Aren't you glad I'm no longer involved in the mass media ? (grin)

 

 

Current Mood : For some reason, I wanna see Beastmaster again...

 

Current Image Notes : Coming this fall to NBC - Ghoulia Yelps is The Owl Master ! Costumes by Me Love Gangrels, Tabitha Few. Background image courtesy of CalendarMaster. All rights reserved. Void where prohibited by law. Don't be hatin'.

 

 

Wow - the Monster High FaceBook crowd really ate up the 'Who Wears It Best ?' image ! Last time I checked, over 40 people had voted, with the early forerunner being Cleo. Kinda knew that when I saw the Cleo photo - well, the one out of 38 that was decently in focus and could be cropped to edit out the dryer's lint trap !

 

 

Today was, in some ways, even more boring that yesterday, but more fun. I didn't do any housework at all ! Beloved Hubby was home until after lunch, and we goofed around a lot. Everyone got naps - seems insomnia runs in the family - and potato chips, so I'd count it a good day ! It's kind of funny that I think I'm the only one with sleep issues. Turns out, we're either really weird or incredibly polite. Only one of us is wide awake at a time ! So when I can't sleep at 3am, and I think everyone else is warm and snuggled down, it turns out that Dearest Son woke up at 2am, but fell back asleep after some water and a bit of Lego play, and Beloved was up at 5am and just stayed awake 'til the alarm got me up at 6. But each of us is convinced we're the only one with sleep disturbances. Lol.

 

 

Last night, it was due to having a tight chest. Not an asthma attack, just needed to adjust the pillows and do some focused breathing. I have no idea why, since I don't watch the thing, but when I have trouble sleeping, that glitter-lamp puts me back under every time. Maybe it's just the blue glow on the wall - the lamp's really too far back on my nightstand to really watch. But it works.

 

 

I remember when I got it. I was never much into Lava Lamps, although they've hypnotized me several times, there was something about them that just weirded me out a bit. They also remind me of the time my younger-than-me friends decided to make doughnuts out of deep fat and canned biscuits, in a saucepan filled with cooking oil on the stove-top. Oh, the carnage. I'm amazed we didn't set their house on fire. Anyway, I snagged the lamp for a mere 75c, which was a coup at the time, they sold for around $20. then. I'd just missed buying a huge dollhouse, it sold right as I pulled up, which I was bitter about for a while, but now I'm very glad about.

 

 

I happily bore my new treasure - along with a boxload of other second-hand yard-sale treats - home, only to find out that the light bulb was blown. Of course, it's a specialty bulb, but I was lucky that Lowe's had it. I was ticked, since the bulb alone was three bucks. But heck, if it helps me sleep, it's priceless, but ya'll know how cheap I am !

 

 

Beloved was proud of me last time we went out on a prowl. Thrift shop had one of those 'lightning bolt' plasma balls in the display case. Those things hypnotize me, too, and five years ago, I'd have said I'd always wanted one. I didn't even ask. Heck, I got the glitter lamp and my very own disco mirror-ball - what other visual toys do I need ? Plus, there's the simple expedient 'Where would I put it ?', not to mention its appeal to the younger set. Shoot, yesterday DC-kitty came home with a sliver of glass in his fur ! Last thing I need is a fragile glass globe around here.

 

 

Giving serious thought to using the rest of the week to sew. Build up inventory. Yup, six months after I said I would, I'm doing the research and plotting. I'm gonna start selling stuff, possibly as early as next week. I'll probably test a few pieces on Etsy, then think about eBay. They each have their advantages and drawbacks. Not sure what to charge, maybe go with some 'opening week' specials, see what sells and for how much. I already know I won't make a fortune here - but if my sales support my doll and fabric habits, I'd be happy ! Heck, I'd be thrilled if it did half that ! So would Beloved, I'm sure.

 

 

In the meanwhile...tomorrow's Creative Thursday ! I got notebooks to sew, obis to make, and miles to sew before I sell - doesn't rhyme, but I made you think of Frost's 'Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening' !

Time to cast your vote !

 

Current Mood : Bored and waiting... 

 

 

Today was a real ball of boredom. Oh, it was busy enough, but I didn't get much done that I can really chat about, ya know ? I guess it's noteable that I didn't wait until the very last glass and plate had been dirty a week before doing dishes - I'm up to doing them two, maybe three times a week now ! - but dishes ain't that thrilling. They do take up a girl's time, though.

 

 

The usual worries are ongoing - Dearest Son, the kids across the street, money, bills. Usual junk. Turned off the air conditioning today, since it was nice outside, and while I was trying to help Beloved Hubby with a financial detail, something I really had to pay close attention to,  a tiny little voice was describing how wonderful her dress was. Yup, it was K., who'd invited herself in by slipping past Dearest. He hustled her back to the yard after I told her all the kids were outside today, but while I was making a phonecall five minutes later - and was luckily on hold - she was back. I dutifully admired the dress, and told her I was very busy and couldn't talk or play right now. And Dearest scooted her back out again. (sigh) And here I was, worrying what the kids had told their parents about Saturday ! We haven't had a chance to talk to them ourselves, and let's face it, by Tuesday, that ship has sailed.

