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.

It started with these Kewpies

Photo by Brooklynpabilta

I spotted them at Kinokuniya Bookstore last week in the lower level next to the squares of felt fabric and posted a shot straight to flickr before buying myself two. I've never been that crazy about Kewpie dolls. In fact some of them creep me out a bit but these were so cute and I mean they were so cheap I couldn't not get them.

Paula AKA Brooklynpablita, one of my fave flickr contacts loved them so much I told her I could get a few for her if she liked, because I know was in the area occasionally and probably just missed them. I even sent one across the ocean Clare aka Ditsy Print in the UK this morning! I just loved having the opportunity to spread some dolly joy. : )

Felix and Hamsa

Paula said she was going to be in my work area today and could pick up her kewpies so I suggested we just meet for lunch at K's and bring two of our Blythes each. She requested to see Hamsa and Hendrix and she brought Ama and Felix who were exactly the Blythes of hers I wanted to meet! Felix has this amazing Marigold scalp hair, amazing makeup and pull rings all done by Melly Kay! I just love her! It was great seeing her and Hamsa, both Melly Kay customs side by side. They are just so cool, vibrant and sweet!

Ama and Hendrix

Our Heather Sky Blythes, Ama and Hendrix really hit it off! It was so great seeing them side by side and comparing our observations about them. Ama is about to have some custom work done my Moofala who is an amazing customizer in the Blythe world. I can't wait to see how she turns out.

In general, it was also just great chatting with Paula about how she started getting into Blythe and how we both enjoy alleviating our everyday stresses by playing with Blythe shopping for her and taking photos of her and discovering all the incredible things that people create for them. I really never get to talk to anyone face to face who collects Blythe and it was just really kind of reassuring to talk to someone who gets a similar kind of joy and release from having them around. It may sound crazy but people do all sorts of crazy things as hobbies. I had a terrific time actually ended up staying well over my lunch hour but it was worth it. I look forward to hanging out with Paula and her Blythes again when we both have more time. In the meanwhile I count that as an official lunch time Blythe meet! I could use one of those at least twice a month!
: )

Sunday in the Park with Aria and Hendrix

This Sunday was really lovely, just the kind of relaxing, wind down Sunday I needed since Saturday was kind of stressful for me.

I went out in the early afternoon to pick up a few groceries for dinner my mom was making later. She's been visiting and staying with me for a bit since last week and I have just loved having her!

The light that was coming into the apt through all the windows looked nice so I took Aria and Hamsa with me. On my way back from the market I passed through the park across from where I live. It was where I took photos of my very first Blythe, Emily a few years ago. There's a nice little quiet area up near the public pool which is only open in the summer. I would go there a lot and take my first photos of Blythe in greenery and flowers in the spring and snow in the winter, orange leaves in the fall. It was blocked by construction most of this summer so I didn't get to go then. It's just been a while since I took a few nice park pics with my dolls. I kind of like the weather when it gets like this. Still warm but with a little chill in the air and no humidity. It's so clear and crisp. I never thought I would be happy to bid farewell to summer, one of my favorite seasons but I'm ready for the fall which I love as well with all it's beautiful, fiery, earthy colors, just begging to be photographed. I can't wait!

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