Lucky me !

Current Mood : Very happy !

Spent on dolls : $13. (gotta love 'no sales tax' yard sales !)

 

 

Today started early - there was a church yard sale opening up at 7am ! So, shortly after putting Dearest Son on his bus, I was on the way. It was further out than I expected. Gotta start paying attention to the Google maps beyond just the directions ! I like church sales, since they're usually inside, and it's like going to a five to fifteen family sale. Lots of stuff, and it ranges from vintage to bought last week at Mal-Wart.

 

No dolls, unfortunately. Well, no dolls I liked. There were a few very tired baby dolls, nothing exceptional, most nude. However, I did spend $7. there, on a stack of ten doll books so heavy, I had to ask them to hold ‘em for me. Most were about Madame Alexander dolls, which is funny - I don't own any MAs that didn't come with a Happy Meal at one point. But the books were sooo cheap, it'd still be fun to look at the pictures and use some of ‘em as clothes ideas.

 

Among the treasures are a copy of Oh, You Beautiful Doll, a pattern book that's long been on my ‘snag' list, but it tended to run a bit high even used, so finding it for 50c was a score ! I also grabbed a vintage red PonyTail scrapbook, made by the same company who made Barbie's first cases, for a buck - blank paper was still inside, and the original cording held it in place. Later leafing revealed that several of the MA books are signed by the authors - cool !

 

Grabbed breakfast for me and Beloved Hubby and came home. An hour later, I was headed for the flea market, where I had another score - this one also doll related. Dolls ! My friend Brenda, of the car sets, had two real beauties, and they were both Steffies ! I knew the 80s girl was probably one of the Whitney friend-of-Barbie dolls, and I thought the vintage one was a Walk Lively Steffie. Nope, she has painted eyelashes. Hmmm...

 

Had plenty of time to research. Steffie was filthy ! It took me two hours to scrub the surface dirt from her soft vinyl legs, and get the wad of gum (or whatever sticky stuff that was !) out of the very center front of her hair ! No kidding - it was a mess, the size of a squashed pea, right on the part, and there was no way to get it out or off in one piece. It was in there for keeps, I thought. All I could do was break it up, then work it out, and pick it through bit by bit. Took close to two hours to get her all cleaned and prettied, but she was sooo worth it ! I love her ! With the dirt off her face, it doesn't look so yellow, and comes close to matching her body's skin tone. That's about the only thing I don't like about early 70s dolls, they often fade or yellow to the point that even perfect dolls look garish.

 

Turns out, she's a second-year Kellogg's exclusive Miss America ! Known as Miss America Walk Lively, she dates from 1972, and also has Quick Curl hair. I had several QC dolls as a kid - my Father gave me Barbie, and my elderly babysitter, Maimie, gave me Skipper. The hair is rooted with matching tiny wires, so when the hair is curled with the included tools, it stays there. Aside from the gum, Miss Steffie's hair was a flat-out matted mess. The wires also give the dolls' hair an odd texture, and most QC girls end up rerooted. I admit, between the matted wads and the gum, I was tempted. But I didn't know what removing her head would do to her working-perfectly walking mechanism, so I cleaned and brushed it instead. She came out very prettily !

 

With Steffie solved and clean, it was Whitney's time to shine. Given the blondish streaks, vivid lip color, pearly earring remnants, and lack of bangs, I soon had her ID'd too - she's 1987's Perfume Pretty Whitney ! A quick scrub and shampoo and conditioner, and her hair was beautiful again, and so was she. Washed their clothes, too. Steffie was found wearing ‘Picture Me Pretty', also from 1972, and very cute ! Whitney originally wore a puffy purple party dress with a tinsel bodice, but I asked Brenda if I could swap it with a cute pink baseball jacket and blue track-suit pants that another doll was wearing, and she agreed. Washed and line-dried, they were soon as pretty as the dolls, so I redressed them. Wow. There was my ‘creative' that I needed - and I got both dolls for only $5. !

 

You'll see their photo tomorrow. I am so thrilled with my new dolls ! So I'm going through mine again, and pulling a few. Since Miss Sassy, the Fashionista, looks so much like Raquelle, I'll probably donate her. Never liked her glittery lipstick, and the only way to get it off is to remove her lips completely and repaint ‘em.

