DAY 20

When I brought home a bunch of doll clothes I washed them in haste mistaking the fabric softener for the laundry detergent.  They were both a new brand that I had not used before.  Because I am visual spatial, I went for the yellow  bottle instead of green for only reasons my brain can explain.  After the fresh load came to dry the house seemed to suck in the new sent like a smoker on a three minute break.  I was appalled by the newness of the scent but now somehow working with the dolls this weekend found myself in class and smelling my shirt with a watered down similarity to the doll clothes I used to dress all the naked babies.  And for once I felt calm.  I felt a clam today about this crazy one day at a time journey I am on.  I researched today, sold a doll on eBay yesterday no one has paid for yet and then sold another to a lady with a granddaughter.  I even recruited my husband to do some negotiating to secure two more dolls we will buy tomorrow.  Good night all. 

DAY 19

I tell people what I am doing and I am met with a polite pat answer of " oh, that's nice."  But some positive people encourage me by showing me their dolls.  I know one little girl is constantly giving me reports on how she is saving her money to go the the AGD store in Atlanta and exactly what she is going to buy and when she is going and how long it takes to get there and all the extra extremely important details that a 10 year needs to know about this monumental event.    Another little girl showed me this doll in the blue dress and explained how, despite have several older and younger siblings, she manages to keep this prized possession in pristine condition.  A not so little girl told me about the great find on this Berenguer doll she scored at a doll show for a mere $5.00.  She said that famous shopping "permission slip" phrase that allowed her to make a purchase..."At, that price, I couldn't just leave her there.''  Anyway enjoy the pics.

DAY 18

Yesterday I worked with dolls, however because I left the gate open and my dog got out I failed to post yesterday's event yesterday.  So here goes.

Go back to other post to see the difference.

I woke up and both boys were gone so I brought all the doll stuff I had accumulated and with coffee in hand assembled a work station on the bed putting a Netflix movie on for background noise.  I went to cleaning, refreshing and dressing several dolls for a good two hours.  Final I had to cease my task only to start an new endeavor where I went with mother in tow to find ...yup, you guessed it  "MORE DOLLS."  This time I hit the jackpot as I was able to find very cheap dolls with minimal damage and one with AGD pants on that I will resell and use those funds to find more dolls.  In the meantime I explain I am experiencing a whole new me.  An obsession?  A great Idea? What Am I doing this for?  I have a plan but like Meg Place from THE BEHEADED GODDESS 365 said..."I'm someone who constantly has ideas and plans for projects but rarely gets them past the "thinking about it" phase." I, like her, always talk myself out of it knowing how it will fail before I ever start.  Where does this lack of confidence come from and why has it attached itself to creative women? What if our idea was the a world hit, but we failed to get out of our own way to do it?  At any rate I continue to explain my idea which I am scared to share with anyone now that I am gun shy on account I expressed my passion to someone I thought would help me in my quest where in fact she just took my idea and used it for her own personal gain.  That happened on Thursday.  Anyway.  I know I need to keep going and I am not sure why.  Perhaps at the end of the 365 days the answer will come.  But for now I must continue until I know for sure. 

DAY 17

SO TIRED!  Just cam back from across the bridge to buy a new doll.  OH so cute.  And some accessories to go with the new baby.  The new goods will allow me to take better photos of the dolls.  I got a good deal and even met a Nice women named Mellissa.  She had the doll for her niece but with only boys in her house and a growing fast sister's daughter she has no use for them.  So off we drive to buy a Zapf creation, one that wets.  I learn more about dolls everyday.  I am excited that when I lay my head down to sleep no longer do I feel mad or angry inside but a childlike giddy that sometimes leave laying awake thinking about what I will do next.  Thus the lack of sleep and the first two words of this blog.   


     For those of you that think dolls are creepy.  I have to say tonight I would agree with you.  As I searched a thrift store on the way home from my last purchase I found a doll whose face was less than desirable.  Nonetheless I had to check it out.  It was tall and slender and I could tell by her face she moved or did something mechanical.  So while her eyes were open I flipped he over and pulled this Gameboy like cartridge out of her back put it back into place and then locked it in where it should be.  When I flipped her over again she moved in my hand and her eyelids were shut.  OK! That was enough for me.  I was (see I just shuttered recapturing this for you) that she would more or do something but it was her face her vibe her look.  I was so "icked" by it I left her there instead of showing it to my husband which is what normally happens. 

NAKED BABY

So Here is the pick of the day...

