When we are taking the dolls out of the RV for a hike, or on ferries, or anywhere we can't access our vehicle, I can fit two of the same size doll - or one the right size, and one smaller - into a box. It's a snug fit, but that's okay....
I've taken a few pictures to show how I transport my dolls around for a photo shoot, or on a road trip. I made three specific sized boxes out of corrugated cardboard. The three sizes are to accommodate Iplehouse JIDs (and other MSDs), KIDs, and BIDs - and they have separate lids. I made a stuffed 'mattress' cushion for the bottom of each box, as well as a second smaller pillow to place on top of the dolls to hold them in place, so they don't fall forward and rub their faces on the lids of the boxes. The dolls actually lay deeper in the box than the photo would suggest. On a road trip, each doll gets their own individual box, and each one is labelled with the doll's name in order to make it easier to get the doll that's needed for a specific photo shoot. The boxes were designed to fit three high into the overhead compartments inside the back of our RV. When we are taking the dolls out of the RV for a hike, or on ferries, or anywhere we can't access our vehicle, I can fit two of the same size doll - or one the right size, and one smaller - into a box. It's a snug fit, but that's okay.... With such a snug fit, the lid needs to be secured with elastics. Then I can carry two boxes in one of my cloth bags. I pay attention to which way the dolls are positioned, so that they are heads up in the bag. A JID and KID size box will fit in my bag, but I usually take just the smaller dolls, so then there's either two KID boxes, or a KID and BID box, which is obviously easier. *Note the box in the photo above labeled 'Milo' is actually a JID size box - even though he's a KID - as he had to go into one of those last summer in order that all the boxes would fit into the overhead compartment properly. And when we are not on a road trip - like now - I don't pay any attention to what dolls go in which boxes. I just grab whichever ones are closest.
April showers brought May showers. And May showers are bringing floods. We are on day two of four days of pouring rain. The ground was already saturated, so the water has no place to go. Everything is a swamp, and my kids are getting fed up with being stuck inside. It's even too wet for Ringo to go sail his boat in a puddle. But Elin decided to prepare herself, and brought out her ark... Chloe brought her giraffes, hoping they could go on the ark too.... "But there's only two of each kind allowed!" "But the giraffes don't want to leave their kids behind!" "Do you think my bunny can go too?" (I'm so glad I figured out what was wrong with my camera.
It's so nice to have properly coloured photos again!" I took a bunch of studio shots yesterday and was very surprised by how dark and yellow they were. They were sharp enough, but the colour was terrible, and I'd never had studio shots turn out like that before. I tried colour correcting them, but finally contacted my son, who knows WAY more about photography than me. He gave me some suggestions, which I looked into, but none of them panned out. So this morning I decided to check my camera manual to see if somehow one of the settings on my camera had changed. And sure enough it had. The white balance was set on 'Flash". I guess when I borrowed my sister's flash unit a few weeks back, it had sestet the white balance on my camera, and I'd been shooting at the wrong setting the whole time... Which totally explained why I thought so many of my recent photos were so dark and yellow, and so many of the warmer colours were blown out. My camera was compensating for flash. Well, I set it back, and took another studio shot... Success!! It was back to normal. What a relief!
And here I thought it was my deteriorating eyesight. I'm glad it was such a simple fix! Bright sun is not ideal for taking doll photos, but it was getting towards evening, and the sun was getting lower, so shadows weren't quite as bad. With the bright sunshine, thee were constant rainbows in the mist over the falls... Paige and Angela at the brink of the Horeshoe Falls.... "Look at all those people down there on that boat!" Most people pay no attention to us taking doll photos, but two young ladies came up to us and asked if we were taking photos with our granddaughter's dolls. I said "No, they are my own dolls." Which made them smile even more as they proceeded to tell us about taking a figure along on a trip for someone, and taking photos of it. "It's great to stay young at heart" they said.
Wednesday was such a beautiful day - sandwiched in between the never ending rain we've been experiencing - so we took the opportunity to drive down to the Niagara area to see the blossoms. The orchards were just starting to bloom, and dandelions were everywhere.... I brought along three of my KIDs - Lisa, Paige and Angela. Even though it was bright and sunny, it was still rather cool, so everyone needed their sweaters. First stop was at the park at Queenston Heights. It sits high on the edge of the Niagara escarpment, overlooking the Niagara River as it makes it's way towards Lake Ontario, in the distance. The USA is to the right, Canada to the left.... Angela and Lisa took turns posing at one of the lookouts.... "So who is that on top of that monument?" "That's Sir Isaac Brock. Back in 1812 when the Americans thought they could just march up here and take Canada, he led the British forces, and with the help of Chief Tecumseh and his tribal confederacy, defeated the Americans and drove them back out. Unfortunately, both Brock and Tecumseh were killed in the Battle of Queenston Heights, but thanks to them Canada stayed an independent country." "So why is there no statue of Tecumseh??" Good question.
April was 'Emotional Overeating' month, and I had wanted to take a photo, but the time just flew by. So now it's May, and April is behind us, and so are all the treats and junk food. Just one last shot at 'emotional overeating', and all that stuff is gone forever. At least for me. Goodbye ice cream. Goodbye pop. Goodbye cake, pie, donuts and cookies. Goodbye French fries...
I'm working on the four additional pink slim-mini dresses, and glued the flowers on this morning.... I love the skirt fabric. It's so soft, and gathers beautifully. The two darker pink dresses are from the bottom ruffles of the human-size skirt that I cut up, so they had serged edges. When I picked apart the upper layers of the skirt, there were lines of holes left behind from the stitching. It was rather unsightly, so I cut the edges off, and sewed rolled hems. I was a bit concerned that the two lighter pink dresses wouldn't have the same 'crinkly' look, but after a dip in some water, and letting the dresses drip-dry, the problem was solved. Now they are all the same. Now I have to embroider the flowers on all the bodices.
The last of my nephews was married on the weekend, and of course I took my camera. It's always fun taking photos, especially so the parents of the couple getting married don't have to wait forever for the professional photos. I send them mine so if someone asks "How was the wedding?", they have something to share. My brother's family.... My brother and his grandchildren. He said it's been impossible to take a nice photos of all of them together, and it turned out he was right. But I loved this shot anyways.... The reception and dinner was in downtown Toronto, with more photo opportunities in the Distillery District It's fun taking photos of special occasions like this, but I must say that it's a lot easier taking doll photos. At least the dolls don't move, or blink. But then, people always fit into their surroundings, and I don't have to get down on the ground to photograph them. And most people will turn or look where you ask them to, so I don't have to get up and make the adjustments. So, maybe people are easier after all. |
AuthorMartha Boers is an award-winning Canadian doll maker and costumer specializing in fantasy and historical-style costumes. Archives
May 2024
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