 

Brenda also had a de-winged, uncrowned Fairytopia Enchantress, a $48. doll, but I don't really like her. She's so white, she looks like a blonde Kabuki dancer. And the purple and yellow gown-dress just seems... is ‘clashy' a word ? The colors were too vivid to really go together. Even on a Jem doll, it'd look less like a fairy gown and more like a confrontation. The colors together put me less in mind of flowers and more in mind of a healing bruise. I have a bag of dolls I could trade her... but I didn't wanna take the chance that the two I saw today would be gone by the time I returned with the bag. Can always trade later. Maybe tomorrow ! I gotta sort through everyone in the Lab anyway.

 

I also scored three Happy Meal Barbies - a My Scene Roller Girls Nolee (forgot I already had her, but she was free), a Malibu and a Totally Hair, both with stands, for a buck. I already have one HM Malibu, I use her as a Christmas tree ornament. Since my first Barbie was a Malibu, and a holiday gift, it seemed so perfect. Had to glue her back together last year, so I'm happy to have a second one. Especially one with a stand !

 

I got a new doll - a brand new one ! - today !

 

Current Mood : Thrilled ! 

Spent on dolls : $ 11.26

 

Dearest Son's feeling much better, if still a bit tired. He barely coughed at all this morning, and I didn't hear him cough at night - it normally wakes me up and necessitates a quick check. I pretty much slept through the night, which was amazing.

 

Saw a great craft on Threadbanger - how to make an 80s inspired duffle bag out of busted umbrellas and two rainbow belts. I may use their idea, but use fabric instead. While we have three semi-busted umbrellas on the loose at Chez Insanity, (uncomfortable blush) we're still using them. It looks pretty simple. Here's the link to it, and if you like Threadbanger (and can stand the ‘theme' weeks), there's lots of ‘em on YouTube.com, and their site. I prefer YouTube, since there's no or fewer ads.

http://www.threadbanger.com/tb-projects/episode/THR_20090918

 

Beloved Hubby came home for lunch, then I made a quick grocery run. And I bought a brand-new doll ! The ‘Fashionistas' line is fun, kind of pink stereotyping ghetto, but I liked two or three of the dolls. And I really liked the bend-wrists, something I'd wanted when I saw it on later Fashion Fever dolls, but never found in stores. There was one of each of the six dolls, mixed in with some similarly boxed FFs, so I studied them all until I knew which one I liked best. ‘Artsy', ‘Glam', and ‘Cute' were true to their titles, but it was ‘Sassy' and her brunette hair, green eyes, and fun outfit who made it into the cart. I may go back for ‘Artsy' or ‘Cute' someday. "Glam" seems to be the favorite at In The Pink. And we got 'em before most other places, which is so unusual - we normally get new dolls last, if we get 'em at all ! 

 

Once deboxed, I found that she has the new ‘shifting torso' body and a 2009 copyright date. Her body's nearly identical to Elphie's, save for the wrist and elbow mechanisms. Surprising to see that on a doll that retailed for less than $11. She's a lot of fun, and I love her happy demeanor.

 

I don't feel guilty one bit about buying her. Especially after helping Beloved empty the trailer so he could haul the next job's refuse. I was glad it was raining, I didn't get hot at all. Wheezed a lot, though. But even if I didn't help much, I helped, so I felt good all afternoon. Will probably sleep good, too !

Today's Content Guaranteed Hancock Fabrics Reference-Free !

 

Current Mood : Sleepy

 

Busy day. Dearest Son was really sick - even his voice was raspy - so he stayed home and rested today. He slept until nearly 10am. Feeling much better today, ate a whole can of ravioli for lunch. However, he mostly passed on dinner, chicken pasta salad.

 

Went out to tell his busdriver that he wasn't going in, since Transportation doesn't pick up the phone in the morning anymore. Her friend is in the hospital with a bad asthma attack. I'm lucky, mine hasn't been too bad this year. But last year, it was me in the ER.

