Sweater Boys...

So last night since plans changed, I worked on some sock sweaters for Johnny and my Dynamite boy Auden. I have never really bonded with him because A) His weird hair started standing up like a bad Adam Ant night mare B) His shoes are impossible to get off unless you unless them completely.
But- I loved his little heart tattoo, his outfit, and blonde hair. I need to do a boil on his hair and just restyle it. But for now- he has been renamed in the interests of diorama purposes as Kris Kringle, Santa's grown son. I blame it on sweater socks...

Auden (Kris Kringle) has a cute little hat and I made Johnny a hat to match but it is going to end up on my Cruz aka Barry Gibb. Johnny's hair is just a mess and all over the place. His sweater turned out more bohemian than fair isle like I wanted. Of course, I couldn't resist some pics of them shopping and decorating the tree. 

Kris helping mom and dad in the study...

My favorite Agnes Von Weiss...

Through the  W Club's most recent lottery, I had won one of the new ITBE basics- Morning Dove. I actually liked the doll, but really wanted her shoes and dress more than her. That lovely grey brocade with the shoes is just stunning. 
The new backdrop has been getting alot of attention since I started working on new gowns for the dolls. It seems lately like all that has been arriving in the mail is---dolls! One or two days I received two in one day! I also purchased the Barbie wardrobe when theyhad free shipping plus my coupon- this is still unboxed. My birthday is on Thursday, so I just might have a de-box day. 

My favorite Agnes is believe it or not, one I did not buy. I have three Agnes Von Weiss dolls and I love them all. The one that is my favorite I won by a great stroke of luck after first becoming a member in 2007? I think. I fell in love with Fashion Royalty dolls when I first saw someone bring them to the fashion doll club -I had just joined. I had never seen dolls that looked like this with such detailing...I was just getting into collectible Barbie ! The W club hosts monthly contests where they give away a doll after they randomly pick one of the postings in that contest thread. I think it was- where do you think the FR convention should be held and why? I still remember opening my email and seeing the unexpected email that I had won! At that time, I did not know all the characters and was still learning about how to order the dolls, etc. What I won was a convention doll - Agnes Von Weiss in Concerto M. She was the diva that took over my collection and still 'owns' the dollhouse, so to speak. It is only fair she snagged Morning Dove's fashion!

She is still such a beauty, with that lovely red hair and green eyes and her beauty mark in the perfect place, sigh. I am having to watch how I pose her because her body is becoming a little loose with age, no yellowing like I have heard of. She usually reigns supreme in the dollhouse so I keep her away from strong sunlight in the doll room in the dollhouse. I have always thought she would make a wonderful 'young Queen Elizabeth' like  Cate BLanchette from the movie Elizabeth...another project on my todo list!

I hope to be taking some more new photos soon when I have time. My schedule has been up and down these past two weeks!~Lisa

Meet Romaine...and new project on the horizon!

Meet Romaine Jean-Francois LaBelle du Plessis, my new fashion designer. Ever since I received this doll- Rock Steady he was called, I have not quite known how to include him in Barbietown. To me he wasn't over the top like the new face dolls and some of the  W Club dolls simply have a real aggravated/ ticked off look on some of their faces. 
But now I have re-named him and decided to keep his original name with a french twist added on. Though Agnes owns a fashion empire, and she owns the Manor in my doll town I have never really had an over the top boutique/shop or anything. So the project on the horizon is almost done and Romaine will be its star.
Romaine Jean-Francois LaBelle du Plessis  is a hot new fashion designer in the Haute Couture world. Very old school in the industry and has the ancestors to prove that fashion is in his blood. Indirectly descended from the Queen's milliner- Rose Bertin the first 'Minister of Fashion'  Romaine has followed in his illustrious ancestors' footsteps. Besides being from the first beginnings of fashion, he is also descended on his mother's side from 
House of Worth (Charles Frederick Worth) so dressing Queens, Princesses and Empresses is nothing new to him. 
As you can tell, I am a history nut and these two icons from the Fashion world have long, long fascinated me. In my research for Romaine's bio I knew the new project would have to be over the top- which it will be. Suffice it to say I am almost finished but it is too large to be situated in Barbietown...so it will have its own table. Rose Bertin owned Le Grand Mogol a shop on the Rue St. Honore and was the designer who designed most of the - for then, outrageous fashions that Queen Marie Antoinette wore. Many people do not understand how much of a break the rules in your face  Marie Antoinette was- or how much of a true stylist Rose Bertin was for the period. The Queen and other ladies of the royal family had a uniform of Court dress, corsets (called Grand Corps) and makeup they were forced to wear- which was not necessarily the most stylish or comfortable clothing to wear on a daily basis. 
House of Worth - Charles Frederick Worth was an icon in his time for the drape and fit of his clothing- as well as having models in his shop wearing the designs so the customers could see it. He was one of the first that unveiled the fashions on a season basis, with shows in his shop. He dressed the Empress Eugenie, as well as Alexandra, Princess of Wales, the Empress of Austria and more. Wealthy women changed their clothing up to four or five times a day- and usually needed a maid to help them in and out of the complicated bustles, corsets, hoops.
In doing all of this research for my project, I know I needed a doll to be the fashion designer and decided to make it a male doll and Romaine was the perfect doll. He is ambitious, handsome, but focused on his dream of being a Haute Couture designer- his attention to detail is astounding. He dates occasionally but never with models if he can help it- doesn't like to mix business with pleasure. 
So a few more days and I will be able to unveil the project soon. I have shown a few shots of Romaine working on the line that will be unveiled at Grand Opening of the project- his 'Noir BLanche' line of clothing ready for the runway. 
Romaine worked on the finishing touches on the models last night in a temporary studio, I have some more pics-- but he was very testy at being watched while he worked. So enjoy!

Last 1:6 scale Bespaq wingchairs in stock- 3 left!

I have been cleaning out my storage unit that held stock leftover from my shop, Kin g William Miniatures when it was open in 2009 to 2011. Lo and behold, I have found three 1:6 scale wingchairs that I designed with the help of Bespaq, who manufactured them for me.

I have two of the 'Red Dragon' wingchairs click HERE  for this listing on ebay.
I have one of the pink boudoir wingchairs click HERE

Both of these chairs are priced at $99 each, since these are the last of my shop exclusives, no others were manufactured. If all three chairs are purchased at the same time, I will give a combined reduced shipping discount. Add these to your 1:6 scale collection, for a fabulous and elegant look to your dioramas.