Shoes Make the Doll...

They say "shoes make the outfit" and I totally agree. From Etsy shops to commercially available shoes like these Grey Sneakers to Pixie Faire patterns for "Jane's" shoes which look like the popular Bob's and Tom's, there's a lot of really cute shoes out there.

From Etsy, one of my favorites is Doll Shoe Lane. Their adorable Watermelon Felt Shoes would be the perfect fit to a summery outfit, like this Watermelon Skirt or Watermelon Sleeveless Dress, both from Metta's Creations. Another cute outfit that would be "made" by the watermelon felt shoes is this Watermelon Halter Romper.

As previously mentioned, I like the "Jane's" style shoes. I regularly wear my TOMS and BOBS shoes, and of course, like to occasionally match my doll. The Jane's shoes are very versatile, and can be fancy, like these Pearly Janes, which would be cute matched with this Philippines Dress.

The commercially available shoes from American Girl-- American Girl Doll Accessories & Shoes-- are all perfect for the outfits that they sell. While they can be a bit pricey, they're perfectly sized for AG and SOME other 18" dolls, and will fit perfectly and look totes adorable. 

When good clothes happen to cute dolls...

I meant to post this post MUCH SOONER than literally two years after the last one... because I try not to dwell on negativity too much. But life happens: a move TO Austin, TX, a move BACK to Southern California, the loss of a job and potentially getting my dream job at American Girl Place in Los Angeles, and everything else.

This is going to be an ever-evolving post, with info changing from time to time.

When it comes to doll clothes, there are Etsy stores I really like for their choice of clothing styles, their separates, accessories, and other things. In no particular order, here are some of my absolute Etsy faves.

First up is definitely Naya's Designs. This shop has featured some outfits that would look truly awesome on Saige, with the cascading sweater, and the Nautical Romper here would be perfect on Maryellen, or my very own JLY #21 (or JLY #37). The Blue Floral Denim Shorts Set is also really cute, and the included shoes would look good with a host of outfits I already have. The Embellished Satin Dress Shoes would look good with most dressy outfits, and are, in my opinion, cuter than the styles AG has.

My second "featured shop" is Adollable By Rita. I love this shop for the numerous categories, including Imagination Station, which has a cook costume, a cowgirl one, a nurse costume... and then the Special Occasion section, which has some really cute Frozen-inspired dresses. One of my favorite outfits is the VERY REASONABLY priced Turquoise Tie Dye Top and Turquoise Lace Capri Pants -- only $12, and it would look great on my JLY #37 (which is a VERY similar doll to the one it's featured on in the shop). Another favorite is the Aztec Inspired Top and White Pants -- also $12. In other words, two outfits for the price of LESS THAN ONE would be at AG or a lot of other Etsy shops, And they're all well-made, not cheaply done, and are easy for girls to take on and off of their doll (unlike some designs, which are complex and difficult to put on a doll!).  The prices in this shop will enable me to buy more items, which is important when I'm expanding my dolls' wardrobe :) I recently messaged the owner on Etsy, and she's very definitely personable! I also like that she's coming out with a line of boy doll clothing-- which means I have one more reason to get the Logan doll or create my own boy doll. She also consciously picks fabrics that have patterns which WORK with a doll. In my last blog post, that was one criticism of some doll clothes artisans. They would pick a fabric that just didn't work on an 18" doll.

I also like shops that CONSCIOUSLY choose to upcycle human clothing into doll clothes. Not only does this keep clothing items out of the landfill, it gives new life to otherwise unusable clothing. So when I found The Dolly Dama, I was ecstatic. Their Raspberry Shadows Sweater Outfit features a few upcycled sweaters, and is a cute ensemble that has pieces which could create several other outfits. The Modern Day Gatsby outfit is sparkly, satin, and just enough glitzy to class up my dolls' wardrobe.

I have to admit, I DO find some of the clothing that our new FLOTUS wears to be truly beautiful. Which means I'm VERY tempted by the offerings of America's Kids USA, which features not only a suit inspired by Melania Trump's Inauguration Suit, but one inspired by Rosa Parks and the important bus boycott which sparked the civil rights movement. That dress is here-- Rosa Parks Bus Boycott Dress -- and would be AMAZING on the AG Melody doll.

