Still Busy with Auctions

Working on clearing out excess inventory so that I can customize new pieces. I have a HUGE project in the works that I can't wait to share!

I LOVE this oversized soaking tub. It is PERFECT for the larger Fashion Royalty dolls. Since I am no longer collecting the tall one's I've decided to put this gem up for sale.  Darius is demonstrating how large the tub actually is.

You can see the auction here. *nothing currently available!

I have 42 items listed this week. Already working on next week's listings!

Have a great week! I'll give you a sneak peek soon on my BIG project.

Stephiejo

Shameless eBay Plug

Forgot to mention that I have lots of goodies available on eBay. Mostly larger fashion doll clothes for the 16-17 inch gals. Some really cute Barbie pieces as well. Making room for new OOAK inventory! Take a peak if you'd like:

Auctions

Just some of what I have listed...

Cheetah Print Chaise for 17" dolls

OOAK Barbie size Chaise

Mid-Century Modern Barbie TV Cabinet w/TV & Accessories

Upholstered pin cushion chair

My Scene Party Pad TV Unit & Columns Barbie Size

OOAK Jewelry busts

Until next time...Stephiejo

Tiny Doll Madness

I'm not sure what possessed me to take the plunge but I've gone over to the dark side of collecting. The world of BJD's. Tiny ones at that. I've been fascinated by those enchanting faces and amazing articulation. On a whim I asked hubby if I could get one. He said yes!! So I proceeded to order this teeny, tiny, itty bitty sweet faced Lati. Does anyone know if she can wear Kelly clothes? I certainly hope so! At just under 10cm she will be just right for all the Kelly furnishings & accessories I've seemed to accumulate.  I see a little girl's room diorama in my near future. Now the wait begins.  Did I mention that I'm an impatient individual?

Photo courtesy of Latidoll.

Hubby says the eyes freak him out a bit. I hope that's only temporary! Isn't she stinkin' cute? What was I thinking?

Stephiejo

Taking A Break

From the dollhouse project that is...to work on some auction photography. (seriously-the doll stuff is taking over around here & I need to clear some space).

Decided to take some photos before listing on evil-bay..so without further adieu...a celebration of the warm weather we've been having...

Can you guess what item is for sale in this pic? LOL...

I want to demonstrate how FANTASTIC

this little beach chair is.

I'll post a link to the auction when it's ready.

Now..more play time...

I think my faux stone wall is my most used prop...

it makes many appearances. Can you believe

that it's made from egg cartons & spackle?

Really! I'll have to do a tutorial soon...

All glued to foam core. Folds flat for storage.

Tan scrapbook paper on the floor sort of resembles

the color of sand...and some fake palm leaves

from the craft store add some depth.

The yummy cocktail in the background was taken off

of a cocktail stir stick...(thanks to my handy dremmel tool)

Side table is a candle holder with a Barbie plate on top...

everything else is actual Barbie accessories.

I still have this diorama set up...I'll post round 2

pics along with a behind the scenes shot soon!

Enjoy~

Stephiejo

Dollhouse Project-In Progress

Many moons ago....I purchased a Barbie dollhouse with GRAND plans to customize it. I had visions of an ornate French Country Villa..with European accents in creams...reds...tans...and just a hint of black accent. I had the perfect fabric, cream & black toile. Red & tan plaid. Cream with red roosters. I considered leaving the interior colors as-is. I really liked the red accents and the tan base was workable. This is the set that I started with High School Musical Playset:









When I finally started the customization process I completely changed my mind. (As I often do!) No longer was I enamored with French Country. At least not for this Barbie house. I began looking at the furnishings, accessories, fabric and wallpaper that I already had. That pointed me more in the direction of Baroque or Regency Style. I love the eclectic mix of modern with traditional.




Step 1: Remove all stickers. You will need an entire bottle of Goo Gone for this! Paint the entire house-inside and out a crisp white. Let me tell you now that this process was much more difficult than I had originally anticipated. Four cans of spray paint later (yes-the special kind for plastic) and I still have areas that need to be touched up.









I will warn you-those red french doors are a REAL PAIN. They are warped. Not from the paint-but they originally came that way. Even though they appear to be white you can see hints of red coming through when lit from behind.









Step 2: Pull together coordinating scrapbook papers to use as wallpaper. A word of advice-scrapbook paper is NOT the proper size to use a single sheet for wallpaper in 1:6 scale. However, if the print is suitable it can be successfully installed.




