Hello hello, lovely Blythers!

As a poor student I am all too aware that not everyone has the funds to dress their girls up and down as much as they want to, so I am here to share with you my tutorial for this sweet little sweater dress made from half a sock. That’s right! You can get FOUR dresses from a pair of socks! Keep em’ all, give some away to your friends, you even have my permission to sell them (YOU ARE WELCOME) because socks come in so many awesome patterns which will be all over the place, so we could all find some great ones we haven’t seen before in etsy stores!

The AWESOME thing about this dress is that there is no pattern and it is really slap dash, it doesn’t matter how messy or lazy or “beginner” your stitching and cutting is, it turns out great anyway! You’ll be able to see this in my photos, as I threw this particular dress together in about 15 minutes
These socks are a little plain, but they are the ones I had laying around that I had never worn and wanted to experiment with! So without further ado, on with the tute!

YOU WILL NEED:

1 cute sock
needle and thread OR sewing machine with a ballpoint needle for stretch.
Sharp scissors
Measuring tape or blythe doll
Pins (optional)
2 Matching buttons / hot glue (Optional)
2 Closures of your choice

1: Choose your sock. It needs to have at least 13cm of ‘leg,’ by which I mean area above the heel, to get two out of the sock. You will see what I mean later on. This one has much more than I needed. Tube socks obviously would work well.

2: Measure 13-15cm from the top of your sock (the elastic cuff, being the bottom of the dress) and cut. Or, just measure it on your blythe so that the top of sock/bottom of dress sits just below the knee, and then make your cut at shoulder height, like I did:

3: Cut!

4: Cut in half vertically.

5: Take one half. Cut a neckline approximately 2.5cm deep. I just do this freehand, but I’ve pinned it here so you can see what I mean. In case you can’t quite see it here, the open part of the curve is the fold, the other side is the cut side. The other half can be another dress! If you had an ankle sock or shorter sock, this is where you can get the one half and then just throw away the half with the heel on it. Or keep it and think of something great to do with it!

6: Unfold, and there is your neckline!

7: Pin the side seams from the top, about 2/3 of the way down.

8. Stitch them! They WILL stretch out a bit when using a sewing machine, because we can’t choose which way the grain goes when using a sock. Don’t worry. This is a good thing. If you are stitching by hand, you might even want to stretch the fabric out a little as you go to get a similar effect.

9. Pin and stitch the neckline.

10: Pin and stitch the side seams… notice how shoddy mine are? Doesn’t matter one bit!

11: Turn inside out. The side seam you just sewed is now the centre back, and the front should look something like a stretched out Donnie Darko-esque bunny.

12: Pin and stitch down the ends of the straps/bunny ears, it is basically impossible to do this on a sewing machine, much easier to just do it by hand. Note: this is optional, it’s just for tidiness.

13: Attach your closures, I like to put the sharp bits of velcro on the part facing away from the doll to avoid scratches and pulls in tights, etc.

14: Scootch it up her legs this way… (probably an unnecessary photo, but you get it anyway) and then criss-cross the straps over her shoulders (ooh!)

15: If you are like me, you can glue buttons over where you stitched on the velcro because it looked so bad. If you’re not like me, it looks kinda cute anyway but you don’t have to do it!

Look, you did it! Wasn’t it easy? With practice it will get REALLY easy, just make sure you don’t get sloppy, like me! Find the cutest socks you can, kids socks would be fantastic but you’d probably get one dress per sock depending on the size. Still pretty good right? If you guys make one (Or many!) please post them in the sewing forum so everyone can see!

As I have never actually written a tutorial before, so I hope it makes sense. Feel free to comment or even pm me with any questions!

Have fun
-Amy

Japan. The land of the rising sun, and cool dolly stuff galore. BJDs, Licca-chan, Jenny, Pullips… Not to mention a plethora of playsets and meticulously detailed miniatures. What collector hasn’t fantasized about unlimited access to all that great stuff?

Thanks to internet shopping and import stores, getting the goods from Japan is easier today than ever before. Even so, most hobbyists still lust after a bevy of “must-haves” which repeatedly elude capture. What to do? One answer is the use of a shopping service. Read on to learn what this is, and whether using one could fill the holes in your collection.

(more…)

On first hearing that there was going to be a Blythe collaboration doll for Hello Kitty’s birthday celebrations, many of us were buzzing with excitement. Then came the news that there was to be no lottery for international collectors - and not even any sales outside Japan. Wailing was heard across Australia (my part of it, at least).

Then we saw the first out-of-box pics. Jeepers. Many of us have become used to trimming uneven fringes, but on a limited edition doll, this kind of crazy wonky cut seems outrageous.

Her make up is nice enough, but as pastel and predictably bland as many of the new releases. And, is it me, or is her outfit as shiny as a supermarket Barbie’s? I guess the shoes are quite nice, but, overall, I find Ribonetta Wish a big disappointment. I suppose I have been saved me from the temptation to pay inflated ebay prices, but it’s always sad to see a disappointing new release Blythe.

I think I’m off to buy a Hello Kitty Barbie.

The promo photographs have finally been released for the third (and presumably last) in this FBL primadolly series, Paris. There have been rumours for quite some time that her hair would be platinum blonde, and it certainly is.

I absolutely love this hair. I don’t normally like blonde dolls, but this platinum shade is so stunningly Dusty Springfield-esque and the style is perfect. The lip colour is also a shade I wouldn’t normally like, but it’s very 60s combined with that hair. Totally mod.

The really intriguing thing about this one is that her skin is described as “half matted”. The previous FBLs have had totally matte smooth skin. It’ll be very interesting to see what this semi-matte finish is like - maybe it’s the Kenner-esque look we’ve been hoping for.

The official Blythe news page says this one is limited to 15000, but I’m assuming that’s a typo - 1500 seems more likely. It doesn’t say anything about an international lottery. I hope there is one. I’m smitten.

The latest Blythe promo pics are of Ice Rune, an Icelandic blonde with white bear-themed winter outfit.

I’m not one for the blondes generally, and her make up gives the soft and subtle look that has become pretty standard of late. The hair is a lovely shade though, and the extra-thick fringe is really growing on me.

It’s the outfit that I really love this time though. The little bear details on the boots and scarf are adorable and I love the hat.

