B2B Banner

B2B Banner
Originally uploaded by Zanalee

Yup! This is my entire Blythe family as well as my new blog banner. I almost forgot about Yazhi my petite who showed up late to the shoot but she's in there.
I keep thinking eight is enough or that I'm getting bored of this hobb but I have a disassembled Blybe in a box right now waiting for transformation and there at least two more Blythes on my wishlist, one easily accessible (Simply Mango who I got and loved but customized into Neige) and the other really expensive and kind of a dream, a BL(Blythe Licca), preferably a brunette, like a Goldie.

Even if I could afford one, I'm not sure I could justify spending so much on a doll! But I do want her. I adore every BL I see, Goldie most of all. I think that would be it for me. I just get a super kick out of customizing Blythes, which is sort of what I think keeps me going when I start to question the whole thing. Then of course, I need to get at least one more petite for Yazhi to play with.

I found out about "Blythe Loves Littlest Pet Shop" selling at Toys R Us last week. "Littlest Pet" is pretty much these little pet animal toys with exaggerated features which have quite a cult following and which I don't really care about but apparently there is a limited release of the Pets with a Petite Blythe included! I haven't seen them at the Times Square near me but I have spotted them on Amazon. I'm still in deliberation with myself about a purchase though despite how affordable they are. Besides there is another Barbie family member on the way. That's right! More on her fierceness later.
: )

Neige and Angora having a chat

Neige and Angora having a chat
Originally uploaded by Zanalee

"Getting to know you
Getting to know all about you
Getting to like you
getting to hope you like me.

Maxi Dress Addiction

Not just any old maxi dresses mind you. I have been buying maxi dresses made by Mallory Jacques of "I love George" for quite some time now. Last year she took a vacation and I sort of freaked out. I really missed her stuff. I think that at heart, I'm a bit a romantic hippie and these dresses are just so dreamy and flowy and always look great. I've lost count of how many I have but I'm pretty sure I have one for each Blythe I own (eight so far) maybe more. I just bought the one above today. I fell in love with it immediately and although I've been trying so hard not buy doll dresses when I'm broke, I just couldn't let this go. It reminds me of the illustrations made by one of my favorite stationary designers, Jill Bliss.

I waited  until this morning to get on etsy and saw that it was gone. I was contemplating just letting it drop and taking it as a sign but instead I wrote Mallory asking if she had any material left and could possibly make another. She said it actually wasn't sold at all but dropped from the listings in her store by mistake while while she was editing it. YEA!!! Now that's a sign! LOLOLOL!!

A little encounter

A little encounter
Originally uploaded by Zanalee

Yazhi just got a brand new outfit from etsy this week and also found a new friend in Spring Valley this weekend. This little Darth Vader toy my fiancee has collecting dust in his childhood room is one of my favorites since I'm a huge Star Wars fan. When you touch the button on his chest plate he does his signature labored breathing thing. I love it.

Canon VS Barbie

Canon 7D vs. Barbie Video Girl from Brandon Bloch on Vimeo.

My BFF sent me this video on Facebook. She knows me so well. LOL!!!
I think it's both funny and clever because it pokes fun at the Barbie camera while also seriously showcasing it's features. My favorite part is "Hot shue/hot shoes." What she lacks in actual camera features, she makes up for in classic Barbie fabulousness.

Spring for eyes holder_1

Spring for eyes holder_1
Originally uploaded by lena81822

So incidentally these are the spring coils that I needed for Angora Lee's eye mechanism which I would probably have had to pay about 15 bucks for if not for the kindness of Melly Kay. She peeped my distraught one a few blogs ago and offered to send me a spare.
Thanks again Mel!

I also bought Angora some new pull strings although I had some old nude colored ones lying around. I thought we be nice if she had some orange strings so I ordered some last week. I think they kind of go with her hair. I think orange is her color.

Meanwhile I just received a new Blybe doll from a seller in the Netherlands. Its not a transaction I'm really happy with so far, mostly because I still don't have the screws for her. Apparently she forgot to send them along and now doesn't have the money to do that. Hmm...
I'm really restraining myself here. I even feel weird writing this in my blog on the off chance that she might read it. But the fact is, if feel a bit slightly but I blame myself mostly for jumping on the deal so quickly. She's the one who messaged me to ask if I might be interested. That will be the last time I do that. I've just had such good exchanges on flickr when it's some to trades and exchanges. I had no idea this would happen and the time I had a clue it was too late.

Well, I'm gonna turn this around into a good thing anyway. I'll post pics of the Blybe who arrived at my office, in a box in parts later.
: )

The Arrival of Charlie...

The Arrival of Charlie...
Originally uploaded by sassybead

Blythe pics like this making my freaking day! You can't plan this!

HOP LOVE!

