Tutorial: Make a Balcony for Your Doll

Pam in Arizona (Pamnaz) posted this charming set of photos and instructions for Gene who is portraying Evita on the balcony addressing her subjects.
The original post may be found on Studio Commissary.

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Supplies I used (all supplies are available at any craft store such as Hobby Lobby or JoAnn's):
1- Styrofoam Circle
7- 7" cake pillars
White glue
Tacky glue
"Stucco" wallpaper (you can also use paper clay or air dry clay to cover the Styrofoam) 

 Cut the Styrofoam circle in half. I originally wanted to use air dry clay or paper clay to cover the Styrofoam semi-circles, but I didn't have any (forgot to purchase). Instead, I did have in my supply stash (that I collected from Goodwill) a roll of "stucco"-looking wallpaper. So because I was impatient, I used that instead of the air-dry clay. If you do cover the Styrofoam with the air-dry clay, be sure to use white glue on the Styrofoam before placing the clay on it (so it adheres to the Styrofoam). Then when it's dry you can paint the clay to match the pillars, or paint the whole thing to your liking.

Then, I just glued ("Tacky" glue) the pillars -- evenly spaced -- to the Styrofoam base. Then glued the top in place.  

Voila! Gene has a balcony!

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Thanks to Pam for this easy-to-do project. Our dolls are celebrities and need balconies to address their adoring fans!

Wilde's First-Ever Virtual Factory Sale

Are we excited yet? 

I bought my first Evangeline at a real factory sale and I was hooked for a while. (It was the old body's awful posing that did me in.) Now I have just one new Evangeline with a bunch of outfits and one Ellowyne. And that's it. Not that I don't look often.

I'd love a Sad Sally just because she is so adorable. I have never held one so I don't know how well she poses. But...I have learned how to wire my dolls so that problem will go away - maybe.

This doll is a basic and retails for $250. She's 7" tall - or should I say 7" short? Resin BJD, changeable eyes and wig. I have a feeling that I won't be able to get one on sale if they even have any for sale. Sigh.

If this were an outfit, I'd buy it for my beautiful Ello, but it's a dressed doll and I don't want another doll.

Great Depression Ellowyne $135.15 (End of edition Special)

Perhaps someone reading this will do a split with me???


Looking for an outfit for my Evangeline, this looked good at first.

Candlelight at Night (Outfit Only) $110.

Harking back to a topic I've covered before, here is one of the reasons manufacturers should not use glitter:

Click on the image to enlarge it and tell me what those sparkling dots are on her black dress. Yep. It's glitter on the dress.  It is probably on the doll, the photographer, his work table and everywhere else. Ugh. The shoes are described as silver glittery. Why doesn't the description say the robe has applied glitter? Because no one wants it. Here is the description from the website:

Featuring a long black dress of shantung trimmed in tulle beneath a glowing robe of sheer fabric and sequins with matching tulle trim and shantung sleeve cuffs, this ensemble is sure to light up any dark and dreary night! The outfit is complete with matching black hat garnished with feathers and tulle ribbons at the back, and a soft veil. Silver glittery shoes finish the look. Splendid for those night vigils! LE 350

This post started out as an announcement about the virtual factory sale and turned into a rant about glitter.  In any event, I think there will be chaos on the ordering site. So many people will be trying to buy stuff that the server will become paralyzed. That's been my experience with these virtual factory sales no matter who the manufacturer is. They just don't have enough band width. 

Keep your expectations low and you won't be disappointed. If you get to buy something at a price you like, that's great!

Good luck, everyone.

March 24, 2014. At approximately 12:10 PM EDT

This link will become active when the sale begins:
http://www.wildeimagination.com/content/virtual-factory-sale

 

Dioramas By Amber Park

Amber is one of the most talented mini room designers out there. I don't know how this gal does it. She collects elements from near and far and combines them into the most visually appealing dioramas I've ever seen.
She has given me permission to reproduce some of the images here. I recommend clicking on each image to enlarge it so you can see the details. You won't believe your eyes.

Want to see more?
Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/appark/
While there you can meet the inhabitants of her rooms and read their ongoing stories. It's definitely a soap opera.