27 posts tagged “blythe”
A lot of Blythe people are doing their dolls' favorite fifteen items on Flickr. I decided to do a photo for Plum! She has so many favorite things... It was difficult to fit even just fifteen of them into one shot. o_O
And actually, all the items in this photo are Plum's favorite clothes and accessories, not just the fifteen that are tagged on my Flickr. I cheated a little! But I only tagged fifteen of the items, haha. ^__^
I can't wait to take more photos of Plum in the outfit she's wearing right now. She's totally dressed for autumn and winter. I dressed her and Jinkies the other day and they look so cute next to each other. It's been super cloudy and rainy every day this week so there haven't really been any opportunities for me to go outside and get good lighting for photos. I was lucky I got a chance to jump outside for this quick photo today. In fact, I almost didn't get any shots in because the tiny dresses started getting blown away. x_____x Shawn stood outside with me and made sure it all stayed in order, tee hee.
With the raffle going on, my work responsibilities changing, and a lot of personal things going on in my life in the past few weeks, I've had very few chances to keep up with Vox-- ironically enough. There's so much I want to just spit out into one entry, but there's a lot that's been happening that I feel I need to figure out myself right now, so I'll let some of that be. In the meantime, I've been trying to keep busy (like I need more to focus on!) with little side projects. Sidetracking is what I do best; it's one of my many hidden talents, heh.
I've been getting stressed over classes starting up in about two weeks. At this point in my life, I feel and I know that school is obsolete for me at this point. I'm going into my fifth year as a college student, and it's difficult facing the reality of an entirely new year when I know that I've already absorbed four years of information-- some helpful, some pointless. I started to get antsy last year with taking classes I found out I never even needed to take, so I'm hoping that being enrolled in classes that are mandatory for my English major (meaning, they'll apply to what interests me) will somehow give me the drive to push through all the stress and overcome... college altogether.
Shawn and I are in the same boat when it comes to how we feel. At this time, we both have good jobs that we're pretty happy with, and we know what we want to do with our lives. We keep telling ourselves and each other than one more year is nothing-- we can get through another year of classes. (I suppose another hidden quality in me is being revealed: impatience. Actually, I'll put a positive spin on this one and say that I'm eager to get out and do my own thing.)
Speaking of Shawn, he was recently offered a full-time position as a Computer Programmer for Kohl's for after he graduates. Until then, upper management offered to let him keep working there under an internship-type deal. Adult life is looking up for the both of us more and more every day. I seriously can't believe that just one year ago, we were so far from where we stand now-- without steady jobs, without an income, without that needed confidence to just move on through all the crap.
That's why side projects make the stress easier. I get a chance to focus on things that are important to me, yet don't require immediate attention. At the moment, I'm working on something for my friends at Vox and for anyone else that decides to join in. It's nothing official for Six Apart; it's just a Lauren fun thing, but I think it'll prove to be very helpful for all Voxers. I'm excited to work on it more. I've already gotten started on it, but I still need to tweak out some ideas.
Another little project I've started on has to do with one of my hobbies: Tamagotchis. I've been a fan of virtual pets ever since I was in sixth grade, and I've slowly adopted more cute pets into my digital family. Just the other day, I ordered two new Tamagotchis, versions 4.0 and 4.5. Bandai is getting more creative with every release, because the ones I'll be getting in the mail any day now will be even more interactive. Knowing this pushed me to get more active in the Tamagotchi community online, which of course means I joined and re-joined a couple of forums. ^__^ The project I started is another blog that is dedicated to keeping track of my Tama's growth. I needed something to take my mind off of things this weekend, so I decided to mess around with designing a layout for my Tama blog. Here's how it looks so far:
I worked a good chunk of my afternoon getting the coding to work. I forgot how challenging learning a new blogsite can be. I don't plan on posting a lot about my life there, but it'll be nice giving small updates about my Tamagotchi.
Along with working on some blog projects, I've been sprucing up some of the Vox groups I host. I've been going through them and making sure that everything is working well. If anyone has any concerns, comments or suggestions for any of the groups they know I host, never hesitate to let me know.
The Kawaii Anniversary Raffle Event has almost reached its final stage. I still haven't mailed out the packages, but I plan on doing so tomorrow. Life kind of got in the way this past week with work scheduling between Shawn and me. Mainly, Shawn had to work around his own schedule so he could finish the <3 Vox bracelets according to the wrist sizes that all the winners provided me. He was finally able to finish all of them last night. (Whew!) I'll try to rush to the post tomorrow so everyone can receive their packages this week.