She’ll be out in December and she costs 15,540 yen. Hopefully she’ll be a regular release and save us from lottery anxiety.

Hurrah!

It seems that there won’t be an international lottery for Ribonetta Wish, the Hello Kitty collaboration Blythe.

According to Blythe’s official news page, Ribonetta Wish will not be available outside Japan because of regional licensing agreements. Fans outside Japan will have to compete for her on eBay. I predict a riot!

It’s happening! After this year’s fantastic effort in Melbourne, Blythe is going to celebrate her birthday in style in good ol’ Radelaide. And guess what? You’re all invited!

Its birthday themed, in pink and green, and full of tasty treats
With beautiful donated prizes that’ll sweep you off your feet
Come on over to Adelaide, you’ll have an awesome time
And even though its in June, the weather should be fine*

In a gorgeous old town hall, we’ll set up all the fun
Its gonna take a lot of work, but it has to be done
To make the day as wonderful as all the friends we’ve made
While obsessing over dolls and clothes, store bought and hand made

Cakes, and dolls, and sandwiches, lollies, and ice cream
It really is going to be a doll collectors dream
With dioramas all set up for dollies to pose in
And perhaps a corner set up for swapping clothing

Photographic competitions, and lots of party games
And don’t forget your party bag , and all that it contains
Its gonna be such super fun, we hope to have you here
Cos if you miss it you’ll have to wait a whole entire year

So, will be come? Please make the trip down south
We’d really love to have you here, and show you all around
And play with all your pretty dollies, be they Takara or Kenner
I really couldn’t think of how to spend a Saturday better

And if you’re up for it on Sunday, we’ll all go for a drive
Even further south to Mclaren Vale, to taste all the wine
We really cant wait to see you, this is gonna be so great
You’ve got lots of time to plan, no excuses! Don’t be late!

Did you enjoy my marvellous poem?  Oh, I certainly hope so.  Please don’t judge  our meet on the  strength of my prose, but rather on the fantasticness of Narelle’s poster, and the fact that so many lovely dolly people will be in the same room at the same time.  I cant wait to meet you all, and I know everyone is feeling the same way.

Keep your eyes peeled as more news comes to hand about what will be happening at the 2010 Adelaide Blythe Meet.  We cant wait to see you there!!

*this isn’t a promise, it just rhymed

I know not everyone loves the FBL face as much as I do, but London’s hot pink hair has got to be irresistible, surely?

We’ve waited a long time for this one! I hope we don’t have to wait much longer for news of the rumoured platinum-haired Paris….

News at Blythedoll.com.

I hate to admit it, but, after loving the initial cartoons, I’m finding this girl a bit bland.

I’m loving the super-straight hair and the perfect fringe, but the colours just aren’t working for me. The cheeks and lips are just too pinky, and the hair is a touch bubblegum in shade, like a lighter version of Dainty Biscuit. It does look a little softer in this pic though, like Katsilk saran in Tickled Pink:

The lighting for the photography is very different for this picture, so I think we’ll have to wait until she’s released to see what shade it really is. I have my fingers crossed for something close strawberry gelati and a long way from Pepto-Bismol.

The outfit is nice in style and very much in keeping with the London-based mystery novel writer description of Stella Savannah. I’m crazy about capes at the moment - on dolls and people - but this looks a little awkward and ill-fitting. Great colour though, and I always love those crazy platform mary janes.

I think I’ll be waiting for the Hello Kitty collaboration doll for my dose of pink overload.

I know I’m crazy about most of the new Blythe releases and you’re probably sick of reading gushing blog posts from me, but I can’t help it: I *luv* Ribonetta Wish.

She has HK bows in her eyes:

She has a pink stand and pullring, and I think they might be pinky eyelids too?

She has a bow over one pigtail, just like Hello Kitty’s bow and a new type of shoe. We all love mary janes, right?

She has bright bright orangey red hair like Rouge Noir, my all-time favourite:

She has Hello Kitty accesories. Not the fanciest ones I’ve ever seen, but still:

And finally, Hello Kitty is pictured on the box. Not just any picture of Hello Kitty, but an image of her wearing the same dress as the doll:

I really really hope I win this lottery. I hope the lottery details are announced soon. Fingers crossed kitty fans!

Wowsers! Such a flood of new RBL releases from the busy Blythe folks.

I have been a regular visitor to Saki Yamashita’s website for quite some time. Her soft toys, doll clothes and customised dolls have a charming and quite distinctive style. When CWC announced a collaboration with her I was extremely overexcited. The outfit turned out to be a little too pinky for my taste:

but the make up is so Kenner-ish:

It wasn’t until I saw out-of box photos until I realised just how Kenner-ish she is. And I missed out on the lottery. Bah!

Next off the blocks is Beatrice Vest, whose international lottery finished yesterday. I love the promo animation for this girl. Who could resist earmuffs made out of clouds? My favourite thing about this girl though is her super-blushy cheeks. I’m a sucker for a healthy complexion.

Nothing exciting about the eyechips - just the standard colours, but she does have new strappy boots that are pretty cute:

The latest promo photos to be released by CWC are of Urban Cowgirl. She has similar colouring to EBL favourite Tea for Two, but a side-part in that very long brown hair.

Again, she just has the standard eyechips and the regular soft make up. She’s very natural-looking and gently pretty, but no great excitement from me. Very cool hat though!

After Urban Cowgirl, we have Stella Savannah who is proving very popular on the WPWD forum already, even though we’ve only seen a cartoon so far:

She’s a writer of historical mystery novels and loves to go to the library. I was sold on that alone, but it’s a fantastic bonus that she also has pale pink hair and a fantastic outfit. I’m a sucker for hats, for tartan and for capes. She’s a Toys R Us exclusive, so fingers crossed her resale price on eBay isn’t enormous.

Another cartoon has been spotted floating around the internet, although it hasn’t been officially released by CWC yet.

The rumour is that she will be called Ice Rene. I’m not one for the blondes but I’m loving this wintry outfit. It’s about time a Blythe had ugg boots, wouldn’t you say?

In celebration of Hello Kitty’s 35th birthday, this could be the most perfect Blythe doll collaboration ever!

Blythedoll.com calls “Ribonetta Wish” a dream collaboration and I expect many Blythe fans are seconding that - the Blythe-focussed forums certainly seem to be alive with excitement.

