Showing posts with label Rudy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rudy. Show all posts

5/26/2015

"Black Lipstick" Gene as Grey Lady

This was the 20th Anniversary Gene souvenir doll we received at the Jamieshow convention in Chicago this past weekend. She is a 16" resin BJD. Some people chose another doll. Gene was quickly sold out as were several of the companion dolls.

I have altered the black & white images below using Photoshop.






The Dimitha fur stole was a table gift. It is actually gray toned. 

No doll can resist Rudy.

5/07/2015

My Ficon Gals and Brunel Visit the Parlor

I finally finished repainting Caroline's Parlor. It was not fun but definitely worth it in the end.
I used two shades of gray matte finish and semi-gloss white paint.
The window seat cushion is just temporarily wrapped in a scrap of upholstery fabric. I need to make a well fitted cover for that. The curtains will have to go as well. I'd like something more formal.
For the picture over the mantel I printed out several Matisse pictures I found on the internet and picked the one that I liked the best to go in this frame. I attached it to the wall using self-stick velcro squares.
My window view is the Capitol Building in Washington, DC. I loved it because of the cherry blossoms in the foreground in spite of the fact that there is no building that would have this view at this scale.

Furniture is Horsman. The fluffy white rugs are an Integrity Toy's product from long ago. 


The big issue with using a set with lots of verticals is perspective distortion. There are tilt-shift lenses that can automatically correct for this. I don't have one so I attempt to do the correction in Photoshop.

http://digital-photography-school.com/correcting-perspective-lens-distortion-in-photoshop/

http://www.photographyblog.com/articles/why_you_dont_need_a_tilt-shift_lens/


Brunel wanted to show off her new Chanel handbag


so she invited the Ficons for a parlor warming party. They don't get along very well.

It's not your turn to hold him yet. Go away.
Where's the food?
They all wanted to play with the dog; he was the hit of the party. No one paid attention to Brunel or the new parlor at all.


They finally left and Brunel got the puppy all to herself.




 The End of a dumb story.





1/19/2015

My Favorite Doll

Our dog, Rudy, passed away this afternoon after a long battle with congestive heart failure and related illness. I have a huge empty space in my heart.
This beautiful poem helps a little.

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die. 

by Mary Elizabeth Frye





12/31/2014

Happy New Year 2015!

Wishing all my readers a wonderful New Year of love, good health, abundance and happiness.



Amidst all the chaos and unrest in this country and this world, I often look for a true joy I can focus on. Right now that is the love I have for my dog. For almost 12 years he has been our constant companion, playmate and loving pet. Rudy has changed our lives and enriched it in ways I can't even describe.

As many of you know, his health began to fail a year ago and his prognosis was as bad as it could get. I fear that his time on earth is drawing to an end. But for now I can look at him, talk to him and touch him. We've been spoiling the heck out of him. Why not? He's been such a good dog.

My love for him is my retreat.
Dolls are ought but mirrors.
My dog is my soul.

 I hope you have a joy and a love in your life.

2/13/2014

Happy Valentine's Day

Gene wears "Rendezvous," a Sandra Stillwell Presents creation.

It's also Rudy's 11th birthday. Happy Birthday, Rudy! Wishing you a healthy second decade.

9/11/2013

Photos and Video from Facets 2013 BBQ

You may be aware that Marcia Friend of Facets by Marcia has a barbeque every year at her home with husband Paul. All doll collectors are invited. This year the event was on Sunday, September 8.
Bob and I, along with Rudy, have been attending for several years. I wouldn't miss it!
I get to hang out with doll buddies, shop, sell, get free stuff, give free stuff,  have show and tell and all good things one does with doll friends.
Here is a link to some fun photographs from the event. Don't miss the video at the bottom of the page. I do make an appearance wearing my fabulous new fur.
Can you spot Rudy under the table?



http://facetsbymarcia.com/BBQ2013.htm

3/13/2012

Everything's Better With A Puppy!

My new Winter Grace Jamieshow doll is getting plenty of camera time.



Grace is wearing a 1998 Ashton-Drake for Gene Marshall muti-piece lingerie outfit called Forget Me Not seen below on a promo card. The other pieces did not fit this doll body.