I've found that the best way to deal with stress is to reward myself every so often. A little present reminds me that, yes, there's still something to look forward to. I can work, but I can have fun at the same time. I bought Plum and Lamb a few new pieces of clothing, which has been tons of fun. I've been able to relax and know that my dolly family is comfy and fashionable all at the same time, tee hee.
My second treat to myself was a Nintendo DS Lite case. Shawn and I went to Toys 'R Us the other day, and I found the very last hot pink Princess Peach DS case there. The case is so, so cool-- seriously. There are so many little compartments that help me organize my DS life!
The case is wonderfully heavy, full of quality and fun places to put my games, stylus, DS Lite, and a card where I can put my Wi-Fi game codes. The best part is how perfectly all of my DS accessories and console match. I am the biggest fan of pink and Princess Peach, so having all these pink digital goodies makes me incredibly happy. I've been playing with the case alone for days. If a case can be this entertaining, why even bother having a DS Lite console? *grin*
And I think I'll save everything else I have on my mind for another future post. For now, it's time to sit back and relax. I hope everyone else can do the same. <3
Over 143 posts have been made, 488 photos have been uploaded, and 360 neighbors have been added to Kawaii in the past year. And in all the chaos of blogging, a lot of love has formed! Today (August 3rd) marks the one year anniversary of my Kawaii blog here at Vox, and to help celebrate the occasion, I've planned another fun event that any Voxer can join. ^___^ The event will take place from August 3rd to August 10th, so while the contest is running, I will not be making any new posts to my blog. In order to be eligible for this event, please read all of the rules provided below.
How to Enter
This is a raffle that I have put my whole heart into, so keep in mind that there is no cost or penalty to enter this event whatsoever. The only real "rules" for this event are that 1) you must be a Vox member, and 2) you must follow the steps below:
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Read the entire post over so you know exactly what's going on. ^^
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If you decide to participate, leave a comment in this post with your email address, and tell me that you're joining. (You can scramble your address if you want, since I know people worry about receiving spam mail.)
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Copy and paste this form and fill out the following information in an email to milkeyes@gmail.com
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Name (first and last):
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Vox URL:
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Are you in Kawaii's neighborhood?
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A raffle number (or numbers) will be sent to you, so keep track of what number(s) you have.
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Tell your friends about the raffle! (As more people enter the raffle, more prizes will be added to the first place winner's package.
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Watch for the results on August 10th.
I'll be keeping a list of those who enter with the comments that are left. (Please leave the requested comment. I want to make sure I get everyone's email and make sure none get sent into my junk box. I can keep a running tally this way.)
Every member of Vox may enter this raffle, whether he/she is in my neighborhood or not. Those of you who are in my neighborhood will have the special bonus of getting two raffle numbers entered just by following the directions. Even if you aren't interested in the prize itself, there's bound to be a relative or friend who would appreciate these gifts.
You will not be charged with any shipping. The only people who should be aware of putting money into this are those of you who are not within the United States. I am not responsible for any shipping taxes that outside countries give to those who receive packages. I will be shipping the prize out by Priority mail (if you're within the states) or EMS (if you're outside of the country). If you're not comfortable with accepting a gift that may hold you responsible for taxes, simply don't enter. ^_^
*Keep in mind that I will not ask for every person's personal address. I will only be asking for the winner's address and will contact him/her through email once the raffle is over. I am a respected and honorable member of the Vox community and I will in no way hand out your personal information to any other sources. I would never jeopardize my friendships with those here at Vox. Again, if you don't feel comfortable with the possibility of giving out your address, please do not enter. If you want some kawaii fun though, please read on!
What the Winners Will Receive
Unlike my past Kawaii at Vox events, this event has multiple winners. So, not only do you have a chance at winning free kawaii prizes with free entry, but you have an even better chance of winning because of the high number of winners there will be!
Every single winner will automatically win a <3 Vox hemp bracelet (handmade by Shawn himself ^_^). I will be asking the five winners their wrist sizes so I can tell Shawn exactly how big to make each bracelet. (The <3 Vox bracelets shown in the photos were made specifically for examples.)
The first place winner will not only receive every prize listed in the list below, but he/she also has the opportunity to get several other special prizes as more raffle participants submit entries into the event. For example, once I note that 75 people have entered, the first place winner will receive a very rare prize: a Tokidoki fan signed by the artist himself, Simone Legno. That's why it's important that you enter, but it's also key that you tell your friends about Kawaii's very first Vox anniversary-- the more, the merrier! ^^
Here's everything each winner will receive:
First Place:
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Blythe Petite Doll: Spring Chocolat
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Froggy photo album
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Short Cake + Cookie stationary set
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Happy!! Candy stationary book
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Mimippi bunny "checkbook" (notepad)
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Boo Boo Brothers piggy notepad
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Kawaii Boy sticker pack
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Blythe postcard
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Brown Sugar: Cute Girls tin case with goodies inside
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2 sheets of kawaii stickers
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Moo Stickers pack (NEW!)
