Happy Anniversary!

Today is the seventh anniversary of this Antique Lilac website. It was on November 1st, in 2010, that it went online for the very first time.  It's funny about time, as it seems in some regards like it's been a lot longer. And yet it also feels like the time has flown by.

Every year I buy a little cake, to stick a candle in to celebrate the occasion, and photograph it with any flowers that are still blooming in my garden. This year there were still some geraniums hanging on - mostly pink ones - and I picked all the violas that were still blooming as well.....

Happy 7th Anniversary Antique Lilac!

It's been a fun seven years, even though a lot has changed. I started the website primarily to showcase doll outfits that I'd made for sale.  Which was why my first dozen or so dolls were from all kinds of companies and all different sizes. They were never meant to go together in photos, but just be used for costume models. 

Well, that certainly has changed. Back in 2012, I became hooked on shooting doll photos just for the sake of taking nice photos, and then developing short stories. Making clothes and props for my own dolls for photo stories started to take precedence. It was way more fun!

Then the health issues got in my way. This past year has been really rough. The worst is often not even the diseases themselves, but the reactions to the medications, most of which cause terrible side-effects.  Even so, the doll photos were what kept me going, pushing through the pain and dizziness, and I think I did manage some fun photo stories this summer and fall. I look back and am amazed at all the great photos, considering just how awful I felt at the time.

I learned how to 'milk every photo opportunity', and not just with the dolls.  I had that lovely little cake, and those pretty flowers, so just had to shoot some more pictures....

I'm not supposed to eat cake, but was told that "once a year, it's okay to splurge". Well my website anniversary comes just once a year, so that meant I had 'permission', to have a little...

So, what's next??

All the things that I've wanted to do every other year and never accomplished yet, of course. But there's always new things popping in to take up my time, so most of those things will likely just stay 'dreams'. But it's good to have goals. What fun would life be, if every single thing you'd ever wanted to do had already been done??

First order of business, after changing everyone back out of their Halloween costumes, is to start making Santa clothes for my Wizard. I've never been fond of the bright red 'department store' Santa outfit, so will go 'traditional' with that. I have some story ideas, but they involve Santa's workshop, and a house interior complete with fireplace.  We'll see what actually ends up getting done. I know there's almost seven weeks until Christmas. but time flies at my age.

I really would like to use up some of my HUGE Indian sari collection, and can visualize a lot of it as beautiful evening gowns, or maybe party dresses for the Kaye Wiggs girls. But it's difficult to prioritize, as there's still things I'd really like to make for my own dolls too. My eyesight isn't getting any better, and I'm already dealing with macular degeneration damage in my left eye. Who knows how long I can still see well enough to do the fine sewing?

I have two Feegles that need costumes and face ups, and there's a House Elf coming at some point as well. They will be joining my ever growing troupe of Fantasy adventurers. I'm hoping that things improve, and that we will be able to take road trips again next year, to the places I'd wanted to go this year. I've purchased some dull stripy material to make some medieval tents for the background in a Fantasy story, which I've yet to come up with. So lots to keep busy with.

I'd like to finish by saying that I'm thankful for all the people who come here every day to see what I've been up to, and I really appreciate it when you take the time to comment. 

Here's hoping for a great year, for all of us!!