Project: Doll body

Esther

Gaah, did not really know what I was thinking when the idea of making a jointed body for my Narsha (Esther) head entered my mind. I bought some nice clay and searched for my tools, so that I could work with it. This was a great plan, until it was time to start.

Jolly Dolly - just a magazine

A seasonal magazine, ready to embrace You, Dolls and the Holidays of Autumn

Last night I browsed on the doll blogs and found a great post at Xanadu Dolls, "Did You Know?". And of course I wanted to join this fun "meme" to celebrate the ongoing season - with First Day of Autumn, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Pumpkins! And the 17 years of the modern BJD.

I would love to see your magazine cover too! Let me know if you take this "meme". Here are some thoughts, that I copied from Xanadu!

1. You need to think of a name for your magazine.

I named my magazine "Jolly Dolly", because the doll hobby is very fun and something to enjoy. 

2. Choose a theme 

Autumn and the festivities that we celebrate during this season.

3. Take an appropriate photo using your own BJD's.

Zipporah is the cover girl with a fabric soft pumpkin made by my youngest daughter, a big pumpkin painted by my oldest daughter and some oats. She is sitting by one of our windows, down stairs. Esther is posing for the article about fashion for Autumn and Halloween.

4. Use your own editing programme (let us know which one you used).

I used Moldiv and PicMonkey, two apps on my iPhone and computer, with lots of stickers and extras.

5. Most of all . . . have fun!

This was fun! Let's do one for Christmas, Easter, Summer......too! Hehe, anyway - it was a great break this day.

Gooliope

My first photo of her, in the box.

She came home with me on the 23rd September 2015. I had been in the big city shopping and at the same time I searched for this odd and big Monster High doll. The first time I saw her, I thought that she was too big with her 17 inches and too pink, but with time I started to like her more and more.

And yes, she is pink and tall. Her legs started to bother me and I felt that they were too long for the rest of her body. So I took the saw and fixed that. 

Don't ask. :) Here she is with the model filler on, the gray parts, first layer. 

26 things about me

I found this at ”Crystal.P!nk” and  thought that it was a wonderful meme. It gives a chance to learn something new about me. If you take the meme (I hope you do), let me know - I wanna read it. I have mixed characteristics and things that I am interested in, in my answers.

Arachnophobic - What is normal with eight legs? Nothing. And they run so fast and you can hear the bigger ones legs scratch the floor, wall and roof when they run. The tiny ones I can handle, but the bigger ones - no way. When a spider is on me, I look like a wind mill in a storm.

Baker - Cakes and cookies! Pies! Yummy, love to make them and especially eat them!

Candy lover - This is something that does not work with the next thing on this meme. But thankfully there is some alternatives, those without sugar.

Diabetic - I got diabetes in 1997 and it changed my life, to the better. I had been so sick for a long time, with aches and I had been tired. Nothing helped even if doctors searched for a reason for me being ill. Until one doctor made some tests. I got medication and are doing well today. I have my ups and downs, but mostly I’m doing good.

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. 

Too Spooky Halloween Monster Tag

It is Autumn. The nights are getting colder, the days crispier and one spooky holiday is getting near. The shops are bursting with skulls, spiders and pumpkins, crows, blinking things and all i black, red, orange and some white. And what does suit to this season, over the scary things? Well, a Halloween Monster tag! I was tagget by Musume, thank you. You can read her post here. The questions you can find in the end of this post and cope them from there, paste then into your post.

Here is my answers, take a cup of coffee, tea or maybe a glass of good lemonade and read.

Werewolf – How has the hobby “transformed” you?

I have always had a big interest in dollies. In the beginning I had Barbies, as almost anybody else. I had some Sindy-dolls too and those where the best things. Later my interest changed to ball jointed dolls and Monster high dolls. I felt that this was more me. I feel that the hobby has made me bloom, made me take more chances when it comes to making clothes, repainting and finding personalities to the dolls. When doing this, I feel that I grow, find myself and can accept things better in life. Somehow the hobby is even a way to "go away" for a while, to visit that place that makes you calm, makes you breathe and just think of happy things. 

Vampire – The dreaded sun! How do you feel about and cope with yellowing, or more generally the aging of these dolls? 