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<3 Vox hemp bracelet
20 raffle entries made: 3 small photo prints of mine, all signed
50 raffle entries made: Unipo vinyl figure
75 raffle entries made: Signed Tokidoki fan
Second Place:
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Blythe Petite Doll: Perfect Bohemian Beat
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Hamster photo album
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Cute Animals multi-sticker pack
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Power Girls notepad
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Kawaii kitty notebook (with handles that make it look like a shopping bag!)
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Apple Town item
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<3 Vox hemp bracelet
Every winner will also receive a handwritten letter of congratulations (for winning) and thank you (for participating in) the event. ^__^
Third-Fifth Place:
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<3 Vox hemp bracelet
For a better look at all of the prizes, check out the special Kawaii Event collection I made. I will be turning off comments on the individual photo pages, so please leave all of your comments/questions in this post.
When the Raffle Ends
Once again, the raffle takes place from August 3rd to August 10th (which is one week). At midnight on August 10th, the last day to enter the raffle, I will be closing down the event. Any entries that come in after that time will not be counted.
At noon on August 11th, I will be announcing the winner of the Kawaii at Vox event in a new post at my blog. The five winners will each receive an email from me to notify him/her of her placement. They will be expected to reply within at least two days after receiving the notification email. If they choose not to respond, I will be drawing new winners. (No worries, no prize will be lost!)
Depending on how long it takes for me to wrap up all the packages and when I have the time to send everything out, the packages should be on their way to the winners within a week of the raffle's end.
Thankies to You!
I would like to thank everyone who has left me comments, written me messages, and let me have the chance to get to know them. I feel honored to know so many sweet and gifted Voxers. Seriously, you guys-- you rock!
Good luck, and have fun! *pumps fist in the air*
Update
For updates on what's going on with the Kawaii raffle, check out the comments I leave with "Updates!" at the beginning. For now, I'd just like to thank everyone that has already signed up for the event. You've helped promote the event so much that this post landed a spot on the Explore page. =D *dances*
Or are they? A very special anniversary is only days away, and I will be spending quite a bit of time preparing for a Vox event to commemorate the day. For those of you who have particpated in past Kawaii at Vox events, you know what's ahead! This event, however, is going to be a little different from the rest, so be expecting some surprises along the way. ^__~
I won't be updating Kawaii very much until the special day, but I'll be here at Vox, reading your posts and commenting like crazy. Just know that I'm still here, catching up with your lives and working on something fun for everyone in the process.
Let the countdown begin!
I wanted to dedicate a quick post to my new Blythe, Lamb. She just arrived yesterday, and I had a chance to take photos this morning-- I snatched up the few minutes before my shift started. I was really happy with the results. Her pale, pale complexion looks so beautiful against her baby pink hair. I've been waiting for a Blythe to be released with pink hair. Seeing the Prima Dolly Peach (the stock name for Lamb) release gave me the shivers, and I knew I had to have her in my dolly family.
Sadly, a Blythe as pretty as her means that I lose a lot of money at once. Lamb was totally worth it though!
Receiving a Blythe so pricey in the mail always makes me wary at first. I feel the pressure of having to take care of Lamb more than some of my other girls because of how rare she is. (Only 500 were made; she's an exclusive Blythe release.) I took a risk and decided to iron her hair straight as soon as I unpackaged her. I've had experience with ironing some of my other girls' hair so I didn't feel too nervous about this "attempt." And everything, thank goodness, turned out for the best. Lamb's hair looked better than the promotion photos released by CWC, and it was extremely fun to style. I couldn't be happier right now.
After cosntantly primping and looking at Lamb, I've discovered some little secrets about her. So far, I know that she's hapa (like her mommy!), only she's mixed with an Asian background (I'm not sure which one yet) and with a flower child background. *grin* I wanted her "ethnicity" to be unique, so I threw that flower child curveball into the mix. She may look shy, but she has an air of being chic about her.
I decided on "Lamb" for her name because of her soft features. I don't have a lot of girls that reflect as much grace as Lamb and Pigeon do, so I'm thinking that the fact that their names are related to pretty animals has something to do with why I chose them. I'd eventually like to have a photoshoot for both Blythes, but I'm waiting for the lighting to be better. (I hate forcing good photos out of a crappy day outside.)
And on completely different note, I'd like to express how excited I was about receiving the photo spot in the This Is Good box on the Home and Explore pages on Vox. I literally couldn't stop smiling. Little surprises like that make me giddy.
