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Happy Birthday Erzulie!

2/19/2015

Today is Erzulie's birthday! It was two years ago today that she arrived to join my growing doll family. Like many of the other little kids here, she will be 'six' forever.

I thought I better take some birthday portraits before her party begins later this afternoon.....

Erzulie's dress was made from a beautiful piece of lace given to me by Charie Wilson when I went to pick up Coco and Holly. It's a lovely silver gray embroidered on beige mesh. After trying to match it with many different colours of fabric, I finally decided to pair it with pink. The dress itself is sleeveless, and goes under a matching pink satin, puffed-sleeve bolero jacket.....

Her cake is a multi-media creation. The bottom tier is wood, covered with polymer clay 'fondant' (I had to use wood, since styrofoam can't go in the oven). The top layer is styrofoam covered with drywall compound, and embellished with polymer clay dots and big purple bow.

I found the tiny '6' candle at the party store, but it burns up so fast that I was only able to take three photos before the top of the '6' collapsed. Next time I better buy a couple of candles.

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Owen's Boots

2/18/2015

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With my last commission done, I'm taking the time to finally finish Owen's costume. I always start close to the skin and work outwards. Which means a pair of beige tights to protect his legs from the black pants. Then the boots. I purchased them quite awhile ago, and they looked very nice on the Internet, but I was very surprised when they showed up with bright white zippers up the back. Like, what was the manufacturer thinking? Brown boots should have brown zippers!

So this morning I decided to paint out the white top-stitching with some diluted, slightly darker paint, and let some of the paint seep into the fabric of the zipper to kill that whiteness.

The untouched boot is on the right, and the painted one is on the left. I also added a bit of 'dirt' and 'wear', since I don't want the boots to look brand new. Here's the back view....

The zipper doesn't stand out nearly so much now. I'm planning on making separate fold-down
cuffs on the tops of the boots, and those will hide the white zipper heads.

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Heading Out In the Snow

2/18/2015

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I've just completed a red 'Jennet' commission for an Iplehouse JID, but I don't consider an outfit 'finished' unless I've taken some 'mood' shots. So, out into the frigid February snow we went - but not before giving Isar some warm red mittens to keep her hands warm....

Today I need to go through my fabrics and choose something for a new shirt for Owen, and a new vest for Leona. Then everyone will finally have something to wear for the 'family' photo shoot I've been thinking of doing. Right now Leona is wearing Owen's shirt, which I've decided is too 'white' for a period shirt, so Leona can keep it. But that means making a new one for Owen. Leona is also borrowing Narin's vest, which he needs back. So she needs one of her own.

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the Valentine Party

2/17/2015

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I still have a few more Valentine photos to share.....

Since last Valentine's Day, when I had just five little girls, they've been joined by three boys, and one more girl - Holly. It's interesting to observe the difference between how the boys and girls behave on Valentine's Day. The girls seem to prefer the fancier things in life - flowers, pretty cards (especially homemade ones) and beautiful heart-shaped boxes full of fancy chocolates.....

Holly offered some of her fancy chocolates to her friends.....

But boys - that's another story entirely. They go straight for the biggest solid chunks of chocolate and immediately start to chow down....I saw it first hand on the weekend.....

They could as well be chowing down a sandwich! I think these little guys could
use a few tips on taking the time to enjoy the finer things in life.....

"You know, you don't have to eat the whole thing all at once.."

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Elliot's First Birthday Party

2/16/2015

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This past weekend, we went to Windsor for our grandson Elliot's first birthday. My sister Marianne designed him a beautiful cake based on one of Elliot's favourite books - 'Ten Little Ladybugs' - and she prepped all the parts at home. My daughter Mary baked the actual cake, and then I watched as the two of them put the cake together.....

When it was done, it was time to dress the birthday boy....

..for his birthday portraits.....

...then the best part.....getting to actually eat the cake...
.....but not until after another wardrobe change...

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A Valentine Pony

2/15/2015

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Actually it's a colt - an 'Our Generation' colt. I was rather disappointed to hear that Target was closing all it's stores and pulling out of Canada, because I was planning on acquiring a few more breeds of horses there for my dolls. So we went to see what they had left during their clearance sale, and all they had left was just one Palomino colt. So Jan bought him for me (and my kids) for Valentine's Day. They all love animals, and were very happy to welcome him.....

He's definitely going to need a paint job, but that will have to wait
until summer. In the meantime my kids are thrilled.....

After checking out the new colt, Ringo continued on his way - he had a Valentine to deliver. He had developed a crush on a lovely little girl, but being the shy type, he was a little worried about how she would respond....but he was of the opinion 'nothing ventured, nothing gained....'

"Will You Be Mine?"

After making a little side-trip to the florist, Ringo continued on to his destination....

He knocked on the door, and was let in. Oh no! Ringo was horrified.....
ALL the girls were there. He suddenly felt very shy....

Oh well, too late to back out now. He took a deep breath
and stepped forward offering the rose to Holly

She accepted Ringo's rose, and they had a very nice time together.....

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Ringo's New Business Venture

2/13/2015

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Ringo wants to make a bit more money, so he's come up with a new small business
venture - shovelling snow. At that price he's sure to get plenty of work....

Efreet agrees to join him, so bundles up warmly, gets his shovel and takes a pile of flyers...

"Wait for me! I'm coming too."

..and off they go on their new money-making venture.....

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Ringo Has a Plan

2/12/2015

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After delivering the daily papers, Ringo went straight to work on his computer.....

He asked for some coloured paper, and all I had was green. "That's fine, thanks"

I wonder what he's up to?

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Resin Comparison

2/12/2015

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I took a few photos to show the differences between the new and older Iplehouse resins, and to show how much they change over time. Charie painted Holly to be a little sister to Lonnie, and Lonnie did look exactly like Holly two years ago when she was first painted. But Holly is the new 'Normal' resin without the French resin of the older formula, and isn't supposed to yellow as quickly

I do like the new 'Special Real Skin', but was surprised that it mellows just as quickly as the older resin formula. I took a photo of brand new Coco, with Ringo, who arrived last May, and Elin who arrived back in 2011 and is the older resin formula with the French resin. Ringo has mellowed quite a bit in just half a year, and he hasn't even been outside much....

I don't mind the different skin tones, as long as the resin doesn't continue to yellow any further. One good thing though - the yellow doesn't stand out as much in pictures as it does in real life.

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Making a New Friend

2/11/2015

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Today is 'Make a New Friend Day', so what better day to introduce Holly to the other girls?

Erzulie also took the opportunity to hand out the invitations to her birthday party next week....

"Would you like to come too?"

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