Monday, 28 April 2014
New eyes for Vienna
This week I changed Vienna's eyes from pale lilac to deep brown glass. I really love brown eyes on my dolls and these are no exception, I think she looks lovely with them. Vienna is a Volks SD10 Sister mould, her default name is Nana, but she became Vienna when she came to live with me. I bought her new from Volks in Japan and she's been here since March 2008, more than 6 years now! She is 58cm tall and all resin. Her faceup is a custom one by Luna, a faceup artist in Italy. I love her work and I think she did a wonderful job on Vienna. She's wearing a dress that I made for another, since adopted out, doll, so it is a bit big in the bodice....but I think she's happy with it as it keeps her nice and cool in this hot weather!
Saturday, 26 April 2014
Devlin visits The Donkey Sanctuary...
My husbands daughter and grandson have been visiting from the UK for a couple of days and yesterday we decided to visit the local donkey sanctuary, which is located in the town of Fuente de Piedra in Malaga Province.
http://www.elrefugiodelburrito.com/en
The sanctuary is such a lovely place, set in the middle of the countryside, it is incredibly peaceful and it's always nice to just wander around watching the donkeys going about their business.
When we arrived it was feeding time so most of the donkeys were busy eating their feed, but several of them still took the time to come over to the fence of their paddocks to greet us!
As it happened, Jake, my husbands grandson, wasn't particularly interested in the donkeys, preferring to play on the childrens slide instead, but luckily Devlin was delighted to see them and really wanted to get 'up close and personal' with them. However, we had to be quite careful as the donkeys liked him a little bit too much and thought he'd make a tasty dessert after they'd finished their lunch!!
Devlin wanted to ride one of the donkeys but had to be content with pretending to ride, by sitting astride the fence!
These donkeys are part of the sanctuary's 'adoption' scheme. For a minimum donation of €15 you can 'adopt' one of the donkeys and you receive newsletters and a certificate. For several years we've adopted Leon who was rescued from Naples Zoo in Italy! Most of the donkeys are rescued from all over Spain and the rest of Europe. Sadly, most have been abused or neglected, but some are brought there by their former owners, who can no longer afford to keep them once the donkey is too old to work anymore.
Taking a respite from the heat! Devlin was glad of his cap but really should have worn a tee shirt rather than his hoodie!
After a stroll around the paddocks in the heat, we took a look in the Sanctury's shop, where they sell a selection of items to help raise funds for donkeys keep. Devlin finally got a ride on a donkey....although this one was made of woven straw!!!
http://www.elrefugiodelburrito.com/en
The sanctuary is such a lovely place, set in the middle of the countryside, it is incredibly peaceful and it's always nice to just wander around watching the donkeys going about their business.
When we arrived it was feeding time so most of the donkeys were busy eating their feed, but several of them still took the time to come over to the fence of their paddocks to greet us!
As it happened, Jake, my husbands grandson, wasn't particularly interested in the donkeys, preferring to play on the childrens slide instead, but luckily Devlin was delighted to see them and really wanted to get 'up close and personal' with them. However, we had to be quite careful as the donkeys liked him a little bit too much and thought he'd make a tasty dessert after they'd finished their lunch!!
Devlin wanted to ride one of the donkeys but had to be content with pretending to ride, by sitting astride the fence!
Pausing at the Pozo de los Deseos, or Wishing Well.....I wonder what Devlin wished for?
These donkeys are part of the sanctuary's 'adoption' scheme. For a minimum donation of €15 you can 'adopt' one of the donkeys and you receive newsletters and a certificate. For several years we've adopted Leon who was rescued from Naples Zoo in Italy! Most of the donkeys are rescued from all over Spain and the rest of Europe. Sadly, most have been abused or neglected, but some are brought there by their former owners, who can no longer afford to keep them once the donkey is too old to work anymore.
Taking a respite from the heat! Devlin was glad of his cap but really should have worn a tee shirt rather than his hoodie!
A close up of my handsome blond boy from 1969!
