Madame Alexander Calla Makeover! Becomes Twin To Doll For Frann!

Greetings and Salutations Doll Friends!

Recently I did a makeover on a Madame Alexander doll. I was so pleased with how she came out that I went to eBay and picked out a few more wigs with another doll in mind... 

I'd long played with idea of re-wigging my daughters first Madame Alexander named Calla... Calla, being my daughters first "ever" 18inch doll that she got when she was four, had "earned her doll stripes" in the play department. When we got her, I knew nothing about how to properly care for doll hair and so her hair had been brushed roughly with wrong manner of brush... A lot! 

Here is Calla standing with the Madame Alexander doll I recently re-wigged. 

As you can see, that doll had the exact same hair style as Calla did before, just a slightly less pale blonde. 

My original idea was to re-wig Calla with a pale blonde wig so her look wouldn't be too drastically altered... 

Here is an old photo of my daughters first three 18in dolls "napping" in her bed. See? Even before I really got "in" to collecting dolls, I couldn't help but photograph them when I thought they were cute. What's funny is there is an OurGen doll in the photo but we don't have that one anymore...? Think I recall gifting it to one of Lils friends who *gasp* didn't have any dolls but don't recall much else about her? To Callas left is Shuri, my daughters second MA doll. She got them at same time really because I bought first as gift before Christmas and then when I went back they'd marked them half off and so I got Calla a "friend". Even then I couldn't resist a doll on sale! Haha. 

Anyway, so as I was photographing Calla with the recently made over MA, it struck me how much alike their faces were. I mean, naturally they have same face sculpt... But their eyes and complexion were also nearly identical. Then... A lightbulb went off in my head! Twins! I could make them twins! 

First I went and asked dear daughter if she'd mind if I altered Calla's look? She had a moment of pause but I assured her it was exactly because I cherished Calla (she was the first!) that I wanted to give her a special makeover... I had a great idea of what I was going to do with her "twin" once I got Calla made over!!

So off with her hair! Always a bit nerve wracking even though I know she will look fantastic when I am done... Then I put on the glue... Just squeezed it on her head like ketchup on a hotdog, see? 

Then spread it all over her head, covering her whole scalp line. As you can see, she had quite a bit of stubble on her head before I added glue but it all gets glued in and hidden by wig and it's not that big a deal.  

Calla was a bit nervous too but other MA reassured her all would be well soon!

And here they are!! Calla is on the right! I tell you because they look exactly the same, right?! I dressed them in twin outfits I got off eBay. My original idea was to have twin outfits so my dolls could do "twin days" in the doll house... You know, so like Heather Doll and Frann Doll could be "twins" for a day in their outfit choices. Which I still plan to do... Just explaining why I bought two of same outfit. Haha. 

So... Why do I keep referring to the recent makeover MA doll with no name? Because my idea was that I would name her Calla as well!! In order to send her across the world to live in Frann's house! 

She is on her way there now, in fact! Traveling via the USPS! The MOMENT I saw the "twin" in them, I knew I had to do it... I wanted it to be a surprise when Frann opens Calla... But then decided I could surprise her here just as easily because she reads my blog! (Hi Frann!! ❤️) This way I could explain the whole thing before she gets her! Cos that is what I would want to do if I delivered Calla in person! After the makeover, both dolls look strikingly similar to what my daughter looks like now! Same sort of haircut... So it's kind of like there are three reasons Calla is significant. 1) she was daughters first doll 2) she now looks a lot like daughter and 3) they are the only two Madame Alexander dolls in all the world with their "look" and now Frann and I will both have one. How fun is that? I sent a few other outfits along that I have "copies" of so we could dress them the same sometimes as we "play dolls together in virtual-land"! I am smiling just thinking of it... It's so lovely to have a doll friend to share things with! I love you Frann!! 

Can't wait till Calla makes it to your house... I hope you love her as much as I do! 

Better run!

Till next time!

XXOO

Heather 

Happy Independence Day!

Happy Independence Day Doll Friends!!

XXOO

Heather

American Girl Doll Skating Helmet, Knee and Elbow Pads Thrift ShopScore!

Hi Doll Friends!

I went into town yesterday and so naturally I stopped into the close-by thrift shops. In the first one I found this amazing set!

The helmet and knee and elbow pads are American Girl Brand! I just got the OG skating outfit from eBay recently and already owned the (Dollar Store) skateboard! So perfect timing! I can't believe I found it all together! The bag was open even! It was only marked $2.98! Score! 

Isn't she sweet?

I also got another amazing find... To be continued... 

XXOO 

Heather 

New Photography Background for Doll House!

Hi Doll Friends!

Since getting that flag of the beach scenes I started thinking of "backgrounds" for dolls... Where to get more? Because as much as I'd like to get out to all manner of amazing locals for my doll photos, the reality is that it's oftentimes hard to create the right setting! Getting the time, the right weather and light, having the family not be mortified by your taking photos while out with them, having to take your dolls out to different places and possibly get them dirty or damaged, fighting the bugs and wind etc etc etc... You see what I mean! It is all enough to make doll backgrounds of beautiful settings very appealing!

So I start to research... In no time at all I've discovered that, to my delight, I am not only one who wishes for something like that... Photographers of "real people" want great backgrounds too! Awesomeness!

