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My winter has been all about low profile. We've had a rough and wonderful year, hard to take it all in. But now I'm hibernating in what little downtime I have. Work has been non-stop, so the quiet moments are like tiny baby birds that are easily squashed! I'm busy though, just not online much. Lots of writing and research, it gives me some awesome pleasure. Rainy days with small dogs and kitties and books and needlework. One is never too young to be grandmotherly.

And I uploaded a bunch of our pictures from the trip to London last June. Click thumbnails to be magically wisked away to Flickr!

Favorite:

Needless to say we are preparing fun postage for the severed head gallery. Woot!

This is yet a work in progress. Begun in 2000, the house itself is nearly finished, but we ran out of room to keep it out long ago and we are currently lacking recent/completed pictures. For that I apologize. So, for now, you'll have to make due with the early stages building the doll's house.

I had originally started with the idea of an apothecary, since I'd begun to collect apothecary jars and a sundry of medical items. But when looking through Hogarth's prints in search of inspiration, and he had a fairly detailed apothecary scene in "The Rakes Progress,"
the project swiftly shifted to incorporate the quack & his famous harlots, Hogarth's humor & attention to detail. I selected a two room, two story house that would be easy-ish to fit out. The bottom floor will be the Quack Apothecary from "Rake's Progress" with the upper floor being a combo of "Before & After" & "The Harlot's Progress" but mainly drawing on the former. This is not an exact replica, as I'm doing this for fun, and have taken a rather interpretive approach. The first thing I did after gluing the house together was to make my Harlot's corset (on chair), seen on the Progress page.

I hope to have updated pictures soon. For now, forgive me, and continue
on The Doll's House Pogress ...

It feels like each post this winter has been an apology for not posting. Well, we gots stuff going on. This last weekend was spent in a strange fever. *gack* I tried to get ready for work this morning, and the outfit I ended up with said it all: STAY IN BED

However, I dream of dollies all the time, dollies and old friends. So we're still here. I did manage to give St. Trinian the spa treatment a week or so ago! There's a close-up with pictures of the new old china cabinet below.

Yes, that is Tonner's Hortencia (Cinderella's evil stepsister). I totally love her and Euphemia, they are snooty-tastic. I think they are better Ellowynne Wilde-style candidates for the spooky girls. Hortencia here has the plus sized doll body, she's all big and round. I really like it actually. Her clothes are actually too big on Unoa large milk part body! 'magine that! Also, I don't need to rename them.

We also scored an old printers tray to fill with tiny objects. Phew!

I've also done some other dolly love sick day projects... cleaned Casa Formica from floor to ceiling, including all the dollies therein. They've all been dusted, washed, redressed, combed... and the case of a few Blythe's, shampoo'd, conditioned and dried. Phew! They needed some lovin'... and to make room for my new girl, Ichigo Heaven, that I've been dragging to work with me recently :p

Lord Foppington Presides as The Lord of Misrule over the Saturnalia Festivities at the Blastmilk Home for Wayward Girls (and one boy).

Yes, wee Dropsy is hidden in that cage Ondine is dangling menacingly. Notables missing from the festivities are: Demelza & Ermengaarde, who are both in the head cabinet sulking.

We've got the Christmas spirit here at the House O' Blastmilk! I can't believe I snuck back and got the camera without this little love fest breaking up. Mr. Kallisti started singing "Ebony and Ivory."

Butter didn't like so much the vintage doll bed Mr. put together for me last night. The spring mattress support acts just like a real one and her legs went all super wobbly. We caught Biscuit on it though. He'll sleep on anything.

(Note: Bed was super bargain, but it is huge at 28 inches long o_0 who has space issues!?!?! But I couldn't resist, I don't have a bed for the big girls! They needed one. For real.)

Target : Simply Shabby Chic™ Armoire Chest – Sour Cream

*cry*

I want that so bad fer my dolls. It is nice and oversized for oversized dolly storage, plus drawers! Biscuit has lately become the masked wig bandit, in the mean time all my dolls are bald and are constantly being knocked over. Why the latent evil tendancies!?!? He's 2 1/2! Meh.

Bad kitty. But he wakes me up with kisses. What are you gonna do?