After a stroll around the paddocks in the heat, we took a look in the Sanctury's shop, where they sell a selection of items to help raise funds for donkeys keep. Devlin finally got a ride on a donkey....although this one was made of woven straw!!!
Little Sailor Girls!
I was recently commissioned by Ellen Church in the US, to make some outfits for her lovely girls. A couple of days ago Ellen shared some photos of two of her gorgeous girls modelling the outfits, showing me how happy they were with them! I thought I'd share them here as Ellen doesn't have a blog herself. I love how Ellen has added such cute matching sandals and hair ribbons to the outfits!
Please remember that these photos are Ellens and I'd appreciate it if they aren't copied in any way. Thanks very much!
Please remember that these photos are Ellens and I'd appreciate it if they aren't copied in any way. Thanks very much!
Tuesday, 22 April 2014
Dolls for Sale....Having a clear out!
Once again I'm feeling overwhelmed by the number of dolls living here and have decided to have a bit of a clear out. I thought I'd offer these dolls here before putting them either on Den of Angels or Ebay.
I have two Volks Yosd sized kids up for sale. Yosds are fully jointed BJDs, are approx 28cm tall, and made in Japan from resin. Volks were the first company to offer resin ball jointed dolls and are very well known in the bjd world. Volks Yosds were only ever available to purchase by people who attended their special events in Japan or by lottery at 'after events', so they were never available to purchase on-line for example. You had to either attend the event or have someone else who was attending, purchase one for you.....and the numbers were limited.
The first is Volks Yosd Papi who is from March 2007, and has a custom faceup by myself. She will come nude with a wig and eyes of my choice, not necessarily those in the photo below. Volks dolls are extremely good quality and very well made. This doll has a Volks box but it is not her own one, it actually belonged to another Volks doll that I sold, accidentally swapping out the two boxes!! She is in very good condition and has her original Volks brass plate still attached to the back of her head plate. Now on Den of Angels.
Up next is my Prima Dolly Ebony Blythe by the Takara Company in Japan. A light tanned girl, she has been fully customised by myself, I have carved her mouth, nose and philtum. She has been given new eyechips, sleep eyes, new pull rings, new eyelashes and her eyelids have been painted using bronze craft paint. She has all new makeup with tiny freckles, using good quality artists pastels and sealed with Mr Super Clear Flat. Her middle part black hair has been given a fringe/bangs. She will come nude in a Takara Blythe box.
And next we have the little Paola Reina girl that I recently gave a makeover. I think she is called Carol. I like her but I prefer the little Asian girl that I had first. So this little girlie is up for grabs. She has been thoroughly cleaned and her default hair removed. I gave her a nice dark blond Leeke World wig which I cut into a chin length bob as I thought it suited her better. I also removed her existing plastic eyes and replaced them with good quality oval flat backed blue glass eyes, which I think bring her more 'alive'. She has also had her spridery default eyelashes replaced with some nice natural looking upper lashes. She will travel to her new home nude. Price £30 plus postage. NOW SOLD - 07/07/15
I have two Volks Yosd sized kids up for sale. Yosds are fully jointed BJDs, are approx 28cm tall, and made in Japan from resin. Volks were the first company to offer resin ball jointed dolls and are very well known in the bjd world. Volks Yosds were only ever available to purchase by people who attended their special events in Japan or by lottery at 'after events', so they were never available to purchase on-line for example. You had to either attend the event or have someone else who was attending, purchase one for you.....and the numbers were limited.
The first is Volks Yosd Papi who is from March 2007, and has a custom faceup by myself. She will come nude with a wig and eyes of my choice, not necessarily those in the photo below. Volks dolls are extremely good quality and very well made. This doll has a Volks box but it is not her own one, it actually belonged to another Volks doll that I sold, accidentally swapping out the two boxes!! She is in very good condition and has her original Volks brass plate still attached to the back of her head plate. Now on Den of Angels.
The next doll up for adoption is also a Volks Yosd, this time a boy called Neon who was released in March 2008. He is also in very good condition with his Volks brass plate attached. He too will come with random eyes and his default blond wig shown in the first photo below. He comes in his own default box and I do believe I still have all his papers. Neon is now SOLD.