Out in time for Xmas, there may well be fighting in the streets over these dolls, limited to 3000. Personally, I’m praying for an international lottery. Fingers and toes crossed. The thought of the prices they’ll be fetching on eBay scares me senseless. >_<

I think one of the sweetest things about this release is that she seems to have been styled after Hello Kitty's present designer, Yuko Yamaguchi:

Yamaguchi has done fantastic work since 1980 keeping Hello Kitty in the coolest, cutest fashions and masterminding her rise to popularity amongst adults. I hope she continues to design for Kitty for many years to come.

Is it just me, or do iconic deaths happen in threes?

Just as pop culture mavens recover from the deaths of Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett, news hits that the world’s most beloved big-headed doll is facing an untimely demise as well. It all started when the proprietor of an online store dealing in Blythes announced that her Japanese supplier would be cutting the amount of dolls it dispensed to her. She then relayed a rumour that Takara-Tomy is planning on reducing the number of Blythes it produces, partly in response to the (yawn) Global Financial Crisis.

The Blythe community has responded by freaking out a bit. Understandable, really. Who wouldn’t want this golden era of dolly production to continue indefinitely?

This is just a rumour, though. Blythe is a sought-after commodity, and it the companies associated with her production and trade are struggling, then there is a strong likelihood that there will be others waiting to pick up the slack.

In related news, Jun Planning, the Japanese company that markets Pullips and Dals, has announced its bankrupcy. Again, given the popularity of some of JP’s dolls, there is a chance that some of its interests will be handed over to another company. The future of Pullips and Dals remains unknown at this stage.

Still, even if the worst happens and Japan becomes a dolly wasteland, at least we got a lot of great years out of this Neo Blythe thing. And hey, the dolls we already have can only increase in value … right?

This year’s anniversary Blythe has been announced to a resounding ‘meh’ from the non-Japanese Blythe community.

There’s no denying that she’s pretty, and that I could swear that bag she’s carrying is a little Hermes Birkin, but the general mood seems to be that of quiet disappointment. She just doesn’t seem special enough and, with a new face mould having just been released, I don’t think I’m the only person who was surprised to see that the anniversary has a ‘radience’ face. I’m a big fan of the RBL, but don’t we already have three RBL blondes?

Her background story seems kind of dull too. Last year we had a beautiful fairy story unravel over the months before Christina and Eleanor were released. This year’s tale is more than a tad prosaic in comparison. She’s a girl who works at a fashion magazine. *stifles yawn* Perhaps the problem is simply that, while this girl is pretty, fashionable and could have been styled by Rachel Zoe, Blythe fans are more likely to admire quirkier retro looks? That might explain why so many more of us are excited about a certain new prima:

That’s a look I can get on board with

There’s nothing like a bright shiny white eyeball. BLs have em:

And they look great!

EBLs have white eyeballs too, but for some reason when the SBL was introduced, so were slightly yellow-ish eyeballs.  The answer?  Spraypaint.

Once you’ve opened your doll’s head (Puchicollective tutes are the best to find out how) and removed her eyechips, you can spray her eyes with white paint.

First, you’ll need to find a way to hold the eyeballs steady for painting.  I’ve used a bamboo skewer and held the eyeballs steady on them with Blu Tack.

Take them outdoors or to a well-ventilated area for painting.  I’ve used Montana Gold spraypaint in white.

Remember to spray lightly - a couple of light coats will give a smoother result than one heavy coat.  Once the paint is dry, you can replace the eyechips and put your doll’s head back together.  The result should be bright and white; see Vera on the right in this photo:

Some BL-style goodness for every Blythe 

If the number of new Blythe releases we’ve seen lately is anything to go by, the good people at CWC have been working like navvies to get Blythes on shelves. They’re not short on ideas, either, because it’s quite a bumper crop.

Friendly Freckles

A few people already have this girly. She is one for fans of the more “natural” style of Blythe. If I were to get one, I think I’d give her an Irish name. It’s something about the flaming ginger locks and freckly skin, just like Nicole Kidman used to have.

Priced at 11,340 yen and she was released February 6.

My Little Candy

Official My Little Candy animation on YouTube

I may be alone in finding these animated clips embarrassingly naff, but the girl herself seems like a cutie. The two-tone hair is an interesting step, even if the hair quality itself looks a little … dubious at this early stage. Whatever, her hair bobble looks like a lolly. What’s not to like?

Price is 13,440 yen from February 20.

Doronjo x Blythe

She’s the product of a collaboration between the Blythe mavens and the people behind an upcoming Japanese film called Yatterman. Good for those seeking a Blythe/superhero fix. She has a heart hologram in one eyechip, but I’m mostly interested in her glasses. Please observe their coolness:

Price is 16,590 yen and she’s available at Junie Moon from February 24. If you’re in Japan, of course.

Bloomy Bloomsbury

BloBlo - I made up that abbreviation, but I’m enjoying it - is a collaboration between CWC and the Japanese style house Jane Marple (don’t try to Wikipedia it like I did, or you’ll just get a whole lot of stuff about Agatha Christie’s [Miss] Jane Marple). At the moment, CWC are only doing the “sneak peak” thing and releasing bitsy little photos of her stock, so stay tuned for more info down the line. These are her shoes, which look really detailed and fab:

She’s released in March at 24,990 yen. Start saving.

Info from http://www.blythedoll.com

So, you’ve prepared your scalp and you’ve chosen your mohair for rerooting. Now you’re going to want to choose the right crochet hook to get the look you want for your finished custom Blythe.

Basically, the bigger your crochet hook, the chunkier mohair curls your finished doll with have.  I tend to go for small hooks to get skinny separated curls.  The following image shows a scalp being rerooted with a 0.6mm hook:

This scalp is being rerooted with a 0.75mm hook:

The final look on the doll (in terms of curl-chunkiness) should be something like this:

Many customisers go for a chunkier look than this, using a 1mm or larger crochet hook.  The effect is something like the hair of this gorgeous girl of Erika’s who was rerooted by Sherri of Gggroovydolls.

Of course, their are many other factors that affect the final look of your doll’s mohair reroot.  Stay tuned for the next tutorial to find out more!

