Etsy, we're almost there!

(More pics on Flickr, click on sidebar at right.)

New Dolls!  I've gone a little plaid crazy, I've never really been unordinarily drawn to plaid, but there's something about it on the doll clothes that's so sophisticated and amusingly absurd that it makes me really happy.  That and I love the colors.  You can find almost any combination of complementary colors in a plaid, and somehow they look chic.  It's really fun to make the outerwear, then pick a couple of colors out of the pattern that seem so wrong, yet somehow they work when layered underneath.  So there will be more plaid girls to come.

Okay, so I've pushed my etsy deadline back soooo many times now.  It's like construction.  Take the deadline, then mutliply the amount of time by at least two.  My first deadline to list was August 1, that seems hilarious now.  Of course, Halloween ate up most of July, but we got to do some really cool stuff so it was worth it.

Regardless, my goal to start listing is now October 3.  Last weekend I took Monday off of work, Erik went fishing so I had the house mostly to myself, and believe it or not actually got a lot done.  My last tasks for these week are to figure out how to make doll boots, finish some sandals, clean up a few loose ends, make up some gift tags, screen images onto the bags and sew them up.  I have all the silkscreen transfers ready, I'm hoping Erik will show me how to make the screens tonight.  The bags are fairly easy to sew, they take a little time,  but I think if I make a bunch at once I should be able to get quite few done in a short amount of time. 

Last week I got all the boring business stuff done, license, permit, etc. etc.  So all is official now. 

I have this weekend off, I'm hoping to get the dolls listed Saturday morning, afternoon at the latest.  Then hopefully I can work on some napkins and bags on Sunday.

Recently Clothed

A pic of the most recently completed ensemble.=) I wanted each of the dolls to have a tangible personality, and I can't help but think of her as the school snot. I didn't dress her that way for some reason though. Her clothes are more beachy, down to earth, nature loving, but her face has condescending snottiness written all over it. Maybe she's going through period of transformation? Or maybe she's just having a bad day.

I just noticed that it might be time for a shoe making day. I'm calling a lot of these guys complete but they're shoeless. Now I'm affirming my earlier point. Her clothes look complete without shoes. She looks like she's about to go read on the beach. But with a smirk like that doesn't she need some super trendy sandals?

Sign of things to come.

I hate, hate, hate admitting this, because I really despise the idea of fashion and things being "in" or "now", but unfortunately that's how the world works, and I caught myself carefully scrutinizing all of the fastidiously fashionable OC housewife Halloween clientele this weekend, to see what I am missing out on hiding in my seen by few breathing mammals hermit recluse I call an office.

What I noticed was plaid shirts. Really?? Wasn't it only the post-Nirvana midstream acceptance about 1994 that these went out? And they're back already? Mind you, not the grungy, I stole my hunter dad's flannel shirt because I don't care what you think plaid. They're more of a preppy, ivy league, catholic school, tailored plaid shirt. And long jean shorts. They look like skinny jeans, cut off at the knee. Ironically, I had just made some of these for the last back to school doll, without even really thinking about where the inspiration came from, I kind of just had them in my head. Now I realize how they came about.

Regardless, both look horrible on me. Another thing I've realized, I have a tendency to make the dolls clothes that I would love to wear but just aren't going to happen for me.

So, I found myself at Joann's on Sunday morning ( I snuck in an hour before the Halloween store opened) buying 3 different plaids and 2 new denims. I should have pics of completeness by Monday. I have 2 days off this weekend! A real weekend! So excited! I'm opening my etsy store Monday, regardless of what I have done. I have to get it open before October.

On another note, completely unrelated, I was reading this post today, and decided this is the book I need to read now. I had to drive to Fountain Valley & back today to deliver something for work (a 3 hour drive) and realized a couple of things. 1) I haven't had any completely indulgent me time in a long time. 2) The lack thereof has kind of made me feel like I'm losing a part of my identity that I really like. Like I'm actually losing good, unique parts of myself. 3) I enjoyed the day so much more than normal because I was OUTSIDE. It's beautiful here in the fall. I completely missed out on the summer, and I've come to the conclusion that I'm going to start being more selfish and do things I enjoy more whether it seems responsible or not.

Back to School Girl

I hate to name dolls, but need to refer t0 them somehow, and I've been thinking of her as dressed up to go back to school. I'm so jealous of everyone getting ready to go back to college right now. Its in the air, everywhere you go. Computers and calculators on sale. Dorm organizers & backpacks in flyers in the junk mail. I find myself turning green in the aisles at Target, watching all these kids gathering up school supplies. So horribly jealous! Hopefully it will be me again, but for the time being, I'll have to live vicariously through my crafts!

Surfer Beanie!

Surfer Beanie
Originally uploaded by Bloom And Barnacle

Doll Beanies!

Soon To Be Embroidered Pockets!

I finally got to work on the girls' clothes yesterday. It's been really hot in the loft and I find it hard to concentrate anywhere else if anyone's home. I realize how lame it is to complain about heat in San Diego. I'm from the hottest place on Earth (okay, maybe just the US) for cryin out loud. However, the highest room in the house, lots of west facing windows, no AC, and no breeze makes for a hot day in the studio. Okay, done with the excuses. Moving on.

So E had a great idea for the short felt haired dolls. Surfer Beanies! I spent a little while yesterday trying to figure out the best way to do this without actually having to crochet or knit them. (I'm having a hard time recalling how to crochet, my great grandma was amazing but I haven't done it since the last time I made Barbie bikinis at about 11.) I'm trying to learn how to knit, but have found it kind of frustrating. So I just used some knit fabric and I think it actually came out pretty nice. I'm working on doll jeans with fun embroidered pockets. The jeans are taking a while because the dolls don't really have any booty, but need a slightly curved inseam, and they're being really picky about the fit. I guess jeans are never easy for anyone.=(

I've been sidetracked by cooking this week. I don't know why I always get a weird cooking fetish during a heatwave, but it kind of happens a lot. Last night was Shrimp & Scallop linguine (I substituted scallops for clams and linguine for spaghetti.) I'd never made it before but was really easy. Love the food network site, the reviews seem to be pretty reliable.

I get to leave work early tomorrow, our office is going to the Del Mar races to celebrate the 5 year anniversary. I however, am not going because it's the last weekend at the Halloween Store before the Grand Opening. It's incredible this year. I think we're all really proud to have been a part of it. So I'll spend this weekend sewing pirate skeleton costumes and distressing said skeletons along with various other macabre tasks. I'm hoping I can post some pics soon.

In the meantime, some progress pics of Short Haired Surfers!