In which we take Martie hiking.

The rapids at Ohiopyle PA, just before the falls.

 Let me make this clear: I hate hiking. Hate. It. Kevin and Sam were insistent that I get out of the house, that's where they were headed, and I thought, fine, I'll take Martie along and get some pictures.

Here's a scenic overlook near Ohiopyle.

Same overlook, toward the highway.

Martie got blown out of this tree by a very sudden and strong gust of wind, so I didn't get the shot I wanted. This one, however, seems to sum up her feelings about the incident.

Safely back in the car, away from the blustery bluff, when I notice she sustained a small scratch under her chin, near the flower on her sweater. One of today's projects is to *gently*gently* buff that scratch down.

We went up the Cascades trail. I now officially bloody hate that trail! Uphill going there and coming back! Do Not Like!

However, we found some pretty cool moss-covered boulders.

And ferns.

And some fallen trees and loose branches.

Then we went down to the nice flatter area near the falls...

The rapids were beautiful just as the light was beginning to fade.

Thank goodness there weren't blustery winds down here!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the fashion conscious, Marti is wearing the Ellowyne Wilde outfit "It's Only Me," her shoes are the EW "Adrift" shoes (without the interior foam heel wedges), and earlier she's wearing a hat I bought on eBay.

In which the Princess gets a name.

DRUMROLL!!!

Introducing MARTIE!

MARTIE, short for Martha, or Martina, or or Martindale, or whatever occurs to me on any given day. But definitely Martie. Smartie Martie stole my heartie. Okay, that was silly.

In which I show you some art.

I've mentioned before that I'm an embroiderer, and while cleaning Ann's house I've been coming across a lot of my pieces from over the years, and a lot of things I'd forgotten I'd even done -- I ran across some sketches from a design class I took as an undergrad that I had no idea she'd saved.

A few years ago, I made Ann a tote bag to take to scifi conventions to carry the dozens of books she always bought. Here it is, wrinkled from storage:

You may see that it's signed "Daisy"--that's me, too. I have a pseudo that I sometimes use, depending on what I'm doing, and on occasion that's what I sign.

In which I show you some dolls.

As some of you know, at the moment I have two houses: the one I live in with my husband Kevin and son Sam, and the house left to me by Ann, my mother, who died in January. We're in the long, slow process of moving from this house (smallish, will sell it) to Ann's house (much much bigger). Once we're moved, my dolls will have their own room!, and I'll have a smaller room as a workspace. I've been working on fixing up the dollroom first, as my dolls are....well, they're taking over here, and The Boys are feeling a tad crowded. If I get the dolls and accompanying *stuff* to the other house, space clears up here and we can get to the business of clearing and moving.

So I spent the day yesterday at what we're still calling Ann's house, moving, clearing, rearranging, etc. I come into the doll room (Ann's bedroom) to see this:

Kanani! Ann Estelle! Whatever has happened?

 I look up to see their shelfmate, A Tonner Katie Toddler, like this:

She looks both guilty and unrepentant, and admitted nothing. Toddlers. *shakes head*

Toward the end of the day, I decided to take a few pics of the girls currently on the shelves. These dolls are NOT artfully arranged!, too many of them have messy hair, many need doll stands and their shoes, a couple of them are in need of clothes, and as I get the rest of the dolls in, there will be more shelving, more dolls, and more pics.

I got these girls back on the shelf peacefully. I hope. Tonner Katie Toddler and 18'' Ann Estelle, Candy Anderson Daisy repro, American Girl Kanani. Sitting: a Madelyn Baughman Daisy, rewigged, wearing a chemise and overdress that I made just for her.

A cloth doll I haven't finished, Gregg Ortiz's Once Upon a Princess (of course she took the chair...), Ruby Red Galleria Charmette, Madelyn Baughmann Daisyette, Ruby Red Bleuette, Kaye Wiggs Koneko and Cinnamon, and a Charlie Riley wooden jointed doll, also with Charlie Riley jammies. PJs will be a recurring theme, in case you haven't noticed this yet.

Kidz-n-Catz Tinka, Carpatina Kohanna, and two Best Friends Ink dolls.

Madame Alexander Heiress Elegance Cissette (who will be unboxed), and the ever-fabulous Tonner Miss Piggy, looking as though she's just coming in from a hog-wild party.

Charisma Candy Fashion, a Cissy whose box name I don't know (hiding behind Candy!), the ONLY flat-footed MA Cissy model, Karito Kids Piper, Gotz Sissell Kille ballerina, and a Tonner Fashion Designer play doll. Sitting: a Hasbro Lorifina.

Evangeline Ghastly Visiting Frogmore, Everlasting Evangeline, Jonquil basic brunette, Paulette Goodreau Elise, Ennui, Tea, and Me Amber Stanhope, Prudence Moody wigged Out, Too. Sitting: resin Evangeline Ghastly A Cautionary Tale (faceup modified by me), and an Antoinette Mannequin Cameo.

