Annabelle's new dress...

Since I haven't been blogging much, I have been working on some other sewing projects. I finished Annabelle's fall dress, using the pattern from the two Gildebrief magazines I purchased on Ebay in August. They were Autumn 2010 and Winter 2010 issues and had the two part articles of a picnic with Six cousins and a Governess. 

Here is what the article looked like- a picture of it from the magazine,

Below is what the covers of the magazines look like. They run 18.95 each but come with complete instructions. They are printed in Germany so be sure you get the English version when buying on Ebay. You can order direct from the website in Germany, Karin is great to deal with and she has a facebook page. I have downsized some of the patterns to fit my FR dolls. These two magazines had 12 inch patterns that are easy to convert/downsize. If you are interested in antique dolls or antique dress patterns- these can be converted to American girl or my twinn dolls as well, just more in depth. 

I decided to set up a little kitchen diorama for Annabelle too. I want to take her out for fall when I get a little hat for her, as this dress screams pumpkins and scarecrows and hayrides. Right now, she is busy in her kitchen baking bread.

I hope you enjoyed it. The stove is a 1:6 scale metal replica, Crescent stove.  The washer wringer is an Ertel model 1:5 so it is not exact 1:6 it may be more 1:8 scale and not exact Victorian era as Annabelle's dress is more 1860's or late 1860's and the wringer washer is more late 1890's early 1900's. But it looks cool with the cookstove. I have a cream seperator with buckets that is cool too. I would love to set up her dollhouse with a true Victorian kitchen with pump sink. I love Victorian kitchens, and have been collecting a bunch of things for this scene. 
Maybe I can get something together where she is making a pumpkin pie or an apple pie since it is around that time of year!

Fall blogging...what I've been up to...

I haven't been around much this week and fell short on blogging every day in September...last weekend was Labor day and hubcap and I did a great deal last Saturday since he had free time, of re-arranging the rooms and furniture in the house and getting some of the items into the storage. I moved alot of my larger American girl furniture and other items into the storage unit temporarily until I need them for photo shoots and we succeeded in moving our bed into the front bedroom. I also purchased ivory sheer curtains for the windows and it looks lovely with the walls, which gives it a cabin feel. The room is exceptionally small so there isn't alot of room for a dresser, vanity and the like in there. It feels open and spacious with the windows having the sheers and now we just need to add the anchor curtain backs I purchased at Hobby Lobby. The room will have a nautical theme which will be carried throughout the house. That room so far, is done for right now. The big part is emptying out the drawers of the dresser and nightstands so we can move it out of here and sell it at auction. 

I haven't had much time for photo taking of the dolls though I have been doing some sewing on two dresses- one using a Marirose pattern for a sheath for Barbie and a dress for Annabelle using a lovely fall pumpkin plaid. I am sewing from the two Gildebriefs that I got on ebay and the dress is almost done but I still need some trim for it. 

I took some pics of one of my Only hearts club dolls Olivia that had belonged to my Mom, I have another one like her. Here she is with her bike outside-

Like most little girls, she can't resist taking her teddy bear Tigger for a ride too.

I did intend to show you the disaster that is my doll room now but is so stuffed to the gills I just can't. I still have alot of sorting to do. We are now moving furniture from what was the dining room into the den and the furniture from the den into what was used as dining room but was really meant to be a living room. Our house is very small and the den is the largest room and our dining room furniture is large....the table can fold out to seat up to 12 people with all of the leaves in it! Plus we have a buffet and a server. It belonged to my husband's parents and we adore it. Wonderful for serving people at the holidays and entertaining. Our living room is quite small where it was and just is too small to accomodate it. The former den has a fireplace and it will be more impressive. When not in use, we can keep it folded down for two. 

I am hoping to get more pictures up soon of more different dolls...I have really been in a slump lately.  I have been so busy with the real life house and I haven't been able to finish the crate bed nor had anywhere to set up a diorama.  Here is what I mean by no room in the doll room-

This is the table and cabinet where I usually set up my dioramas for photos or displays ..right now it is the depository for dolls and props and everything that is the spillover that doesn't fit on the shelves to the left or the dollhouse and the table with the shops to the right- which is a mess too! There is a barely a 2 ft place to stand for me or a path to get to here because in front of all of this is backdrops of foamcore, cardboard, etc leaning against the table with tubs of dolls..and cars. The table is full of props that have no where to be stored so I have no table space to set up for pics. I'm going to have to use the dining room table for a quick pic space since the doll room is packed now. I'm currently cleaning out our old bedroom which will be.....drumroll here...........my new...and....bigger...doll room!  The dolls will be stored in the closets with shelves and the doors will have plexi on them so you can see them, I've got sketches figured out how I want to alter the room and do the shelving. My desk will be redone by hubcap. This will be the doll room in the house. The big dolls and main storage of props will go out in the barn studio workshop once that is finished which will be in the near future. All the delicate dolls will be in this doll room. At least, that's the plan on the drawing board. lol..  crossing fingers...
Have a great weekend! Lisa

The Romance- a French Fashion doll video

With all the hubaloo of the Barbie club meeting, and all of the goodies I've received, I didn't have time to post about the video /DVD I had ordered from 
the Carmel Doll Shop   .

