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Showing posts from 2014

Transition Time *,*

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Well for the the 6th time in the 12 years that I've lived in AZ, I'm on the move. Time for a new address, for so many reasons...but I'm also breaking in a new phone. My old phone was 3 years old and on it's last leg. I loved that little phone, but the future waits for no "grandma" :-D Any way...I don't know how to blog on my new phone-yet. I found a little pack of " BARBIE " accessories @ Walmart for $2.44. a pair of shoes, pair of sandals-turquoise, they need paint,but cute; a purse and jewelry. I don't have pictures. but I can't wait to get up and running again and show off my finds. See ya next year...Let's all have a fantastic 2015! Thanks for hanging in there w/me *,* nyw I don't own this drawing, and hope the artist doesn't mind if I use it, cause I love it .

Four MY SCENE DOLLS

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All dressed, but not shoes. Their hair needs to be restyled, but that is to be expected. New to my collection is the "tan" blonde. Her hair sandy blonde/light brown and she has much softer makeup than my platinum blondes ones and her skin is also light brown.

Beautiful, unique face

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She is obviously the Egyptian Barbie. Her hair is crimped, to look like braids. But that face was worth $3. :-)  Uniquely lovely.

Check out what I found...and had to leave @ the thrift store today:-(

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A whole tribe of BRATZ dolls. Oh my...I don't even collect them. But seeing so many, fully dressed- shoes/feet and all. And look at her ice skates...I had to call my daughter for the strength to just walk away. Had to take this picture so that I could share my sorrow- I know boo whoo but you have to admit the boys are cute. Just not in the budget right now. Especially since I do collect MY SCENE dolls, and I found three more "Madisons" and a new face I don't know. (Pictures up soon). I love the thrift store...sometimes*,*

Don't you just love a "vintage" pattern?

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Vintage inspired reprint,anyway. Super cute jumpsuit:-)

Saw this at Hobby Lobby

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even though these are ornaments...I think any "Ken" would love to have them in his tool belt. I'm starting to regret NOT getting this when I saw it last week. If I'm out that way, I'll have to spring for the $4...regular $7.99 *,*

Inside the school

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look how B.B. (baby bratz) is paying attention, right up front... There's Taylor (HSM) showing off again, before the teacher even asks the question... and just what is Sharpay (HSM)-don't like that name...need a new on-how about Shayla- about to do? Text and tweet, then she'll eat :-D

Colin and Karren

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So the story was going to be about this family that opens a school and the adventures that ensue...really adventures? Nope. I was married for a while, so domestic life doesn't fascinate me, I lived it, no need for the dolls to suffer...laugh w/me :-)  I don't want to build a "house". Kitchens and bathrooms have so much detail, that if done poorly-just not cute, ya know? And kids at play, not-so-much ;-p I already made a preschool/daycare full of all the babies I've found at thrift stores all over Arizona-old post-not doing any version of that again.  I have built one High School class room with the desks I found at the thrift-super cute. Just have to take a picture that does it justice. And my two little girls (Amari and Alexandria,the baby) match "MYSCENE" Madi  perfectly, and I have 13 of those. So teen life awaits. Long list of "what I'm not going to do", now I need a list of what I am going to do...right? The bare bones exist, but no

My boxed "Orange Blossom"

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I found her around the time my first grand daughter was born 8 years ago, and never really had a reason to take her out of the box...until now. She's going to be in the "diorama". I know,photo story was a bit too ambitious for my first try. And now that I have two grand daughters, I'm sure they will be excited to see her set free, so they can try to convince me the she should go home with them :-D

First things first...Hats off to all of you creative people who do PHOTO STORIES!!!!

Oh my, this is harder than I thought. The ideas are easy...my head is full of them, all the time. Good ones and not so good ones;especially when I'm trying to do something else. Dolls are on my brain. But the execution...you people are geniuses-and I'm not quite there-yet :-D  Once again thank you for the inspiration and on w/the show *,*

First Photo Story- About Colin and Karren

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Wedding Day-so it begins...

Still looking for inspiration or "How I gave my girl a Marley Weave"

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Before... Since PR-Threads and All-Stars are just not doing it for me this time. Those kids fill time, but are kids after all. And the "All-Stars" are all smoke and mirrors. It makes me wonder how many they had to ask before these showed up? And the creations that win the challenges, for the most part, just make me wonder what in the world is going on over @ LIFETIME? So I'm still hunting for the spark of life to my creativity, NEVER GIVE UP...NEVER SURRENDER*,* After: now she's my "Marie Antoinette". I put the "Marley" in my own hair and what I had left just screamed to be someplace, so here ya go :-) I braided it into her hair,since at some point, I want to be able to remove it-so no glue and no cutting; She was already so pretty w/her big 'fro and her flat feet;  I just wanted to make her opulent and regal. She's enjoying her winter garden...the beauty of sparseness...   "I wonder if there's any cake left...