 

 

You'd think that, with dishes done and neighborhood kids home, I'd be busily sewing. Yet, even though DotD Clawdeen's 'new' pink kimono remains obi-less, I just couldn't push m'self in there. I'm sure I'll be more 'into' it by the time Thursday rolls around.

 

 

For now, though, Beloved's working late, and Tron: Legacy was surprisingly unsatisfying. Hard to believe a computer-based movie left me feeling so unresolved, but there it was. I kept thinking there was more, but those were definitely the end credits. Even reading the entry, message boards, and FAQ on IMDB.com didn't help much. Effects were top-notch, much better than the original one I saw a couple weeks back... but I preferred the old one. The update, for all its polish and technical prowess, simply didn't engage me that much. And when I was engaged, I kept thinking I'd somehow missed part of the story. Ah, well. Chalk it up to 2001 and 2010 syndrome - now there's a pair of confusing movies, singly or apart !

 

 

Anyway, that's about my day. Some housework, some play, a little entertainment. Hope your day wasn't so boring - unless you could use a boring day !

 

Today on 'Who Wears It Best ?', Cleo De Nile brings it...and the bling to go with it !

 

Current Mood : Yawning

 

Current Image Notes : Never one to do *anything* the way anyone else has, Cleo reverses the gown and ladders up the bracelets ! This is one difficult contest to judge - glad I'm not having to do it ! They go side-by-side, head-to-head tomorrow...stay tuned !  

 

 

Today I learned, to my surprise, that I really like doll jewelry ! Tabitha generously included three sets in her swap package, and I've really liked having it, and even more, using it on my Monster High dolls. This surprises me because, if you look at the ole website, it is extremely rare to see any doll with so much as a necklace. You may be surprised to learn that I've amassed a fishing-tackle boxload of all types, classifications, and shapes of doll ornamentation over the years, with no effort on my part. I have it, and plenty of it, but I simply never use any of it.

 

 

When a new or new-to-me doll came to me, she'd often still have her issue jewelry, either still tacked down by clear elastic bands or fastened in such a way that the previous juvenile owner couldn't remove it. Usually the first thing to go once she was in Chez Insanity was the earrings. No matter what they were made from, if they were on a Barbie, there was inevitably a snarl of hair wrapped around them on both sides. Often, I couldn't brush her hair with the earrings intact.

 

 

And then, when I decided to take a photo for whatever reason, heck, some of my dolls were lucky to get shoes. No way was I gonna dig through that box looking for the right shade of glowing pink matching bracelet and necklace pieces. Took too much time, often detracted from what I was taking the photograph for, and plastic jewelry pretty much always looks like plastic. So I simply never bothered. Plus, ever since I saw that my 'Dawn of the Dance' Cleo had black marks under her earrings right out of the box, I've been a bit concerned over the dreaded green-ear. If Mattel wasn't gonna do anything about it for flagship Barbie, I couldn't trust them with MH, that's fer sure. It concerned me that I could end up giving Frankie huge, ugly green patches of chemical reaction by simply being lazy or forgetful - those are my natural states ! So again, my dolls only rarely wear jewelry.

 

 

Oh, I'd futz a bit with the pink heart necklace from the 'My Melody' Barbie outfit I won from In The Pink's moderator/owner Joanne, but I was too lazy to even put a fastener on it. I just kept bending the pink jump ring 'til it broke. But now, I'm looking through the box of broken bits I keep around, and waft through that big catalog from Fire Mountain Gems, and wonder...what might look good with...?

 

 

What brought it to me today was Cleo's fashion shoot. In addition to earrings and a necklace to match the gown - just as gorgeous as Lagoona's set, worn with her new Tabitha attire ! - each of the two packets came with several large hoops, by themselves. At first, I figured they'd be great for Clawdeen's four ear piercings, she loves gold just like Cleo. And actually, my Original Clawdeen has indents (not actual pierced holes) for three more earrings in her ears. Instead, since it was Cleo's turn, I just slipped them on as a stack of bangle bracelets, and it looked *great* ! I had no idea doll jewelry could be such fun ! I haven't really messed with any since Elphie, and right now, she's not wearing any either.

 

 

But I think that's about to change...

 

 

Got Ghoulia dressed for her upcoming photo shoot, and that left DotD Clawdeen nude, since it was Cleo's turn to wear/model the gown. So I put her in that bright pink kimono. Not bad ! Still need to make her an obi, but it looks better on her than it did on Ghoulia. And I have some nice ribbon for a closet Hello Kitty fan like Clawdeen...

