The clean before the storm...

 

Current Mood : Excited still, but rather tired

Current Image Notes : My first look at the idea of having a dollhouse of my own...

 

Today, it's all about my ‘new' dollhouse. I'm so excited ! Here's its history - and I'm sure you'll be so surprised when I tell ya it started with a junk shop. I was finishing up a prowl, much to Beloved Hubby's relief, digging through their ‘craft' section. Ancient thread, antique tole paints, nearly historic sewing patterns, 60s fabric bits, and project kits with price stickers from stores gone under three decades ago jostle for attention in large cardboard bins, and you know I'm armpit deep in each of ‘em.

 

The crafts book section I normally give only a quick glance. It's usually more tole painting, ancient sewing books I already have, plastic canvas vase projects, and Crochet Doilies XXXVIII. But that week, I spied Things to Make for Children, originally printed by Sunset Books, revised and compiled by Lane Books, in 1975. I shrugged and leafed through, expecting wooden rocking horses and bean-bag toss targets, maybe an awkwardly thick doll cradle if I was lucky.

 

Instead, I found The Dollhouse. I'm sure part of its heart-beating-faster charm was the vintage Midge peering over the deck railing, but the more I looked, the more I liked. This wasn't a luridly painted bookcase retailing for $150. at Target. It wasn't a well-engineered but rigid plastic foldaway by Mattel with no floor space, and fail in the details. It wasn't a cardboard box shell of a house either. This was a luxe split level with amazing features !

 

Excitedly, I showed it to an eager-to-go Beloved. Yes, he could make that. He was up to his eyebrows in work now, but when Fall and then Winter slowed his schedule, he'd have time. Despite the dolls and grab bag of fabric scraps I also bought, my eyes were only on my new dollhouse blueprints. I could hardly wait !

 

A few months later, a slightly bored Beloved asked me to scan and print a copy of the plans for him. He'd bought some plywood and he was ready to go. Soon he had it all cut out and began assembly...but when he went to put it together, he realized he'd cut the roof angle backwards. We held it together several ways, and I chose what I liked best. I was delighted - this was definitely my dollhouse !

 

He fitted some Plexiglas he had already into a neat railing for the roof deck. At the time I thought it was a bit low, but now that it's on top of a table, I'm glad, otherwise I couldn't reach it to play with it ! It needed a few more adjustments due to the odd roof angle, but it gave him another idea. The elevator was cute - for a kid. What about a spiral staircase ? I couldn't believe it, but he made it happen ! The plans had a staircase, but it wasn't nearly this elegant - it had a rather awkward landing in the middle, made from a wood block.

 

It was supposed to get a white Plexiglas wall, wiring, and a few other finishes, but it was late...and that's where it stopped. He'd hoped to get it finished that Christmas, but never did. So it's been down there since Winter '07. I confess, I was a bit twitchy about moving it when it was never finished, but since it's still better than any other dollhouse out there, I kinda shrugged and went with it. I'm still gonna get him to cover the raw edges for me. Or I'll get some mini trim and do it m'self. That never-added Plexi wall now works for me, giving me greater access to the interior. Go figure !

 

About all I got done today was replacing everything tossed aside while furniture and dollhouses were being moved around. And I finally found a place for all those Madame Alexander books I bought at a church yard sale a couple months ago. I still have to dig out the vacuum, and bring out the stepstool toolbox for some art repositioning, but all that can wait for when I'm home tomorrow. I'm going to TRU, and any other stores that catch my fancy. Not sure if I'll hit the Flea Market again or not.

 

But I'm certainly looking forward to tomorrow !

Knock, knock. Who's there ? DOLLHOUSE !!!

 

Current Mood : So happy.

Spent on fabric remnant : $1.02

 

Let me start off today by setting my goals for the weekend - getting the dress form listed on Craigslist.org, and getting the ‘Reverse Applique Jeans Leg Bag' tutorial written up for my regrettably neglected Somewhere That's Crafty site. Somewhere between now and Sunday night, I intend to have both of these often-delayed tasks complete. And by listing ‘em  here, I stand a better chance of actually doing them. I'd hate to come back here on Monday with a litany of reasons why I didn't get ‘em done.

