DollsArtCats

As you can see, it was cloudy here but in a way that was nice-- because it made it dim enough I was able to get a photo or two with my pocket camera (which is all I use, a little Nikon Coolpix). I did notice that it got cooler when it was close to totality, which for us was like 90%. Here is the sun projected onto a black binder: So that was fun--I watched a live stream with very low fidelity from the Washington Post, from a setup in Idaho (where it was cloudless), and that was more dramatic--you can see around the horizon where it is still light, but it's pretty dark in the center of the moon's shadow. The articles I read online said that animals behave strangely in eclipses, but the Stripey was just the same as ever: The other fun thing that happened yesterday was the arrival of a new-to-me Iplehouse Jessica, who was named Penelope, and wigged and eyed up immediately. Here is a bad indoor nighttime pic of her: I love trades :D

Marilyn (Iplehouse Jessica) finds a unicorno. Coppersmith finds a key, but not apparently his shirt. I discover that Benmore is not really a girl. I thought he'd be convertible from his promos, but I was wrong I discover that making wigs is harder than it looks: Costco apples come with free face protectors. And from this year, cats like to check out what you are doing outside with a camera:

Silicon ones from the Internet (I will update with the link later). And here is one with no ears: (Posted for K to look at).

A while back, a local doll person did an Iplehouse group order, and I ordered an Ophelia dress , hoping it would fit Cecilia, my Granado, or maybe one of the Soom Supergem girls. (Most of Iplehouse's SID clothing fits the SG girls pretty well.) The Ophelia is designed for an EID girl, but works on a SID girl--I tried the set on Marilyn, my Jessica. It was odd seeing her in a romantic style dress, it's not at all what she usually wears, but she was the right size to test it. Since she is a SID, the sleeves were a little long on the shirt, and as Iplehouse says, you need to tug and adjust it after you put the bodice on over it. The top probably fits even the largest EID girl perfectly. The skirt is also a nice layered thing, with an elastic waistband that fit fine on Marilyn. Again, it's a little long, but the skirt style would look fine pinned up a bit, or with a colorful petticoat under it. The cotton is pretty, but very sheer, so I would put something under that lowest ...

Gift with purchase of some Washington State apples. (7-11 Slurpee cup lids work well too. I always wrap the edges with tissue paper, though.)

We went to Barnes and Noble yesterday, and we all got stuff typical of what we like--I got a pretentious art magazine, K got a P.G. Wodehouse book, and J got the Cooks Magazine Baking Guide. I also spotted a tiny, tiny box that looked just like the regular Tokidoki Unicorno box, but even smaller, and carried it over to Information to see if there was really a Unicorno inside the box. (I don't mind buying a pig in a poke, but I want there to be a pig in there). They are indeed Unicorno, but they are purse charms too, so they have a hoop and a lanyard. They are indeed tiny: "What is this thing?" Also, Stripey is enjoying having a house guest that brushes her as much as she likes. Here she is waiting, on the guest towels, for K to come with the brush..again..even though K is sound asleep and it's early in the morning.

It works very well--the head fits perfectly and is proportionate to the body--the camera angle here makes Marilyn's head look bigger than it does in real life. Someday I would like to get an EID Asa on a SID body, but maybe in a couple of years. (the Doll Choice system is pricey). Here Marilyn says that Kincaid prints are a great investment and she has some signed Dali prints, too! ;)

Yes, my Iplehouse Jessica actually fits in a cheap Costco baby costume. The shirt was too big and the tights are long enough to be a catsuit, but the silly suit is fine even large. And it's all sewed up already :D

A while back I bought a loose Jessica head, and had her on a Soom body, which looked good for size and fit but not for resin match, and then the Cuprit head I acquired took that Soom body. Then I was able to find an inexpensive used Senior Iplehouse Doll body and put the Jessica head on it; though she was designed to go on the Elder iplehouse Doll body. Here's a comparison of the two bodies (Headless Girl has heel feet, that is why the Invisible Motorcycle stance): http://gypsyreggae.com/Dolls_7_2012/eidSiD.jpg I think Jessica actually looks better on the smaller body. I also learned how to string an SID body, because when I was trying to tighten it up, my hand slipped, I punched myself in the nose and the SID body slid to the floor and became several mysterious parts. I struggled for a long time with one knee piece until I looked at it closely and it said "D.I.S", so I turned it over and then it fit perfectly into the thigh.

I needed a wig for Gneiss when she comes, since my old Juri07A stole the one I bought for Gneiss. So I sat down and pilfered some of the "Homespun" yarn I got from Joann's. As a wig it is fine, unless you tug on the strands, and then they tend to come off entirely. On the other hand, I have a lot more yarn so I can fix it any time. I had an earnest lady in Texas ask me if I sold wigs, since she was disappointed with the quality of one she had bought off Ebay. I am sure she would be even more disappointed if I sold her one of mine, and she discovered that it was both uncombable and that the stitching looked a lot like it was an early practice piece by Dr. Frankenstein. (Here you have to picture Gene Wilder embroidering, perhaps with a small Marty Feldman trying to climb in his lap). That is pretty much how it looks around here, though Marty Feldman had better table manners than Stripey Cat does.

Spent the day driving around, looking at houses. At this house, carpenter bees are getting pushy, even though I bought them some petunias to keep them busy. I guess carpenter bees aren't fans of petunias, those these are really nice fat white ones, hung at carpenter bee eye level on the gazebo frame. Here is a handsome group of phlox in the back, being unenthusiastically viewed by Marilyn. There are also a lot of raspberries setting fruit along the pit bull fence. I spent the evening doing some mowing.

I'm still not sure about Jessica..she's the rolling head I bought from Iplehouse. Sometimes she looks a bit Barbie to me, other times she looks interesting and cranky. And for some reason, her lipstick on camera always looks orange. Also Hermione the Delf Dreaming Moon wants his body back, so I need to do something about him...I tried sticking him back on a regular male Delf body and then realized his entire wardrobe (and tiaras) would go to waste. PD has transformed the wave into a spectacular 3d fabric: I need to do some fish and dragons today! (And pull more poison ivy). Benadryl gel is amazing stuff.

Here is the painted Jessica head--in person her lips aren't quite so orange, but I need to put another coat of gloss on her to tone it down, and to make her eyebrows heavier. I should have mowed the lawn instead, but maybe I will do that this afternoon.

..had a head in there, a very loose one--not even a copy of the Korea Times was stuffed in there for padding. I ordered this head before I said no more heads ;). It's an Iplehouse Jessica, and I took off part of today to paint her since I don't much like blank heads laying around. Not that I do a great job painting them, but it's better than blank. She still needs me to make her a wig and clothes, like everyone else here; and she is on a Super Gem body at the moment.