Friday, December 11, 2015

Teddy bears and dollhouses

I have been looking everywhere for the perfect teddy bear to live in my dolls dollhouse . I have been making this dollhouse for years and have spent countless hours deciding on wallpaper and furniture..ect.
                            

              Today I looked in Cindy Sowers shop on Etsy and there he was! Perfect bear.
            I waited too long and someone else grabbed him, I could just die. I'm so heartbroken
                     https://www.etsy.com/shop/cindysowers?ref=l2-shopheader-name
I was concerned about the size cause I really wanted one just like him only around 4in or four and half inches. My friend said he wasn't meant for me. My mother use to say the same thing when I was little. She would say if it had been meant for you you'd get it. I can't believe I missed him,


I recently went on eBay and got a teddy bear making patterns on how to make teddy bears. I still don't think I could have made one as amazing as that one.


                      My friend knows a lovely lady who makes teddy bears as well.
           https://www.facebook.com/Minou-Creations-1038535092857172/photos_stream


                     I'm also trying to pick out the final wallpaper for the dollhouse.
                           I had to resize it and at some point will have to have it  printed
                      It would go in the bedroom upstairs. Well, back to teddy bear hunting !!

Thursday, December 10, 2015

The mind wobbles

Price gouging is no stranger in the Blythe community, or in the world for that matter. But I'm still surprised

I remember the blackout of 2003, it happened two years after the the September 11 attacks. So everyone was already rattled. To make it worse only a few days in to the blackout and people were already losing theirs minds and price gouging. Pizzerias were charging 25-30$ for a 15$ pizza pie,and gas stations were in on this shameful act as well. And I'm well aware of vintage toys being sold for ridiculous amount of prices because they are no longer available. And well, they are vintage!  But what I don't understand is why I recently seen Blythe doll outfits that were sold anywhere from 45-75$ by the designer, now going for 400$ by others.

There's a few things that disturb me about this.  Did in fact the item actually sell on eBay for 400$ -
I mean maybe the doll outfit got bid up to 400$ by some people messing around just to see how ridiculously high they could get others to go. But did whoever bid 400$ actually pay for the item.
 Or are all these other people running around saying they want 350-400$ for this 65$ doll outfit because same outfit sold on eBay for such and such amount .Are speaking about something they are not even 100% sure of.

Or is it a scam or shill bidding. Maybe some people got together decide to pretend it got bid up that high by placing fake bids on the item.  I don't know what to believe, but my brain refuses to allow me to think anyone in their right mind would pay that much for a doll outfit..sorry, I just can't!

I have often wondered  how many eBay sales of that caliber were actually legit.  I mean how does something go from a 1$ to 20$ with no bids inbetween . Who does that!?!?!?. If  I'm going to bid on something and it already has a bid on it say for 5$ I'm not going to make my bid for 30$ or more,
 I'm going to bid 5.50 $ like most normal people. When I see stuff like that I don't even bother to bid  because it looks shady.

 I have also heard of people complaining about over priced dolls. And even that I can somewhat justify because dolls can be seen as artwork. On some level. I can even see well thought out and original one of a kind doll outfits going for a decent amount of money. And the key word is decent, not ridiculous amounts of money!

And yes I understand that what some might consider decent amount others might see as overcharging as well. I don't speak for everyone just myself, and I haven't seen ANY doll outfit worth 400$ or more. NOT ONE!   It would have to be made by real elves- in front of me!.. because I would need to
actually see said elves making the outfit

And it would have to be stitched with magical thread made of real gold .
                                                               Anyway ,
                                                                                until then ...
                                                             back to reality
                                                                                time to eat, 
                                                              finish my coffee,
                                                                                and begin my confessions 
                                                                                           
                                                                                       Alone-


 









Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Steampunk Jacket


                                       I finished up a pretty cool steampunk inspired coat today



The hardest part about making this coat was making the wings which I've been working on since the summer, and then actually attaching them.






The wings were handmade and took me all summer to do . I made the wing pattern and then cutout pictures from many Hi Fructose Magazines. I then Mod Podge them along with real bits and pieces of butterfly wings from butterflies I raised that died natural on my property throughout the summer. Even the fabric was specially chosen.The mouse/mushroom print is a Lisa Ericson design. She has had her work featured in Hi- FRUCTOSE magazine as well, so I thought these wings fit well.


