Time To Think About Christmas!

Hey guys! Oh my goodness, you won't believe how much I've missed posting here. It's always been in the back of my mind to post, but then I just didn't know what to post. I am completely out of the loop of what anyone is doing in the hobby and have only been keeping connected to dolls through some bjd videos on Youtube. It's not the same as reading blogs guys, it's just not the same. So I decided, yes I am super behind on reading blogs, yes I have no idea what's going on in the hobby, and yes I have no earthly idea what I am going to blog about really, but I'm back.

I guess the thing keeping me away really is that last one. What do I blog about? What do I have to say that is impressive? I mean I can show you guys my ill attempts at sewing, but I'd be so shy about what you guys would think of it. But then again I could ask for advice on how to improve. I read an article today about asking for help from your peers, and I realized I didn't do that because I don't want to be a bother. So I've decided to ask for help when I need it and give it when I can. So that leads me on to my title. Christmas is coming!!! Yes, I know it isn't even Halloween, but I have come to realize time is passing quickly.

I came to this realization about time while writing on Squidoo. Fair warning, that link is my referral link, if you decide to write there and use my link, when you make your first 15 dollars we both get a nice extra money perk. Now, about Squidoo, I've been writing there for almost 4 months. I have a little over 50 lenses now, lenses are what they call articles there. A lot of them not so good, but they got me writing, a lot. And hey, I even got paid this month. Ladies and gents, you are looking at a gal who has made $6.08 from her writing. Actually $6.20, but Paypal deducts it's fee. No, no, don't get jealous. I worked hard for that $6.08, and it's all mine! Now what shall I spend it on?  Hummm...oh sorry, got sidetracked. So anyway, with Squidoo, if you want to get your articles viewed you need to get them being picked up by Google months in advance. Those of you who do Etsy can kind of relate to this getting things, like inventory, done way in advance. Well I started strong there at Squidoo, doing Halloween articles in July, but now I am still slowly chugging along with Halloween articles knowing they won't be picked up by Google but I have to finish them for a quest there, and Christmas is quickly approaching and I have no niche topics to write about. Ahhh!!! Well this lead me to thinking about Christmas in general.

As some of you may remember, I start out a tiny bit before Christmas sewing wardrobes for two dolls. One being my sister's and one being my mom's. Yeah, I never finished them. They are still as I left them last year. Heck, I haven't sewn a thing since then. So my goal this year is to not only finish that wardrobe, but to create a second wardrobe for them. Too much? Maybe not if I start now. Keep in mind, though, that I will also be writing for Squidoo, also trying to get my foot in at two other websites, and writing an article can take me a few hours to a few days. *faints* But I love these deadlines and the forced writing. Oh that reminds me, I forgot to mention, I'm doing Nanowrimo this year as well. *gulp* So, can I do it folks? Can I manage to achieve all these goals...plus work on losing weight? Yep, another goal I am working on, along with trying to learn how to draw.  Ahhhh!!! This post is starting to make me doubt myself. LOL! But yeah, these are the goals I have for the rest of the year. And since I am getting better at putting myself out there, I have decided to show you the pieces of the wardrobes I make as I make them. Some are already made but I think they will be getting remade as some are just not right in size or look. I'll show you those so when I correct them you can hopefully see the improvement.

So yeah, that's about it guys and dolls. I've been keeping myself busy just writing articles, hoping to make this a thing that gets me income while I continue to work on some other stuff behind the scenes here. I want to help my mom finally set up her Flickr account. I'd forgotten until the other day I set one up for her so she can set up dioramas, take pictures of them, and post them. I want to customize some Liv dolls to get back into that again. I want to sew more. Oh and I think I've decided on what my niche in doll clothing will be. That was part of the reason I never opened my shop. Everybody and their mama was making doll clothing, I wanted to make something that set me apart. I have decided on what, now I have to figure out how. LOL! Oh the joys of learning. And well, on that note, I am off! I need to go update some lenses, yeah it's not like blogging you have to keep updating the lenses. Oh, also I will be doing a layout change here, doing a layout change at my cross post blog after learning more about SEO, and I am just working on getting completely caught up and organized so next year will be a more productive year. I hope everyone is doing great, and I will talk to you soon!

Ready to fall asleep,
Chelle

Image From Free Digital Photos

Has anyone invented the 36 hour day yet?

