I hope you had a happy Easter!!!

Hi!!

As is usually the case during the school holidays, I've been far too busy with Little Miss P to be on line! I have to admit I've been playing a lot of Animal Crossing on the Wii too O.O!!!

I hope to catch up with my blog reading soon ^-^!

Did you know it's Cuckoo day today? Well apparently so!

I had a look online to see if I could find anything to link cuckoos and dolls and here's what I came up with ^-^!

A Russian folk-lore custom of Cuckoo doll funerals! I jest not, and it's quite fascinating ^-^!

http://www.russianexpedition.net/rituals.htm

And there's always the swinging dolls on cuckoo clocks ^-^!



When I was little I had a list of things I would like to have in my house when I grew up. They were:

A round window,
An attic
A cellar
A log fire
A four-poster bed
A Stable Door
Russian Nesting Dolls
A Rocking Horse
And a Cuckoo clock (as well as a grandfather clock)!

I do have some Russian Nesting dolls... =D

Holly xoxoxo

'Poise' for Illustration Friday...

I've been experimenting with a new type of character...


Holly ^-^! (& the poised dollies!)

Barbie revisits Star Trek for the upcoming new movie!

I've been anticipating the release of this movie for what seems like ages now. I'm interested to see Sylar's interpretation of Spock, and Simon Pegg as Scottie!? How cool is that? ^-^!



What I wasn't expecting, however was that Barbie would be getting in on the act, but it seems Mattel have been on the ball here and produced a new line of Star Trek dolls to go with the new movie.

Now, if only Tonner would hurry up with those Dr Who/Torchwood dolls and someone would make some Firefly dolls we'd be on track ^-^!

Holly xoxo

Attack of the chickies!!!

A walk in the woods...

Holly and the toadstool dollies ^-^!

Movie Star Quiz

I got this quiz from Paisley Girl's blog. It seems to work very accurately, or maybe it's just flattery that makes it seem so, lol! ^-^. I adore Bette Davis!

Your result for Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz...

You Are a Bette!

You are a Bette -- "I must be strong"

Bettes are direct, self-reliant, self-confident, and protective.

How to Get Along with Me

• * Stand up for yourself... and me.


• * Be confident, strong, and direct.


• * Don't gossip about me or betray my trust.


• * Be vulnerable and share your feelings. See and acknowledge my tender, vulnerable side.


• * Give me space to be alone.


• * Acknowledge the contributions I make, but don't flatter me.


• * I often speak in an assertive way. Don't automatically assume it's a personal attack.


• * When I scream, curse, and stomp around, try to remember that's just the way I am.

What I Like About Being a Bette

• * being independent and self-reliant


• * being able to take charge and meet challenges head on


• * being courageous, straightforward, and honest


• * getting all the enjoyment I can out of life


• * supporting, empowering, and protecting those close to me


• * upholding just causes

What's Hard About Being a Bette

• * overwhelming people with my bluntness; scaring them away when I don't intend to


• * being restless and impatient with others' incompetence


• * sticking my neck out for people and receiving no appreciation for it


• * never forgetting injuries or injustices


• * putting too much pressure on myself


• * getting high blood pressure when people don't obey the rules or when things don't go right

Bettes as Children Often

• * are independent; have an inner strength and a fighting spirit


• * are sometimes loners


• * seize control so they won't be controlled


• * figure out others' weaknesses


• * attack verbally or physically when provoked


• * take charge in the family because they perceive themselves as the strongest, or grow up in difficult or abusive surroundings

Bettes as Parents

• * are often loyal, caring, involved, and devoted


• * are sometimes overprotective


• * can be demanding, controlling, and rigid

Take Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz at HelloQuizzy

New arrival!!! Meet Truffle...

New dolly days are always the best days, the excitement of the postie's arrival, the struggling with the tape on the package, the unwrapping, the 'new dolly' aroma... dolly people, you know what I'm talking about! Non-dolly people you don't know what you're missing ^-^!

I'd been itching to adopt a new petite Blythe for a while now, so when this girl popped up on a certain evil auction site I knew I had to have her!

Meet my Charlotte Champignon, 'Truffle'...

I never even liked mushrooms until now ^-^!!!

Holly and the elated dollies ^-^! xoxoxo

'Legendary' for Illustration Friday

It's that time again :)

Etsy store reopened...

After a long break I have re-opened my Etsy store...

I now have a Blythe outfit, some handmade dolls, paintings, jewellery and stationery in stock :)

CLICK HERE to visit :)

Holly xoxo

The obligatory weekend catch-up post...

Let me see, let me see... *scratches head thoughtfully*

On friday Cookie and I went to town.

The only dolly news of note was the fact that for some reason 'Schuh' have taken to using their own mocked up 'Schuh' fashion dolls in their displays... I would have taken photos but I was about the only person in there so I felt a tad conspicuous ^-^!

Other than that I bought a cool kitschy craft book and real ale and chip butties were enjoyed by all ^-^!

On Saturday Little Miss P went to the theatre with my parents, so that gave Fezz and I ample opportunity to go and see 'Watchmen'. Fezz is a big Alan Moore fan, I would be if I ever seemed to have time to sit down and read... The film wasn't completely devoid of merit, they'd obviously tried really hard, but they'd tried so hard to cram everything in that being such an epic and multiliayerd tale it was never really going to fit. I think it had little chance of working properly as a movie because it's simply not suited to the format. It was nice to see a non-PG rated film for a change though ^-^!

I bet you thought I'd have problems finding a dolly angle on this didn't you? Well actually I can rely on the, frankly brilliant, Liana at Liana's Paper Doll Blog to bail me out with a Silk Spectre paper doll costume ^_^!!! (Clicky here to go there)...

There's also some cool modded Watchmen action fiures to be seen here: http://www.watchmencomicmovie.com/watchmen-custom-action-figures.php

Proceeding on to Sunday... I may have accidentally splashed on a Barbie petite club doll and a bargain Barbie in a damaged box. Yes I am very bad and have no self control!

We also watched the final part of the live action movie adaptation of 'Death Note'. I really enjoyed it, I think I'll have to invest in the graphic novels! L is awesome, I am so tempted to get a Taeyang and make him L! In the meantime I wouldn't mind this guy keeping me company :)

Thinning out my doll collection...

I have been thinking about this for some time, but with all the re-evaluation that Lent brings I have decided to thin out my doll collection. I will be putting up the following for adoption:

Pullip Withered nude (sand semi-matted, her eyebrows are drawn on in pencil and can be wiped off and redrawn/painted by you if you wish :), Obitsu body)
Dal Sooni nude(stock)
Brunette Repro Sindy nude
Vintage Perfekta Yes/No doll in original outfit.

Holly and the prioritising dollis xoxo

'Breezy' for Illustration Friday :)

As I type this I wonder why I always miss-type the word 'Friday' as 'Firday' and have to fix it!?

Holly and the artistic dollis xoxo

Lars and the Real Girl

I saw this movie for the first time last night, and had no idea what to expect, but it was funny, sweet, touching and quirky and I would certainly recommend it ^-^!

From the writer of '6 Feet Under' (which I never saw) Lars has problems relating to people after an affection starved childhood following the death of his mother in childbirth. As an adult, to cope with his loneliness, Lars invents himself a girlfriend by projecting a personality onto a 'Real Doll' that he orders via the internet and the effect that this has on his family relationships and community.

It really is better than I make it sound, lol!

Holly xoxoxo

Pixel dolls!

I'm back! It's been a very busy week, but I'm back in the land of the dolls. Not only that, I'm back in the land of the virtual dolls! I wanted to practice my pixel art so I've created two new doll bases for pixel dollz...

That's as far as I've got so far, outfits and hair to follow shortly!