 

 

Too bad I got dishes to do and I can't get near the sewing desk 'til Dearest Son puts all his remote control chassis, wheels, controls, and parts away. Only problem about our Playroom - lotta stuff packed in there tightly !

 

 

Tomorrow - Who Wore It Best ? You decide !

 

Contestant One in this week's 'Who Wears It Best ?' contest, modeling a Tabitha original...Clawdeen Wolf !

 

Current Mood : So very relaxed... 

 

 

Ever see something in your cabinet, and just know it's your destiny to eat it ? As in, right now ? A can of cherry pie filling triggered that in me today, for some reason. I've moved that can aside a dozen times, but today, it would be devoured !

 

 

So I pulled up some cobbler recipes. Went with a super-simple Bisquick one, since I had no idea if 1) my flour was self-rising or regular, it's been a while, or 2) if the baking powder was any good, either. The Bisquick we bought a few weeks ago, so... In short order, there was a cobbler in the oven and I got to spatula scrape what stuck to the sides of the can, which included two cherries. Yummy destiny...cobbler was pretty good, too.

 

 

I kept half the ambition I had yesterday - watched two episodes of MST3K, but mostly I goofed off. Had to clean my desk to use the scanner. Wanted a digital copy of the pattern Tabitha sent me so I could print more later, and I'd buried the printer/scanner under a ton of magazines, mail, and papers. At least that's finally taken care of, some of that stuff's been there for weeks. And I have a good scan. I can make gowns whenever I want to now !

 

 

And, as you can see from Clawdeen, the pattern makes a lovely gown ! I finally got her photo-shoot done today, Cleo's is tomorrow, and you can have your say on who wore it best Tuesday. Whatever the outcome, I want to make more of these ! Thanks again for the pattern, Tabitha !

 

 

But first, I had to clean off the dryer to take photos. Man, every flat surface here is loaded up with junk ! I got serious housework in for me Monday. But at least the kitchen's not a total disaster, and all the MH classmates are seated and re-posed after yesterday's unfortunate pile-up. Lagoona, who's been in her Scream Uniform since we bought it, is really enjoying her pretty Tabitha clothes. She's still in her tub, but there's some fabric and clothes in it now. With her skirt arranged prettily, it looks like she's sitting on a divan instead of in a blue glass bathtub !

 

 

About the only MH classmate who's been in an outfit longer than that is DotD Clawdeen, who was still wearing the striped tube dress I knocked out in December, I think. Well, I had her in the Bratz egg chair with Holt, it was hard to get to her for clothing changes. A certain visitor always pulls her out of there, and yesterday was no exception. So I changed seating a bit - now there's only one in the egg chair, mostly because the minky-style pink cushion goes so well with Gloom Beach Clawdeen's purple locks and the cut down Barbie 'summer garden' floral print dress.

 

 

Once I got all the MH characters in one place, all seventeen either seated or standing, I noticed that two lacked shoes, and with clothing changes, two more would need different footwear. I'm really bad for having a doll go barefoot when I'm using him or her for fittings. Half the time, I don't even find shoes for them even for photos, mostly because I'm lazy, and finding the 'right' shoes can take 20 minutes ! Buying a huge lot of them from Dollspart a couple months ago has been great - while I haven't even used them all, it's nice to have a selection !

 

 

And today, I got to put two of those pair to work for the first time ! A pair of semi-translucent lavender ones got the white glittery sticky-back fun foam inserts, and GB Clawdeen's wearing them. DotD Clawdeen got the clear-with-gold-glitter pair, and I could have used the same white shimmery foam, but the black glitter fun foam looked better. Too bad you can't see them !

 

 

I swear, once we have a few bucks again, I'm gonna put some more stuff on eBay, get it sold...and buy more shoes ! I like all the colors I bought back in January, which doesn't leave me any to spray-paint or customize. Reason I'm gonna wait for fundage is because I want to do Buy It Now sales if I can. Since it can take PayPal a week to transfer funds to Checking, and I don't wanna make my customers wait that long for me to ship, I always make sure I have the money for that before I put anything up for sale.

 

 

Only problem with that strategy is, when we have money, I don't think to sell my stuff - I think of buying what I want instead !

 

 

Well, not a lot else going on, so I'm gonna do a bit more tidy-work (i.e., puttering) in my little sewing oasis-island. Hope your weekend was as fun as my Sunday was !

 

Lagoona's LARP - isn't she lovely ? (LARP - Live Action Role Play - we nerds love it !)

 

Current Mood : Just now calming down. 

 

Current Image Notes : Lagoona went right for this lovely ensemble from Tabitha's package - I wish I had photographed the blouse better. The neckline and collar are *amazing* ! And I'm in love with the light, elegant jewelry, also a Tabitha specialty. Trying to figure out who's more lucky - me for getting this, or Lagoona, for getting to wear it !

 

Yeah, it's Lagoona. I'm jealous.  