One thing that has always remained and been with me on that day is using sparklers. When I was little, I kind of felt like sparklers were mini fireworks that I could hold in my hands. I mean, seriously, those are even better than the real thing! Every time I hold one, a thrill goes through me-- the very idea that I'm that close to something that's seemingly "out of control" is exciting.
I surprised Mom and Kathleen on Tuesday night, figuring that Kathleen and I would be able to catch up by staying up a good amount of the night. I have the worst timing though, because when I got home, I found out that Kathleen had gone to Summerfest with her friends and wouldn't be back until midnight. When she got home, we were only able to talk for a little while until she fell asleep. I was disappointed, but we were able to talk and be crazy together the entire next day. After waking up at two in the afternoon (I needed to catch up on my sleep), I quickly got ready to head over to Kelly's house. Kelly and I rarely get a chance to just sit down and have some girl talk, so like I said in the card I gave her, seeing her on her birthday is like a birthday gift for me, not just her. ^__^
Kathleen and I danced around the front yard taking a good mix of funny and serious photos. The hardest part about taking photos of sparklers is getting them close enough to me without getting too burnt from all the sparks. I think Kathleen and I pulled that trick off pretty well, although, I did hear some complaining coming from Kathleen every once in a while. *giggle* I've never been able to photo log a nostalgic piece of my life like that before so I'm really happy with how they turned out. (The photo to the left makes me look a bit cheeky, but I love the angle-- Kathleen took that one.)
While Shawn had been grilling, I took photos of miscellaneous objects outside: orchids (that Mom made me photograph-- not my idea); Beth's Blythe, Jillian; and my little Laramie. I think taking photos while Shawn grills can be another new tradition that Shawn and I start together for this holiday. Now I have something else to look forward to every year on this day. ^^
In order to muster up some money for a much-wanted dolly, I have decided to part with several personal items. I thought it would be fun to throw together a mock flea market, which is most likely a first for Vox. I'd love to know that the presence of my future dolly was made possible because of you lovely Voxers. I'm excited to start this, and if you have any questions, don't hestitate to ask.
Welcome to Kawaii at Vox's first Flea Market Sale, my second event here at Vox. ^___^ I'd like to welcome you to my store by showing you around. So please, feel free to browse, and make sure to ask any questions that arise. I'd be happy to answer anything you're wondering about! You'll most likely want to read through all the details if you are interested in a particular item, because that will clear up any confusion that make come up later on. I shall walk you through each section that I have arranged (with careful consideration and organization) so you can sit back and enjoy the products I have available. Thankies for reading/looking and have a good time. ^^
(Please make sure to do two things if you're interested in something you see: 1) leave a comment, and 2) email me and give me the name of what you would like to purchase.)
First Booth: Custom Blythe Mohair
Description:
Up for sale is a beautiful customized Pow Wow Poncho Blythe named Melba. She has an SBL face mold and has been rerooted with peach mohair. Her face has been sand matted and has had a light green eyeshadow applied, along with a peach lip stick that looks just lovely with her mohair. She will come with everything you see her wearing in the photo. For more information, please check out the thread with a full description of her sale over at TIB, which is located here. You can also view more pictures of her (that are larger) over at my special Flickr account set, which is located here.
Price: SOLD
Second Booth: Mark Ryden's Fushigi Circus Art Book
Description:
Up for sale is Mark Ryden's latest low brow art book, Fushigi Circus. It is a gorgeous cloth-bound book that contains works from many of his art shows, including Blood, The Meat Show, and Bunnies & Bees. This copy is brand new and has never been taken out of its original plastic wrap. I bought this book as an extra. (The pages inside the book you see in the photos were taken from my already opened book, one that I will not be selling at this time.)
Details:
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123 pages
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Height: 9"
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Width: 6"
For more photos of this book, please refer to my special Flickr account set that is located here.
Price: $40.00 USD SOLD
Third Booth: Super Smash Mario Bros. Melee Gamecube game
Description:
Up for sale is Gamecube's Super Smash Bros. Melee game. I received this game as a free gift and it has never been taken out of its original plastic wrap. It is brand new! For more photos, please refer to my Flickr account set that is labeled "For Sale," which can be found here.
Price: $15.00 USD (usually retailed at around $25.00)
Fourth Booth: Trick (the brand) Faery Journal
Description:
Up for sale is a very pretty Faery Journal that was made by the company Trick. The outside cover art is of a pink faery girl (in the foreground) with a moon (in the background). The back of the journal contains another print of the moon. The pages of the book are a light pink with a faded faery decoration on each page. This journal has never been taken out of its plastic wrap. It's brand new! For large photos of this item, please refer to my special Flickr account set that is located here.