 

Besides, Beloved Hubby's gonna be busy Saturday and Sunday. Even if he's not working, he's agreed to help Friend move Saturday, and is doing a tattoo Sunday. Since I can't do much to help him with either, I should have plenty of time to get my tasks completed. Especially since the photos for the Bag are already done.

 

For now, though, I'm still prepping for the dollhouse. Beloved says it'll be moved sometime this weekend, so I gotta be ‘there' when it is. He's OK with using the end table from the living room as the house's platform, so today, I moved it. To get to it, I had to completely remove the sofa, since the table-sofa-my desk were crammed in tight together. Seriously, the curtains were even pushed to the side because of it. It took a while to get enough ‘wiggle room' to get it done, but I did !

 

Once I got the table free, I cleaned behind the sofa - unearthing only a dozen Lego bits, but about 30 Nerf projectiles. One of Beloved's posters had fallen back there, so I got it hung back up, and swept a buncha cobwebs from the corners and ceiling. The shoe bin under the table was overflowing, so I replaced it with a recently freed-up larger bin. Supporting the never-used lamp that was on the table is now a covered milk crate tucked behind the shoe bin. And I even found a great spot for Beloved's drafting / art board. Ya gotta love my free redecorating !

 

Update :

Beloved came home a bit early, and saw how far I'd gotten - and finished moving the chest of drawers and put the newly-freed end table in its spot. After that, he got the dollhouse moved to its new ‘pedestal' from the Shop ! So it's already where it belongs, just completely bare, and in need of a good vacuuming. Wheeeee ! Where it is now, I can access three sides of the house, so I don't need the lazy Susan turntable, either. I can't wait to decorate !

 

However, I have to put a few dozen heavy doll books and about three times more than that in knick-knacks back where they belong first. Our bed was nearly elbow deep in stuff, and it's bedtime, so for now, it's all on the floor. Tomorrow's gonna be busy - but fun !

 

Did some grocery shopping, picked up the most expensive of my prescription refills, and even scored a bit of Dearest's Christmas shopping. Beloved couldn't believe I got all that and still brought home change. I swear, though, I'm gonna buy me something neat this weekend ! Just don't know what it is yet. Ain't I a special little princess !

That's a comfy robot !

 

Current Mood : Sleepy and weary

Current Image Notes : Here's the 'reclining robot' ! Dearest wore it all day today, and says it's his new favorite ! I like how visible he is with it on, he doesn't blend in with the backyard in this color ! 

 

Had one of those ‘dazed and confused' days, where I had to stop and think, and then forgot to start thinking again. Basically, I wandered through today, but at least I got the dishes done. I also trashed our bedroom, but only temporarily, to clear space for the dollhouse, which was a monumental task.

 

First off, it's going where the jewelry armoire is. Beloved Hubby's parents gave that to me the first Christmas we were married. I still love it. It's probably the femininity of it that appeals to me, since the only decorations I usually wear are my wedding ring and whatever I've embroidered this week. And it's not like we have space for full-tilt Barbie-style glamour furniture, like a vanity. I went through it and sorted through it a bit, clearing a whole drawer for my scarves. Now my Barbie anniversary silk one has a nice, snug home !

 

Getting the armoire out of its little hidey-hole and into the closet required that I move my nightstand. Which was fine, I needed to swap lamps on it and clean it anyway. So I dumped everything off the stand, cleaned it, and redistributed a few items. The yard-saled Little Mermaid lamp I had in the Lab is now proudly lighting my nightly reading. Ariel on the lampshade still glows when lights are out, too. Threw out some old papers, a mangled Nerf bullet, and some old mailing envelopes that I thought I'd reuse. I have the weirdest recycling notions...

 

I also had to move all the donations and Flea Market trade dolls. I didn't even take them in last time, ‘cause I knew she wouldn't use them. I'm gonna stuff them in the linen closet for a while, maybe ‘til January. Tired of tripping over them. And there's a big bag of donations ready to go when we head out tomorrow.

 

To get the armoire into the closet, I had to move the dress form. Honestly, I'm probably gonna sell it. I haven't touched it since I bought it. Those poor wires are stretched to the limit to approximate my huge form, and I don't like looking at it. I'd much rather have the much smaller image of me in my head than this wire contraption. It's funny - I found it so cheaply, and you'd think that a dress form collector would still be thrilled with it. But, no, it bothers me. So, out it goes - and if I get $20. for it, I'll have more than doubled my investment !