 

 

Dearest Son's overnight guest was mostly nice and started out polite, but... it'll be a while before I'm ready to do this again. Last night, he stayed up 'til after 2am, even though Dearest had crashed at 11pm. One of us had to stay up with him, since he'd decided to snooze on the sofa with the Netflix on. Um, nope. I turned it off, only to find it back on again later. I was overheating and passing out, so Beloved Hubby volunteered, then put it on This is Spinal Tap, a good movie, but something that'll put yer average pre-teen out like a light.

 

 

Today, he brought over his PlayStation2, but the only time Dearest got to play on it is when he was in here, using Dearest's computer to look for loud burnout / hardcore rap videos. It was much like the last time Dearest had a visitor over - that kid ignored him for his video games and computer, too. Plus, the game the kid brought over was Grand Theft Auto : Vice City, which I really wasn't terribly fond of to begin with. Turned out, Dearest had already played it at their house, which I did not know about. grrrrr.....

 

 

I was hoping, since Beloved Hubby was at an Airsoft game, and I'd had a full-scale asthma attack last night, that I'd have some time today without a housefulla kids, but nope. After I served lunch, A.'s siblings came over, so I had what seemed like half the neighborhood here, and I was already hot and tired and cranky. Even more so when A. kept pulling up hardcore rap on YouTube, and defending it when I told him to turn that stuff off. I kinda sucked it up, since Dearest was having a great time, but I'm gonna need some quiet time, very soon.

 

 

But it rapidly got worse. Dearest was already acting out bits from the game, so while I talked to him outside, I kept having to shoo the other kids away - this was private. Too bad they didn't quite understand that. I came back inside to find six of my MH dolls pulled off my desk and abandoned in a messy pile on the floor, with my new 'Hello Kitty' ribbon tangled among them. And a mysterious program was trying to finish installing on Dearest's computer. A. said he didn't do it, as soon as I asked what it was - guess A. hasn't heard of the ole saw, 'Guilty dogs bark first'. Frankly, as engrossed as he was with his game, I'm amazed he even heard me.

 

 

Still, I didn't want to blame anyone for anything I didn't see, even though A. had tried to download a game last night, and we refused. So I picked up the dolls, straightened out my ribbon, and did some research. Turned out, the program - a M-rated (mature audiences) pool-shark game Dearest would never have wanted - had been downloaded ten minutes prior, with installation beginning a few minutes later, while Dearest and I were outside. It also came with the free gift of spyware attached. This is precisely why the kids are not allowed on their parents' computers, but I didn't think they'd do that here. And just so ya know, A. turns twelve in two months. I have no idea why he has copies of the Grand Theft Auto franchise, and it's not my call, but he won't be bringing them here ever again. Or showing the next game previews to Dearest on YouTube. 

 

 

Lesson learned. Deleted the immediate threat, and shut down all the computers. I have no idea who did it, but from now on, A. and his siblings no longer have access to them. When we have company, all the computers get turned off. I tried to be accommodating, understanding, and forgiving, but between hardcore rap, hardcore games, software downloads I did NOT authorize and refused twelve hours prior, and the complete lack of respect for our things, they'll be darn lucky if I ever let them in the house again !

 

 

An hour later, Beloved was home, tired and over-heated. He asked the kids to leave - I already had, twice, since I knew he was on the way - and ended up ordering them out with a countdown. K. told me that the only parent at home was watching a scary movie, that's why they were all here, because that's what he told them to do. Um, too bad. Ya'll have worn out your welcome for one day. Whoever's dad he is, he's gonna have to take care of ya'll for ten minutes today. We actually had to leave, because they kept coming back !

 

 

After dinner, I was relaxing, trying to get today's images, and I was hot and sweaty. So I'd taken off my shirt while I was 'working', and Beloved was relaxing in his shorts with Dearest. Guess who trooped right in, not a knock or anything ? Guess three different initials, and if you used A., S., and K., step up for a crummy kimono prize ! We've really got to talk to their parents. It was bad enough I was hot and uncomfortable last night - I was not about to be stifling hot another night !

 

 

But I'll get my time tomorrow. DFIL picked up Dearest a short while ago, and Beloved's working with a friend tomorrow. I'm gonna sew and watch MST3K episodes on Netflix, and appreciate another of Tabitha's gifts in photos. Was today's silly ? It was fun, though !  

Pretty pretties from Tabitha - and they're all mine ! Plus, this is less than a fraction of what was in that glorious package...

 

Current Mood : Overjoyed !  

 

 

 

Ah, glorious Friday !  We're at the usual 'first of the month' broke, but otherwise, all's fine. Took stock of the freezer last night when I couldn't find what I'd planned for dinner, and we're in good shape for a while. Need to use up some stuff, too.

 

 

Beloved Hubby and Dearest Son went to bed early last night, but I had a mild case of insomnia. Probably due to the inhaler - I was much tighter than usual yesterday, since it's humid. Rain off-and-on forecast for tomorrow and Saturday. So, with too much energy to sleep, I finally started to clean off the sewing desk.

 

 

Yes, I sewed yesterday without putting a single notion or tool or doll away, although I know I said I was gonna clean it beforehand. And it really needed cleaning, I just went around things to get it done. Let me know if you're surprised. Returned pins to the tray, got the ribbons back in bags then back in their storage tote, shuffled things around a bit in the cubby tray of the white cabinet I bought last year, pulled out the chair to find two pins imbedded in the carpet, picked up a few dozen threads while I was down there, stored books and fabrics and thread spools. It's still cluttery over there, but it's neater than it was !

 

 

Sometimes I think I need to have a certain level of messiness to be creative. That if it's all too clean, I won't want to mess things up by actually making anything. So, with that in mind, when I started yawning, I bagged it for the day, only being about 3/4 finished.

 

 

A small confession : the waistband on the skirt I made Clawdeen yesterday is a scrap of grosgrain black ribbon left over from Tabitha's obi. It was lying there on my desk, completely unaware that I forgot to cut out a waistband...at least it got used up ! Ribbon makes great waistbands.

 

 

But then, the day went totally great - Tabitha got her package ! And she loved it ! So I got to rip into the one she sent me. Wow. So many goodies ! It'd take three photos to capture it all, and that's without putting any of the fabulous outfits on a doll ! I now have green UltraSuede, some real sheepskin (lol, 20 years after getting my degree, I finally get a sheepskin !), packets of the tiniest grommets/eyelets I've ever seen, five luscious fat quarters, Hello Kitty ribbon, stretchy sequins, some adorable green ribbon, several sets of beautiful doll-sized jewelry, hair bows and tiny make-up props, a set of six wine glasses, a wide decorated leather belt - called a cincher - that goes beautifully with the gold skirt and teal tunic she hand-sewed, a gorgeous brown vest and pants combo, and not only a gorgeous burgundy gown that put Cleo and Clawdeen into one of their most serious couture fights yet, but also the pattern, so I can make those two clothes-horses more !

 

 

So much beauty ! I played with it all for as long as I could, but it wasn't long before school was out and Dearest Son's guest was over. At least I'd done what housework I was gonna do early. Simply moved all my new treats to my desk and played with them there for a while. Wow. Tabitha, you really know how to put together a swap package - I just wish I had more time to play and take photos. Beloved Hubby was intrigued by the vial of Muse essential oil from Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab - it was unbroken, but still lent a bit of sensory stimulation to the whole package. Gonna display it with the dress forms, in hopes of luring a full-time Muse to my tiny lil' sewing station !

 

 

With Cleo and Clawdeen in full battle-array over the burgundy gown - I only managed to break it up by promising them both a 'Who Wore It Best ?' style photo-shoot tomorrow - no one noticed Lagoona snaking the tunic and skirt away, then coming back for the purse, or Ghoulia going for the brown long vest and matching pants. When they weren't offering color commentary on the gown fight, DracuLaura and Frankie were wrapping themselves in fabrics (I'd already hidden the UltraSuede and sheepskin away, or I'd have had no rest tonight until I sewed them something from each !) and admiring them and each other. I'd already promised the photo shoots, because Cleo and Clawdeen were down to hissing at each other, so I had to tell Frankie and DLaura I'd sew for them soon as possible. DLaura wants a kimono of her own - she's never had one - from some classic purple with white 'bridges and buildings' Asian-style print fabric, while Frankie hasn't yet made up her mind, but whatever I make for her needs to come from some lovely lavender floral-print material.

 

 

(sigh) This is what inevitably happens when you give monsters or girls - especially monster girls ! - space in your mind...

 

 

I had so much fun opening my package, and rejoicing in all the wonderfulness inside. But I think knowing that Tabitha liked what I sent was a great joy, too. I thought it was funny that we both sent each other some UltraSuede - I sent her two grey pieces, one embroidered with the MH 'shield' logo, as sort of a DIY project. It was gonna be one of my zipper bags, but I realized that there was probably a dozen things Tabitha could do with the logo, and since she has the skills to back it up, why not let her decide ? We both also packaged darn near all our stuff in sandwich bags inside the packages ! Well, it keeps related items together, there's less likelihood of something tiny escaping, and in case of rain, stuff's protected. But it was still funny that we both did that.

 

 

I'm still overwhelmed - by Tabitha's art and generosity. And patience ! Thank you - I love it all ! I'm sorry that I'm not using a better photo today, promise to get some fantastic ones up soon as possible !

 

 

Now, if Dearest and his guest would just settle down, I might get to sleep before Saturday morning...

I never liked the word 'mullet'...

 

Current Mood : Excited, but nowhere near as wired as Dearest Son ! 

