My 200th post, with prizes!

It's hard to believe I've been blogging for more than two years now. It's even harder to believe that this is my 200th post! I didn't start off really thinking too much about the writing, just sharing my crafts and ideas.

Now I realize just how much hard work goes into a great blog. It's so much more than what you see on the surface!!! Great writing is part of it, as well as photography, but even more important is to be yourself, and develop your own style. Your blog is the universe the way you see it, and your chance to express that. I feel so lucky to be a part of it, and to have found such great friends along the way!

So, enough with the chatter, what's up for grabs - you ask? It'll have to stay a mystery until after the 25th - because I've caught Ravelympic fever! Trust me though, the goods will be good. Seriously good. There will definitely be cupcake pops!

To win, leave a comment on this post (by Sep. 6th 2008,) and I'll use a random number generator (don't we love/hate those suckers?!?!?) to pick a handful of winners. The more comments I get, the more prizes will be shared, so feel free to share the linky-love with your friends. You can only enter once, though. Please play nice!

Stay tuned for prize updates - after the 25th! Also, I'm going to try and make sure all the winners get something that makes them happy, but I can't promise everyone will get the exact gifty they have their greedy green eyes on! Drool on!

May Whiplash - Miniature Quilt

First up, I have to apologize to Star; this was supposed to be a surprise, but I missed Whiplash last month because I was sick, and I really wanted to enter this month. There's a few more surprises in the package I'm sending her, so hopefully it'll still be fun for her! (This is an entry in the Project category.)

This quilt actually started as log cabin coasters, but I saw on her blog that she'd already received a set, so I decided to turn the 4 pieces into a doll quilt. That, and the fact that I was running very low on muslin really determined the finished size - it's only 9 1/2" square. A little smaller than I was hoping for, but I think it still works as a Blythe doll blanket! LOL

It's completely machine pieced and quilted. I'd love to try a hand-pieced quilt sometimes, but my patience level has been somewhat lacking lately. The centers of the log cabin blocks are silk, I read somewhere that traditionally the center blocks were red to represent the home. I liked that thought, so I incorporated it. I'm really very pleased with how this little quilt came out, and I'm sure I'll be making a few more very soon!

I'll caution anyone wanting to try and make silk trim tape - it's a bit trickier than cotton. I should have known (or guessed!) this, but I thought it would look so pretty trimming the sides. Originally I wanted to go with 1/4" trim, but I'm glad I went for the 1/2" instead. I probably saved my sanity on that one! LOL These pictures don't really show the luster and shine of the silk trim - I snapped them right before a nasty storm came through. I'm really glad I decided to use the silk instead of cotton for the trim, I think it turned out very pretty!!! I hope Star does, too!

Super Swap Goodies!

A while back, I asked Star if she'd be up for a personal trade with me. I'd never really done one before, although I have sent off surprise packages before (and I owe another to Shirley, sorry girl!) Anyway, she agreed and asked me for a patchwork purse in return. Little did I know though, just how much she was going to spoil me! (I haven't sent to her yet, because of my nasty cold the last few weeks. Didn't want to send a Pandora's box-o-cold germs! LOL)

Not only did I get the handspun yarn of my dreams, but she included 2 beautiful knit sweaters for my Blythe dolls, along with 2 hats, a shoulder/headwrap, a really cute little dress made by Atsuko, roving, more roving and more roving! LOL I actually bought some of this from her Etsy store, but I'm glad I did, cuz I'm still really a beginner spinner.

Please excuse the harsh shadows in these pics, I really wanted to capture the color. The aqua batts have holographic thread, and the pink is so soft & lovely with 15% mohair. She also sent some lovely brocade fabric, Kool-Aid in flavors I haven't tried before, and some really cute doll accessories. I doubt the sunglasses will fit, LOL! Blythe heads are huge!

Josie and her (unnamed still!) sister couldn't wait to try on their new stuff! Don't the knits go great with Josie's new Squeaky Monkey jeans? LOL Even her bra straps match, how cool is that?!?! Star even sent some Blythe-sized knitting! I wish their hands were a little more poseable, though. It can be tough to make them "hold" things for photos. Unnamed Violet went straight for the dress Atsuko made, I think it goes well with the Noro Silk Garden Lite hat.

