There's a camera in every photocopier. This morning I used the work photo copier to take about thirty pictures of Vida. I got the idea from Hilary Wagstaff of Moshsi Moshi, one of my favorite Blythe doll clothing Designerson etsy. I love the way they came out but since they are copies, I have to scan them in order to convert them to jpgs and upload them on flickr.
For love of Blythe and other dolly wonders...
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
If I was to make her look like Lil Kim
I threw Reya's old scalp on her head last night just to see how it would fit. It fits perfect. Shopping for a new scalp and finding one with kinkier or curlier hair might be another giant pain. I may just save myself the time and customized this hair.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
The Birth of Black Reya
First off, I'm crazy.
Second, I wouldn't have it any other way.
Third, it ain't over yet.
This morning I went to the hardware store to buy a handsaw, rubber gloves and dust masks. It was painful sawing Reya's head open but it had to be done. It wasn't coming apart any other way and it was suggested by Blythe customizers who know way better than me. This has been one of the oddest things I have ever done. And it felt like something more than what it was although I don't know what that it is.
Because blackness is not the standard in many positive ways in this society, seeing Reya as a Black Blythe just kinda left me speechless and even when I f*cked her up on the first try I knew I had to do whatever I could to try and salvage the process because I just didn't want to lose her. But dayum! I will never do this again with a Blythe mold that doesn't come apart in three pieces!
A black doll shouldn't be so special but they are because they are so rarely seen in the mainstream market. So seeing Reya as a black doll, I felt suddenly that old feeling of false novelty that comes with being a "minority." I think all my dolls are special. I did even as a girl. But as a girl I was really able to play out my adventures the way I wanted to. As an "adult" I'm often not as free. I know better.
Crappy First Try
Success!
A glimpse of the future.
You can see the entire journey here. And it's not even over yet, because I have to put her back together again, find the right kind of hair for her. That's like the next chapter. Christ! I have a new found respect for the old dollmakers.
But now that I have gone this far I can honestly say I have created an original Black Blythe doll. Lets hope I can finish her up with less grief.
Second, I wouldn't have it any other way.
Third, it ain't over yet.
This morning I went to the hardware store to buy a handsaw, rubber gloves and dust masks. It was painful sawing Reya's head open but it had to be done. It wasn't coming apart any other way and it was suggested by Blythe customizers who know way better than me. This has been one of the oddest things I have ever done. And it felt like something more than what it was although I don't know what that it is.
Because blackness is not the standard in many positive ways in this society, seeing Reya as a Black Blythe just kinda left me speechless and even when I f*cked her up on the first try I knew I had to do whatever I could to try and salvage the process because I just didn't want to lose her. But dayum! I will never do this again with a Blythe mold that doesn't come apart in three pieces!
A black doll shouldn't be so special but they are because they are so rarely seen in the mainstream market. So seeing Reya as a black doll, I felt suddenly that old feeling of false novelty that comes with being a "minority." I think all my dolls are special. I did even as a girl. But as a girl I was really able to play out my adventures the way I wanted to. As an "adult" I'm often not as free. I know better.
Crappy First Try
Success!
A glimpse of the future.
You can see the entire journey here. And it's not even over yet, because I have to put her back together again, find the right kind of hair for her. That's like the next chapter. Christ! I have a new found respect for the old dollmakers.
But now that I have gone this far I can honestly say I have created an original Black Blythe doll. Lets hope I can finish her up with less grief.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Oh jeez
I don't wanna go into my room right now. Reya's head is in there. I hate it when I can't figure things out that I know can be done.
Learning to knit infuriated me
Figuring out how to upload pics from my new camera to my computer is making me angry
But getting expert advice on how to take a Blythe Doll's head apart and still not being able to to pry her face plate off is making me a bit depressed.
The thing is, If I'm going to spray her, I have to get her face plate off to remove her eye mechanism so that I don't ruin her eye chips and so that she is thoroughly covered. That's just how it's done.
It's been insane! I mean I had to cut her scalp off with a box cutter. At least I got her head off of her body.
I don't want to talks about what the next stop may have to be. I do need to hit the hardware store.
This is painful.
Learning to knit infuriated me
Figuring out how to upload pics from my new camera to my computer is making me angry
But getting expert advice on how to take a Blythe Doll's head apart and still not being able to to pry her face plate off is making me a bit depressed.
The thing is, If I'm going to spray her, I have to get her face plate off to remove her eye mechanism so that I don't ruin her eye chips and so that she is thoroughly covered. That's just how it's done.
It's been insane! I mean I had to cut her scalp off with a box cutter. At least I got her head off of her body.
I don't want to talks about what the next stop may have to be. I do need to hit the hardware store.
This is painful.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Emily Sand Matte
So then I matted Emily's face as well. You could say I went a bit sand matte crazy!
Francis told me that spray painting in the apartment would be dangerous because of the noxious fumes. I was like "can't I just open the windows really wide?" Wisely, he vetoed this suggestion as well. He's a smart man. That's why I keep him around. : )
But now I have to figure out exactly where the heck I'm going to do this. See, this is when it really helps to live in a house. I mean I might have to be one of those crazy people in the park sitting on the ground with elbow length rubber gloves, a mask and newspaper spread around on top of which I will lay assorted doll parts. Not a good look. But then I do take pictures of overpriced vintage dolls, own five cameras and have about four blogs, one of which document the daily progress of my doll collection so how can this be any crazier?
I'm thinking the bleachers in Marcus Garvey Park might be a good spot. More later.
Francis told me that spray painting in the apartment would be dangerous because of the noxious fumes. I was like "can't I just open the windows really wide?" Wisely, he vetoed this suggestion as well. He's a smart man. That's why I keep him around. : )
But now I have to figure out exactly where the heck I'm going to do this. See, this is when it really helps to live in a house. I mean I might have to be one of those crazy people in the park sitting on the ground with elbow length rubber gloves, a mask and newspaper spread around on top of which I will lay assorted doll parts. Not a good look. But then I do take pictures of overpriced vintage dolls, own five cameras and have about four blogs, one of which document the daily progress of my doll collection so how can this be any crazier?
I'm thinking the bleachers in Marcus Garvey Park might be a good spot. More later.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
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