 

I still have some books and knick-knacks to put away, since the armoire is tall enough to no longer be a display surface in the closet. I have waaaay too much stuff - and I'm too much of a greedy girl to get rid of most of it ! Between scarves and donations, I cleaned out a drawer in the chest - which will probably go to props and small bits for the dollhouse. Not sure if we're gonna have to move the chest or not. We may have to decide on that one once the house is up here.

 

We'll probably liberate the end table in the living room for it. I'm hoping to snag a turntable (lazy Susan-style) to put under the dollhouse. Beloved says making it spin will take up too much space, but it's a big house, and only being able to use half of it will drive me nuts.

 

Beloved offered to buy the latest Mattel house if I'd prefer that to the one he made. Tempting. But the more I look at the 2009 Barbie Dream Townhouse, the more I'd rather have the 70s one. Truth be told, I took about two hours today, looking at nearly every home and structure made for Barbie in the history of - both made by Mattel and not so. There was only one I really fell in love with, and it's not only ridiculously expensive, it's (luckily) out of stock. Wanna see ?

http://www.toysrus.com/product/prodpop.jsp?LargeImageURL=http%3A//TRUS.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pTRU1-5151628dt.jpg&displayTab=enh&productId=3247610&totCount=0

 

But anyway. What I really like about the one he made is that parts of it are big enough for me to play with Elphie in. And there's space for two bedrooms in Barbie-scale, since it's pretty much a family house for Shinobu, Inaba, and Michio. With the exception of the Imaginarium Grandview and some dinky-lookin' cardboard ones that still go for $90. on eBay, It's always one house, one narrow bedroom. If I could find one that wasn't paper and wasn't over $200. with two bedrooms, I'd grab it.

 

Since Beloved's in a semi-rush to get his Shop space ship-shape, I may have it here sometime this weekend. So I gotta be ready ! I'd get it m'self, but there's piles of Hubby-stuff in front of it, and he says it's too heavy for me to lift, so he'll get it. I think I'll let him. 

 

Tomorrow's another busy day. I got groceries and library books and vacuuming and bathtub scrubbing and schooling to get all in there. So I'm gonna get some rest. Hope your day treated you well !

Embroidery excess !

 

Current Mood : Excited !

 

Busy, busy day. Poor Brody's probably trying to figure out what's going on - he sits idle for nearly two months, and now, barely three days go by before I'm stitching something ! I was restless last night, so I sewed the ‘reclining robot' over the name stitching. Came out pretty well - there's a sort of before/in progress photo. Brody's first appearance on the blog, and it's an action shot ! It went pretty well - you'll see the final version tomorrow.

 

With the jacket half-done, I thought to simply slap a patch over the vinyl iron-on type decal on the other side. It reads ‘Bulldogs' in that standard ‘sports cursive with a swoop under it' font. Turned out, I didn't have a patch big enough, and the logo itself is bigger than the max Brody will embroider. I didn't really wanna spend money on this jacket, so... I chose the biggest ‘for Dearest Son' design in Brody's memory, and printed up a black and white version of the stitch guide. I cut the image of the design out, found the center, and positioned it as best I could, then marked it with chalk. First thing this morning, I hooped up the other side of the jacket and added a blue VW Beetle to it ! I wanted to get it done early, so it could go in the wash - my embroidery uses a lot of chalk marks.

 

I'm not even gonna try to hide the bits that show. It actually looks OK, and with a ‘bot on one side and a Beetle on the other, it's definitely Dearest's ! He loves it, and as soon as it was clean and photographed, he had it on. Bonus - I can see that screamin' bright orange from about a two-mile distance ! You get the Beetle photo day after tomorrow. I think Beloved Hubby was wondering if I was gonna stitch something on the back ! Now that I think about it... hmmm...

 

Anyway, I got the laundry done - washed, dried, and put away, down to the last sock. I'd barely finished that before Beloved was home, and he started working on the Shop's scrap pile, of lumber, old cabinets, and other trash. The pile we got the Dumpster for. He didn't ask, but I didn't think it fair for him to be out there alone, cleaning it up, so I grabbed my ole warm-up jacket and tried to help. I may not have been much help, but a little's better than none. About an hour later, the pile was smaller, and the Dumpster was full. I should sleep good tonight !