DAY 16

Today I was working from 7 to 7 and in between I had a small break so I dropped into a thrift store I had never been before although I had passed it many times in the decade I lived here.  I perused the whole store and on the way out asked how much this doll was and the lady gave it to me for free.  The doll has some pilling on the white body and needs some clothes. Otherwise a cute kid and an awesome lady that proves that good people are still in this world.  True to my word I will gladly sell him for the clothes on his back and the shipping to send him.

SIDE NOTE, This project has really opened my eyes and I have already have met some awesome people. 

DAY 15

Playing with dolls can be fun.  Stopping at thrift stores and finding what I want is a rush.  Dressing the doll oh so cute in unconventional pink or blue is exhilarating.  Hauling my family all of the sunshine state to get good deals priceless.  Especially for my son who fell asleep an hour earlier than his bed time and is still sleeping.  He really needed that sleep I guess.  My husband said I better organize the dolls as they are starting to multiply like rabbits.  Here are some pics from my good finds today.  Now remember I just learned about reborning days ago and already have sold a doll to someone looking for a doll for that purpose.  So I made a log of the dolls I have and the cost of them as well as the profit I made on one so far.  Maybe I will have enough dolls for a doll show?  Hey, instead of going to the show to buy maybe I can go to sell?  Now we are getting somewhere. Hear my evil doll laugh?  Just Kidding.:)

Doll lot found and bought today.

Product of yesterday and today.

Clothes bought,washed and dried today.

DAY 14

I wondered where my doll experience would take me today! I went to my local thrift store and got a bag full of babies for a low price.  I bought the one with nail polish all over it so that I could practice removing it without damaging the doll.  I am excited and already starting cleaning them up and researching the biggest doll.  It is a battery operated doll that has cries and burps.  There is a bottle that goes with it that has a long skinny nipple that activates a sucking sound.  Anyway here is a cool website I found in my few minutes of hunting for answers.  http://www.dollinfo.com/wishlist.htm.

 

DAY 13

Just after giving a lecture to parents about Playful Parenting....By Lawrence Cohen, I home looking on Craigslist for any dolls to add to my collection.  Saddened I found someone giving up hers and the beautiful curio cabinet to hold them all.  I also found something I didn't know about before....
Check out the website to find out what I'm learning today.
http://www.native-languages.org/kachinas.htm

DAY 12

1. 

Oh look how cute "My Friend Mandy" is.  She got her hair done last night and new slippers today and now she is all ready for her sleep over.  How cute. 

BEFORE and AFTER BELOW....Look out Glamor shots!

DAY 11

Doll hunting....No not really but supporting one another.  Right after this hour of hunting for car parts for we went to one last thrift shop to find more doll.  Sorry to say we found nothing or so I thought.  I need to go back and check because I think I saw one that may be profitable.  But that was only after I came home to check on the computer in front of me to find out what was really collectible in the doll world.  I do still have doll work to be done, I am washing some clothes now from the "Famosa Doll" find I scored early this morning.  Anyway off to do that and wash some of My Friend Mandy's hair.  hasta lluego.  Don't forget to play everyday!

Day 10

Still on the Berenguer doll kick I found a one dirty baby and only $1.91.  Yeah.  Now the question of the day...can I remove the permanent marker on the bottom of the doll foot that announces the price of the daily bargain, and what about the rest of the dirt?  There will also need to be some eBay research involved to see if the size I bought will be able for resale for reborning?  I also have some other from yesterday to clean and work on.  Love to tell you more about it and will do so tomorrow. 

DAY 9

WHOA DOLLS!...
Agui son fotos de las muneacas.

Above are the pics of the doll I fixed yesterday only to read more about the website.http://kimmidoll.com  So cool I even tried to buy one on ebay but was outbid.
Way cool.  And then to get a whole new box of dolls to fix, yeah

Whoa. Meantime Addy went with us to the Dr.  And was even helping Carrie out at the front desk.

OK so here are the pics because I have to get to work on cleaning and restringing these dolls.
  Don't forget to play everyday. 

DAY 8

I am running out of doll steam.  I sold one doll today.  I made $5 on it and recouped some cash I had paid to obtain her.  So I wrapped her up nicely and off she went to her new home.  This leaves me some room in my small doll cabinet to a find a new one.  Tonight I have to get Addy ready for school tomorrow. We are talking about the African American's this week and she (her character) was a freed slave.  She will be signing autographs for the kids.  They think that is funny.  I received a shipment of remnant fabric from my aunt in NYC and will be working on making some clothes.  I will be posting some AG clothes on eBay tomorrow along with my new $1.00 baby.
     Last night I spent the better half researching the topic of "Reborning" dolls.  Interesting topic with reasonable understanding of why women would collect those dolls.  Being sympathetic to loss having one of my own I wondered if that was available five years ago would I have purchased a reborn doll?  Would I have been aloud to?  Would that of helped?  All very interesting questions but none of which I want to entertain as the can keep me in the funk I am in. 
     Speaking of dolls I have to mend one that my students brought to school then dropped and left at school.  Just FYI good teachers go beyond.  But you already knew that!