*Thanks to Erika for the use of her photograph

So you’ve removed your Blythe’s scalp and you want to reroot her hair, or sew on weft. You’ll need to prepare the scalp as follows:

1. Take a pair of scissors and cut the hair short, preferably half a centimetre or less.

2. Turn the scalp inside out.

3. Use tweezers to pull the loops of hair out of the scalp.  If you take breaks during the process, turn the scalp right-side-out between hair-pulling sessions.  Leaving it inside out for long periods might stretch the rubber and leave the scalp misshapen.

4. When all the hair is removed, turn the scalp right-side-out.  If the scalp is painted a colour that doesn’t match the hair you are rerooting or wefting with, you’ll want to remove that paint.  Use a sanding sponge or very light-grain sand paper and gently sand off the paint.

Now you’re ready for new hair!  Stay tuned for rerooting tutorials coming soon

Just when it seems like you’ve been waiting for ever (and there certainly was a fair bit of frustration expressed on Blythe forums), suddenly CWC announce a bucketful of new releases. In order of release date, we have:

• The latest batch of prima dollies



They’re a bit of a mixed bag, these ones.  Ashlet has never been a favourite with me (ADG-alike lippie - bleurgh!), but the new centre-parted hair with a fringe on Ashletina looks very cute.

Aubrey, on the other hand, has always been a favourite with me.  I have referred to her as the perfect doll, and I stand by that; her skin tone, make up and hair are all beautiful.  But for her boring stock eyechips, she’d be right up there with PAM for me.  This version, Aubrena, is just the same, but with longer hair.  As the only RBL amongst them, I predict she’ll be the first to sell out.

The new Violet, Violetina, appears to be identical to the last one.  *stifles yawn*

All three have just become available at the Junie Moon online store at 8,400 yen.

• Limited prima ~ Marigold

  



Marigold is the latest limited prima, following the neon-bright Peony and Amaryllis. I don’t usually like yellow-haired dolls, but this one might just be orangey enough to tempt me, particularly as the colour is nicely complimented by peachy blush.

Her retail price is 7,875 yen, but as she is limited to 1000, expect her price on the secondary market to skyrocket.

• Matryoshka Maiden



With fair skin and blonde wavy hair, she does bear a resemblance to Angelica Eve.  Matryoshka Maiden has blushier cheeks and a stronger lip colour than AE though, who can look a bit washed out.  Her outfit, “the quintessential babushka, apron and dress with vivid patterns” is fantastic and I must have it, preferably the very second she’s released on boxing day.  She is priced at 13,440 yen.

• Princess Milk BisQuit de Q-pot



Those sneaky folks at CWC have been driving Blythe and Q-pot fans crazy of late with little hints of the loveliness to be unleashed on the world. Then, suddenly, an animation appeared that knocked socks off! This girl is deliciously milk chocolate themed from her eyelids to her shoes. I especially love her sheeny lip colour on that small pouty lip-shape. We can only hope that the slightly coarse dry look to her hair is just an unfortunate promo-photo-thing. Fingers crossed!

She is released in January at a price of 16,590 yen. She’s limited to 3000 and details on how to be in the running to purchase her are yet to be announced.

• Cappuccino Chat



Last, but most excitingly, a cartoon picture was released this morning of another RBL release.  This one is also due for release in January and she has long silver hair. *faints*  I think she might be my fave.  I’m already thinking of a name for mine….

If you have an ADG, BL, EBL or SBL Blythe (see Alana’s post on facemoulds if you’re not sure which yours is), you may want to change her eye colours without the extra work of taking her head apart. Here’s how it’s done:

1. Go buy some glue sticks (the kind used in glue guns), a lighter and some craft glue. I’m using Mod Podge, but any craft glue that dries clear, such as gem glue, will do the job. Don’t be tempted to use super glue - I tried it despite warnings and my beautiful sparkly eyechips went milky and patchy the next day when it was too late to change my mind!

2. Choose your new eyechips. My favourites are Brainworm chips, but CoolCat and Ixtee are developing new patterns and effects, including enlarged pupils, that are definitely worth a look. Remember to check our links page for online stores.

3. If you want to keep your doll’s original eyelashes, you’ll need to keep them out of the way while you change her eyechips. Sticky tape can be used to stick them back above the eye so they that don’t get gluey.

4. Melt the end of a glue stick. This can be done with a lighter. However, you may burn your fingers like that (I always do when I try it), so I’d recommend lighting a candle and melting the glue with the candle flame. Working out the right level of meltiness is a bit of a trial-and-error affair, though I can tell you that it should be melty, but not drippy, if that makes sense. You want it to stick to the eyechip you’re trying to remove, but not spread glue all over the eyeball, faceplate, your hands, etc.

5. Press the melted end of the glue stick onto the eyechip that you want to remove. Press it as firmly as you can, then leave the glue to cool and set:

6. Pull on the gluestick. You may have to pull hard - don’t be scared! Hopefully the result will be this:

If not, try again. You might want to try leaving the glue to harden a little longer on the next attempt.

7. Your doll should now be giving you this kind of look:

Try not to be freaked out by the empty eyeball or the grumpy look she’s giving you. She’ll forgive you when she has fabulous new eyes. Repeat with the other eye.

8. Now comes the fun bit.

From these blank eyeballs you can create your new look for your Blythe. Try different kinds of foil or coloured paper behind the new eyechips to see the different effects you can achieve. I’m loving Brainworm foils at the moment, but any kind of thin paper could work. (I should also add that the black rings on the eyeballs in this picture are characteristic of BL and EBL eyeballs, SBL and ADG ones are all white.)

9. Put in the new chips. You’ll need to add a bit of your craft glue around the post of the chip. Don’t add too much, or it’ll squish out around the edges of the chip:

Press the new chips in firmly.

10. Admire your doll’s new eyes. Accept praise.

Remember to be careful when removing the sticky tape you’ve used to protect her eyelashes. You don’t want to scratch her eye shadow with your fingernails.

11. Leave your doll for 24 hours to give the glue time to set. Resist the urge to pull that string! If you turn the eyes before the glue has set the chips may come loose and drop into the doll’s head. (Another lesson I learned the hard way.) After 24 hours, you can start the process again on the next set of chips. Have fun!