 

Since we all helped, even Dearest, Beloved took us out for a McD dinner. And we rented Up, too. (sniffle) Cried twice. I enjoyed it, and we'll probably buy a copy, but it's not really my favorite Pixar. Disney kinda got themselves into a spot of trouble with Up's video release. They created a special ‘rental' edition, with no extras, not even a menu, just the movie (and nearly six thousand ‘previews' of other Disney films). Without subtitles. Or even closed-captioning. Well, without English subtitles. French and Spanish are listed as available - which is probably why the boxes still say ‘subtitles' - but according to reports, neither language is available, either. Diz reps say that for the rental editions, they simply removed all the ‘bonus features', but I'm not sure when subtitles and closed-captioning became ‘bonuses'.

 

Not really much in dolls today - with everything going on, I barely had time to lurk ‘Silkie Tuesday' on In The Pink. But since I'm not much on Silkstones, it wasn't a big thing if I had missed it. I was idly thinking of taking a good look at the ‘Edward' doll from Twilight tomorrow, in case he was worth having. Not much on the book series - I tried to read it twice, but...let's just say I'm not the target audience and move on - but you know me, I'm always on the lookout for a cool new male doll ! But I think I'll give him a pass this week.

 

Oh, wait, I forgot. I do have some doll news. Beloved is redoing his Shop this week, and that's where my mostly-built dollhouse is. I thought we still had some work to do on it, but he says it's OK to move it... so we're rearranging some furniture in the bedroom, and it'll go there ! I'll get to have Shinobu and Inaba, their son Michio, and friends and family, right with me ! I'm so excited. Have no idea how I'll finish it - carpet, walls, furniture, etc - but it'll be fun ! I gotta clean up that area, though, so guess what's on the agenda for tomorrow ? (grin)

Crowned Heads of Monday...

 

Current Mood : Happy !

 

Yaaay ! Finished Test 2, and successfully ‘floated' the Timtex / Peltex. It's not difficult, and it didn't affect Brody's usual stellar performance at all. When I removed the design from Brody to cut the appliqué fabric's edges, I also cut the ‘floated' Timtex, since it was also tacked down at the same time. This way, it satin-stitched all the way around, and looks great. This afternoon, I cut ‘em both out and used Fray-Check on the edges - I have two new fridge magnets ! Although next time, I'll do the Fray-check first, on some key areas - the ball parts on the crown have zero support otherwise. Ya really can't tell which was ‘floated' and which was cut out, but since it didn't quite stitch all around the cutout, I'm more likely to float it next time.

 

I also clued in to the idea that, even if an appliqué design doesn't have a dieline included, it's still OK - I can use the ‘tack down' stitches instead. I just repeat that part of the design, first on the Timtex, then on the fabric, and continue the rest on the fabric. I can even begin to cut it out while the fabric lower layer's getting its tack down. It looks much better and is much nicer than just gluing the Timtex to the back once the design is completed !

 

I'm pleased overall with the way the pillowcases will look, especially considering I'm using old fabric, thin thread, and recycled stabilizer on the tests. Of course, when it's time to make the real things, every aspect will be new and top-quality. I'll even use a brand-new needle !

 

Right now, though, I'm gonna take a time-out on the pillowcases, and try stitching a design over a stitched name. I wanna see if the ‘lumps and bumps' of the name show through or not. I got a Dearest Son-sized baseball jacket at that church yard sale, and picking out the previous owner's name would take forever. I tried. Since the jacket is already pretty well-worn, and I expect him to get it good and filthy, it's good to experiment on. No big loss if it doesn't work out well, or if it's destroyed.

 

Here's a bit of a peeve I'm trying to leech out of my system. Back when Brody was in transit, not yet in the Lab, I wrote to a frugal-themed board how excited I was. That, while he was an entry-level model, I was really looking forward to exploring what he could do, and what we could do together ! And even his relatively modest price was kind of expensive for us, so I was eager to make many gifts and fun things. Back in February.

 

Today I get a response lecturing me on settling for some POS bought at ‘wal-mart or some other low-class place' when I really should have held out for a $2 -$3K machine from a reputable dealer, since the big names (coughBernina, Pfaffkoff) are just sooooooo much better. Why, it took this person eight years and five machines to find the best one for him/her !

