Busy Month!

January is almost over now! I can't believe how fast 2012 is going already.

This has been quite a busy month. I've been busy with work as well as resurrecting my Poupée Girl account. That's my profile in the link. It's a sort of Japanese fashion/social network where you upload pictures of your clothes for others to admire and you earn ribbons and jewels to spend on clothes for your 'Poupée'. It's much better that I spend fictional ribbons and jewels on stuff than actual money! I need to be sensible and save up!


My new favourite company is Crobidoll. I haven't bought a new doll from them, I bought a wig for Melangell. Well, I originally ordered two but when one was sold out, I got a quick email from Crobi explaining that I could either have a refund to my Paypal or they'd give me store credit so I could buy another wig from them another time. I asked for a refund because I wasn't sure when I'd next be buying a wig and that was super fast too - this was barely 48 hours ago...and today I had a package from Crobi with the wig I ordered (gorgeous, soft and glossy!) as well as a freebie furwig and some stickers saying 'A Present for You'. How lovely :) The customer services person who emailed me was extremely nice and wished me a happy new year - I thought that because of the Lunar New Year and most Korean companies being on holiday that my order wouldn't come until next week or even later if they had to sort through the post. I am beyond impressed with them and I definitely recommend them.

Sales Stuff!

Last night I stayed over at B's and because the weather was awful, we made a cheerful, bright-coloured Moroccan chicken dish. Sadly we didn't have the tagine to serve it in, but it was yummy anyway. We used chicken thighs, chopped apricots, chickpeas, paprika, turmeric, tomato puree, coriander, parsley and butter and it was really tasty - the only thing I would change for next time is use chicken breasts or cut the meat off the bone because the meat was very tender after being cooked and it fell off the bones leaving gristly bits lurking in the food :s That bit wasn't recommended!

We had some glasses of a cab sauv and watched two Australian films; The Castle and The Dish, while the rain and wind lashed outside.

Today, B had to go to the library and hand in an essay, so I decided to go and spend some of my Christmas money!

I bought;

Accessorize - a wishbone bracelet (perfect scale for a long pendant for a doll!), a wishbone necklace (for me :p), a cameo pendant, a long fringed necklace for mum, nail varnish in Apricot Crush and a ballerina slippers charm for my charm bracelet from Y.

Topshop - a Bajoran-style earring (a hook for a pierced ear and an earcuff joined by a chain - this one has a genuine chunk of turquoise and some feathers) and some white rose hairclips
WHSmith - hole reinforcers, some pens and an address book for work
Chelsea Doll - a black handbag like a Mulberry Alexa and some Barry M mock croc crackle paint


Why hole reinforcers, you ask? Well I saw this manicure tutorial by Wayward Daughter and I've always wanted to try it myself. So far it's worked well!

I've been playing with my nails quite a bit since Christmas, trying different things. I had black lace nail transfers over a nude base and they looked quite classy for New Year. Today I'm wearing my new Claire's grey nail varnish with unpainted lunulas :) Tomorrow it'll probably be my new apricot nail varnish from Accessorize!

BJD Addicts Written Prompts: #2, #6, #13

Today I'm answering BJD Addicts Written Prompts #2, #6, #13

BJD Addicts Written Prompt #2 - Dream Dolls

I've been lucky in that I've owned three of my dream dolls (two are still with me, one has since moved on); My Volks Megu, Volks Kurt and Souldoll Hye were fabulous dream dolls once upon a time and it was hugely exciting to bring them home. I only let my Hye go because she was sadly associated with some unhappy memories. Currently I have a couple more dream dolls, but I'd need to win the EuroMillions before I thought about buying them. I like Volks SD13 Irvin and Little Monica Reynell.


BJD Addicts Written Prompt #6 - Handmade vs. Buying

I have tried to make my own things for my dolls a few times, but I find sewing such small things to be really frustrating. I was very proud of a 7-8'' headsize bonnet and cape I made for one of my first dolls, I picked the material, ribbon and lining and although it wasn't particularly symmetrical, it still looked nice and I was happy for my dolls to be seen in it!

I do tend to buy more for my dolls than make for them; I have a particular weakness for shoes. I adore human-sized shoes, so buying miniature shoes for my dolls is almost irresistable! I have tried making shoes for a doll before but the little cloth shoes I was able to make aren't a patch on the faux-leather and canvas shoes I can buy from professionals. Some of my favourite shoes are made by Dollheart and I'd never be able to match their quality - the shoes look like human shoes perfectly scaled down, rather than what you usually find with doll shoes, clumsy, unrealistic looking shoes with no soles.


BJD Addicts Written Prompt #13 - Spending Limits

This probably sounds terrible/irresponsible/both...but I don't give myself a specific dolly budget for things. If I'm looking to buy a doll, for example, and the doll is very expensive to buy outright, many companies offer a layaway service where the company accepts your order and you provide them with a payment plan. Dividing the cost into three monthly payments makes it a lot less expensive and although it takes longer to get your doll, you can pay it off manageably.

The hobby is expensive in general, and can seem incredibly overpriced to people outside of the hobby. I can see that and I'm not really defending the prices, except that I believe that if you want a quality item, you get what you pay for. I have had low-priced bargains with amazing quality, but these things are quite rare. If I see an amazing pair of BJD boots, I will check around for the average price of boots in this size-range and see if the asking price is fair or inflated. I have actually paid the same price for BJD shoes as human shoes...but putting the BJD shoes beside my size 5s...there's been more detail and care gone into making the boots!

I suppose I do have some limits - It's unlikely I'd ever spend $1000 on a doll or a doll item, but I have spent $600 on one doll before!