As a newb I found this website very useful and informative (as well as fun and monumentally cute ^-^!):

So what else have I been up to? Well... I have opened a folksy shop, but as it won't be 100% doll related I go on the monica of 'Hurdlepurdle Handicrafts'. You can visit the shop here: http://www.folksy.com/shops/hurdlepurdle . There's only 2 items listed as yet, but again, more to be added imminently.

Well, that's it for now, I have work to do, but see you sooner rather than later this time!

Holly xoxo

A unique and enchanting doll book...

Little Miss P and I were browsing in the poetry section of the library earlier when we unearthed a lovely book called 'Sitting Pretty: A Celebration of Black Dolls' by Dinah Johnson and Myles C. Pinkney.

Each page features a lovely photograph of a doll, or small group of dolls and a poem or description concerning the doll. The styles vary from folky, to ethnic to sophisticated to commercial but they all have something to say. We enjoyed exploring the book and it's definitely worth a look if you get the chance :)



For a link to the book on Amazon click below :)

How cute is this couple?

I've been so busy with Little Miss P being off school that I really haven't had time to update the blog in any way. All I really have to share is this picture of the bride and groom at my best friend's wedding last Saturday ^-^!

Hopefully I'll have chance to post something more substantial soon ^-^!

Holly and te exhausted dollies xoxoxo

Nostalgia anyone? - 50 years of Barbie video

This video makes me want to run out and buy a Barbie (which I guess is the idea!) brings back memories, I had that 1980s three story house with the yellow lift/elevator ^-^!



Holly

And the winners are!!!!

Have you won? We shall see!
Drum roll please! The winner of art doll Ms Celestine Swish is...

Sophie aka MissKoolAid of http://misskoolaid.blogspot.com

While the winner of art doll Asia is Jenn Klee of http://SpringtimeInspired.blogspot.com/

Emails have gone out to the winners, if I do not hear back withpostage details within 7 days then I will draw new names :)

Thankyou so much to everyone who took part, I haven't had time to look at everyone's blogs yet but I am almost there, and it has been so much fun making many new friends, my blogroll has more than doubled in length!

Thanks to you all once again and I hope many of us (if not all) can stay in touch on some level ^-^!

Holly and the excited dollies xoxoxo

The One World One Heart Giveaway is now closed!

The One World One Heart Giveaway is now closed! Winners to be announced shortly :) (good luck!)

Holly xoxo

Wooden dolly...

Photo courtesy of Doeth
I suspect that this is the only kind of dolly I'm going to see for some time! My stupid machine has gone and died on me. Not only that, but the space where it fits is so small that it's almost impossible to find a washer that will fit! Curses, normal service will be resumed imminently ^-^!

Holly and the stressed dollies xoxo

Simple and free Tiny Betsy McCall sewing pattern

I've been experimenting sewing for my Tiny Betsy McCall over the past few days. I managed to buy a pattern for a whole wardrobe, but it looks a bit daunting to me as I'm more used to winging it with my sewing!

I was very happy then to find the following article on Bella Online with a pattern and full instructions to make this simple dress to fit Tiny Betsy and other 8 inch dolls...

If you click on the pic you should go straight to the appropriate page ^-^!

And while we're on the subject of Tiny Betsy McCall, my Peggy has dicided that she doesn't want to be Peggy anymore. Her name is now 'Bunty'. :)

Holly & the crafty dollies xoxo

Liddle Kiddles vintage ad

I spotted this in another blog and couldn't resist copying!

Tooth fairy pillow doll tutorial...

Teeth have been on my mind a lot lately... no I don't have an dolly positioned mouth, it's just that Little Miss P keeps losing hers, and on top of that, today is toothache day and the day of St Apollonia patron saint of dentistry.

For all the above reasons then I am featuring a lovely free pattern and tutorial to make a pretty matrioshka style tooth fairy pillow doll from the lovely blog Goody-goody (click on the pic to visit the site).

