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!
: )

How Bowie was Born

Looking at Mango Bowie now, I often forget that she was not even a Simply Mango Blythe to start. She's a hybrid; a Prima Dolly Aubrey whose cute reddish bob I sold and switched for a Simply Mango scalp which I adore and then completely re-did her make-up several times! I sand matted her, carved her lips, gave her  freckles, changed three sets of her eye chips and gave her a pair of ultra long two toned lashes which I love and I also feel make her really unique. I sealed her Bowie inspired make-up with MSC and gave her custom pull strings and pull rings. I was a bit scared at first that I'd gone too far her make-up but realized that I had to take some risks making her colors a bit bolder if she was going to have a Bowie like rock chick vibe. I still want to change one of her eye chips in one set of eyes so that she has two different eye colors like David Bowie himself but that's forth coming. For now, she's pretty much done and I am so happy with how she came out.  She photographs really well and seems to have an entirely new spirit.

I think that customizing my Blythes or having them customized really makes me feel that they're one of a kind and really my own. What goes into making each one unique really creates a look that brings out a special story in each little face. And that story is ever changing.

I'm really starting to get a hankering to do another custom soon. It just feels so good once it's done and being on flickr all the time looking all the incredible work of Blythe artists every day is so inspiring!

Kyi Lynn, a flickr friend who purchased my book Little Brown Blythe has just completed her own Brown Blythe recently and I just love seeing all her process pictures! Her girl, Evangeline is sooo beautiful! I really love the shade she used on her and her overall vision for Evangeline is just so very sweet and playful! She also happens to be an exceptional photographer and super creative! I so look forward to seeing her images in my Flickr contacts stream. I think she's definitely one to watch for in Blythe land!
: )

Easy Rider

Easy Rider, a photo by Zanalee on Flickr.

We felt the need for speed yesterday evening.

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!

The Last Doll

Untitled, a photo by Zanalee on Flickr.

Well wait a minute! Don't get all dramatic! I don't mean the last doll ever! I had made this announcement on flickr last month when I first got Aria.

Yes, Aria will be my last doll of any kind for a bit while I get my life and finances together so there won't be any posts about new dolly family members for some time. I have all of my dolls in my bedroom with me at the moment because my mom is in town visiting me. Looking at them all in one place I can see I've made the right decision for myself at the moment. I have enough. Enough. If there is any dolly movement in my family, it will be of someone leaving, not coming in. I need to get practical for awhile.

This doesn't mean I won't still be blogging here though. There's still plenty in the Doll world to blog about and naturally I will still be taking hundreds of pics of them. But right now I need to get organized and take stock of other long sought dreams and goals in my life while my dolls look on. I'm sure they will also help me out along the way! Hahaha!!

Peace

Peace, a photo by Zanalee on Flickr.

Out of sight but not forgotten. Castaneda's eye mech issues were impossible but I hope to have her up and walking again some time this Fall.

Aria has Arrived!

On July 23rd I posted this stock photo on flickr and expressed my deep need to find and acquire Boogie Beach Aria. I had no clue how I was going to find her. I looked on some old outdated doll sites that posted her availability, sent a couple of emails that never came back. Finally I just decided to to a regular bay hunt, thinking there had to be a chance she might show up there at some point if anywhere. It wasn't looking very hopeful until about a week ago and then whamo! There she was, nude, beautiful, available but for auction which I won literally in the last few second of a back forth bidding war. I have to say though, I was pretty calm about this one. I set my limit and know just how much I was willing to bid before I quit. I only went a few dollars over that. I'll be honest; it was a very reasonable price. And she is in fabulous condition! I would even say mint! There are no flaws anywhere I can see. She just came nude, so without any of her stock which was totally fine with me.

Aria is a girl unlike any other.  A proud Latina she is one to always experiment with her fashion.  She owns whatever look she chooses to wear.  She’s a favorite stylist of Pop and Rock stars. 

When I first saw her, I have to admit, I actually didn't get her look at all and didn't like her very much, but it was the photos of one of my fave FR collectors on flickr (the handle of my contact escapes me) that turned me right around. She's got a very sexy, sultry Marilyn Monroe vibe about her and her funky blonde afro rocks my world! I believe she was one the first in the original line of Dynamite Girls released by Integrity in 2007.

I really love the original Dynamite Girls line. The Boogie Beach theme is really fun and sexy with a touch of retro which I love. All the characters had these fun colorful illustrations and personality blurbs about each one. Aria is my third Dynamite Girl. Reese was my first and Gavin my second. They are really a special group of ladies to me, full of personality and with a wide range of pose-ability and photographing styles. I adore them.