This makes me sad...

This isn't about crafting; if you have an issue with that, please, don't hesitate to leave.


When I hear of cases like this-- Teen Girl Writes Heartbreaking Post Before Committing Suicide -- it makes me want to cry. It makes me angry. It also, in a way, makes me thankful.

Before you dogpile on me, I'm thankful I didn't grow up in today's "share everything on social media" era. I'm thankful I didn't have Facebook, Myspace, Keek, Instagram, or any of the other popular social media forums.

I know what it's like to be in such deep despair due to cruel taunting, bullying, and such. I know many were bullied, and it's time for us to share our stories-- and hopefully prevent more tragedies like Amber's. I didn't know her in life. I wish I would've. I wish I could've told her-- and I'm telling other teens now-- IT GETS BETTER. It may not get better immediately. But it will get better in time.

I am NOT ashamed of things, and perhaps if the bullies see this, they'll realize just how much their conduct shaped me... and them. Taylor Swift's song "Mean" comes to mind.

The more stories I see like this, the more thankful I am I didn't have Facebook or Myspace when I was a teen. I was bullied enough without them. I continue, in my adult life, to be bullied on the Internet. A few incidents from my childhood still sting, many more years later than I care to admit.

One in particular hurts more than the rest. In fifth grade (Fall of 1991, I was 10), a girl named Amy drew a caricature of me, as a vampire (my canine teeth are relatively "long", and yes, I am INCREDIBLY sensitive about it). She made photocopies of this cruel, crude drawing, passed them around my classes, and I just happened upon one of them after it had been out for a few days. When she saw that I had seen it, she attempted to shove me down to get the cruel drawing out of my hands before I could show it to the principal or to my mother or a teacher. She didn't succeed (even back then I was a solid fighter when necessary), but she also didn't get in trouble. And furthermore, her little copies of the drawing followed me... to middle school, to high school... every so often, it'd surface again. And why? I don't get it, I guess because I don't have the bully mentality. Was she jealous I consistently got "better parts" than her in school assemblies/music performances? Was she jealous I was often times singled out for praise by my teachers? Was she being bullied by someone herself, and chose to take it out on someone she perceived as "weaker" than herself? I don't know why someone would purposely try to hurt another person. 

I'm thankful for that lack of understanding. I'm thankful that my parents raised me to treat others with kindness, to treat others as I wanted to be treated. I'm thankful I was taught the difference between right and wrong. I'm thankful I had so many caring individuals in my life, who literally kept me alive in some of my darkest hours.

I just don't know what I would've done if social media was as prevalent as it was then. It was hard enough. So many times I'd wonder if anyone would miss me if I was gone. I have my journals from back then, and can't believe how painful and angst filled my teen years were. So many days I'd come home from school and cry.

Like the time I'd been bullied the whole two hours during a band "sectional"-- I was an oboe player in with the flute players, because we were in the same key (C), and the other oboists were in Wind Ensemble (a higher group than Concert Band, which I was in). They criticized the way my part sounded, when, of course, our parts were different. They criticized my embouchure (how you hold the double reed in your mouth when playing), when of course, NONE of them could make so much as a squeak with MY instrument (and I could play all of theirs as well as they could!). They ripped me for everything (appearance, clothes, etc), and then isolated me in a different room, making it impossible for me to get out. If it hadn't have been for TRUE friends letting me out, I would probably still be upstairs at my middle school! My Mom had JUST gotten me calmed down from all of this, and mind you, we lived three and a half miles (about 10 minutes away) from my school, when we turned the corner onto our street and saw an ambulance at our house. My father was having a heart attack, the first of three. Luckily, he survived, but it's one of those events which will always sting me.

To those who bullied me in the past, and those who continue to bully me, I have one thing to say: FUCK YOU. And "I'm sorry." I'm sorry your life was so sucky you had to try to drag me down. I'm sorry the way you build your self esteem up is to tear another down. I'm sorry you were envious enough of me to try to make me disappear. Guess what? You all didn't succeed. And now, when I see you, I see what time has done to you and your appearance, and inwardly, the feeling of satisfaction I have is sweeter than the finest Droste chocolate.

Yes... it gets better. It just might take years. And while it's the hardest thing to smile through pain, to live when the alternative would be easier, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, DO NOT do something permanent-- suicide-- over something so temporary. High school ends; your life shouldn't. Bullies suck, I know. So to anyone reading this, when you feel you can't go on, PLEASE, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline '1-800-273-TALK (8255)-- and live.

To Amber's friends and family-- you are in my thoughts and prayers. Our hopes are shared; that Amber's story reaches the masses... and that another tragedy is averted. That bullying comes out of the shadows, that it, someday, is like dust in the wind.

If you have ever been bullied, as I have in my life, SHARE YOUR STORY. Come out of the shadows. Don't let the bullies win... show them they are what they want you to feel like: NOTHING. NOT WORTH IT.

YOU ARE SO PRECIOUS! YOU ARE LOVED... so please, realize your worth, how much you're loved. 

Have yourself a merry little (Rainbow Looming) Christmas...

When the Rainbow Loom craze started, I admit I was skeptical. I admit I didn't quite get the craze, didn't get the hype, didn't understand it.

I've been like this with nearly every trend since the 90's, so that's nothing new.

