City Girls Astor

I held back opening Color Block Astor, because I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with her to change her look.

My sister told me that she liked Astor's red hair and outfit, so I decided to give her to my sister for Christmas and get the  Golden Swirl Astor for myself, since she had a different hairstyle.  I'm not a fan of bangs and Billy already had them.  I really wanted a different look.

After studying Astor in her package for a few days, I decided I could do something with her hair.   I would cut it short, in a 'bob hairstyle'.  This meant a change of plans:  I would keep Color Block and give Golden Swirl Astor to my sister.

I took her out of her package and found her hair to be uneven at the ends and lots of space on the top near the bangs (one side was also fuller than the other), so I wasn't sure if there would be enough hair to make a decent bob.  I tried combing her bangs to the side, but they wouldn't stay.  I tried clipping back the front to see what she'd look like, but that only showed up the unevenness and the bare areas of her scalp.

In her box. 

Out of her box, trying for a fuller 'do.

Top photo: One long piece at the back.  Bottom Photo: a shorter area at the left back, visible from the front.

Random long pieces all around.  

So, I snipped and snipped and snipped and snipped and snipped and snipped .........

..... and TADA! Not as short as I would like it to be, but decent enough, until I get the courage to snip some more.

And the bane of my existence - staining.  Aaaaaaaaargh!  Will it ever end?

The offending article:

Anyway, I had a lot of fun trying on borrowed clothes.

Moxie Teenz Gavin's Suit 

Jakk's Pacific 'A Walk on The Wide Side' Elle's Jacket

 

Singing Jackie Evancho's dress (which didn't close at the back) and cape.

Nightgown from Effanbee Brenda Starr's Peignoir Set

Sergeant Calhoun Doll from Wreck-It Ralph

She looks so cool.  If I had extra funds I would love to get her.

All 17" of her is available at disneystore.com.

20% off today with the code: THANKS

Tonner Toys City Girls

I've been waiting for City Girls since February this year, after seeing photos of them from the Toy Fair. I thought this day would never come!

I had decided that I would budget for all four of the girls - Basic Houston, Basic Brook-Lynn, Color Block Astor and Taxi! Billy.  I want to sew for them, so I wasn't interested in the fashion packs.  As time drew near, I thought over what I really wanted and decided I would get the basics instead, two Houstons and two Brook-Lynns and  I would customise one of each, since they all had the same face mold anyway.

When they were released, I was disappointed to find out that Brook-Lynn was an FAO Schwarz exclusive and was not available from Tonnerdoll.com.  Tonner had free shipping, so I chose to purchase from them and got two Houstons and an Astor and a Billy.

I collected them today and had a lot of fun with Houston.  Here she is, still in her box with her hair up.

I took down her ponytail and gave her a side plait.

 She can do knee bends!

Little Missmatched Uptown Girl's coat is too small at the shoulders, tight at the chest and short at the sleeves. 

 Little Missmatched Sporty's hoodie's sleeves are also too short.

Moxie Teenz sunglasses fit perfectly.

Here are her sexy shoes (I wish they weren't pink though) and painted toes.  I removed one shoe and boy did I have a heck of a time getting it off.

Her only fault: a slack left knee joint:

I'm looking forward to opening the other girls and having some more fun.

Japanese Doll Books

I have a small collection of Dolly Dolly and Dollybird mooks.

In May this year, I got Dolly Dolly Vol. 28, not because there were no patterns in it for any of my dolls, but, because I love Momoko and the issue was dedicated to her 10th anniversary.   I don't know what it is about this doll - her innocent face, perhaps?

My latest acquisition is Dollybird Vol. 17.  This issue uses felt and leather in most of its projects.

Happy, happy, joy, joy! There's a Dollfie Dream section with patterns for this outfit and body blushing tips.

 There's also this section on drafting a shirt for a male doll.

And, of course, printed patterns.

More photos of Momoko, as well as other dolls, such as Blythe, Volks, Mama Chapp, Groove, Unoa Quluts and Tiny Betsy McCall.

And my favourite outfit is this one - kind of 'hippyish'.  Since I don't understand Japanese, I am guessing that 'CoCoon' is the brand of clothing and accessories.  See their blog here.  I think the designer's name is Haruka.

These are the pieces.

The sandals ....

... and the handbags!

And, there are patterns and instructions to make them!  I'm looking forward to making this outfit and accessories, eventually.

My Big Head Cutie

I don't particularly care for big-headed dolls.  I mean the really big-headed ones, like Blythe and Pullip.

I caved in and got myself a tan Hujoo 26cm Yomi Girl!  She's a strung ball-jointed doll, made of plastic!  Her skin tone is called 'chocolate'.  I got her from The Junkyspot.

I had a heck of a time inserting her eyes and positioning them, but I think they're passable.  She still needs a face-up (get in line, kid).  Luckily, I just got a Kemper mohair wig in her size: 7-8 and I have a Hottiez top and Skipper's Pizza Hut skirt, that fit her perfectly.  She reminds me of Dora the Explorer.

And what about footwear?  Well, Ken's slippers fit her (one has a broken strap).  Some old male dolls' shoes fit her as well.

The best surprise? Moxie Teenz shoes fit perfectly!

I still have some miniature Birkenstocks to try out.

 Here's one of my flat-footed, articulated Barbies trying them on for size.

Anyway, here she is.  She's such a cutie. in her little pony tails. I love her chunky limbs.

Home At Last

I've been wanting Essential Lizette - Wigged Out since she first came out.  I ordered her two weeks ago during a Wilde Imagination sale and collected her yesterday.

She is so beautiful.

I thought I wouldn't like her long wig, but I think she looks like a fairy.

I also got a free gift - a Crossed Purposes Jacket: