Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!!!!

Still playing with the Ice House…

In The Ice House

Lit By The Sun

Frozen Fantasy

Icy Retreat

 

Solitary Snowbound Solace

Today’s model is Wild At Heart Lilith. She is wearing an open-ended ponytail hat crocheted by me, Dynamite Girls: London Calling Kyu’s coat (I love this coat!), FR2 Modern Sensibility Dasha’s tank top, Urban Outfitting Nadja’s trousers, Integrity Toys boots (from one of the Model Behavior girls?) and a pair of gloved hands (not sure who they originally belonged to, really). Lily’s photos were taken in the ice house built in our front yard, in the morning on the first day of February.

I love how the ice house sometimes acts like a light box, diffusing and amplifying the sunlight. The cold had me sneaking in and out of the house to warm up and didn’t lend to spending time changing poses, but I do love the shots I ended up with. Fun times. 🙂

Ice And Cold.

Cold And Ice.

Sometimes, My Friends,

It’s Very Nice!

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Happy Halloween A Day Late

This is what Trick or Treating looked like this year in the Poconos…

It's Beginning To Look a Lot Like Christmas...er, Halloween

Actually, Halloween was postponed in our community until this upcoming Saturday. Which is just as well since the snow storm on Saturday knocked our power out for a couple of days. Yeah, Mother Nature was giving out all tricks and no treats, LOL.

Today’s model is Portrait in Black Poppy Parker. She is wearing a crocheted hat and scarf made by me and the jacket, top and trousers from My Scene Barbie’s Chillin’ Out Madison. Her photo was taken in our side yard on Sunday in the morning sunlight.The pumpkin is a little lantern that I picked up at Gertrude Hawk Chocolates in the mall.

Ho, Ho, Ho, Happy Halloween!

 

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Another Lucky Find

Have I mentioned how much I love our local flea market? I really do. I’ve found many dolls, new and old, as well as doll related items over the years for very reasonable prices. Besides the doll paraphernalia, I’ve also gotten depression glass, crystal, locally grown produce, jewelry and more. You never know what you’ll find. And even when the pickings are slim, there are usually such interesting things to look at, that it’s still worth a walk through. And the people are nice, too.

Go Go Co Co Twist and Turn Barbie

Ta Da! This is who I found today. She’s a vintage mod Twist and Turn Barbie with the Go Go Co Co light brown hair color. About the only things I could find wrong with her were that she had a plastic green ball pushpin in each ear (but no sign of turning green or paling), some light surface dirt, a faint pinkish stain on her pinkie finger and her original hair elastic was falling apart (but not melted into the hair). So, for ten dollars, she was mine. As soon as I had her in my hands, I removed the pushpin earrings and threw them away.

When I got her home, I gave her a good washing with liquid antibacterial hand soap and warm water. A quick soak and a rubdown with a soapy washcloth took off most of the surface dirt. But, I did use a magic eraser on the legs, carefully avoiding the feet since she still retained her original toenail polish. I dried her off and blotted her hair with a towel. Then, I took out the disintegrating elastic in her hair and replaced it with a new one. Finally, I combed out her beautiful hair and let it air dry.

I think I have some mod era clothes, but as I was looking for them, I found a more recent dress that had the right style and color to suit her. So that’s what she’s wearing. I couldn’t tell you where I got it or who wore it originally, because I just don’t remember. Anyway, I brought her outside to photograph her in the natural light so I could showcase her beautiful coloring. Out of all the shots I took, this close-up of her lovely face ended up being my favorite.

Today Was A Very Lucky Day. 🙂

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Chasing Sunbeams

It was a foggy, rainy day here today. The warmth of summer was replaced with errant breezes more suitable for early autumn. Such a dreary day it was, I figured that my dollie photo would have to take place indoors. However, about an hour before sunset, the heavy cloud cover parted to reveal lovely golden beams of sunlight. The skies rapidly cleared and gave me some magical lighting for today’s picture. I followed the sunbeams as the shadows grew long, quickly moving with the waning light, catching it before it disappeared.