11/29/2011

True Confessions

In spite of all my good intentions yesterday, I managed to go back to Tonner Direct late last night to order Aragorn and Galadriel.  The grand total for the two gorgeous dolls was $86.40—practically free, right? Our addicted minds will tell us anything we want to hear. These had to be loss leaders or the dolls are less expensive to manufacture than I imagined.
*****
This past weekend we drove northwest to Canandaigua, NY to visit George and Tim at Angelic Dreamz.  We were treated to a grand tour of the fabulous historic firehouse that is the shop and residence. The weather was amazingly warm in the upper 60's all weekend. Rudy brought some poodle puppy love to the guys who, themselves, were parents to a toy poodle for years.
We stayed at a lovely, dog friendly hotel called the Inn on the Lake.

Rudy doesn't particularly like the water and I wonder what he is thinking as he looks out on the lake. Notice he's not that close to the edge. Smart doggie.



I love the way the geese closest to the approaching dog have taken flight. He's quite the hunter. Hehe.
 

The pictures above were taken with my iPhone and processed with filters using an app called Snapseed.




7/20/2011

I Am My Hair, Kesenia, Bucky Beaver & Go Home

When Aerodynamic Vanessa was released she was quite unpopular. Her black lips and fiery red hair turned off many who otherwise love Vanessa. I took down her hair and crimped it and I loved her. One year later I decided she needed more forward looking eyes and a different color mouth. I sent her to Vin Trapani and he worked wonders with her. I think she is even more gorgeous than she was before!


Vanessa is dressed in most of Kesenia's fashion. The shoes are Dominiques because this Vanessa is using an FR2 body and Kesenia's shoes won't fit.
_________________

Let's take a look at Kesenia who, in my opinion, is one of the ugliest dolls in the Fashion Royalty world. This sculpt started life as a vampire with fangs hanging out of her mouth. You know how I feel about fanged dolls.  Now, without her fangs, she just looks drugged. This is not an attractive doll. I don't care how pretty they make her hair or her eyes, the mouth is awful.  Why is she in my house, you ask?  She won't be here for much longer as I purchased her for the fashion only. Another collector is going to be the proud recipient of the nude doll.

Her coat is made beautifully with nicely executed details and good tailoring. The pants fit well and look good after ironing, but in the back at the hook, there is a little mess of an ill-fitting closure. It doesn't show thankfully. The blouse is a near disaster. First of all it's way too big in the torso. The bow is sewn on and hangs awkwardly and the hooks show. I took the bow off. Unfortunately there are many raw edges on this tissue weight blouse and it won't last long I'm sure.

She comes with a nice pair of gray sunglasses.  Too bad they don't fit over her mouth.

 ________________

Another doll that will be traveling to another collector is IFDC's Go Home. This reinterpreted Oz Dorothy has been given a little dog to hold for her photo shoot.


 

I did undress her and the fashion is very well made. It has snaps instead of hooks & eyes which was a surprise. Is this the first outfit IT has produced using snaps? I do not remember a single other IT fashion with snaps.


Dorothy, what a big head you have.  Wait a minute...that's a different fairytale.
__________

Anyone remember this commercial?



5/06/2011

Opinions on Doll Body Size Diversity

I posted a question on Prego today asking what the benefits or drawbacks would be to having dolls such as the Numina, Ficon, Deva, Sybarite, JamieShow, etc. with similar body measurements.


POLICE 100MM  ~ Christian Louboutin
I have copied some of the responses here anonymously but you can go to Prego and see the answers for yourself if you desire.


I am not often tempted to share clothing. The thing that I enjoy most about dolls is their character and personality. I enjoy the fact that each doll has a unique face, style of painting, and personality, and they all appeal to different audiences/budgets/tastes. That means, for me, I am seldom tempted by redressing in another doll's outfits, because I love each girl to have her very own set of things. Even my Sybarites tend not to share, and there are some dresses that are "for Eaton" some "for Peep". some "for Toxica" etc. I do not like to see the lines blurred and all the dolls dressed in the same thing. 

I have shrunk my collection because of the many different sizes. keeping wigs and clothing for all was getting very difficult. 

I think all of them and all other 15.5-16" dolls should have the same measurements as Gene--so my Girls can wear ALL their clothes.

I would love for all of them to be able to share clothing.

I guess it would be easier on the budget, but I think it would be boring. I love seeing the other dolls that I don't collect. They each have something of their own and I like and appreciate them even if I don't own them.




What is your opinion. What would you like?






Now, for a few moments of comic relief and pet therapy, 
I present Rudy wearing his version of Princess Beatrice's hat.