Hearts to Hearts dolls Lilian and Dell, Michael Walsh Sharmistha bjd with Charlie Riley faceup (crummy pose for her, I apologize), and two MA dolls rescued and redressed by Eva Summers.

I told you my collection was eclectic, and I haven't even gotten to the teeny-tinies and BJDs and Ellowynes and Tylers and Kimberly Lashers and more Paulette Goodreaus and Berdine Creedys and....yeah, I've got a lot of work to do, still!

In which we go to lunch.

This is my Tonner Rapunzel, modded by Jim Ash to add inset blue glass eyes to replace the painted green eyes, which were lovely in their own right, but I do love inset eyes. Yesterday, we decided we had to get out of the house on such a pretty day, and so treated ourselves to lunch at Boston Market. The lady is wearing a jumpsuit I made (completely handstitched, including the topstitching), and moccasins that are a tad too big, alas (shoes for this doll=problematic, as she's got a flat-footed Ellowyne body). The poor dear doesn't have a name of her own, aside from the box name, so I've been calling her Princess. I'm taking suggestions!

Safety first! 

These folks are nice, they bring the food out to your table. Very civilized.

I highly recommend the loaded mashed potatoes.

 After that, we went to Staples to get a shredder, but that was so boring we didn't pull out the camera at all.

Later, at bedtime:

New jammies! Also made my me. 'Cause I'm a doll jammies junky.

http://tonnerdoll.com/blog/customer-reviews/american-model-wigged-basic-collector-review-charlie-riley

In which I confess....

....that I'm seriously hooked on Monster High dolls. Big shock, eh? I'm not exactly a completist, and there are some I like more than others, but I realized last night with my purchase of Dead Tired Frankie Stein at a Toys'R'Us that I have the entire Dead Tired line, dolls, beds, and all. Plus, for the poor darlings who don't have "official" beds, I bought a sleepover set and chaise lounge set from useyourmagic on eBay (http://www.ebay.com/sch/useyourmagic/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p3686 ).

Plus, I've been writing down what I have of each current doll so I can avoid duplicates in fits of enthusiasm, which occur frequently. And I have the wallet and a couple keychains and the umbrella and....

Yes, eventually there will be pics of all this noise. Keep yer hair on.

In which I have nothing to say, really....

Have a couple doll pics, then.

In which I realize I've been online a lot.

I seem to be twittering myself stupid this week. Well, not stupid, it's been a lot of fun, actually. The delightful Kevin at @tonnerdoll on Twittler got a few of us raving Tonnerites on a group chat Tuesday night--everyone was welcome, a few of us got it going, and it's been on and off #dollchat since. LOADS of fun, and we have a few experts in various niches of the dolly world. http://tonnerdoll.com/blog/tonner-doll/1st-tonner-twitter-chat-yesterday-dollchat-great-fun?fb_comment_id=fbc_10150305555751476_18699955_10150305617316476#f3e32a97df649ae

I spent Tuesday at Ann's house (gotta start calling it *my* house), making strides to get the doll room (Ann's bedroom, for those who know the house) in some usable shape so I can get the doll clutter out of this house, to get started on getting all the clutter out so we can move. I moved, by my own self, a 5-foot sideboard (oh, look it up), cleared 4 bookcases, and moved those bookcases into the room. Three of those are full of dolls, but I'll be reorganizing those as the rest of the room is set up. I am, as a result, very stiff and sore, and once again reconsidering the evolutionary utility of walking upright, as my back is still in pain.

I hope that made sense, I'm not editing it. ;D

Today, I'm nursing a nasty headache, and finishing up another review for the TonnerDoll blog of the wigged basic American Model, which I adore. I need to get the pics together.  I meant to take pics at the less-messy Ann house, and brought everything I needed with me.....except for the camera. D'oh.

In which Robin and Sophie go to the woods.

Yesterday we went to the Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival, saw some cool stuff, bought a knitted snood, and generally had a nice retro time. Kevin took lots of pics of the performers and such, and I just looked for little photo ops for Robin, my Fairly LittleFee Elf Ante, and Sophie, my Tonner/Effanbee Mary Engelbreit, erm, Sophie (what? She was named well the first time). Sophie's a little camera shy, but not Robin--the term "center of attention" was coined for her, I swear. Later I may post some pics of the performers and all, but for now, here are the girls!

A NOTE--I made all of Robin's clothes! She has the dress sense of a 3 year old, but she is, after all, a 3 year old.

On the way, at last, after a slow start. What? It's Saturday, after all.

Yertle's job is to hold down the air bags until we need them. At least, that's what we tell him, as it's important to feel useful.

The girls have their own little pocket seat in the door.

SQUEAL! We're here!