 

 

Had some 'sofa stuff' time this morning, so I grabbed the bag of displaced doll clothes and a couple dolls. Like the shoe tote, this was a sack of stuff made for dolls I donated last month, that got shoved somewhere I didn't check when we donated everything. Found it again when I cleaned out the cabinet for Beloved Hubby's tool storage. Also re-found the chibi 'Galactic Heroes' Millennium Falcon, but that's not getting donated any time soon. There was space for it on a high, unused shelf. Not sure why I'm having such a difficult time letting that thing go...

 

 

The bag yielded about six separates for Li'l Miss Makeup, and about half of the rest going to the Little Disney Princesses. Nearly all of it was too small for my lone AG clone, a brunette Battat I kept to use a clothes model, when I start sellin' my creations. So I shoved the other half back in the sack and stuffed the sack into a donations bag I have in Starlight's trunk, awaiting a trip to a thrift store. Right now, it's filled with decent-shape Dearest Son outgrowns, some scrapbooking stuff that also came back to light yesterday, and a blanket Beloved hates. And half a Mal-Wart sack of doll clothes.

 

 

I then goofed off for roughly half the day, grabbed a shower and lunch, and didn't get my bouncy bottom into the Playroom 'til after 2. But I almost did it ! I made a mullet skirt ! Seriously, that's what they're called, probably because they echo the 'short in front, long in back' hairstyle. Personally, I'm not a big mullet hairstyle fan, and the word itself sounds like a cross between 'mud' and 'pullet', and the idea of messy chickens just doesn't jibe with what I was trying to do.

 

 

Thing is, I love 'short to long' skirts, always have. Along with asymmetrical and one-shoulder bodices. I've tried to figure out how to make my own 'song' (grin, 'short to long' condensed can be 'song' if I want it to !) since I sewed for Barbie, but never quite got it right. As you can see on Clawdeen, it still needs some work - I had to iron in the folds since I used thin cotton, instead of a more drapey, flowing fabric. Didn't wanna waste the good stuff on a trial, but I think with some tweaks, I'll feel confident enough to use the pretty goods on Trial #3 or #4 this weekend.

 

 

Thing is, I don't really want a 'song' skirt. I wanna 'song' dress ! Can do that easily enough once I get the skirt right. Like the 'shirred long ways' dress, it'll need either ruffles or lining if I use a print, since the inside shows.

 

 

Didn't quite get to the other project, since Dearest Son is having a sleepover guest, A., tomorrow night. Got a lot of the cleaning done, but I made sure to save some for tomorrow !

 

 

And maybe I can squeeze Trial #2 in early...

Let's get it started, oh, yeah !

 

Current Mood : Inspired ! 

 

 

Today was a serious challenge. Had one of those bizarre, highly detailed dreams that you wake up from several times, but always seem to go right back into when you drowse again. So I wasn't worth crap inna handbag this morning, and fell asleep twice - after two cups of coffee ! -  while reading others' opines on the latest Chuck Belich photos.

 

 

 I got so hyper about those pictures last night, I cut/paste/translated some of Mr. Belich's responses - evidently he only answers queries in Spanish, and mine is down to 'Me llamo es...' these days. No revelations on where his images originate, in any language, but he gloats a bit that Mexico is getting the dolls first for once, and he's expecting to pick his up from a toy store that translates as 'Playful' on Friday. I went to the store's website - Juguetron -  and didn't find anything new under Monster High, so... Nothing on eBay either, so once again, I'm gonna reserve my excitement until they actually hit stores around here.

 

 

Thing is, I'll gladly snag 'em all, save for the ones I already have. Like many others, I'm beginning to wish Mattel would make clothing sets instead of dressed dolls, because I already have a large collection that I love, and 90% of what I really want out of the pictured dolls are their clothes and accessories.

 

 

The other hard part of the day was not ripping open the swap package Tabitha sent me so long ago. I was able to ignore it until I sent mine, but....now I'm dying to know what's in there ! But I'm not gonna, not until she has hers in her hands. So I'm hoping like heck it arrives tomorrow. Suspense is killing me !

 

 

With all that going on, you know I had a hard time finishing up housework. I decided to clean out a little-used kitchen cabinet and store some of Beloved Hubby's smaller tools in there, and I cleaned out the tea maker. Yes, we have one of those, a Mr. Coffee device, that got a bit grungy from being unused in a corner of the counter. Celestial Seasonings teas taste great hot, but are surprisingly flavorful iced, too. We really have to do some grocery shopping soon. Or the next pitcher of iced tea I make is gonna have to be Darjeeling... I'm sure that'll be tasty, too, but when you're used to Luizianne and Lipton, it's sometimes a bit of a shift to use the exotic stuff. Even if it's been moved unopened three times.

 

 

Beloved was home early today, and started a movie then stretched out for a nap. Shortly after he arrived, Dearest Son's next door friend, A., came by, so I pretty much had the afternoon to m'self. So I watched old favorite videos and got a couple of ideas. There's an outfit I've been trying to figure out how to duplicate since my Barbie heydays - besides vintage Modern Art #1625 - and I may have just stumbled on the right way to do it ! All else fails, it'll use up some junk fabric and send me back to ye olde drawing board.