Oh my! When I got my first doll for almost 5 years ago, I had just heard about the problems with yellowing dolls and that it is something else to make the dolls "pinkish" again. Time passed by, I had my dolls out and suddenly I notice that Ester is yellowish. In the first split seconds I felt devastated and felt that I had ruined my dear doll. Talked to my hubby and he made me look at this from another point of view. It still is Ester, yellowish or not. It still is your first doll, yellowish or not and even if this felt good to hear, I was more of "gaah, what shall I do". But somehow the yellowing is a part of the hobby and she is still Esther. No one can change that. In some photos I have taken, I can see the skin being so yellow, but in other pictures that reflection makes her just beautiful. 

Frankenstein’s Monster – Have you ever modded a doll? Tell us about it! If you could magically try any mod without fear of failure, what would you like to try? 

I have never modded a doll. And if I could I would modd a little tiny one with chubby cheeks and some girly hips. Probably it would look like different pieces of clay attached to each other. Haha!

Zombie – Have you ever caught the Marketplace virus?? Name some unplanned purchases that jumped out and “infected” you?

Haha, that is me in a nut shell! Do not take me to the market at all, that is the safe thing to do. Last buy I made like this was during our summer vacation. We visited a local market with all kind of strange things - candles, towels, candy, toys....and Monster High dolls. I got two with me home! Venus McFlytrap and Lagoona. Just like that. And I am so happy that I did this! But when it comes to shopping things from BJD-companies, I do my planning.  

Skeleton – What’s your favorite body sculpt? Forget heads! 

Right now it is J's Handmade doll, Mydolling. Especially the Koo dolls. There is something special with that short and chubby doll with those short and tiny arms and feet. Just look at her! Click on the link under the photo to come to the page where she is for sale.

Little cute Koo

Witch – Name some dolls that are magical! Seeing them on your dashboard inspires you! Can be general sculpts or specific dolls owned by talented friends.

I have a place in my heart for dollhouses and dioramas. Nerea Pozo - Keera - is one of the talented artists who take wonderful photos and make adoring dioramas. And when it comes to repaints, I just love Monstertekk. These two and many more, inspire me and give me energy to try harder.

Ghost – The one that got away. Do any limited or rare dolls “haunt” you to this day?

Two of Dollmore's Dolls, a Alex Doll - a Sediment Alexia and a Narsha Doll - a Narsha Girl, Enigmatic Smile These two are the two dolls that I really wanted, but I just blinked once and taa-daa - sold out! So sad.

Freddy Krueger – What is your worst doll nightmare? Has it happened or not?

To break a finger or something else while dressing them! It has not happened, yet, to me. I try to be so careful as I can. Once, during the last summer, Esther fell during a photo shoot and hit her lip on a pebble. Some of her lip color got off and both me and my oldest daughter screamed in some kind of fear. Our hearts stopped and we just stared at each other, hoping that the damage would not be too bad. Gladly it is nothing you directly notice.

Jason Voorhees – If you were gonna make Halloween costumes for your dolls (or if you plan to!) what costumes would you make?

I had some plans to make a black dress for Noomi, hopefully I can do that in good time. I bought a headband for kids with a black hat (big for a headband, perfect size for a doll) that I could use and make my Mokashura doll to a cute little witch. Otherwise the thought of making a fluffy pumpkin dress to Gooliope would be great. But as for now, they just have to do with the soft toy pumpkins my daughters made at school some years ago. Planning for Christmas....time goes fast.

Chucky (possessed doll) – Have you ever been scared of dolls or a certain doll? Be honest!

Yes! Those Dummie dolls! With creepy eyes and strange mouth. I can not handle them and every time I see one, I get the chills.

Creepy, can not handle

I tag:

Crystal, at albama.me
Helene, at The little Doll Master
Alejandra, at Fantasy Woods
Pihjalakoto, at Pihjalakoto

If you want to do this, and not have been tagged - just go for it! And if you have been tagged by someone else and made it, let me know so that I can read your post! It would be fun!

