Dasia is Here!

My Big Beautiful Doll, Dasia, arrived yesterday.  A few of you also own this beautiful doll.  Thanks to a recent post from Debbie, I contacted Georgette Taylor (georgettet@hotmail.com), one of the creators, and she still had one to sell. She arrived naked, so I quickly made her a simple dress so I could show her today.  When I get a chance, I will make her a few key fashion pieces.  I am going to refer you to Debbie's blog if you would like more information on this lady.  Here is a link to all the Dasia posts on her blog. (http://blackdollcollecting.blogspot.com/search?q=dasia)

She made a stop by Roberta's on Sunday evening after a long day at church.

Seems Roberta is quite the popular lady.

Roberta Gets a Visitor

Roberta is settling in nicely.  As the days go by, she loves her new home even more.  It's Sunday, so she decided to do some cooking today.  One of her friends, Roselinda, has stopped over to say hello.

"Are you sure I can't get you something cold to drink?  Danielle and I just went grocery shopping yesterday, so I have a little bit of everything."  (Roberta)

"No thanks.  I just had a big cup of coffee before I came over."  (Roselinda)

"I just need to grab some eggs."  (Roberta)

"So are you having people over for dinner?  (Roselinda)

"Hadn't planned on it, but I love cooking on Sundays.  That way I am set for the rest of the week.  I can get out and enjoy my days, doing something fun."  (Roberta)

"But now that I'm living near Ian, I may have to make extra.  My baby boy just loves his momma's cooking."  (Roberta)

"How is Ian doing?  I see him around town occasionally, but he always seems to be in a hurry."  (Roselinda)

"He faithfully called me once a week, when I was in Florida.  School is keeping him busy."  (Roberta)

"Is he still dating that cute little girl....oh what's her name?"  (Roselinda)

"If you mean Raven, the answer is no.  She was such a sweet thing, but you know how frisky young boys can be, and my son is no exception.  Wouldn't know a good thing if it hopped up and smacked him in the face."  (Roberta)

"Smells like my biscuits may be done."  (Roberta)

"What you got cooking on the stove?"  (Roselinda)

"That's a pot of homemade vegetable soup."  (Roberta)

"You have been  busy."  (Roselinda)

"Yes.  These are done."  (Roberta)

"They smell wonderful.  I don't remember the last time I baked bread."  (Roselinda) 

"We'll have to take a minute and enjoy a few while they're hot.  Would you like some jam?"  (Roberta)

"No, just a little butter will do the trick for me."  (Roselinda)

Roberta plates up five of the hot biscuits, grabs the jam and butter from the fridge and she and Roselinda take a moment to enjoy.

   

Afterwards, Roberta gets back to the baking.  Here she is about to blind bake her pie crusts for the cherry pies. 

The pies turn out perfectly.

 At the moment my Etsy store is in vacation mode as I make new stuff to list.  I'm still working on the kid clothes.  I've started making shirts and skirts.   Initial design and pattern making always take longer than expected.  Fingers crossed I can get it all done quicker than I think.

In case you are wondering, that yellow stove came with the KidKraft house.  I like that it's old fashioned, so I decided to keep it.  I will probably make a few changes to some of the walls to make it make more sense in the kitchen.

I am still organizing both the craft room and the doll room.  This is a picture of my executive desk headed to the Goodwill.  It took my car and borrowing my mom's minivan to make it happen.  I loved that desk and hated to see it go, but it was just too big for the space.  Out with the old, in with the new!!!!!!!!!!

PLL and Their Dolls

 PLL stands for Pretty Little Liars, which is a primetime show here in the States.  It is based on a series of books by Sara Shepard.  There are 4 - 5 main female characters, who are being blackmailed and sometimes tortured by an anonymous person named A, who can somehow see everything that is going on with the girls.  Turns out A is not just one person, but a team of people who tend to change over time.  They are just wrapping up their 5th season, but I just started watching about a month ago on Netflix.  I am currently on season 4.  From the very beginning dolls were a central theme throughout.  The LIV dolls were the first dolls shown that A uses to represent the 4 -5 girls he/she is torturing.  So far I have seen antique dolls, bobble heads, and 18 inch fashion dolls I don't recognize.  Normally I don't watch shows where dolls are used in a creepy manner, but surprisingly I love this show.  It is well written and keeps you guessing.  Are there any fans out there?

LIV dolls

A doll hospital

Bobble heads.

18 in dolls to represent each girl.  Anyone know which dolls these are?

Tons of antique dolls used throughout.

Doll in a casket.

No Barbie dolls have shown up, yet.  It will be interesting to see if they ever do.

Roberta's Interior Plans (Photostory)

 Roberta arrived in town yesterday and a lot has happened since then.  She and Danielle went straight to Chang Realty to close on the new house and to get possession of the keys.  They left there and went straight to the house where the movers were waiting.

It's the following day and Danielle, Rod, and the boys are over visiting.

