A Garden of Virtues

Something I've been heartsick over lately is missing BJD conventions. I attended the Austin convention in '06 and '07, missing '08, and apparently there was none this year. Selfishly I'm glad, it would have hurt to miss another one. I really miss connecting with other people over dolls. I miss the spirit of fun that reigned over the conventions, shedding my business outfits for clothing much more youthful and summer-y, packing up all my dolls and their accessories, and all of us going on a magical road trip to Austin - one of my absolute favorite places in the world. The late-night shopping sprees, tiptoeing from hotel room to hotel room with my dolls in hand to look at accessories, meet vendors and other people, and taking the occasional rest in the room reserved for refreshments, getting a lil glass of wine, talking to the really nice ladies that always hung out there. It was so fun. When I used my tote bags for summer vacation it all came back to me - with some ...

As I watched over my familiar tree-tops the last of this day's light faded away, leaving me with a lingering sadness. As I sat quietly in the growing darkness I felt the world was falling away from me, growing cold and remote. I'm afraid of the darkness, where shapes move in the corner of my mind, whispers drift. Memories apart from me stir to an invisible draft from an unknown window, and as the light fails, my mind's eye sharpens. I begin to see figures in the dimness.   Amanda: What's going on? Are you all right? Why are you wearing that dress?   I can't find any of my clothes. You have them packed away for the move. I really like this gown, though. You're not selling it, are you? Amanda: Of course not. I'm glad you like it. FYI it's a replica of Princess Grace's engagement ball gown. Huh! I feel like a princess wearing it. Amanda: I have a little something for you. It's not much because I'm on a budget now. *gasp* Did the Moniqu...

Also, check out this angel auction! I thought I was reading someone's journal. Wow. I thought she was selling her own beloved angel and felt sad, but apparently it doesn't belong to anyone yet. I saw a broken angel Karen once for $20 - if I ever see another one, I'm swooping down. This doll depicted is the same as Dresden though. it made me sad, especially when she was talking about the articulation. Fanny has been articulated by me, and she's terrible. I added some pipe cleaners to keep her limbs from flying all over the place. I'm so sorry, Fanny! I wonder if I can pay someone to string and wire her properly. I have never seen a doll for sale like Fanny though! I don't know what face type she has. It's definitely not the Karen/Selina. I don't recognize it from the other two originals, or from the new collection.

Doll funds - $94 (+$20 = $114) Doll expenses - $42 Remaining doll funds - $52 ($72) Wist list - Monique "Paris" 5/6 wig Various eye colors for Fanchon, 8mm flat-backed eyes Madame Alexander 1940's bride Purchased a long, long straight red, red with center part for Fanchon from the Monique Gold Collection. Those wigs are like. cupcakes. to me. If I were a doll, I would swoon in a Monique Gold Collection wig. The hair is soft as a chick's down --  I know that from my childhood chicks. I also purchased the oval-type acrylic eyes for Fanchon. I was so, so excited that they carried them in her size. They have been difficult to find. The color I got was golden-green-blue. The thought of her in her new hair and eyes with her freckles and pale lips is enough to make me swoon. It's time to get Fanchon some pretty new things selected especially for her . The Madame Alexander dolls are. really expensive. The ones I like either have reserve prices or have been bid...

  I have the house all to myself these days. How quiet it all is! I leap at my own shadow. I anticipated peace and quiet, curling up in the rocker with the poetry of Percy Bysshe Shelley introduced to me by the mistress. It came to me, in a breath of wind down through the chimney like a whisper from the past, that this house was not always so quiet. There is a sense of tragedy here. I climbed from the rocker and traversed into the bedroom. I felt cold and shaky from my daring, knowing that my lady would never approve of my doings. The mistress is very secretive about certain things. In my lady's bedroom is an antique cupboard half-rusted shut. She has told me that once we are moved she will make it my apartment. It is just my size, the top shelf ideal for my bunk, the middle shelf for my things and the bottom fits my cast-iron stove and other furnishings. However my lady has never actually shown me my apartment or fitted me in the bunk. It is to be my own soon. Surely it is n...