Thank you SOOOO much for everything, Star! I promise I'll try to finish your purse up soon!!! I only have the handles to make, so it should be this week or next! (Thanks for being patient with me, while I was feeling so crummy!)

Blythe Doll Bargain Shopping?!?!?!?!

Alright, so first admit that you've jumped into a hobby that can be SUPER expensive. And if you're here to find a deal on a Kenner Blythe, keep searching, because I've yet to find any surefire way of getting a deal on one. Sorry! For those of you looking for the Takara Blythe of your dreams, here's all the tips I've learned! I love a good deal, and know it can be tough to find one on these girls.

The real reason it's so hard to find Takara Blythe dolls in the US, is because they're not licensed to sell them here. Ashton Drake holds the license here, and so finding a Takara girl (especially a good deal,) can be very tough. Basically you have 2 options; find a US seller who's willing to part with one, or have it shipped internationally. Obviously, international shipping can be expensive, and it can take a long while. Registered airmail can take a few weeks, and impatient mommies should beware (I waited 3 weeks for my first girl, and it seemed like it took twice as long!) Other international services have better delivery times, Express Mail Service from Japan took about 4 days. Domestically shipping will be much quicker, although I have heard some horror stories with both UPS and USPS. I like to always pay for insurance, you never know what can happen in-transit.

So, I can't give you any tips on finding super-duper-30$ deals on Blythe dolls, but I can offer some tips on not spending too much for the girl of your dreams. First off, you'll probably need to think about what doll you'd like to buy. A particular Takara release NRFB (which means never removed from box,) a doll that looks like you, a nude doll for customizing, it's all up to you, and what you like and prefer. I think Flickr is a great resource for anyone looking for Blythe dolls. You can see lots of shots of all sorts of different kinds of dolls, from completely stock, all the way up to completely customized. Keep in mind the older the Takara release is, the harder it will be to find, and probably more expensive for it. Also limited dolls are tougher to come by, and pricier too. One of my wish-list girls is Prima Dolly Melon - limited to 500, I doubt I'll ever afford one, but I did purchase a Prima Dolly to reroot in aqua saran, to be my own personal Melon! LOL

If you're aim is to find a doll on the cheap, you'll need to be flexible. To find the best deal, I'd suggest not being picky about what doll you're purchasing, when you plan to buy her, and where she's coming from. You don't have to buy a doll this way, but it's how I stumbled onto my 55$ girl, and it's how I satiated my Blythe-lust without breaking the bank. LOL (It should be a real word, folks. Once you get hooked, it really is a lusty hobby!) Being flexible in any one of those, or a couple will go far in getting you the doll you want at a price you can afford.

Being patient can also go a long way in not spending too much for a Blythe doll. I've been looking for a Picca Encore or V-smash for a little while, but figure since they're not limited I'll find one when the timing (and financing!) are right for me. Patience can be a tough strategy for Blythe fans, but remember there's new girls out every year, and maybe yours is in the future, instead of the present.

The condition of the doll can play a big part in what you'll pay for her, as well. "Nude" dolls generally cost less because they don't come with the stock outfits & accessories they were originally sold with. "Gently played with" is also another good way of finding a deal. In this case she might come with all stock outfits & accessories, but she has been removed from her box & played with. I should caution every new Blythe Mommy to be careful though, sometimes sellers misrepresent the condition they're doll is in. Colored or dark spots on the bodies, cracks or slices in the faceplate, sand or spray-matting that was done incorrectly, scratches or non-functional eye-mechs can turn into bad dolly deals. The easiest way to avoid this is to ask for lots of pictures, or see the doll in person; but there are plenty of trusted sellers as well (on Ebay and TIB.) Do your homework and read as much as you can about the seller, and Caveat Emptor! Also know for the most part, if you don't bond with your new doll, or don't like her, there's plenty of ways to sell or trade her, to a new mom that will. Anyone have a Prima Dolly Saffy they don't want/need?!?!??? LOL

Any questions? Feel free to ask... I might not know the answer, but I'll try my best!

