Bye, bye!

Well, it is not as dramatic as it sounds. I have been doing some cleaning in my boxes and on my shelfs - sending some dolls and figures to new loving homes. Have done this while preparing for Christmas and because my eyes caught a cute ball jointed doll, a boy. I am half way already...or all the way, depending. If I just buy the doll, I am there - but I want some clothes for him and some shoes too.

Maeve

Bonnie

Two Barbies have left the building - Maeve and Bonnie. I know that I searched for these and put a lot of effort to get them. But having them for some years and not taking so much time to bond with these girls, made me decide to let them go. The new owners are happy. So, bye bye Maeve and Bonnie.

We got some beautiful winter days during first Advent. Snow, blue skies and even some degrees below zero. Our landlord has decorated the area where we live with some trees and lights. Brightens up the darker afternoons and evenings. And the little hill is just all fun for kids and dogs to slide on. Some days later the snow rained away and it is all green again. So, bye bye snow.

For some days ago we took our dog Bentley to the vet, for a check up. All is fine and he is getting closer to 8 months now. He is learning new things almost daily, but he is still a pup and sometimes he just can not keep himself together when he meets people and other dogs. He has some great dog friends in a labrador, a younger golden retriever and a springer spaniel. If they could, the would play forever and ever. We have had some meetings at the dog park and it has been a blast.

For fun

When it comes to my arm, the broken humerus, I am healing slowly. Do not use a sling so much at the moment and in 10 days I will meet a doctor for x-ray and planning for the next step. Last meeting in November went well and some new callus have appeared. Doctor was happy, but wanted me to know that the huge spiral fracture will take time to heal. Like two months more...yay. So no bye bye orthosis yet. Even if this conservative healing (no surgery) takes time and can be rather painful, I am doing well and are keeping my chin up.

Those tiny dolls?

Polly on adventure, summer 2017.

It is late evening over here and the rain is making some drip-drop sounds on the window. I visited some doll shops and noticed new arrivals. One of these new arrival is a Bebe-Doll, just 14,5 cm (5.7") and I fell totally.

Such a cute and delicate face, with so so adorable details in hands, feet and body. It comes even in two other, ready to go, full package. And limited editions, of course. I'm glad that there is one ordinary, without limits, to buy. I have her on my wishlist now. 

And of course I started to wonder about good things and not so good things with those tiny ones. The pros, that I can see after playing with my hybrid Disney's Animators' doll with the obitsu-body, is that these tiny ones are easy to have along, they are not so expensive, take a little place and it is easy to make/find props to them.

Polly is my smallest doll, if I do not consider my mini Lalaloopsy. She is fit to come along in my bag, in my pocket and are light to carry around. She poses easily with the obitsu-body (11 cm, 4.3") and is a cute piece of fun. 

The cons are not so many (do you have any on mind?) - it is the clothing. I feel that it is harder to sew for this little girl, compared to the other dolls I have. It works and you get the best result when sewing by hand, even if it hurts my hands. 

Well, this Bebe-Doll would be a fairy friend, with her own story, to my Mokashura Noomi.

Ah, dreaming is fun.

Those big dolls

Noomi, just a random picture.

In the early beginning, I blogged about ”Big dolls! Or small ones?” and have ever since had my mind set on those smaller ones that do not have much weight. During summer time and the vacation at our cottage…and carrying around Noomi, with her couple of kg, I started to think about those bigger ones again. 

Before I went to bed, I watched some box openings with dolls that are from 45 cm (17 inch) up to around 70 cm (27 inch, give and take). I have always felt that these are too big for me, but when you see all kinds of beautiful BJD’s being un-boxed, with amazing sculpts and detailed parts - you really feel like hit in the head and that can make you talk and plan ’crazy things’.

Like, how would a bigger doll suit in my crew and were would I find one. Just look at these two, Claus and Nina. And yes, could it not be a little bit fun to have a doll sculpt with that name, haha! And Nina just alone, with the darker skin (Zipporah's mother?)- so beautiful. 

I’m not going to just jump on this train, need to think a bit more. But it has been, honestly, on my mind a lot. Have a little list (in my head) with pros and cons. So, we will see where this will take me. 

Probably nowhere, but it is fun to play with the thought.

Such a handsome beauty...

Hope that you are doing well! It has been a while. My energy has been rather low, so I have mostly been painting and testing out some soft pastels by doing art journaling and even some bible journaling. It is fun, I even made my own gesso!

When it comes to my cute dollies, they keep me company and have a lot more patience that I have ever seen. Their faces radiate a lot of "we-will-be-here-when-you-are-ready". My husband told me that it will come, soon - the energy to create, play and take photos. The Spring has not sprung yet, but it is on the way. 