Robin has a dollar and a Tootsie Roll in her bag, so she's ready to go. My talented felt artist daughter, Alexandra Riley, made the strawberry bag. Turns out that elves get free admission! Bonus!

Where shall we go first? To a show, of course!

We're watching that guy blowing fire out of his mouth. I think Sophie's a little scared of him.

I held Robin up so she could see the audience. I think it was more so that the audience could see Robin.

Mama, he really did blow fire outta his mouth! I wanna do that! (My reply: NO!)

The grounds were muddy, so I convinced them to play on the rocks and not in the lovely squishy flower bed.

But the sun came out after all! Robin adopted a monkey, named George (she names everything George). Sophie is holding out for a dragon.

Just a quiet moment. Ain't they cute?

But we're thirsty!

Imma climb this tree!

I finally got Sophie to sit for a picture of just her! Triumph!

It's a snood? Is that another word for bed?

I guess it is a bed, after all.

Whenever Kevin gets around to getting his pics in order, I'll post a couple of the *completely insane* fire-blowing maniac. ;D

In which Robin is very, very ready.

Okay, need to finish this sleeve hem, then I can get that and the skirt, and.....oh, my. Robin, dear, where are you going?

To the Resinants Vestibule.
Renaissance Festival. That's tomorrow, honey. Have you been looking at Fancy Nancy again?
It's just my pretties. 
ALL your pretties, by the look of it. Take it all off and get your jams on, it's past your bedtime.
NoooooOOOOooo! 

Toddler elves are as much work as human ones, I swear......

Robin is a Fairyland LittleFee Elf Ante NS, and is looking forward to dancing in the woods with other elves and fairies tomorrow. More pics afters.

 

NRFB Dolls' Liberation Front!

She's a 1999 Tonner Doll club (defunct) child Jane, and she was tied to her box until about five minutes after she hit my porch today. Look at those eyes!

Drama? Nope, no drama here.

I forgot to mention that the family estate drama that kept me off the blog for the summer has been primarily resolved, HUZZAH!! I am very grateful to (and actually like to BS with) my estate lawyer, even if he is a Republican (he wasn't born that way, it's a lifestyle choice).

In which I celebrate autumn.

I. Love. Fall. Love it! Cooler temps, crazy leaves, nothing's spewing pollen, the sunlight isn't harsh, that lovely warmth when the furnace kicks in, and did I mention cooler temps? 'Cause I love that part. LOVE IT!!

I am a Tonner Blog Author!
http://tonnerdoll.com/blog/feature/charlies-review-qvc-littlemissmatched-uptown-girl
If y'all knew just how much I love Tonner dolls, you'd know how excited I am about this.  I'm very gratified by the "Great photos" in the title that Tonnerdoll wrote -- Kevin (my husband of, what, 22 years now?), bless his semi-professional art and landscape photographer's heart, once told me I'm a not-very-good photographer. *frowny face* To be fair, at the time I was using an old digital camera that we found at a Goodwill for five bucks, and those Chicago work trip photos on that were pretty crappy. However, I have a Canon something-or-other now (why would I know? It's red and it takes nice pics)(edit: it's a Nikon CoolPix S8000), and learning how to actually work the thing has helped. Plus, that doll is just so unbelievably CUTE that I think it would take real effort to get a bad pic of her, and I'm much too lazy to go to that extreme.

Today is writing another Tonner review and getting pics of the doll, sewing, dishes (...always...), and spending so much time goofing off on the intarwebs that none of that gets done. Ta-daaaa!

What cable end goes into what plug,then?

My techo-life in one pic:

PS--Yes, I made her shirt.

I've been rockin' and rollin', too.

I have also been busily making myself into a lapidary hobbyist--ie, I gots me some rock tumblers! I've wanted to tumble rocks since I was a little sprout, and Kevin and Sam got me a vibratory tumbler from Harbor Freight for my birthday last month. I've since also acquired a Lortone 3A roller, and a Thumler UV 3 vibrator. Don't worry if that doesn't make sense, the upshot is--pretty shiny gems and pebbles what were just rough rocks! The first batch isn't totally done yet, as it still needs another polish cycle, but the tumbler really brought out the deep dark purples in some amethysts I got at a gift shop in a theme park. Yes, there will be piccies, because I will be inordinately proud of my newbie efforts, aw yeah.

As I was saying....

I ran off and turned 50 when y'all weren't looking. Howsabout that, eh? I feel like I have a stronger adult authority now--"Don't argue with me, I'm FIFTY, dammit!"

And I did this just recently: http://tonnerdoll.com/blog/feature/charlies-review-qvc-littlemissmatched-uptown-girl

More blogging from now on, because I'm losing track of what I did when, which is rather annoying in my little world. And I'll post pics of my recent Monster High doll obsession. Here's a Multiple Cleo de Nile piccie: