New outfits for the Poppies....

The Poppies racked up when I attended the doll show a couple of weeks ago and I purchased some of those Clueless outfits from a seller for $10 each still in the box. They were really cute and complete. One isn't all that spectacular but the shoes are really cute- it was the pink one with the fuzzy coat. The dress is ill fitting and the coat is sort of stiff. I may use it as a display item in LaBelle's on the wall for Easter. 

So here are some of them showing off their cute outfits...

The only one not wearing the stock shoes with her outfit is young sophisticate and her shoes  did not fit her flat feet. These little mini skirts with the hats are so outrageously cute. I am thinking they might look cute on the momokos. 

The outfits look a little better in today's styling without the hats, I am thinking of using them in the windows for Easter. Two of the outfits came with sunglasses. I haven't shown one of the outfits on a doll because it was such a disappointment, it was ill fitting and didn't look very attractive. Dark Moon looks lovely in the lavender. She has informed her name is Chloe DuBois, and will be helping Poppy plan her wedding. (She came in from the convention last year you know. Loves lavender, in the color, flowers, jewels, fabric, etc. makeup. ) I haven't had much time to bond with this lovely and feel bad about it- her eye makeup, her hairstyle, are just so timeless and gorgeous. This outfit I knew had to be hers. Though her groovy outfit she came is nice, I want to see her in some cocktail, some evening wear, and some fun casual wear too. She also just looks like a Chloe. 

The pictures aren't that great, but I hope you enjoy them! Trying to get back into the 'spring' of things~ today all of the snow is almost gone except for a few tiny patches here and there- it just lightly sprinkled some rain here and there and was so warm! 60 degrees today! I am hoping soon I can take some dollies out and get some nice pictures somewhere soon! 
All for now~ Lisa

Happy Birthday Barbie!

Today is Barbie's birthday- time to celebrate for the doll that started it all for some of us collectors. For me, she is the one that started me in the world of 'small' things...and led me to miniatures in 1:12 scale, and then led me back to fashion doll heaven and 1:6 scale in adulthood, and finally, to my creative road with King William Miniatures & Collectibles. 

Today isn't only Barbie's birthday. It is also my wedding anniversary with my husband and partner, Chris. We have been married 14 years. 

Here we are with our wedding party and my new daughter Amanda to my right holding the basket and ringbearer Alexis her cousin beside her. My Maid of honor and Friend, Wanda, Best man Tom and his son and usher, Joe who also just got married last year himself.  The day has alot of 'Barbie' Moments, lol

Changing from my shoes into my TommyHilfiger sneaker mules. My wedding shoes were special as I purchased them in Greenwich Village shop in New York and they were made by Peter Fox and matched my gown perfectly. My gown was very simple, eau de soie silk with a small train built into it to showcase the bouquet which was huge. I sketched out what I wanted and had the florist make it up out of roses, baby's breath and lily of the valley and blue ribbon, it was heavy. The purpose was so I wwould look like roses were cascading down the front of my gown. My tiara was by Swarvorski. The little pin I am wearing are also the same ones worn by my ringbearer, flower girl and maid of honor,they are ruby red slipper pins from the Warner Brothers store, because, there is no place like home. The church was a little historic country church over a hundred years ago so I wanted to keep the decor simple since it is so pretty inside, especially no bright colors or overpowering flowers, we used a mix of silk and real flowers on the tables at the reception. 

Chris picked out the cake topper himself which was made of porcelain and we used a swan motif and lily of the valley from the flowers, my maid of honor carried nothing but lily of the valley tied with blue silk ribbons, which you can see in the front. The music was classical flute played by one of my childhool friends who played /learned flute in Holland on a scholarship from our church and played some pieces for us for the wedding. We had so much fun planning the wedding as we had both been married and divorced before and just wanted a nice quiet small wedding. The church where we married is right down the road from our home, not five minutes away. 

Enjoy the photos, and have fun celebrating Barbie's birthday as much as I do!~Lisa

Prepping for St. Patrick's day...

My fashion doll club has chosen a theme for its upcoming meeting on the 15th of this month as 'Mystical Ireland'. You can choose Legends, history of Ireland, Irish in America, Irish foods, myths, you name it to present in a diorama form or theme with dolls or in a vignette. The club members wanted to branch out into something different for March other than Barbie's birthday and most are gathering up funds for convention which takes place in our home state. However, I won't be attending as I attended the Fashion Royalty convention last year and couldn't afford that convention fee AND the Barbie convention fee to be sent in at the same time. Whew. *I have a rant about the Barbie convention fees but will save that soapbox for a separate theme later, lol.* 

So since my schedule is hectic with snow and ice and I have time on my hands I have been working on the theme I decided on- Irish foods. I have the materials on hand, the dolls, and the time being snowed in. Yesterday I put the finishing touches on. The only items I purchased are my dolls' outfit which was a vintage 1984 1984 Irish Barbie outfit and a Michael's crucifix pendant to hand on the wall over the fireplace. I wanted the vignette to resemble an Irish croft cottage of two Irish peasants getting ready to sit down to a full Irish breakfast. Irish foods are not really that varied, lots of meat, bread,cabbage and potatoes. Some of my items I had to throw out as they did not look as good as I thought they should. If I dislike the item I sculpt I throw it out. I can't stand it if it doesnt look perfect. I made pickled pigs feet but I am still not satisfied with the color and size of them. So they won't be used. Here are the photos of what I have so far- full Irish breakfast which has- toast, fried egg, sausage, beans; Sodabread or sour dough breads, Farl (bread) a type of pastry with  sugar on top, and corn beef sandwiches, and a basket of potatoes. 