I admit I didn't start reading the Harry Potter series until two weeks before Book 7 came out. My bad. I then literally was up all night reading Book 1. And then HAD TO HAVE the rest of the series. It's a good thing I was working and could buy the books!

Last spring, I FINALLY decided to buy a loom kit. I initially bought the knock off, cheap-o version of the Rainbow Loom, the D-I-Y Loom Band Kit. It was flimsy but got the job done. Before long, I was hooked (pun intended). After much begging on my part to my (not-so-long-suffering) husband, I bought my first Rainbow Loom, at the Michaels store in Long Beach Towne Center. And then, because I'd acquired a few knock-off looms and had one on the way (slow boat from China, natch!), I decided to try something which I now call "loom band diplomacy".

I knew the phenomenon was BIG with children, and knowing of several families in our "Palais des Cafards" apartment complex (a nice name for the sad reality... this is about the worst place I've seen or lived in) with pre-teen or teenagers, I decided to "pay it forward" with my now less-than-desirable DIY loom kits. Believe me there when I say there is NO comparison between the original Rainbow Loom and any knock-offs. Our former neighbors who moved into a one-story apartment in the complex following a car accident where one of the teen daughters was seriously injured and couldn't readily climb stairs like those in our townhouse (and theirs, we shared a wall) got one (and the three teens of the family promptly began to fight over it, natch, so I ended up giving them my spare Monster Tail loom, which, naturally, they fought over); our neighbor on the end got one (and she was sooooooo happy and by the next day her whole family had new bracelets!); and her BFF got one. Needless to say, I have a rep now in the apartment complex. When the kids run out of loom bands, they usually come to me.

Which is why I have a "stash" now... partly for my own use, because I too partake of the looming fad, and yes, partly for the inevitable. They say for every dollar spent on education or on children, it results in yields of over $8. I've also heard that for every dollar spent on education, $100,000 of taxpayer money is saved (which would've been used on incarceration of criminals). And considering the negativity girls here in Azusa COULD fall into (teen pregnancy, drug/alcohol use, street gangs, etc), if I can give them something else to do, I WILL CERTAINLY TRY IT. Besides, when they have something to do, they're less apt to be out running amuck and screaming (which my migraines will thank me for!).

It did about break my heart-- our closest neighbor's (on the end) daughter was soooooooooo pleased when I gave her a new supply yesterday. She'd had to stop making bracelets because she ran out of bands. She ran right in to her apartment and "stashed" them, presumably in a safe place. The ones I bought cost $1, and I ended up getting others for an average price of 67 cents due to a sale Joann Fabrics was having. Something that I enjoy doing, and something which literally costs very little to do, was something this girl's family couldn't afford. And since her two friends were there, I couldn't NOT give them something. I went down to Joann's in Covina, and pretty much bought them out (just kidding, they still have PLENTY). The girls now have glittery bands, glow in the dark bands, shimmery bands, etc., and they're all happily making bracelets again.

Which brings me warm fuzzies... even more so than making my own "jewelry" out of rubber bands. To see a child smile, or take joy in something, well, it makes my day.   

DIY Doll Clothes Fabric Pack like Pixie Faire's Pixie Pack(s)

I like the Pixie Faire patterns, and think their "Pixie Packs" are a good idea, albeit somewhat overpriced, kitschy ones that tend to sell out pretty quickly.

Case in point-- the O'Brien Pixie Pack. http://www.pixiefaire.com/collections/pixie-packs/products/pixie-packs-obrian-bay-outfit-collection -- unfortunately, it, like many, sold out within hours of being listed on the site. If you like the fabrics in the pack, you're out of luck.

SOURCE: http://www.pixiefaire.com/collections/pixie-packs/products/pixie-packs-obrian-bay-outfit-collection (Screenshot)

Or are you? The answer is NO. Fabrics VERY CLOSE to what are available in that pack are available other places... for more reasonable prices. While the pack offers small pieces of fabric, if you buy from other sources, you'll have a yard or more, and will be able to make the outfit(s) many more times. The Pixie Packs are, on average, $25, plus shipping, and contain less than a yard of fabric total. When you DIY a similar pack, you'll have several yards of fabric.

TOP (Seafoam knit)-- http://www.fabric.com

BOTTOM (Lace dot)-- http://www.lowpricefabric.com

TOP & BOTTOM-- http://www.fabric.com

Notions, including zippers and buttons, can be found here-- Doll Zippers and Etsy Zipit Shop for zippers; Buttons for Doll Clothes and More; general notions, Nancy's Notions,

Needless to say, "doing it yourself" will result in a more customized pack, and one that you can pretty easily duplicate. 

Hiatus Explained...

I haven't blogged in awhile... nearly two months. Not that an explanation is ever necessary, because those who matter to me already know why I wasn't blogging, but this is for those who find following my every move online is an "amusing sport." That my life, as I live it, is too "unreal to be true, therefore, I MUST BE lying". And that "Melinda harassment is constitutionally protected free speech" (that coming from one studying to be a lawyer, which scares the crap out of me). I have been afraid to blog, not knowing what or who might be lurking around the corner. Because of people I do not know, have never met, and hopefully will never meet, and what they do, I can't live my life as I choose. It sucks. I'm not doing anything in violation of the law, I'm not doing anything to "bother" any of them (aside from belonging to the same forum, and I've kept my membership open there for a reason). Yet they follow me around the Internet, they post personal identifying information about me ON their site (which is in violation of their own clauses), and that's okay in their minds. They don't see what they're doing as wrong, but they see me being alarmed by it as abnormal. What's worse is that one of them on the site initially "invited" me to there... just so they could continue the snarking.

