bjdonabudget

As my Blythe doll is now a business necessity, I should take better care of my employee. So, she’s getting a few treats when I whip out the sewing machine. I don’t have any vintage skipper patterns at the ready, so a searchin’ I shall go~
http://www.blytheworld.com/eng/pattern/ is a pattern for those funky UGG boots all the girls love this time of year. While not my taste in footwear, they’re wildly popular around here. They’re cute, just not my thing. But maybe the unnamed model would like a pair, because I’ve wanted to try making shoes for a while now, and that’s a pretty straight forward pattern for starting with. Still haven’t addressed her mass of snarling hair… sigh. It’s not my strong suit, hair dressing has never been my thing. I can make some nails look good, but hair? nope. I can make a hat to cover it.
http://www.puchicollective.com/sewing-patterns/Has a massive list, enough to make a very complete wardrobe for my good little worker.
http://members.optusnet.com.au/orriettacat/patterns/Is another endless source of starting points, as I never really follow a pattern to the end anyways.
http://www.dollyculture.com/archives/176 Is the cutest most darling little girly dress that I want in my size too!
http://www.xoxoblythe.com/patterns/index.php Features what could easily be the most retro of samplings, the ‘all spruced up’ dress reminds me of one of my own favorite dresses.

As you know by now, I’ve become obsessed with Etsy. I’ve got a number of items in my shop modeled by a Blythe doll, who I haven’t played with nearly as much as some of the other dolls, who is going to get a make-over soon due to her duties as Knot By 9 spokesdoll. Being as the URL and name of this blog are set, I can’t adjust to reflect some coming changes, but be warned, there’s non-BJD dolls to be discussed and I’m not sorry about it all.

Perhaps we should start with a name. Or a hair style. Or thoughts on make-up. Let’s call it what it is, this is a full-doll overhaul. I’ve always thought of her as a shy little artsy thing that lives on fancy coffee drinks and vintage everything, like many of the girls I knew (and dressed) in college. Suzie? Sounds nice, but I’ll keep thinking. Post away if you’ve got an idea- maybe it’ll become a contest.

Want to see what I’ve Etsied today? Adding doll clothes, vintage clothes for Blythe mostly, for the next few years… seriously, I ain’t about to run out anytime soon, so don’t worry about my dolls will wear, they’ve got plenty.

I made my first sale today, it’s terribly exciting, still a bit giddy about it. So to celebrate, any purchases made today, tomorrow, or until I get tired of it will get EXTRA surprise treats. I love etsy that much. I just posted a very nice vest for MSD size dolls, in my shop. It was fun to make, and it looks pretty on, but it’s just not Loolu’s taste. Funny, she loves the off-white slipdress I made her, but doesn’t like the vest or shawl I made to go with it. Rather like a vintage film star, lounging about in a slip like that, if only I had other shoes for her. Combat boots don’t look right with the dainty slip dress. After the holiday, I’ll have a bit of gift money though, and I’ll get her some nice ones. I’ve been talking to someone about a pair of pink mary janes with kitty faces on the toes, maybe that’s how I’ll splurge on me for Christmas.

Since I’ve posted those first handful of items, I’ve been amazed by how many views they’ve gotten, it’s exciting to see that folks are curious about the things I’ve got for sale, what a rush!  No sales as of yet, but it’s only a matter of time until the right person sees just the right thing and I start getting feedback showing that I’m a decent seller.  My hubby laughed his tail off at how many times I’ve checked my shop since I posted the first item, it’s like a new addiction seeing how many looks each thing has gotten.  I’m going to try posting some lower-cost items today to see if they’ll be an easier sell from a new vendor.  It makes sense that people are hesitant to deal with a new seller, I know I’ve debated a purchase given that the seller is lacking in background info, if only there were a way to combine all the forum feedback threads on the trade/sale websites I’ve wandered into… Until the day when everyone has a ‘permanant record’ online, I guess I’ll just keep on being me and know it’ll work out just fine, just like it always does.

I’ve just opened my shop on etsy , the perfect venue for a crafter who loves vintage to offer up their wares.  Knot By 9 is going to be stocked with handmade dolly wear, vintage treasures and all the things I love to make.  Right now, as a special thanks to my blog readers for their support, I’d like to offer an extra-special surprise gift with any purchase just by mentioning that you’re a reader of BJD on a Budget , or my other bargain-centric blog, Fabulously Frugal .
Coming soon: vintage delights from my personal jewelry collection, toys, handmade hats and scarves and much much more….

This offer is open to the first THREE buyers who mention that they’ve seen either blog, at my discretion and until I decide otherwise.  Prize has no cash value, and is not redeemable for cash.