I used Out Sass Vanessa's little boots and hosiery to go with this dress so it looks more native costume. I was going to make a little cap for her but don't think I will her hair shows off the dress too well. I am going to take my Harley Ken with her and will take some cups and forks with the foods for the display and that should complete it. I wanted to get this done as next week not sure if I will have the time to get the display done. I ordered the dress of of Ebay and was amazed at how quickly it got here! Really glad I found it. I was originally thinking of getting an Irish princess Barbie and doing stone walls but decided to go with Irish foods. I am not that thrilled with the foods but will put them in my Etsy store later as a set and see how they go. As a family we have never paid attention to St. Patrick's day at all, so I was surprised myself that so many people do, in our club. The Shamrock Celebration Barbie is an obscene price for a vinyl doll in my opinion that is going to be dragged out once a year, even though her value will go up later. Maybe $50 but not $75. I think they get away with the price by claiming she's an 'exclusive' doll. The same with Cupid's Kisses. The only one of this line I have is the Thanksgiving doll and she did not cost this much if I remember correctly- about $59 I think it was and not that much with my rewards.  So bypassing her for something else better like the Silkstones or the Basics coming soon. 
I will have more pictures on the displays next weekend after the meeting but wanted to give you a sneak peek on this and what I have been working on. I haven't sculpted food in a while and have to admit if I dislike what I have to work on it comes out in the piece. Irish food isn't exactly gourmet or 'pretty' it is more homestyle- meat, potatoes, and bread or 'comfort' foods. When you get into the recipes some of it is downright disgusting- such as blood pudding. (It isn't what you and I think of as 'pudding') Out of being curious I looked up Scottish foods, being of some Scottish descent and it didn't get much better since they too used alot of intestines. (In the South most of the intestines are used for head cheese or boiled such as chitlins, but some are mainly used in the making of lard or soap and tallow for candles in the old days).  Another problem is it is hard to get the clay warm enough to mix in this cold weather, and my hands suffer because of this. Air dry clays are easier to work with but polymers are where you can get the textures needed on miniature foods.So I will wait until spring or when it warms up a bit to begin the spring cakes and cookies and eggs for Easter. I already have some that can be done for the Patissierie. All for now~Lisa

Happy Hinamatsuri!

I am a day late and a dollar short, but better late than never. 

On the third day of the third month in Japan, is known as the Girls day festival, or Hinamatsuri, or the Dolls Festival. Ceremonial dolls are brought out and placed on platforms covered with red cloth, representing the Emperor and Empress, the lords and ladies, the musicians, and the accessories of the court. Special foods are served, and the Tea ceremony is performed. I love setting this up but this year I did not set up my display ahead of time nor get my Asian dolls out like I had planned to do. I do have my photos from previous years. 

I hope you enjoyed the photos of Hinamatsuri! 

The Prairie Wagon antique shop diorama....

Today was a severe weather warning (another one!) with freezing sleet and rain. ugh. I am so ready for Easter bonnets and warm sun, and spring flowers. Very boring day- yesterday with the doll show, and antiquing and lunch, Hubcap and I felt like we had been let out of prison. So while he plays about on his iPad I deboxed Midge, uploaded pics and did a new diorama, the Prairie Wagon. 
I used my brick wall back drop and one of my mom's wall curios- she had a couple of these shelf curios that she kept some of her miniatures in that I inherited that I am beginning to sort through. She was an avid Avon representative for years and won the Mrs. Alby/Albee statues for being in the President's club for selling so much each month. If you really sold alot, you also won a miniature replica of the porcelain statue as well- and she had multiples of the statues. So this is the first diorama I have used her minis in. 

Ryan and Poppy decided to start shopping for their home since Chris and I were shopping for bedroom inspiration on our home yesterday. Mr. Charles Ingalls owns the Prairie Wagon. Hopefully I can set up a shelf for the antique shop when the doll room gets situated. This way my great victorian pieces can be on display when not in use, like the wringer washer and the stoves.

I hope you enjoyed the pictures. Most of the items are a hodgepodge but go to show that you can put together a pleasing shop with a few well chosen pieces placed carefully. The wagon which is the Eureka for the name of the shop was bought one fall with a coupon at Michael's. I put some of the plants in it and propped the pencil sharpener pump on some little boxes on it. The whole shop is meant to look like it is in a warehouse district or downtown district.  The brick wall is nothing more than cardboard done with magic brik stencils and drywall mud, I would like to do this again as it is one of my most prized backdrops. Enjoy~