I love diversity in my dolls, which means my JLY #1 and JLY #26 NEED to get this cute Black Dolls Matter t-shirt from the Black Dolls Matter shop. And yes... black dolls matter more now than they did when I was a lily white girl longing for an African American doll while I was growing up in the 1980's. Today's girls, both black and white, need to have dolls of color, and while I applaud AG for FINALLY having a black GOTY (Girl of the Year) in Gabriela, and also having the Historical Doll, Melody, who's growing up in the civil rights era, it almost seems like "too little." I plan to order Black Dolls Matters for not only my two black dolls, but for my white dolls as well. Because BLACK DOLLS MATTER... and so do black lives.

I also like ethnic clothing for my doll collection, and have come up with a very crude hijab and abaya set for my crew. Which means a dress like this Philippines Dress from Rolling Rock Dolls is truly awesome. This shop owner also has Egyptian Queen and Spanish Latina Princess dresses which are extremely reasonably priced for the quality, and are vibrant, exciting colors.

NO DOLL'S WARDROBE would be complete without shoes... which is why this next section is ALL ABOUT SHOES. I absolutely LOVE these Pink Glitter High Heel Shoes and White/Silver High Heel Glitter Shoes from Judy's Doll Boutique; they'd jazz up ANY of the outfits in my collection. This shop has a host of other shoes, from tennis shoes to boots, and all would be a great addition to any doll wardrobe. I also like these Aqua Lacey Jane Shoes from Just A Tad 4 Dolls. They'd be a fun addition to a spring time dress, or something summery, even a beach outfit. They have a bunch of different styles, all listed here in the Footwear section.

For now, that's it... enjoy my featured shops, and know this post will change in the coming days. Just wanted to finally post again.

When bad clothes happen to good dolls...

I try to avoid maligning other crafters, for there's beauty in all creations. Everything takes time to sew, knit, or crochet, and every effort should be celebrated.

And then there's the o_O creations people sell on Etsy. They're made using fabrics which don't suit a pattern well, they're made using a bad pattern, the color choice is all over the place... it's just wrong. Very, very wrong.

Here's what happens when bad clothes happen to good dolls... this is from Etsy and eBay.

The ruffle is just too much. And the print, well, too busy to be THAT widely used. On the top or on the bottom and it wouldn't be as bad.

Again, the ruffle ruins the outfit. Without the full bottom ruffle, and even leaving the top red one, and it'd be MUCH cuter, IMHO. 

Color choice on this one. The dress design doesn't do well with a "busy" print like this paisley. And the buttons would look better in ONE color.

I'm a Seahawks fan, being a native Northwesterner. But this print is just "too big" for the size of this dress and the doll. 

Too much going on here. Dress with the butterflies and flowers and neons, well, it just looks like fabric vomit. 

It looks like wallpaper. And the crafter, from eBay, wants $84.95 for it. Um, FAIL. If I was gonna spend $85 on a dress for a doll, it'd be something like the following dress...



NOT A FAIL... the colors, pattern, and trim all work with this dress. And it's $25 less than the previous one, which would be enough to buy an AG outfit from eBay, or something similar. 

Why I Love My Local Joann's

My local Joann's, in the OC hamlet of Buena Park, is one of the better ones out there, from selection of items, to, well, the sales associates and cashiers.

Case in point-- I went in last night to buy some Sands Alive sand-- $7.99 a bag (2 lbs), on sale (regular price $17.99). The cashier said, "Seriously, don't get it here", and proceeded to tell me that at the 99 Cent Only store, on Walker and Ball, the SAME PRODUCT, SAME SIZE and everything, was a mere $1.99. I was skeptical, after all, some products sold at that chain are... well... cheap. And not worth the money you pay for them.

But I was wrong. It's the same stuff, and at that low price, I've picked up six bags-- 12 lbs-- for LESS than the original price. It's easy to color, using Wilton Gel Icing Colors, and I have several pastel shades. I may end up adding glitter as well, even though I have a definite love/hate relationship with glitter.

Anywho, if you're in California, Arizona, Texas, or Nevada, go by the 99 Cent Only store, and pick up some of this interesting play medium (and not just for kids). I find when I have a migraine or cluster headache, it helps to palpitate something in my hands (or knit-- either works well).

While it feels like a bit of sandy cookie dough, it molds and holds up like play dough. This particular brand has little to no smell, and is one of those "clean" toys which leaves virtually no mess and is easy to clean up. It's also a more easy to color white/gray shade, so coloring it to whatever vibrant shade under the rainbow is easy (just wear gloves, unless you want Rainbow Brite hands!). 

Trouver l'inspiration dans la nature

The title of this post is simply, "Finding inspiration in nature."

One of my favorite places here in SoCal is, well, the beach. That goes for pretty much anywhere in the world I've ever been. I love the beach-- the feel of the air, the sounds of waves pounding the shore, of seagulls loudly calling, of feeling sand between my toes, of wading in the water... there isn't much about the beach I don't like.

And of course, I tend to find inspiration in crafting, and in art, at the beach. I'm a very Irish Catholic sort, and find a lot of joy, and also, proof of God's existence, in nature. If you go back far enough I'm pretty sure me Mum's Mum's father's family probably worshipped nature gods and "the" Goddess.

Yesterday in a day trip down to Seal Beach, CA, I wondered in an AWESOME shop-- California Sea Shell Company-- on Main Street. I spent nearly all of my allotted parking time-- at least 45 minutes-- wondering around, picking out shells they had, and also finding inspiration in some of their already made products. One of the things I liked the most was a "jewelry dish" made out of a large oyster shell, and in looking through all of their many shells and other products, I decided I could make my own, have fun doing so, and for less than the one they had for sale. Yes, it's "copying" another artisan/crafter, but imitation IS the sincerest form of flattery. Many of the shells were on sale, so I was able to get all I need to make jewelry, the dish, and a few other "sea inspired" goods.

I'll post pics of my finished products when I'm done.

I also intend to make "California" ornaments, using two Ann Clark cookie cutters (shape of CA, a palm tree), and this clay recipe-- Homemade Sand Clay Recipe --  perhaps for gifts for NEXT Christmas, perhaps as something I could sell on Etsy for "shits and giggles" money...

Also yesterday... a trip into Encino into our (my husband and my own) attorney's office, and a swing by Mrs. Beasley's, and my sweet tooth is VERY HAPPY. Not to mention, I have a nice tin in which to gather sand in on my next swing through Seal Beach (or Huntington Beach, or Manhattan Beach, or Malibu or Dana Point... needless to say, there are LOTS of beaches around here).   

New Prototype Doll from Via-E

You may recall my previous post on Via-E's Alexis O'Shay doll. Sometime in 2015, the first "friend" doll, Tatiana Nayara Oliveiera, will be released. Hopefully I'll be working soon, and will be able to pre-order this doll. For a limited time, the Tatiana doll is $68, which is a VERY competitive price for a doll of this quality. Alexis (and her soon to be released Dollfriend Tatiana) is made of high quality vinyl, that doesn't "smell" like some dolls do. She can also get wet, go in a pool, take a bath or shower with her child companion... she can also move more realistically than an AG doll, due to her joints a lot like the MUCH MORE expensive Kids N Cats dolls.

I especially like everything I hear about the Via-E company. It's a family-owned business, and the creator of the Alexis doll, Ellen, is a very warm, very personable person from interactions I've had with her, both here on my blog and on the Via E Dollfriends Facebook page.

Her interactions in promoting the doll in local Los Angeles/Orange County/California toy stores are genuine. She doesn't downtalk a child's existing doll, but points out how they'd make a good companion or Dollfriend for their existing dolls. Nor does she talk down any other doll company, which is something I appreciate. I tend to not do business or like companies which engage in backbiting of others in the same industry. I try to shop local, and TECHNICALLY, I'm still a Californian. Via-E is headquartered just down a way from Azusa, in San Clemente, CA. I also prefer to support small businesses over national corporations whenever possible. Via-E is a small, independent doll company.

Anyways, if you like the Alexis doll, you should pre-order Tatiana. If you like to spread diversity in the toy box, Tatiana is an excellent way of doing this, as she represents an Indian/Black Brazilian girl. She should be released this year, but manufacturing issues beyond Via E's control MAY delay release of the doll. It was this way with Alexis, and sometimes dealing with overseas (China) toy makers can be tedious, due to language barriers, time zone barriers, and the like.

I know I'll continue to be part of the Via-E company as soon as I'm working and have the money to buy the Tatiana doll. I'm a 33 year old woman, time to stop relying on my Mom to buy me dolls, and buy them for myself if I want to do so! And I have... I've bought 3 AG dolls out of my spending money (two JLY dolls and the Saige GOTY doll). And some togs for Alexis, since American Girl brand clothing and others don't always fit the best, as the Alexis doll is slightly slimmer and taller than a standard AG doll.

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.