Borrowed this one from Dollmore (c) 

But the energy does not keep me from looking and following some news. My favourite company released a very beautiful boy doll the other day - and his face is just adorable. Fell totally and hit my head hard. It was no stars that circled my head, it was hearts!

I really hoped that this handsome one would be around 40-45 cm, my pain level, but he is 71 cm.

71. 

Then my mind went of for its self. I can take the head, just the head and have it floating around here looking all beautiful. But that would not work either, because I really like them with a body.

So, what is your thoughts about big dolls? And do you have a level that is too much for your? What about those tiny ones? How tiny can a doll be?

Summer thoughts

So cute! A print screen of the site at kilala.fi 

While sitting in the sun or in the shadow, in our garden, I have been thinking about dolls. Well, when do I not think about dolls? I have even been walking around in the forest just to find some places to have a photoshoot of my dollies. Then I have been surfing the net too. Since I had some thoughts about getting a doll with some different look, but still a doll matching my crew, some water has run under the bridge. A lot of water. I still have that dream, but as usually I have added on. 

One of my friends took a trip with her daughter to Helsinki and Kilala. They came home with a cute Pullip doll and since then, after seeing her photos, I badly want one. And as usually, my hubby asked how these kinds of dolls will suit my crew, because they look so different. I had really no answer to that, more than "I want one!" Haha, we got a good laugh about that. 

I told him later on that these dolls are different, but in a good way - as Blythe. I mostly want a "Make it own kit", to learn. I think it is an easy way to learn about other brands like this. I have been looking at videos to see how the eye mechanism works, for both Pullip and Blythe, and how to work with the face ups and carving. This is something that interest me. 

Oh, well...my other list of dolls - with dolls from Dollmore, Souldoll, 5Stardoll and other cute places are still alive. One of the dolls on that list, an Alex Doll Lenticula Alexia, is sadly sold out. And the "Make it own-kits" are sold out too. But I know that these kits will soon come in....

....until then I will keep on dreaming, watching and learning....

Outside the comfort zone

I need to move from the little one to the bigger one of circles.

I have my comfort zone when it comes to most things in life. It becomes a problem when I want to do something adventurous in my life. I have a inner me, who really wants to explore and maybe even put myself into some kind of danger. Well, not so much of danger that something bad will happen, but to test my own boundaries and experience something new. But it always end up with me, myself and I finding a place in the most comfy place in the comfort zone and being happy about it.

This thought about comfort zones put into the hobby, ball jointed dolls - do you have a comfort zone when it comes to dolls?

My soft and cute dolls

When I sit here at my workplace and look at the dolls I have, they all have the girly softness. Round cheeks, cute lips, sparkling eyes, soft face lines, juvenile bodies and everything goes in pastel colors. And there is nothing that - Boom - breaks the soft line of dolls. No dolls with fangs, big ears, tails, animal face, a chubby fairy or one with many legs. 

I would love to change that. I have been looking at the different doll-sites and there are rather many dolls with fangs, big ears, tails, different faces, chubbiness and with many legs. And of course most of these dolls are sold out, but I have stepped outside my comfort zone and started to look. And save. Because suddenly it will happen, love will hit you and I want to be prepared. At the same time I want him or her to fit my resin family. But I think that this will not be a problem, for they are so openhearted my dollies. Or as we say in our family ”I am all in, with all kinds of craziness!”

Ready for the trip to Poland!

Star Wars in LEGO.

Otherwise we are doing well. The girls are in Poland on a trip with the church and confirmation group. I have been at the big LEGO-store and bought some Star Wars tiny figures. Got an extra figure and a poster. And then we have watched the movie ”Star Wars - The Force Awakens”, great one! The weather has been amazing - sunshine, blue skies and almost +20°C. 

50Q BJD meme

It is a lazy Sunday over here and I have some food in the oven. This gives me a little time to answer some questions, well why not 50 of them! I found this meme at Fantasywoods and you can even find it at TheResinCrew and ResinRomance. I was not tagged, but I wanted to do this because it felt like a good idea. If you want to do it, go ahead and then leave a comment so others can find you and read your thoughts. I will not tag anyone this time.

So, here we go! You may need a cup of coffee, tea or maybe some other favorite beverage and some snacks!

1. Have your tastes changed in sculpts over the years?

No, not really. I still like the softer sculpts and from the same artist. But I have become more open to new things, different sculpts and other artists.

2. Do you have pre-made characters for the dolls that you get home which must fit a certain description, or, do you get them home and let inspiration hit?

I let my inspiration hit. But sometimes I can see a doll on a site and boom, there is a story.

3. What do you do when you get hooked on a particular sculpt and want it home right here, right now but can’t as you have to save or some other reason?