Etsy Spotlight - Blythe Station

Well, I actually bought straight from Kiki's website, BlytheStation; but she's selling on Etsy now, so I thought I should include her new store! Her hoodies are freakin' awesome!!! I got 2 for Josie, and they look great on her! Once I get a little pair of jeans for her, she'll look just like me! LOL At first, I was concerned about how they would fit on the doll, the head is so, SO big! I'm not the only one, there were a few questions when I posted pics on TIB. The back has velcro and a hole for hair (thank goodness! Josie has soooo much hair!) But it all looks nice & seamless from the front. Even the raw edges are enclosed on the inside, which is a great touch, cuz who wants their seam allowance unravelling away? LOL

Josie and her new unnamed sister love their hoodies, and I'm still planning on getting them a few more! LOL

I've been having so much fun with Blythe dolls lately, I'm thinking about writing up some tips for finding one inexpensively. They seem to be more popular than ever, but it's still pretty hard to find a good deal on one, especially within the US*. It really just depends if you're looking for an older release or newer one, and if it was limited or not. Prima Dolly Melon is at the top of my Wishlist, but she was limited to 500, so it's doubtful I would ever find a reasonably priced one. If I change my strategy though, and purchase a non-limited Prima Dolly (I did! LOL) and reroot her, I can have my very own, one-of-a-kind aqua haired beauty! LOL It's all in how you work it, baby!

*Blythe dolls are so hard to find here in the US, because CWC/Takara isn't liscensed to sell them here. Hasbro owns the rights here, and they're focused on Ashton Drake Blythes, at least for now. Consequently, unless you can find a seller within the US, you're probably going to pay through the nose for international shipping. I've seen Ebay sellers charge upwards of 38$ to ship a doll that comes in a box the size of women's shoes. Ugh.

Another Blythe Doll?!?!?!?!!!

Oh man, I told myself I wasn't going to go crazy and buy a second Blythe doll right away… So much for that, because I found great deal! My newest girl is a Prima Violet, from a previous home with a few minor custom changes already. She's been sand and spray matted, new eye chips & lashes (missing one set of eye chips, creepy! LOL) And also a hair cut, which is a bit of a mixed blessing for me. I never thought I'd love her two tone hair as much as I do, however I got her specifically to customize; so I'm planning on ripping it all out and rerooting her (in an as-yet-undecided color!) I didn't realize her scalp would also be violet, so I'm going to need another one.



Now, I just have to give her a name! And since I'm not sure what color I want her hair to be, I really don't know what to do about a name. I'll confess I'm thinking about long straight aqua hair; there's only been one stock Blythe with blue green hair, and Prima Dolly Melon is super hard to find! I also adore the many, many gorgeous mohair reroots, both in solid and ombre dyed. So many choices, I hardly know where to begin! I'm also reading about wefts lately, which is a little different than rerooting, because you sew the weft on top of the scalp, instead of locking or knotting hair plugs underneath it.



Flickr has been a super resource in both deciding which dolls I'm interested in, and thinking about what I want to do with new custom girl! Any suggestions for a name? I like longer names that can be shortened, like Josephine (ie Josie! LOL) and Madeleine, but don't think they all need to be French. Haha!

Etsy Spotlight - Dolluxe

When I saw on TIB that Rhiannon was going to update her store, Dolluxe last week, I knew I wanted to get in on the fun. She makes the most wonderful Blythe clothes, and I knew they'd sell out fast. Little did I know, just how fast! I couldn't stay up Friday night to be there right when she updated, I was feeling kinda sick that week. So, last Saturday morning I was pleased to find a few items left, and I bought this adorable little butterfly hairpin. It matches Josie's lilac hoodie so well!

Her cashmere sweaters are to die for, and she even made some summer espadrilles, with cork soles! (Those sold out SUPER fast! LOL) I really admire the level of quality in her work, it's outstanding! Every little detail is cared for, and it's the level of quality I aspire to with my products, and store. I can only hope that my store might do as well, someday!

You can really tell how much care she takes in producing her product, and I think that's my favorite part of Etsy, both in buying and selling. We love what we do, and it shows; I love being able to be a part of it. I hope you enjoy the Etsy sellers I've been featuring, please also feel free to suggest your favorites (or yours,) as well!