QUESTIONS:
Werewolf – How has the hobby “transformed” you?
Vampire – The dreaded sun! How do you feel about and cope with yellowing, or more generally the aging of these dolls?
Frankenstein’s Monster – Have you ever modded a doll? Tell us about it! If you could magically try any mod without fear of failure, what would you like to try?
Zombie – Have you ever caught the Marketplace virus?? Name some unplanned purchases that jumped out and “infected” you?
Skeleton – What’s your favorite body sculpt? Forget heads!
Witch – Name some dolls that are magical! Seeing them on your dashboard inspires you! Can be general sculpts or specific dolls owned by talented friends.
Ghost – The one that got away. Do any limited or rare dolls “haunt” you to this day?
Freddy Krueger – What is your worst doll nightmare? Has it happened or not?
Jason Voorhees – If you were gonna make Halloween costumes for your dolls (or if you plan to!) what costumes would you make?
Chucky (possessed doll) – Have you ever been scared of dolls or a certain doll? Be honest!

Tag: Sisterhood of the World Bloggers

I was tagged by
<3
Crystelular.
Thank you!

--- * ---

Dreamy and Drama

Do you collect anything other than dolls?

Yes, I do. Before I started to collect Ball Jointed Dolls I collected paper dolls, paper serviettes, buttons, post cards, scraps, Cherished Teddies and pebbles. Today I collect Monster High Dolls, Willow tree angels, cute cars and pebbles. I still like the other things I collected, but I do not collect them anymore. 

Why did you start a doll blog?

For 10 years ago I started to blog in Swedish about my life, politics and other happenings that could catch my interest. I had many readers and it was a joy. I even had a blog in my native language, Finnish and one in English so that I could reach many with my thoughts. Those blogs do not exist anymore due to a new start I wanted to make. I wanted to focus on the things that mattered and there was a change going on in my life and in the graphic (pixels) sites I followed. Many left that hobby and I felt that there were no point in going on. So, I started a new Swedish blog - did some cleaning and then I decided to try to focus on my dolls on a doll blog. I wanted to connect with others out there with the same hobby and share my thoughts with. In a way I wanted to crush some bias, too.

Do you have one particular doll that is the favorite in your collection?

My first BJD Esther, a Narsha Girl - Basic Sleepy Narsha will always have a big place in my heart. 

A favorite?

Your favorite doll accessory?

No, not really. I try to find something when I take photos of the dolls. It can be a berry, a soft toy, another doll and so on. But the mini Lalaloopsy is rather cute in the photos when she tags along.

My three girls. Esther in the front.

Do you know exactly how many dolls you have in your collection?
Yes, I have three.

Do you play any instruments and if so, what?
No, but we have a piano at home.

The cottage

Where is your most favorite place you've ever been?

I adore South Sweden. The ocean, the sea shore, the nature. And the lovely smell of all these things. We have a cottage here in Blekinge, near the town Karlskrona. The cottage is placed in the middle of the forest and it is so calm and relaxing to be here. 

What is your most favorite thing about yourself?

At the first glance I may seem dry and boring, but I know and those who live near me know too, that I am rather funny. One of my old class mates told me that my humour and my jokes are rather odd and crazy. Well, she said that I was a crazy girl, in a funny way. Jokes and comedy is a important part in my life, but so are even fantasy and a piece of drama. After being diagnosed with depression with anxiety, laughter is really important. Then I think that I am strong too. After going through the things I have in my life with surgeries, pain, betrayal and sorrow, I am amazed to be standing here and loving life as I do.

A good book

Favorite book or movie?
Book: Hearts in Atlantis, by Stephen King.
Movie: Gladiator, with Russell Crow as Maximus.

If you could design your own doll, what would it look like?
She would be a tiny and chubby elf, with a wild personality.

I tag:
Elina

Helene

Xaya

Questions
Do you collect anything other than dolls?
Why did you start a doll blog?
Do you have one particular doll that is the favorite in your collection?
Your favorite doll accessory?
Do you know exactly how many dolls you have in your collection?
Do you play any instruments and if so, what?
Where is your most favorite place you've ever been?
What is your most favorite thing about yourself?
Favorite book or movie?
If you could design your own doll, what would it look like?

Out doors

Took all my dolls out doors at the same time as my hubby and I took a road trip nearby where we live. Then we drove around and searched for a place to stop and place all the dolls. I was so glad that I found a sunny spot with forest, flowers and even water. Took photos of all my dolls and you can see some of the photos on Flickr and Instagram. 

Borrowed one of the girls' doll and made her all new.

Apple White, with her new pretty face.