Details:
- Height: 8.75"
- Width: 6"
Price: $7.00 USD SOLD
Fifth Booth: Vintage Rings (Miscellaneous Assortment)
Up for sale is a miscellaneous assortment of beautiful vintage rings that I have collected over the years. Before you receive one (or more) in the mail, the ring will be polished. Please make sure to note that any shine that is lost is due to old age, a factor that only makes each ring more stunning with its vintage and antique appeal. Keep in mind that this jewelry is vintage and can be considered costume jewelry, therefore, the status of every stone and metal may not be known. Also, please do not expect perfect condition, as if they were brand new. Part of the charm and appeal is the time-worn look. ^___^ This booth will be divided up into two sets. Please pay close attention to the details of each ring. More pictures of each ring in larger dimensions can be seen over my my Flickr account, which is located here.
Every ring is between a size four and five (unless otherwise noted).
- Sterling silver marcasite ring: Marcasites surround almost the entire ring, except for the back, which slowly fades into a smooth band of silver. The ring is marked 925 on the inside, which means that it is authentic sterling silver. (Price: $10.00 USD ON HOLD)
- Fashion turquoise ring: Two tear-shaped pieces wrap around to make the front of the ring. Whether this ring contains real turquoise is unknown. This is an unmarked ring so I cannot determine the true metal it is made out of. (Price: $5.00 USD SOLD)
- Mesh metal with fake diamond: This vintage ring wraps around and has an open back, which makes the ring easier to adjust to a few ring sizes. The stone is clear and looks like a diamond, although, the real stone is unknown, as is the metal. (Price: $5.00 USD)
- Silver amethyst-looking ring: This ring has a net-like front that wraps around into a smoother metal in the back. It is marked 925 on the inside, which means that is authentic sterling silver. This ring is size seven. (Price: $12.00 USD)
- Sterling silver with marcasites and clear stone: This ring contains several marcasites that surround the stone on each side in the center of the ring. The stone is not a real diamond, but it appears to be a clear stone that looks like one. The inside of the ring is marked with 925, which means that it is made of authentic sterling silver. (Price: $12.00 USD SOLD)
- Sterling silver with purple heart: This simple ring is made of sterling silver. It is marked with 925 on the inside of the ring, which means that it is authentic. The purple crystal looks like an amethyst, but the actual stone is unknown. This ring is size six. (Price: $8.00 USD ON HOLD)
- Fashion ring-- pearl with gold setting: The status of the "stone" is unknown, although it looks like a pearl that is surrounded by one diamond-looking stone on each side. The metal is a darker yellow, which gives it a gold appearance. The code 10KP is on the inside. (Price: $5.00 USD)
- Oblong blue/purple stone sterling silver ring: This ring is made of authentic sterling silver; it is marked 925 on the inside of the ring. The stone, although labeled as being unknown, looks as though it could be jade. (Price: $10.00 USD)
Sixth Booth: Diamond Heart Bracelets (Four Colors)
Up for sale is an Effy Collection special. Effy is a very well-known jewelry designer. My mom originally bought the last of these bracelets (in bulk, so there is more than one bracelet per color available). My mom only buys the best of the best of jewelry, so only expect beautiful diamonds with a lovely setting. These were originally priced at $149.98 per bracelet, but a special price will be offered here. They are all brand new and have only been removed from their boxes for photos. They will come with a box and their original Effy cards. There are four colors for sale (from left to right in the pictures): purple/lavender, pink, sky blue, and red. Here is the original description of the bracelets:
"This lavish bracelet is created in 14K white gold and features an open heart design with bead set diamonds measuring 9/16" x 9/16". This is set on a leather bracelet measuring 6-1/2 - 8-1/2"L x 1/2"W that comes in your choice of colors with an adjustable clasp and safety catch. There are eleven diamonds for a total diamond weight of approximately 0.055ct."
More photos of each bracelet at different angles (in larger dimensions) can be seen over at my Flickr account, which is located here.
Price (per bracelet): $40.00 USD
Seventh Booth: Photography Prints by Kawaii at Vox
And finally, I would like to offer my own artistic services. Up for sale is an offer to print off my photography (one or a few of your choice), photos that are located at my Flickr account in the following sets:
- Blythes
- Swiss (BJD)
- Pinkys
- Aesthetics
- Tokidoki
- Vinyl Toys
My Flickr account is located here. I do have the right to reject certain photos, mostly ones that contain my own image or any image of people in my life. I would prefer it if you would request any photos that contain inanimate objects. ^^; (I am also open to photos you may have seen in my Vox account, but I'll have to approve each photo first.) Make sure to email me the size of the photo you wish to have. If you would like, I can also determine the best size possible since I'm familiar with how my photography appears on paper. You may choose whether you would like glossy or matte prints!
Please take into account that each photo required quality photo paper, ink, time and effort.
