tonight, so I could introduce her while it's quiet. Whoo. It'll take me most of tomorrow's entry to describe her outfit...serious sewing errors here...(tsk, tsk)

Seven down, three to go ! Wheeeee !

Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CDT

Updated: Monday, 2 May 2011 4:31 PM CDT

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Current Mood : Reflective

Current Image Notes : This is 'DC', Daddy's Cat. He really loves Beloved Hubby, is on his lap in the photo, and cuddles up to him whenever he (I think he's a 'he' !) can. Has for the last three weeks. Very sweet kitty. So he's stayin'. Now, if Miz Velvet doesn't get her crap together soon...

Kind of a quiet day – thunderstorms all morning, but a beautiful afternoon. Got dishes and some laundry done, which actually feels good when yer healthy enough to do it ! We bought two plastic underbed boxes for Dearest Son’s Lego this weekend, and today, it all got sorted and stored. Dearest’s actually rather proud of them. Another box got all his miniature cars, and it goes underbed, too. I can best appreciate the educational and creative benefits of tiny towns and freeways when I’m not steppin’ on ‘em all the blasted time !

 Got to hit the thrift, but there wasn’t much new. Bought two 50c small-toy grab bags for the miniature bright pink lunch box and a DPrincess pencil case inside ‘em. The small lunch box originally had an image of Tweety Bird on it, but it’s already been peeled off. Never was a big Tweety fan – I rooted for Sylvester ! Gonna make a Mystery Science Theater for Girls lunchbox out of it, soon as I decide how I wanna do the graphics. I can always use a zippered pencil case, and I liked the Princess image on this one – Belle, Aurora, and Snow, with roses. 

All but two of the remaining toys will be re-donated – a Beanie Baby dog Dearest liked and a tiny fairy doll. It’s probably from a Barbie Fairytopia set. I’m mostly keeping it as a toy for the TinkerBell toddler doll I’ll eventually have. That, and I wanna figure out how they did her topknot ponytail. It’s like it was rubber banded, tied in a slipknot, and banded again.

Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CDT

Updated: Monday, 2 May 2011 4:31 PM CDT

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Current Mood : quiet peace

Current Image Notes : This is 'Onyx', and he/she already has a home. In fact, I need to remind his/her owners that they can pick him/her up at their convenience. Great attitude, beautiful eyes, and a little round belly. I'd keep him with DC if I could ! 

Aaaah...the best part of the weekend. Finding places to store all the new and new-to-us stuff that's in the house now. We had a minor toss-and-sort last week, and a box of odd leather scraps got forgotten in the hallway. I'd bought a bag of ‘em years ago, dirt cheap, intending to somehow thin the pieces down and soften ‘em up enough to use ‘em for doll clothes and accessories. Now I know better - well, at least, I realize I probably won't be able to do crap with these stiff, hard chunks. Microfiber UltraSuede looks much better, is easier to sew, comes in dozens of colors, and it's cheaper, too ! About all we've done with any of the leather bits was to add several as cushioning in a box of ammunition Beloved Hubby mailed off - we labeled them as ‘fully customizable all-leather targets', as a joke. And believe me, shipping small handgun ammo is an adventure all on its own !

Anyway. House is trashed from me being sick and kittens and Dearest Son home all day, digging into things from curiosity. The leather scraps were soon all over the hallway. But sometimes, it's good to have things in disarray. Ya get to look at them all over, maybe in a new way. While storing them in the box that Snow White arrived in yesterday, it occurred to me that one piece in particular was about the size of a mouse pad. And I've been needing a new one - but I didn't like the Dollar Tree cheapies, the $4. ones at Mal-Wart weren't much of an improvement, and I wasn't gonna pay $12. for one of Best Buy's deluxe models. I'd been toying with using Stitch Witchery to iron a pretty new cover onto the old one, but hadn't done it yet. Cutting leather was much easier ! Less than a minute later, the old mouse pad was in the laundry, and my new leather one graced the desk. And the rest of it's in my closet, next to the ‘Big Box of Crap Crafts'. Heck, by not buying a new M-W one, I've saved the price of the leather to begin with !

Beloved had a nice weekend - between his birthday and Father's Day, I made sure he had all the time he wanted to do whatever he wanted. Evidently, he really wanted to read and sleep ! He upgraded the memory on his laptop, and got the new cell phone he's been wanting - and upgraded the memory on it, too. We bought a few used movies and watched those together on the sofa, which was extra-nice.

I found a place to store all my new stationery, and found some unused Cars Christmas cards, so Dearest has more play stationery. Even found a box for his desk to hold it in.  I'm gonna get him a tape dispenser during tomorrow's grocery run. The kids clothes that're soon to be future doll fabric got stuffed into the ‘new' basket of material, and the clock's on my sewing table. Found out about 3am this morning that the alarm function works !

Kittens are into everything. I bet I close the CD lid on the boom box five times a day. I'm gonna miss them when they're gone, but I'm getting tired of the ankle attacks and doll commando raids right now.

Posted by dorriebelle at 12:01 AM CDT

Updated: Monday, 2 May 2011 4:31 PM CDT

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