Today I sewed a wrap-around skirt from start to finish. At least the package didn't say anything about it being a two-hour project. It took me all day. After dinner I sat and hand-stitched the hem. I love it! For the first time, I truly love one of my projects. It is a full skirt made in lustrous metallic-shot pink fabric, the pattern from the 1970's. I bought it with the intention of making this skirt and also a doll princess dress. However I may have enough to make another dress for myself before starting on the doll clothes. Violette has been very quiet today. I must say that I think she looks fetching in her new underthings. They've grown on me. I was a little sore yesterday about them not turning out the way I wanted. In addition, I made another sale, possibly two, giving a possible $80 to my doll fund. What should I do with this money? My mind has been working at it all morning. I don't really want to buy clothes for my dolls anymore, because it just isn't f...

I spent all day making these! I guess I shouldn't admit that. Oh, my gosh, Violette, do you have any idea how I toiled for you? I burned my finger on the iron while pleating the yellow lace, I sewed the wrong side to the right side, I had to re-make the drawers entirely after cutting them down too short at the crotch. Violette is 14" high and this pattern was made for a 14" doll, so why was it so huge? Was there something wrong with me for believing that I could make Violette clothes from this pattern? Well, reader, I was very frustrated. I am not a good doll seamstress, and I toil because it makes me feel tender to see my dollies wearing clothes I have made for them.    I like the color combination I picked in truth. The yellow lace and beige fabric actually matches her coloring well.   I think my pleating idea executed well. My intention was to try to learn to make doll clothing from scrap fabrics and trim, giving them a certain randomness. However what I wanted...

Amanda's day . . . We slept in a little while. I made a pot of coffee from the Southern Pecan I brought with us and drank it throughout the day. After I had seen Nathan off, I started on my sewing. I hemmed six napkins while I watched Northanger Abbey and Mansfield Park. It was heaven to sew in a leisurely way while watching intermittently. I am watching the BBC movies, and I love the costumes. The fabrics and trim are so gorgeous as are the colors and textures. I grew restless and wanted to work on something clothes-related, so I cut out a bonnet and apron pattern from those I brought and placed patterns on fabrc and thought for a good while but haven't cut out anything for the bonnet yet. It is so wonderful to be able to work without worrying about the time, about going to bed or getting things ready for work the next day. This is the most wonderful vacation I can imagine. I cut out some pieces for a chemise and bloomers for Violette. I think they will be adorable, and I...

I am sorry sometimes that I have closed my membership in the companion doll group. I tried for a long time to keep up with emails, but lately I have faced the reality that my time is limited, and I really have to make the most of what I have. Because of this I lost track of Eve's journal, and I was very sad about that. Elisa's relationship with Lili Marleen long ago, and the journal where she recorded their times and images together was like the north star to me for so long. I loved her beautiful journal, and all the journals since. So it was with pleasure that I found her new journals, dedicated to Eve and her other dolls. Chantilly Lace is shamefully poor on blogrolls and links, but perhaps this week I will have the chance to correct that and put those new links up. I must admit I love not only Eve but her rather romantic looking boy Noah. Even though I have no money for a large male doll now I have so many ideas for bringing a boy doll into the country, showing him the worki...

As my husband and I drive toward New Orleans our car is packed with an enormous amount of luggage, not only our clothing, but a week's worth of sewing and cooking projects for myself while he is in conference, and two gothic and lolita frocks. This week I am free to live out some of the fantasies embodied in Chantilly Lace, and I would like to begin my journey in the oldest and most gothic and romantic city I have known. Violette is traveling in my purse. I love that her eyes open and close as they do. That is far more enchanting to me than taking out her eyes and putting in others. I feel a little worried about damaging her original hair or clothes, and I keep telling myself to relax. She has survived intact for over forty years. I can always comb her hair and wash her vinyl. Unlike resin, her composition is quite indestructible. I have been too busy over the past few weeks to do anything with my new small charge, and I decided only in the last day or two to bring her with me. I f...