DAY 7 DOLL STUFF

HOLY COW!.  So earlier today I was wondering what I was possibly going to do with dolls later this afternoon.  With my lecture less than a week away and my Image consulting VD party (ha ha get it VD) coming up I wondered where or what I was going to make time for.  Suddenly on the drive home I remembered reading 365: A Daily Creativity Journal to do SOMEthing.  I did just that.  There is an old man who always has a 24 hour garage sale at his house.  He lives right around the corner from me and I have lived in this house for a little over five years.  I finally stopped at his place to see what was up and asked if he had any dolls.  There was one.  A dirty baby doll not normally what I go for but the name on the back is similar to one my mother has.  He gladly took my dollar but after he told me his name and offered me $5 if I could guess his age.  I guessed 83 but not close enough to his 91 to get the 5 bucks.  He went on to talk to me about his marriage to his sweetheart for 65 years but she had been gone now for 11 despite the 20 years prior to her death when she had "old timers."  He was a helpful old man and I shall return again.  But what he did sell me is a Berenguer doll, which I knew nothing about until today.  So for some serious cuteness go to this website and click on FUN STUFF then  click on BABY ALBUM.  Oh too cute!
Amanda from Canada is my favorite.  http://www.jctoys.com
     Well I have to go clean up and dress the new doll and prepare my mini skirt doll for her new home. (see black and white photo in previous post) Plus I scored some hats for the AG dolls I have.  Gotta go play.  Don't forget to try to PLAY everyday. 

DAY 7 WEEK 1

"Are you still doing that doll thing?"  I heard the question as I made my morning coffee.  "Yes", I replied.
     What has happened in the last week....
 This morning I woke up wondering what day it was and when I realized it was Tuesday and we had to go back to work I didn't have that feeling of angst that usually arises on the awareness work was ahead of me.  In fact as I recounted the days past I wondered if we had Friday off and a four day weekend.  But I imediately shook that thought off knowing that wasn't true.  Yet, as I looked for the old familiar dread of facing the day I could not find it.  And here I was feeling so productive?  Strange.  I know, (going through the checklist in my mind) I had touched on every chore, nurtured all relationships, even helped others happily and I didn't feel drained or bitter.  What is going on?  Can it really be that taking time out to play dolls whether looking for new ones, reading about old ones, dressing, or making clothes could be the answer?  Can it be, that taking time away from my family even the sandwich years can actually benefit them instead of hinder them?  This is crazy and if I didn't say so the cure.  Until otherwise, I continue to play. You should try it.

DOLLS NOT ALLOWED

Tonight two of our Bionicles finished their three week training and boy were they relieved.  The graduation was attended by several friends and colleagues as well as "real people" ( our little family).  Sadly the dolls I have were not allowed nor invited.  The graduation cake was made to order specific to the graduating class Tribe colors.  All had a great time.  Here is a pic from one of the guest's cheap camera. 

DAY 6

After spending the night and day researching, I have come up with an assumption about the last doll I recently added to my entourage.  She is nothing more than a Just Like You doll.  And as everything with my life, does not fit into the cookie cutter category the internet information has provided me with.  So. that being said, there is an obvious solution to the slight mishap for overpaying for a doll which is.... no longer should I purchase them in haste until time can allow for a performance based research that will remove all doubt or hurry from the wonderful world of collecting dolls.  Now having two Just Like You dolls that were essentially made to look like their owner ( neither of them do) I am more inclined to say they may look Just like you, the reader of this blog if anything.  Cute as they are they can't be discounted for they are the way of the means for learning and that to me, is priceless.

DAY 5

     Today the dolls started out pretty busy playing Littlest pet shops and having breakfast with JC.  Samantha had a bowl of cereal all to herself.  Ha ha. 
     Meanwhile I was busy reading anything I could in regards to the make and models of different dolls in hopes not to make the same mistake I made buying a doll with a German made body and a brand new head.  One great resource I found was this....http://curtdanhauser.com/AG_Collecting/Main.html.  Anyone that has come before me and wrote about it is a great asset at this point.  So far though, I haven't found enough out there to cross reference.  But, I am new at this so I suppose it will happen it's just a matter of how much it will cost and what button I have to push.

More on that latter perhaps a different day. 

DAY 4 HAPPY DAY

ADDY GETS A NEW HAT, Just in time to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day! 