Cry inside! And then I add that sculpt to my wishlist and if the feeling is still there when magic happens and money comes in, then I order.

4. How many dolls are too many to you personally?

I don’t think there is a limit as long as you have the room for the dolls, take good care of them all, connect well with them all and feel happy having them.

5. What are your thoughts on dolls with already pre-existing characters from movies/books/cartoons/etc.?

It is a good way for the collectors who like dolls that are already with a character. And if you have the inspiration, you can always add on, make some changes and make it your own.

6. Acrylic, glass or urethane? And why?

This is crazy, but I have never thought of this. The dolls I have, have the eyes they came with and I have never changed, because I asked to get specific eyes or liked the eyes a LE doll came with. Zipporah has glass eyes, Esther has acrylic and so does Noomi. The difference I see between there eyes is that the glass eyes really love dust and can gather those tiny particles. I have a little brush I use, but sometimes even that does not help.

7. How much does yellowing bother you? What is acceptable before you want something done to liven up that old yellow resin skin?

I have been wondering about this. In some moments (specific lights and so on) my first doll that I have had since 5 years, look rather yellow and I wonder if I should do something about that. But I always end up in the same answer. No, I do not want to do anything about that. It is a piece of her personality and it is okay. At this moment I need to highlight her features a bit with more colorful wigs and clothes, otherwise she can look rather colorless. 

8. What are your thoughts on anthro BJDs vs actual animal BJDs?

As long as the dolls do not have more than two legs. I am okay with the face, legs and arms being based on animals when it comes to anthro BJDs and if the animal BJDs look like a dog, cat or something else based on the real nature, it works for me. But a doll with eight legs symbolizing a spider….yikes.

9. How small is too small? How tall is too tall? Or does height even matter to you?

Height does matter. One reason is rather strange - medical. Can not handle too big and heavy things without my hands giving in because of carpal tunnel syndrome. I drop things easily and would not want to do that, with a doll. My Narsha dolls are 35 cm and my Mokashura is 40,5 cm. I can think myself owning dolls up to 45 cm. And the dolls can be tiny - I adore tiny.

10. Do you talk with your resin buddies while painting them, dressing them, just because?

Absolutely! Or is it just me talking to myself, who knows? It is something that comes naturally. And without any ”baby-voice”. Rest of the family get a good laugh, but filled with love. 

11. Do you have a doll you love but will probably never have because finances or impossible to get?

Several dolls can end up on this list. Mostly because they are too big or sold out. A couple of these dolls are Dollmore Lusion - like this one or this cutie. For her I already have a story and personality. 

12. Do you have a favorite clothing company where you go and buy clothing and/or shoes from?

So far I have only bought or got shoes/clothes as gifts from the same place I ordered my dolls from or bought from a local toy store. 

13. Your favourite pair of shoes you ever got home? Picture please!

Noomi's shoes. She has a red pair too, without a bow.

It must be Noomis white cute shoes and her sneakers. Both are sold out at the moment.

14. Favourite accessory and, again, picture!

Some accessories - pebbles, ribbon, Sony Angel....

Those simple things. A pine cone, a pebble, a flower, a ribbon, a soft toy or just a cute hat.

15. How many times have you had to redo a face-up in a day?

I have only repainted MH-dolls and those - depending on the day - I can do one a day. Sometimes I have wiped a face up/repaint, started again and worked through the night. 

16. Ever sat screaming and cursing at your sewing machine? Or even if you’ve sown something by hand? Tell us a bit about one of those silly outbursts!

”Oh, for the love of God! What is wrong with you!” If you hear me say that and you are a sewing machine, computer, needle, fabric or something like that - it is better to run or start to work as I want. My Finnish temper can have something to do with that, too.

17. In the past year have you had to find homes for some of your resin buddies?

No, my buddies are all at home, with me.

18. Have you ever made any miniature furniture of any kind or do you prefer to buy it?

I often try to use what I have at home. I have bought some tiny furniture from IKEA and have some tiny furniture from the doll house I have.

19. What would you do if one of your dolls went green or banana yellow? Would you try and salvage the damage somehow by mods and the like, or would you reinvent their character?

Oh my. Started to laugh. Esther, the banana yellow princess and her dear friend Zipporah, green as a leaf. I think that I would reinvent their character and dress up them in someway, so that they yellow and green color would be something they can own. 

20. Ever got two dolls or more home in a year?

No, I got my dolls with a year apart. 

21. Are there a certain theme going style/face-up/accessory/other wise? Or are they all fairly different from one another?

The three BJDs I have, have the default face up. It is soft and nothing too much. The MH and EAH I have, have more different face ups. 

22. How much is too much to pay for a doll/how little is too little? And why?

Too much and too little is mostly individual, I think. You have your own limits and for me there is no limit when it comes to too little, but too much….I have my hurting point around 1000USD. But as always, it depends on the doll. And if one can do a layaway.