Hi everyone,

As some of you may have seen on my flickr stream, I recently made a lightbox for Blythe photography. Many of you expressed interest in them, so I thought I’d give some hints for anyone who is thinking of making one.

I followed instructions I found on the internet, and in particular looked at other Blythe lightboxes for inspiration (well in particular, Robots for Magnolia, who takes beautiful photos!). It’s really easy, and you can really make it to suit your needs.

Ok here goes. Since I already made one yesterday, but didn’t take any progress shots, I made another one today just for this tutorial! (Note: photos are a little weirdly lighted, sorry about that!)

**

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

* cardboard box - size doesn’t really seem to matter, I used both a small one, and a large one, and they both get great results. As long as it fits into your camera’s shot, it doesn’t really matter I don’t think.

* scissors

* razor

* tracing paper

* masking tape/duct tape

* ruler

* pen

ONTO THE LIGHTBOX!

1. First, tape the bottom of the box, inside and out.

2. Cut off the flaps that usually close the box. I’ve seen some tutorials that say you can keep them to control the light entering, but for the two I’ve made I’ve cut the flaps.

3. Here’s what it should look like

4. Now, you need to choose three sides for attaching tracing paper. On the sides you have chosen, draw a frame about 2.5 cm in from the edges.

5. Here’s what I mean.

6. Cut it out with a razor.

7. Repeat for three sides. Don’t worry about it looking a bit messy at the moment, you’ll clean it up with tape in just a second.

8. Use tape around all the edges to make it neater.

9. Cut tracing paper to fit, and attach it with tape again.

10. Continue for other 2 sides, and you’re done!! Here is the new one (the one on the left) with the one I made yesterday. They both work really well, despite the size difference.

11. When you set it up, you have many options. I don’t have any professional lights, so I took all the floor lamps in our house (parents weren’t too pleased when they wanted to read in bed… lol). I placed one directly above all of the sides. However, you can also use only one light from the top, or none at all! (Natural light and its powers!)

12. Here is a comparison shot of what different lightsources look like (no photoshopping).

From left to right, top to bottom: Natural light, 3 lights, 1 light from top, 2 lights from sides.

For backdrops, you can use paper, cardboard, fake grass (above), fabric… scrapbooking material… anything really! You can attach it with blu-tak or tape.

I’m still experimenting with light sources and the such, but so far photos have been turning out well. I think if I get more white bulbs, the effects will be even better.

Have fun everyone

xx Sophia

If you’re going to reroot your BL, EBL or SBL Blythe doll, swap scalps with another, boggle her eyes or lift her gaze, the first thing you’ll need to do is pull off her scalp.

1.  Choose your hapless victim.  I’ve chosen an SBL Blythe, a Feel the Sky, for her extra-pale complexion:

2.  Give her hair a good tug all around the hairline to see if there are any areas where the scalp can be persuaded to come away from the head:

3.  I found a slight gap on the side of her head.  Don’t be afraid to pull hard - you won’t break anything:

4.  If you’ve found a gap, insert your craft knife into it and begin to slice across.  Remember you’re trying to separate the scalp from the hard plastic head-piece, rather than cutting into it.  Also, be careful not to slip with the knife and scrape the head - or yourself!

5.  If you didn’t find a gap to insert the knife, simply find a likely spot on the back of your doll’s head and begin to cut.  Again, remember that you are trying to slide your knife between the scalp and head-piece as far as you can:

6.  Make a small cut, then try pulling the hair again, close the the hairline.  Blythes have differing amounts of glue holding their heads together, so some will require more strength than others.  If the scalp isn’t pulling away, cut a little further and try again:

7.  Keep pulling until the whole scalp lifts off the top of the head.  (This is an SBL head - EBL and BLs look a different):

8.  Be amused by your doll’s shiny boiled-egg head:

Hi I know a lot of you want and like to create clothing for your girls … ( Nothing like a home made frock from Mum *S* ).

I have put together a sleeve tutorial for any of you who would like to give it a go, with visuals and step by step instructions. I sew them in entirely by machine so that is the way i have shown here.

1. Take your already hemmed sleeve and sew an ‘easing’ stitch along the top of the shoulder. This is a stitch that is loose enough that it will allow you to pull on it afterwards to gather the top of the sleeve. You acheive this by adjusting the stitch length and tension on your machine. i alter mine from the usual 2.5 to 3.5 length and the tension from the usual 4 to 2. Remember not to sew backwards at the beginning and the end to secure your stitches as that wont allow you to gather the thread afterwards. You stitching should look like this :

2. Next take hold of the bottom stitch and pull at both ends evenly to create an even gathering in the top of the sleeve. This enables you to ’shape’ the sleeve to fit the bodice . Obviously a puffy sleeve will require far more gathering than this one which is a straight sleeve.

3. Now you want to take the good side or the armhole in the bodice and line it up with the wrong side of your gathered sleeve. Like this :

4. Next step is to shape the sleeve top to fit directly up against the edge of the bodice. You manipulate it in place with your fingers as you go , adjusting the easing thread if necessary and pinning it flush up against the bodice without overhang. As you can see from pic #3 it is the wrong shape and this is where the easing stitch is used to pull it into the correct shape as you pin.

5. Firstly remember to change your machine settings back to normal otherwise the stitch wont be tight enough. You now want to run a line of stitching directly behind the easing stitch ( so the easing stitch is the closest to the edge of the fabric and will be hidden by the securing stitch when turned out the right way ). You can sew backwards at either end here to secure your stitiching.

6. Then flip over your sleeve once sewn and press with an iron.

7. The sleeve is now ready to be joined up inside out ready for sewing. Pin the sleeve and side of dress together , matching up as you go.

8. Run one line of stitching starting from the bottom of the sleeve up to the top and down the side of the dress. Then remove pins holding in place.

9. Turn your dress and sleeve the right side out and your sleeve is in !

Remember : Sewing often involves some swearing….but the results are invariably worth it !

Blossom .

I haven’t blogged in ages (actually I think I’ve only ever blogged once), so pardon my first blog being blatant plagiarism!!

I received a great dolly article recently titled ‘Ten ways to Collect dolls in a Down Economy’:

http://collectdolls.about.com/od/dollcollectingresources/tp/collectingandeconomy.htm

I had a good read and decided to share some tips mentioned. Not sure if there will be ten, so let’s not count.

