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You are here: Home / Archives for Blythe dolls

The Funeral, The Girls and Some Rain

September 20, 2022 at 9:21 am by Claudia

I watched all of the coverage of the funeral yesterday on the BBC. It was beautiful, moving, stunning, powerful – I’ve run out of adjectives. Don left the house for a bit to buy some groceries in that period between the funeral and the service at Windsor Castle but yours truly watched it all – except to take a shower, get dressed, and make the bed. It will stay with me a long time.

As I said in some of the comments: the most moving moments for me were the corgis waiting for her at Windsor Castle, the lone bagpiper at the end of the funeral, and her pony standing at the side of the road. That one made me cry.

I’m still thinking about it today and I suspect that will continue. Rest in Peace, Your Majesty.

My back is getting stronger. I still use the heating pad, probably because I’m used to it and it provides a sense of comfort. I want to mow so badly but Don says to hold off until Thursday. Sigh. He’s most likely right and since he’s taken very good care of me over the past two weeks, I’ll honor his request.

You knew it was coming: doll updates.

Madeleine is wearing a dress that I purchased from a woman named Mila in Ukraine. Isn’t it lovely? She also sent 5 or 6 pairs of socks (including the ones in the photo,) the bag, a hair bow, and a hat.

The hat fits quite snugly and it never would have fit over Madeleine’s hair, so Pippa offered to wear it.

I crocheted a tiny version of the hat I’ve been making. It fits Lily’s head, but just barely. I’ll play around with it in the next few days – I think I want a slightly larger version.

Yesterday’s mail included a package with the neck joints I’m going to use for Maeve and Sophie. Gulp. It involves some cutting and drilling, so wish me luck. I may try it today, we’ll see.

And we had a thunderstorm with lots of rain yesterday. After this summer, we sure don’t take rain for granted.

I’m coaching tomorrow and that will probably be it until I can watch a run-through. It’s not the way I like to coach, but it is what it is.

Don’s making a pie today. Always a happy occasion.

Stay safe.

Happy Tuesday.

 

Filed Under: Blythe dolls, life, rain 21 Comments

Dress Up

September 17, 2022 at 9:17 am by Claudia

My back is getting better. I don’t recommend having a coughing fit with a sore back, but other than that, it’s slowly getting stronger. I was talking to Don yesterday and looked over at my chair, with a pillow and heating pad added to the mix, and I said that it looked like an old lady lived here. Just add some BioFreeze and Vicks to the table and the picture would be complete. I’m grateful for that heating pad, but I’ll be glad when I can give it a rest.

Two girls were dressed yesterday.

Wren – who was looking for a place to read on the porch. She needed some privacy.

(I’ve never seen that girl smile.)

And Lucy. She’s giving me ‘the look.’

That girl is a handful.

I crocheted another hat, which you’ll see at some point. Now, I’m contemplating crocheting a tiny hat for Wren/Lily, my smaller BJD dolls. It may be an exercise in frustration; we’ll have to see.

Hey, it’s all keeping me sane.

I read for a chunk of time this morning. Very satisfying. Today, Don is going to tackle mowing. Much as I want to mow – I really missed it during the drought – pushing a lawnmower is not advisable at this point in my back recovery. So, I’ll do some laundry, dust, clean the kitchen, and crochet. I don’t have to coach again until Wednesday.

We’re having very cool mornings, with a warm up later on in the day. Fall is here.

Stay safe.

Happy Saturday.

Filed Under: Blythe dolls, life 22 Comments

Wednesday

September 14, 2022 at 8:56 am by Claudia

The light is changing. Autumn, though not officially here, is here.

And boy, do we need to mow. Maybe in a few days. Fingers crossed.

We’ve been fairly immersed in the coverage from the UK. Utterly fascinating. My favorite thing is to hear stories about the Queen. This morning, Sir David Attenborough shared one and it made me chuckle. What a tremendous loss to the country and to the world. What an admirable life!

I’ll be watching again today until I have to coach at 2 pm.

My back is still troublesome, but I was especially good yesterday at following my own advice to REST YOUR BACK! And I did. I get bored and I want to be outside working or walking or even cleaning inside, but I can’t. It’s frustrating, but I want my back to heal and the only way it’s going to do that is if I stop all unnecessary bending over, etc.

So I crochet hats for the girls. Yesterday I completed another one. Olivia is today’s model.

I named this “Flower Child.”

She looks like those girls in the sixties who wore crocheted cloche-like hats. I remember it well. She’s awfully adorable.

I sometimes feel guilty because I’ve suddenly indulged in this new collection at this point in my life. It’s interesting; I have no desire to add anything to my other collections, knowing that I’m of a certain age, and I really don’t need any more china or pottery or vintage furniture. That desire has basically faded. But it’s different with these Blythes. There’s something about them that I hope you get a glimpse of when I post my photos. I never  would have expected to have anything to do with dolls at this point in my life, or any other point in my life, save childhood. Who knew?

But they make me happy. Don sees that they make me happy. (Actually, they make him smile, too.) I have limited space, thank goodness, and I believe – never say never, of course – that I’ve hit my Blythe limit. There are a couple of customizers whose dolls I’d love to have. But I’m very happy with the ones I have.

I’ve ordered neck joints for Sophie and Maeve and when they arrive, I’m going to install them (I’m nervous about that) so that they have more mobility. It will make an enormous difference – much easier to photograph, for one, but also letting them show some personality.

And I’m comforted by resale value. If I need to, I can sell some of them – though, honestly – it will pain me to do so.

I’m sentimental, you see.

Okay. I have to go.

Stay safe.

Happy Wednesday.

Filed Under: autumn, Blythe dolls 21 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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