Store News and More

Back At Work - Yes!

New items being added to Dolly Dolly Fashions 

on Etsy almost daily.  

Some of these are sold, some get listed tonight.

And then...

Meet Star.  My newest Kingdom Doll.

I made something just for her when I found out she was mine!

I think she likes it!

The Dress Form

This is the first dress form made for Kingdom Dolls.  I am slowly making a tutorial about making your own form.  Slowly because I am still learning what works best.  Dauphine  modeled with the form before sending it to the UK to Amanda.  Amanda designs and sews for these dolls.

So how was your January?  We are strolling quickly into February.  More new things coming.  Thank You for hanging in there with me.  Your comments and emails of encouragement have helped so much to push me along through some rough patches.

Happy Valentines Day!

Cheers, PB Ray

Too Long!

After The Move

It's been crazy, it's been fun, and it's been distracting for months now since we moved.

My studio is still not set up properly, but that will change in the next few weeks.  

I looked at my calendar today and said, "Hokey smokes! Halloween is just around the corner!"

 You can purchase the printable masks and instructions  for your Monster High dolls 

at Dolly Dolly Fashions on etsy. 

A week ago I was in New Jersey attending 2 doll events that were spectacular.

  

One I was just plain old lucky to attend.  Thanks to a very good friend I went to the Kingdom Doll dinner.  It was wonderful.  We were introduced to their newest dolls, we had a fabulous meal and took home some lovely things that were gifted to us at each course of the meal.  

Because I was there in someone else's place who could not attend, I did not receive the doll made especially for this event: Liberty.  

She is stunning.

She is 16" of beauty like no other.

While this blog is primarily about Monster High dolls, I collect many different dolls.  I have been trying to get my hands on a Kingdom Doll for months now.  They are limited editions and they sell out in less than a minute.  

Because I was so fortunate to attend the dinner event put on by Kingdom Doll, I was able to pre-order one of the new dolls coming out in November.  Her name is Cinnamon.  

When she is finally here, I promise a post dedicated to her.

You can visit Kingdom Doll here:

https://www.kingdomdoll.co.uk/home.html

You can visit their FaceBook page here:

https://www.facebook.com/kingdomdoll.co.uk?fref=ts

It had been over 12 years since I had attended a doll event.  Dipping back into the pool could not have been better.  First there was Kingdom Doll night.  Then the next day was Metro Dolls event.  It was their 10th year having this event - and it was so worth the trip!  They raised over $20,000.00 to donate to St Jude's Children's Research Hospital.

They had a silent auction and a Live Auction.  Kingdom Doll donated a one of a kind doll named Aquitaine.  She sold for $8,000.00 at the live auction! 

I bid during the live auction and won the Black and White set donated by Metro Dolls.  It is a wonderful set!  The only challenge was to find room in my luggage to get it home. I did it!

I took 2 of my dolls with me.  One is my Sybarite, Solitaire. I made

her a fashion just for the occasion.  I think she looks stunning. It was raining when we arrived.  

My friend brought one of her Kingdom Dolls.

These were taken with my phone in our room.

I have been working in between sorting and unpacking supplies for the studio. New things are coming to the shop.

That isn't nearly everything, but it's enough for now!

Cheers, PB Ray

1:6 Doll Furniture

Repainted Furniture for 10 - 12 Inch Dolls

The Curl Up & Dye Salon needs furniture.  These inexpensive vanities and chairs were on Ebay -- so I bought them with fingers crossed that they might work.  They are the correct size which is great.  However, they did have issues.  

Once the mirror is attached the vanity falls over backwards.  I fixed that issue by adding hot glue on the underside of the table top on the opposite side of the mirror.  

They came with butterfly buttons for the front of the table.  I removed those and replaced them with small nail heads and painted them black.  They are glued in place with the hot glue.

Before painting these I sanded the little sharp bumps left from their original molds, and I washed them with warm soapy water to remove the mold release agent.  Then I sprayed them with Testors Dull Coat lacquer.  You cannot paint these successfully without the Dull Coat - the paint slides off.  In between coats of paint I used the Dull Coat again.

Painting the mirror requires some prep- I used a piece of paper that I placed over the mirror and creased it around the inside edge.  I cut out that shape and used plain water to adhere the paper.  This kept the Dull Coat from hitting the mirror when I sprayed it.  

When you paint- paint everything- including the undersides.  If you don't do that, the color will reflect when taking photos.  You can paint them white - that way they won't reflect the loud pink.

I want a slightly Gothic look to the furniture for the salon- and since the dolls are colorful, I want things to be muted or at least closer to a gray scale.  When I take photos it will look better that way.

Also, adding paint adds visual weight to the pieces. They seem more "there".

The little drum style table was made with a Tropicana orange juice bottle cap, the plastic spools from some little plastic bags and paper for the top (to cover the Tropicana name).  Hot glued the legs on.

You can paint doll furniture and give it a totally different look.  If you need ideas, just look online at places like West Elm and IKEA.  You'll find patterns and colors galore to inspire you :)

Happy Thanksgiving to one and all.

~PB Ray