UPDATE: Petrie is a FALLOW cockatiel, not a cinnamon. Possibly also a pied. See below pic.

These memes are for them:

ANYWHO: My grandfather died late in the evening on September 11th. It wasn't unexpected, as he was 98 years old and had been in declining health due to a series of strokes for awhile (since November of 2012). The POS caregiver(s) he had at the end certainly didn't contribute to his staying with us for longer, but on my previous visit when I saw the diagnosis of "vascular dementia, as a result of cerebrovascular accident" on his hospital discharge papers from July, I thought it would be a minor miracle if he made it to his birthday.

His 98th birthday was September 6th. He left this Earth to his eternal heavenly home five days later. I didn't find out about his death until late September 13th when I got home from working at the LA County Fair, in the same way my sister Melissa did: a posting on our Mom's Facebook page. YES, she neglected to call BOTH of us. And NO, neither of us will let her forget that for awhile, LOL. We missed the burial, since it was a "natural burial" shortly following his passing, on the Monday following his death. The memorial service was scheduled for October 6th, and I flew up to PDX on September 30th.

While I had my laptop with me, I didn't have Internet access except on my phone. Needless to say, blogging on a phone-- even an iPhone 6 (which is pretty freaking sweet, by the way)-- is next to impossible. Because my husband and I aren't at our house full-time yet, getting Internet access (likely with Verizon FiOS, which we have now) is unnecessary. Ordinarily, there's a signal strong enough to "leech" off of, but there wasn't in my neighborhood, though my laptop did detect multiple "unprotected" networks... and attempted to connect to them.

I stayed up in Washington for several more weeks-- a month and four days, to be exact-- following the service.

My husband and I are now "pet parents" to two bound-to-be incredibly spoiled male kittens-- Tigger (an orange tabby) and Eeyore (very fluffy gray and white with impressive "ear furnishings"-- he no doubt has some Maine Coon in him somewhere)(see below pics), in addition to our cinnamon pied (possibly split to lutino), possibly pearl cockatiel Petrie. Once we're in Washington, our extremely spoiled cockatiel Petrie won't be able to free fly anymore... so she may need a bigger cage. Husbandito has said he wants to get a dog, "something big", but I'm not really much of a dog person... especially big dogs. After what my parents' neighbor's dog did to two of their cats, I think anyone would hate big dogs. Maybe someday we'll get an Alaskan Klee Kai, which looks like a Husky, but is only about a third of the size of "regular" husky dogs.

But until then, we have Tigger and Eeyore. And they're precious...

And no, I didn't pose Tigger like this-- he and Eeyore often lay close to each other and often put a paw around the other. They groom each other, play together, and genuinely seem to like one another. They're brothers of different mothers. 

Just waking up from a nap... 

Eeyore was trying to nap, and when my Mom came in the door, he woke up. Which, obviously, he resented. 

Note the "red" iris. That's a FALLOW characteristic in response to a camera flash (this being from my iPhone 5S, has been replicated with other iPhone models as well as a Samsung Galaxy S5).

Apparently my shoulder is a comfy sleeping place!

My photos are my own. As the owner of these pictures, I am allowed to post them wherever I desire, and others are not allowed to leech them, link to them, etc. I am publishing them here, but that does not mean I'm giving permission for them to be posted anywhere else, unless of course I choose to post them elsewhere. I REPEAT-- I DO NOT grant permission for these images to be published anywhere else. If in fact, these images DO turn up elsewhere, and it was not myself who posted them, I will take it as a violation of  CPC 422, 653.2 (what has been done to me and any theft of images is most closely within these parameters), and 653m and take appropriate measures. The same applies to any "abnormal" web traffic from certain sites or sources; that too is a violation of those legal provisions, most specifically, again, 653.2. It isn't "rubbernecking" or being a "rubbernecker", it's being creepy and alarming. Get a new hobby; I could suggest a few. But since certain people cannot seem to do this, that's why I have to post a warning here. And as a fellow Californian, I would think a certain "blog owner" would WANT to be with her newborn during certain critical months. Remember: I have evidence dating back four fucking years. Enough already.  

My Saige doll arrived...

In my last post, I touched on my American Girl doll collection, and how I'd purchased a Saige 2013 Girl of the Year doll. The doll arrived, after a bit of a snafu with the address, and is probably the one of the cutest GOTY's in the line. Saige does look a lot like the 2007 GOTY, Nicki-- both have "Western themed clothing" and both "girls" in their stories like horses and have a horse as part of their collection. Both have red hair, although Saige's is darker and Nicki's is more of a strawberry blonde. Both also have freckles and are the AG "Classic Face Mold."

My doll collection, on a shelf at my Longview, WA home-- (from left to right): JLY #21, Josefina, Via-E Alexis doll, and Nicki, 2007 GOTY.

Dolls here in Azusa-- TOP (L to R): Kailey, DOTY 2003, wearing Saige's dress; Saige, GOTY 2013, wearing Josefina's Harvest Outfit; Julie, wearing Ivy's Chinese New Year dress. BOTTOM (L to R): JLY #1, and JLY #37. 

