Hello! I'm still alive!

 I'm really sorry that I've not been around for ages, I've not posted on my blog or read anyone else's either, which is bad because I do enjoy seeing what everyone else is up to on the dolly front.

As for me, well I'm well but have had six months of problems with one of my legs, several times I was unable to actually walk and I honestly thought the worst.  Well it turns out that I have 'severe arthritis' in my knee and lower leg and am too young (I like that!) for a replacement knee so I've been given strong painkillers.  They're working well but I feel so tired that sometimes I just cannot be bothered to do anything! 

However, I have actually been sewing, quite a lot to be honest.  I've let my house gather dust and concentrated on my dolls....well those dust mites deserve a life too, wouldn't you say?  Seriously though, I've been sewing, sewing and more sewing and really enjoying it.  I've also customised a doll so I will share some of those things here and hope, if I still have any readers left, you will enjoy seeing what I've been doing.

I received a new BJD back in April and although I wasn't sure whether I'd actually keep her, when she arrived I was smitten.  She is a Pao by Boto Doll and although she has a chubby body which I normally don't like, I really love her.  I've done a lot of sewing for her.....

 I've been having such fun with her, her name is Jin, which apparently means Jade in Chinese.

I've made outfits for my Gotz girls too....

 

Both of those girls arrived in the early part of the year....I had a bit of a spending spree!!  

Some more BJDs got new clothes....

 

Samantha (Elfdoll Hana Angel) got a new blue dress with beading around the hem.

Noa (Irrealdoll Nora) got a check dress and cream socks.

Black Cherry Dolls XiaoYu got a new denim pinafore and striped stockings.  The lovely knitted sweater and beret were a gift from a friend.

And she also got a linen dress in khaki green.

 Bastian by Little Cosmos Dolls got some new trousers and a matching top.

So these were just a few of the many things I've been sewing recently.

Finally I did a makeover on one of my Gotz girls.  Anna is from 2005 and although she was really nice, her eyes were quite flat and not the most attractive so I decided to give her a whole new face.

Here she is with her new look and new dress....well if a girl has a new look she really needs another new dress, I guess!  

 I almost cut her eyes out to insert glass ones but then I decided to try repainting her existing eyes, after five attempts I was happy with the ones I painted and after sealing them, I added clear UV resin to give them a strong shine.

I think she looks more like a child now and less 'doll-like'.

So you'll see that I've not exactly been idle, just not here on Blogger.  I will try my best to catch up with all the blogs but I might just have to start afresh from now.  Forgive me for all the things I've missed and for not commenting.

Big hugs and enjoy your week.

Sharon in Spain xx

This and That.....

I've had a busy couple of weeks so my blog has had to take a back seat, but finally I had a little bit of dolly time and took the opportunity to change the clothes on a few girls as well as the wig on another.

Firstly Chloe my tanned Fairyland Mini Fee got a change of clothes and wig.  The great thing with this doll is she fits clothing made for the Ellowyne dolls by Robert Tonner, so here she is wearing the cutest jacket from his company, trousers from Elfdoll and a crop top which I've had for ages.  Her lovely Mary Jane shoes are custom made by a lady here in Spain.

Sam, my tiny Elfdoll Hana Angel with her replacement Jerry Berry body, changed into her torn jeans, a long tee shirt and her special cable knitted beanie....

Gala, my Milky Tan Adori by Harucasting, received a very cute gift of a Chihuahua teeshirt from my dear friend Sue in the UK, and she's been dying to show it off to you!  Unfortunately it was a bit chilly so she had to put her coat on to go outside and have her photos taken but hopefully soon she'll be able to wear it with her shorts and sandals!

Scarlett, my customised Kidz n Cats Alice, got to go out to the Bio Parc in Fuengirola last week, so here are a few photos of her enjoying the aquarium and the sunshine there....although it was quite cold, so she was dressed for the weather!

Leone, my Zwergnase Junior Violet, went for a walk by the lake in La Viñuela, it was a lovely day, one of the first really sunny days we've had recently....the lake is looking a bit fuller after all the rain too, although it's still very low unfortunately.

The lake definitely looks beautiful though.....

In other news, I have continued with my morning walks, although we've had some very changeable weather recently so I've made good use of the treadmill and weights at the gym.  Here are some photos from my walks....despite rain and high winds, we have also had some beautiful sunshine, so there are definite signs of spring around here!!