HOP LOVE!
Originally uploaded by Zanalee

My HOP dress arrived yesterday. I think this is my fifth. I have four of her party dresses and one baby doll. I need to get my hands on a few more baby dolls. : )

Oh it couldn't be more perfect! I think I feel in love with Angora even more while taking these pictures because she seems just as happy with the dress as I am! The colors are just perfect on her. Blues and greens with hints of orange, a beautiful orange bow and a sea blue buckle. It makes me so happy!
: D

*jacob's ladder* HOUSE OF PINKU

2415
Originally uploaded by valentine westphal

It's 10:00am. I'm up way to early. But maybe if I hadn't gotten up this early. I would not have seen this. I just couldn't believe it was still sitting in her shop! I just had to snap it up. I couldn't live without it!

I really am beginning to wish that Julie would start making people sized dresses because um, straight up, I would totally rawk this!!! Oh, I can't wait to get it! Thanks Julie!

: )

Skin Trade

Itroducing CWC Exclusive Neo Blythe Manuheali'i Paradise Girl !

Summer is finally here and we are ecstatic to give you some exciting news!
Hawaii's famous fashion brand Manuheali'i has collaborated with CWC to create an exclusive Neo Blythe!
She will be called "Manuheali'i Paradise Girl"!!

Manuheali'i is not only known in Hawaii but all over the world, starting in 1985, Manuheali'i 's use of color and unique print designs are so distinct to the brand and to the land of Hawaii.
People who wear their clothes look like they are wearing the beautiful nature of Hawaii.
Even a slight variation of color can dramatically change the look of their garments. We are bringing the wonderful fashion and image of Hawaii with this sun kissed Blythe!
Hawaii lovers will sure be excited about this Blythe!

Manuheali'i Paradise Girl is the most stylish girl in Hawaii!
Coordinating her accessories and clothes she just bought, she is off to the city and to the beach for another aloha day.
She has a long one piece dress with a halter neck.
The stylish cut of this dress gives Blythe a sophisticated look.
Manuheali'i 's original Coral Reef print combines a light green and brown pattern to give a tropical and earthy feel.
Put on her gold hoop earrings and she's ready to go!

Her second outfit is a different feel with a patterned one shouldered top and denim shorts.
Her one shouldered top has a rubber strap through the neck to keep the top in place.
This shirt has Manuheali'i 's original print for Ki Nehe.
Orange, red, and vibrant colors radiates from this Paradise Girl!

Her shorts are cool, white denim and she wears white beach sandals.
Don't forget her sunglasses and she's ready for a fun day in Hawaii!

She has long dark brown, wavy hair parted to the side. Her skin type is like "Heather Sky" and her face type is Radiance.
She has brown eye shadow, red cheeks, and tan lips.
Her eye chips and eyelashes are all special as well!

Please check back to www.blythedoll.com to see the final design!

*******

On flickr one the most rampant discussions of excitement over this new Blythe Doll center around her questionable complexion. People want to know if she is as described, as dark as Heather Sky who, lets face it, is really not that dark, but as the darkest Blythe doll ever manufactured, she has become the standard by which to measure any other dark Blythe Doll Takara and CWC releases. Which is kind of sad but no less fascinating. I myself flipped when I saw her although I have to admit to being just as excited about her amazing stock as about her skin color. It seems kind of crazy how color starved we doll collectors are. I mean I guess that's where all this customization comes into play. Not only are we color starved in doll land but also individuality starved.

I must say though, that while it is easy enough to do anything from dye Blythe's hair, carve her lips, give her beauty marks, tattoos, gaze correction, and all kinds of different hair, it doesn't have quite the same impact or social commentary as changing her color does. Much as I love Blythe and dolls in general, politics never seem to be too far behind when it comes to color in this country, but my fascination lies in discovering the things that Blythe collectors do in spite of this because it is different than what I have ever seen people do with any other doll I know of.

Manuheali'i Paradise Girl Blythe

dude..... i have 10 heather skys.... so, you know i can't pass this girl up! -- Manuheali'i Paradise Girl
Originally uploaded by cybermelli

Oh! OH!!! OH!!! OH!! OH!!!!!!! OH!! OH!!!
Okay. LOL!!!! I cannot wait to see what she looks like but her stock is freaking amazing. Oh, I can't wait! Oh, I love everything about her so far.
And no, she is not the first "Black Blythe" but yes, more on what I believe to be the strangeness of her description later.

Old Hat

Originally uploaded by Zanalee

Actually it's an new hat sent to us by Linda AKA Hollychan2 on flickr. It's from a Rement set she picked up at Kinokuniya. I hadn't even realized they sold Rement there until she sent me this set and I saw the store sticker on it and flipped. I'm not sure how to explain Rement except to say that they are these very detailed doll miniatures made in Japan that make excellent set production props for doll rooms or situations. I can't let myself get too crazy buying miniatures because I just could never keep them in order but I was delighted to get this set free. It came with this hat, a pair of black boots and a cute little leopardskin clutch. Linda says her Blythes are farm gals and couldn't use these items.