The Saige doll has really pretty dark auburn hair, with lighter red highlights. It's probably closest in color to the now-retired Felicity doll, although it is a different shade. Her eyes are a medium aquamarine shade, unlike any I've seen on any other AG doll. Her meet outfit is a dark bluish purple (American Doll Wiki calls it "indigo"), and the "belt", which is separate in the girl sized outfit, is integrated into the dress. Her underwear is a turquoise blue, which is roughly the same shade as the faux turquoise (really plastic) ring. She also has her original earrings, but I plan to get the sets AG still has which so happen to be her accessories and clothing, renamed with generic AG names, no mention of Saige.

Her ring is quite cute, but it's also an accessory that would get lost very easily in routine play. If I, as an adult collector, can manage to lose the ring for a few days when the doll is just being displayed, I can only imagine in a child's hands its play days would be numbered. I guess if parents with kids want the ring to stay around, super gluing it to the doll's finger is always an option!

In addition to purchased clothes (there are many cute options on Etsy), there's Josefina's Pretty Clothes patterns, AG Pattern PDF files, which I can use to sew for my Josefina, Nicki, and Saige dolls, and a plethora of Pixie Faire patterns which would be "Saige approved." Pixie Faire's Trendy Slouch Cardigan, Free 18" Doll Tank Top 18" Doll Leggings,  and 18" Doll Gladiator Sandals are a pretty close approximation of Saige's Sweater Outfit (picture below). This fabric-- Tribal Print Geometric Knit Fabric would be good, as would several others using the simple Etsy search parameter of "geometric knit fabric."

Saige's Sweater Outfit, from AG

 Saige's Sparkle Dress is a little harder to replicate, but this one-- Pixie Faire Monday Morning Dress -- is pretty close, except for the pleats (which could be taken out).

Saige's Sparkle Dress, from AG. 

A couple of her other outfits-- the Tunic Outfit, and her Pajamas, are still available from American Girl, at slightly reduced prices. 

Reflections on collections....

One thing that has been maligned by my "fan club" (really a group of snarky, insecure, and disturbed women) is my collection of dolls. I'm far from the only grown woman in the US who collects dolls, or who enjoys them. I've found, though, that what I do, even if it's a shared hobby, pastime, collection, etc. with other women around the globe, AUTOMATICALLY is abnormal, because I AM DOING IT. And since THEY, in their infinite wisdom, think I'm "off my rocker", anything I do, even if it's completely banal, is automatically wrong. Fuck that reasoning, bitches.

They're Facebook psychologists, by the way, and were relentlessly torturing me at a VERY LOW point in my life. My life was their entertainment. I couldn't do or say anything without it being analyzed to the nth degree. I have definite sympathy for other victims of stalkers; I know what it's like to worry someone's watching and want to withdraw from everything in life due to not knowing who's watching and ready to pounce. I was often nauseated, had bad stress rashes, and my anxiety over it, and worrying what horrible thing would be done next was immense.

It was bad enough several of them lived close to where I did (and where I'll be moving back (with my husband) to before the end of the year), and had "threatened" to come by the Home Depot store where I worked. When I saw that, I told my front end supervisor (an awesome guy), whose wife worked for the neighboring town's police force. He was concerned enough to bring it up at the next department head meeting, and because we knew what these individuals looked like, due to their photo posts on the forum, there was an informal BOLO on them. They were de facto banned from the store by our then manager. Everyone rallied around me and I'm thankful. I'd thought I was possibly overreacting, that I was somehow to blame for their (illegal) actions. To my knowledge, they never showed up at the Longview, WA Home Depot store. And yes, if they HAD shown up, they would've been arrested.

Cyberstalking is even more troubling in many ways to offline stalking. They share many elements, though offline, in person stalking tends to be someone the victim has known or come into contact with. In my case, I have NEVER met any of the people responsible. Our only contact was via the now-defunct Facebook game Sorority Life. Yes, I was STALKED due to a GAME. I received hundreds of nasty messages on my in-game "message board", I received nasty messages on Facebook, and in what was the most disturbing incident, friends and family received messages from a few of them, warning against having contact with me. There is showing concern for someone, and there is criminal behavior. This crossed that line-- an attempt to isolate me from friends and family?  WHAT THE HELL?!? Who the hell are you that you think that's okay in any way, shape, or form? The harassment has continued since late 2010 on this particular forum. When I married in 2013, my marriage license, with my name and city and my husband's name and city, was published there on the site. Why they think that's okay is beyond me... I'm NOT in the public eye (not a celebrity, politician, etc.), and because of that, I'm entitled to privacy. It serves NO PURPOSE to publish my personal info like that-- except to harass and alarm me. MY LIFE IS NOT THEIR ENTERTAINMENT AND THEY NEED TO STOP MAKING IT SO!