Ballerina Brix

This is Brix, a Bobobie Ju msd sized ball-jointed doll in the lilac skin tone. She’s wearing a wig from JPopdolls, tawny acrylic eyes (unknown maker), a crystal stretch ring for a bracelet, Clea Bella’s Sunflower Dance ballet corset & tutu, stockings made by me and sneakers found on ebay (unsure which store). She’s sitting on a hand painted bench (a flea market find) in my front yard in late evening sunlight.

Little Ballerina, Will You Dance? Or Has The Gray Day Made You Weary?

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Tell Me A Story

Sometimes when I’m taking photos of a dollie, I find myself daydreaming. As I gaze at the image through the lens, I start to think about who she is or what kind of life she leads. Every now and then a story begins to form…

Innoquii and the Magic Crystal

I guess I’m missing my sweetie (since his vacation is over and he’s back to work), because the story I imagined is one of loneliness. I imagined Innoquii was listlessly roaming her private gardens, pining for her mate. In his absence, she gazes at the water stone he left behind as a gift. As she looks upon it, dreaming of his return, she unlocks the crystal’s secret. An image of her sweetheart dances in it’s depths, allowing her to see him though he is far away. Yeah…I miss my honey today. 😉

So, today’s model is Traveler Innoquii and she’s wearing her original lingerie.  I bought her secondhand and her original owner had removed her hair, so now she is a wigged doll. She’s wearing a wig that I bought from a fellow collector, it’s a size 4/5 – maker unknown. She has a pale blue Swarovski crystal cradled in her hand. The photo was taken in my front garden in the afternoon, under changeable skies – sunny and cloudy in turns.

You Make Me So Lonely Baby,

I Get So Lonely,

I Get So Lonely I Could Die. – Elvis, Heartbreak Hotel

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Part Feline, Part Human

Like the  Island of Dr. Moreau only sweeter, the folks at Pipos have created a new ball jointed doll that has a cat head & tail and a human type body. You even have a choice between human or “beast” hands. The female’s mold is called Charlotte and she is about 27.5 cm (almost 11 inches) tall. The face plate comes off so you can change out the eyes, too. Her face and ears are hand painted – so delicate and lovely. I ordered mine about a month ago and she arrived from Korea today.

Phelany, Thief of Hearts

I’ve named her Phelany, sort of a play on “felony”, “Melanie” and “feline”. She has the original factory face-up (face painting). I switched out the aqua factory eyes for a pair of dark blue acrylics I already had. I swapped her human hands for the beast hands. She’s wearing Bonjour Misaki’s dress (fits great!) and a necklace that I made. She’s standing in front of a red, wooden chair I found at the flea market. She got a present upon her arrival, a crystal mouse, that was also a flea market find. Her photo was taken in my front yard in the early evening while the sun ducked in and out.

Wild Thing, I Think I Love You…

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Good Morning

There’s something special about the mornings. A clean slate, the start of a new day – the potential of good things to come. We had plenty of rain yesterday and this morning dawned misty and bright. The sun’s warmth had not yet completely burned through the low clouds streaming by on the morning breezes. The smell of wet earth, flowers, grass and pine hung heavy in the moisture laden air. The sunlight was dreamlike, wavering, strengthening and receding as the mist thickened and thinned, marching by, gathering and fading in turns. I like to stroll through the yard in my jammies, drinking a strong cup of coffee, in the early morning before the rest of the world has awakened. It gives me time to think and dream and prepare for whatever the day brings.