Thanks Linda!! I think I'll send her a card from Blythe Post to say thank you!

: )

sold!

sold!
Originally uploaded by blythelicious♥

Sold to me that is! That's right! I've been in the market for another Blybe for a while now but I was looking on ebay for a dark curly haired one and could find none. Blythelicous contacted me about a few Blybes she has and wanted to sell and asked if I was interested. I was when I saw this one! I couldn't believe all that curly hair came stock. I think she will look fabulous as a brown Blybe and I am dying for a simpler custom right now and with Blybes, spraying the body which is usually a total pain in the ass is a total non-issue.

I really liked making Ramona Rae and feel that I need to have one in my family as well. She's coming all the way from the Netherlands so she may be a while in getting here but that will give us some time to work on completing Angora Lee and getting to know her better before taking in another family member so soon. I really do want to get to the point when i have a finite number of Dolls a point at which I can no longer allow the number to increase, only decrease or remain the same.

Faaaar From Done

Sleep it off
Originally uploaded by Zanalee

Had a bit of a freak out yesterday putting Angora together for the first time. I was tired, had a horrible headache and just no patience at all for the unfamiliar.

So first off, I lost the coil spring that goes in her eye mechanism which I cannot believe because I tried like hell to keep all her parts in one place for months while I was working on her but I think at some point I may have just left it in her face plate which is totally my fault but pisses me off nonetheless because I have to go searching the net for this tiny freaking spring coil and I really really do not want to pay for it. Oh God, just thinking about it is upsetting me. Ok. Moving on.

Her scalp didn't line up very well on her dome but I kind of didn't expect it too. I'll have to glue more of it down later.

Her hair really threw me off for a bit. I didn't know what to expect when I took it down. And it didn't really come down at all at first after being up in a band for so long all that time I was working on it. That freaked me out too. She was resembling a miserable luck troll for a bit there. But I wet her hair a bit and it seems to be sitting the way it should this morning. I guess I really should have tried to give her a part, but re-rooting a part still scares the crap out of me no matter how many times Sherri has patiently explained it to me.

Last but not least and perhaps even more irritating than losing the spring coil, is fool that I am, I didn't spray her scalp before I re-rooted so that the whole thing would be brown and she wouldn't have that beige band around her forehead! No idea how I'm gonna fix that. OKAY! I'm trying to look on the bright side. She looks beautiful otherwise. Her lashes look great but are giving me trouble as well. I may need to apply some sort of stabilizing adhesive to them but I need to do research on that because I do not want to muck that up.

Times. like these, I feel like I never want to do another re-root again but I know it's not always like this. The temptation to do it again is already lingering.

Debut Album

Debut Album
Originally uploaded by Zanalee

Molly's been trying to find herself, been feeling a little neglected, a little misunderstood. You know she's at that awkward sullen age. She wants to start a band. I'm doing her P.R.

Angora's Mohair Scalp

Last night I put on a bootleg series CD of Bob Dylan and finished re-rooting Angora Lee’s scalp. The 1/4 ounce of “brown sugar” mohair I ordered last week came in Saturday. It’s a bit lighter than the “Wild Spirit” hair she has but it really isn’t a big deal at this point. It really is just the rim of her scalp near the front. The length of wefts were also much shorter than the “Wild Spirit” but I expected that. This mohair wasn’t really meant for Blythes but I didn’t want to buy too much more hair when I wouldn’t be using all of it and Mohairhouse didn’t have small amounts on sale in the length I would have liked.

At first it wasn’t going that well. I couldn’t figure out why until I looked at the other end and realized I had picked up on the wrong side and my neat little loop hook was staring at me like an idiot. Once I took my crotchet hook out and switched to that side, the rest of the re-root went smoothly, hook, through loop through loop. I’m really interested in trying this new  “knot” method for mohair re-roots I’ve been hearing about and seen one tutorial about on flickr. It sounds easy and a lot faster perhaps that the lock and loop method.  As far as I understand, you still separate out the hair in strips and pulls them through the scalp holes, but instead of connecting them inside the scalp, you ties a knot inside so that it stays and repeat.

As for Angora, I glued her mohair scalp down on her dome last night with some craft tacky glue. I really was not careful about keeping the flanges in tact when I took her scalp off so I’m not sure the scalp will connect completely all around the dome. We’ll see. I’m a bit anxious but I’m not taking the bands off until tomorrow. I want to make sure, it’s good and secure. I did this with Reya’s scalp as well which was really shoddily done. I mean her hair looks nice on the outside but the inside is a mess. But her scalp has been on and stayed on perfectly for the last year or so. I can’t wait to see Angora whole. It’s been months!