"New" Mulan got a "face-up" totally by accident.

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Fresh from the thrift. First paint job. Side note...be very careful w/the acetone...brows, eyes...yikes *,* I didn't use a sealant, so once I find my single haired paint brush, this mess will be re-done:-D And her arms are articulated w/soft rubber hands. Her bendy legs are also soft, spongy rubber. I washed and conditioned her poor ratty hair. It was in bad shape. Now it's big, soft and fluffy. I think I have to give her the boil dip to straighten it out and get the shine back. I like her w/Li Shang.

Thrift Store Splurge

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I think the man is a "real" GI JOE since he has HASBRO on his bottom. He's in good shape,w/boots and gloves for hands. Mulan is well played with, and her kimono is very worn on the back; I couldn't tell that the way she was bagged. So I paid $2.99 for her, but that's o.k. Once she gets a good dip and hair redo, she'll be pretty as ever. Comparison of my two Mulan's. Open smile Mulan is 11 inches tall and is on a fully articulated body. New Mulan has hip length hair...hopefully it all survives a good brushing :-D and has a standard 10 inch "princess" body. Face comparison...open smile vs "Geisha" face *,*

My Girls say "Thank You" for making this a fun experiment *,*

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This was going to be part of my collection-assorted coats inspired by the "Rainway" challenge.  I'm not as surprised that Sean won PR this time, as I am that Char made it that far. She seems like a very stylish and creative designer,but like Heidi said-not quite ready-but hey she did make it to fashion week. So now off to find new fire for my imagination. I was hoping the new PR show "THREADS" would be interesting. But I wasn't impressed. It's kid designers, who participate in weekly challenges, each week has a different group of tweens. It seemed to me that not only the participants, but also the target audience, maybe that age. It was a cute diversion to add to my HULU queue. Hopefully it will get better, but for now I'm still searching for inspiration...thx again... NYW *,*

Look! These were at the .99cent store...

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BRATZ doll clothes...I don't even collect the footless, little dolls, but for .99, I had to get an outfit for a doll I found at the thrift a while ago. her clothes are sooo little, maybe only a MONSTER HIGH doll "might" be able to wear them. ...such cute shoes, that only fit her tiny peg legs:-D I wish I has a Dremel tool; I would hollow them out so that somebody else could wear them,  they are solid little boots. She can even stand by herself while wearing them. Then at the SAVERS, next to the .99cent store, I found this cute little girl. I think she's from HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL. So she's perfect for my growing school scenes. HEIGHT COMPARISON  and finally...these 4 desk for just 1 dollar...YEA!!! So funny how the BRATZ is the best scale for these,  Jasmine doesn't look like too much of a giant, but MOXIE girl looks so out of place.  I had not thought of doing a class room, until I found these yesterday. I lik

Episode #12-FASHION WEEK-Who's in & Who's out

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Fashion inspired by the streets of New York City. So in my mind it's Autumn, and getting cold back east...it's still 90 degrees here...so I imagine my girl wearing a belted sweater dress over a cute skirt with boots. And her oversized purse to carry her life in.You never know what you may need or when or where:-) So this episode was a shock...AGAIN...since Chaketa is going to FASHION WEEK , and Emily went home for doing the same thing that Amanda has been praised for doing; making what she likes and what is true to her aesthetic. They loved her sweater coat and still, they sent her home...whaaa? So anyway, I'm kind of scared to say I'm "safe". Maybe I'm the "back-up" designer, the wild card to throw off the paparazzi :-D It's going to be a 2 part finale, so I might have time to make 12 looks, but that's a lot... I'll just see what direction my creativity takes me and I just might see you @ FASHION WEEK*,*  

Episode #11- Highest Bidder

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This was one of those infamous team challenges, where the designers had to bid on 5 different storage units. Even though the doors were opened for the bids, they couldn't see everything inside. So I took the liberty of going to the the dollar store for three random items and my "storage unit" contained a pink rag rug, a book cover and some shower scrubbies.   So I made three dresses. accented w/the scrubbies;which I thought was going to be like tulle, but it is not at all! It's stretchy, and fragile...but you have to "Make it Work":-D So as my fabric item I made and embellished a fleece coat, trimmed w/the book cover and a little of the scrubbie on the necklace.  I think I would be safe since my girls can walk in their 80's inspired club dresses and my collection tells the story of a girl who likes to party. I was surprised that Korina went went home, but it was her hubris that sent her home, not her lack of talent...just my 2 cents*,* 