I attached the wings with leather slips I made and then sewed them in place


I think this coat turned out pretty cool

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Today I made special ears to go with this coat 


 

Thursday, August 6, 2015

The Plastics

Recently someone posted in Doll Talk on Facebook asking how people who have started a business making dolls and doll clothing like the experience. If they made any new friends or noticed people treat them differently..ect.

Lots of people post that they have had a blast and love all their new friends, and so on.  I have to say for me this whole Blythe doll thing has been more disappointing and odd then anything else. I liked this hobby more before I had an art page on Facebook, and joined countless groups. Up until now I kept quite thinking if I posted negative post it would hurt my sales in my shop or reflect poorly on my art page, but you know what, I really don't care anymore!

Everything about being in the hobby has pretty much sucked since day one. I actually stumbled upon Blythe dolls when I was reading an art book about big eyed artwork. Inside the book were paintings mostly based on these Blythe dolls. Being a self -taught artist I thought maybe if I buy one of these dolls I could used them as a muse to help me with my paintings!?!?.  So I went online and looked for one to buy. Back then there wasn't much of a selection like there is now. Very few custom dolls and even fewer done well for an affordable amount. Anyway, I found one and bought her. I got the doll in person and wasn't really impressed. Not because the doll wasn't done well , Just couldn't understand what the big deal was about these dolls in general.  So, I put the doll in my closet and their it sat for at least a year.

A year later I revisited the doll and actually decided she need a new outfit. I went on Etsy and typed in Blythe dolls in the search bar. OMG so much stuffed popped up! I was floored. These dolls had clothing options I could only dream of. I got excited and started ordering stuff. I found some designers I really like and noticed they has Flickr accounts , so I followed them over to Flickr and opened an account really just so I could see what they were making . At some point I decided to try and find the person who made my doll . All I had to go on was their name.  I was surprised I  actually found them on Flickr, and so I commented that I had their doll and thought she was great. I expected them to be happy and comment back. Instead they deleted the dolls picture my and my comment.
I was confused Why did they not want people to know I had the doll. Later that person got rid of their account. Even more odd to me? Whatever I thought.


There was only a few people I liked to buy from back then . One was a brilliant designer that people seemed to really like. They often would contact me to buy stuff when their sales were down. I did mostly. I had even went out and bought them a bunch of supplies , not that they asked me to,
I just did it to be nice. They were over the moon and couldn't wait to get the package. I asked them if maybe they could use some of the stuff and make me something with the leftovers. They agreed. Two weeks or so go by I never hear back from them . I asked them did they get the package they said yes a week  ago but were busy and forgot to tell me. but I had seen them online talking to others and they didn't look that busy.  That was two years ago or so,and by the way,I never got any outfit made from leftovers as they said I would.  :(


I then decided to start making my own dolls and doll fashions. I had someone contact me about an item I made.  They wanted to do a layaway. But they didn't have any money to put down for the layaway . They asked would I reserve the item for a month and promised they would  come back and buy it. It was a very expensive item. I actually like the the person from the email talks we had and got a good vibe from them so said sure why not. A  month goes by they don't come back. I sent them an email they told me they were having lots of personal problems but assured me they would be back in two weeks to pay. I had their word.  Two weeks go by nothing. I contacted them and told them I was taking the item off reserve and would not being doing layaway for the item anymore. They went and opened another account to buy the item .They contact me under new account to ask about layaway . I could tell by the manner they spoke in the email it was the same person. This person had a very vibrant way of talking . very uplifting. So I knew it was them . I played along and pretend not to know and said I wouldn't do layaway for item. They went away for sometime and came back and bought the item straight out . I was happy they finally got the item .

 I know some might ask why did I not get mad or yell at them for wasting my time. I think it was because I understand that these are doll items and people in real world have real  problems and sometimes those problems come before doll crap.  I've had problems paying sometimes and people were not nice about it. one person actually played head games with me because of it. I reserved something and yes they held it for a while.