· Stop looking forward, start looking in!!! Love what you have! With Blythe, I HAVE to see them in front of me at all times. If I find myself getting over how they look, I re-do the WHOLE display. Sometimes I add furniture, sometimes I prefer to be minimalist because dusting the tiny tables gives me the shits. Recently I have devoted an entire expedit square to displaying my lovely dolly clothes – it’s so much better than having them stuffed in a box and it never fails to be admired even by the most non dolly person ( the ladies go ga-ga over the cute little dresses).

· Accessorise, accessorise, accessorise!! Can’t afford a doll? By her a pair of shoes or a new dress instead. I’ve gotten to the point where a new item for my dolly is more exciting than a new dolly altogether. Or, even CHEAPER, remix ur dolly’s wardrobe and try new crazy combinations. Another idea I might try that I’ve seen others do – dress ur doll like a scene or character from a movie. You don’t need to have the perfect accessories, see below pic; it took several looks for people to realise she wasn’t working on a kitchen bench LOL.

· Handy man!! Most of us have a crappy doll we keep MEANING to get to. Now’s a great time! I bought a $2 Barbie once just so I could wash her hair, it was a calming process and I thoroughly enjoyed it (NB: barbie hair different than Blythe hair, I still SUCK at doing Blythe hair).

· Cheaper dolls? I actually don’t agree with this idea, buts lots of people love it. Buy something cheaper to tide you over – instead of a Blythe, buy a pink box barbie for example. HOWEVER, this is dangerous as you can end up with a whole heap of crap you don’t really want . I’ve been there, done that, donated to charity.

· Garage sales!! I never have the time, but the idea seems so romantic to me!!! Another good option is the small local fetes and markets. Heed my above warning tho – crap is tempting!!

· Swap! The infamous swap –always a great idea!

· Strict Policies! Since getting married to an anti-doll nazi, my buying habits have been curbed. Instead of buying whatever I want by using the evil credit card, I have to think each purchase through. So I developed a simple rule; all dollies must be purchased with money gained from selling other dollies. I railed aboot it at first, but its actually turned into a great little system. I spent my early 20’s buying everything and anything I fancied on ebay. The result: boxes and boxes of random toys shoved in cupboards and the garage that never saw the light of day. I’ve spent the last year slowly decreasing my collection, its been painful but rewarding. Now I think purchases through before hitting that damn BIN button at 3AM in the morning (and trust me, I’ve been thinking of Milky Way Sugar for months).

SO, thats it!!!! Common sense but helpful tips to get us through these tough dolly times!

1. Choose your hapless victim:

2. Remove the screw from the back of her head:

3. Use a sharp knife to separate the scalp from the back of the head:

4. You should now be able to pull the back of the head off:

5. The eye mechanism is just lightly sitting in the front face plate. Lift or tip it out:

6. Do the same to another petite Blythe and swap them over.

7. Reassemble dolls.

8. Admire your handiwork. Here’s mine:

Okay, maybe “wars” is over the top. But nothing whips the Blythe community into a frenzy as much as facemould talk.

Blythe has had four incarnations since Takara started reproducing her in 2001: BL, EBL (AKA Excellent), SBL (AKA Superior), and RBL (AKA Radiant). Although they are all based on the original look of 1972 Kenner Blythes, each Takara mould gives Blythe a slightly different look. Indeed, people new to Blythe have trouble telling one facemould from another. More militant Blythe fans, however, reject certain moulds completely and embrace others, which can result in the occasional personality clash when someone feels as though their favourite mould has been slighted.

The BL and EBL looks are based on the same mould, but the finished dolls are distinct from one another due to the different thickness od their eyelashes, and the boggled (lifted) eyelids, fuller lips, and matte faces on some of the BLs.

With their extra-wide eyes and round cheeks, BLs are sometimes described as childlike or quirky. Being the earliest Takara Blythes, they’ve become harder to attain, and therefore have become widely coveted for their rareness and distinctiveness. EBLs have a more serious look, and their mouth shape is the least “smiley” of all Blythes, making them popular with collectors who prefer more melancholy girls.

Below: a Kenner Blythe (left) and a BL Blythe (right). This particular BL (Aztec Arrival) doesn’t have the matte complexion, pouty lips and boggled eyes of found on some BLs, so the differences between her and the EBL pictured lowered down are less pronounced.

Below: a Kenner Blythe (left) and an EBL Blythe (right).

SBL (or “Superior”) Blythes began production in late 2003. The SBL mould, is, anecdotally, the least popular of the Takara moulds. SBL Blythes are sometimes described as having a more sophisticated look than BLs and EBLs and have less rounded eyes, a more noticeable smile, and a different eyechip style. They also have thicker eyelashes and a more extreme side-glance than EBLs. More recent SBLs have a new style of lip that is even more smiley than the earlier SBLs.

Below: a Kenner Blythe (left) and an SBL Blythe (right).

SBLs are still being produced, but in 2006 added another facemould, RBL (or “Radiant”). Presently, Takara and CWC alternate production between the two moulds. The aim with the RBL mould was engineer a Takara Blythe that looked as much like a Kenner Blythe as possible. RBLs have especially large eyes which are slightly uneven, which is apparently a deliberate quirk meant to echo the imperfections of Kenners. They have a soft smile and a fuller face than SBLs. RBLs are sought after because of their resemblance to Kenners and relative scarcity compared to SBLs.

Below: a Kenner Blythe (left) and an RBL Blythe (right).

I’m sure I’ve left a lot out, but this is my impression of the various moulds! It would be great if you could add any extra info in the comments.

All photos by Sue.

This week on Blythedoll.com we finally saw promo pics for Veronica Lace.

The dress seems a little bulky from these pics. I was expecting something a little more flapper-esque, but this makes her look a bit chunky - quite a feat on that skinny little body. I’m a big fan of the little squishy mary janes though, and that tea set is very cute.



The really interesting thing about this release is the hair colour. The mixture of pinky-lilac and brown is intriguing, and while it seems kind of wishy-washy in these pics, I’m going to be looking out for further pictures with great interest - I wasn’t impressed with Heart of Montmartre’s hair until I saw her in real life, and now she’s top of my wishlist.

There is one thing I really don’t like about this one. The purple lipstick reminds me of ADG lips. Nah. Seriously.