23. Do you do mods? Show us some of your work! Would you do them on rare/limited sculpts?

No, but I would love to try. Maybe start with an easy one done with Fimo clay or something.

24. Do you prefer getting dolls home blank so that you can do your own face-up, or, do you prefer to have the company paint them for you?

So far my dolls have the company’s face up. Have plans to someday get a doll that is clean, so I can do the face up, wig and clothes. 

25. Do you keep up with the various companies releases, events and the like?

I try to. I have some notices from a couple of companies, but not so much as I want to. 

26. Ever hated having to cover up a body with clothing because the sculpting was absolutely divine and you’d rather just be able to watch all that naked glory for all time?

Haha! I like the dolls both ways….but mostly I adore them naked and without a wig….

27. What is your favourite wig brand?

The wigs I have are from the same company as the dolls, I have nothing to compare to.

28. How many pairs of shoes do you own for your dolls?

Totally they have around 3 pair, each.

29. How many wigs do you have for your dolls?

Two each.

30. Do you have a favorite set of clothing? Do you own it? And if, picture please!

Legenddoll has some cute outfits. Pink, fluffy, with lace and cute hats. Nothing I own, sadly.

31. Do you have a favourite outfit you’ve made yourself?

Tilda-fabric and pattern. Esther's first handmade outfit.
Pink socks (even those handmade) and black shoes not in picture.

It must be the first dress I made Esther. For being the first thing I ever made for a BJD, I am happy with the outcome.

32. Ever commissioned someone? And what for?

No, have not.

33. How many pair of eyes do you have, spare and in use combined?

3 pair, in use.

34. Ever called in sick because of an incoming package?

Haha, not me - but the hair, when I opened the door. All over the place.

No, but had an early morning package arriving one day. Was not prepared, but wanted to have it - so I had to open the door in my PJs and my hair looking like Madam Mim’s. The man from the post office said he was sorry, but I was just happy to receive Zipporah!

35. What have been you longest wait? And the shortest?

Waiting for Esther, three long months. Noomi came home in a very short time.

36. Do you prefer shooting single shots or group pictures?

Mostly single, easier. Zipporah and Esther work nicely together, though. 

37. Do you prefer male or female dolls?

Female. Looking forward to coming out of that box, hopefully this year, and order a boy doll.

38. Ever had that one piece of accessory you could never quite find and are still searching for years later?

I am always looking for accessories or props, but nothing special. Keep my mind and eyes open, you never know what you find when you are shopping.

39. Ever had trouble settling for a sculpt for a given character and had to buy multiple sculpts home before finding that perfect one?

No.

40. Do you keep a journal in where you write all of your doll related ideas and plans even if they wont always come to fruition?

No, but that is a good idea. I have a little note book where I draw clothes and write down patterns.

41. Ever shot some naughty naked/nude pictures? If not, why?

Not naughty, but nude. Sensual is better. Do not find the meaning to take naughty photos.

42. What are the longest time you’ve had a layaway running? If you’ve never done one, why are you refraining from making use of this service?

Layaway is a wonderful thing, but I have never had any use of it because I saved up first. 

43. Do you mind not being able finding a whole lot of pictures of a given sculpt you want home or do you like it’s exclusivity?

I want to see so many pictures as possible. On the doll site, by other owners and I want to know it all. I will search until I think I have enough information and that I feel happy with my decision. 

44. Are you more of a share all the pictures type of person or more of a keeping them all to yourself and only share a select few?

I want to share it all! But I look out for not making my gallery too repetitive. And that is why I choose just maximum 3.

45. How good are you at sticking to your plans if, say, you told yourself you only were to bring home one more this year and then go on a break?

I keep my plans when it comes to BJDs, but when it comes to MH or EAH, I can not keep my fingers still. Need to have, need to wipe of the paint, need to repaint….! So much fun!

46. What doll body is your favourite?

Narsha, at the moment. But I like the body that Dollmore Catish has, too.

47. Who in your resin crew has gone through the biggest transformation since arrival?

I want to write me, myself and I. But there is a point in this. My dolls are the same and they have not changed so much, but I feel that I have changed in the way I look at this hobby, the dolls out there and what you can do within the hobby. 

48. Do you pamper some more than others?

Sch, do not tell - but yes. I have a favorite in Esther and my OOAK Ever After High Apple White. 

49. Ever bought something (dolls, clothing, accessories) that looked amazing in the pictures but turned out to be nothing like it upon arrival?

Thinking…no, not really. 