Or why not stop by the Crafty In Coffeeland blog to take a peek at the cute little St Apollonia tooth fairy alternative pictured there for ideas :)

Holly and the toothy dollies xoxoxo

New Blythe animation has appeared on Youtube - My Little Candy

Good morning! Adorable dolly discoveries...

With all the blog hopping I've been doing lately I have stumbled upon many wonderful and creative people (which is the idea after all ^-^!) so, over the next few days, I'm going to share with you some of the wonders I have stumbled upon! Hmmm... stumbled upon, I seem to use that phrase all the time, there must ba another way to say it (where's my thesaurus!?).

Anyway look at these!

I completely fell in love with these necklaces made of tiny vintage bisque dollies from the Cetta Cheese Chatter blog, just too adorable, and what a lovely blog too ^-^!

Holly and the enchanted dollies xoxo

Treasure hunting and more prizes!

Hello!

I have spent most of this morning sorting through my husband's boyhood coin collection, it has been fun but I haven't found much in the way of hidden treasure unfortunately ^-^!

Peggy has been helping...



I also promised that if comments on my One World One Heart giveaway post reached 100 I'd add another prize, so I am pleased to announce that the second prize is yet another handmade doll:

If you'd like to be in with chance of winning then please post a comment on the original One World One Heart post with a way of contacting you, and good luck ^-^!

Holly and the treasure-hunting dollies xoxo

Ty have renamed there Sasha and Malia dolls after Obama objections...

It seems that Ty Inc. of 'Beanie Baby' and 'Ty Girlz' fame had put into production a pair of dolls named Sasha and Malia, which just happen to be the names of the first daughters.

Needless to say the first lady was none too impressed and objected to the company that naming the dolls after her children was innapropriate. Ty subsequently released a statement claiming that the dolls were not modelled on the Obama girls and have now renamed them Mariah and Sydney.

All profits from the sale of the originally named dolls will be donated to charity, so it's not all bad :)

Holly and the dolly girlz xoxo

Divine Doll Dress Up Games...

Little Miss P and I both enjoy playing online dress-up doll games, earlier on we found a particularly nice site, Doll Divine. The site has beautiful fantasy characters such as a centaur, fairies, mermaid, warrior, elf and pirate with the most fabulous clothes. They really are a breath of fresh air!

Click on the pic to visit the site:

Holly and the dress-up dollies xoxo

Illustration Friday - Flawed

Online Primitive Cloth Doll Tutorial at Bowls n Annies!

I have been hopping from blog to blog like an animated Jeremy Fisher doll for the last few days, and all thanks to One World One Heart!

It was via this meandering, roundabout link-to-a-link route that I happened to land on this particular site which has the most beautiful folk dolls, and a very generous, in depth tutorial on how to make them yourself!

Please click on the pic to visit and see for yourself ^-^!

Holly and the hopping dollies xoxo

How many comments!?

Thanks to the wonderful One World One heart project I have been soooo inundated with comments I've barely been able to keep up with them all, not that that's a complaint mind, I am incredibly happy about it and am having a lot of fun blog hopping, I've even met other doll lovers and doll dabblers which is always a plus to any endeavour!
If the comments finally reach 100 then I'll add something else to the prize pool. I can't believe how many great gifts people are offering, it's really an exploration of sorts!

Exploring outside is out of the question as there is still thick snow on the ground here, though now much of it has turned to ice. Little Miss P was hoping that school would be closed today but no such luck I'm afraid! We're going to go to the Kids Group at church, but whether anyone will turn up I don't know. I've prepared some 'stained glass window' cards for the kids to colour anyway in celebration of candlemass. I say 'stained glass' it's actually tracing paper, but it will still look nice with the light shining through it :)

Yesterday was weird, not only for the snow but also because we found a perfectly good bicycle dumped in a hedge on the way home from school. I think it must have been stolen and dumped, so we are taking it to the police station as soon as the snow melts. I kind of hope no-one claims it because it's just the right size for Little Miss P and she doesn't have a bike :)

Still no pictures concerning the Tonner Dr Who dolls I'm sorry to say, but I'll let you know as soon as I hear anything, and if you hear before me please... TELL ME!!!