CWC also released cartoon pictures of their next release today. With only 88 days to go until Xmas, I’m relieved to say that they have plans to make us all a bit jollier this year with a Blythe in Santa gear.



Out in November, this blushy little blonde could be Santa’s favourite helper. I know I have to get my hands on that outfit!

Other news from CWC is that voting is open for this year’s photo contest. Don’t forget to have your say on which picture makes ‘Miss Popularity’!

Planning for next February’s major Blythe meet in Melbourne has been bubbling away behind the scenes since June. Since email deliberations can only achieve so much, today some of the organisers decided to get hands-on and take a look around the venue for inspiration.

Our mission is to transform a school hall into a setting fit for a Blythe tea party, and to make the day as memorable as we possibly can. It’s a daunting prospect, but an exciting one, too.
The hall itself is big and bright, and the adjoining playground is dolly photo-shoot waiting to happen. We’ve compiled a list of decorating and catering ideas and are in the process of pricing and hunting down items.
The day won’t be overloaded with games and planned activities, because we firmly believe that catching up with online friends and oohing and ahhing over other’s dolls will be everyone’s top priority. However, we are hoping to include the We Play With Dolls members who can’t attend via video chat. More about that down the track.
We’ve got lots to do before February, but it’s most definitely a worthwhile endeavour!

Wowsers never seen anything like this, I cant get over how talented tingeisha is. Be sure to check out her other flickr stuff!

http://www.flickr.com/people/tingeisha/

Seen on flickr…

source

I never really understood why people had twins in their doll collections. I mean, with so many different and delightful dolls in the world, why have two the same?

But then Flickr’s ‘rockymountainroz’ began taking fabulous pictures of her goldie twins, and I started to be won over. I found myself bidding on eBay on a white Nikki doll, just like my own Mustard, with thoughts of dressing them identically. I was outbid, unfortunately, so I never got to discover whether their identical looks would correspond with similar personalities.

I am lucky enough to have twins visiting at the moment.  They are Blythe Fruit Punch girls waiting for a major makeover in the salon. They are truly adorable and I’ve always had a soft spot for FPs. I’m trying not to get to know them too well though, or I won’t want to let them go home when they’re done. So far, I can tell you that they don’t seem to fond of each other, or of hanging around waiting.

Of course, for some people, two little girls dressed identically will always be scary. Always.

For more twin pictures and talk visit this thread on the forum.

Thanks to all those who submitted.

go here to see what belongs to who http://www.flickr.com/photos/1773/2736275897/

Have a great day all…

Well well there was alot of fuss when this girly showed up on evilbay, now we know who she is, what will her price end up being after the ebay Amaryllis sold for something like 500 USD? I know I want one hehehe will definitely be keeping my eyes peeled and saving my pennies.

CWC Limited Edition Prima Dolly “Amaryllis”

We have been producing very unique CWC Limited Edition Prima Dollies, and this time is no exception!

Prima Dolly “Amaryllis” has vivid light green hair!
Her special eye color is hot pink, and it adds even more pop look to the doll.
Her make up is a gentle green eye shadow with pink lips and brush.
The color of her pajamas is white with light green dots and match her hair
color perfectly!

[ Face Type ] Radiance
[ Skin Type ] Natural Skin
[ Makeup ] Eye shadow- light green, Lips- pink, Blush- pink
[ Eye Color ] Hot pink (right/special color), Green (center/stock), Orange
(left/stock) and Blue (center/stock)
[ Eyelashes ] Stock
[ Hair Color ] Vivid light green
[ The set includes ] Doll, camisole, pantaloons, underwear, slippers, and
stand.
[ Price ] 7,875 yen
Limited Edition of 1000 dolls

[ How to Purchase ]
We will pre-release this doll at Odaiba VenusFort.
Detailed release date will be announced at this web site a later date.

[ Once Upon A Wonder World ]
Blythe 7th Anniversary Charity Exhibition “Once Upon A Wonder World at
VenusFort”
Place: Venus Fort 2nd Floor
Date: August 23 - September 17, 2008
Hours: 11:00a.m. - 9:00p.m. (the exhibition will be open till 11:00p.m.)
will be closed on September 8
Location: 135-0064 Tokyo-to, Eto-ku, Ome 1- chome Palette Town

Pic pinched from ebay auction:

So I LOVE LOVE LOVE her, but will she be available from the CWC online shop? I am a little confused myself. Is she the next NF? Well perhaps - regardless, she has certainly won a place in my heart.

The final design of Neo Blythe “Bow Wow Trad”!

Let us introduce the final design of our new doll “Bow Wow Trad.”

She wears a red tartan mini skirt that is a must for fall fashion, and a light beige jacket with a flared edges.
Her look is traditional but sweetly unique!
The long pearl necklace, black short boots, beret and knee-high socks would match other outfit very well, too!
Her glasses are a brand new shape!
Her dog wears a matching skirt.

“Bow Wow Trad” has jet black long straight hair, and wears pink baige lips and pink brush.
Her charm point is a beauty mark under her eye!

[ Face Type ] Superior
[ Skin Type ] Fair
[ Make-up ] Eye shadow- light grey, Lips- pink baige, Blush- pink
[ Lip shape ] fuller lips
[ Eye Color ] Grey (gazing toward right) / Purple (center) / Smoky red
(gazing toward left) / Blue (center) *All special colors
[ Hair Color ] Black
[ Eyelid ] Stock
[ Eyelashes ] Stock
[ Nails ] Red
[ Earrings ] 1 set
[ The set includes ] Doll, shirt, skirt, jacket, beret, underwear, socks,
shoes, earrings, necklace, dog, skirt for dog, glasses and stand.

Price: 14,490 yen

[ How to Purchase ]
We will pre-release this doll at Odaiba VenusFort.
Detailed release date will be announced at this web site a later date.

[ Once Upon A Wonder World ]
Blythe 7th Anniversary Charity Exhibition “Once Upon A Wonder World at VenusFort”
Place: VenusFort 2nd Floor
Date: August 23 - September 17, 2008
Hours: 11:00a.m. - 9:00p.m. (the exhibition will be open till 11:00p.m.)
will be closed on September 8
Location: 135-0064 Tokyo-to, Eto-ku, Ome 1- chome Palette Town

Also, this doll will be available for purchase from September 27 at Blythe Top Shops in Japan!
Please call the shops for checking availability.