YOU GO GIRL!

DAY 4

Today being Saturday was a great doll day.  I did some doll research as I found that my new doll with blond hair seen below was mistaken for a Kirsten doll.  I know this now because, as I looked closely at her hair I found she couldn't be a Kirsten or she is and had a wig job.  The following information is used to clarify exactly what I was thinking. The pictures posted displayed a good example of just what is discussed below which is very informative.  Nonetheless I know I have a doll with a made in Germany tag but hair from a wig replacement or a July doll, I am not sure.  What happened before she got here I will never know.  I have learned many a thing already in the short time I have begun this doll collecting Journey. 
*When buying a doll on Ebay, ask many questions.
*When buying a doll over the internet ask for more pictures.
*When buying a doll from someone in person after having done step one and two above, take off all it's clothes and look at everything with slow inspecting skills that will lead you to a beneficial purchase and not an overpriced bride of Frankenstein.

Quick Guide about Kirsten Doll

It is pretty easy to recognize Kirsten and Molly as they have 2 braids. Here the example for Kirsten but same you could use for Molly

White bodied Kirstens have a white muslin cloth body; both Mattel and Pre-Mattel Kirstens have matching cloth bodies.

White bodied Kirstens have coarser, thicker hair that is a lighter shade. Pre-Mattel and Mattel Kirstens have darker blond hair.

The clipped hairs are more sparse in Mattel Kirstens; however, White-bodies Kirstens have less long hairs in the back.

Mattel and Pre-Mattel dolls have lighter blue eyes.

Pre-Mattel and White Body Kirstens have soft light brown lashes. They are longer in White Body Kirstens.

Kirsten has much longer hairs than JLY doll but some people like to do haircut to their dolls

Only Molly has short cut hair in the middle to create the row line for  2 braids. Scroll down to see the pictures

White bodied Molly dolls have a white muslin cloth body; both Mattel and Pre-Mattel Mollys have matching cloth bodies.     

THANK YOU http://stores.ebay.com/PhoenixDesign-and-Webkinz-Treasures                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Day 3 continues

This is the doll that I am hoping to purchase in the future.  I also need some socks for the two dolls seen below, underwear as well.   I am new to doll collecting, so other than Ebay or making them myself I am not sure where to get that.  Today I had to check the progress of one of the doll's hair that I bought strictly as the model for any clothes I may make. It looks like it curled and dried well but the ends are still a little frizzy.  No matter, she is still cute.  Braiding and caring for the doll hair is not as easy as it looks.
TO DO LIST...
*find website that instructs on caring for doll hair.  

 

DAY 3

MAKING SOMETHING.....
Most of the 365 day projects have created something.  Mine however is truly creating. The unfortunate thing is that what it makes can't be measured.  Think of it, if you will, as meditation to a Buddhist.  Meditating creates a well balanced individual with clarity and awareness.  Playing with dolls is my meditation.  And although I don't make a tangible product daily, I think the focus is more in creating a better person, for my family, for my coworkers, and the students I teach.  Taking a time out for me to do something fruitless "for me" has given me a better outlook on the day and a more peaceful approach to what I have to do, knowing down time is just around the corner.  Off for now to make a better me, more latter.

Day 2 continued

TODAY I HAD A NICE VISIT FROM FELICITY!

Her owner was so kind to bring her in with her mob cap on.  

She is so 1775!

Day 2

Today I told two of my friends about my blogging idea.  The first question was "why dolls, why not jog or read a Danielle Steele novel?"  My answer....Well because as one who prides herself on the amount of things I can accomplish in one day I need to learn how to relax and playing with dolls will not benefit the greater good of anybody but me which is a wonderful thing that helps someone who is often caught enabling or having a lack of boundaries thus putting herself aside for others.  That being said, they laughed and made a wager that I would not make it for a year and in two weeks time we would be chuckling about the idea over dinner at my expense.  So let's see what happens.  More about the dolls later.  

Day One

It is what would seem to be day one of my new fad of doll collecting however, It is actually the fifth doll that prompted me to begin this blog.  You see I wasn't one for playing dolls as a kid and quite frankly am more familiar with Tonka than Barbie but now as I enter the next 4 decades I have decided it might be time for a change.  Today I received this blond hair blue eyed naked baby all the way from Jersey.  She came packed very tightly in plastic and cutting her free seemed to take forever.  At first I thought something could be wrong with her eye as it would not open while wrapped up, as I tilted her forward.  My onlooking husband assured me it was the wrapping getting in the way. Luckily he was right ( ha ha).  So after I checked her over I took off to Michael's with my 40% coupon to buy her some gear.  Ta da, now she is ready to hang.