Constant Craving

I haven't been that thrilled with the latest Blythe dolls. Peony is cute but way too expensive for a girl in pajamas. I've been trying to snag an Ichigo Heaven anyway and they are too similar. All I have done with Mod Molly since I got her is torture her with customizations. Her head is in pieces on the coffee table right now actually. But this little lovey? Miss Sally Rice! Blue hair, kitty dress, and maryjane shoes? I simply cannot resist her. To my delight (and my responsible, reasonable inner adult's horror) the next one in line is Bow Wow Trad who has a dog in a skirt and tam. Yes, I said the dog was in the skirt. And the girl. She looks a lot like Night Flower who I have already but she has awesome turquoise eyes and A DOG IN A SKIRT and A HAT. Make way, girls, we're getting two new roomies.

Unhappy Hands

Margot the Moth Girl. I haven't had the hand stamina to do much felting lately. I have a little pile of heads sitting on my felt board waiting for bodies. Margot the Moth Girl finally came to life tonight after a long time flitting about in my head.

Dal House

My Dal duo- Calyx (Monomono) and Sakura (Sooni). Who will join the Plastic family next? There is a pink haired Dal coming soon and one with a sweet kimono and two limited Blythes who look quite promising.

OMG.

OMG OMG OMG. I got my new Dal Sooni today and she is Supa Cute! My little Blythe girls have come competition. I don't anticipate taking her apart and repainting her face and stuff but she is just too adorable to resist. Her eyes move left and right rather than blinking. Her hair isn't as nice as some stock Blythe hair and it's a little wonky right now but I'll give her some styling. I couldn't find any comparisons for size between Blythe and Dal and I was worried she would be smaller. Eeeh! She's soo cute! Okay, that's enough of that. I'm going to have problems since there are at least two others who are right at the top of my list now. Gonna have to start selling organs or something.

Birthday Booty

I was a lucky girl yesterday! I finally got Squiggly Squirrel all the way from Japan (remember her?)! Mum also sent me another Momiji called Rainbows and a pair of flip flop socks with little froggies on them. These were a hit with the knitting crew last night.

Then I decided I needed to just go ahead and splurge on the rest of the linens to match my comforter. While I was trying to make the bed I was opening packages and laying things out. I went to pick up one of the pillow shams and oddly it would not move. Well, guess who had moves in and made a little nest? Tanga was not happy when I dumped her out and replaced her with a pillow but quickly went to work burrowing around under the blanket as her next endeavor. So much for a fresh new bed.

Imaginary Friends

Poke, poke, poke. Listening to Bjork has got me making more little nymphs and woodsfolk again.

Call Doll-ANON

As if I needed another thing to spend my money on or another thing to start collecting I just discovered Momiji dolls. While searching for more kokeshi I happened upon Momiji which are modeled after kokeshi but are made to appeal to a modern, younger audience rather than art collectors. Each one is a little character with a story. Check out momijishop.com to see all the little cuties and other kokeshi stuff like mugs and bags. I am not going to admit how much money I have already dropped on these. They are just too sweet to pass up. Hopefully before I end up living in an alley with a bag full of dolls people will start feeling the same way about MY little creations.

Lovely Little Ladies

My eight beautiful kokeshi dolls. After I had three I decided I needed to get a shelf. Now I need a bigger shelf.

Mouse is so Last Season!

Omygod, Blythe is putting out a Petite called Squiggly Squirrel in February! See, it's not just me (and Dale) who are nuts for them. Squirrels are SO hot right now!

Merry Maids

My first mermaid did so well that I wanted to get another one done. It's not hard to stay motivated to do them because they seem like really different characters with their different faces and color schemes and hairstyles. This one is names Lorelei and she's on Etsy now. Speaking of Etsy, if any of you Blogger buddies have had your eye on something in my shop I will give you free shipping through the end of the year. Send me a convo through Etsy mail when you order saying that you saw it here and I will send an updated invoice. I am actually getting my shopping started at a reasonable date this year. You should too, hint hint!

A Gem in the Desert

Please excuse my absence. I took a much needed break from things here but I did bring you back some exciting things. I visited the Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe for the first time. Odd that I have lived so close to this gem my entire life and had not been there. What originally caught my attention is a current exhibit called Needles and Pins: Textiles and Tools. The exhibit traces the origins of textiles across cultures throughout time. There are astounding examples of knitting, weaving, tatting, and embroidery. There are some pieces that truly took my breath away with their beauty. The exhibit isn't very large but it is worth a trip even if that is the only thing you have time for.
Additionally we spent hours on the permanent Girard Foundation Collection. The collection was all donated by one couple and is remarkably huge. Most exciting to me was finding a small set of kokeshi dolls and an Ada Lum doll among the treasures. There are so many cultures represented and all different art forms. There are a ton of dolls and small figurines and toys, whole little armies. We finally realized that the sun had shifted significantly in the sky and we should see what time it was. About four hours had passed and we had only made it through about half of the museum. What a phenomonal place to find inspiration and feel ready to get back to making my own things with a renewed spark. Needles and Pins runs through April 13. Highly recommended.

Green Goat Hair

I haven't had a lot of time to post here the past week. Here are a couple of things that have been keeping me busy. I am trying to finish up my first Blythe mohair. The first time I saw one of these I knew I had to have one. I love mohair. I love Blythe. Blythe + mohair = big love. I decided on doing her in my two favorite colors, pink and green, and have done a couple of her eyes and her mouth too. I ran out of mo so I had to send off for more from Australia and for now her scalp is stuck on with pins. While doing this Tanga would not let me be, so knowing that the doll scalp fits on the cat's head I had to give it a go. I think she looked better with the blue hair. The cats appear to be drawn the goaty smell of it which may prove to be perilous for this little dolly... And one bonus pic of Daisy with a strawberry because everybody loves cute animal pictures.

I Want Candy

It's waaayyy too early in the morning for photos but Tanga and I had to show you our new friend. Blue hair! Ah, how lovely!

She's Older Than Me

My first kokeshi doll got here from Japan. She's probably from the 50s or so. The new ones have nice lacquer painting on them but the vintage ones are usually cheaper, quirkier, and have nice patinas from being old. She's cute, huh?

Hello

My newest LPR (little plastic roommate), Hello Harvest. She same with stock minty green eyes and wee little cowboy boots. No name as of yet. She's still shellshocked from spending 20 days in the mail.

Discovery

I have discovered another type of doll that I am smitten with. They are Japanese Kokeshi. Some are antique children's toys from as early as 1880 but they make modern ones too. There are master artists who carve and paint them and then compete with different themes and things (think "Spring" or "Happiness"). Good thing: Cheaper than Blythe, individual art, handmade. Bad thing: Love a ton of them. No more room in house.

I've Been Bad

I had put a stop on all doll buying for at least a few weeks. But then I got an email that someone I had thought about buying some Ddungs from was liquidating their collection and selling them 2 for 1. In the US. That means no $20 shipping charge from Korea or China. Got two more. Oh, you might also note (along with the fact that it appears that I have no shirt on which I actually do) that my hair is considerably more maroon. And just to add a bit to this rambling my cutie pie little fox on Etsy sold and is going to Helsiki! I'm going international! Oh, and also, I have had too much caffeine today too.