Episode #10- Muse on the Street

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For this challenge the contestants had to convince a stranger off the street to get a make over, from MaryKay cosmetics, and to model their garment. So off I go to meet my stranger-at the thrift-and wouldn't know it not a doll to be found. I went to 3 stores in my area and found only raggedy, chewed beyond belief dolls, who were not coming home w/me. So I dug through my box to find a doll I was never going to use, and thought of even donating back to the thrift. And here she is before and after. Her name is Dani and she just arrive in New York, from Los Angeles to meet her fiance's family. She wanted to tone down her party girl look, so she got a new haircut and face re-paint, and a conservative animal print dress. And since Char didn't go home for that terrible, grown -up onsie...I'm safe once again:-D what's with these tasteless rompers they keep sending down the runway? Just asking*,*

Episode #9-American Girl Doll

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I wasn't able to get my 18in doll out of storage ( I love the faces on the MADAME ALEXANDER dolls-I have 6 in storage), so I used this MOXIE girl I did a repaint on a couple of years ago. The AMERICAN GIRL doll line is going through a transition so they are re-introducing some of the characters w/modern stories. I felt that the little girl my dress is for would love to read, be artsy and craftsy ; have a vibrant imagination. She would see herself in every girl, and want to explore that world...and then move on. Hey the beauty of being a 12 year old girl:-) So I used lots of color, w/ a tulle overlay on the skirt and bows on the sleeves. And since Sandyha went home for her big onsey, with snap tape down the back no less, I'm sure I'd be safe. *,*

Episode #8-The "Rainway"

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This was the "avant garde" challenge...sponsored by the giant, curved TV, but inspired by the wet run way. Using water-proof textiles and a "wow" from every angle.  It took me 2 1/2 viewings on HULU to fully understand that. And since I didn't want to make the same mistake as Fade w/his TV dress (which I thought was much cuter than Sandhya's circus outfit) Anyway...I let the water be my guide. I used 3 grocery bags; had to find usable area w/no print. and once I really started to cut and handle it, the bags reminded me of those silly rain bonnets that came in their own little pouch when I was a child. Same crinkle and everything:-) I should have painted the pieces BEFORE I assembled them, but  I still like how it came out. Front and back...kinda looks like "the queen of hearts" only yellow. Made me wish I had not recycled those "BEST BUY" bags, this would have been pretty in blue and white. I only had to buy paper, for .97 cents (since

I couldn't help myself...

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I fell down the "Sparkle Girl" rabbit hole right in the middle of my PR challenge:-D So many cool posts on other blogs...so many cute pictures...I got caught up. Oh man ! I didn't want to be left out of all the fun. So I took the plunge and bought two fashion outfits-hey $1.97 a girl can treat herself ,right? The outfits fit the smaller 10inch Disney Princess dolls beautifully, but the shoes are too big. I don't have a doll with feet the right size for these shoes. But they don't look bad and they will be great to paint eventually. These packs are a great, economical way to fill out a store display or fill a closet. Some of the purse sets were cute as well, but I like shoes. Jasmine and Snow White can't wait to go back to school on Monday and show off their new outfits*,*

Episode #7 Priceless Runway

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This dress is mint green micro suede, w/a tulle wrap to match her "rhinestone" necklace.I think I'll call it peridot :-) I did a little light ruching  on the front of the dress. I wanted to make it more sculptural, and hopefully not "tortured" as Zac Posen would say. I thought that almost everyone did a good job this challenge,and that Samantha should have been safe. But since she wasn't,I'm calling me ...safe*,* After a long week...for me...not the doll...I was tired; so she's sitting on w/work table.

Episode #6-Rock The Wedding

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I wanted to do my "unconventional bride" inspired by traditional African wedding wear,but not be so literal with it. I also made her a matching cuff, The reception outfit made me think of wedding trousseaus of the past, when the bride had a travel outfit she changed into at the the end of the festivities. So it's a blouse w/matching slacks and a belt made from the salvage edge of the wedding dress. I'm happy with it and since the ugly yellow craziness got sent home...I'm sure to be safe:-D And yes I realize that waist "corsage is a bit much;-P 

Episode #5- First Try

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Her face repaint came out really nice, but this dress would have made "NINA" question my talent and my taste level:-D