Our space is so tight. The stage would have to go... and then what? Not an option. Mr. Kallisti said wrapping the stage in razor wire was not an option either :p But pining for this has made me want to jettison everything. Heh. But there is no one thing to move or get rid of to make space. Casa Formica is full of 1/6th dollies and fits perfectly where it is. My work room is PACKED and already has two hutches and an armoir in it o_0. The bedroom is full of millions of books. and my dresser.

Woe, the tiny house! Wah, wah, wah. Shoot me.

Cute as a button. So ya know... Borders is carrying mini xmas trees by paperchase. $5. For the 12" anyway... the 18" or 24" one is more. But they have white, magenta, blue tinsel and black trees!

Oh, and little flocked, sparkly reindeer.

Super for your 1/6th or 1/3rd dollhouse.

Not our intention to have a big shopping weekend, but it was!

I've finally ported over my dollhouse pix and pages to Blastmilk.com. Sadly, no new pix. We had the house set up for awhile, but just ran out of room. Or rather, the dollies took over. Meh to tiny houses. But I'll get her set up some day soon and dazzle you all with her minute glory. For now, enjoy my progress peektures of...

Gin Lane: A Hogarth Inspired Doll's House

I miss it! It is in the garage. I still pick up random little treasures for it here and there. Sigh...

On a journal entry, Fancyboots was contemplating sculpting dolls in different scales. Since I don't philosophize about the dolls much here I thought I'd repost my response:

I think in general I prefer more mature dolls. That usually translates into larger in size when it comes to BJD, unless you look at unoa w/ the large milk part. For a smaller/younger doll to capture my fancy they have to have a certain quality... that is usually petulance, spookiness, sadness or really pooty lips ^_^ One thing I love about ABJD is the adolescense of the dolls. They're neither saccharine babies nor busty hoochie mamas. Liebchen fits into this grey area in a lovely way. I love that sort of 11-18 age zone of blossoming girlhood. No matter what the size. And I don't care about all my dolls having to fit in. Their world is a dolls world so they don't have to be to scale with eachother. I do like the larger size because they are so easy to sew for though.

And these pix I took for Aimee this morning when discussing dollrooms. Fun!

Anatomy of a Doll Room:

cutest. picture. ever. the end.

Oh, alright. There's more.

Another Global "Bleuette" outfit! I really like this one too, and I think it is even a better fit. The wig, a wee Global mohair wig is too small! *cry* It is being held on by just the cap. Still so cute. Will see if there is some way to mangle it so it fits.

Props by American Girl. They are rad! The detail is super fab. However, with moving parts and so much detail, things like the camera will break easily so be careful. Also got the night stand and wash set! A little short for SD, still makes a good prop.

Demelza had to try her hand with the stereoscope...

The detail, again, is gorgeous. Brown velvet rim around the mask, punched designs in metal mask casing, all wood parts. The metal is soft, so you have to be careful not to snap off the moving handle. It comes with stereoview cards of national monuments!

Momo, my Peach Lady Momoko. Looks fantash in the Calendar Girl Rune Fashion outfit... I knew I was saving it for someone special. Eeeee!

I love her. She's had a slight hair relaxing and bang trim, all tamed beneath a strawberry patterned scarf.

There's nothin' like a new pair of boots from Dollheart.com to use an excuse for a new photoshoot. Dreamy! Ondine wears her new brown ribbon boots with the dress from Volks made for Anais II. The wig is another one of Volks' brilliant new wigs, in a wavey auburn (Volks calls it "copper" but they lie). Again, I am totally in love with the new Volks wigs, they are gorgeous. The texture is soft and lively, very sauvage. I'd definately buy this in other colors. Mmmmm.

More? Of course, and another thrown in of Ondine in her "Romance of London" outfit, which she was loathe to change out of.

The loverly Fifi Mahony in the outfit by Imai I got from Aimee. Eeeeeee! And this wig. Volks W-02 in BLACK. I'd been trying to get it for AGES. Such gorgeous texture, heavy and swingy. Lurve it muchly.

But wait! What is this? Mr. Kallisti rides again! [queue Bonanza theme]

It's a large BJD photo stage! Collapsible (if a bit heavy), stores flat, and tres easy for scene changes!