Good Morning, Barbie

Today I chose a simple playline Barbie doll for my muse. I’m not sure which one she is – I think she’s older (maybe from the early nineties) as she does not have an enlarged head, she’s got PTR (pointed to the rear) arms, a full bust and molded pink ballet slipper feet. I like her lack of extra make-up – just a fresh-faced look: bright blue eyes, natural brows, a healthy blush and pink lips set in a soft smile. Long, straight, blond hair with a fringe of bangs…natural beauty all the way. She’s wearing a handmade dressing gown that I found in a doll clothing lot I bought at the local flea market. Her photo was taken in front of my house, facing into the side yard. The morning sun is still a bit hazed in by the misty clouds, but it lends enough light for the scene: my front garden, fence in the side yard, the bird feeder and Miss Barbie enjoying her morning stroll.

Oh, What A Beautiful Morning,

Oh, What A Beautiful Day.

I’ve got A Beautiful Feeling

Everything’s Going My Way.– Rogers & Hammerstein, from the musical Oklahoma

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Queen Of The Fairies

I love the mythical, magical, fantastic, wild and wonderful. All of the out-of-the-ordinary, strange and unusual – they fascinate me. I guess you can tell, many of my dolls and their photo themes seem more placed in dreams than reality. It’s not that I don’t like my real world, quite the contrary. It’s that I always seem to find the magic in it and that makes me happy. And sharing makes the happiness grow.

Titania - Midsummer Night's Dream

I have wanted this Barbie doll since she was first issued. Somehow I always ended up missing her. But not today. There she was, never removed from her box, just waiting for me to come along at the flea market. And she was mine for a fraction of her original retail price. Happy day! Here, Titania from the ballet Midsummer Night’s Dream rests upon a rocky outcrop, welcoming you to her forest. This photo was taken in the side yard in the waning evening sunlight.

What Angel Wakes Me From My Flowery Bed?

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Nostalgic Sweetness

I spent some time with family today. My aunts, uncles, second cousins, and more relatives gathered together to visit, break bread and trade stories of days gone by – it was awesome. So much delicious food, catching up and laughing together, it’s such a blessing to be part of it all. I love each and every one of them.

Cute Little Francie

The doll I brought to my Aunt’s house is reproduction Francie. She is wearing her reproduction white shoes and an original vintage tagged Francie fashion. Funny story: I found the dress and vest together at the flea market a few weeks ago. Yesterday, I went to the same flea market (different seller) and bought a bin of clothing that included the matching hat. How cool is that? I don’t even know the name of the outfit or if all the pieces go together, but I like it – and that’s what really matters. Update: The fashion is called Concert in the Park.

Anyway, we had a mess of rain all day…it wasn’t ’til later that the rain eased up and still it was so dark outside. So, Miss Francie popped outside onto the deck where a neat little still life was set up. It seemed to be dollie-sized to me so I stood her in scene and took a few snaps with some half-strength flash for light. Then Francie returned indoors to be admired by the women folk of the family.

Make Today A Lovely Memory To Look Back On Fondly. Enjoy Good Food And Time With Family. Count Your Blessings And Be Thankful.

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She’s So Unusual

She’s so unusual…unusually cool, that is. Who doesn’t love Cyndi Lauper? I remember listening to her music and watching her videos on Mtv when I was a teenager. Her wild, weird and wonderful style called out to me…I wished I had such a zest for life. She seemed so brave, thumbing her nose at convention and allowing herself to shine bright and be free. It’s something even a kid could see and the adult I am now can totally respect. The happiest people on earth are the ones who can be who they are, despite other’s expectations, and with no apologies.

Cyndi Smolders In Shamrock Green

Kudos to Mattel for doing such a nice job on their likeness of Cyndi Lauper. While I would have preferred an articulated body, I know that Barbie Collector’s editions rarely utilize it. Ah, well. Her model muse body is different than most; the right arm is scupted away from the body and the wrist bends out at an almost extreme angle while the left hand is “hand on hip” and the fingers are quite splayed. It makes posing her an exercise in creativity.

She is wearing Lone Star Great Barbie’s gown and earrings from one of the silkstone dolls. Since St. Patrick’s Day  is tomorrow, green seemed fitting and it’s a striking contrast with her red hair. She does “Irish lass” quite well, no?

Wishing You The Luck Of the Irish All Year Long

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