There are SO MANY COOL ONES! This was my first choice. I thought it could pretendingly be the outside of the doll house! Or maybe a cottage for Josh and me to go on Honeymoon after our Vow Renewal? Isn't it fabulous! As you can see it only cost like $5.00 and it's a pretty nice sturdy vinyl. I attached it with clothes pins to top of a presentation board and it works like a charm. 

Better run and get ready for church!

Till next time!

XXOO

Heather 

More Thrift Shop Doll Discoveries and Makeovers!

Greetings Doll Friends! 

We went into town on Saturday and I went by two of my favorite thrift shops. Low and behold, at New Life Thrift (my favorite thrift shop in all the world for good reason!) I found not one but two 18" dolls!

They were in pretty rough shape but it was mostly just dirt and I knew they'd clean up well.

This is a Pottery Barn Gotz doll and an Our Generation doll.

The Gotz had some sort of white stuff (paint?) on her forehead and unfortunately her gorgeous hair had been cut in front and would be impossible to save. Shame because the hair on these dolls is top notch!

The Our Gen also had her hair cut but I think it's not so bad that I'll have to give her new hair...

They were $4.95 each. Not the best price I have ever paid but less than shipping would've been on one doll from eBay for both dolls. So, pretty good!

Not to mention the OG doll had on this cute dress.

They write the prices on things at this store with china marker. It's like a wax crayon... It will come off but with a lot of elbow grease. I wouldn't mind if they'd price things with stickers but that's how they've always done it.

They were so dirty. Whenever I find dolls like this I can't help but think "Who would DO this to a doll?!" But then I recall that some people see them as no different than other toys and I guess I get it. Still hard to see! That's one reason I love rescuing them from thrift stores. So I can give them back their dignity! Haha. 

The OG dolls hair was in really good shape other than the cut in bangs.

So was the Gotz but since they'd sheared off the front, it'd have to go!

The OG was incredibly dirty! I seriously think she might have been run over by a bike or something? She also had this small hole in her torso.

I performes surgery and stitched her up. She has a scar but better than a hole!

Here she is, all cleaned up and wearing a dress.

Here I am about to cut hair off Gotz. Was painful! But had to happen... I tried three wigs on her...

The first one was ok...

The second was my favorite! She will keep this one on until I get another one for her in same style and color because it's perfect! This wig is pretty but has not been treated well (it came in a bag of doll wigs I got at a Thrift Store a while ago...) and so I plan to replace it. But it looks great!! 

I tried this one on too... But 1) I plain liked the black wig better and 2) this wig almost seemed too small for her...? Which is odd because I thought Gotz and OG and AG heads were nearly identical in size. Who knew? So when I order her a new black wig, I think I'll order it in 11/12 instead of 10/11. 

She does look cute enough in it too though. By way, I have like five of these wigs because I get them for 99c plus $5 shipping sometimes and that's hard to pass up! When a $2 thrift shop doll needs new hair, it's hard to want to spend $25 on a new wig for them! You know what I mean?

However Gotz dolls are $100 new and so spending a bit more for a wig for her won't bug me as much. 

Do you agree the black wig with bangs is best or do you like one of others better? 

It's the 4th of July today which means lazy day off work... Hoping to get some more doll projects done! Cleaned out my dolls space yesterday, some, and sorted things. Always nice to get more organized! 

Happy Independence Day! 

Till next time!

XXOO

Heather 

Best Friends Club Ink Doll Riding A Horse Guns Blazing!

Hi Doll Friends!

I love it when my daughter plays with the dolls and leaves things set up when she is done... As you may recall, I recently got a BFC Ink Doll at a Garage Sale for $2. Well, I went ahead and re-wigged her and my daughter liked how she came out... So she decided to dress her up for a horse ride! She went with guns blazing too! Haha! So, I had to take a photo of it for you. 

Have a great weekend!!

XXOO

Heather

Creatology Soccer Ensemble

Hi Doll Friends!

As I've mentioned before in other posts, Micheals craft store is discontinuing carrying the Springfield doll line. They've started selling a whole new kind of doll made by Creatology. They are very cute dolls! I have all four of them already! Hard to pass up when you can buy them for about $15 each with a 40% off coupon! (They are $25 full price)

However, I had never bought any of the doll clothes by Creatology. They are $14.99 regular price! Only about $10 less than a whole doll! Hard to do... 

However one day I had a 50% off coupon and finally decided to give it a go. There were two reasons I wanted this outfit. The first is the black shoes! I needed plain black shoes to go with Josh dolls tuxedo! I had quite a few "boy" type shoes but nothing that could pass for boy shoes. So... These were perfect. 

Obviously the second reason I bought the set was for the soccer outfit... It is pretty cute.

Here is photo on back of box of other ensembles.

Here is Vito wearing the outfit. I put a different pair of shoes on him. Fits pretty well... Although the Creatology dolls are a smidge smaller than standard dolls of this type... They are a bit thinner and are only 17inches tall.

So the shirt has a bit of a gap in back when you close it.

All in all, pretty cute... I'll eventually get the photos done of Heather and Josh in all their wedding finery done and I'll show you the shoes that came with set then!

Chat soon!

XXOO

Heather