50. What are your continued plans for this year?

Try to finish all my MH and EAH - clothes, hair and shoes. Maybe do some of the repaints all over again. Hopefully buy a boy Mokashura doll. Otherwise, try to make clothes for all the dolls, some new stuff. Nothing big, rather calm this year.

Hope you had a lovely read and I wish you a wonderful Sunday and an amazing week ahead! Make the best of it!

Bad hair day!

I think that I am not alone when it comes to the complications with wigs for your dolls. You think that you find a lovely one and after a while it really is not the one at all. I have been visiting sites to see what they offer, I have been making my own wigs for the dolls, I have re-rooted, I have gone mad and lost all hope and started all over again.

Noomi on the left with the wig she came with.
I have a short blond for her too, she looks cute in it.
To the right, the wig I am thinking about, from Dollmore.

When it comes to wig, I have never been so much into those long ones. Probably because of the maintaince those need. This makes it even harder to find a suitable wig, because of my own limitations. A long wig gives you as a doll owner a chance to make different kinds of hair styles and that way you can change the looks of the doll. But of course, duh, that is nothing I think of when I order wigs or start to make them. 

Gooliope with her high forehead. It looks higher in the photo,
than in real life. But anyway, bangs would do her good.
Thought of the wig from Dollmore.

At the moment I have my eyes on some wigs that I think would be nice on some of my dolls. One of these I thought would be great on Monster high doll Gooliope Jellington. That girl is so, so. so pink (at some point rather annoyingly pink) and she needs something to break that color. Someone who needs color is my Dollmore Mokashura Duyou doll Noomi. She is rather pale and a wig with two colors would be great. For my Dollmore Narsha dolls Esther and Zipporah - well…they have had their wigs for a long time and in one way I have got used to those. I know that the one doll, Ever After High Apple White, is the one with the best hair. Soft, curly, thick and in place.

Apple White, still without a top but with great hair.

Well, I think I will surf the wig net for some more and dream away. One day I may find the perfect ones.

When it comes to my ordinary life, even if my dolls are a part of that life, it has been mostly flu that have been visiting us. First the kids and then us adults. We are all fine now and feeling well, even if we are a bit tired after sore throats, fever, sneezing and ache. The bed was our best friend for several days and the kids stayed home from school. A new week is here and we look forward to that. The week after that, the oldest daughter will get her new glasses - her first ones. And I hope that those will work well for her. And she is turning sweet 16 too! Can not understand how fast time flies. 

They are my two cute babies, no matter how old they are!

Hope you had a lovely Valentine's Day!

If I only could, I would

Doll dreams, don't we all have them!

Every little second, when my brain is not working on something else I wonder about dolls. I took a little trip through the sites and found some cuties, some sold out - some limited editions - some old favourites and some just being there and giving my imagination a boost.

So far my resin collection includes three dolls - Esther, Zipporah and Noomi - all from Dollmore. Somehow I feel safe ordering from them, as I have been a customer there for many years. But at the same time I am curious about other places, other molds, other artists....

Lately I have realised that I am into chubby dolls and that I prefer them tiny, around 30 cm. Meel and Spün are just like that, from Dust of Dolls. Cute, chubby and tiny. Perfect for the life in the forest around our cottage. And totally cute in a pale white skin.

When it comes to Blythe, that is more of the feeling "it-would-be-nice-to-have-one-in-my-collection" rather than the longing and already bonding before you even get the doll. Alexia and Lucid from Dollmore are all ready there. Bonded and a part of my dreams. Catish is somewhere in the between. But mostly my thoughts are here, at Lucie Koo. With a wild red wig, green eyes, vintage one piece and a beret, ready to take on the world. 

Well, I can always dream! Here is the links to the dolls. The picture above is a collage of print screens, so non is mine. All copyright goes to the artist through these links. 

meel ws, Dust of Dolls

spün, Dust of Dolls

Neo Blythe, Minty Magic

Middie Blythe, Mary Ann

Bordy, Iplehouse

Alexia, Dollmore

Lucid, Dollmore

Catish Girl Doll, Dollmore

Liebster Award

Sitting in the armchair I decided to check my e-mail and found out that Alejandra at Fantasy woods had tagged me in an award. So, I thought that this is a good way to start this years blogging. I'm glad for this award and hope that this will be a nice post for you to read. Thank you Alejandra!

Some rules:

1. Thank the person who presented you the award and link back to their blog.

2. Post the award image on your blog.

3. Answer 11 questions posted by the presenter.

4. Nominate 5-11 blogs with less than 200 followers.

5. Create 11 questions for the nominees to answer.

6. List these rules in your post.

7. Inform the people you chose of their nomination by leaving a comment on their blog and link them your post.

The questions Alejandra sent me:

1. What’s the thing you love the most about blogging?

In some way it is a way to connect with others. You find people that are almost like you. And it is a way to express, write and share.