 

 

I also got a cute idea for somethin' for the guys, it just requires that I make the same thing several times. I'm usually not good at that, but if I can pull this off, it'll be hilarious. Besides, I only have three MH guys, so it's not like I gotta make dozens. It'd be nicer if I had more guys, though - I really need six to pull this off correctly, but I'll try to pig it with half that.

 

 

Well, tomorrow certainly sounds interesting and exciting ! Hope to see you there !

 

New developments shimmer on the horizon... also, I got the dishes done !

 

Current Mood : Oddly excited...

 

Current Image Notes : Some 'Pin Up' fun with the Doll Divine website - where I made my Sailor and too-Disney Princess last month. Touched it up a bit in PaintShopPro, but I think it's an OK version of Ghoulia, especially since she's into retro !

 

 

 

Today I did 'sofa stuff' while watching episode 2 of Drop Dead Diva - much better ! I think I'll like this series ! And I finally went through a small tote full of doll shoes that go to dolls I don't have anymore. Looking back a bit, I realize I forgot to mention that, a couple weekends ago, I donated all the yard sale stuff and dolls thinned from the herd. Honestly, after our storage place raised its rates, it was simply too expensive to keep, and it cost more to store our stuff than it was worth. I now have tools taking over the kitchen, but at least Beloved Hubby can get to them easily. In exchange, he promised that, if/when the Monster High school playset comes out, no matter how expensive it is, it is *mine*.

 

 

It actually made things a bit easier, to have it all done at once without feeling like crap for selling it for a tenth of what even my cheap backside paid for it. And, truly, all the dolls I really treasure are still with me, which helps. But I still find random stuff, like the tote that I'd meant to go through some time ago. Main reason I still have it is, I really like that tote ! 

 

 

Turns out, Li'l Miss Makeup can wear most of the shoes, and the Little Disney Princess dolls can wear a couple others. A couple go to a doll that has rather rare shoes, so I'll probably try to sell those on eBay. I think I got a couple from there in the first place !

 

 

I also reclaimed the blue Barbie Nascar jumpsuit from the handful of dolls I keep around the house for neighbor K. - it fits the MH guys quite well. If you can ignore the big '50th Anniversary' patch on the chest. It comes off fairly easily, but I wanna find something to replace it with first. Maybe a scaled-down MH logo patch from Brody...

 

 

This afternoon was kind of interesting. After the laundry was done - all sorted, with the small stuff put away, only the hanger stuff remaining - and all the dishes were washed, I settled down to relax with Flickr. And our mystery friend Chuck Belich posted new photos. These I honestly believe are real. Of course, he's not answering questions about the providence of these two images, and I can't find them anywhere else...

 

 

But I still think they're real. One is an image of the long-rumored 'Dawn of the Dance' set, showing Ghoulia, Deuce, Lagoona, and Cleo (yes, she's identical to her first 'Dance' doll, perhaps they want to keep her available to couple up with Deuce).  The exact dolls available for pre-order from Entertainment Earth as the 'Dawn of the Dance Wave 2 Case' for the last couple months. Instead of cardboard faux photos, these dolls have what looks like DVDs of The New Ghoul at School, the Nickelodeon channel special that aired last Halloween. And yes, the new dolls have their own iCoffins.

 

 

Of course, I want them all, save for Cleo, with the Grabby Hands Want award going to Ghoulia. Then Deuce. You'd think I'd want Lagoona next, since (snort) I only have one of her ! But, while I love her dress and shoes, her 'seahorse' / mohawk hair was never that appealing to me. Of course, when I see them in stores, there's no telling who will steal my heart this time...

 

 

The other photo, titled 'School's Out', features a re-sell of original Ghoulia, with Frankie, Cleo, and Clawdeen. Since I already have that Ghoulia twice (happy smile), I'd go for Frankie first - she has actual *pumps* in the photo ! No bone heels, or weird design, just regular ole high-heel classic pumps. And I like her casual blue argyle clothes, too. Cleo looks like she's on her way to a pyramid-power session of high-impact step aerobics, and Clawdeen has 'maul trawl' all over her outfit. While all four are shown with diaries, only Clawdeen and Frankie have patterned ones that coordinate with their clothes. Cleo and, of course Ghoulia, have the classic black marble cover.

 

 

The layout of each photo is similar to what Mattel's done in the past, with 'Dawn of the Dance', and what's printed in the most recent in-box leaflets. Of course, there's no further information, such as when they're due for release, so... Maybe it's been long enough, and the recent glut of dolls, will teach me to not go insane this year like last.

 

 

Yeah, right ! (wink)

It's very windy today, too !

 

Current Mood : Dishpan-handed, but happy !

