Well, today is Hallowe'en and I'm coming down with something. I guess it was only inevitable since everyone I know has been sick for weeks. I have three tiny pumpkins I had planned on carving, but we'll see if I feel up to it.

Monday night's storm didn't affect us nearly as badly as we had been fearing. Other than a constant roaring of the wind all night, and every last leaf being blown off the trees, we had no ill effects. Even our super-delicate robinia tree survived totally intact, and that's saying something, as it's a very weak tree and prone to break very easily - which it has several times in summer thunderstorms.

Today I'm finishing off the last details on the Tedros costumes. One is totally done and I just have to finish the wrist-guards on the second one. I'm not sure about the colour of the belts though. I automatically made them the same brown leather as my own Tedros costume, but I'm now thinking they may be too plain, or too light a brown to go with these commissions. I'll have to see if I have any really dark brown leather, and remake them. Either that, or embellish the existing belts I've already made.

Hope and Layla were dressed as cute little witches, but Layla wasn't too sure she liked all those spiders crawling around on her hat. They posed for a photo with the pumpkins they carved.....

Unfortunately there was a "trick" as well - the camera jammed after taking just a few photos. It's that dreaded "Error 99" again.  I had that last December too, and then it was a problem with my main lens, and I had to pay mega-bucks to have it repaired.  I'll have to play around with the different cameras and lenses to see if that's what it is again. Total bummer!

Anxiety continues to build with all the media hype about the "super-storm" Hurricane Sandy has become. It's technically only a level one hurricane, but it's combining with two other major weather systems - a winter storm from the midwest, and an Arctic air-mass - to become the biggest storm to ever hit the Eastern seaboard, with landfall expected in New Jersey. Even up here in Southern Ontario it's supposed to get really bad. We took down our awnings and moved the gas BBQ onto the porch, so should we lose power, we can still cook something warm.

So, today I'm going to try get all the last machine sewing done on my two Tedros commissions, and two Hallowe'en witch's hats, so should the power go, I can just continue with lots of hand-sewing and beading - at least during daylight hours. I cut out the leather belts and boot toppers, and after top-stitching them, there will only be handwork left on the two costumes. Some quick reinforcing stitching inside the brims of two witch hats I picked up at Dollarama last week, and they'll be ready for hand-embellishing as well.

I'm feeling hopeful about doll photos this coming weekend. There's finally some sunlight and cloudy, non-rainy, days at the end of the long-distance forecast tunnel. There may not be any leaves left on the trees after this storm, but at least it won't be raining anymore. So things are starting to look hopeful on the photography front.

Just a few more photos with the umbrella - after all, I did put considerable work into making it.

Very appropriate photo considering it's pouring rain outside and it's supposed to continue all week! Since it's so dark and dreary out, and the actual raindrops don't show, I think I may just try for a sharper picture when it's not raining so hard and there's more light.

For years now I've been shooting all photos in RAW format. I find it much more versatile in getting an image that looks most like what I really saw. It's a bit more work since I have to make all the editing decisions myself instead of letting the camera do it for me.

On the recent trip to the southwest it was especially good to have shot in RAW, since many scenes had a doll in low light against a lighter background. Most of the photos had to be manipulated in PhotoShop to lighten the figure and deepen the backgrounds.

Here's an original photo - actually a jpeg of the original RAW image....Isar is very dark in a washed out background. Yes, it was hazy, but not as bad as in the photo.

And after manipulating in PhotoShop, Isar is lighter and brighter without the background having faded away completely. Graffiti on the rocks was also removed.

And another example...same problems here....dark figures in a washed out background...

But because it was shot in RAW I can fix it and make it look more like I really saw it....
I also removed graffiti and cropped in closer to make a more interesting photo.

I'm continuing to work on the two Tedros commissions simultaneously. The pants and shirts are done. The cloaks need clasps sewn on. The tunics and hooded collars are finished, but still need cords made. I've decided to keep the over-sleeves separate so customers have more combination options. Unlike on a real person, the over-sleeves will stay in place even if they are unattached, but hooks and eyes up inside at the tunic shoulder seam will help hold them in place. 

I had really wanted to take photos of Tedros in the finished outfit at the Guildwood Ruins Gardens this coming weekend, but the forecast is calling for nothing but rain for the next 6 days (you'd think we lived in Britain or Vancouver!) but there is a slight chance it may just be intermittent showers on Sunday. Which means I have to hurry up and make wrist-guards and belts, and twist all the cording, and do all the final finishing on at least one of the outfits. Will I get it done in time?   With all the rain there may not be any fall leaves left by next weekend.  We'll see.

I just finished altering the last of three Hallowe'en costumes for my granddaughters, and I really need to address my "U" photo - not to mention the other last few, several of which need props made. Then there's some more Hallowe'en stuff needs doing.  Always so much to do!

The last few Iplekids Alphabet letters are coming up quickly, and I need an umbrella for "U". More specifically, I need a big colourful golf umbrella - the kind that can fit more than one kid underneath. Which means I have to try make one. The fabric panels are just about all sewn, and then I need to figure out the wires and handle.  The deadline for "U" is in just four days!

"Yes, Mama let us get a French manicure, so now we have beautiful hands!", blushed Tillie.
"And my face isn't shiny anymore either", exclaimed Cinnamon. 
"So, now I'm pretty, just like my sister"

I was going through the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta photos and just had to share a few more. I've never seen anything like it!  It was so much fun!         Most are from the first morning.

After months of indecisiveness, and waiting for Iplehouse to release the third and fourth dolls in their new KID line, I finally pressed the "Buy" button on Kassia and Lonnie. Both will be coming  in Normal Skin with mobility joints. I needed (wanted) a light-skinned JID, and had been eagerly awaiting the release of the brand new KIDs for the longest time, and when they came out I immediately fell for Lonnie, although it was difficult to decide between Normal skin and the new Peach-Gold. I also wanted to wait until all four new KIDs were released before making a final choice. In the end Lonnie was still my favourite, and I decided not to add another skin colour into the mix, and since the new JID girl would probably end up paired with Adrian, she shouldn't have darker skin than him - or look older than him. Which is why I chose Kassia over Leona - my other favourite.  I think Kassia and Lonnie go very well together - in fact they look related, with similar facial sculpts. I'm very excited to add another new in-between size doll to the family. I hope Iplehouse releases a nice Asian sculpt someday, so Byuri and Asa can have an in-between sibling.

Anyway, now the wait begins. I'm hoping they come in late November or early December - nicely in time for Christmas.