It is entitled 'The Romance- The Life of Lillian Dal Monte' A charming tale of music, Achievement and love, told through 19th century dolls . Narrated by Delia Green.

It was originally a presentation created in 1997 for the United Federation of Doll clubs Annual convention and enjoyed by them. Since then, it has been revamped and upgraded with more stills and scenes added. It is a wonderful video using reproduction and antique dolls- Jumeau, Bru, Gaultier and a wide variety of miniatures and props and dioramas. 

The video runs about 40 minutes and can be ordered from the above link for 29.95 with shipping included from the Carmel doll shop. They also have other UFDC presentation videos for the same price. 

Here are some stills from the video-

The video is astounding and well worth the money, so if you have a bunch of friends who are into doll videos, and the like, this would be great eye candy. It is narrated from the dolls' point of view, as if she is telling it from her point of view, set in the Napoleonic empire period or at the Civil war era. The sets are museum quality. I have enjoyed mine about 3 times and never tire of watching it.  Highly recommend! 

Tagged! Liebster Award

I want to thank Billa  who  noninated me for the Liebster award in this tag game so I thought it would be fun to play on this post. The tag line of this award is to 'discover new blogs'.  So let's have a look at the rules:

Thank the person who nominated you link back to their blog.
Give the readers eleven random facts about yourself.
Answer the eleven random questions from the person who nominated you.
Nominate eleven bloggers to receive this award.
Invent eleven questions for your nominees...


Ok...Eleven random facts about me....

1. I love to read, mostly history, biographys, historical fiction. 
2. I love potato chips. 
3. Pinterest is my digital hoarding board...
4. I hate, no despise football...
5. I like watching Lawrence Welk on Saturday night...lol
6. I love getting up early in the morning, I get more done.
7. I like long walks every morning. 
8. I dislike fish.
9.  I hate long car trips.
10.  I don't own a Kindle and refuse to own one, I'm old fashioned like that.
11.  I love tacos!

Ok, before the nominations, I'll answer Billa's questions-

1 Have you got a secret dream or wild project?

The only project that could be called 'wild' that is int he works is my Chateau project which is my 1:6 scale custom Marie Antoinette and Louis XVl dolls and the scenes I've been working on which is kind of on again, off again..
2- When has a project exceeded your  wildest expectations?How? 

I would say a couple of times it would have to be my LaBelle's boutique when I took a large cardboard packing box and turned it and a bunch of scraps and stripwood and wanted to challenge myself, on a budget that I could create something spectacular without having to use a fortune in ready made products like some artisans I know. And I did. It's reception on my flicker whenever I take pics of it is astonishing, the most I invested into that project was the spray paints needed for the textured siding/exterior. Another time, I took another large cardboard packing box and did the replica of Laura Ingalls' dugout home which I never finished but the exterior was wonderful. Both of these exceeded expectations.

3-Chocolate, white, dark, milk, or none at all? dark 

4-If you could have dinner with 3 fictional characters, who would they be?

Hmm. Since I have been watching Poldark on Masterpiece theater, I would love having dinner with him, possibly  the dowager Countess from Downtown Abbey &  Marianne from Sense and Sensibility. 

5-What's your all time favorite movie?

not fair, since I have a few. Gone with the Wind, Sense and Sensibility, Titanic, Lion in the Winter. 

6. If you could choose a career other than your actual one, what would it be?

hmm. Probably a miniature set builder for movies.

7. What time period would you like to live in, other than the modern one?

Probably the Victorian era. 

8.What is the most versatile tool in your arsenal?

my exacto knife

9. Winter person or summer person?

actually neither. But I will take summer.

10. What do you wish you could most organize properly?

My whole house. lol. Really? My doll room.

11. What do you do to find inspiration?

I read, flip through old magazines, look at Pinterest, or friends photos on Flicker, anything can be of inspiration to me, such as when I exercise or walk, or go antiquing, or just idly sketch.  I think inspiration can depend alot on what drives the person too. 

Now for the nominees!

1-Susannah

2-Miranda

3-  Vanessa

4-  Farrah Lily

5-  Chandra

6- D7ana

7- Muff

8- Brini

9- Days of our Little Lives

10- One Sixth Avenue

11-Ashley


Now, my questions for you!

1. What is your dream project you'd like to do?
2. Do you have a favorite sport?
3. Name your favorite top 3 movies you love & why...
4. What is the fartherest place you have ever traveled to?
5. What is your favorite season of the year?
6. What music do you like to listen to while working on a project?
7. Favorite time period you would like to travel back in time to?
8. Do you keep a journal?
9. Do you have a project that has gone beyond your wildest expectations?
10. What is your favorite tool to work with?
11. What do you do to find inspiration?

Now back tomorrow to regularly scheduled pictures of dolls and other 1:6 scaled projects!

Here is a little of the mindless antique wandering I did today...

Integrity Announces the 2nd 2015 Exclusive club doll.........