 

All I could think was, thank Everything this...person didn't respond until now ! Talk about siphoning all the joy out of something and filling the holes with doubt and worry ! I may seem carefree and daring when it comes to new techniques and learning, but the facts are, I'd be cheating myself and my machine if I didn't try - and I've always studied and read up before I start, to minimize the risk of damage or problems as much as possible. Heck, new needles are cheap when ya buy in bulk ! But if I'd have read this person's message before I opened Brody's box, I'd have been so scared and worried.

 

Beloved Hubby urges me to let it go and move on, and I will... hopefully, I'll remember their words and not suck the joy and thrill out of someone else's new-developing  passion. How annoying - he/she has no idea how perfect my ‘inferior' Brother machine Brody is for me. At least it didn't take me a decade and thousands of dollars to know what I wanted. I bet he/she was heck on wheels to that unfortunate ‘reputable dealer' ! Image all her trade-ins...

 

And here's a quick aside - back when I stripped my hoop screw, a nice lady at Ace Hardware helped me find a replacement. I'd brought the hoop with me, she instantly recognized it. Turned out, her sister works for Bernina as a trade-show rep - and she can't afford one of their embroidery machines, either ! You'd think they'd at least offer her one of the demo models every year or three...

 

Oop - time to devour the cake Beloved Hubby and Dearest Son made ! Hope your Monday night is great !

Experimental Sunday !

 

Current Mood : Sleepy

 

Forgot to tell ya'll - the silk 50^th Anniversary Barbie scarf I ordered arrived yesterday. It is gorgeous ! Honestly, I don't want to cut it up now - I wanna wear it ! Beloved Hubby agrees with me, and said I could order another later this month. Yaaaay !

 

I was playing around with the glittery rhinestone slide letters I got on the 50c strap bracelet at the Flea Market yesterday. It occurred to me that they'd work fine with larger dolls, and I could string them on either broken jewelry or silver thread. The ‘A' one would work for nearly any of the Ariel dolls, Aurora, or Alice in Wonderland, and the ‘T' would work for Tiana, Tuesday Taylor, or Timey Tell. I may still donate the ‘N', since I don't think any of my larger dolls have an ‘N' name.

 

Had some time tonight, so I stitched out the ‘left' side design for Joanne. I wanted to see how the lettering looked, and I wanted to try ‘floating' the Timtex and/or Peltex (rigid interfacing stuff, often used to make fabric bowls). So I pulled up the misprinted silhouette guide and used it as a pattern to make a cutout of the rigid stuff.

 

I also hooped up more side-taped cotton, using nearly the last of the ‘pillowcase' masking tape - there's just a few inches of it left. Kinda cheated on the Timtex, and used the adhesive spray to keep it in place, since it was a cutout. To truly be a ‘float', it'd be just a regular ole rectangle stuck under the design.

 

Well, one thing's for sure. I really do learn more from my failures than my successes. Actually, it went pretty well, but I learned there's a reason most stand-alone designs - like for magnets and frames - have die-line stitches as part of the design. You stitch out the die-line on the Timtex first, then cut it out, then hoop your other fabric and work the rest of the design, placing the cutout when/where it's called for. I always ignored them before. This one, of course, doesn't have that, so I didn't cut it well. Surprisingly, it still stitched nearly all the way around anyway, except at the front of the neck. I can probably still cut it out and use it anyway, but I wanted ya'll to see the whole thing before I cut it up. Especially since the ‘In The Pink' won't be a part of the cutout. I think next time, I really will ‘float' it, without trying a cutout, and skip the adhesive. I don't really like that stuff.

 

The fabric I used as the appliqué was a real mess. It frayed and I couldn't cut it close to the stitches for squat. But it's still really shiny and pretty. I bought it years ago in a fabric grab bag at the junk shop, and was dreaming of the cool doll clothes it'd make - before I got it home, opened the bag, and found that it was all tiny little three and four inch scraps. Size-wise, it's perfect for appliqué, but what a pain to work with ! The blue thread is some ancient stuff I'm trying to use up, so you'll probably see it fairly often on test stitch-outs.

 

I'm hoping to get the other side stitched out tomorrow - then I can compare lettering and make any final changes. So, while I'm itching to, I can't cut out tonight's effort until then. Oh, well. You know how having to wait makes me eager to finish !

Happy Birthday to DMIL !!

Current Mood : Quiet and content

Spent on hobby stuff : $2.58

Spent on doll props : $3.