In other trivial life type shenanigans we finally got to watch the new BBC series 'Being Human' last night. In case you're not aware of it it concerns a house being shared by a ghost a werewolf and a vampire and it's flippin' brilliant!

You can find out more here (but don't look if you get scared easily!):
http://www.bbc.co.uk/beinghuman/

And just to keep it all on topic here are some appropriately themed dollies, not my own work (if only!) but items I discovered on Etsy ^-^!

You can click on the pics to visit the sellers' shops...

One World One Heart Giveaway!- IS NOW CLOSED winners announced soon!

Inspired by Bella Sinclair at Doodlespot I too have joined the One World One Heart Gypsy Caravan ^-^!

This is a wonderful idea where hundreds of bloggers have gotten together to offer giveaways in a huge bohemian celebration (freedom, beauty, truth and love abound ^-^!)

You can click on the badge above to browse all 800 or so giveaways available at the moment!

I've decided to hop in the bandwagon at the last moment and am offering one of my handmade art dolls, Ms Celestine Swish!

Please not that she is an art doll and not a toy suitable for children :)

To be in with a chance of winning her, all you need do is to leave a comment on this post (please also leave me some way of contacting and identifying you such as an email address or link) before February 11th. I promise I won't publish any personal info!

Good luck and all happiness!

Holly xoxo

Snow Day!!!

1. snowtunnel, 2. peggysnowgarden, 3. snowsquirrel2, 4. squirrelsnow, 5. snowmoof2, 6. snowchurch, 7. Ettasnowmoof, 8. peggysnowcold, 9. snowhedge

Tonner to release Dr Who and Torchwood Dolls!?

I just heard a rumour that Tonner are meant to be releaseing dolls of the following Dr Who and Torchwood charachters:

Martha Jones
The Doctor
Jack Harkness
Gwen Cooper

There's no pics to be found as yet, but I can't wait to see if it's true!
Oh Tonner your name is temptation XD!!!

Holly & the excited dollies xoxoxo

365 toy project group on Flickr

I just joined this group, there's some amazing pics on there, and since I am usually photographing my dollies on a daily basis anyway I thought I might as well join in!

You can visit the group by clicking on this widget:

Here's my latest addition:

She's a character from Tim Burton's 'The Corpse Bride' which I managed to pick up in the model shop in Meadowhall at half price... yay ^-^!

Holly xoxo

Good things come in small packages!

So I was browsing Flickr a few weeks ago and ogling other peoples dollies when I happened across Elly Jelly's pic of her tiny wee Odeco and Nikki keychain. I knew then that I had to have one, so I promptly ordered one for myself (and one for Little Miss P as well of course!). She arrived today from the wonderful Mimiwoo, and has made herself very much at home in my little Animal Crossing house, even if it is rather small for her!

Say hello tiny doll-chan!

Love from Holly and the teensy weensy dollies ^-^!

Hi dolly we're home!

Okay, strictly speaking I haven't actually been anywhere as such, just absent from cyberspace! Life since Christmas has been a hectic whirlwind but now I am back, and what's more, I bring dolls!

Well... one new doll anyway, my new Tiny Betsy McCall, Peggy...

I'd been admiring Tiny Betsies from afar for some time, but kept restraining myself from an actual purchase as I am very prone to buyer's remorse!
Now that she has arrived however she really is quite lovely, although one thing that's bothering me a bit is her lips. I'm sure they're slightly further right than they should be. This niggle will go one of two ways; either bug the heck out of me until I fix it, or end up making her seem even more endearing than she does now!

We'll have to wait and see, though I am erring to the endearing side right now :)

Holly and the tiny dollies xoxoxo

PS I am also working on a new printable paper doll as well as a possible Flash based dress up game in collaboration with my hubby - watch this space!