Price (per photo): $5.00 USD
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Contact, Shipping, Payment and Background Information
Contact: You can email me at milkeyes@gmail.com with any questions you have. Also, make sure to email me if you wish to purchase one or more items.
Shipping: I will ship to anywhere in the world, both within the United States and without. I will only be able to determine shipping prices based on the size and weight of your item(s) as well as your location, so we will have to find the total amount due through email.
Payment: I will only accept Paypal as a method of payment. I will have to turn down any other methods. Sorry!
My Background: On a side note, I would like to add that you should, in no way, have to doubt my abilities as a seller. I am doing this not only for my benefit, but yours as well. I take every Voxer into consideration. I am an avid Voxer who has created a solid and good reputation among those in my neighborhood, and I would never jeopardize my friendships or my status as a Vox user. Also, if you want more concrete evidence of my buyer/seller past, you can check my Ebay username: chinadoll_farm, which has 100% positive feedback!
Thankies for looking, and please, come back anytime. ^___________^
Lauren
There are two groups of people: those who are unaware of dollies in their lives, and those who revolve their lives around dollies. I fall into the latter group (obviously). This entry is a special dedication of love to a very important doll in my life. Dolls are not just toys. They are not meant to be memories for just children. Dolls, especially Blythe dolls, are landmarks in a person's life. They give meaning to many of us, and they bring more memories and happiness to me than I ever thought was possible. Every Blythe has a story, and this happens to be Plum's story.
For those of you who are unaware of what a doll collector's life is like, here is a story that will explain a lot-- a lot of answers may finally be revealed about the mysterious life of a Blythe collector!
The beginning.
I first started collecting and truly falling in love with Blythe dolls in 2004. My main goal, like a lot of people who reside over at the TIB forum, was to own a Kenner Blythe one day. I thought that their rareness was attractive and couldn't help but drool over photos that other people took of their 1970 vintage dolls. I then started to notice another Blythe doll mold, the BL mold. BL Blythes were the second types of Blythes ever to be released. After the 1970 girls failed, there was little hope for Blythe dolls. Well, Gina Garan, the famous Blythe photographer, shed new light on the dolly and fashion scene in Japan, and before anyone else could take in what was happening, BL Blythes were released, and Kozy Kape (Plum's Blythe type) was released. Kozy was the first BL that I fell for. I liked her simplicity, and the fact that her baby face was so sweet really melted my heart. I knew I would have to have her one day. BL Blythes have become extremely rare, sometimes even more rare than Kenners, and this is one reason that I find them so much more loveable than Kenner dolls. Because Kozys were quite pricey at the time (or so I thought), I had to put off my want for one for a few years. I took in many other girls to my Blythe family, and I loved them all very much. I still, however, yearned for something more, a Blythe that I could fall in love with, one that I would want to take with me everywhere. Kozy, you were meant to be.
The search.
Finally, in 2005, I realized that Kozy was the Blythe for me. Even though I knew I had my first ball-jointed doll (Swiss) on her way to me, Kozy was still in the back of my mind. I started looking for a Kozy on Ebay and in the TIB Buy and Sell section in about September that year. Kozys were then starting to get extremely rare and even more expensive than a few months previous to the start of my search. I began to panic. In December, I posted a "Want to Buy" (WTB) thread in the Buy and Sell section, and after posting, I realized that there were three other people looking for a Kozy at the exact same time. My heart sank, because I knew how desperate we all were, especially with the holidays approaching so quickly.
One night (in January, 2006), I received an email from a fellow TIB member regarding a Kozy she was putting up for sale. She said that she had remembered my thread and asked if I would like to put an offer in for her Kozy. This girl's Kozy was so beautiful, and I instantly knew I had to have her. Well, I immediately replied to her email with a rather high offer. Soon afterwards, I received a response with some very sad news. Just five minutes before I responded, another person put a high offer in, and the girl promised the other person the Kozy. I think I started to cry that night. It's hard when I have my heart set on something with so much excitement and passion. I felt like an evil trick had been played on me.
A new hope.
About a week later, I was online at about 2 a.m. when I noticed a thread that was selling a Bohemian Beat Blythe. I had always thought about taking one into my doll family, and with the disappointment over the Kozy, I thought I'd see if the seller would have a fair price for the BB. I messaged the seller and received a response a few minutes later. Then a feeling sunk in, a very familiar feeling: regret. In the past, I had rebounded off of a Blythe disappointment and bought a girl I was only semi-in love with, and I really didn't want to experience that regret again. (I ended up selling my rebound girl.) After I read the seller's very nice message, I told her that I really shouldn't buy her beautiful girl, because my heart was really set on getting a Kozy. After exchanging a few messages with her (because she really wanted to sell her BB to me after I kept giving her polite "no's"), she sent me a message that took my breath away.