W club members have already received the e-mail announcing the 2nd  W Club exclusive doll. The sculpt is a Vanessa 1.0 , there was some confusion as the original email said she was a 3.0. Not to worry Vanessa fans, Integrity made a boo-boo and corrected that mistake with another follow up email to inform us that it was definitely the 1.0 sculpt. 

Her cost is $130 total, and members can use the club coupon of $20 towards her final payment, not the deposit to pre-order. 

Black Tie Ball
Vanessa Perrin Dressed Doll
The Fashion Royalty Collection
The 2015  W Club Exclusive 
Limited Edition Size: TBA
Estimated Ship Date: Approximately Winter 2015-2016
Special W Club price :$130 + shipping,handling, & applicable sales tax*

Doll Tech Specs:

Head Sculpts: Vanessa 1.0

Body Type:FR 2013

Quick Switch Feature: No

Skin Tone: FR White

Hair COlor: Platinum

Eyelashes: Yes, hand applied

Here are some of the prototype photos of Vanessa that we were sent in the email.

Here is what the description says about Vanessa -

Vanessa Perrin has been invited to be the official Master of Ceremonies of one of Europe's most talked about events and she's absolutely thrilled about it! Ready to be the perfect stage host, Vanessa will surely steal the spotlight from the firmament of stars in attendance!

Vanessa is a 12.5-inch fully articulated vinyl fashion doll with beautiful platinum hair that is gorgeously styled, yet perfect if you wish to create your own looks! Her gown is intricately detailed with elaborate corset detailing and shows just enough leg to drive Vanessa's admirers wild! Complete with shoes, a lovely jewelry set and a doll stand. For adult collectors ages 15 and up.

I myself like her and am also undecided about her. I love the platinum hair but- I currently have Mademoiselle Jolie, and now a Veronique giftset, all with platinum hair. Vanessa  now too, has platinum hair. 

The gown, well, is not corsetted as the description says it is. It looks pretty faux corsetting if youask me. Plain black gown, a little jewelry, and not even a purse in there or a top hat for mistress of ceremonies. So I am very undecided as I do not know what is further in store for this year and she is somewhat unspectacular. I also have another doll with platinum hair from last year. I may simply pass as I don't want a whole lot of dolls with platinum hair. It remains to be seen if I do my pre-order and just save myself some money. The Poppy Parker dolls have been simply spectacular, and I for one, am tired of spending money on dolls that just sit in their boxes.  

On ANOTHER note...I am doing alot of sewing on the crate bed, and also some fall dresses for different dolls. I cut out a vintage sheath that will fit the silkstone Barbies and the Poppys, and a  dress for Annabelle all from some pretty fall/autumn plaid. So my hands are busily sewing so that is why no new pics of projects, just this copy and paste post today....

Out of This World Poppy Parker

Out of This World Poppy Parker arrived from Couture Dolls yesterday. I took a quick picture of her in the box but just de-boxed her today. She is really one of the most stunning dolls in this line of the Model Scene dolls. 

I loved all of the Model Scene dolls, but couldn't afford them all. So far I have Groovy Galore, the registration doll, Hippy Dippy, a lottery win doll, the Moods Changers gift set-3 Poppys in one, and Out of this World, and The Camera Loves her on Order. 

She didn't come with many accessories, just the sunglasses and her triangular earrings,hose, boots,  and stand .

A quick picture of her in the box, secured.

Here she is with her sunglasses on....she is so cool looking. 

I really wanted to do a spacey kind of out of this world photo shoot with her, with dirt, and sand and stuff to accent that outfit. I still will probably do that. I adore this outfit on her. She looks so Lost in Space! I wish I had the robot figure from that movie.  This was the reason I bought her, her outfit looked like those of Julie and Penny from my beloved childhood show. Enjoy the pics!
~Lisa

Jem and the Holograms - Techrat

Here is my de-boxing of Jem and the Holograms Techrat, and my review. 
First let me say that I never , ever watched the cartoon, in the 80's of Jem and the Holograms, nor collected the items- I was a teenager getting ready for college at that time. I still find the characters slightly funny and fun, but am more in tune with the Katy Keene and Archie, comic book characters than Jem & the Holograms. But Techrat was so cool I just could not pass up on him. 

First off, he comes in one of the over the top boxes with a domed type Jem and the Holograms box, sorry I didn't get better pics. His outfit is a pair of black belted pants, orange shirt with stand up color, definitely 80's, blue sweater vest, red satin coat, belted, and white scarf, black socks, and black high top sneakers. Hint: Those sneakers are killer to get on- I did not put my socks on because I was afraid they would stain his feet and were impossible to put on with the socks too. He also comes with another head and the quick switch feature, as well as his stand and his computer and various stickers for the screen and keyboard. This doll really, really rocks as far as accessories. Get another body and you have two hommes in one. 

I love his outfit and after all the problems to get those shoes on, it isn't coming off anytime soon! Those sneakers were a problem to get on and don't stay tied very well. I love his weird hairstyle and it makes him look like Count Dracula's weird son. lol. 

Here are some photos of him kicking back...

 Hope you enjoyed the pics!