I used a small damask print in this room just under the chair rail:







The room directly above this space I used two sheets of paper-the main body in blue & a large border to incorporate more of the damask:









The base of the window seat received a charcoal grey paper. You can see the black/grey damask on the adjoining wall:









Same charcoal grey adorns the lower wall in the future wine cellar:









The original red support columns had to be removed. They were adorned with the Wildcats logo and I felt that covering them wouldn't work. I used pliers to break the plastic where they were attached at the ceiling. Once free at the top they simply slid out of the bottom. I replaced with these filigree columns I purchased from a thrift store. Originally used to support a tiered wedding cake. They were not quite tall enough which is why they are perched on silver jewelry boxes for the time being. I'll make a more permanent base soon.








And finally a full view of the progress so far:








Yes I am fully aware that I failed to spray the arch on the roof! This piece removes easily for painting. Just ran out of paint!




There is lots left on my to do list for this home!




*Touch up white paint in several areas
*Determine wall finishes for the remained of the upper level & foyer
*Select floor finishes
*Add light fixtures (real & fake)
*Install baseboards
*Build faux side & back walls for photographing purposes
*Sew window treatments
*Build fireplace or display case for lower level damask wall (needed to support the upper floor!)




Until next time...


Stephiejo~

Beginning of Summer

Enjoying the unofficial start to summer...pull up a chair and relax under my new gazebo.

.

I've set the table so we can enjoy some cocktails and snacks.

Hopefully the children won't be much of a bother..they like to take a break from the hot sun to cool themselves in the shade...

I set out the new cushions to commemorate this special holiday...

Can I interest you in a cold beverage?

A cold beer perhaps?

Sorry to see you go so soon.

Enjoy the beautiful weather we are having. Chemo has thankfully finished..I am off to round up the children for lunch. Thank you for stopping by!

Life Happens

Even the best laid plans sometime fail due to unforeseen circumstances.

I have so many ideas for creative projects which is why I started this blog.

Probably not the best idea to start such an ambitious project just before the holidays but I thought, "I have to do this!"

Then life threw me a curveball. Ok, no, more like a train wreck that blindsided me to the point that I am still picking up the pieces.

Have you ever had a nagging feeling that something just wasn't right? That's your intuition speaking and you should listen with all your heart.

My mom's inner voice was telling her that she wasn't well. She continually went to the doctor to figure out why she was so run down & in constant physical pain. She was diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome, sleep apnea, urinary incontinence, & told quite bluntly that if she would just stop over eating she would feel better. But she wasn't over eating. She actually couldn't eat because when she did she felt sick to her stomach yet her abdomen continued to swell. She scheduled an appointment to visit her doctor yet again with knee pain. (on top of abdominal, lower back & leg pain). She refused to leave his office until he figured out why she was so run down. He examined her abdomen, for the first time in who knows how long and discovered a mass. This was early December. I vividly remember the phone call from my mom as she left the doctor's office. She called to tell me she has arthritis and that they found a large tumor. She began to cry and tell me she was scared. I was speechless. My mind couldn't wrap around the news that I was hearing. I tried to calm her fears and tell her that everything would be ok. She had an ultrasound the next day. Three weeks later, on December 23rd my mom entered the hospital for surgery to remove this mass & to diagnose what it was. After three hours in surgery the oncologist took my siblings, step-father & I into a small room and informed us that my mother had Stage III Ovarian Cancer. He removed a FIVE POUND tumor from her right ovary, removed both ovaries (Oophorectomy), her appendix, a small growth from her Omentum, and fifteen lymph nodes for biopsy. We would later learn that four of the fifteen lymph nodes had cancer which put her at stage III-C.

Never in a million years would I imagine these turn of events at this point in my life. I'm relatively young, in my late thirties. My mom just turned 60. No one can be prepared for such news.

I have put 100 percent of my energy into fighting this battle with my mom.

She will finish her second round of chemotherapy today.

Her hair has all fallen out and that has been heart wrenching for her. (I can only imagine! I certainly wouldn't like that either)

So my dolls, my crafts & best laid plans can wait.

Thank you for stopping by to visit.

I know that I need to make time for myself & play time is really what I need most, but for now my family has to come first.

#

Stephanie