The Light Tent

Ever since I found out how photographers on flickr got this studio clean look, I've been curious about photographing through a light box. I finally got my dad to get me one this month for my birthday. It arrived early this morning at work. It came with no instructions whatsoever which I found a bit disconcerting (I'll be including that in my feedback Amazon seller) but I figured it all out myself. I had to watch an instructional youtube video though, made by Adorama to find out what setting my camera should be in while I shot and other little particulars I just needed to be sure of.

I'm super happy with it so far. The detail and richness of the subjects with such evenly diffused light is pretty amazing. I can't wait to experiment with other different kinds of light.

Sssluurp!

Sssluurp!, a photo by Zanalee on Flickr.

I so wish I could kick back an relax instead of working on a final paper that I've let drag on for too long. I am so loving the warm weather but I cannot leave the apartment today until this is somewhat done. *Sigh* Just wanted to share my dolly break with you.
: D

36

Yesterday was one of the most beautiful days I could wish for to turn 36. It was warm and sunny and I was just so desperate for some sun. I ran a few errands downtown in the morning and was so happy just to walk slowly everywhere and bask in the warmth.

Before I left Harlem I ran out to take a few shot of Castaneda out in the sun for the first time ever. She photographs so beautifully. I'm still waiting for her t-bar to come in. I cannot believe that a little piece of plastic has taken nearly two weeks to get here from Taiwan. There's gotta be an easier way. I just wanna finish her up and get her on the market already. That's right, Castaneda will be up for grabs as soon as I'm done with her eye mech and putting in ribbon for new pull strings. I'm dead serious this time. I love her and it's precisely because I think she's so gorgeous that I think it's time to send her out into the world as the first ambassador to my AA doll custom work. It's kind of funny though since she isn't even a Blythe but a Blybe clone/neemo hybrid. I'll be signing the back of her head and putting her up for adoption as soon as she's done. I'm just not sure yet whether to put her on ebay or on Blythe Kingdom. If anyone who does this regularly is reading and has any advice on the pros and cons of each market please let me know.

Will it be you?

Will it be you?, a photo by Zanalee on Flickr.

As soon as her T-bar arrives and I seal her up, Castaneda will be up for adoption. I love her a lot. In fact I'm super proud of her! Which is why I think she's the best choice to be my first AA custom ambassador. I'm just not sure yet whether she should go on BK or on ebay.

Neemo Custom Success!

I sprayed Castaneda's Neemo body on Saturday morning right before I took off to go to the Bust Craftacular with my friend Cece. I generally do it before I got out some where so that I don't have to sit in the noxious fumes while it dries. Due to so many past failures with Takara and Licca bodies, I was very wary about how the Neemo body would turn out despite the fact that all signs seemed to indicate that this would be a successful medium on which to paint anything. When I got home hours later it was dry but I was still paranoid and did a few finger pressing tests just to be sure. I also left it in Newspaper and cloth for a bit and picked it up later to see if it would stick. Both times it's been perfectly dry. I was able to put Castaneda's head on and I have to say, I do like it. I mean this body is actually so much more sophisticated and idealized than the Takara and Licca bodies that it's a bit intimidating for me. But I just adore the matte finish of her color so much! It's like velvet! I just love the way it reflects light! It's not harsh. Now if only the t-bars I ordered from Coolcat will just get here so I can start finishing her up.

Neemo sisters

Neemo sisters, a photo by Zanalee on Flickr.

So not only did Hendrix show up at my office yesterday morning but yesterday afternoon upon returning from lunch I also received the shipment of two Pure Neemo bodies, which I purchased from ebay last week.

I've heard not so great things about the flection types that bend at the knee and elbow so I figured I'd get these which only rotate at the arms wrists hips and so forth. I have to say I really like them. I mean even without heads they have so much personality already!

I like the weight of them. They have a really pleasing solid heft. And they seem to be made out of a non rubbery hard polymer that I hear takes paint really well and may be ideal for completing my AA custom of Castaneda. I kind of got a deal on this pair because they have some marks on them and one is really loose in the waist.

There is a slight difference between them although I can't really put my finger on it yet, but they are not identical. I'm glad I got these and not the ones with the crazy big Japanamation boobs. I'm just saying, they freak me out. These are just perfect and I can't wait to get started using them.

WELCOME HENDRIX!!!!

I think it was last week that Melly Kay sent me a message on flickr saying that she was sending me "something" she was super excited about. Since then I have been just wracking my brains trying to figure it could be. When she said it was pretty big I nearly fainted. WHAT?? OMG!! I wouldn't even let myself believe that it could possibly be what I was thinking it might be.

BUT IT IS!!!!!

This morning the Blythe shaped box arrived at the reception desk. My heart was flipping out! When I opened it, (Thank God I opened it on the end where the note was) there was a letter from Melly saying that Hendrix, her Heather Sky custom (EEEEE!!!!) was tired of Tennessee, that it was too crowded with all of Mels's other girls and wanted to move in with me here in New York!!!! OH-MY-GOD! Melly has entrusted Hendrix to my care forever! She's mine! A Heather Sky Moofala/Melly Kay custom Heather Sky Blythe is mine!! I was so touched I wanted to scream and cry all at once but I was at work so I had to keep it together and do happy dances in the restroom.  LOL!!!! Man!!! You don't even know!!! I cannot wait to get home! This has been one the best gifts I will ever get for this my Birthday Month of May. I mean it's a hard act to follow! Dude! She's got a GUITAR PICK PULL RING WITH JIMI HENDRIX ON IT!!!!! I remember when Mel first got her and named her Hendrix. When I saw that pull ring I was really impressed!

