Well, Hello 2013!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I still can't believe 2012 is gone.  Even though it came and went pretty quickly, it was quite memorable and full of great highs and a few really low lows.  First and foremost, I guess it's great we are all still here considering the Mayan calendar prediction.  I remember being told by my then, holistic doctor, that all he had to do was get me to 2012.  That was two years ago.  So here we are.  Now what???  Let's take a look at 2012.

HIGHLIGHTS of 2012
1)  Wedding of Roderick Taylor and Danielle Harper.
The biggest event in Morristown in 2012 was the wedding of Roderick Taylor and Danielle Harper.  Not only was it an incredible event here in Morristown, but the excitement spanned the globe as many of you dressed and photographed your dolls for the big event, and posted your pictures to my Facebook fan page.  This wonderful mayhem was all started with a post by Muff, entitled Wedding Attire.

 

The happy couple got married May 2012.

 

Their families were united in holy matrimony.

2) Article on VansDollTreasures in the FDQ (Fashion Doll Quarterly) Magazine.

Thanks to Debbie B. Garrett of Black Doll Collecting, writing an article on VansDollTreasures, and her tireless diligence to get it published, VansDollTreasures appeared in the Autumn 2012 issue.  This was a dream come true.  It felt surreal to see my doll families featured.  This, and the incredible emails I received from the young and older girls enjoying the stories, gave me an incredible boost to keep it all going.   

Image property of Fashion Doll Quarterly

3) Helping to stop Target for price gouging on the new SIS dolls.

I don't know for sure that the letters and emails from Debbie (Black Doll Collecting), and my Twitter assault and direct messages to Target really brought about the quick price reduction from $24.99 to $11.99, but I have to believe that our efforts and the calls and emails from others made the difference.

4) Joining the local Woodworking Guild. 

Thanks to my dear blogger friend, Grandmommy, from Big and Little Creations, who told me about the guilds, I spent the year learning all about woodworking.  My goal was to make nice wooden furniture for the 1/6 scale dolls.  Due to time constraints, that didn't really happen this year.  Hopefully next year.  I did, however, make some beautiful wooden and ceramic pens.  It was never my intention to sell them, but I started getting orders the minute people saw them.  I'm not one to turn down a business opportunity, so I filled pen orders and there's now a waiting list.  I've already built the new website for them, and as soon as I make more stock, I will turn the website on.  

5) New Characters!

I have a ton of new characters that moved to Morristown this year.  I have a few favorites that I would like to highlight.

 Mike Jordan, Adele's husband


Freeman Taylor, Rod and Tony's long lost dad.


Kyori


Jay Chou, Kyori's boyfriend


Max

6) Furniture

I made and sold quite a few pieces this year.  I saw my custom orders increase ten-fold.  That was exciting.  You've probably noticed, I haven't had many sofas or chairs in the store lately.  Not having the time to create new designs is partially to blame.  But then when I look back at my furniture pictures, I get the urge to continue making them, even if they are the same design.  We will see what happens.

My favorite sofa from 2012

My favorite chair of 2012

7) Doll Food

I got much better with my polymer food creations this year.  There is a chance I will focus more on food than furniture in 2013. 

8) Stories and Videos

I continued the stories and videos this year.  I did many more photostories than videos.  It was a way to introduce a lot of the other dolls that are hanging out here in Morristown.  I thought for a minute I would not do the videos anymore, but receiving too many, "when is the next video coming out?", helped me decide to continue making them.  Now when I shoot the photostories, I do so knowing some of them will turn into videos later.  Now I am able to make the videos more efficiently.  As an example to this, below is the Thanksgiving video I posted over a week ago.  It is comprised of two separate photostories.

9) Personal Life

This year I suffered a great loss when my dog, Teddy, passed away.  He and I were together for 19 years!!!  Amazing that he lived that long.  I always said he was the dog with nine lives.  I miss him terribly.   

A few weeks after Teddy passed, I met the most caring person, man or woman, that I've ever met.  His name is Calvin and we've been dating ever since.  It takes a special person to take on the trials and tribulations of a chronically ill person.  He has done so with open arms and more love and attention than I ever thought was possible.

Me and Calvin at a black and white birthday party in August.

And...I met my newest step granddaughter.  What a sweetheart she is.

10) My Health Update - Last, but not least

For those who don't know, I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma July 2009.  In September of this year, I got word that my cancer treatment was no longer working.  Talk about scary.  My doctor had been trying to get me to move to a new treatment all year.  I was reluctant for many reasons.  I no longer had an option.  I had to change, or else.  I am happy to report the new treatment is working wonderfully.  My numbers are the best they've been since I was diagnosed.  As with every high I've experienced this year, there has been a low.  This new treatment sent me straight into menopause.  And it was really bad!  For me the menopause has been just as bad as the cancer.  I was ready to pull my hair out.  I am now taking herbs to help alleviate my symptoms.  I can go from 98 deg to 150 deg and back down to 30 deg all within 5 minutes.  This can happen consistently for several hours at a time.  Sheer madness, I tell you.  I did take prescription drugs for about a week.  Then I read the potential side effects and stopped immediately.  I also have to take antiviral drugs to prevent shingles.  Another potential side effect of my new treatment.  I hear that shingles is very painful, so I try to remember to take my meds, twice a day.  I can't lie, I'm not the best at taking pills.  Again, I'm happy to be here and happy my new treatment is working.

I did experience one more incredible blow this past Friday.  My dearest friend, Vern, who I've played racquetball with for 11 yrs, just lost his battle with prostate cancer.  It was a hard blow because not only was he an awesome person, he was my cancer buddy for the past three years.  He always called and we would give progress reports and words of encouragement.  He was doing great and playing racquetball up until two months ago.  It's so hard to believe he is gone.  I'm happy he is in a better place and no longer experiencing any pain.

RESOLUTIONS
I'm not one to make resolutions, but there will be a few changes as I move into 2013.  For the past 3 years, I wouldn't make any long term plans.  I've been in limbo, to say the least.  2013 will not be a life of limbo.  I will not spend it "waiting for Godot."  The first step is getting a new dog!  His name is Bruce.  He is 7yrs old and he is currently my youngest stepdaughter's dog.  She wanted to find him a new home and she knows how great I am with dogs.  He lives in the Buffalo area and I hope to go get him within the next two months.

Thanks to each and everyone of you, who followed, and commented on my blog.  I really consider my blogging community, family.  Don't know where I would be if you guys weren't out there.  See you in 2013!

2012 Stats  - These stats are to help me keep up with my progress from year to year.  They won't mean much to you guys.
293 Blog Posts
304 Blog Followers
26 New Videos
1469 Total Subscribers
3.2 million Total video views