 

 

Realized today that I went two months in a row without buying any new embroidery designs ! It's not as hard as I make it out to be, there's been very few temptations at all this year. But the year I first got Brody, and the year following, I barely went a week without buying several singles or at least a set or three. Wonder if I can go 'til the end of April, make it a quarter of a year ! Then, maybe a half ! Then...

 

 

But today was 'salvage the house' day - got half the dishes done and three loads of laundry. Should be able to finish up both tomorrow, then give the bathroom some much needed attention Wednesday. By then, I'll miss sewing so much, I won't mind cleaning up first, and after lunch, I'll get to enjoy a new Creative Thursday. By then, I hope the ever-patient Tabitha - yup, she's my swap partner - will have her package. Beloved Hubby mailed it off early this morning.

 

 

If you're not a big Monster High fan - in which case, I'm amazed you're here, that's all I talk about in between complaints ! - you may not have seen Me Love Gangrel's work on the Flickr boards, but let me tell you, she creates lush, lovely dresses, gorgeous fantasy gowns, and stunning casual separates. If you are a MH fan with a Flickr account, then you know for whom I'm sewing, and you can see the challenge !

 

 

What really ranks is, back in December, we did a swap with a fun group, and I got those gorgeous Catzilerella works - remember those ? That didn't rank, but Tabitha's partner never sent anything, and I know darn well she sent a generous package full of goodies that any doll fan would cherish and reach grabby hands for. I was on the 'Justice Team', just in case that happened, but kind, sweet Tabitha just shrugged and said that's her usual luck with swaps. So she and I organized our own. And here I am, a month-plus late. Arrgh !

 

 

Anyway, if this box gets lost in the mail (knocking wood with crossed fingers), I will simply re-sew everything, but better the next time. And I'll overnight it with every tracking system known to current science. I may be late, but I will make (expletive deleted) sure she gets what I want to make for her. Bank on it !

 

 

And this is gonna sound weird, but... I wanna make another kimono. You'd think I'd be sick of them by now, but I really think they're a fun challenge. And one day, either on my own or with Tabitha's help, I'll get those sleeves right. I got the collar right on the last one - first time, too ! - and my obi, while simple, looked pretty good. So practice can only improve my skills, and if I can amass a pile of good ones, who knows, I may do some sales and giveaways !

 

 

Plus, I honestly don't like that pink one pictured on Ghoulia. Not sure if it's because that color's not good on her, or I simply don't like that color. Let's face it, that bit of fabric was a scrap from the misc. box that I wanted to use up, I've had it forever. May try it on some other dolls - it might look better on Clawdeen - but if not, it's first up for a contest prize. After I make a better obi, of course.

 

 

Not a lot else going on. Dearest Son is still fully enamored of Cats Don't Dance, which is a relief. Spaceballs : The Animated Series was too salacious for kids, too stupid and badly animated for adults. He got bored of it before the end of the first...I hesitate to call that an episode. More like a disaster. If you thought that the animated Clerks was a colossal waste, avoid the even worse animation of Spaceballs.

 

 

I'm still watching Fruits Basket, an anime I abandoned because the endless 'boy or girl ?' drama just got silly after a while. Plus, the love triangle was solved in the worst possible way, in my book. But, hey, at least no twelve year old girls were sashaying around in lingerie (coughTrueBlueLovehack) in the middle of the first story arc. I only watch three episodes a day, so I have time to think about the plotline, even though I know how it ends already. What can I say, I'm one of those weirdos who can enjoy some things when I don't get 'em all at once.

 

 

I also started a new series, Drop Dead Diva, which is riddled with clichés and stereotypes, but I really like lead character Jayne. Hard to believe it's from perpetual 'woman in peril' channel Lifetime. Basic premise pretty much is a cliché - fluffbunny model wipes out on the way to a Price is Right audition, while an overweight genius attorney gets shot trying to talk down a gunman objecting to another attorney's attentions to his wife - she trips on a co-worker's counterfeit purse. Model decides her life is too important to leave behind, so she engineers her return to the living - but gets put back in the attorney's body.

 

 

There's a lot to sneer at here - evidently fluffbunny had no idea where her boyfriend's job interviews that day were, so she's stunned when they end up employed at the same law firm. She also just knows boyfriend will *never* be attracted to a brunette genius housed in a Lane Bryant body, so she just wistfully sighs at him a lot. Sad - she doesn't seem to know what he does for a living, or that he might not be as shallow as she is. But, if he can be attracted to brains without her beauty, that doesn't say much about fluffbunny's physical charms either, which would probably hurt, since that seems to be all she had.

 

 

True, the newly merged Jayne has it all - a diva model's attitude with an amazingly sharp mind - but the whole 'she's fat so she's nothing' is pervasive even here. I just like seeing a larger-than-usual woman who isn't apologetic for anything. I know sooner or later, she'll be a size two and vapid, but I'm gonna enjoy it 'til then.

 

 

I think that, between Fruits Basket and Drop Dead Diva, the living room's gonna be clean for some time !