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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Happy Holidays

We’re well into crunch time – the big day fast approaches. Soon it will be Christmas! I’ve been baking and decorating cookies, the tree has been trimmed and some of the presents are wrapped. I’ve been a busy little elf. We had a bit of snow, too. So, it truly is looking a lot like Christmas in these parts. Amid the hustle and bustle, I even found time to grab a few holiday dollie photos.

Season’s Greetings!

Merry Christmas!

Today’s model is Fame by Frame Imogen from the Tropicalia convention. She is wearing an elf hat crocheted by me, a sweater (sold as a tree ornament) from Christopher & Banks, LIV dolls Moolight Dance Daniela’s dress, Barbie stockings, boots from the 2008 “The Heist” convention Life of the Party fashion, Fashion Royalty earrings and bracelets and rings that are actually craft store jump rings from the jewelry department. I also created the wreath myself. It’s fashioned out of green wired holiday ribbon from Walmart and trimmed with a bow from a spool of ribbon found at Michaels in the dollar bin. Imogen’s photos were taken a couple of day’s ago in our yard – the first two in the front yard (in a snow pile that I carved a little path in – and, yes, she is standing on her own…with a little help from the snow. LOL) and the last image was taken in our backyard.

We Wish You A Merry Christmas

And A Happy New Year!

 

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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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A Walk on the Beach

There’s nothing more soothing than a walk on the beach…the smell of  suntan lotion hanging in the air, the ocean breeze, the sound of children laughing while splashing in the waves…ahhh….

Poppy Strolling on the Sand

Today’s model is an ooak  rerooted Look of Love Poppy Parker with a lip repaint. She is wearing Summer Crush Misaki’s bikini. Her photo was taken on the beach in Wildwood, NJ.

C’mon, Baby, Walk A While With Me.

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Greetings From the Jersey Shore

We went on vacation earlier this month and  I’m finally getting around to downloading, editing, uploading and posting photos. It’s going to take a while to get to them all, but here’s a taste…

 

Poppy Arrives at the Newport Beach Resort Motel in Wildwood, New Jersey

Poppy In Our Room

Poppy #2 On the Balcony of Our Room – You Can See the Beach, Boardwalk & Ocean From Up Here!

Today’s models are Ask Any Girl Poppy Parker and a one-of-a-kind rerooted Look of Love Poppy Parker with repainted lips.

Ask Any Girl is wearing Stylish Escape Veronique’s sunglasses, an unknown Mattel Barbie top (possibly Fashion Avenue or My Scene), Holiday in the Hamptons Poppy’s trousers, Bonjour Misaki’s sandals and handmade jewelry (earrings & bracelets) made by me. She is carrying luggage from the Poppy Parker as Sabrina Most Sophisticated giftset. Photo #1 was taken at the front door to our room, photo #2 was taken in the room on the entertainment center.

Our second model is wearing Pretty in Plaid Barbie’s dress, Jet Set: High Toned Rayna’s bracelets & earrings and My Scene sunglasses. She is carrying luggage from the Poppy Parker as Sabrina Most Sophisticated giftset and Girl of the Moment Veronique’s train case. Her photo was taken on our room’s balcony.

There are newer, more posh places to stay in Wildwood, but none have what I consider the perfect location & view. Looking out from our balcony, you can see the boardwalk, beach & ocean. At night you can see the rides lit up on the piers in the distance. The great “Wildwoods” sign is center stage, with huge concrete beach balls leading up to it – such a fab photo spot!

We had a most excellent time and there are many more photos to come…eventually. 😉

Long After Our Tans Have Faded,

And Our Lives Returned To The Bump & Bustle

We Can Look Back On Our Photos And Remember

Those Happy, Carefree Days In The Sun.

 

 

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Are You Ready For The Summer?

As you can see by the new header on my blog, I am. I’ve been on a creative jag lately – crocheting bikinis and making jewelry for my dolls. So, I nabbed some of Poppy Parker dolls from my collection and dressed them up to show ’em off. We got a sunny day yesterday (Hurray! No rain. It’s been raining nearly every day for ages here.) and I decided to put the good weather to use. I dragged all of them, my cameras and myself outside for photo time.