 

We were out of plates already, so it was dishes instead of laundry today. Last couple times I've had a kitchenload to do, I've gotten all the way from glassware through silverware and completed plates before I had to cook or wait for the bus. So the stuff usually next in line, like plastic-ware, glass jars, and half the pots and pans, had to wait until the next time I did dishes. Which, of course, is when we run out of plates again. Today, I started from the back and finished the pots and pans and plastic, filling the dishwasher I use as a drying rack and the stove and oven. Once dry, I did a load of plates and more silverware. I only have about a half-hour of dishes left, plus what we used for dinner. I figure I'll do laundry around dishes, and put away as may clean clothes as I can in the afternoon. Since tomorrow's dinner is gonna be simple - good ole Hamburger Helper ! - I'm planning on popping in a brownie mix for dessert. It'll be a busy day tomorrow, like today, but I'm fine with it.

 

Because on Friday, I'm gonna sew something ! Tired of being an exhausted zombie sitting around when I'm not bustin' butt on housework. Not sure what I'll do yet, but if I don't create soon, I'm gonna go nuts.

Hmm...when's my - I mean, Dearest Son's, Pink Ticket prize supposed to arrive...?

 

Current Mood : Still down, but perking up a bit. 

 

Got several loads of laundry done, but not put away. I'll get that going tomorrow, as I'm washing the last of it. That way, it'll all get done in one day. I also have to get a few dishes done for dinner sometime tomorrow.

 

I'm also supposed to visit Beloved Hubby's grandmother tomorrow, but I think I'll have to put it off ‘til Thursday. Too much work to do. And I'll probably be out anyway, for groceries, so it'll be easier to stop by then.

 

Oh, and the doll I mailed to Australia arrived ! The winner was most appreciative, and loved the goodies I tossed in - shoes, purses, the second Princess Erika doll, and a Ken keychain I'd picked up a few years ago at a yard sale, but never touched. So I'm happy.

 

Out of boredom, I cleaned off my desk, and found the ‘Barbie Pink Ticket' contest form I got with that doll. Dearest Son won a doll or furniture piece, and according to the eyestrain-o-vision rules, it'll mail eight to ten weeks after an adult verifies the win. Which I did in mid-August. So I should have a surprise in the mail to look forward to, around October or November !

 

I also found the reel I also snagged from Hancock Fabrics - I snap those up whenever I can find ‘em. They're used for sold-by-the-yard ribbons, trims, and lace lengths, and discarded when they're emptied. I like their trellis-like look, and they come in numerous sizes. They stand up on their sides or ends by themselves, the larger ones usually snap apart for storage, and come in handy for photos. The sales info sticker peels up easily, so I'm not sure why they don't get recycled. I can also have as many empty cardboard fabric bolts as I want, but I've only come up with two uses - a surface to spray paint small props on, and fabric covered bulletin boards - for them.

 

Sometimes free stuff is more expensive than it's worth...

 

Current Mood : A bit down...

 

Busy day. Went to see Beloved Hubby's grandmother, she's not doing well. We've been told that for over a month - it's taken me this long to deal with it, get over it, and go visit. Going over would make it real, and I didn't want that, so in my childish manner, I kept finding reasons to not go. This weekend, I sighed and got a grip, and I'm glad I did. I don't like saying early goodbyes, but I'd rather have a bit more time now than regrets later.

 

Helped Beloved Hubby a bit, but ended up taking a mid-morning nap. My insomnia is back. Time to drag out the Wii Fit again. Half-hour of sweats and stretches, and I tend to sleep well. I only stopped to give my back a chance to restore itself, but now I think it's occasional hink-ups have nothing to do with yoga or exercise. I think it may be my bombed-out shoes ! Really should throw those poor worn things away.

 

Got tired of endless ‘buy my design' e-mails from machine embroidery consortiums that said they hosted tons of freebies, all I'd have to do is join their Yahoo group. While it's nice to hear of sales, there's nothing I need, and very few usable (and findable !) freebies. There's a lot more  I want that I'm gonna have to design m'self. So I unsubscribed from eight such groups today, and put two others on ‘mail limited to moderator special messages'. So far, I've had less mail, but one group I'm gonna have to unsub from after all. I've received more ‘special moderator messages' today than I used to get all week from that group. And it's all ‘new set from X seller, buy now' messages, nothing important. Embroidery Billboard, which was the worst of the groups anyway, bungled its last chance. Bye-bye.

