Antique Lilac
  • Home
  • for Sale
  • Galleries
  • Favourite Photos
  • Tutorials
  • Blog
  • Links
  • Books

Another Anniversary

11/1/2023

16 Comments

 
Today, November 1st, is the thirteenth anniversary of when this website went online for the very first time. So, like every other year, I have to celebrate with a cake...
Picture
It's hard to believe that it's November already, and another year has passed. Where did the time go? But looking back, I've obviously been very busy. There's been a wedding...
Picture
Baron survived a major attack....
Picture
Only to recover as a new man....
Picture
And become a father....
Picture
Winston and Saphira also became parents...
Picture
​There have been a few new additions to my doll family over the past year. First, an Iplehouse KID Lisa last November, followed by SartariaJ Elf Agnes in April....
Picture
Picture
Then in May SartoriaJ Matias arrived, followed by Otto the Otter from DreamHigh Studio in June.
Picture
Picture
Along with Otto, Donny at DreamHigh Studio sent a Baby Mika...
Picture
In July two dolls from Iplehouse arrived.  A KID Daisy, and a BID Bordy, but they are still away getting painted.
​
It's been a very rough year, but even so, it's still been very productive.  It almost seems that when my pain levels increase, so does my creativity. It's like a coping mechanism to help distract from the never-ending pain. ​August and September were especially bad, yet I've never taken so many doll photos, most of which were about Baron and Naomi and the visitors who come to welcome their babies. None of the photos have been shared yet, but here's a sneak peak...
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Then there are the fall trip photos, most of which haven't even been processed yet. There's two sets of those, the first with Eden and Yvette....
Picture
The second is a balloon adventure with the dragons and the Avery twins...
Picture
Picture
Both stories will be shared at some point as well. It's just that I'm currently super busy working on a knight costume for Matias.  I need photos of him wearing it for the final section of the Fashions book my sister and I are currently working on. It's been in the works for several months now, and will feature a photo of every Fantasy or Historical costume that I've made for my BJDs since 2007. It will start at the beginning with my very first costumes, and progress through the years to the present. Here's a sneak peak at a few of the pages. 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
 Every week my sister and I get together to work on a few more sections.  The book is already at 150 pages, and there's still several more sections to add. It will be a gorgeous book once it's done.

So what else is in the works?  I don't have any long range plans right now. There's no point thinking too far ahead, because plans tend to constantly change. And everything seems to take way 
longer than I think. For example, Baron and Naomi were supposed to get married in the summer of 2022, and have their babies that fall. But stuff happens. I actually bought the little BJDs who will be their children when they become toddlers, almost two years ago now. And I'm still not there.  

​In fact I've arranged for some time at our son's movie studio next week to photograph an important event with the babies in the Gothic Cathedral, so my dolls have been having a 'dress rehearsal' on my dining room table. It's a bit nerve-wracking bringing my dolls to the studio and setting them up in front of an entire movie production team, but I know the photos will be worth it.
Picture
After that it's just trying to get through the three stories that are currently in the works, and then maybe go back to just having some fun, doing short photo shoots whenever I'm inspired. Same with the costuming. Once I finish Matias' knight outfit, I'll see what I do next. I have so many costumes on my 'want to make' list, but something new usually jumps ahead to the top of the list.
​So, I'll basically just see what happens.
16 Comments
Dorothy
11/1/2023 12:11:27 pm

Happy Anniversary!

Thank you so much for your stories and photos. It such a joy to follow your doll families and their friends in their adventures. You always manage to surprise and delight me with the twists your tales take.

I am looking forward to another year of exciting doll experiences.

Reply
Martha
11/6/2023 10:45:10 am

Thank you!

Reply
Jitka
11/1/2023 12:18:36 pm

Dear Martha, happy Anniversary! It feels like a moment since the last Anniversary. I admire your enthusiasm and strength to overcome your health issues with creativity. Wish you good health into the next years. Your blog is a much needed source of peace and provides great escape from everyday reality.
The book looks gorgeous even from the sneak peak.

Reply
Martha
11/6/2023 10:47:11 am

Thank you. Time does indeed fly by, so I try make the best of it and stay busy.

Yes, the Fashions book will be beautiful. But there's still a lot of work to do on it.

Reply
Donna
11/1/2023 12:52:10 pm

Happy Anniversary, Martha!

Thank you for 13 years of beauty, adventure, laughter and love! You create a lovely escape from the hard realities of daily life. You inspire us all with the way you create in spite of the adversity of health issues.

Reply
Martha
11/6/2023 10:48:46 am

Thank you!

That's what it's all about - escapism - and what better way to do it that with photos of, and stories about, beautiful dolls?

Reply
kenaiqueen
11/1/2023 03:46:58 pm

Happy Anniversary! I'm so glad to have found this blog and like others, I find it a joy and much needed break from real life. Thanks for all your hard work. I hope your medical team can help you find more relief soon.

Reply
Martha
11/6/2023 10:50:02 am

Thank you!

I'm glad you enjoy my Blog. I'm hoping things will get better as well.

Reply
Dorian
11/1/2023 04:38:09 pm

Happy Anniversary! I so enjoy coming to your site daily and seeing all the amazing displays, outfits, wigs, doll etc, etc, etc. You are so talented. I will pray for you in hopes that the pain subsides.

Reply
Martha
11/6/2023 10:50:44 am

Thank you so much!

Reply
earthspirits
11/1/2023 08:16:21 pm

Best wishes on your anniversary! And thank you for all the wonderful photos, stories, and creative projects you've shared with us. Always wonderful to see!

I also hope you will feel better soon.

Reply
Martha
11/6/2023 10:51:29 am

Thank you.

Reply
Martine link
11/2/2023 04:02:09 am

Once again I'm in awe of everything I see on your blog: the costumes, the sets, the staging and the photos.
I come here every day to admire what you show, even if I don't often leave you a comment. But it's all so beautiful and I wish I had your talent!

Reply
Martha
11/6/2023 10:52:03 am

Thank you. I'm happy you enjoy it.

Reply
designdreamer
11/6/2023 08:51:39 am

Hi Martha,
Happy Anniversary!! Thank you so much for all your wonderful inspiration! I'm always drawn back to being inspired by your wonderful work. And although I don't know the extent of your pain, nor what the cause of all of it is, I DO hope you can find some relief from time to time. Thank you

Reply
Martha
11/6/2023 10:53:08 am

Thank you. I appreciate it.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Martha Boers is an award-winning Canadian doll maker and costumer specializing in fantasy and historical-style costumes.
    Read More... 

    Archives

    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.