Current Image Notes : Here's the two ‘ blank' ornaments I bought at the Flea. The ‘clear/soap-bubble' one has all of Brody embroidery thread cut-aways in it - I'll glue ribbon to the top, to close it and hang it, when it's full. I'm happy with the way it looks so far - but I wanna do something with more metallic thread between now and the holidays !

 

I'm starting to make Saturday ‘my day', too, in my selfish way. But it is my one day to do what I want, without my Dearest Son - who is either bored silly by my favorite haunts, or will find something that's always just a bit more than I have in others. Seriously. If I have $5. in my pocket, at the Flea Market, he'll find a $7.50 love-at-first-sight toy. At the thrift, at Mal-Wart, yard sales, you name it. About the only time he doesn't sink my wallet is at the fabric store... and am I anywhere near needing new anything over there ? But he likes it, because he always scores a candy bar at Hancock's.

 

I'd planned a large circle encompassing two towns...but it was a foggy, humid day, and my lungs just weren't up to much. So I watched three Law & Order episodes with Beloved Hubby before he left for work, then reconsidered my day. Big Lots advertised new dolls, but our store never seems to get them. Hobby Lobby was having a big sale on Christmas ornaments...something they'll have nearly every week between now and Jan. 09, 2010. And Hancock Fabrics, well, I could go anytime. So, what did I want to do ?

 

Flea Market was in town again, so I figured I'd start there. And I lucked out ! A 50c table yielded two plastic ornaments, both with that rainbow soap-bubble sheen, one a golden clear, the other green. That's one of the things I wanted at Hobby Lobby. Y'see, I've been saving all my thread cuts and strands from Brody and all the machine embroidery projects with the intention of stuffing an ornament with them, as a sort of ‘my first year with Brody' kinda thing. It'd be pretty, with all the colors swirled together. Last year, Dollar Tree had tons of plastic ‘craft' ornaments for such projects, but none this year.

 

There was also a plastic slide bracelet, with two rhinestone ‘star' slides bracketing the name-letters for ‘NAT'. I liked the stars - always do ! - and can use either the bracelet as a doll belt, or recycle the buckle to make my own. Will probably donate the letters, if I can't think of anything else to do with ‘em. At another booth, I found something I'd been looking for - for how long, I have no idea, it seems like forever. But there they were ! Doll sized doors ! Three of ‘em, hinged together, to make a sort of mini folding screen, but it'd be easy to remove the hinges. Actually, only two are doors, the one in the middle is a sort of louvered panel with a doorknob, but I'd gladly use the two door parts ! I scored this amazing find for...$3. Wow ! They still need to be cleaned and detached, but I'm so thrilled to have two great props after years of hunting !

 

I also found another tin dollhouse, similar to mine, but I could tell it was not the same from six booths away. It was in better shape, with a much higher price - $30. ! Kinda high, and it was still rusty, but it's not like I was really in the market. At another booth, I found another vintage rigid-plastic textured sewing box like the two thread boxes I have, and a 2006 Origami calendar. Vendor wasn't there, so I came back - still nobody. His buddies thought he'd want ‘at least $2' for the calendar, and probably wouldn't want to sell the pattern box if I didn't want the patterns. OK, whatever. Guy can't even be there for a sale - and I was there for nearly an hour - and his buds expect him to sell off the dusty findings for such a high amount... forget it.

 

From there, I decided to visit Dollar Tree. Still no ornaments, so I was really glad I scored the two at the Flea. Snagged Cars lip balm for Dearest, the kitchen scrubbers I always forget to buy at Mal-Wart, some chopped onions for the next meatloaf, and a ‘design your own' type travel mug. Yup, if it passes my leak-tests, I'll go back for more, since they're a great way to use up test stitch-outs. Or customize for gifts ! If they pass, I'll be back for about a dozen more. Since Hobby Lobby's run about $15. without a coupon, getting the same for a buck would be great fun - and awesome gifts !

 

In line to pay for my goodies, Dearest calls - do I have enough cash left to pick up dinner ? Sure do ! I was reading and eating when I noticed that my e-mail's been sending all my ‘Blog response' notifications to the wrong folder ! And it's really rare for me to go back and read previous entries - so I've neglected to welcome several new readers and thank some of my old friends ! I'm so sorry !!