(Source)

It seems like I just don’t seem to have time to catch up on anything lately. I’m constantly having to do something, and most of these things do not allow for multi-tasking. For example, I was working on a short story yesterday and though I could work on it while I let the ferrets out to play for an hour. Yeah, did any of you guys know that ferrets are like super at jumping? Yeah, I knew this, but I didn’t think they’d charge at my laptop, jump, grab the top, and bend it all the way back! I was so worried they’d break my hinge after the third time of doing this that I just gave up. *sigh*

Then we have my article writing itself. I’m slowly starting to make money at it, but it takes so much time to write one sometimes. I decided to get fancy with an article the other day and it literally took me all day to do with writing, finding products, and making all my html play nice together. Ugh!!!

Then of course I have ideas doll-wise I want to share with all of you and I just haven’t had the time to. One of the things I said would be ready a few weeks ago has been ready for weeks but the other thing isn’t ready and I wanted to post them together. I may just have to post them at different times so this place doesn’t become Ghost Town USA again.

Add on to this that the weather is getting blissfully cooler but this change in weather is causing me to be sleepy all the time. Then of course, still dealing with all the other stuff I was dealing with before, and well, just…*sigh*. LOL! Well I guess since that 36 hour day is still a long while off, I will just need to get my rear in gear and get organized. Yep, still working on that. I’ve never been this disorganized before. Is there any hope for me? Please  say yes!

I just recently read this article, it’s where the picture for my post came from. The author of the post is an actual author who not only writes several books a year, she homeschools her two children, and she takes care of the house and yard. She explains how to pull yourself from the Land of Crazy Disorganization to a land less cluttered with chaotic thoughts with no plan and no end in sight. Check it out if you are like me. Hopefully we will find our way out of the LOCD and can get back to a calmer way of existing. Then again maybe not, but hey, it’s worth a try.

And on that note, I have got to my lovelies. I will be back soon. I have a lot to share and can’t wait to do so. Hope all of you are doing well. Be doll hugs and smooches to you all.

Ready for bed at only 1:07 in the morning…I must be getting old,
Chelle

No Update, No Problem

OK, so yes, I know, I promised an update. But do you know how quickly a weekend goes when you have free time from writing and you want to play Guild Wars 2? Very quickly, I tell you! On top of that, it takes forever to take dolls out of their boxes. My video is longish and I need to cut it down big time. I don’t even know if anyone will watch, but it’s there for people curious about anything I bought. And now there are two more dolls I want to buy and then I swear that’s it, no more Liv doll buying…unless I find them really cheap somewhere, then all bets are off! But it doesn’t look like I will be getting to an update or working here on the blog at all until this weekend again. I have some articles due and I need to start figuring out how to promote them. I’ve started making some sales, it’s pennies and quarters still, but for being there only roughly two months, I’m not doing too bad. If you are interested in writing for Squidoo, come over and check it out, it’s fun and addictive. And hey, if your work gets noticed, you can make some money on the side.

So, since I don’t have a personal update for you, I thought I’d leave you with some interesting doll pictures I have found on the web. Warning, two of the pictures are of the same doll cut in half with exposed organs. I think it’s pretty cool, but some may see it as an ick factor.

(source)

I thought this was interesting. Barbie encouraging girls not to eat? For shame! I love little bits of “dollie trivia” likes this.

Ok, so these are the same doll, one with her hair down of course. I thought this was just so neat. From what I can gather, this is a piece of art displayed somewhere overseas. I couldn’t find much more about this picture as it was on Tumblr and making the rounds everywhere. But I had to share this. I remember when I was a little girl wondering what the inside of Barbie looked like and then wondering what it would look like if she was real. So finally seeing “both” is kind of neat.

So yeah, brief update just to let you know, nothing has been forgotten, just pushed back. Ugh! I need more time in my day!!! I have so many blogs to catch up on, I feel like I don’t know what anyone is doing lately. But I’ll update this weekend for sure and try to catch up as well. Hope all of you are doing well. I will talk to you soon. Be good until then. Bye for now.

Tired as heck and needing to write a new article tonight,
Chelle

A Sneak Peak

I couldn’t resist, I had to give you guys a tiny sneak peak of what is to come this weekend.

Tiny sneak peak. Yes, I know that I wasn’t interested in the Hunger Games Barbie doll, and I’m still not. It’s my mom’s.   But I plan on doing a review of her. She seems a lot prettier in person than her prototype pictures lead you to believe. She’s still a Barbie made to look like Katniss, but when I think about it, I was judging her on the actress and had to stop and thing she’s a character from a book.  So who am I to say this isn’t exactly what she looks like?  More later on that.  Ok my lovely peeps, I’m off, short story still needing to be finished. Talk to you lovelies this weekend. The video camera is charging as I type, can’t wait to show you all my goodies I got.   Bye for now.

Off to write,
Chelle

Hey guys!!!

Hey guys, how are you all doing? Me? Doing a lot better than a few weeks ago. I have so much to catch up on in the doll hobby, I’ve missed you guys so much, and I have a few things to share with you all. News about my things keeping me from blogging, family news updates, and a recent shopping spree that I really shouldn’t have done but future events needing past items caused it to happen. Huh? What? Yeah, I know, super cryptic, but all will be revealed soon. I’m going to do a video this weekend for you guys on the shopping spree along with some posts about what’s been going on. Like I said, I miss you guys and I have so many blogs to catch up on. I am working on getting all your links into a blog RSS reader so I can be updated through that. I know, I’m the last one to do it, but I’m a natural late bloomer.   Ok, gotta go, I have a short story to work on and get done by tomorrow at midnight, more on that later.  Bye for now guys, I hope all of you are doing well.  Big  dollie hugs and kisses from me. Take care.

Glad to be back,

Chelle

Happy Birthday To Me

So, the day is almost over for me, but I had to quickly pop on a say hi. Today is my birthday and I am exhausted from taking care of my new present.  Go here if you are curious what it is.  I am so ready for bed now.

In other news, I will be updating you all on some stuff tomorrow, since I am way to tired to do it now. But I wanted to wait to update on my mom until now. So it seems she had two mild strokes on both sides of her brain. Her eye sight seems to be the only thing messed up, so we are lucky and blessed.  She has a pacemaker now as well. She’s not very happy about that, but it will help wake up her heart when it gets to slow.

I really will update more tomorrow. I just wanted to pop on and give you a brief update and say hi. Miss blogging so much, and I will be back to it real soon. For now, take care, be good, and loves ya!

Chelle

She has to get a pacemaker.

I’m scared and forcing myself into numb mode to make it through. I know some of you have commented on my last post and I had planned to comment on them today, but please forgive me for pushing it off a few days. Thank you so much for the comments, I just am to numb to form a coherent response to them. Please, any prayers or good vibes you have please send them my mom’s way. I don’t know how I will make it through the next few days but I have to. Be back in a day or so to update. Please keep us in your prayers. Thank you.

Michelle

I just need to blog.

So I know I haven’t posted here in a while, and that’s simply because I’m still trying to figure out where my blog is headed. When I started to seriously blog I decided to blog about dolls. That has been what I’ve done for a good long time now, and I’ve had tons of fun doing so and getting to know a lot of fun and interesting dolly peeps through my blogging. I still want to blog about dolls, but I have been thinking maybe my blog needs to turn into a lifestyle blog that incorporates all of me, along with my dolls. I still want the main focus to be dolls, but I also want to talk about crafts, writing, and me in general. I think I will go back to dedicated days for the “on the side” stuff, and then just blog about dolls any day I see fit. This way the blog won’t sit here dormant and I can blog.

So what brought me back today of all days?  My mom.  She’s been having some dizzy spells lately, but she put it off as just allergies. That is until the other day where she almost blacked out.  We thought it was the one off until last night. She’d come upstairs from her room and I was standing by the counter looking at two new hamsters she’d recently bought when I felt her grab on to me. It wasn’t anything odd to have her grab on to me, but then her grip got harder. I looked over my shoulder and saw that she was having trouble breathing again. I tried to get her to talk to me and tell me what was wrong, but all she could do was shake her head before she went down to the floor. She didn’t pass out, but it was pretty close. So I told her she had to stop playing around and go to the doctor tomorrow, which is now today. She went to the walk-in clinic and had accidentally pocket dialed me on her phone. I could hear her in the doctor’s office talking to the doctor. I hung up happy she was being seen. Then she called me later on. I picked up and it was my dad. I thought that was weird. Seems they were at the military hospital. I thought maybe the doctor gave her medicine and she was picking it up.  Wrong. She was having tests done. Why? Because they think my mom had a mini stroke.

I am beyond scared and freaked out right now. I know logically we will all sadly have to lose our parents at some point in our lives, but I am far from ready to have it be at this point in my life. I’m so close to my mom and to have her not be here would destroy me. If she did have a stroke, I know it was the diabetes and/or high blood pressure that did it. I have nagged her to get healthy and well I guess I didn’t have a foot to stand on with that because my health is still crap. But either way, it’s now to the point where getting healthy is not AN option, it’s the ONLY option. My mom is ready to give up and let death come get her. I refuse to let her give up without a fight. I am determined to get her healthy. I figure if death is coming he’s coming, but give him the fight of his life first. Now add on to this that my dad is on an inhaler because he smokes like a chimney and my sister is having mystery headaches all the time.

So yeah, that’s where I am at right now. Just waiting to hear from my mom and just trying to figure out what’s next. So much stress and pressure going on in my life right now. I barely sleep, and when I do I usually have nightmares. I’ve been focusing on Squidoo to try to get my mind off things and focused on one thing in general. It’s been helping, but I am ready to get back to my dolls and crafting.

ETA: So they are keeping her overnight. Seems they thing either mini stroke or heart attack. They don’t know what yet. I’m freaking out, but I will try to remain calm. I have to. I have no choice. Thanks for letting me vent. Bye for now.

Michelle

Hey guys, look what I did!

Ok, I’m going to admit it, I’m like a proud mama tonight. I found a kind of blogging article site that you can just write what’s on your mind and have people view it. If you are lucky you will make money from it. I thought it would be a nice outlet for when I just need to talk and don’t really have to place to do some. Some things I wanted to talk about are doll related but I don’t think they really fit in here with the blog for some reason, so I decided to make it into a Squidoo Lens.  I know, crazy, but it was fun.

I had heard about Squidoo while doing searches but never really looked into it until I recently found myself researching how to make money from home.  I decided it couldn’t hurt and I was doing it more to write and get my writing out there, so why not try it. Only problem was I didn’t know what to write about.  I decided to be easy on myself and write something doll related. That when I came up with the idea to help newbies to the doll hobby with tips and tricks on how to find doll clothes and accessories.  I know, this may sound like common sense to some, but there are some places one may not look to find clothing.  Like for example, did I ever tell you about the time I found an either MSD or SD size shirt on a note pad? Kid you not. It was front and back and super cute. I was going to post about it and I don’t think I ever got around to it. I bought two thinking I’d have to slice up the back in order to get it on the doll and wanted to be able to have both sayings on the shirt, but decided to just pop a future doll’s head off instead of ruining the shirts. Guess that means I’ll need twins. 

So if you are interested in some tips on finding doll clothes and accessories or if you are just interested in seeing what I’ve written, I would love for you to head on over to my Squidoo called “How To Start A Doll Clothing And Accessories Collection”.  If you like what you see feel free to like and share with the buttons located on the side of the article page and feel free to leave a comment.  I have several doll lens in the making and I’ll be sure to share them all here with you. But for now I am going to curl under these blankets and rest. It was 105 degrees Fahrenheit today and now I am freezing my butt off, go figure. Ok, talk to you lovely lads and lassies soon. Be good until then. Bye for now.

Excited to start her new lens,
Michelle

P.S.-
Oh yeah, and speaking of Liv dolls, if you didn’t hear, the official word was given, they have been discontinued. They last wave I believe will come out around Fall. Get them now peeps or forever face the wrath of the secondhand market. Just and FYI, just bought a Liv Spa Alexis for just over 5 dollars on Amazon. Oh yeah, and lens about Liv Dolls coming soon. I will so miss the line. I need to get on more Jake but hoping Toys R Us will give me a chance to get one for $7.50 again. Fingers are crossed tight I’ll get lucky on Sunday. Scary to think I will be starting a comic soon that is Liv Doll based.  What if I break one?!?   Ahhhhh!!!  Ok, now I’m really going.  LOL!  Bye guys.

For Sale: Rare Bild Lilli

So I have been researching some Ebay info for my boyfriend and in doing that research I found a website that shows the top 25 auctions on Ebay and one of the auctions I came across was for Bild Lilli doll.

For those of you who don’t know who Bild Lilli is, she’s basically the momma to Barbie.  If you will, she’s kind of like the original Barbie and original fashion doll.  She started off as a cartoon character from 1950-1964.  In 1953 she was made into a doll, and 130,000 of her was sold until Mattel bought the rights to her, which is when all production of her stopped.  She was created for the adults who enjoyed reading her comics. She was a sort of sex symbol of the time. It’s kind of interesting to think of what might have happened with Lilli if Ruth Handler hadn’t found her on her trip to Europe.  Would we all be in walking down the “Lilli” aisle at the stores now?  Makes you think.