 

I also got to ‘read' the free fleece brochure I snagged at Hancock Fabrics when I bought my pattern. It really ranks. You'll get a full-page photo of coat hanger covers, but get wordy directions for other creations with no photos at all, or 1" x 1" icon photos, images too small to even see what the finished item looks like. Especially when the tiny photo includes props. One ‘idea' details how to make a small purse out of a buncha zippers. Cute, and been around a while. Too bad the ‘how to's' simply start - no header, no ‘Zipper Purse' title, it just starts. Leaflet is worse than useless, and I feel cheated for having picked it up. I'll shove it into a Donations bag or something. I'm not even gonna give it space with the useful sewing and craft books. It's that lame.

'Bot wars at Chez Insanity !

 

Current Mood : Sort of sorting out mode.

 

Dearest Son's been playing with ‘Goldie', the figure he got in the FedEx/mail yesterday - it's been fun to see him all imaginative with it. He lined up all his Star Wars spaceships on the Lego table, and it looks like a hangar.

 

I've been kind of avoiding the Lab lately, and just realized today it's because I've let it fall into a mess again. Well, we can't have that ! I got the last of the new-to-me fabric bundled up, cut up the latest pair of outgrown Dearest jeans, and put away various other finds and purchases. It soon got hot in there - no ceiling fan in there, though I'd love to have one, and we haven't had the air conditioner on in over a week now - so I borrowed the small ‘turbo fan' from Dearest's room. I keep hoping to find an oscillating one on sale or at a thrift store, but nothin' yet.

 

Got two separate e-mails from crafting sites, warning me that there were only 95 or 96 days ‘til Christmas. Not sure who's right - and I'm too lazy to check - but Gasp ! either way. Guess that means I'd best step on my Halloween project for Dearest's class. And once we have some funds, I need four yards of fleece for my first attempt at the Snuggie-clone. I already know how I want mine embroidered. And how, if it is easy to sew, to embroider more for gifts. Goss knows how I get a 40% off any fabric purchase coupon from Hancock Fabrics every three or four weeks ! And if I use solid colors and embroider ‘em - instead of buying the licensed prints - they'll be pretty inexpensive. Of course, given that friends and relations have had worse financial ‘09s than us, I doubt I'll need to make very many.

 

Oh, and a few days or a week or so ago, I roared up to Target to look for a green Halloween Kelly doll. Our store hasn't set up much beyond costumes, so when they weren't there or in the Pink Aisle, I figured I'd check again later. I still mean to, but unless the ‘stitches' painted on her forehead come off, I'm not as interested as I was. I know it's silly, but the idea of a little girl doll with a head injury kind of bugs me... happens to real kids all the time, but it's not something I really wanna deal with on my doll shelves.

Hi, Michelle and Manda ! I really need to write to you guys !

 

Current Mood : Feelin' pretty !

 

Went to check on the status of Dearest Son's action figure order delivery - and was amazed to learn that FedEx had dropped it off to the Post Office ! What in the world...? Well, I guess they do that when a box can be delivered on Saturday, because they dropped off ‘Goldie' this afternoon. Dearest's gonna be so happy when he sees it tomorrow.

 

Beloved was a bit bored, so we cut my hair this afternoon. Much better ! I hate it when my bangs get in my face, and with Molly-car's window still stuck down, it drove me nuts every time I went out. It's nice and short now, and I love it. Beloved insists I need to find an orange turtleneck sweater and pleated skirt, because I now look like Velma.

 

It's funny, though. I watched the cut locks fall down my front - and felt them down my back ! - and grabbed up a handful of it. So pretty, I thought. The color is still the chocolate brown I wanted so much during my Princess Leia-worshipping days. Sure, there's white strands in it here and there, but it's the color I wanted when I was a kid. I was actually born blonde, it began to darken when I was six. By the time I was a pre-teen, it was a ‘mousy' sandy brown. It struck me as amusing though, that I never think it's pretty until it's cut off of me. I can't appreciate it when it's still part of my head - but I always admire the shorn sections during a trim. 