And next we have the little Paola Reina girl that I recently gave a makeover. I think she is called Carol. I like her but I prefer the little Asian girl that I had first. So this little girlie is up for grabs. She has been thoroughly cleaned and her default hair removed. I gave her a nice dark blond Leeke World wig which I cut into a chin length bob as I thought it suited her better. I also removed her existing plastic eyes and replaced them with good quality oval flat backed blue glass eyes, which I think bring her more 'alive'. She has also had her spridery default eyelashes replaced with some nice natural looking upper lashes. She will travel to her new home nude. Price £30 plus postage. NOW SOLD - 07/07/15
Finally today, I have a former Euro Girl who some time ago I made into a Euro 'boy'!!! This genderless vinyl doll was given a short haircut and her eyebrows were made a little more 'boyish'. I've had this doll for several years but I have probably only dressed him twice!! Poor lad is looking for a home where he'll get a bit of the attention he deserves!! He will also travel nude to his new home, all ready for dressing as a boy!!! As you can see he has the cutest little face with hazel inset eyes and two teeth showing in his slightly open mouth. His back, just above his bottom, is a bit concave...I have no idea if this is normal as I can't remember him ever having been any different from when I got him new several years ago. He also has faint staining on his upper arms on the inside from the outfit (s) came in. Now on Ebay.com.
I accept paypal only, personal payment/gift preferred. My home is smoke free but I do have my little dogs but they don't play with my dolls. All items will be packaged well and travel via certified mail. I ship worldwide. Please email me if you require further information or more photos, my email address is: dambuster0662@gmail.com
Thanks for looking!!!
ALL DOLLS IN THIS POST HAVE NOW SOLD - THANK YOU!
Saturday, 19 April 2014
Ten year anniversary and Olivia Kish!
Today is the ten year anniversary of us moving to Spain...and my goodness the years have passed very quickly. It was a bit of a culture change when we first came here, a whole new language to learn, new friends to make, as well as adapting to a completely different way of life!! And I have to say it really has been worth every moment....I can honestly say that I have no regrets about coming to live here and certainly wouldn't want to move back to the UK, although it is nice to visit occasionally....but I'm always happy to return 'home' to Spain!!
I took some photos of our two lemon trees today. Well I say 'lemon' trees, one of the trees was in fact an orange tree when we first bought the house, but after a couple of years lemons began to appear and now it is a mixture of the two! Weird!!! I would say that I still find it 'novel' to just walk out into the garden and pick some lemons....! Although we do have far more than we really know what to do with!! And the smell of the blossoms.....lovely!
I also took some photos of Olivia, my Primavera Olivia by Helen Kish. She's a 12" tall jointed plastic and vinyl doll who I've 'customised' a little bit by adding a wig that I made from Tibetan lambswool and adding some shine to her eyes and lips. I really think she is such a pretty doll....I have had Kish dolls in the past, but I think I like this one best of all!
I took some photos of our two lemon trees today. Well I say 'lemon' trees, one of the trees was in fact an orange tree when we first bought the house, but after a couple of years lemons began to appear and now it is a mixture of the two! Weird!!! I would say that I still find it 'novel' to just walk out into the garden and pick some lemons....! Although we do have far more than we really know what to do with!! And the smell of the blossoms.....lovely!
Orange AND lemon tree!
An abundance of lemons!
I also took some photos of Olivia, my Primavera Olivia by Helen Kish. She's a 12" tall jointed plastic and vinyl doll who I've 'customised' a little bit by adding a wig that I made from Tibetan lambswool and adding some shine to her eyes and lips. I really think she is such a pretty doll....I have had Kish dolls in the past, but I think I like this one best of all!
Thursday, 17 April 2014
Happy Easter!
I have been very busy this week and haven't had time to take any new doll photos, so thought I'd share these lovely sunflowers that I photographed a couple of years ago locally, they are on my route to the local shopping centre. I hope you enjoy their beautiful sunshine-y faces!!
And I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter!!
And I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter!!