Josie couldn't help but model her new Rapunzel scarf too! I knew with all of the fun going on over at Craftster, that Josie needed one too! It's just scraps of my most very favorite yarns, Classic Elite Premiere, SWTC Bamboo, Malabrigo and a fun mermaid-esque novelty that I've lost the ball band to. It turned out soooo soft, and soooo quick! Just divide your yarns into 3 groups, braid and knot the ends! Easy peasy!!!

April Snow... wait, that's not right!

Wow, I can't believe it's been so long since my last post! I didn't really intend to take a blog break, but apparently I must have needed it! I'm finally starting to feel better, and I'm finally up to making new products for my store! (Which is a good thing, because I've got 2 more Showcase spots tomorrow and Sunday, on Etsy.)

I'd like to blame my bummy mood on the crappy Chicago weather, which finally broke today. A little chilly and windy, although that's normal enough, and sunny - a rarity!!! It's actually snowed here the last few days, but I'm happy to report that most of it didn't stick, and what has is gone now. Wooohooo! I almost posted a picture of the nasty weather yesterday, but it was too depressing. (I've been in such a funky mood, I didn't even dig up the pictures from my honeymoon I mentioned Monday. Bad blogger, Kari! Bad! LOL)

I've got Blythe goods in the works for the store, which is so exciting! I still need some more practice sewing tiny clothing, but tiny knits seem to work up super fast, and I get to use up all the one off & oddball yarns I have lying around! Gotta love that! Even chenille, fuzzy, furry, and otherwise hard to work with yarns are turning out great! (I know I'm teasing without pics, but you'll have to wait til next week!) Also watch out for new installments of my Blogger & Etsy Spotlights next week!

Sweet Josephine

Josie looks so thoughtful in this picture, I think.

No new WIP's today, I have a few in progress, but nothing worth showing off quite yet. Oh well, there's always next Wednesday, right? God knows I'll always have works-in-progress, or at least it feels that way sometimes! Lately, I feel like the ideas are flowing freely, which is a very good thing. When I was living in Kansas and not making things, I really went crazy. (It was about 4 years ago now, for a year and a half.)

It's funny though, how fast and hard things can swing in a different direction. I used to feel very blocked, creatively speaking; but now I wish there were more hours in each day, so I could get more done! LOL Anyhoo, Josie also wanted to show off her brand new hoodie! (It's from Blythe Station, I got her a blue one too, cuz I mostly live in my blue hoodie in the winter! And, I'm a dork, and want my little girl to match me!!! :D ) Her tube dress here is my Clapotis swatch pinned at the back, and she wears it as a long skirt over at Flickr. LOL

Oh. my. GOSH!!!

She's HERE!!! And I'm so excited to introduce you to Josephine, my new Blythe doll! She's an I Love You, It's True; and I do love her! LOL She took a long 3 weeks to get here, but it's my own fault for trying to buy a doll from Hong Kong during Chinese New Year! Well, the wait is finally over! I can already tell she'll be addicting as others have said... I'm scouting scale Vespas on Ebay right now!

She's sporting a tiny tsumami kanzashi flower snap, made with 3/4" petals. I tried to fold 1/2" petals without any luck, but the 3/4" is do-able. It's not quite as tiny a flower as I'd hoped for, but I think it still looks cute, and isn't too big for her head. I'll probably add these to my Etsy store, once I get a few more products done & listed. Up next is more cashmere ribbon wristlet sets, and I may decide to list them ala carte as well, although that hasn't worked as well as I'd hoped with the flower snaps.



She's even got a beautiful kimono! (Which only took 3 days to get here from Japan!) And just look at the wonderful tiny tsumami kanzashi! The hair clip cinched it for me, I knew I had to get it for her, and it ended up showing up before she even arrived! It's the Harmony & Peace outfit from Takara, and I just think it's adorable! The socks & shoes were kind of a pain to get on, though!

I'd have to say, the only thing I was a little disappointed with, was that her hair isn't very curly. In her stock picture, the ends of her long blonde hair are nice & curly, but my Josie's are just wavy, and a little limp! Not to fear, she needs a shampoo anyway (it's a little greasy too!) So, I thought I'd set the ends in curlers, whenever I get around to it. (Heh, like that means anything other than not soon!)

