Chervron Happy

For blog, a photo by Zanalee on Flickr.

So I took a leap a week ago and ordered some yummy rainbow chevron fabric from etsy which arrived a few days ago, all fresh and sweetly wrapped like a piece of candy from Riley Blake.

The only way I can approach projects that I am largely intimidated of is by not taking myself too seriously and not worrying about being perfect I started with the very simple pattern for an A-line Blythe dress from Pucchi Collective. I've been studying that thing on and off for months, maybe even a year. Now I was ready to dive in.

I just really needed to understand the pattern before I could start. It's a simple pattern yes, but so much of it for me is a leap of faith in actual execution. But it's making sense to me finally.

The first one I made yesterday and put it on Hamsa to model. I had to hand sew it because my cute but crappy little yellow sewing machine from Urban Outfitters has been mysteriously malfunctioning.

The second one I made last night, is modeled by Hendrix. I like the silhouette much better on that one. It flares out just a bit and is not so straight up and down. This is what I wanted. Fortunately I had gotten the machine to work a little by then.

I think one of the greatest challenges for me has been figuring out how to get the sleeves just right. Those little tabs you have to turn in don't really stay down very well. Also there's not really a good explanation on what to do to close up the back either but I think I can manage to improvise there. I'm just going to pace myself and learn slowly. Making stuff is just therapeutic to me and when I become obsessed with something I end up learning a lot, particularly where Blythe is concerned. She gives and gives.
: )

Lake Sebago Blythe

Hendrix basking in the peace of Lake Sebago pier

Wow, it's been awhile huh? I had the most relaxing, desperately needed little weekend retreat this past weekend at Lake Sebago Cabins in Harriman State park. It was me, my fiancee and six other friends. In all, three couples. It was just so soothing and restorative, I wish it could have lasted longer. Being back at work sucks to say the least and a couple of my co-workers who were there camping with us can vouch for that.

As for the Blythe world, I haven't that much to report except that I guess I've resigned myself to flickr's new format. I have an account on Ipernity I barely check. I am getting more and more curious about learning how to make dresses for Blythe. Even the simplest patterns kind of mystify me, but I've been chipping away at them on and off for a while now and I'm determined to try and figure it out. So perhaps there will be more on that front soon.

Management of my photography portfolio is what's really taken over the past few weeks before this camping trip. But I'm still plugging away at my ADAD though I've stopped numbering them because it depresses me sometimes to see the days flying by like that.

I hope all your summers have gotten off to a pleasant start and that you've been able to stop the whirlwind of time and routine to slow down and appreciate the things and people you love.
Until later....

The Great Blythe Flickr Photo Migration to Ipernity

Where did my collections sets go? Why are the photos all so big? Why can't i see them on white space any longer? What it this about the Pro account being $50.00 dollars? Or wait, what is this about Pro accounts not existing anymore? What happened? I'm so lost. I don't remember being notified about this? Was I notified about this?

If you're a flickr user, photographer, Blythe collector or all three as I am, these are questions that might have been racing through your head when you logged on to your flickr account last week. Some people are fine with the extreme new changes in layout but I was honestly gobsmacked. I was thrown for a loop. I thought something went wrong and still do whenever I log in over there and am bombarded with super large photos squeezed in together on the screen with only black space all around. I find it very disorienting in many ways and it annoys me greatly. I've been a flickr member since 2007 and have had a pro membership for maybe three or so years. Among many of the reasons I used to love flickr one of the most important for me is the fact that they seemed to give you choices about the ways in which you could set you layout to be seen by yourself and others. I don't really understand why they can't still offer that. But it seems that over the years, giving members options and choices have slipped off of flickr's priority list.

On the other hand, flickr is not a space we own, it's one we pay for, but for Blythe collectors it has also become a very close knit community over the years, a place to gather, exchange ideas, arrange meetings, display work, express frustrations, make friends and get feedback. I don't expect that this is something corporations give a shit about but for the record, flickr was a place I would go to daily for inspiration, with respect to Blythe and photography in general. I have two flickr accounts, one for Blythe and one for non doll photography. I have no plans to delete either of these but I have started a new account over at ipernity a place where many of my Blythe Community friends and contacts seem to have been taking refuge, a place that feels oh so safe and where I can see photos against a layout that is more pleasing to my eye. It feels very much like a flickr that once was years ago. It's not perfect (for instance ipernity charges you to download your own photos?) and I will never believe again that layouts and conditions on any online image bank will remain the same forever. But for now it's just so much easier to breath at ipernity. I still have no idea what ipernity means though. LOL! But I do appreciate how kind they have been and how welcoming to those displeased souls who have migrated over from flickr in droves.

