Thursday, April 26, 2012

Heading home Friday <3

My love it headed back to her family this Friday! I'm so excited for her to maybe get a chance to meet Makani before she has to take off to her next host.

I have really been missing her. It's going to be a little overwhelming when she gets here but I will try and cover all the activity I can. LOL!

Monday, April 23, 2012

Look over here!

Makani had a little mini meet with Paula's Blythes at lunch this afternoon. Ama decided to take photographs of her with the camera Makani came with. I had to help out a bit.
Hahaha!!

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Makani Time!

  by Zanalee
, a photo by Zanalee on Flickr.

Makani's first trip was to the New York Botanical Garden this weekend with me and my friend Cece. It was just a heavenly gorgeous day. We attended the Orchid Show which was fabulous and then did a tram tour of other amazing parts of the garden. And all along the way I took photos of Makani's stunning bronze beauty.

Makani is just so darn self contained and discriminating but also fun loving and appreciative. Looking back at emails from Sandra, I just discovered that I only have five days before I have to ship her off to the next host and that makes my stomach a little tight with sadness but it also means I have to pack in as much fun as I possibly can before she goes.

Friday, April 20, 2012

Hi Makani!!!!!

Hi Makani!!!!! by Zanalee
Hi Makani!!!!!, a photo by Zanalee on Flickr.

Makani, one of three Traveling Blythes in The Traveling Blythes 2012 Project just arrived at my office a few hours ago!
She is customized by Kate "The Real Moofers" and I believe she did some customization on Hendrix as well.

What can I say? This is the best thing that can happen to a Blythe lover on a Friday. When I saw that Blythe shaped box in the mail carriers arms as he walked towards me, my heart did a little dance but I didn't believe it until I saw my name on the box.
I literally got am email from Sandra (Traveling Blythe administrator) this week that she was on her way so I really didn't expect her so soon! YESSSSS!!!! WOOT!! WOOOOT!!

I am overjoyed! She is so precious and I cannot wait to get her home to introduce her to the gang and unpack all the sweet little accessories and handmade clothes.
I even brought Hendrix along with me today so I'm hoping to get some down time during work to take a photo of them together.

Tomorrow though is going to be greatness. I'm going to the last day of the Orchid show at the New York Botanical Garden with my friend Cece! Makani is going to love it! And so are you! Stay tuned!

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Spring Postcards at Blythe Post

Hendrix, Spring 2012

Whitney, Spring 2012

 These are two of  my favorite shots in a series if photos I took in the park that day. One more might be forth coming. I just got them in from Snapfish last night and they are just gorgeous postcards. They are both now available in the my Blythe Post Etsy shop.

Looking at my shop I noticed that the one of Whitney is a rare composition for me. In all the other prints I have chosen for postcards I am obviously shooting the Blythes in hand as I do most often as in the photo of Hendriz. But this sort of freefall looking shot of Whitney caught in a web of nature is one of my favorite recent shots. I kind of surrendered her to position that wasn't dictated by my positioning but by branches and so a bit awkward and yet seeming to take on a life of it's own which I really like a lot. There seems to be so much open to story and interpretation on how she got there. Did she fall? Did she climb in there to gaze up at the sky? Is she caught? Or is she a part of this celestial looking network of flowering hedge branches?

Friday, April 13, 2012

Reya Light Featured on Blythe Fashion!

Just  a week or so ago I got a flickr mail from Anne Torres of "Blythe Fashion" a blog about handmade Blythe clothes which was started in 2008. She asked if she could use some images of mine from my Blythe Warmers etsy shop in a blog entry she was working on showcasing not only the ponchos I knit but also having a discussion about the lack of Black Blythes used on etsy shops to showcase handmade Blythe fashions.

This of course spirals naturally into a conversation about Black and Brown Blythes in general and why in spite the large demand and high sales of Heather Sky the one "tanned" Blythe, Takara has ever manufactured, there is still no talk of making an actual, identified "Black Blythe." The discussion of my customizing my first Black Black Blythe, Reya Light carries over into how this reflects a need in the Blythe community expressed by many other other collectors in their own Black Blythe customs.

It's a very brilliant piece and Anne makes a lot of very intelligent points about the tensions between the fantasy of Blythe dolls and the reality that plays into how they are manufactured and identified by both companies and those who collect them. I am really honored to be featured on this blog and I definitely recommend reading it.

Blythe, for me is one of those wildly enigmatic hobbies that exemplify what happens when play, fantasy, craft and reality intersect and I think Anne's blog entry frames this phenomenon exceptionally.  I believe it has the potential to create a larger narrative around this hobby than has perhaps been considered before. At least I hope so.

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Hamsa Reloaded

Hamsa Reloaded by Zanalee
Hamsa Reloaded, a photo by Zanalee on Flickr.

Photos of Hamsa newly refreshed and retouched my Melly Kay (now Melly Donut) just popped up in the stream today.

I just don't have the words to describe how pleased I am with her work. I am literally blown away by it. Looking at these photos is like looking at the photos of her from the first time I sent her to Mel. *Sigh* My heart just soared when I saw these and that old feeling surged through of the first time all over again.

Mel is also working on another little surprise commission custom for me which I won't say anymore about but I'm really excited for that as well. Plus!!! I'm about to host the 2012 Traveling Blythe some time this month! A Custom Heather Sky designed by Kate Aka The Real Moofers!

Oohhh!! I'm high on Blythe life right now! And I've had a lovely Easter day with family and food, egg dying for the first time and loud happy kids! The weather has been just glorious. Hope you all had a good one as well.

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Fave Photo of the day

I just love Blythe process pics. Dress, making, doll customizing. Love it.

This one is from a great Blythe customizer, Vanilladolly. I can just see the little personalities being forged through the skill of her carving expertise in this photo. Still no telling yet, exactly what each dolly will be like but they're sure to be unique.

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Blythe, Addidas....WHAT??

Okay, so I don't really know what's going on here but I just know that there are Blythe Dolls featured prominently in this commercial which makes it all right with me.

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

FA (FOR ADOPTION) Feeler

Feeler by Zanalee
Feeler, a photo by Zanalee on Flickr.

It's been coming on for a while now with Vida. She's just never really been into my particular camera antics. She's adorable but I think she's looking to travel. Which means she's looking for new diggs.

She's a Kozy Kape ADG with a dark brown Unicornmine mohair scalp. Three sets of her chips have been changed by me (more pics later) lips have been carved and a little cheek makeup added by me as well. I think I will also offer shipping worldwide as soon as I settle on a price for her. I will make an announcement when I post her on BK.