Foto Fab, Pillow Talk, Tears Go By & Look of Love

Youthquake, Sweet Confection & Endless Summer

Endless Summer (again) & I Love How You Love Me

Summer Magic, Coney Island Saturday & Forget Me Not

In the Air & Portrait In Black

Today’s models’ names are listed under each image. Their photos were taken on the lower deck in our back yard in the late afternoon. LOL, I loaded them all into a box, set them up and clicked away. It was quite a challenge, shooting thirteen dolls (attempting to pose them naturally and in an interesting way while trying not to knock them over) with the sun beating down on me and a few insects trying to get noticed by this paparazzi (buzz, buzzzz). But, all in all, I’d say it was a success. Kinda makes me want to drag out my Barbie swimming pool and set it up for a full day’s shoot…we’ll see. Anyway, if you want to see more, be sure to visit my Flickr pages via the link on the right.

Sun & Fun,

It’s Only Just Begun…

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So Long, Summer

Today is the last day of August. School has started and Labor Day weekend is just around the corner. Though we’re experiencing yet another heatwave, I can feel the summer slipping away. I know it’s not quite over, but I can sense the end just looming, mocking. It’s  like watching the last few sands sliding through an hourglass. I’m not ready for baking apple pies, cooler nights and carving pumpkins. Before you know it, it’ll be Christmas. Ack! Okay, maybe that last bit’s an exaggeration. But, I feel like I’m caught in a landslide of time and all I want to do is dig my heels in and make it stop.

Summer Beauty Colette

Checking Out Colette holds on to summer wearing a flowered maxi dress / town gown made by me (out of an old shirt), ooak earrings and bracelets (also my own handiwork) and a couple of  craft store jump rings on her finger. She’s leaning on a wooden structure (not sure what it’s original purpose was) that I found at the flea market. She’s standing in my front yard in late evening sunlight.

The Last Of The Warm Summer Days Are Upon Us,

Too Soon Autumn Will Hold Us Within Her Chilly Embrace.

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Another Sunshiny Day

Today was another picture perfect day. Sunshine, breezy blue skies…ahhh…so nice. I could take a month of days like today.

Poppy Kicks Up Her Heels

The model of the moment is Summer Magic Poppy Parker. She’s wearing yet another hoodie from my marathon sewing spree, a pair of Fashion Royalty sunglasses & earrings and Top Model Nikki’s boots. Her photo was taken my side yard in late evening sunlight.

Sparkle And Shine In The Summertime

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Go Outside And Play

When I was a kid, my Mom would always shoo me and my brothers out of the house on nice days. It didn’t take much convincing as I loved being outdoors. I would go out on my bike or play in the yard, it didn’t matter. I loved just being in the sunshine, breathing in the fresh air and discovering the neighborhood around me. We had woods behind our house, a trailer court up the street and a lake in town. There were kids up and down the street to play with. It was great. Now that I’m all grown up, I don’t get as much exercise as I once did (no more biking or roller skating), but I still love going outside to play. 🙂

Erin Models A New Hoodie Dress

Today’s model is The Making Of Erin. She is wearing one of the hoodie dresses that I made during my sewing streak earlier in the week. Her hair is restyled into two twists and I added bows to match her outfit. She borrowed Anti-Social Girl Misaki’s boots to complete the look. She is standing in my front yard in the early morning light on a gloriously sunny day.

We Had Joy, We Had Fun, We Had Seasons In The Sun
But The Hills That We Climbed Were Just Seasons Out Of Time

– Terry Jacks, Seasons In The Sun

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Dreary Days

So it’s been rainy and gloomy and cloudy and yucky for days. I’m missing the sunshine. Where did summer go? It feels like autumn, it’s so chilly. I’ve been battling the blues that sometimes plague me when the sun goes away by sewing new clothes for my dolls. At least this foul weather is keeping me productive.

Misaki Sports Some Trendy New Threads

Miss Trendy Girl Misaki is wearing a hoodie top and plaid trousers (both sewn by me), along with the boots from On The Go: Destination Tokyo Misaki. I love this casual look. It’s the kind of outfit that I like to wear myself. Her photo was taken in my front yard, in the evening, with the aid of the camera’s flash to throw some light on the gloom.

Maybe Tomorrow Will Be A Bright, Sunshiny Day…Yeah, That Would Be So Nice.

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