2. What’s the thing you love the most about your dolls/figures?

Ever since I was little I had a thing for anything and everything cute. Then it was Hello Kitty, Monchichi and other things kawaii, Barbie, Sindy and pens, paper and erasers. With some saved money I bought these things or wished for it for my birthday or for Christmas. There was always fabrics, scissors and thread available at my grandmother's cousin. I could create things for my dolls and figures, in this case my Barbie, Sindy and Monchichi. Oh, they were so hip. And this is the one thing I love with my dolls - bad and monster high, that I can make them mine. Design clothes for them, create a personality and let them live it for the fullest. Then I love to take pictures too!

3. Is there anything you always wanted to do with your dolls but never dared to?

I would like to buy a doll from scratch - one that I can restring, do a face-up, make a wig and make clothes. That is something I want to do and a way to practice is on the monster high dolls I have. So, one day!

4. Are you working on something for your dolls/figures at the moment?

No, not so much at the moment. The weather over here is cold, snowy and to much humid. So I can not spray, do custom make up and at -20 degrees it is hard to take photos outdoors. I have some plans to make new clothes though. At the moment my dolls are sitting nearby my working station and they keep me good company.

5. Have any of your friends/family joined the hobby because they got to know it through you?

No, but they all support me and show their interest when I start to talk about dolls - new or old ones. My oldest daughter had a time when she looked at dolls (bjd) and had plans to start, but she felt that she could not really connect in the way she wanted. She ordered some shoes and a wig, though, and gave them to me. The day she changes her mind, the shoes and the wig will be there for her doll. My youngest daughter have her monster high doll collection.

6. Is there something or someone in particular that inspires your aesthetics, background stories, etc?

Mostly my fantasy and things I see and feel. It can be another doll collector, a photographer, a story I read, a movie I saw. 

7. Do you share your doll or doll photos with people outside the hobby?

Yes, I do. I have a Flickr account where I share my photos of my dolls and when people visit us they can see all the dolls I have, because they all are openly displayed. Or when I visit some relatives I  have a doll with me that I put somewhere nice to be seen. I know that some people can feel that dolls are scary and awkward, so those places I try do avoid bringing a doll along. Don't want to spook them. 

8. Is any of your dolls based on yourself or a person you know?

No, not really. There is a bit of me in every doll because I have created the personalities. A little piece of my nationality, my taste in food, music or other genres.

9. Do you have a favorite doll/figure from another persons collection? Would you own the same doll/figure?

There is a other collector who owns a LUTS doll, a Delf MIYU with sparkling blue eyes, rainbow colored hair and pastel kawaii clothes. The doll is beautiful and I would be happy to own a doll like that. 

10. Three things you like about yourself?

I'm nice, I can cook...aa..and that sounds rather dull. The things I have heard others say about me is that I'm trustworthy, calm and have a crazy sense of humor. But the things I like about myself is that the older I get, the more self-esteem I get, the more self-confident I get (not in a bad way, being all stupid and "I-know-better-than-you-kind-a-way") and these two things makes me grow and be a better person. Not that I always succeed having a Finnish temper, but I am so much calmer now.

11. Anything you have learned in this hobby you wish you knew before joining?

That it is addictive! Hahaha!

And my questions for you are:

1. What is the last picture you took with your phone or camera?

2. Best compliment you have received?

3. What are your plans for your doll(s) this year? New wigs, clothes, new dolls?

4. What is your perfect pizza?

5. Which doll would you get if you could, not matter what? Why?

6. What kind of music do you listen to?

7. What cheers you up?

8. What is your favorite word and why?

9. Have you ever felt that your hobby is too much and that you do not connect well with your dolls?

10. You are going for a trip, a week long, and you can only take ONE doll with you. Which one and why?

11. What's your earliest childhood memory? 

And I would love to give this award to (and have you already received it from elsewhere, that is OK - just send me a smile and be happy!):

Crystal
Musume
Xaya

Helene
Elina

Gooliope!

It is Friday and weekend is here! I am sitting here after our dinner, pasta carbonara, and just surfing the net. The girls have survived the week at school and hubby is still at work - he will be home later this evening. 

On Wednesday I took the bus to the city with the girls. The younger one had her lesson at the theatre and the older one wanted to come with, because she had seen a t-shirt at H&M that she wanted. Luckily she found it. I was on a hunt too. Had not so much hope to getting lucky, but it is almost always fun to go looking in shops.

In her box

It was about 6 months ago I saw the Monster High Gooliope Jellington at Toys r us and my first thought was that she is huge! That day I just looked around and made some future plans when it comes to the collection I have with Monster and Ever After. But after that this Gooliope have grown in my mind and when we came home from the cottage I started to look after her in stores, mostly on the internet. 