And now, even my collection(s) are subject to ridicule. Yes, I collect American Girl dolls. I have several (ten with my dolls down here and the ones in Washington state), including my most recent purchase, a 2013 Girl of the Year Saige doll (I'm also bidding on a retired Marie-Grace doll, which I don't fully want, so by Murphy's Law as it relates to eBay, I WILL AUTOMATICALLY WIN IT). I also have two "Just Like You #21" dolls (AG JLY #21), a Kailey doll, a Julie doll, a Just Like You #37 (JLY #37), a Just Like You #1 (JLY #1/African American), a Josefina doll, the retired Just Like You #4 (Just Like You #4/Asian), and a Nicki (also a GOTY) doll. The Josefina doll, JLY #4 doll and the Nicki doll were gifts from my Mom, who likewise collects dolls. I also have a non-AG, but very well made Alexis by Via-E doll (see Alexis O'Shay Dollfriend). I must admit to coveting the now-retired Ivy doll, the Jess doll, the McKenna doll, the Sonali doll, and present GOTY Isabelle. I'll no doubt get Isabelle before she's retired.

I enjoy sewing, both for my (growing) doll collection as well as myself. I probably could be considered a collector (or hoarder) of sewing patterns. I have enough patterns that I could sew something new EVERY week until I'm 50 (and I'm 33 presently).

I also collect (mostly) eclectic salt and pepper shakers. My favorite is this one-- Dog and Fire Hydrant. I covet this one-- Toilet and Urinal Salt and Pepper Shaker.

But until I grow my salt and pepper collection, I have my doll collection. Which will no doubt grow. As soon as habibi and I move, or possibly before, I'll be going to AG Place-Seattle with my step-niece (my sister Melissa's stepdaughter). My awesome Mommy has pledged to buy me and her step-granddaughter a doll... it should be fun.

And because I'm moving into an AWESOME house, I'll have a "gardening/flower bulb/vegetable/fruit" collection. My yard is big enough for an extensive garden, as well as what I want to do with the flowers in my front and back yards. There's a raised flower bed that I'd love to do a stacked herb garden in, and probably also put seasonal flowers like crocuses, daffodils, tulips, and lilies in (Purchased ONLY from Holland America Bulb Farms). I plan to put an arbor/trellis along the west side of the property, and then have climbing roses covering it (my favorites are the Handel rose, CI Rise and Shine rose, and the virtually impossible to find Cajun Sunrise rose). There's a brick barbecue and a fire pit in the backyard, and I want to build a gazebo over that area so my husband and I can enjoy barbecuing food year round and not have to worry about the rain! I love the vintage, retro 1970's kitchen; we won't be changing that at all (but the wallpaper in the office area off the master bedroom has GOT TO GO-- it's pretty hideous). I'm torn between two mixers, both KitchenAid, one vintage and one modern. The vintage one wins slightly (somewhat due to color), because the older models are known for "being built like tanks" whereas the more modern ones are not noted for the same stability.

And now, a meme, of my two houses...

(From my Facebook page; Images are a screenshot of my present residence in Azusa, CA from Google Earth, and my new house in Longview, WA-- my own iPhone pic, other pics are available here-- My house in Longview). 

 

And yes, my Mom bought the house for my husband and I. Due to some sage real estate holdings (and their sale in the Phoenix, AZ area) of my family, and my late grandparents' extreme penny pinching, let's just say... it was possible.  

About me (in less than 500 words)...

I'm 33, married to a wonderful Lebanese man, no children (yet), have one very spoiled cockatiel, several betta fish, and I live in Southern California.

I love California, and especially our civil tort laws and the CPC's (which may yet serve me well). Specifically, CPC 528.5 and 646.9, and Civil Codes 1708-1725.

I'm NOT a public figure, not a celebrity of any sort, but even if I were so, I'm entitled to privacy in my personal life. Everything I do and say is not a soap opera or movie, although for some, it seems to be. They pick apart and analyze everything I say and do. I'm basically not allowed to do anything without fear of scrutiny. They make fun of things I enjoy doing, or of my collections. They post personal information about me, including my marriage license. They make assumptions about me, psychoanalyze me, and generally defame me. I'm just FED UP. Why is this okay? It's NOT on so many levels I can scarcely begin to count them. Needless to say my list of supporting evidence for any RO is longer than one page. It's about 20 pages-- and that's significantly CONDENSED.

FWIW, I've sewn basically all of my life, from the time I was five or six and would make doll clothes with my Mom's help. I dabble in knitting and crochet, though I've never been very good at crocheting, and I'm a very impatient knitter. Even though I don't list any projects or many of them on my Ravelry profile page, I have several going on at any given time (usually just washcloths and dishcloths). I'm inactive in most of the groups I belong to. My crafting "poison" is mostly sewing. I have a cache of vintage and modern sewing patterns so deep that if I sewed something new every week for the next 30 years, I still wouldn't make it to the bottom. I really need to send some of these off-- mainly the size 14+ patterns I'll never sew, and the ones I have dupes of.

My favorite Ravelry group of the 137 or so I belong to is "RAK", which stands for "Random Acts of Kindness." In this group, members post tangible lists of patterns they like, things they'd like to receive, birthday wish lists, etc. It's always awesome to make someone's day... especially when they're halfway across the world. I try to fulfill at least 4 wishes a month, especially from new members or from people that haven't had a wish fulfilled before. Crafting brings us together as women and men, no matter what form it takes.

I'm travelling to see my family this coming Saturday evening (flying out of LGB on JetBlue, going to PDX; on an Airbus A320-- not my favorite plane-- but non-stop, 1 hour 57 minutes), which will be the first time I've seen BOTH of my parents (except for Dad's quick visit in April) in almost 2 years. 