El Torre de Jarral....is a watch tower which sits high on the cliff overlooking the coastal road and the beach below.  It is believed to be from the  13th to 14th centuries.  I often walk up to the tower and have shown close up photos of it in the past,  but on this occasion I walked inland so that I could get a good view of it from a similar height....according to my fitness watch, the climb up to the base of the tower is the equivalent of walking up about 25+ flights of stairs!

Due to all the rain, one of my routes now has a stream running along the track which me and Lucy, my Miniature Pinscher, have to jump over a few times.....it is quite fast running, crystal clear water and approx one metre wide in places and several centimetres deep!

I spotted this rainbow a few days ago....

And some very threatening looking grey clouds!

Finally some beautiful blue skies!  These two photos were taken in the olive groves high above the coast, it was peaceful and warm, with just the sound of the birds for company.....

The sea is just visible through the olive trees....

Signs of spring!  The first poppies that I've seen this year....

And loads of daisies everywhere!

Well I hope you've enjoyed seeing some of my photos! 

Thank you for visiting!

 I wish you all a very Happy Easter, or  Feliz Pascua as they say here in Spain.  

Big hugs Sharon xx

Another Dolly Week!

I cannot believe how quickly the time is passing and I've been neglecting my poor blog again!  I have taken quite a few photos recently but just forgot to share them on here, although some have gone on Flickr.  Apologies to those of you who've already seen them on there, I hope you enjoy seeing them again!

Firstly I made this outfit for the Little Darlings, I made it with a view to selling and showed it to my friend before putting it on Ebay.  Of course then it never got that far because she immediately wanted it!  I'm pleased with how it came out, I love this girl in blue and white, being my favourite colours too!  The socks are pale pink and white stripes because as you know, my dolls are never 'predictable'!

And because I couldn't resist, here are a couple of closeups of my sweet little Rory, who is painted by Lana Dobbs.  It was raining as I took these photos, that fine rain that quickly drenches you, but I thought she looked so real with the raindrops in her hair!

Like most doll collectors, I'm always on the hunt for props for my photos and was pleased to find this umbrella in a shop in Malaga, which is just the perfect size for Mouse, my Dollstown Seola who is approx 45cm tall.  And of course it's perfect for her to protect her pale skin from the sunshine!  I made her some slouch boots using soft leather in two different shades, cream and dark brown....she's very pleased with them and wanted to show them off with her umbrella.  The umbrella, by the way, has a fully working metal mechanism and is actually supposed to be used as a shade for smart phones! 

A 'just because' close up ...

Next we have some photos of Sam, my Elfdoll Hana Angel, who is a tiny 20cm tall.  She came with me to Fuengirola last week and was totally prepared to help me with my lovely breakfast at the Danish restaurant at Los Boliches.  She brought her own tiny silver knife and fork!!

Later she enjoyed a drop of Dandelion and Burdock that Brian, my hubby, bought for himself at the Iceland supermarket.  I had never drunk this before and having tried it, I don't think I will again!!  Tasted a bit like cough mixture to me!!

Whilst in Fuengirola we spotted a little bit of England!!  We aren't sure what it was all about but these structures, which appeared to be all made from metal, were just being put in place on the side of the road.   In the background you can also just see a very attractive model of what we think is supposed to be Saint Basil's Cathedral in Red Square, Moscow.  We laughed at the 'telephono' sign!  The box was locked and empty! 

A rather strange looking Lady Liberty....but someone worked hard to make her, she even stands on a plinth like the real one! 

And finally in Fuengirola, the lovely statue on the roundabout, which is not a temporary structure, it's always there.  Spanish roundabouts are generally really attractive, whether because they're covered in lovely well tended flowerbeds, olive trees, fountains or, as in this case, nice statues.   One day I might travel around taking photos of roundabouts to share with you....there are some very pretty ones around here :)

Finally for today, I thought I'd share a photo of the local lake, Lake Viñuela, which despite being very low due to the fact that we've had so little rain over the last few years, is looking very pretty.  This is the actual colour of the lake, I've not enhanced it in any way! 

Well I hope you've enjoyed seeing the photos, and would like to take this opportunity of wishing all my lovely Sasha friends who're attending the Sasha Celebration Weekend in Nottingham, the very best time!  I'll miss you but maybe next year!!! :)

Hugs Sharon x