Beauty & The Beach

There are few things I enjoy more than draggin’ a dollie and a camera down to the beach. Since hubby was on vacation a couple of weeks ago, you just knew it was gonna happen. Now I’ve got a smile as bright as the summer sun. Here are some of the results from our sand and surf shoot…

Back To The Beach

Toes In The Sand

Listen To The Sounds Of The Surf

Take A Walk On The Beach

Listen To The Waves

Today’s model is a Look of Love Poppy Parker doll that has been rerooted and had her lips repainted. She’s one of my favorites and such a summer ‘go to’ gal. She was made for frolicking about in sand and surf. Her wardrobe consists of: Barbie sunglasses from the early nineties, a Barbie net shirt over a Skipper swimsuit top, shorts from a Barbie fashion pack, handmade swim bottoms found at a doll show and Summer Crush Misaki’s sandals. Her props are a chair from the Arco brand Backyard Pool Set, a Barbie boom box and Promenade Amelie’s beach bag. Poppy’s photos were taken on an overcast day in early July at the beach in Point Pleasant, New Jersey.

 

Whenever I See Her

It’s Always Summer

 

The Sun Breezily Dances Upon Her Hair

In Her Eyes The Depths Of The Ocean Reside

 

I Think To Myself

Every Time I See Her

 

This Is The Place

Where I Could Gladly Drown

 

. . .

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So Long, Summer…wait…Not Yet

Yeah, it’s already autumn. Huh, I don’t know how that happened. The days sure do fly by. But, even though the calendar insists that it’s fall, the weather is still feeling rather summery. So, bear with me..indulge me…in a last celebration of summer.

Amelie Makes Some Waves

Table For One

Surf’s Up

Sunshine & Palm Trees

Skee Ball – Ice Ball

Today’s models are Promenade Amelie and Misaki. Amelie is wearing Endless Summer Poppy Parker’s swim suit and a dollar store hair clip. Misaki is wearing Sunshine Games Poppy Parker’s bathing suit in the second and third photo and her original t-shirt, Barbie shorts, Endless Summer Poppy Parker’s sneakers and Fashion Royalty earrings and a bracelet in the last two images. The table, umbrella, chair and float are all pieces from an Arco brand Fashion Pool Set that I found at the local flea market. The first four photos were taken at the beach, the last one was taken in a game room on the boardwalk.

Roll Out Those Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days Of Summer
You’ll Wish That Summer Could Always Be Here – Nat King Cole

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Go Outside And Play

An interesting subject was brought up recently on one of the doll chat forums that I frequent. It was a discussion concerning collector’s comfort level while taking photos out in public. I must be honest, I rarely feel embarrassed or awkward when I gambol about, dollies and camera in hand. Which is kind of strange, since I was so afraid of not fitting in or being considered “weird” as an adolescent. But as the years went by, I embraced the fact that a lot of the things I do dance outside of the ordinary or fail to meet the standards of “normal”. Maybe it is not a regular occurrence for the rest of the world to run into a forty four year old woman taking photos of her dolls in their neighborhood. But I have to say that the folks I’ve met all seem to take it in stride. I’m greeted with smiles and laughter, sometimes curiosity and even the occasional puzzled gaze. But I’m so happy doing what I love, that I smile right back and have had many a fun “dollie conversation” with people. Almost every one has a neat story about an aunt, sister or friend with a favorite doll or collection. So, I say to anyone that may feel a bit uncomfortable with taking their dollies outside for photos, Have some fun – Go outside and play!

I’m still going through photos from a few weeks ago, when I brought my dolls down to the shore at Point Pleasant, New Jersey. This time, Poppy totes her tube down to the water…

Let’s Hit The Waves

Surf’s Up

Today’s model is Hot Dots Poppy Parker. She is wearing Summer Crush Misaki’s swim suit and a swim mask from one of the newer Barbie single fashion packs. Her tube is actually a dog toy that floats (the original purpose is so you can play “fetch” in a lake or pool with your pup, LOL). Anyway, the photo was taken in the afternoon sunshine along the shoreline.

Don’t Be Afraid To Go Outside & Play!

 

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I’m On A Roll

I’ve still got more photos from our trip down the shore.

RollerPop!

Today’s model is Pretty In Polynesia Poppy Parker. She is wearing a bikini crocheted by me, a net Barbie top, Barbie loves Spongebob shorts, Barbie socks and LIV dolls roller skates, knee pads and elbow pads. Her photo was taken on the boardwalk at Point Pleasant.

Roll, Roll, Roll Your Boat…What?! LOL

 

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There’s Always More

Yeah…I finally got around to editing some more of the photos from our jaunt to Point Pleasant.

Hot on the Boardwalk

Today’s model is Hot Dots Poppy Parker from last year’s Tropicalia convention. She is wearing Bonjour Misaki’s sandals, a butterfly sundress from a Barbie fashion pack and a long sleeved top from one of the Best Models On Location Barbie giftsets. Her photo was taken on the boardwalk rail overlooking the ocean and beach.