Soo excited, just got a package all the way from the UK with a holiday gift inside, it rattled like there’s something fabulously fun inside, but I’ll find out on xmas, because for once in my life, I’m really not going to open anything beforehand.  It started under my mom’s supervision, peeking into the gifts from distant relatives before the big day so I could brace myself for opening some of the odd things I got.  One year, I opened everything that was tucked into my mom’s closet early, and didn’t re-tape things very well, all the toys were almost loaded up to go back to the store but I saved it by being cute.  The hubby already told me that I’ll have to wait on his gift, as there’s not a Wii to be found under five times the list price right now.  I’m getting a WII!  Yay, that rabid rabbit game looks cute, maybe it’s just the bunny I like, but I’m going to need it anyway.  And there’s The Other Man, Mario.  My hubby knows what he’s in for,  he’s seen me go without food or sleep because I was THIS close to the next level.  Whee!  what fun, we’re getting a Wii!  Oh the hours I’ll waste with my new love, the afternoons of pointless flailing and cussing the hard levels, I’m a geek, and I like it.

In tidying up my dresser and jewelry box, Loolu claimed a necklace for herself- in truth, a key chain.  The shot-bead type of chain was perfect for a skater-style choker on my girl, it held a tag on my chuck taylor sneakers originally, a stray bead fob for a pendant and POOF!  Instant doll necklace of designer quality.  The type of chain I mean is the same type of chain as used with military dog tags, but in short couple of inch lengths as one would use for keys.  A charm is the hard part- I think I used a piece of a broken earring but who really knows where those bits of damaged jewelry come from- I can’t ever remember what they were let alone where the other bits are to fix them, so I keep them to make into new thing, like doll pendants and ‘collage’ styled mis-mash earrings.  Dig through your jewelry box, I’m sure your doll will find something suitable.

Well, we’re back safely from a visit to good old Detroit, and despite some car trouble, everything went great.  If I had a magical suitcase, I could’ve brought back all my old toys and had a bed and case for Loolu, but being as Spirit charges for more baggage and I’m a cheapskate, I didn’t drag back more than I needed to.  I saw a couple nice doll chairs at the Council for The Blind thrift, an old favorite (who got quite a hefty donation when I left town!), but they’re too bulky to pack, so they’re still on the shelves.

Another old favborite, Village Antiques on Michigan Ave in western Dearborn, had some great stuff I wish I could’ve brought back, but I did pick up a couple new rings for me.  A nice modern styled amber one and an antique styled opal one, yep, I bought myself some presents and it was a blast.  Got some great buttons too, and Dad got mom a nice birthday presesnt, because it’s our go-to shop for gifts.  MY hubby’s wedding band came from their well-stocked jewelry counter, as did countless other gifts over the years, it was the first antique shop I dealt with because I could walk there from the house I grew up in.  A couple years back my pop and I got mum a great Steiff weinerdog, for a song!  I miss the deals from Michigan antiques shops, much larger selections of ’smalls’ than these darned east-coast shops.  I love a nice piece of furniture as much as the next girl, but sometimes you want something little, a low-priced little something that doesn’t turn up too often in the ‘decorator showcase’ style shops that abound in my area.  Nothing against my local dealers, but I’m a midwest girl out on the hunt for fun little stuff to go into my fun little house- there’s a place for fancy dishes and art-deco era knick-knacks, it’s just not in my cute little crackerbox home.

As I prepare for a short visit back home, I think about the darlings I’m leaving behind, my beloved Princess Bobarella the iguana has a great pet sitter, but who will keep my resin friend company in my absence?  Time to get out the other dolls and see who’s feeling friendly.

I think Loolu’s companion will be Delilah, my Pullip Assa, the one with those fabulous dreadlocks and most beautifully natural face.  Del’s my go-to doll, she’s a clever little hippie sort that inspired several sales post by telling me she wanted to have a yard sale.  Yes, I know it sounds crazy, but so is the little cutie I’m dealing with.  She was my first ‘fancy’ asian doll, I found out about them through Takara Jenny message boards, I still like those dolls as well, but the quality was getting spotty.  From there, I got another, a previously owned Little Red Riding Hood, because the red hair was just about the same shade as my own.  Well, curiousity caught hold by then, I needed a Blythe too, but I regret cheaping out on her.  I bought the Ashton Drake Blythe rather than spending another thirty dollars on a Takara, and wow, I can see where that thrity dollars goes, she doesn’t photograph well, her skin tone is just weird.

That doll taught me to get what I really want.  I was looking at dolls when I finally decided to take the jump to ball-jointed, the dollzones were affordable and had several nice molds, several other companies offered less expensive dolls, I was looking hard for just the right one.  I went to sleep one night after wandering the web for hours seeking that ‘just right’ doll and had a dream about the prettiest big blue eyes I’d seen on Dream Of Doll’s website, they were a bit pricier than the planned range, but if I skipped a face-up and outfit, I could justify it.  Face-ups were one of the big draws to ball-jointed dolls, the idea of making a doll take on whatever charatcher I imagined whenever the mood struck was great, it would be a doll that could be any number of dolls when the mood struck, so heck, why pay about fifty dollars for someone else to have that fun?  I can sew, and clothing has long been a passion of mine, I can dress my doll, thank you.