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

Happy Anniversary!!

11/1/2021

20 Comments

 
Today is the eleventh anniversary of the day I started this website, and I like to mark the day like every birthday, with a cake with candles. The first few years a cupcake was big enough for the few solitary candles needed, but now I'm at the point where I need to make a bigger and bigger cake every year to hold all the increasing number of candles....
Picture
It's been an interesting eleven years.  I started out the first year buying all kinds of sizes of BJDs with the intent of using them as costume models to make doll clothes for sale.  But in 2012 I joined an online Yahoo Group dedicated to the smaller Iplehouse dolls, and they had an Alphabet photo challenge.  That was what really got my interest in the photography aspect started, as well as my interest in the smaller Iplehouse dolls. So I started collecting them.

It was so much fun that I spent all of 2013 doing a huge series on Special Days throughout the year. The number of smaller Iplehouse dolls just kept growing, as my excitement for doll photography grew......and my interest in sewing costumes for sale dwindled. 

Then in 2016 two of the doll companies started offering Fashion sized dolls, and I was hooked.  I'd always loved realistic dolls in historical and Fantasy costumes, but didn't much care for the huge SD sized dolls. Even though they were beautiful, they were just too big and cumbersome. I was used to smaller dolls.  In the days when I made art dolls with my sister, our dolls were 16 to 18" tall - the same size as the new Fashion sized BJDs. So I finally had the dolls of my dreams - beautiful realistic adults, that were posable. In some regards it is a good thing they weren't available back when I first became interested in BJDs or I may never have gotten hooked on the smaller children first.

So, what now?  I have a LOT of dolls, and way too many ideas. The Fashion sized dolls have taken centre stage this past year, and will likely continue to do so. Many of the children who didn't already belong to specific family groups with JID size parents, have been adopted by Fashion sized parents, helping to inspire all kinds of stories.

​Like 'the Christmas Story' back in January, staring Nami, one of my first BIDs....
Picture
Then there was 'the Queen's Birthday' story....
Picture
...and the recent 'Somewhere in Time'...
Picture
The stories seem to be getting more and more complex, developing minds to their own, and I just willingly follow along, going wherever inspiration leads me.

​Another group of dolls I really love are my Forest Dwellers by Whispering Grass. This year I finally made the decision to make them all some clothes...which inspired a story of its own....
Picture
The past year has also seen a few new dolls arrive. There were Judith and Faye...both to be children to FID parents...
Picture
Picture
There was Little Lenny, by Kaye Wiggs, who I won in a Christmas photo contest...
Picture
...and Jude, by SartoriaJ, who arrived on Christmas Eve...
Picture
I ordered Iplehouse KID Paige, to be Jude's son, Jamie.....
Picture
There were three little BIDs I couldn't resist on the secondary market; Erin, Aki & Lizzy...
Picture
..and finally, the beautiful Naomi by SartoriaJ, who continues to inspire....
Picture
So, what now?  Well, I really liked Baron and Naomi in their modern clothes - something I never planned on making - so decided to complete Baron's outfit and make him some jeans. I also felt the urge to make Naomi a simple dress, even though it was too late for her to wear it in the recent story.  I plan on releasing the patterns for both soon....
Picture
There are also four other sets of patterns that will be released, including all of Naomi's clothes that she wore in the recent story, as well as the dressmaker dummies, and the safety vests. They will be released one at a time as I complete each one.

I currently have five dolls on preorder; two dark gray Manuna Mice, and a pair of brown Komirka Chipmunks from Whispering Grass. They will need tiny outfits when they arrive.

​With Miho having come to her own recently, I thought she deserved a guy of her own.  Miho was the very first of my Fashion dolls, and arrived back in 2016, but she never fit in with all the later arrivals, until this year when she became the Fairy Queen....
Picture
She does have a good friend in Winston, and now the Raven as well, but I felt it was time to get her a partner.....so ordered Dominic by SartoriaJ...who probably won't arrive until next Spring....
Picture
So, what are my plans for the coming year?

Well, I still have to finish posting the photos of Baron and Naomi's trip up north, as well as a few other scenes involving the two of them.

Lawrence is taking some time off as king, to temporarily play a role in one of my favourite Jim Henson's Storyteller episodes..... 'the Soldier and Death'. He's already in costume, just waiting for me to transform Miho's castle into a devil infested, palace interior....
Picture
I'm not sure what stories lie ahead. I have so many ideas, and it's impossible to do all of them.

​One thing I would like to do is finish the sequel to 'the White Cat'. I took the entire first part of the story last year, but it developed into such a complicated storyline that I had no idea on how to resolve it, so, because it didn't have an ending, it was never posted. 
Picture
I need to think hard on how to bring the story to a happy conclusion....
Picture
Then there's 'the Quest'.  The photos for it were taken back in 2012, the very first time I took a group of dolls along on a cross country road trip. Many of the photos taken on that trip exist in albums in Favourite Photos 2012, but it was never presented as a proper story, as it was intended.
Picture
There were only the five characters, with no props or interior shots at all. I didn't have any of that back then. But I have so much more at my disposal now, so many of the missing parts of the story could now be taken. I still have all five dolls, and four have not changed at all - in fact the two main characters are still in costume - so I'd like to finally shoot the missing segments to that story and present it next year in its entirety on the tenth anniversary of when most of it was first shot.