 

So, welcome Melabelo and Smidge-Girl - and Hi !! to Michelle and Manda. It always stuns me a bit when I realize someone's actually reading this ! Don't ask me why I do this when I honestly believe no one's reading it, but I'm addicted and would do it regardless ! Thanks for your charming kindnesses - and I'll try to write more about dolls and less about housework ! (grin) Love to you all !!

But...I kind of like the number 13...

Current Mood : Content - and in a clean house !

 

Bet ya'll thought I forgot to get a photo of this for ya'll ! I'd meant to do it Wednesday, but that photo of Tiana coloring came out so well, I couldn't resist. I'm considering gluing down the brown vinyl lining, since it's not lying down flat, but I'd actually rather leave as much of the dollhouse original as I can. Part of me is still in love with it, and I still love having it.

 

There's a little 'Happy Meal Anniversary Train' Barbie in front, for scale. I keep hearing contradictory reports about her being recalled - supposedly if she breaks, there's a dangerous metal spike exposed. In any case, I think she's pretty, and grabbed her when I saw her in a yard sale box. She still spins, and is about four inches tall, base and all.

 

Well, today was Dearest Son's big day. We were up early, and I had the living room vacuumed and the hallway, too, right on time. Dearest was so excited, he slept on top of his covers, so he wouldn't need to remake his bed this morning. I covered him with a blanket last night, which he handed me when he awoke, asking me to put it away for him. Beloved Hubby took out the trash for me on his way to work. Before I knew it, it was time for me to grab a shower and get us ready to go pick his friend, "B" , up.

 

It turned out rather anti-climatic. Every chance B got, he was either on the Wii or Beloved's computer, playing games. Dearest would start a movie, or an outside play scenario, and B would go with him...for about ten minutes. Then he'd tell Dearest he needed to go to the bathroom, and once inside or out of his room, B would pick up the Wii controls or restart the computer game, leaving Dearest to wait for him until he got bored.

 

It got kind of frustrating. If I'd wanted Dearest to play alone in his room, I wouldn't have wasted a quarter tank of gas and $6. for their lunches on having B here. I understand that B had his own wants and ideas, but he was barely even trying to play with Dearest. And if there's anything more boring that watching someone else play a video game, I'm not sure what it is. Especially when it's a game Dearest and Beloved played together for months not too long ago. B didn't even eat his lunch, he was too busy with the video gaming. (sigh)

 

I also discovered B has a thing for guns. Even in the video games, he'd only play characters that could wield guns. Only way Dearest got him outside for ten minutes was to load up the Nerf ones, and once the ‘bullets' were shot, B beat a beeline back inside. Didn't even help pick them up. Dearest and I had to. He also emptied Dearest's toyboxes and scattered toys over his room, kept leaving the Wii games and controllers on the floor, something even Dearest doesn't do anymore. I guess I expected B to be tidier, due to his not being Asperger's and his grandmother being blind, but that was my own assumption. A very incorrect one.

 

I swear, next time we have this kid over, it won't be for six hours, and the Wii is gonna be in a closet, locked up with Beloved's computer. Or I'll just take ‘em to a playground, fast-food if necessary. I tried to engage them both, with a noisy board game or making brownies, but B didn't want to, he just wanted to game some more. Not again. Three hours, tops, next time. At least I kept my promise to have B over. Not sure if Dearest is gonna be so excited about having him over any time soon.

 

Once it was time for him to go, I helped put away Dearest's toys, and darn near sang all the way. Goss, I am so mean. But I think I needed this, because now, I know I gotta make the effort to widen Dearest's social circle. Because it'll be a bit before I'm ready to invite B to the house again.

 

Two hours later, Dearest was on his way to his grandparents', and here I am, wondering what to do. I was too worn from the afternoon to have much interest in sewing, and the house was still mostly clean. I have to admit, it's nice to have the place vacuumed ! I think I'm just gonna read and play online for the rest of the night. Tomorrow, though, I'm going out for a while !

You're getting very, very sleepy...

 

Current Mood : House-weary

 

There it is, the sleepy-kitty embroidery I did yesterday. I'm quite pleased with how it turned out, and now, I can go after the blank handkerchiefs I've been hoarding from yard sales and flea markets. Well, at least, I can once I get all the other projects done !