 

After a quick shower, we ducked out for lunch - and I got my second Barbie Mighty Kids' meal toy. It was one I wanted, #4. a small heart-shaped plastic box with a new-logo decoration on the lid and printed on the fabric part of the ring inside. It's in the picture I used for yesterday - sometimes delaying posting makes for time-slip photos !  The ring now decorates my desk lamp, with the other cupcake decorations. I removed the heart-printed ribbon bow on the box's hinge. Used a seam ripper to unsew the bow, so I now have two strips of ribbon that are about right as suspenders for a doll's skirt. I may stitch that up soon.

Here's what the dress form (from Pink Shopping Barbie) looks like without the skirt !

 

Current Mood : Content

Spent on Embroidery Designs : $6. for an unlimited month's downloads

 

Not much going on today. Looks like it's a ‘stay in' weekend, since the folks we need a check from are gone for the weekend. Oh, well. I got plenty to do, have plenty to enjoy, and there's plenty of work that needs doing ! I'll probably veg out with Beloved Hubby and watch cable, though.

 

DC caught another mouse - outside this time, thank Everything. I think he enjoys the hunt, and he's good at it. He still eats up all his moist and dry foods in the morning when he comes in. He then sleeps all day where it's safe, coming out for attention and snacks occasionally until night comes. We get lots of pleas for head and belly rubs, then he's out until the next morning. I'm thinking that's ‘the good life' for a cat !

 

Since it's one of our legendary ‘lean weekends', I decided to splurge a bit with the funds in PayPal. Paid for a month's membership to the last embroidery site on my list. I now have a month to snag all the goodies on the site, which includes lots of free-standing lace designs and stuff I can customize. Worked on customizing a special design today, using Stitch Era Universal, that'll be fun to stitch up for Dearest Son's class at Christmas. Still need to get off my assets and sew something already.

Pattern hunt - 1 out of 3 ain't bad...

 

Current Mood : Weekend anticipation !

Spent on patterns : $1.07

 

Today was kind of an exercise in futility. Beloved Hubby had a rough morning, and didn't leave until 1pm. It didn't give me much time for my planned pattern hunt, since I have to be back before 3pm, to meet the bus, and it's nearly a half-hour in travel/traffic time. But I wanted to go, so I did.

 

While I remembered to retrieve my charging cell phone, I forgot the list of patterns I wanted - two Simplicity designs on sale at Hobby Lobby, one McCalls on sale at Hancock Fabrics. Oh, well, I'll just look ‘em up there. Um, remind me next time to just go back home for the list. Evidently all three were fairly new, and as such, didn't appear in all the hard-copy pattern catalogs. Even though there were at least two ‘Fall/Winter 2009' books for each company, and a special costumes one, the costume pattern I was interested in wasn't in the specialty book or one of the main books. I was about to call Simplicity when I checked the second book - ah, there it was. Too bad it wasn't in the cabinet. HLobby had two of that pattern, just neither in my size. Well, skittles.

 

The other pattern they had, but what I most wanted it for - an ironing board cover - required ‘thermal fleece'. What the heck is thermal fleece ? I could find garments made with the stuff, but not any of the actual fabric. Hmpft. While I was still at HLobby, I pulled up the McCall's book, and had a similar experience with the Snuggie pattern. It was in one book, but not the other. And I found a sewing room pattern set that included an ironing board cover made from regular ole cotton fabric in there, too. So, we were off to Hancock's, with a new list ! But first...

 

All the metalworks were half-off. And I found two lovely treasures. One was a small pink dress form much like my larger one, and the other was a bank in the shape of an antique ‘cathedral-style' radio, maybe half the size of the real thing. Couldn't get the radio/bank with the cash I had, but I could get the dress form. Stood in one of the two open checkout lines behind three young ladies - each wearing three shirts, knee-high Ugg-type boots, and skirts and shorts that'd have Sailor Moon constantly tugging down. I've never really understood the ‘butt ruffle' skirt, but wearing it as part of a cold-weather outfit really befuddles my obviously fashion challenged mind. If you need three long-sleeved shirts and winter boots to be comfortable, put on some blasted pants already !