Alexis (and other 18" dolls) Goes to the Beach

I am in SERIOUS "love" with my Alexis by Via-E doll -- she's probably the finest made doll on the market today. She can get wet, which means her opportunities for play are extremely more broad than most other dolls.

I live in Southern California, home of year round sunshine, beaches with water warm enough to wade (or swim, or surf) in without freezing something off (unlike my "native climate" of Washington state, which I'll be visiting from August 2nd to the 19th), and a system of freeways with traffic that can only be described as "amusingly confusing."

I absolutely adore Pixie Faire, a pattern company featuring extremely chic fashions for 18" dolls. Every week, they put four patterns up for voting for their "Friday Freebie", and they also have a wide selection of freebies available every day.

One of these is this Free 18" Doll Swimsuit and a few weeks ago, the Friday Freebie was this adorable 18" Doll Rash Guard and Shorts Set -- either of which are PERFECT for Alexis and will be joining her wardrobe soon.

I'm going to turn these-- Swimsuit and Sarong/Maxi Dress for Alexis -- that I had previously planned to turn into a hijab and abaya, into the Swimsuit and a Maxi Dress/Swim Coverup for Alexis. Or perhaps this, Potential fabric #2 for Alexis' Swimsuit -- I'll have to do a fabric "draping" and see which one is better for my beautiful doll. 

When I visit the Northwest next month, I'm taking Alexis with me. The day before I leave, my Mom and I will likely go to the Washington State International Kite Festival held in Long Beach, WA... and Alexis will come with us. 

THE Most Awesome Doll in the World

Since 1986, American Girl (now owned by Mattel) has dominated the 18" doll market. Other dolls haven't had the same staying power, or the intense marketing, that American Girl dolls have had since the beginning. While Mattel has the immense ability to market their products, the quality and durability of their dolls isn't always ideal. One BIG pitfall of AG dolls is their entirely cloth body. Not only do they look less than cool when wearing chic fashions like their owners may wear, as the cloth body shows when anything bares the shoulders, they can't get wet. If they get wet, their eyes can rust and lead to the dreaded silver eye, and if the torso gets wet, both the cloth body and internal stuffing could mold or mildew.

Girls NEED dolls-- they allow them to "play" at being adults, and just retaining the innocence of being a girl. The best type of doll is sturdy, yet inviting, and something that girls can easily relate to, because she (the doll) has qualities that her owner/Mommy has. She can get wet, she can wear the latest fashions, she has realistic adventures, and here's the "sneaky" part-- she also teaches the girl important lessons about life and the world around her.

Through the amazingly talented Selena Esparza (FB page here-- Custom American Girl Dolls by Selena Esparza ; YouTube channel here-- Selena Esparza YouTube channel ; and eBay store here-- Selena Esparza eBay store), who repaints AG and other like-dolls to look more "mature" and modern, or to look like characters from popular culture, I discovered Via-E's Alexis O'Shay doll, Via-E Dollfriends/Alexis O'Shay.

She's 19" tall, a little skinnier than an AG doll, but with a definite sturdy feel to her. Her delicate nails are "painted" in a "French manicure", and her hands are able to hold objects with ease. I found a super cute thing for her-- MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS-- most of which are sized "appropriately" for an 18" doll... Musical Instruments for AG Type Dolls.

Alexis' hair is rooted nylon, very soft and silky, and much more manageable than other dolls' hair. It's a beautiful caramel blonde/light brown color, one I've never seen on a doll before. Her eyes are a lovely blue green that somehow look more "lifelike" than other dolls of mine. Her nose is a little more pronounced than other dolls, but I like that feature. It adds to her "real girl" appeal. Her wide smile makes her very approachable, and perpetually cheerful. I've always thought the AG "two tooth" smile that's standard on all dolls except Kaya, was sort of, well, rabbit like. Alexis' smile looks like a real smile, even if the white "teeth" are not marked into individual teeth.

Alexis, next to AG DPTY 2003-2004 Kailey

Alexis O'Shay doll,  image copyright of Via-E

I think the best feature of Alexis is her all vinyl body... it means she can wear lower cut clothing, shirts or dresses that show shoulders, and other fashions without looking somewhat awkward or "lame", like AG dolls do. And because of this vinyl body, she's able to get wet-- able to swim, able to go to the beach (and maybe splash in the surf!), and able to do things other dolls can't without being ruined. While her "after swim" care is perhaps a little bit time intensive for a girl to do on her own (knowing what I do of children and their attention spans!), it's not very difficult, and is something that parents could use as an important lesson on hygiene for their daughters.

Alexis O'Shay, as a character, is originally from the Southern California beach town of San Clemente, who now lives with her travel writer father and fashion designer mother in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The next doll in the Via-E line will be the Tatiana Nayara Oliveira doll, who is described as being Afro-Indian, so she has darker skin and features more in line with that heritage. Her "theme song" is here-- Tatiana Theme Intro-- Via-E Tatiana Doll and Alexis' own theme is here-- Alexis O'Shay theme song -- Via-E Alexis doll.

One thing that excites me is Alexis has the POTENTIAL to have an abaya in her line. Dubai is listed as a place she has visited with her fashion designer mother, and since the UAE's "national dress" for women (see UAE National Dress for Men and Women) is an abaya, it's very possible we may see this addition to the line. And I couldn't be happier. If Via-E is the first line to feature an abaya/hijab for dolls, they could very well increase their popularity around the world. It would definitely sell in one of the planned "toy store expansions" in Michigan, due to the high number of Muslims near Dearborn, MI. There is literally NO company out there that makes an abaya or hijab for dolls and sells it commercially. Even on Etsy. Until then, I'll make my own abaya and hijab for her (see previous entries). And probably (mentally), on the way, write a hypothetical "Alexis at Dubai Fashion Week" story.

Another cool thing about Alexis is her "injury guarantee". If at any point during the year after her purchase she suffers an "injury", the company will fix her, free of charge. Also, any purchases made through the website are applied towards a "healthcare plan", and when $140 of purchases is made, another free hospital visit is included. Or, if not enough points have been accumulated, a low fee (considering AG's hospital visits) of $40 can be substituted for the accumulated point system. With AG, if a doll suffered an extreme misadventure and had a detached head and arm or leg, it'd be $64 to reattach it ($32 for a head, $32 for a limb... it's unclear if more than one limb was detached if it'd be a separate $32 charge or just one). A "well visit" is $28 (skin cleaned, hair brushed, hospital gown, but no major "injuries", which is a total ripoff considering you can buy baby wipes for $1, a hair brush for MAYBE $5, and the material to make a hospital gown for $2, so essentially, less than $10 if you DIY), ear piercing is $14 (I find it ironic it's as much to pierce a doll's ears as it is a human's when all they do is literally take a Dremel drill and put two holes in! Okay, so doll earrings are included, but they're NOT WORTH $14), a new head or new body/limbs are both $44, so Via-E is very reasonable, should a doll suffer a misadventure and find herself in need of TLC. But with as sturdily as I find my Alexis doll to be, I doubt that'd be an issue with most girls-- or even most boys who may not be gentle with their sisters' dolls.

Alexis can wear American Doll clothes, although depending on the clothing items, it may be a loose fit, since she's skinnier and a little taller. Because her big toe is separated from her other toes, she can more easily wear "flip flop" style shoes. I am VERY tempted by these Pixie Faire patterns (for all 18" doll lovers, be sure and check out their Friday Freebie/Pixie Faire. Every week, this company generously gives away one of their patterns from 12:00 am Friday to 11:59 pm Friday)-- Flip Flop Sandals/Pixie Faire and Flower Sandals/Pixie Faire. Either one would look ADORABLE with Alexis' "Loving Sao Paulo outfit" and the very similar (minus the vest and kerchief, which are easy enough to sew)-- Carpatina Fleur Blanc dress. As Carpatina-branded 18" slim bodied dolls are very similar in size to Alexis, most of Alexis' clothes are made by Carpatina-- 18" Dolls and Doll Clothes. I also really like DreamWorld Collections clothes, of which a Princess Kate-style wedding dress is included. Since Alexis' fashions from Via-E are somewhat limited presently (but always growing!), other companies can be used until Via-E's clothing line is more developed.

All around, the Alexis O'Shay Via-E doll is definitely a doll I can recommend. I've already told my Mom about her, and have told several friends with daughters. I know girls will love Alexis for the play opportunities, and Moms/parents will love her for her durability, reliability, the educational lessons, and the joy their daughter has when playing with her new Playfriend.

INTERESTING FACT ABOUT MY DOLL: She's #498 out of 550 of the original, first run dolls. There will only be about 1,500 of this "generation". I bought her off of Craigslist for a VERY reasonable price. The one I got her from was the original singer of Alexis' theme song, before they decided to go with the present version, sung by a 16 year old. During the focus group, mothers/parents preferred the original singer's version, but girls preferred the 16 year old. Considering this doll is marketed towards children, the company, Via-E, decided to listen to the girls and go with the second version. Since most companies market towards adults (even toy companies, since it's adults that buy toys and not kids) and not kids, I think that's pretty cool.

My Favorite Place(s) in the World...

I live in Metro LA, which means I'm a half hour's drive from the second largest city in the United States and all that brings with it.

I'd been wanting to make a trek into the Fashion District for some time, and a week ago Saturday, I did so. It was an easy drive down the 210 to the 605 to the 60, and then closer to Los Angeles the 60 is marked as three other numbered freeways simultaneously -- the 10, the 101, and the 5 (yes, it can be confusing-- you're on four freeways at the same time. That's why overthinking in LA traffic is never recommended although for some, thinking at all is a definite struggle based on the way they drive!). A short distance later, and literally three blocks off the freeway is the Fashion District. Parking is $3 for fifteen minutes, with a cap of $5 a day, so it's not especially expensive, and it's quite plentiful (I was pleasantly surprised, considering I went on a Saturday afternoon).

It is a mecca of sorts for those who live, love, breathe, or otherwise enjoy fashion. Small shops and vendor stands line the streets, and there's too much to literally see in one trip. Which is why I'll no doubt go back again and again and again.

But for this first trip, my destination was Michael Levine's The Loft store, which is across the street from the main Michael Levine store (web URL: http://lowpricefabric.com/). In that part of the store (which is above the home decor area), ALL fabrics are $2.49 a pound. They're rather jumbled into bins, but that's part of the fun. It's like digging for treasure. You don't know what you're going to find, from the cheapest of knits to perhaps something that was originally $60 a yard.