It is just a large piece of plywood. A bit on the heavy side because we happened to have a large piece of thick plywood on hand. It has a lip around the backend to keep the walls from sliding off the back. The back L shaped wall is hinged at the corner, and then upholstered with cream colored felt. The bottom is covered with dark brown felt to keep it from scratching the 1925 Victrola Granada Phonograph the whole contraption is resting on. And the floor is a thin piece of black board covered with checkered shelf paper. This can be changed at will. The back is then covered with random fabric, in this case muslin on the back wall and mauve velvet on the side. The set dressings are hung on push pins with the plastic bit ripped off so the fabric can be changed and stuff rehung with ease. It all folds up and tucks behind a large desk, or can stay out as a permanent doll room. Which it is likely to in this case.

I married a genius. And a very understanding man.

I'm all flubbergusted with glee!

Secret Santa was good to me this year! Melissa! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! She sent the most awesome Blythe dress ever. I can't even begin to describe. I'll just show you 2389743 pictures instead. And the best excuse to debut la Casa Formica's kitchen. Still in need of base boards and crown molding, but crikey! I can't wait forever...

Suddenly I have FIVE BLYTHES!?!?!

Today is my only day to take pictures with daylight, so I'm trying to squeeze them all in. Here's a few of the girls!

In the back are Calliope wearing Mitten's pink coat and hat outfit, Thistle wearing a Christmas surprise present from Miss Christina, and Polly Styrene wearing her new bunny woolies by Pink Gun. In front are Gudrun in Mitten's slavic princess outfit, and Marzanna, mitten herself! Oh, and wee pinky doodle petite Blythe in the Dolly Bird special outfit on her vintage Petite Princess lounge.

Spent the week cleaning up some old projects. Like... papering La Casa Formica! Still lots of work to do, but once I get two more floors down and some chair/plate rails I'll at least be able to put my dolls and stuff in it without being ashamed.

More pix when it is fit to be seen.

Also made that wee red checker dress for Gudrun Saturday morning. And super thanks to Melissa who showed me the pink Tico Kitchen auction in the first place! It is a little big, so who knows if it is permanent, but it sure is sweet lookin'.

Oh also, please forgive the bad-photos-taken-with-late-night-incandescent-lighting-and-made-to-look-arty-and-on-purpose. Cheers.

K, if you've read this on 238473 other blogs. Forgive me. I just can't let it go.

Bush: OB-GYNs kept from 'practicing their love' 07 Sep 2004 00:56:01 GMT

Source: Reuters

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo., Sept 6 (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush offered an unexpected reason on Monday for cracking down on frivolous medical lawsuits: "Too many OB-GYNs aren't able to practice their love with women all across this country."

The Republican president, long known for verbal and grammatical lapses, included the anecdote about obstetrician gynecologists in his stump speech attacking Democratic presidential rival Sen. John Kerry and his running mate, Sen. John Edwards, a former trial lawyer.

At a rally of cheering supporters in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, Bush made his usual pitch for limiting "frivolous lawsuits" that he said drive up the cost of health care and run doctors out of business.

But then he added, "We've got an issue in America. Too many good docs are getting out of business. Too many OB-GYNs aren't able to practice their love with women all across this country."

Unfazed, Bush went on to deride his rivals as "pro-trial lawyer," and concluded, "I think you've got to make a choice. My opponent made his choice, and he put him on the ticket. I made my choice. I'm for medical liability reform now."

On a lighter note, cool new Re-ment kitchen stuff. Love the Volks girl presenting.

Also, more fruit, veggies, lobsters and squids!

Weee! We spent last Saturday painting La Casa Formica. The outside is the same green we used for all my bookcases, so the house will gel really well with my living room. And the shingles are raspberry pink! Weee! We spraypainted all the trim and windows white and gave the inards a primer coat. I've got a TON of fabu papers now, it will be hard to narrow it down to just four. Definately the circus paper and poodles though. Gotta have.

Still to do: Putting white trim and gingerbread around the roof and shingles. Insert gothic windows from My Scene set into back top floor as well as the spiral staircase. The roof is going to be a roof garden with cross-buck railing and lots of topiary and birdbaths. Heeee. Also, I need 10" cheap greek statues! Any good ideas, please let me know. We need to hit up the greek store in SF soon. Um, wallpaper and painting. There is lots of decorating to do! Aaagh!

Click below for bloated gif of the Dr. Stretch N. Pull's Torture Chamber. We have a real nice movie of it, but that was 10 megs! I don't think I can post it. Poo.