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You are here: Home / Archives for Claudia

Rosie

November 7, 2025 at 9:01 am by Claudia

A little (key word, “little”) story for you.

I started collecting customized Blythes in mid 2021. Through my IG account, I started following all sorts of collectors and creators. In early 2022, I started seeing these adorable little BJDs (ball jointed dolls) on various accounts. “Dudu and Wuwu.” It turns out they had been created by a woman in China – her account/business was named Eat Zongzi. As with almost all BJD releases, there was a preorder and a limited amount of dolls were sold. All of that happened before I became aware of them. There was no way to order one, but I sure wanted one.

Through a couple of conversations on IG, I learned of a woman who lived in England and was Chinese by birth and was a Blythe collector. She could sometimes source items that were hard to find. I could only afford one girl, so I chose Wuwu. She found one for me in China and that’s when Wren arrived on the scene. A year or so later, Eat Zongzi created a Mengmeng doll. This time I placed a preorder. That girl is Lily.

In my mind, Lily is the older sister of Wren. Now, let’s not forget that I sold Wren – very reluctantly – when we needed some money. I sold her to an IG friend who, at the time, said if I ever wanted her back I could have her. A year or so went by and I discovered I did want her back. Lily looked lonely. And I missed little Wren’s mini-me worried face. I sold some things on Etsy and saved up the money for her and I finally was able to welcome her back to the cottage.

Okay.  You know my thing about little doll families. If I buy one Little Keiko or Landoudou doll, eventually I have to buy another because a girl needs a sister. Several months ago, I started thinking about the Dudu half of the original offering. I searched on IG for Dudus so I could remember what she looked like. Darned adorable! I casually posted an IG Story saying I was looking for a Dudu and if anyone was selling one, I’d love to buy her. No response.

A couple of weeks ago, I decided to post the original inquiry again. I was quickly contacted by a fellow Blythe collector – who I know – in the Netherlands. She was selling her Dudu, a girl who had been customized by Rose and Cacao, a Portuguese Blythe artist I am familiar with as I’ve purchased some of her Blythe clothing. We chatted back and forth – there are always questions about tariffs and customs these days, but there are ways around that problem. I was hesitant and asked her if I could take the weekend to think about it. She was fine with that. I was a little concerned about the expense. A few hours later, I got a call from Darko offering me an unexpected job. There was my answer.

Sorry this is so long, but you know I love a story.

She arrived here on Tuesday.

Meet Rosie!

Rose and Cacao did the face up and changed out the body. I’m not sure what kind of body it is, but I really like it. The freckles, the hair, the eyebrows!

Here they are together.

And here they are with their older sister, Lily.

The timing of it all was perfect.

My little Eat Zongzi family is complete.

(And I’m running out of room on my shelves.)

Another photo from yesterday:

I like happy endings.

Stay safe.

Happy Friday.

Filed Under: bjd dolls 22 Comments

Bluebirds of Happiness

November 5, 2025 at 9:06 am by Claudia

Pardon me while I wipe my eyes. I have been crying with joy over yesterday’s election results. I feel hope for the first time in a long time.

We voted in our local election and the results were equally gratifying. After that, we went to a grocery store where I purchased non-perishables for our local food bank and dropped them off at the library collection point.

And then – later in the day – a wee little doll arrived. But I’ll share her with you on Friday.

In the meantime, I grabbed the camera the other day when I noticed bluebirds in the bird bath. They were stopping for a drink on their way south.

I love bluebirds. We don’t really see them around here except for early spring, when they are migrating north, and now, in the fall, when they are migrating south. They’re so beautiful.

Thanks for all your feedback on ads. My ad provider has changed things so I won’t get so many pharmaceutical ads. And the reason I often get 3 of the same kind of ad when I’m on the blog is the ad provider can tell I am the owner/writer of the blog because of the frequency of my visits, so they hold off on showing a variety of ads because I’m not a reader of the blog. That makes sense.

We have had a lot of wind lately and now we’re getting a heavy wind warning from late this afternoon until tomorrow morning. Enough already. I’m praying for the safety of everyone, for trees not to fall, for the power to stay on. Please send positive thoughts.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

Filed Under: life 16 Comments

Monday Musings

November 3, 2025 at 8:49 am by Claudia

 

This little corner makes me smile. I think it’s so important to have a little corner, whether it’s a comfy chair, a desk, or a spot in the basement, where you can create. During the years in which I crocheted and knitted, I used to have a basket filled with yarn next to my chair here in the den. That was my space. When I quilted, I had the sewing machine table tucked under the skylight in the upstairs hall. I still use the kitchen table for projects, as well as for jigsaw puzzles.

And, of course, we all need a place where we can read a good book.

For many years – many – I had absolutely no extra space for that kind of thing. I was living in rentals and micro-sized studio apartments. I always came up with some sort of solution. Back in San Diego in our rental house, my friend hinged a door to a wall. It was in a horizontal position. I could lift it and lock it in place and that’s where my sewing machine and quilting took place. When we moved here, I eventually made a studio out of the hallway upstairs. (It was even in a magazine.) When we finally realized that our second bedroom, with a queen-sized bed, was never used and we were wasting valuable space, everything changed. We sold the bed and I asked Don to help me carve out two spaces in that room – one for him, one for me.

It works for us. We’re seldom up there at the same time and Don most often plays and composes down here in the living room. But he waits until I finish writing the blog, ’cause he’s a good guy.

Do you have a space in which to create? I’d love to know about it.

Also, another question: I’m having some trouble with the content of my ads right now and I’m trying to sort it out. Can you tell me what ads you see on the blog? (Everyone who comes to the blog sees something different depending on their browsing history.) I’m currently seeing ads from pharmaceutical companies for breast cancer treatment. Personally, I have a real problem with the amount of ads I see online and on the television from pharmaceutical companies. I don’t like ads for drugs/medical treatments on the blog.

Thank you in advance.

Stay safe.

Happy Monday.

Filed Under: life 42 Comments

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Welcome!

Welcome!

I live in a little cottage in the country with my husband. It's a sweet place, sheltered by old trees and surrounded by gardens. The inside is full of the things we love. I love to write, I love my camera, I love creating, I love gardening. My decorating style is eclectic; full of vintage and a bit of whimsy.

I've worked in the theater for more years than I can count. I'm currently a voice, speech, dialect and text coach freelancing on Broadway, off Broadway, and in regional theater.

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