She can not hide!

Sold out. Nothing in stock. Nothing at the supplier. So, I thought that she will not be in my collection. It felt rather sad, but I gave it a last try in the city knowing that I have two toy stores there. At the first one, they had almost nothing and surely no Gooliope. Tired after being in the city for some hours walking around and shopping other things (thread, limo and so on) I said to my oldest daughter that let's take a look at the odd toyshop and....

She is home

....lucky me! There she was! But just a few! And on sale! What a feeling. Contacted my hubby and said that I found her! Oh my, buy! was his answer! 

You will meet her, again, later on. 

Two dolls

As often as I can, I check the doll sites that I favor. Lately it has not been so much of that, because I have been at the cottage and at my mother-in-law. I have made som quick visits and found some cuties.

Most beautiful Catish Girl. Picture from Dollmore.

The first one that caught my eyes was a Dollmore Catish Girl Doll - kaleidoscopically : Dreaming Reaa, a doll limited to 20 editions world wide (of course, my luck). During my years in this hobby, I have not really been interested in dolls with animal character, but this one just hit me with her beauty. There is something with her soft face, with that orange hair and the sheer that glows from her. So, this little beauty is on my wish list.

Lucid, a Mokashura Boy. Picture from Dollmore.

The next one was not something I wanted when it was released at Dollmore, a Mokashura Boy -Lucid. He is pretty, but I have always had a thing for girl dolls. But my hubby thought he was just beautiful and told me that it would be a good addition to my collection. Well, a surprise there! Did not see that coming. I have been looking, reading and I have been thinking. This doll have grown on me and I really can se him as a part in my resin family. I have a Mokashura Girl Normal - Duyou (Noomi), so he could be a brother or maybe a boyfriend. Who knows. But he is on the list too, now.

It is Thursday, so a little trow back here.
Me sitting on a table, pausing from gardening.
My husband and his father (may he rest in peace)
on a visit at Loka Brunn.
Taken in the 90's-something.

Otherwise it has been a calm and nice summer. Most of the time we have been at the cottage or at my mother-in-law. I am there right now and we will be here for about a week, while my hubby is working. Hope that you are enjoying your summer!

Glittery hearts....

You know the feeling, when you browse the net just for fun and of course the places where they have all the dollies and you suddenly stumble over something that just takes your breath away. And you mind starts to travel far away in the dollie-land, with no contact with the real world?

Maybe a Phebe, if she would be mine.
Picture from Dollmore.

This happened to me the other day, when I visited Dollmore. They released a new Lusion Doll - Drawing Elenoir. My head popped and got filled with glittery hearts.

I saw her, in my mind, among the trees and stones near our cottage. Her wild hair blowing in the wind, she was on a mission. On a mission to find the faun she spotted some days earlier and she had her painting-stuff with her. No camera is good for her, she likes to paint it. While she is searching for the faun, she picks flowers and puts them in her hair. She sings a song or maybe she recites, whispering, her favorite poem. In the forest she is in her favorite element. Where ever she goes, there is a shining light - soft and warm. She is humble, artistic and merciful. And she listens to the name Phebe, meaning shining and pure.

Snow

I am sitting in our kitchen and it is late evening over here in Sweden. It is silent and I thought I could post some lines here before I go to bed. It has been a gray day - cloudy and the solar eclipse just made it more darker. I did not see it, just felt the difference between dark and darker. And it has been raining almost the whole day. Until now. 

Snow. 

But as my mother-in-law says: "What has to come down, must come down".

It is like this over here. Snow when we are waiting for spring time and hard rain when we want to celebrate the Mid Summer Eve. So, we should not be surprised at all.

This weather did not make me want to go out to take photos, so I have been surfing the net. Found out that Dollmore are selling Blythe dolls. I was so happy about that! I have been drooling over those cute ones and even the tan Mokashura doll. So many dolls and so little time. I found my favorite one and two, though, when it comes to the Blythe dolls. On the Facebook site for Dolly Adoption, I have found many customized dolls especially Blythe. Cuteness for the eyes. 

I can hear the windy weather outside the kitchen window. It feels nice to be indoors. And now it is closing time so...

...goodnight.

What do you mean?

One Bratz doll that I got from the kids.

It was hard to get rid of the ordinary hair.

I took some colored yarn and put in two straws in every hole.

When I see these well done face ups and hair-do's on the internet, I wonder what it would feel and look like if I just gave it a try. I did not want to buy a new doll and then mess it up, even if that was my first thought. So I asked the girls if I could get one of their dolls. They have not been playing with those for ages, even if the younger one collects Monster High Dolls - so I thought I had one doll in just seconds. It took a while. They did not really want to let one of their dolls go. I understand them and promised that I will do my best and they will get it back. When I joked that I will sell them, the oldest (!) daughter said:

-Sell them?? What do you mean with that? SELL them?