Maybe I'm coming off as a bit naive. I can admit that. I absolutely loved flickr when I started there in 2007. I thought it was the best thing ever and recommended it to everyone. I understand that what might be have been harmonious to my eye then, might have struck someone elses' eye at that time as unsettling. But for me the fact that I had no choice in this matter is what really pisses me off. That flickr used to give members options for how to see their photographs for such a long time and now have eliminated those options just doesn't work for me. And what's with everyone acquiescing to this damn Facebook profile layout. UGH!!! I have a facebook account already. I don't want to see everything in Facebook-o-vision! *sigh*

Anyway, this is just internet shit, and flickr was already starting become marginal to my needs after Instagram hit the scene. I was definitely not going on there as much as I did a year or so ago. But it was nice to know that when I did log on to flickr, it was generally the same space it was when I left it. I have thousands of images on there, literally years of digitally recorded memories, so it's hard to say goodbye altogether. So I won't. I will just be splitting off the sharing of my doll images on ipernity. I will still upload to flickr. I have a 365 challenge to complete there and I'm trying be a finisher. As a typical Gemini, having more than a few options with respect to things I love has always been second nature to me. But I never wanted be on any other image bank but flickr. I was loyal to them when it came to using a central online space for sharing pictures. I was until now.

Nutella Versace

ADAD: 365/117, a photo by Zanalee on Flickr.

Hi there!

It's been a while and I've been so busy and have very little dolly news to report because I've actually been working on photographic projects which include actual human beings! LOL!

However, yesterday evening, while I was helping a good friend of mine pack for a move this weekend, we found this Bratz Doll that her sister gave her as a gift. My friend who is s person of many talents, crafty and otherwise was on a Bratz kick for a period of time but no longer. It was fun for me to see how excited she was about making things for them although I was never a fan of them myself and I'm still not but I just saw this girl and couldn't let her be disposed of.

She's practically brand new and unplayed with and I kind of just instantly liked her which surprised me because in the past my sensibilities are usually offended by the Bratz dimensions, crazy make-up and exaggeratedly large lips. i was told that this girl is part of the Yasmin line. But I've named her Nutella Versace because I love Nutella and I mean come on! Bratz Dolls just look like Donatella Versace to me, like they've had an overdose of lip plumper and face work done. LOL!

But this mold of Yasmin seems to be on the less overdone spectrum of what's normal for Bratz mold design and for now, it's fun to play with a doll I never thought I would even like and that I don't have to be super precious with. New is always fun!

BBG Blythes

BBG Blythes, a photo by Zanalee on Flickr.

Oh what a wonderfully relaxing weekend this was, strolling through the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens with a tiny Blythe meet crew of three talking and taking photos of our dollies.

This one was organized by my friend Paula. I was so excited and honestly I think we could not have chosen a better day than this Sunday. Although it was definitely chillier than anyone expected, mostly due to the winds, it was absolutely a lovely clear day for Cherry trees, Magnolias, tulips and more. It was just glorious.

I stayed after Paula and Mel left because I love BBG dearly and I have no idea when I'll get the chance to visit again and wanted to make the most of exploring all I could although I know it like the back of my hand.

I was born in Brooklyn in the 70s. My mom brought my brother and I there since we were babies and it holds very dear, happy and personal memories for me that miraculously still remain so. And so naturally Blythes fit right in!
: )

ADAD: 365/100

ADAD: 365/100, a photo by Zanalee on Flickr.

ADAD photo challenge really starts to feel like work to me somewhere in the late 90s but I'm really gladI made it this far and hope I can press on to the end. It's been such a busy few weeks and it's going to get even better I'm afraid but I'm trying to stay inspired.

Finishing touches on Martia the Martian

Finishing touches on Martia the Martian, a photo by Zanalee on Flickr.

Last night I just had this burst of inspiration to start doing some paint design on Martia that I've been thinking about since I first painted her and sent her off to be flocked.

Martia is supposed to be a Martian or space alien and I imagined her in a spacey glittery way with silvery face markings to identify her spacey origins. But I've been hesitating to do it for weeks because I wanted it be perfect and I often had serious doubts about my ability to execute the image I had in my head.

Anyway, for whatever reasons, I just went for it last night and to my delight I was able to do exactly what I had imagined. I hate to sound all esoteric and corny but I swear it almost did itself. I just tried to be nicer to myself around the possibility of mistakes. Sometimes I can become so paralyzed with not wanting to make mistakes in my work that I end up doing nothing at all and that's not good. It's not good for anyone whose instinct is to create things.

So, I'm hoping to be more open to the creativity gods this year and to trust myself a little more when I have ideas because I really love how this turned out. This is just the little alien I had in mind.
: )