 

I had the dress form in my hand when I realized that one cashier was having check acceptance problems, and the one I was in line for was still awaiting a price check three customers up. I realized that I didn't really want the dress form I had, I liked it mostly because I could have it. So I put it down and walked out. Time was running thin, and I don't need to buy stuff because I have a few bucks.

 

Got to Hancock's, where they actually did have the Snuggie pattern. Just not the ironing board one. Oh, well. At least I got the one I most wanted. The others - a costume and organizational items - I can always get later. Really, though I should be able to make a pattern for an ironing board cover on my own. Only thing wrong with the one I have is that the foam underlayer is rippled and won't lie flat. Hasn't since I bought the darn thing. Everything I iron on it picks up those ridges. I think I'm gonna soak it and try to iron it flat. If that doesn't work, I'll take it apart and either resew it so the foam is seated better, or use it as a pattern for the next one. So it looks like I was saved from overspending by understocking ! 

 

But I think I'll have enough to get the radio bank - what I really want ! - Saturday, before the sale ends.

Pink recycling !

 

Current Mood : Well-fed and relaxed

Spent on doll stuff : $1.07

Spent on craft stuff : $3.58

 

I mailed off the dressform / pink shopping Barbie doll to Australia Friday - and rediscovered her box this morning. I'd originally kept the doll boxed, thinking I'd mail her that way, but shipping to Down Under meant there were numerous size restrictions to packages. So I had to debox. As it turns out, it's all good - there's a lot I can do with the empty box. I'll be set for bookmarks for a while !

 

Today was one of Dearest Son's auxiliary teachers' last day. Just found out last night. Not really enough time to make anything nice, since I had grocery and errand runs this morning, and I was falling asleep at 6pm. Decided to buy some flowers at Mal-Wart, and use one of the cleaned yard-sale vase finds from this summer. Too bad all the M-W flowers were in sad shape. Seriously. Every last bunch, bouquet, or bundle was wilted or just plain tired. I'd about given up on the idea - it's a lean week anyway - when I saw a nice heart-shaped candy dish, for just $1. That sent me back to the candy aisle for Hershey's miniatures. Even with a length of trimmed scarf-like fabric holding them in, the heart only held about 2/3 of the bag. I tied it shut, wrote a card, and hopped back into Molly-car and drove to the school for drop-off. Hope she likes it. I know Beloved Hubby and Dearest Son will enjoy the ‘leftover' candy bars !

 

While on my way to the weekly grocery hunt, I stopped off at the thrift. Spent 99c on a bag of what looked like ‘Build-A-Bear' shoes, including a pair of adjustable skates. Like the old-fashioned metal ones, they adjust to fit over a doll / bear shoe. That was worth a buck, so I snagged it and a black glittery plastic plate (69c). Once home, I found the bag contained bear shoes - five of ‘em. Not pairs. Just five single shoes. The skates were the only pair in there. If I'd bought ‘em for bear shoes, I'd have been ticked. Not sure whether to re-donate them to the same thrift, or just toss ‘em.

 

There were some baby doll clothes, too small to fit any of my dolls, and a pretty bear sweater. It had at least three holes in it, but I was able to find the torn yarn ends and tie ‘em back together. With the ends tucked through to the wrong side, even I have a hard time telling where the holes were. And it fits Princess Dorrie, so I'm happy. There was also some sort of cape or collar that Dearest Son claimed for his plush dogs. Not bad for a buck !

 

Ran my errands, including some returns and some exchanges. If I'd had more time, I'd have gone by Hobby Lobby, since they're having a 99c Simplicity pattern sale this week. But I'll be out tomorrow for the Hancock Fabrics McCall's 99c sale anyway, so I'll go then.

 

Oh, and I also scored some silicone sealant, in the paint area's glue section, for a bit under $3.50. Ever since I read the directions for making yer own tear-sheet notepads, I've wanted to try it. You can buy padding medium, but HLobby didn't have it. Goss knows I got tons of scrap paper from Dearest's school to use up. Heck, if I get good at ‘padding' it, I can probably donate some notepads. Directions here ->  http://www.skiptomylou.org/2009/09/09/how-to-make-a-notepad/  .