 

No time for such today. It was ‘clean house' day, so I got dishes and the bathroom done. Dearest Son is so excited about his friend's visit tomorrow, he busted his lil' butt and cleaned his room - even made his bed ! It looked so good in there, I actually vacuumed in there. Ran out of time before I could finish the living room, but there should be time to get that done tomorrow morning.

 

I'm hoping that, once the boys are playing, that I can sew or even just vegetate for a while. If nothing else, I'm getting some French Onion dip to enjoy while they play. I think I've earned it.

 

Sorry it's a short entry, with next to no doll stuff, but the weekend's coming ! Not fast enough, but it's on the way !

Happy Veteran's Day !

 

Current Mood : Sleepily charmed

Spent on doll-type props : $1.08

Beloved Hubby retired early, and Dearest Son was engulfed in a movie after his bath, so I was on my own last night. Since the handkerchiefs I got this weekend were clean, I grabbed one and got to work on it. I wasn't sure how to hoop it, since I wanted to embroider a corner, not the middle, so I went with a double layer of stabilizer and snugged it up tight with just a bit of the handkerchief corner under the hoop. Worked out great ! Didn't even need the spray adhesive. You'll get that photo tomorrow.

 

And that cleared up enough space on Brody's memory to load the ‘right' and ‘left' versions of Joanne's pillowcase designs. Hope to have them tested sometime this week, and the finals ready to mail next week. Sometime in there, I also hope to try that ‘float a layer' thing, make a matching magnet.

 

Every so often, especially when I have to juggle and delete designs, I think about getting a card for Brody instead. He has a card slot, and it'd be easy to transfer designs - I wouldn't have to move him at all. But then I remember I have to have a card reader to connect to the computer, and it'd be about $160. Also that we paid an extra $100. for Brody's exact model, for the USB interface and some other tools, but mostly the USB. And I'm OK with carrying him back and forth for another three to six months.

 

Today was foggy, but another fun day. I got to do the grocery shopping solo, which meant a trip to the thrift. While I was there, an armload of just-packaged dolls got dumped into the bin, but there wasn't much I wanted. I noticed that these dolls were packed two to a baggie, but the price had gone from $3.99 to $4.99.

 

They also had two wicker furniture sets, the kind I normally will always pick up, mostly out of nostalgia. $5.99 for each is a bit higher than I usually go, but I was considering scoring one anyway. One set was painted white, and was the usual set you've seen a few hundred times. The other was dark brown, in a more modern style. I nearly bought it, but realized I literally had no place to store it. That's also why I didn't get the $3.99 My Size Barbie - she was one of the newest ones, yet someone had taken a black Sharpie to her hands and eyes. I could fix it, but I don't want or need another MSB. I think I'm really at or close to full saturation point when it comes to dolls.

 

On to groceries. Didn't find much, but I snapped up the mini-coloring book - with stickers ! - from The Princess and the Frog. Little Tiana is about to color in it for today's image. I was really happy with how well that photo turned out.

 

Once home, Beloved reminded me that it was Veteran's Day, and since he was home, I could have the day to do whatever I liked. Hmm... So I watched two episodes of Miracle Train, plowed my way through half a bag of potato chips and a cream-cheese cinnamon roll (day-old bakery + microwave = delicious on the cheap), posed Tiana for her photo, took an hour and a half nap, and just sort of hung out around the house. I'm also reserving Saturday for a trip to the junk shop and Hancock Fabrics. Like I need more fabric, but the last ad featured a ‘pattern' print I want to see in real life.

 

I can tell the holidays are coming, despite the nice, sunny days - there's craft shows everywhere ! From what I can tell, the only folk who make money from those are the ones running ‘em. Fully half the audience doesn't buy, they're looking for ideas (guilty blush), and about half of the remaining half are just looking around. Heck, there was one this weekend, and it was almost a replay of the last one this summer - fluffy little-girl stuff, and beer-can windchimes.

 

The embroidery booth was there, in their usual well-trafficked territory, but there was a change. Normally, the owners display their huge multi-needle machine prominently, because it's actually kind of fun to watch. (grin) At least, until you have your own ! Anyway, last Saturday, it was tucked in a dim corner, nearly impossible to get to. I wonder if something happened at the last show. Hope not - if my Brody was so expensive, I don't wanna know how much their huge beastie is !

 

Well, it's winding down for the day, and I have a lot of work tomorrow. I hope your day was special, too !