The minute she came out of the box, I decided she'll need sand-matting too, the glare she puts off of that forehead could blind somebody! (I shouldn't talk, because it's really my five-head that made me fall in love with Blythes.) I already want another so I can customize with a mohair reroot in TIFFANY BLUE!!! (Of all colors, what'dya think I'd want? LOL) Of course, she's not the only one... I want a short & curly brunette, and a long & straight redhead!

As Time Goes By...

Well Happy Bloggerversary to me! I've been blogging for a whole year today, and I can barely believe it! It's gone so fast, and seemed so short! In a good way, but it seems a little surreal. I'd struggled for days trying to pick out a name for my baby blog and Etsy shop. I consider myself quite creative, but I really wanted a name that could house all of my crafty endeavors; even though I knew I wanted to focus on kanzashi flowers initially. I'm kind of craft ADD - I like to try all sorts of crafts and do all sorts of different things, and I didn't want to pigeon-hole myself with a name like Sew Insane or Kanzashi Kari. I like both sewing and kanzashi flowers, but knew I'd be doing more.

It's funny though, I never would have guessed I'd try (and enjoy!) spinning*; it seemed so time consuming I wondered why anyone would bother. But now I know why; and it's for the same reason that I like to make things for myself. It's that I have total control when I make things. Design differences, functional differences, or just changing my mind mid-project are all completely up to me! And sometimes the options can be daunting, but I know what will work best for me, and I get to serve that interest every day. I know, I'm really lucky; and it's mostly because of my husband, Jamie. He works very hard so I can find my bliss, and I'm very lucky to have him too! As well as the opportunities he helps to open for me. Thanks Sweetheart!

*There's been a few other surprises, like diving into Blythe ownership, wanting more items off Etsy than I'll ever sell (LOL!) and finally finding some peace amidst the chaos I happen to call my life. Color me surprised! I can't wait to see what'll happen this year!

Six Weird Things

Shirley, from Warm Fuzzies, tagged me for the "6 Weird Things" meme, and although I seem to be about a month behind everybody else, I'm happy to share my weirdness. I'm just not sure if there's anybody left who hasn't done it yet! LOL

RULES: People who get tagged need to write a blog post of 6 weird things about them as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names.

1. At meals, I must have something crunchy, or I won't eat very much. I have issues with soft foods, and I'm very picky about eating them. Pasta is ok when it's hot, and with rolls or bread; but if it cools, or I don't have a side, I'll just push it around the plate. (Consequently, I microwave freshly made pasta, so it stays hot extra long.)

2. When I was 13, I worked at a comic book shop. I got paid in comics and Star Trek; The Next Generation trading cards. I'm not kidding! I think I'm only missing 7 cards out of the 300+ card set!!! LOL Yes, I'm a total geek... I stil watch ST;TNG fairly often!

3. In high school, I used to dream in German. By my junior year, I'd taken 6 years on German and was pretty fluent. I even spent some time translating Grimm's Fairy Tales. Now I wish I could understand the few words I hear on tv every so often.

4. I crack my joints, a lot. I mean a lot! And not just my hands and feet, I crack my neck, back, knees, hips and well, if I can twist it enough, it'll crack. Teachers and parents have been telling me to stop for as long as I can remember, saying I'll get arthritis, or worse. But honestly, it hurts worse when I don't crack them.

5. I wanted to own and run a jewelry gallery/store when I was younger. All together I've had 5 years of silversmithing, and I really miss it. It's been about 3 years since I had access to a jewelry lab, and although I still do some metal work, it's not as involved or detailed as my work used to be. This isn't that weird, but I thought it was interesting anyway!

6. I've decided to quit drinking coke during February, and I'm using a really interesting motivation to do it - a Blythe doll! Seriously, I'm very addicted to both the sugar and caffeine, and have decided to kick the habit. I knew I'd need some serious incentive though, and so far, it's working very well! 3 more weeks to go!

I'm tagging Girl on the Rocks, June, my sister Jenn and Laura. I think everyone else I know has already done this one, but if you haven't I'll be happy to tag you too! Weird things are fun and funny!