Do u really want a kozy???
I got 2 kozy blythes...
mind me asking how much is your best offer for 98 percent an excellent condition girl (only that she got 3 pin prick at her fore head, under bangs, and cannot even show in pictures, and come with everything?"
I was speechless. After months (years?) of waiting for an opportunity to own my very own Kozy, she tells me this at the brink of exhaustion. I started to panic. What if this was some sort of joke? What if another person would snatch her up like the last time? I messaged her back with lightning-Blythe speed and told her that, yes, I was interested. She then responded with a message that scared the hell out of me. Someone else was interested in her Kozy. I had no idea how this was possible, since she hadn't even advertised that the doll was for sale in the first place. The seller then told me that we could each make one "bid" towards the Kozy, and whoever gave the bigger bid would be the "winner." (I figure that this was a smart ploy to make me bid higher. I still think that to this day.) I didn't care though; I had to win that Kozy. I gave my bid of $440 and eagerly awaited a reply. Sure enough, she responded and told me that I had been the higher bidder. It was that night (January 9th) that I won my favorite Blythe. (Since I bought Plum, the prices for Kozy have skyrocketed. I thought $440 had been a lot at the time, but now sellers are demanding $600 as the starting prices alone. Eventually, I think BL girl prices will surpass the costs of Kenner Blythes.)
The waiting and receiving.
I waited for Plum for over two weeks. Because I had been so excited to win my Kozy, I forgot to get the good, fast shipping. When ordering dolls from foreign countries, it's always best to opt for the best shipping possible, just to assure safe and fast travel. I waited at the door for the mailman every day. Eventually, I had to go back to campus since classes were starting up again. Then, one day, I came home to find that my mom wasn't there, but a little slip with my name on it was. I was stupid that day and I didn't check to see who it was from because I was so tired from the ride back to my house. After 5 o'clock, I casually looked at the slip, and I realized that, yes, the mailman had tried to deliver my Kozy, but she was now at the post, waiting to be picked up! I tore my hair out, tee hee.
Since the post office wasn't open after that time, I had to wait 'til the next morning to get my sweetie. Beth drove me to the post, and there it was, a package, quite bent and torn, waiting for me to rip open.
My little Plum had arrived. I knew that I wanted to name a Blythe Plum, and I figured that Kozy would be the girl to win the name. Sure enough, I opened my package up and fell in love with the little sweetheart inside. The super round face and her big, boggled eyes just said "Plum" to me. The waiting and the worrying had vanished, and my Plum was finally with me. To this day, I have never fallen so in love with a Blythe, and I've never seen anyone else take in a Blythe with so much... need and want. Plum is the ultimate Blythe to me, and she always will be.
Plum's first birthday.
Plum had come all the way from Thailand to be with me. Who knows where she had been before her home in Thailand! She's not only my little traveler, but she's my geek at heart. Out of all my girls, her personality is the most diverse and creative, the weirdest and funniest, the cutest, and the best. I know a lot of people can't play favorites with Blythes, but I'm not afraid to admit that this love of my life is my favorite, my Plum.
Her first birthday was on January 28th, 2007. We celebrated the day in a very relaxed fashion. I gave her the one present that had arrived-- a strawberry coat and bag set made by Berni at the TIB forum. I took photos of her with red ribbons in her hair, and we had a blast. Shawn was over that day, too, and he was able to shower Plum with even more love. (We consider Plum our little girl. Shawn is crazy for her and runs to her defense whenever Beth makes fun of her or tries to kidnap her. He even buys her presents for special occasions.)
A few days later, Shawn dropped off the last two presents that I had bought for Plum: a knit hat by moondancer at TIB, and a beautiful pink vinyl carrying case made by chloellaboo at TIB. All of her presents fit together so perfectly! The case comes in handy for when I transport Plum back and forth from the apartment and my house. It's something I've been looking for a carrying case like this one for a long time. There was even a berry theme-- the strawberries (on her coat and bag) and cherries (on the case). And I swear, the hat was made for the outfit. Plum's birthday has pretty much lasted the entire week. With her backstory in mind and the adorable presents she's received, I would say that Plum has had the perfect first birthday.
Happy berfday, Plum. I love you.
I never had the chance to take photos of my Christmas/birthday present from Shawn's mom and his sister, Kristin. She's my very favorite (and very expensive) Pinky Street figure, Gunslinger Girl, Henrietta. The emotions that cross her adorable face are more than I can take sometimes, just because there are so many. I love her. I was going to name her Susie Sushi, but because I plan on watching the Gunslinger Girl anime series, I'm keeping it Henrietta. I think I'll fall in love with her character and regret renaming my figure.