After much anticipation in the blythe community it is great to finally see her promo photos. I think she will be much loved especially for her vintage skin tone and her outfit is absolutely amazingly retro cool. Will her fringe be manageable or unruly? We have yet to see…

The final design of Neo Blythe “Miss Sally Rice”!

“Miss Sally Rice” is a friend of “Mrs. Retro Mama,” who was popular for her retro-themed style and vintage-like skin tone.

“Miss Sally Rice” also has young retro look.
There is a Showa-style black cat applique on her red dress.
She has a different look when she takes off the white collar and wears her pink blouse under her dress.
The set comes with a headdress and bag with bouquet and beaded necklace!

She has a skin tone that is a bit fairer than Mrs. Retro Mama’s, with light brown eye shadow and pink lips and brush.
Her light blue semi-long hair is so adorable!

[ Face Type ] Radiance
[ Skin Type ] Semi Matte
[ Makeup ] Eye shadow- light brown, Lips- coral pink, Blush- pink
[ Lip shape ] Fuller lips
[ Eye Color ] Green (right/stock), Pink (center/stock), Yellow
(left/special) and Blue (center/stock)
[ Eyelashes ] Stock
[ Hair Color ] Light blue
[ The set includes ] Doll, headdress, collar, blouse, blue socks, lacy socks, underwear,
necklace, bag, shoes and stand.
[ Price ] 13,440 yen
[ Release Date ] August 22, 2008

Neo Blythe “Miss Sally Rice” will be available at CWC shop

I ( along with many others ) have been eagerly awaiting a pair of the new Mary Janes that have been manufactured by Adam from Blythe Mode. I have a decent collection of the Barbie MJ’s already and these have been difficult to collect in the colourways i have wanted, so to have the opportunity to buy some outright especially in colours i really wanted ( like dark brown) was especially appealing.

Outfit due for release on the 22nd August.

Well I think I need both Bow Wow Trad AND the Fall Whisper outfit.

Right, so I haven’t slept much over the past few days and decided it would be a GREAT idea to go on an internet quest for the coveted Mary Jane shoes after seeing the below page which was extremely informative:

http://uk.geocities.com/magicknightrhiannon/mary-janes.html

Thanks Rhiannon!

I was a huge fan of Barbie Fashion Avenue when it was in its heyday, but I somehow managed to NOT buy any of the sets that contained the now popular MJ’s (what can I say, I have no ‘eye’).

However, I am proud to say I have located (with pics, not mine) at least three sets of Fashion Avenue clothing editions that contain pink MJ’s. I have possibly found more but they require further investigation (they look like the taller version which isn’t a great fit for Blythe).

As below:

Fashion Avenue 2003 ‘Style’ B8269

Fashion Avenue 2002 ‘Blues’ B3200

Fashion Avenue 2002 ‘Metro’ 56098

My quest is far from over but just wanted to share this little piece of info in the hopes that people who want to buy these and own them (and not just buy them cheap and re-sell at some ridic price!!!) can have a chance

And, just oot of interest, does anyone know where these came from:

I can see from Rhiannon’s site that they came in a pack, but I never bought that pack. I think someone sent these to me as a freebie (yikes!!!) but I possibly could have gotten these from somewhere else. Any ideas?

Happy Hunting!!!!

Let us introduce our new Blythe doll “Bow Wow Trad” who has beautiful, long black hair.

She wears a red tartan mini skirt with a light beige jacket, she’s ready to go out on a nice fall day!

Her dog also wears a matching skirt.
Her black short boots and beret are a must for fall fashion!
Her face type is Superior and her skin color is Fair.

*The illustration may differ from the final design.

Price: 14,490 yen
Date available: August 2008
*Detailed information on how to purchase will be announced at a later date.

I think this girl will be stunning although you will hear a lot of folks exclaiming “I wish she was an RBL”.

Some people have been making comparisons between Bow Wow Trad and Night Flower - so if you missed out on NF (and you want one) then this may be the perfect dolly for you. Plus who can resist when she comes with a cute lil doggy YAY!!!

Review by Jade

“Miss Sally Rice” is a friend of “Mrs. Retro Mama,” who was popular for her retro-themed style and vintage-like skin tone.

“Miss Sally Rice” also has a retro look.

There is a Showa-style black cat applique on her red dress.

She has a different look when she takes off the white collar and wears her pink blouse under her dress.
Her face type is Radiance, and she has a vintage-like skin tone that is a bit fairer than Mrs. Retro Mama’s.

*The illustration may differ from the final design.

Price: 13,440 yen
Date available: August 2008

I must say I am very excited about this dolly, I love MRM’s vintage skin tone and think this doll will be superb. Her outfit looks awesome and I am looking forward to seeing what colour her hair is in real life.

Review by Jade

Neo Blythe “Milky Way Sugar” has long, dark-brown hair for a sophisticated look.

Her gathered black dress is romantic and flirty.

The pink beads on the bodice and the lacy leggings are perfect for summer!

Comes with a sheer feminine jacket.
Her silver bag and shoes shimmer like the milky way!
Her hairstyle is center-parted with a little curl at hair ends so you can style it easily.

[ Face Type ] Superior
[ Skin Type ] Natural
[ Make-up ] Eye shadow- light green, Lips- pink, Blush- pink
[ Eye Color ] Light blue (right / special color), Blue (center / stock), Green (left / stock), Pink (center / stock)
[ Eyelid ] Stock
[ Eyelashes ] Stock
[ Hair Color ] Dark brown
[ Nails ] No Enamel
[ Earrings ] 1 set
[ The set includes ] Doll, dress, inner dress, jacket, leggings, bloomers, shoes, bag, and stand.

Price: 13,440 yen
Date available: July 25,2008

Neo Blythe “Milky Way Sugar” will be available at CWC shop “Junie Moon“, Official Blythe Mobile Site, Junie Moon On-line Shopping, and official Blythe top shops in Japan.

Well well this is my first post, Milky Way Sugar sadly does not appeal to my current taste in blythe. I do think she has lovely hair however (and looks rather kennerish) and I am looking forward to seeing some out of box pictures of her once she arrives on the Blythe scene.

Review by Jade