We Made It!

, a photo by Zanalee on Flickr.

Well Hurricane Irene has come and gone and although we were up in the boonies during a power outtage that lasted from late Firday to Sunday afternoon, we are safe and sound back home in the city where everything is totally normal in my tiny apartment, as normal as can be expected anyway! LOL!!

I know large regions of New York and the East Coast did not fare so well and I hope you guys were not among them and if you were, I hope you will be getting power back soon. Playing with my Blythes did help a bit but generally I was going crazy without internet or a wifi signal. UGH! So pathetic!

But anyway, we're back and I have a new gal joining the family who just arrived this morning. Nope, she's not a Blythe. In fact aside from that I am cutting myself off from buying any more dolls at all for a while (It's gonna be hard) after this one. More on that later.

BE CAREFUL AND KEEP SAFE!

Untitled, a photo by Zanalee on Flickr.

To all my dolly friends: I hope and pray that you are prepared and safe for the storm hitting this weekend. Please do not take the warning lightly. It's better to take it too seriously than not at all. I hope you are in safe shelter, and ideally have someone to hang out with while this blows over.

Stay tuned to the news or radio or internet for updates an above all do not take any unnecessary chances. See you soon!

Blythe is Peace

242, a photo by n-ao@japan on Flickr.

My Fave pic of the day! Look closely!

Frankie Two Times

Untitled, a photo by Zanalee on Flickr.

Umm, yeah I just got "Home Ick" (a play on Home Ec) Frankie Stein last week. I won her on ebay for way cheaper than I thought I would. It was a total fluke. I just went for it. I frikkin adore her. Frankie Stein is my favorite of all the MH girls. It took me a awhile to pick a second one because DOTD (Dawn of The Dance) Frankie, my very first Frankie is super special to me. She's just so vibrant and alive. I didn't want to get another Frankie that wasn't worthy to stand next to her. LOL!

I have not seen another version of Frankie Stein in these other lines that I've like anywhere near as much until this one. I think it's those bangs that finally hooked me!

Introducing Dot Starlight!

Introducing Dot Starlight!, a photo by Zanalee on Flickr.

So I broke down and got a mini Lalaloopsy doll about a week ago. She arrived yesterday and I was so happy to see her. I'm not a fan of the large version of these dolls as they appear to mimic a sort of modern version of a handmade button eyed rag doll but in plastic and this interpretation is bit scary to me in a large version. But these tiny four inch versions have been catching my eye in several flickr streams lately and when I saw they had a little brown girl who was a Stargazer i just had to get her.

Her name is Dot Starlight and she comes with a telescope, a space rocket, a birdie (not shown in my pic) and what appears to be a planet on a spinning globe. I really adore her. I think she's super cute and clearly she will have no shortage of playmates of all sizes at my place.
: )

Dolly Mail!

I've been an admirer of "Sleepforever" dresses for a while. Their long bell sleeves and high necked lace collars evoke such old century romance. So I got one a few days ago on sale and it arrived today! EEE!
It was a bit of a struggle getting the sleeves on although I have to say that by the time I had tried it on Whitney, Angora and Hamsa, it slipped right on Hendrix and I think it suits her the best. I adore it on her! I may need another one. I think I like the idea of Hamsa having a wardrobe that includes things with a lot of sleeves. It really fits her Bohemian flair to a tee.

Sew What?

Sew What?, a photo by Zanalee on Flickr.

This weekend, I hemmed a dress I bought on the street last week for ten bucks about a week ago. This may not seem a big deal to those of you who know how to sew in circles but for me it's kinda huge. Ever since I was a girl, raised in house with a huge iron Singer machine, piles of fabric, thread needles and notions that belonged to my momI have been intimidated by the intricacies of pattern sewing.

My mom who graduated from the Paris School of Fashion when she was in her twenties sewed dresses and little outfits for me from when I was a baby to a young girl.
I designed my own prom dress for my High School Prom which she sewed as well. I found the fabric, a green velvet in the garment district and it was at that time raciest thing she had ever let me wear in public, that she knew of anyway. LOL! I designed it to have a long slit, backlessness and heartshaped cleavage going on but it was tasteful.

I never wanted to sew myself though. Just the thought of guiding fabric through that loud rough looking metal foot and keeping it straight until the thread ripped or some bobbin malfunction occurred just stressed me out. The few times my mom tried to show me how to put my foot down gently on the peddle I was just too freaked out. I think it's also the same thing that makes me nervous about driving. I feel like the motor is going to get away from me and drive off with me in it, that I will lose control. When that sewing machine started up, I just got tense. It seemed too big for me.

But being so engrossed in the Blythe world and having always loved fashion and DIY the way I do, I constantly run up against this wall. Can I learn to sew? I bought this sweet little yellow hand sewing machine from Urban Outfittters so many months ago and all it's done is sit under my living room table until recently when I hemmed this dress. And It wasn't the straightest most even job but it worked! It was easy and smooth going and I achieved the perfect length that I was going for after pinning and adjusting, laying it flat and trying it on a few times. So now I have that sewing bug again.

The mystery of sewing to me seems very similar to what knitting was like before I learned. It's a mystery I like to probe occasionally but I always hit a wall and stop again. I know the levels of complication vary depending on what patterns you're using but even the simple patterns tend to escape my understanding and ultimately frustrate me.

I think if I could grasp one simple basic pattern it might throw open a door to other more complicated stuff. Why do i feel like doll dress making is even harder than people's clothes?

Anyway, I just know the leftovers of this gorgeous fabric would look fabulous on Hendrix and she has, perhaps foolishly commissioned a dress from me so I'm going to have to hit Pucci Collective again this week and see what I can find! Wish me luck!
: )