I admit it, I play with dolls.

I am not too proud to admit, I am an adult that plays with fashion dolls. We all are, if you think about it. We pick the right dress for the pictures, and build the perfect room with all the right furniture. We stage every scene to tell a story. I have thought about that alot tonight (I know you are all wondering why this is my blog post for tonight. I talked to my friend and owner of Sweet Pickin's tonight. She told me a lady came in to the shop and was looking at my furniture. She looked for a long time and then told my friend she did not have a Barbie as a child. She didn't even have a doll. Her family was poor and she just never had things like that and my furniture made her want to go out and buy a Barbie. Had I been there, I would have probably given her a doll. That really tugged at my heart strings. I guess I take so many things for granted...I assumed every little girl growing up had a Barbie. Lets just all hope kids today have that very special toy that will be remembered for years to come...whether its a Barbie, an Elmo,a roaring dinosaur or a talking Woodie and Buzz Lightyear. It's not about the toy, it is about the chance to be a kid. Have a great week. Yay, I finished my 'Beach House". Pictures tomorrow. Night all.

Controlled Chaos

Chaos, controlled chaos best describes the past few months. I have really enjoyed keeping up with my blog buddies, following their blogs, and have only now decided I need to share my news. I am opening a booth space in "Sweet Pickin's". It is a new antique and crafters mall and the back wall is mine. I am certain my neighbors have wanted to put a For Sale sign in my yard when I am away at my 8-5 job, because as soon as I am back at my house the table saw, chop saw or sander is running wide open. Today was the first day open for business. I am really excited. Keep in mind, Henderson, Texas is probably not a hot bed of Barbie activity but with the Etsy, FeeBay and private sales I am staying busy. I started a repaint some time ago. Poor little thing...still in the back room with solid white eyes and no lips. I was so inspired by "SmidgeHouse's" post regarding the joint reconfiguration surgery on her Liv doll, I decided I would try the whole repaint, from scratch, NOT an overpaint...a repaint. One eye was beautiful and then the dreaded 2nd eye. It never looked like the first eye. So (you guessed it) I started over, and over and over. Geeze, what ever was I thinking. I am not giving up though. Oh yeah, I just bought my first FR doll. While she was still pricey, I got a pretty good buy on her because her boobs were a little darker than the rest of her body. Really, who cares. Well, maybe some of you care but I did not. Her red lips were a little extreme so I lightened them ever so slightly. She also needs a little trim but I haven't had the time for that yet. My sweet hubby has been so much help. Before Christmas we built a small Barbie house for a 4 year old. I glued most of the accessories and furniture so it would not be a hazzard. We also built a Batman house...yes a Batman house and it was awesome. We are now in the completion phase of a 2 story beach house with a balcony and open concept first floor. Hopefully it will be completed before Sweet Pickin's opens Monday morning. I love my life...Eveyone have a great weekend. I will be taking down my last remaining Christmas tree. LOL The pics are of the upper bedroom in the beach cottage.

Light comparison.

My adventure in twilight photography did not compare well to the photos taken in natural light. Everything I have read, suggest taking pictures in natural light...I should have listened. Guess I thought I could re-invent the wheel. Like I knew something the "real" photograpers didn't know. I have always loved the serene elegance in a white on white color scheme. It isn't a white out because of the various shades I used and then picked up accents of gold, silver and soft pink. Lets talk about pink. NOT a color I am drawn to. It is a beautiful color, just not my color so when I purchase a pink plastic Barbie item, the first order of business is to paint it. Plastic spray paint can turn a yellowing old pink chair into a real shabby chic find.

See, not bad. I have one more and also the table with the silver "mirror" stuck to the top of it with something that could hold a fighter jet together. Everyone have a peaceful night and a great Tuesday.

White Christmas

My last photos are shot in low light. A new experiment. I changed my room walls and added a picture window with a snowy view. It was perfect for my "White Christmas" pictures. We rarely have snow on Christmas so this will be my white Christmas. I will take more pics in natural light and post those later in the week. I have met some extrodinary people, blog to blog, and feel like I am not contributing to the conversation until I can post my thoughts and responses. When I was a little girl, my grandmother and I would walk into the woods behind my grandparents house and gather pinecones, sweetgum ball, and China berriers. China Berriers were such a mess to clean, but once the skins were removed, grandma would boil them and lay them on newpaper to dry. We then strung them on fishing line and sprayed them our chosen color of that particular Christmas. We cut pine boughs, holly, and cedar. The pine cones and sweetgum balls were always painted gold and dipped in glitter. My 2 brothers helped us wrap and string the garland together. It was a family event and we all did our part. She loved Christmas and she passed that on to me. Christmas was always about family and good food, friends and games. I try to continue that tradition but life is so hectic now compared to then sometimes I forget how important traditions are. I have sold several item this week and am also building and furnishing a two story Barbie house for a little girls Christmas. When you really think about it, all of us that sell our items for Christmas are taking part in a childs Christmas memories. I kind of like that. Boy, I have been around the world and back in this post. Its been that kind of week (My REAL job is very hectic right now...open enrollment-need I say more. Everyone have a great Monday. Catch you later in blogsphere.

Carol's Eclectic Designs in 1/6 Scale's photostream

Carol's Eclectic Designs in 1/6 Scale's photostream on Flickr.

Breakfast is served.

Eclectic Designs in 1/6 Scale: Sunrise

Eclectic Designs in 1/6 Scale: Sunrise: I slept in 3 days in a row. WOW. I never sleep in, even when I am off, I do not sleep late. My internal alarm goes off at 6:30 every m...

Sunrise

I slept in 3 days in a row. WOW. I never sleep in, even when I am off, I do not sleep late. My internal alarm goes off at 6:30 every morning. After 3 large cups of coffee, I was up. I wasn't dressed, but I was up. I set up for my newest pictures yesterday afternoon and all that was left was dressing my dolls. I kept stuffing poor Barb into pencil skirts, jeans, sweaters, boots, heels...nothing really rang my bell. Then, I got it...a robe. Her pink, terry, soft robe. Who could blame her. It was cold here today and why would she need anything but a robe. Ken on the other hand had to work, no robe for him. I decided several weeks ago my next purchase would be a 12" Poppy Parker....NOT! I seriously had no idea clothes are so hard to fit on some fashion dolls. I have 3 go-to girls on Etsy. Their clothes are gorgeous; silk, knit, linen etc. They are wearing the clothes in the fall pictures and they ALWAYS FIT. Some jeans I have purchased are too short in the crotch, some are too long, dresses are too tight in the hips. Some jeans fasten and some don't. I just read a post from a blog friend and I have to agree with her. I am not ready to start over with shoes or clothes. I have now decided my next purchase will be a fashion royalty male doll. Yep, I have a plan. Oh, back to the robe. I am so proud of it. She needed one and I remember my best friends mother sewing one for my friend. It was the 60's. Colors were vibrant and patterns were bold. Her mom used 2 beach towels to make her robe. It all started coming back to me when I pulled out two wash cloths (new--never used). I think the end result is awesome. I seem to keep reaching into my past to create in the present. I like that. Have an amazing week. Talk soon!