 I contacted them and told them I couldn't buy the item but when I got my stuff together I would come back and buy it if it was ok. They seemed fine with it.
A month or so goes by and I got my money straight and went back to buy it . I emailed them and asked to buy it . They said '' NO it's not gonna happen '' So I emailed them back and asked why . They said ''why what? '' I asked why I couldn't buy the item and they said  '' oh no it's for sale.''

 I said ''can I buy it,can you relist it so i can buy it'' they said ''ok''

 I waited nothing  got relisted. I asked again  ''can I please buy it I have money I came back to get it. ''

They said '' no''

 I asked why again. this game went back and fourth for a few more times finally I realized they were jerking me back and fourth and left it alone.  I think that's why I didn't make a big deal with the person who created a fake account to buy the item they had reserved for so long without paying.

I think I'm very jaded by the whole Blythe dealings. To many people acting flaky. I never claimed to be an angle but I don't understand why if there isn't drama why some act up anyway. I was friends with someone on etsy and we would write each other almost everyday. I they even gave me free gifts. One day out of the blue emails stop. They don't reply anymore . some time goes by they close their shop. never hear from them again. some time goes by they reopen a new shop ? don't know why they stopped talking to me. we never had any fight. just odd.

Another person does something like that a year ago. I was online friends with this person . mind you they are VERY well know. I give them gifts they give me gifts. I asked them to make me something . A custom item . They tell me they would after they return from a vacation. . I wait .. they return . I'm happy they came back I send them long email. I wait , no reply. I send second email. no reply . I send two more . I ask if they are still going to make the item. They never talk to me again. I never had bad blood with this person. I never owed them money . Nothing!!! I  just don't get it. Why people act shady.

And there are so many more I could go on about . I see why people leave this hobby , too many shady people in it. Not worth all the drama.






Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Bear Domination And Everything Inbetween

I have been working on my doll clothing line for months, and just when  I  think I might have a chance to finish it,  I come up with a new idea!.

My clothing line will consist of a few key elements. Romance,whimsy, and fairy tale-ish designs. 
                            
                        Yesterday I created a bear coat for Blythe using a real mini teddy bear! 

I really am happy with how this is turning out so far. 
I am posting a link to my facebook for anyone interested in seeing how this was made

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.803557806365652.1073741973.434722033249233&type=1

After creating this jacket, I came across an actual clothing designer who makes larger than life creations for adult people out of a teddy bears.
Her blog can be found here
http://stylebubble.co.uk/style_bubble/2010/06/jumping-bears.html

Bearcape

                                              I really wish I had a bear stole just like that! 
I really want to make more teddy bear related items for Blythe using real mini teddy bears. 
                                   
                                   I also made an upcycled teddy bear space outfit.


                 I also have  a few dresses that will be appearing in my upcycled collection as well.
                                        These are all hand painted ,sewed and dyed. 
                              I still need to finish them up but I like to let everyone get a peek


                                 
                                           I am also making about five upcycled coats






There a a few more that I don't have displayed here that will be ready soon.All of these one's above  are all still a work in progress.

            I also have a few necklaces I made for Blythe that are available right now in my shop!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/avabunny?ref=hdr



                                        
    

Blythe customization quick fix!

I know I'm probably gonna get crap for this!  But I don't care, it's my blog and I'll say what I want.

There is a group on Facebook I joined a few months ago for Blythe customizers that though I think it's great for helping, I feel like it's making  customizers not have to think anymore!

People just go there sometimes with nonsense. Asking question to things they really could have figured out on their own if they just tried. I'm not saying all the questions are nonsense, but a great many are! Sorry, but I've been  customizing dolls for a few years and can say  everything with the exception of maybe two things, I learned on my own! I'm not even saying that it's wrong to ask for help,

I guess i'm just old school and I learned what I learned through trial and error mostly. I also did research and spent hours just sitting and thinking. It feels though everybody wants a quick fix to everything now. Nobody wants to start at the bottom and earn their name as a Blythe customizer in the Blythe community anymore.

Thursday, November 13, 2014

scandinavian clothing line for Blythe coming soon

I have been talking about making a clothing line for Blythe dolls for ever! Recently, I just got gifted with a bunch of vintage doll clothing that I have decided to upcycle. 

The doll clothing I got is all from the 80', and is in very good condition. I have started making some sketches and looking at fabric.