Then I have, finally finished the first of my tries on a doll repaint. She stood naked for a long time on my desk and I almost felt sorry for her. Decided that she can not stand like this, naked and with the head beside her. So, I found some fabric and made her a simple dress and a head band. Then I went out doors, on our backyard and took some photos. Some days later I finished the Ever After High repaint too and she tagged along with the other dolls. I am rather pleased with the outcome and now I just want to make som clothes to her, that suits her face. 

It is Saturday over here, but it feels like Sunday after a late night party. And I have not even been at a party. The allergies and the pills for the allergies can make me tired. So I am glad to have a calm day with nothing special going on. Later this evening we will watch the third movie about the Hobbit's adventures. Earlier today we watched a NHL game. The Swedish hockey games are over and that was something else. I'm glad that the Växjö Lakers won! It will be exiting to follow the rest of the NHL and Stanley Cup. My favorite teams Arizona Coyotes, LA Kings and Boston Bruins are not in the game anymore, so I follow Tampa Bay Lightning, Anaheim Ducks, Nashville Predators and Chicago Blackhawks. My husband follows Rangers and Red Wings. It is fun!

Well, time to make some dinner. Have a good weekend.

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.  

I had plans....

Esther in her new short sleeved knitted jumper.

You know those days when you plan a thing and prepare for it and suddenly it is time to say good night, sleep tight? That was my day, not because of lots of unexpected matters came up, but because I have been feeling rather under the weather today. 

I woke up with a sore throat and I could not breath properly because my nose was all stuffed up. I have been blowing my nose almost the whole day. And that makes my nose sore, too. I freeze, I feel warm, I have a head ache and it feels that it gets worse every hour, even if I take medicine for it. I hope that I can sleep well and breathe too. I glad that my hubby bought nasal spray, because that helps. Hope to find a cough drop too. No luck so far. Forgot to ask him to buy it when he was at the pharmacy.

Well, I had plans to go through my dollie-stuff. Patterns, yarn, fabrics, clothes, wigs, shoes and so on. I had even plans to see if there is something I need and make an inventory list of some kind. But that did not happen.

Mostly I have been a zombie, a knitting one. And then I have watched some "24", season 6. And that is always something.

Have a great new week!

Knitting, crocheting...

Zipporah in her new hat.

Testing yarn, measures and different types of knitting.

Today I have been trying to figure out how much yarn one need to make small and cute jumpers for BJD's and it has been fun. I have som trouble with my carpal tunnel syndrome and that can be rather painful. But knitting and working with yarn, fabrics and in one way playing with my dolls, makes me calm and relaxed. My mind is just here and now - all the other things that can trouble you over the day or in life, are gone for just that moment. I have even bought a new smaller sewing machine from IKEA. I have one older thingy, that my mother-in-law gave me some years ago. Well, I have two - one is at the cottage! You never know when you want to make something!

Hope that your new week started out well!

Esther

My first doll - Esther

It was in summer 2007, when I bought my first magazine about ball jointed dolls, about the collectors and stories around all things that is about BJD. For four years and read that same magazine and collected information about where to buy, what doll to begin with and if they could delivery to a country far up north, som small and partly unknown. When I found my doll – a Dollmore Basic Sleepy Narsha, I knew that this was the place for me and I made an account and started to surf on that site. In January 2011 I made the plundge and ordered the doll. The waiting for her to be delivered was almost killing me. She arrived several weeks later and looked so beautiful. I named her Esther, from the Bible. She is special to me.

Miss the summer!

Legs and shoes

Last year, during the summer, we stayed at the cottage we have in south Sweden. I took my dolls to the forest nearby and had a photoshoot. Over there I can just take a walk on the grovel road and enjoy my hobbis – nature, photography and dolls. Over here, where I live, it is more eyes and I imagine that people think a lot when they see a 40-something-yeared mum with dolls under her arm. So, I try to avoid that and mostly take photos indoors during the season we are here. The light is not the same and because of that the photos are not always to my liking. But I have been thinking. There is a lot of beautiful nature here and I have a car, so what not do a combo of those two someday.

Hello Dollie....and world!

Zipporah and Esther.

This is my first post here. I am very excited and hope that I can in just some days make this blog more personal and give it a touch of dollies and me, myself and I. I welcome you, reader, and hope that you visit me again – soon!