My Doll Haven

Everyone Needs Playtime

In our hectic, modern lives, many of us focus so heavily on work and family commitments that we never seem to have time for pure fun. Somewhere between childhood and adulthood, we stopped playing.

When we carve out some leisure time, we’re more likely to zone out in front of the TV or computer than engage in fun, rejuvenating play like we did as children. But play is not just essential for kids; it can be an important source of relaxation and stimulation for adults as well.

There doesn’t need to be any point to the activity beyond having fun and enjoying yourself. By giving yourself permission to play with the joyful abandon of childhood, you can reap oodles of health benefits throughout life.

Thursday

Bad Hair Day

Today I was up bright and early and I decided after recent efforts, I would stay away from the 'puter and get some more sewing done. Even after my recent clean up, I still have fabric all over the place.

Then the NBN tech arrived to connect the inside of the house, only to find the outside had still not been rectified . . . it's a long story that's been going on since December.

Pushing that aside and all the time hoping I could calm myself down, I thought to myself . . . I will just take a peek to see who's done what in the blogasphere . . . and here I am three hours later still sitting at my desk typing away!

I did manage to prepare a couple of dolls for a photography session . . . but of course wouldn't you know it . . . before I could actually begin taking any photos, the camera needed charging!

This was not a good start. Ruddy hell, I felt like pulling my hair out, except I recently had it cut short . . . and I mean really, really short!

All grumbling done, I do have a little bit of dolly news though. I wanted to find myself a doll that would fit into some clothes that I'd made a long time ago, as they were too nice to throw out. The doll needed to be a little on the chubby side, as the clothes were originally made for a teddy bear. So after a little research, I found this one, which I think/hope will do nicely.

She is a Spanish doll made by Antonio Juan, and available from Petalina Dolls in the UK. I will provide more details once she arrives.

Well so much for good intentions, however, a new post is written. So now I will finally begin sewing . . . now let's see what should I start first? Mmm, I think the new project . . . yep, it's definitely the new project that's calling me the loudest. What goes on inside this head can be quite amazing at times, though you certainly wouldn't want to visit me in here, it's sooo darn noisy! LOL!!

Cheers all, have a great weekend!

Friday

Seduced

In November of 2016, I discovered Dianna Effner's 13" Little Darling dolls. Normally, I wouldn't have paid a great deal of time looking at vinyl dolls after being an avid BJD collector and accumulating eighty of them over the past few years. Yet, when I saw them on the internet I felt such a strong attraction to these dolls and continued to Google them.

I soon learned that although Dianna had sculpted the original dolls and hand painted the vinyl dolls faces, there were other artists trained by Dianna, who also painted them. As I continued to search I soon found which dolls I thought I wanted to own, but it was going to take a long time to bring any of them home.

Dianna was not taking orders at the time and from all indications the wait for one of her dolls would drive me to distraction, and should one come up on her website, the price would be way beyond what I would be prepared to pay for a vinyl doll, no matter how good it was or who painted it.

I almost went ahead with this doll (a #1sculpt), but the wait was just far too long, so long in fact I figured I'd probably not be around to enjoy her.

This is another that I would have loved to bring home . . . a #2,

and this #3 one too, but alas such is life. I'll just admire them from afar and enjoy the dolls I have. :)

And for something a little different . . .

. . . here's a couple of recent arrivals in new cardigans that I knitted. :)

Do You Crochet?

After a little excursion to the "yarn department" in my studio yesterday, I made myself a little Amigurumi bear. For those who have never heard of this before, Amigurumi is the Japanese art of knitting or crocheting small, stuffed yarn creatures. It is a really enjoyable diversion from sewing and a convenient way to cull my wool stash!!

This is my first attempt and although a little loosely crocheted, it will do for the purpose it was made. I can see this becoming almost as addictive as sewing and knitting . . . but not quite. I don't think any craft will completely entice me away from the things I am most passionate about.

My hair was in desperate need of attention, so a visit to the hairdresser was on my agenda, however, deciding whether to cut or curl is always a real dilemma for me, in the end I decided to cut so I don't get a hot head when the warmer weather finally arrives! Do you ever have that problem?

Have a great weekend whatever you are doing!

Hugs,