Henrietta's gun and violin case are completely sexy. I can't get enough her, tee hee. I can't wait to get more Pinky Street figures so I can line them all up and mix and match their bodies, outfits and accessories. (Henrietta will most likely keep herself together since she's rather pricey.)
Anyway, my first official day back to classes was today, and I think it went really well. I felt so relaxed. ^_^ As time goes on in college, classes, although more challenging, are seemingly... easier. Now that I'm in full control of what English classes I take, I don't have pressure pounding down on me every day.
I only have to go to class four days a week, and even on those four days, I get to wake up at 9:45 every morning. My first class, English: Introduction to Linguistics, is pretty interesting. I took an International English class last year, which covered similar material, and I figure that its more technical side, compared to other English courses, will make me even more well-rounded as an English major, and writer in general. I view my professor like a really good mom. She's happy, proud of her work with linguistics, and is wonderfully enthusiastic about what she's teaching to her students. The material would probably seem boring if she weren't so sweet. My second class is the complete opposite. I love lecture classes because they allow students to feel independent and in control of how well they want to do, but they can still drone on like this one tended to do. I've liked most of the ones I've had in the past, and this one should be no different. The lecturer, a little on the boring side, seemed aggravated today. When I found out she has almost 700 students to teach this semester, I understood why. I'm hoping that she'll warm up to my class of 400. o_O
Beth decided to come to my class with me because she's thinking about dropping her science class so she can take Oceanography with me instead. I missed having a class with her last semester, so I was excited to have her with me again. (We usually try to schedule at least one per semester together.) The auditorium was so full that students were sitting on the floors. Beth and I are guessing that she won't be able to get in, even if a few people decide to drop the class. I'm disappointed, but at least the class Beth is registered for has a more spunky professor.
As some of you know, I made the Vox Banners group. Well, I'm also running two other groups here at Vox. Before the groups started up, Mena (a Vox team member) contacted me and asked if I would help inform people about the Blythe group she was creating. She then, to my surprise, gave me the position as a moderator for the Blythe group. I'm so happy to be in charge of something that's Blythe-related. For any Blythe lover that reads this, make sure to stop by and join the group. ^_^ And finally, I also started up another group, one that is kind of affiliated with my regular Vox account, the Kawaii group! That one only has three members so far, so I thought I'd advertise my little group here so it has more growing room. Anyone who loves cuteness, sweetness, and basically anything adorable, please join.
Ta da! I'm so happy with my new Vox banner. *snuggles it*
Vox really knows how to kick off my final week of Winter Break. (I love you, Vox.) *hearts* Thankies so much to the Vox team for putting together the new groups option. I'm so happy to see Vox slowly moving out of its beta stage into a more complex blogging system. It's no longer just a blogging baby-- I think it's an young (teenage?) adolescent now.
Winning the Vox Banner Contest a little while ago had its perks. I was informed that the new banner option would be up, so I had a good amount of time to play around with making some banners. I wasn't happy with how some turned out, so I won't be using them at all, but I was pleased with a few others, one being the current theme displayed right now. It features Jinkies, Beth's Goldie, in her Winter gear.
Surprisingly, Wisconsin has only had two bigger snowstorms this entire season. It's kind of a disappointment, for snow is one of my favorite things to look forward to. Anyway, today's snowstorm gave me the opportunity to trudge out into the small patch of woods in my backyard and capture some photos of Jinkies in the cute hat Kir made for me a while ago. None of my girls have had the chance to really use it yet, so kudos to the weather for being so time-efficient.
Poor Shawn drove all the way to Milwaukee this morning for his first class of the semester, and he was surprised with some interesting information. I guess his school celebrates Martin Luther King Day, so his classes actually resume Wednesday, not today. He was pleasantly happy about the news, even though he went all the way down there, got his car stuck three times in the thick snowdrifts, and then was cut off several times by stupid people driving on the freeway. I will never understand the crazies on the road. Never.
Here's the other banner I made. I might use it someday, but for now, I'm not that attached to it. I guess I'll wait and see.
I might edit it a little bit first. Maybe then I'll grow more fond of the idea. It features Nami (my custom Blythe made by Kookii herself), Junie (my Strawberryusa Sugarbunnies plushie), and newcomer Uhboo, a creation by me. I created Uhboo specifically for my Vox. I think she's a sweet addition to my little collection of cuties in my journal here. I'm excited to see the other places she pops up at. ^__~
I am in love with the new customization features. For anyone that stumbles upon this and is frustrated with the limited features Vox offers right now-- just hang in there. Vox is still a wee one, and it needs some time to grow. You'll see new changes and amazing improvements in time!