Well this doll in particular seems to be in mint shape. She is an original large (12 inch) gal with her original very hard to find dress…the auction’s words not mine. I love her dress, it has a vintage feel to it, ok so technically it is vintage, but what I mean is a “period” feel to it.  Lilli wore outfits from the time she was created.  Here’s what her Wiki has to say about her wardrobe:

Lilli came as a dressed doll--additional fashions were not sold separately. Her fashions mirror the lifestyle of the 1950s: She had outfits for parties, the beach and tennis, as well as cotton dresses, pajamas and poplin suits. In her last years, her wardrobe consisted mainly of "Dirndl" dresses. Lilli's dresses always have patent fasteners marked "PRYM". PRYM is the leading German button manufacturer; most German dollmakers used, and still use, its products.

Lilli was basically the first fashion doll.  What interested me most about her wardrobe is in the end she wore mostly dirndls.  In my photostory comic I am going to start working on later on this year one of the characters is a service robot that basically wears a dress and apron.  I plan to have her wear dirndls as well.  If I can’t wear one at least she can. LOL!

Even though Lilli was made for an adult audience, she became popular with children.  So much so that German toy companies began to make dollhouses, furniture, etc. in Lilli’s size, which I believe was the smaller version of Lilli which was around 7 inches.  Don’t quote me on that I’m not 100% sure which size items were made for, it could have been both.

I would love to have an original Bild Lilli, but I’m not crazy about having an original Barbie.  Is that weird?  I guess because Lilli is the “original” Barbie as well as she’s from Germany which is where part of my family is from. Also I would love to have a bit of fashion doll history in my hands.  Lilli was, I believe, the first doll with a patent on it, she had three on her.  Also her mechanics is very interesting as well.  Her hair alone interests me.  Here hair was either glued or rooted into a scalp that was screwed into a hidden screw in her body. She was strung together with rubber bands inside.  My mom had old dolls from the times that were held together with rubber bands as well.  So it makes me wonder if this doll for auction had it’s elastic replaced because we all know her elastic would not have lasted this long.  If it has, it won’t be for to much longer.  I wonder if she was kept in a climate controlled place if it would have keep the rubber band pliable?  Yes, I wonder these things. Does that make me weird? Please don’t answer.

Well, as much as I’d love a Lilli of my own, I’ll have to just enjoy seeing pictures of her for now.  Her auction is already at $2,850 dollars and it still has a little over 2 days to go.  So umm yeah, so not going to have this beauty. LOL! Oh well, good luck to the lucky to-be winner.  I hope she goes to a good home where she will be cherished. 

So yeah, just had to share that find with all you lovely peeps.  Be sure to check out the auction, no I don’t know the auction host I just found it interesting and wanted to share.  Talk to you all later.  Be good until then.  Bye for now. 

Drooling over rare dolls,
Chelle

Bald Beauties

Hey all.  I know, I said I was on hiatus, and I still am technically, but I had to blog about this when I saw it. It was mentioned at Toy Fair, but I didn’t find out about it until now and thought maybe others hadn’t either.

So this month Toys R Us released a set of Bratz and Moxie Girlz dolls that have no hair.  The reason for this is to promote giving hope to children with cancer. This just touched my heart when I saw it on the Toys R Us website. I was just “window shopping” and I saw these dolls didn’t have hair.  My first thought was that they looked like they had cancer and when I read the description I was in shock to see the dolls were indeed cancer patients.  This just touched my heart.  Can you imagine being a little girl or boy with cancer and getting a doll that looked just like you and reminded you every day to have hope and to stay strong and be happy?  Just beautiful.  Each doll that is purchased will donate a dollar to City of Hope for cancer research.

And after much prodding from fans, Barbie is going to join in the support. Fans asked Mattel to make a bald Barbie in support of children dealing with cancer and alopecia.  So Barbie will have a friend who will be dealing with cancer and who will have hats, wigs, and scarves to accessorize her bald beauty. However Mattel is not putting Barbie’s friend into stores.  More like they will be making a few dolls to donate as well as donating some money to CureSearch for Children's Cancer and the National Alopecia Areata Foundation.  It’s kind of a bummer they aren’t more global with this doll since they could make money for the cause by offering these dolls for sale, but hey they weren’t going to do anything at all so at least it’s something right?

So yeah, had to share this with you all.  I think it’s pretty amazing for these companies to do this.  Actions like this renew faith in humanity.    And on that note I will take off again.  Dealing with some stressful stuff here as usual. My dad has a surgery coming up, stomach issue is still my bff, and just little stresses tucked in here and there just in case I didn’t have enough to deal with.  Meh.  I’ll deal.  Hope all is well with all of you.   I’ll be back soon.  Be good until then.  Bye for now lovelies. 

Smooches and tooches…umm…yeah,
Chelle