I cannot begin to express how special and how dear a gift this is to me. Melly Kay, you are truly an awesome person. You one of the coolest chicks I have ever met without really having met yet. What a sweet thing for you to do! I think you know by now that Hendrix is fitting right in here in the big city and that I just adore her pieces. She's very much at home and couldn't be happier! We're gonna have so much fun! : D

New front facing chips for Castaneda

New front facing chips, a photo by Zanalee on Flickr.

I got a pair of eye chips with enlarged pupils from Gina Garan's shop last week. I'm really liking chips with enlarged pupils more and more. I think they're very endearing. I think I may have some more coming in from cool cat I and I may change out one more side facing set for Castaneda. I really love what they do for her face. : )

Blythe Post Update!

New Springtime Blythe Post postcards are here!

Drop on by!

FR Barbie Doll Head Swap

 If that sounds weird, well that's because it is. I have little knowledge of how to do this but i have seen it done in the photos of some of my favorite Barbie and FR collectors. Sometimes a doll with a fierce body like Top model Nikki wants a little bit more mobility and articulation and I have discovered that collectors use several heat applied methods to soften the head of the doll who wants a new body, remove it and transplant. Wallah! But wait! You have to dunk the doll's head in boiling water to do this! That prospect and the possible damage it might cause horrified me. I was told a heating pad would work as well but as I have none and no intention of getting one for the purpose I deferred to the boiling and as you can see, Zaltana seems to have made to out with minimal damage (make-up a bit faded but  hardly noticeable) and a boil perm to boot so her thick curly mane is just a bit more relaxed. Pretty cool.

This process actually made me realize how fierce and sexy Zaltana's Model Muse body really is and how closely it identifies her distinctiveness as a doll. It's sleek and perpetually statuesque model pose really makes her makes her appear quite grand and sensual. So there's a bit of a compromise for pose ability. We'll see how it changes her look in future photos. Don't get me wrong, I love how she looks with the FR body ( I got this headless spare last week) and her head fit just perfectly on that little nubbin on the neck that allows the head to tilt all around, but it will take a minute for me to get used to. I'm thinking maybe one of my other Barbies can borrow her old body while she's using this one! LOL!! Why does that sound so much wierder when I'm talking about Barbie then with Blythe?

Plastic Pull Rings! Yea!

Melly Kay Pull Rings

I wandered over the garment industry yesterday after work and before class to look for ribbons to use as pull strings. After Melly Kay customised Hamsa, I had a hard look at her work and discovered that her choice to use ribbon is not just pretty but also super smart. They're much sturdier than the stock string that comes with most Twiggy Twiggy pull rings used for Blythe. I've also been really inspired by how she literally creates her own pull rings from super cute Kawaii beads. She has proven to me that you don't even need the stock pull ring that comes with Blythe. You can make your own! I love that!

After I got ribbon I wandered into this store (I cannot remember the name) and found these amazing plastic beads that would also make amazing pull rings! I was so blown away that I hardly knew where too look first but I managed to be practical and narrow my choices down. I picked the square ones Whitney is holding above specifically for her. I thought they went well with the pale blue and pink colors in her eyes and her make up and I think they also match very well with her sort of vintage deco look. They also have little understated sparklies inside and  I love sparkles and glitter. So one day when I manage to figure out how to change her pull string (she came to me without one) these are what she's getting!
: )

Progress on Castaneda

Untitled, a photo by Zanalee on Flickr.

Poor Tangee has donated two parts of her own to Castaneda's construction so far: a t-square which I have ruined and will need to replace as well and a piece in the eye mech which I replaced after much finagling last night. I put this new set of green eye chips in this week and I still need a new donor body for her. I just which this wasn't such a long process. I love her and want her to be finished already so I can take her outside for pictures!
: )

BBG Blythe Meet

Unfortunately it was bit of a wash in terms of attendance and although I could see that there were not many responses to the meet in flickr from people actually attending I think I would have kicked my self if I didn't go and then saw a bunch of amazing pics afterward.

As predicted, it was a madhouse. I love that garden with all my heart but I hate people in mobs. As it was though, it wasn't so bad. However, only Mellissa, the organizer and a couple of her friends were able to make it. Paula (AKA Brooklynpablita) who works there and whom I was looking forward to meeting was unable to connect with us due to the overwhelming numbers of people which I'm sure just made her job a lot of fun. I hung out with Mel, Ross and Leslie for a few hours, taking pics of the dollies by this amazing Patrick Dougherty sculpture and then over by the tulips. I stayed on for a few hours after they left (they had driven all the way from Long Island and had a terrible time getting in) checking out all my old childhood haunts and lying in the sun trying to do some howe work before heading off to see an old friend who lives on St. Marks just a few blocks from the brownstone I used to live in as a child. I have to tell you that my heart has never left Brooklyn. I loved growing up there and hope one day to move back. I think if I moved back there I would start writing poetry again and that is a huge thing for me because I haven't felt that way in years. But Brooklyn makes me feel like writing.

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