Well, that was not popular. Said that it will not happen. If I sell some, it will be my own dolls.

Hope that I will get the spray soon, so that I can start to do the face up. Poor thing do not see a thing.  

It must have been a crazy sight

Those who live close to me know that I have a crazy thing going on for dolls. It was a pleasure when the kids were small to go into the toy store, local or outside the small metropolis we live in. I remember as well when I bought our oldest daughter's first Bratz. They had not been around that long on the market when she wanted one. I remember also how I went to the shopping centre with my grumbling mother with me, who said it was too early and our daughter probably would not understand.

I found the doll, lucky me. Bought it, went home to rest of the family who were waiting at home with my father. In the living room the eldest daughter sat and played with the things she had picked a long for a weekend with Grandma and Grandpa. When she saw me, the toy bag and what I lifted out, she shined like a star. It was one of her happiest moments and believe it or not, the doll is still alive, almost 10 years later. Bruised and shaggy head fastened with glue, but alive.

These dolls were criticized a lot considering how they reflected an unrealistic ideal, when it comes to how girls look or should look. Materialism the crowds shouted, while Bratz defended themself by saying that the girls were of different backgrounds, ethnicity and they were confident.

Ever After High.

Today it is the Monster High dolls which are on top. Our youngest daughter is overjoyed and has her own small collection of Draculauras and Frankie Steins. I probably shined as a star when I was using social media in the world (BJD, abjd, bjds as hashtags) and found these two beauties in the photo (above), Ever After High. Wanted to know more about them and hoped that they would be for sale near me. And they were. I visited the toy store at the shopping centre and took the first one I liked the most, Madeleine Hatter (Alice in Wonderland, Mad Hatter's daughter in this case) and when I saw that the store clerk took a pile of dolls and went away, my first reaction was:

"Oh my God, now they disappear!"

So I grabbed the Apple White too and said "she is coming too." My husband wondered if the dolls were being moved to another place in the store and the store clerk confirmed it and I replied "you can never be sure."

Yes, it must have been a crazy sight.

Big dolls! Or small ones?

Picture from Dollmore.
A Trinity doll and a Narsha doll.

When I ordered my first doll, a 35 cm tall Narsha from Dollmore, I thought that she was rather big for a doll compared to my early Barbies and Sindys. But during the time I have been interested in ball jointed dolls, I have learned the difference between small, normal and big sized dolls. 

So, my two - or maybe even my three dolls, are small. Narsha doll was designed in 2004 and have a rather "young" body. Or maybe I should say that she is in her early teenage. Anyway, she is just gorgeous and the Narsha doll is my favorite, just perfect. She is made by the korean artist Gu mi-jeong, who belongs to the Korea Ball Jointed Doll Association. 

Lately Dollmore have released several new dolls, big ones. It is a Trinity doll, 105 cm tall and with a weight around 7 kg. I have never owned a big doll, so I can not say what the good or bad sides are. My biggest doll is a Dollmore Mokashura, 40,5 cm, and she is like a little baby. It is okay to work with her - poses, clothes and so on, but the head can at times be rather heavy. I have even heard this about the Lusion doll (79-80 cm), that the head is heavy and the body at times can be hard to pose.

At the moment I am looking for a smaller doll, not higher than 25-26 cm. FairyLand has cute PukiFee dolls, that are small. A doll that size would be perfect to have in a small bag and carry around on trips and so. I am even looking for some dolls to learn how to do a face up. I thought that it would be best to learn on dolls like Monster high or Barbies.

Doll-surfing

To sit on a calm evening, during the weekend – or on other days too – and surf on doll shop pages is something I like to do. It is always wonderful to see new dolls, get inspired when it comes to the fashion and different photo shoots and even tutorials. In the beginning of my interest I often looked at different pages and wished I could order a special doll.

One of my fave dolls are Amy with B-type make up or Lonnie (B-type) and even Bonnie (A-type) or Serca (A-type). I have not shopped from Iplehouse, at all, and mostly I have heard good reviews about the place – with quick service and nice people. So far I have been doing my shopping at Dollmore, and there I know what I get and what I can expect. I am more than pleased. From there I would not say no to a Narsha Girl – Encre Violette or a Mokashura Doll.

Right now I am just dreaming of a smaller (26 cm and down) doll. It will be interesting to see what I may find. I have even been thinking about a Blythe doll and I think it is only a matter of time before I breakdown and get one. There is something strange, but even cute, about these dolls with oversized heads and eyes. Creepy and at the same time aaaw, look at that cuteness.

Well, the future will let us know how things end up. Have a happy weekend!