The fabric pictured here (on my Instagram)-- http://instagram.com/p/pBHUd3FbkO/-- will eventually be turned into a doll abaya. I believe it's the size of a fat quarter (see here for a great explanation-- What's a Fat Quarter of Fabric?), but it may be slightly larger. I picked up roughly 7.5 more pounds of fabric, mostly (if not all) knit. There's a navy and teal striped fabric I can see turning into a nice, nautical inspired version of Butterick 5606 (again, see my Instagram-- The Most Awesome Pattern in the World!), there's a slightly funkier and heavier matte jersey, there's a lilac sparkly knit that's also "begging" to be turned into a doll abaya. For what's the most redundant linking, once again, see my Instagram-- Shades of Purple.

Purple/lilac and shades thereof happen to be my favorite color(s), for the record. Followed by deep, rich jewel tones, and "colors found in nature", most especially those of a California sunrise or sunset.

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I do intend to conduct a "sweepstakes" of sorts once I have a few doll abayas sewn up. Not sure of specifics yet, but it'll likely be one a week during the month of Ramadan (which begins on June 28th). I will have some guidelines, but not many. And it'll be open to the whole world, not just the United States. 

Hijab & Abaya for 18" Dolls

One thing I've wanted to do for awhile is create an Islamic outfit for 18"-20" dolls like American Girl (http://www.americangirl.com), Maplelea (http://www.maplelea.com), Australian Girl (http://www.australiangirldoll.com.au/), among others.

The maker of American Girl has had two Jewish themed products, the first "Doll of the Year", Lindsey Bergman, as well as historical character Rebecca Rubin. Not completely a surprise, since the owner of American Girl is Mattel, which was originally founded by Ruth (creator of Barbie as well as a successful line of mastectomy products) and Elliot Handler, a Jewish couple. The Christian religion is heavily implied, with many Christmas themed outfits.

Yet Islam is completely ignored by this and most other mainstream doll companies. Only ONE major doll line/toy company in the US, the Hearts for Hearts dolls made by Playmates Toys, (http://playmatestoys.com/brands/hearts-for-hearts-girls), have had a "Muslim" doll. That being their current Shola doll, who is marketed as being from Afghanistan. See About Hearts for Hearts Dolls for more info. You can find some Islamic style clothing on eBay, like this listing (which links to others)-- Afghan Doll Dress Project -- but for the most part, it's an ignored market.

Islam is one of the fastest growing religions around the world. There are over a billion Muslims throughout the world, and roughly 3 million Muslims in the United States. Only a very small percentage of this faith is engaged in terrorist acts against the West, yet they are the ones that get most of the attention.

I can only imagine how difficult it must be for Muslim American Girls. They don't see Muslimah role models portrayed in any (positive) media, there isn't much in the realm of play (outside of the Fulla doll) that shows them "proper" Islamic dress while allowing them to explore it in their own lives, and they're no doubt bombarded with more negative aspects of American culture that discourage them from wearing hijab or following their faith in other ways.

I'm in the process of creating a hijab scarf and abaya for 18" dolls. The hijab part of it is easy; there's an awesome pattern from Frugal Abundance here-- Hijab Pattern for 18" dolls-- and I have in the past created a version of it that doesn't use that pattern that also works. A 6" by 8" or 8" by 10" rectangle folded in half, then sewn along the edges works as an "underscarf", or half of a two piece Al Amira-style hijab. The abaya is a bit harder, but I've been using Urban Hijab's Aaisha abaya as a pictorial starting point-- Urban Hijab's Aaisha abaya-- then using my own original attempt (picture below). Yes, that's me hiding behind my "model" doll (Kailey, Doll of the Year from 2003-2004)

In this attempt, I used a fat quarter, with the following layout (see below illustration). 

See correction below...

Making the hijab is easier; there's the aforementioned Frugal Abundance pattern, and making a one-piece Al Amira style hijab is also pretty easy. A rectangular piece of knit fabric, approximately 4 inches by 18 inches, sewn together with a piece 8 inches by 18 inches, then folded in half and sewn with a very slim, 1/5 inch margin seam, and voila, an Al Amira hijab. 

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For the record, I'm Catholic. I've been married to a wonderful (Maronite) Catholic man for a little over a year now (our anniversary is April 20, 2013). But one thing I firmly believe in is interfaith cooperation, interfaith dialogue, and diversity in play. 

Since there's literally nothing out there in mainstream toy land to represent Islam, I've been determined to come up with something... anything... that accomplishes that. Hopefully this does it. I'm sure I'll be tweaking the pattern from time to time, and won't ever be fully satisfied, but such is life when you're Type A and creative. 

CORRECTION TO LAYOUT: A standard quarter yard of fabric is wayyyyyyyy too "skinny". It would create a tunic, or basically half of a salwar kameez set.  So to create the "fat quarter", buy a half yard of fabric, and have them cut it in half for you (most places will). A great place to start is Joann Fabrics' Red-Tag Clearance fabrics, or watch their sales-- they routinely have knit fabrics on sale 40% off (or more).

Here in Los Angeles, one "must go" is LA's Fashion District. There are a plethora of shops with fabric as cheap as $1 a yard, but my favorite place there is Michael Levine and their related Loft store (across the street from the main store). Everything in the Loft store is $2.49 a pound... on my last trip, I came home with nearly eight pounds of fabric.