It’s Always Hot On The Boardwalk

 

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A Sunny Summer Wednesday

There’s nothing like sneaking away for a day off down the shore in the middle of the week. This past Wednesday, the weather was perfect and we heeded it’s irresistible call. LOL, I brought four dolls with me. Here’s the first one…

Sweet in the Sun

Today’s model is Sweet in Switzerland Poppy Parker. She’s shed her wintry duds in favor of Summer Magic’s bathing suit. Her chair is a giveaway favor from the Tropicalia Integrity Toys convention. Her photo was taken on the beach in Point Pleasant, New Jersey.

The Sun Shines More Sweetly In The Middle Of The Week – Especially When One Is Playing Hookie!

 

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Sun, Sea & Sand

Continuing on with the beach theme, we also took a day trip to Point Pleasant, New Jersey while we were on vacation. This was actually during the first week of vacay, so technically I’m doing things backwards. Yeah, that’s how I roll. LOL 😉

Amelie at the Beach

Soaking Up the Sun

Riding on the Shoreline

Taking in the Sights

Today’s model is Color Infusion: Cosmic Love Amelie. In the first couple of photos, she is wearing a Barbie sun visor, earrings made by me, Summer Blues Misaki’s swim suit & jacket, High Toned Rayna’s bracelet and sandals from a Barbie fashion multipack. She is sitting on an older Mattel Barbie lounge chair and has Barbie sunscreen and Summer Blues Misaki’s tote bag. Her photo was taken on the sand by our blanket.

In the last two photos, Amelie is wearing a Mattel Barbie top (possibly from a Fashion pack, I’m having a hard time remembering exactly), Queen of the hive Natalia’s short shorts, a Barbie headscarf (originally a sheer wrap that came with an evening dress) and High Tide Vanessa’s shoes. She is riding a remote controlled ATV that I found in Kmart. (I modified the ATV to better accommodate her long legs by removing and lowering the foot pegs on the vehicle.) Her photos were taken along the shoreline near the ocean and  further up the beach towards the boardwalk.

Nary A Shadow Can Touch My Soul

When I’m Standing Under An Umbrella Of Brilliant Sunshine

With My Toes Nestled In The Warm, Coarse Sand

Wrapped Up In A Cloak Of Balmy Ocean Breezes.

 

 

 

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Making A Splash

Sometimes the best photos come from taking risks. Had this photo shoot gone wrong, poor dollie would have been lost at sea. Thank goodness it went pretty much as planned. It’s a good day when mishaps are avoided and you get the shot you’re looking for. 🙂

Whoosh!

Today’s model is a customized Look of Love Poppy Parker with rerooted hair and repainted lips. She is wearing Cali Girl Christie’s bathing suit and goggles & swim fins from a recent Barbie fashion pack. Her swim tube is actually a floating dog chew toy from the pet section at TJ Maxx. Her photo was taken at the edge of the Atlantic ocean on Wildwood beach. I watched the tide line, got the camera ready and placed Poppy down to await the incoming waves. *Nerve wracking!* I have to tell you, it was tough stuff trying to avoid the other swimmers, positioning and placing Poppy down in the right spot (far enough to catch a wave, close enough to keep from losing her), watching the scene through the camera’s lens and keeping an eye on the ocean water, choosing the proper moment to take the shot and hurrying to catch Poppy before the waves dragged her and her tube right out to sea. LOL, I was giggling and smiling and just plain relieved by the time I got done! It was as much fun as when I was a kid and would lose myself in play. Only now, I have photos to look back on long after the moment has passed on and become a fond memory.

 
The Summer Sun Dried Up My Worries,

The Waves Drowned Them Under The Roaring Surf

And The Warm Ocean Breezes Blew Them All Away…

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Ghouls Just Wanna Have Fun

I had a fiendishly fun time dragging Ghoulia around the boardwalk for photos.

Even Zombies Can’t Resist A Merry-Go-Round

Today’s model is Monster High: Skulltimate Roller Maze Ghoulia Yelps. She is wearing the sunglasses from Monster High: Toralei’s fashion pack, a Bratz top, a Juku Couture skirt & tights, black bracelets & necklace from the Monster High: Ghoulia Yelps Comic Book Club fashion pack and a pink arm cuff from some random fashion doll (not sure who the original owner is). Her photo was taken on our vacation to the shore in Wildwood, New Jersey on the boardwalk pier.

It’s All Fun & Games Until…

Nah, It’s All Fun & Games.

And That’s All.

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Gone with the Schwinn

Well, not really…it’s a Roadmaster Luxury Liner bicycle. But, I’m such a fan of that line from The Muppet Movie, that I just had to use it for today’s blog title. Heh, heh. Anyway, I’m still working on sharing more photos from our trip down the Jersey shore. So, here they are…

Poppy Rents A Bike

Biking on the Boardwalk

Today’s model is Ask Any Girl Poppy Parker. Her hair has been washed, brushed out and pulled back with hair clips found at the Dollar store. Her bike is a limited edition scale model of a Roadmaster Luxury Liner made by the Brunswick corporation in 1998 – a fun flea market find. Poppy is wearing a tank top from one of the Fashion Fever Barbie dolls, Cali Girl Barbie’s shorts, a one-of-a-kind crocheted bikini made by me and some random Barbie sneakers (Teen Skipper’s maybe?, not sure).  Her photo was taken on the boardwalk down the shore in Wildwood, New Jersey.

What’s Not To Like

About Riding A Bike?

 

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