And who knows what else will pop up?  I've had things I've wanted to do to for years, but something else always comes up. So we just have to wait and see if this is finally the year....

​In the meantime I'm just going to have a slice of cake....
Picture
20 Comments
Elizabeth Anne Ayala
11/1/2021 08:13:53 am

Happy Anniversary! Another incredible milestone! Each and every story you brought to life with your beautiful/handsome dolls and magnificent costumes are gifts to everyone looking on.

Reply
Martha
11/1/2021 12:04:47 pm

Thank your the kind comments. It's nice to know others enjoy my work.

Reply
kenaiqueen
11/1/2021 10:12:24 am

Even if I don't always comment, I do visit here daily for a little bit of delight and inspiration. Happiest anniversary and many thanks.

Reply
Martha
11/1/2021 12:05:28 pm

Thank you! That's nice to know.

Reply
Carol
11/1/2021 10:40:43 am

Thank you for sharing your amazing imagination & talents with us! I so appreciate it even tho I don’t comment very often. Your creativity & energy are so inspiring. Cheers to many more years!!

Reply
Martha
11/1/2021 12:07:33 pm

Thank you! I do my best, and also hope I can continue for a lot longer.

Reply
Clara
11/1/2021 11:05:12 am

Herzlichen Glückwunsch💐🍀Happy Anniversary💐🍀 and thank you for your wonderful stories, I love them all. Your plans for the future are marvelous, I can’t wait.

Reply
Martha
11/1/2021 12:10:34 pm

Thank you! I try not to share too many of my plans, as time is flying by so fast, and I never seem to be able to get done what I'd like. Ideas are a 'dime a dozen', but acting on any of them takes a lot of time and effort. But here's hoping......

Reply
Brigitte
11/1/2021 12:24:56 pm

Happy Anniversary! Thank you for sharing your knowledge, your ideas and your creativity with us over the years. Your plans for the future are gorgous, i can't wait to see them.

Following your wonderful blog is always very much fun and inspiration for me. I've learned tons of tips from you already and it is a pleasure to follow your steps and try something similar by myself.

Reply
Martha
11/1/2021 02:51:02 pm

Thank you for your comments! It's nice to know I'm inspiring people to try things for themselves.

Reply
Isabelle
11/1/2021 12:44:17 pm

Happy Anniversary! Your wonderful blog has become over the years a real work of art! Congratulations and continue to amaze us!

Reply
Martha
11/1/2021 02:53:36 pm

Thank you! Nothing could be more true than the old adage 'practice makes perfect'. I find that the more I take doll photos, the better they get.

Here's hoping you'll continue to be surprised.

Reply
earthspirits
11/1/2021 02:12:34 pm

Happy Anniversary! I love your beautiful stories and photos, and it's always a pleasure to read about your various projects.

Here's to many more in the future!

Reply
Martha
11/1/2021 02:54:08 pm

Thank you! And here's hoping!

Reply
Donna
11/1/2021 02:40:14 pm

Happy Anniversary, dear Martha! Your wonderful website opened the world of BJDs to me. Your amazing stories and magnificent costumes and settings are a bright spot in every day. Thank you for your encouragement and friendship over these past 11 years.

Reply
Martha
11/1/2021 02:55:43 pm

Thank you so much! I do value our friendship, and I'm glad I could bring a bit of joy into your day.

Reply
Jitka
11/1/2021 02:50:13 pm

Happy Anniversary! I could not believe a year went by, it seems like yesterday when you posted about the 10th Anniversary. Thank you for your amazing stories filled with even more amazing costumes. Your blog is safe heaven from real world, I love to visit every day to look for new posts or read again the older ones. Your plans sound great, I am looking forward to reading all the new stories :).

Reply
Martha
11/1/2021 03:00:29 pm

Thank you! Time sure is flying! My Mom used to say that time seemed to fly by faster and faster the older she got, and now I know exactly what she meant. It's hard to believe we are already into November.

My doll world is an escape for me too, and I'm glad that I can share it, and that people enjoy it.

Reply
Dorothy
11/4/2021 11:15:51 am

Happy Anniversary Friend!

I don't know how to express how much I enjoy your blog. Your stories are so lovely and enhanced by beautiful costumes and wonderful locations. The architectural ruins garden is my favorite site.

I imagine your stories as children's picture books for grown ups. I imagine turning the pages as I read. I imagine standing on the sidelines observing as the characters have their adventures.

It sounds like you have amazing new stories and continuing stories planned for next year. I intend to be seated right here at my computer enjoying each photo and every word.

Reply
Martha
11/4/2021 11:52:04 am

Thank you so much.

I'm so glad you enjoy my work, and I do appreciate your comments.

I would love to see my stories as picture books as well. Maybe some day.

I just hope I can keep doing this, even though it's getting harder all the time. So I try not to plan too far ahead.

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

    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.