bjdonabudget

The Ashton Drake Galleries editions of the popular Blythe doll are not known for being easy to customize into your dream doll. I knew this when I bought mine, a blond who came wearing the most wretchedly 70’s paisley dress. But given that her scalp may be glued on with two bottles worth of heavy-duty stuff, I can’t bring myself to try a re-root, no matter how much I adore a mohair headed doll. So we’re looking at simple stuff, a trim, a dye job maybe if I get gutsy, nothing too far from her out of the box condition, just a little cuter. And much less tangled. It seems to be a common thing for the ADG girls to have nappy hair.
Being as I’m terrified of what I might find should I open up her head, I can’t do a full makeover, but I think I may touch up some of her face, at least that darn olive green eyeshadow that makes her look a little creepy is going to leave. Do I dare take out the acetone on a doll I can’t easily rinse? No, looking into my other options is a better idea for now. Maybe I can add some blue to get a nice turquoise, something with a bit of shimmer might be nice. I’m afraid of becoming the target of a snark group if I screw with her too much, but geez, I want a pretty model for my shop, knot by 9, where the yet unnamed lady models handmade and vintage clothing. Perhaps just a trim of her hair for today, maybe a bob. Blythes look cute with bobbed haircuts, something about it just makes the eyes pop all the more.

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.