"So how did you sleep, Mom?"  (Danielle)

"Like a baby.  I was finally able to release all the stress of closing on the house and moving."  (Roberta)

"So Grandma, you live here now?"  (Julian)

"Yes.  We talked about that yesterday.  Remember?"  (Roberta)

"So Mom, what were you saying about the furniture?"  (Danielle)

"I was saying how much I wanted to buy all new furniture and have it delivered when the house closed, but Sunni made me promise I wouldn't buy anything new until after the closing."  (Roberta)

"That's because the bank underwriters are evaluating your loan right up until the closing."  (Rod)

"Well I'm thinking of having these pieces reupholstered.  I wanted to make sure they fit in the space first."  (Roberta)

"Where do you think you're going?"  (Rod)

"I have a sample of the fabric upstairs." (Roberta)

"You want me to go get it?"  (Danielle)

"This will give me more time to admire my new home."  (Roberta)

Julian follows his grandma upstairs.

"Grandma, what's out here?"  (Julian)

"That's my little courtyard."  (Roberta)

"Courtyard?  What's that?"  (Julian)

Back downstairs Rod tries to wrangle Jacob as he chats with Danielle.

"Honey, I am so excited to have my mom living in the same town.  It will be so nice for Jacob, Julian, and Nicole to spend more time with her."  (Danielle) 

"I'm just as happy as you are.  Now maybe we can revisit the idea of expanding our family."  (Rod)

"You're not wasting any time, are you?"  (Danielle)

"It will be three years in a couple months and there's nothing I'd like more than to have a baby with you."  (Rod) 

Back upstairs, Roberta and Julian are chillin' in the courtyard.

"Sweetie, Grandma is so excited about being able to see you as often as she likes."  (Roberta)

"What happened to your other house?"  (Julian)

"Oh, Grandma sold it.  I only need one house.  (pause)  Come on.  We better get back downstairs, before they come looking for us."  (Roberta)

"Ahem."  (Roberta clearing her throat)

"I think we have an audience."  (Danielle)

"Sorry, Mom."  (Danielle)

"Oh you never have to apologize for being in love.  I'm happy to see that you guys still enjoy each other.  Here's the material I was talking about."  (Roberta)

"It's very pretty and very blue."  (Danielle)

"Are you thinking about this for the chair and the sofa?"  (Roberta)

"I'm not sure.  I may have to get some help.   Now that I've closed, I could just go out and buy something new."  (Roberta) 

"Reupholstering furniture is kind of expensive."  (Danielle)

"Oh no you don't."  (Rod to Jacob)

"Jacob is keeping you busy, Rod.  I will have to get a baby gate so Jacob can just roam.  Come here, Jacob."  (Roberta)

"Go see your grandma."  (Rod)

"Speaking of babies......"  (Roberta)

Danielle quickly looks at Rod.  She's wondering if her mother heard what they were talking about while she was upstairs.

"Now that's a good boy.  Grandma has missed you."  (Roberta)

"So where were we?  Oh yes, babies.  When are you guys planning to give me more grandkids?  I'm not getting any younger."  (Roberta)

"Mom, you've been in town a day and a half and already you are causing trouble."  (Danielle)

The House

I decided to remove the stairs to give Roberta more space.  Those stairs will come in handy in some other house.

Shoes, a New Bike, and a Story

I desperately needed to redo my doll shoe collection.  They used to be sorted by color until I dropped the container a few months ago.  I never got around to resorting them.  The shoe collection has really outgrown this container, so this weekend I was looking for another system.  I found what I needed at Aldi's food store.  Aldi's has a section of household goods and I found the perfect containers.

BEFORE

AFTER

Using interlocking containers.

There is one strictly for sneakers and one for boots.   

I bought this bike from the thrift store a couple months ago.  I totally forgot about it, and ran across it in the trunk of my car today.  It was $2.50.

And yesterday I found the perfect BMX bike for Julian at the Dollar Store.

Here is the package.   If you look closely, there is the cutest little screwdriver in the package.

I wonder if Julian will be working on his bike.

Rod is outside with the kids.  Danielle is off to the airport picking up her mother.  Julian is trying to show off his biking skills to Ciana, who is visiting from next door.

"See, no hands!"  (Julian)

Ciana sits in awe.  

**CRASH**

"Ut oh!"  (Jacob)

"You okay, Julian?"  (Ciana)

"Are you okay?"  (Rod)

"Yea, I'm okay."  (Julian)

"Where's your helmet?"  (Rod)

"I can't find it."  (Julian)

"Well maybe you should stop being Mr. Daredevil.  Remind me to buy you a new helmet."  (Rod)

"Okay."  (Julian)

Julian gets up and picks up is bike.

"You want my helmet?"  (Ciana)

"Your helmet is too small and it's pink!"  (Julian)

"What's wrong with pink?"  (Ciana)

"Pink is for girls."  (Julian)

Back on his bike, Julian starts hatching a new plan.

"Dad, can you take us to the park?  There's not enough room to ride here."  (Julian)

"Leaving the area means you would need a helmet.  Besides, your mom will be here soon, and she has a surprise for you guys."  (Rod)

"A surprise?!  What is it?"  (Julian)

"You will have to wait and see."  (Rod)

The last thing I wanted to share with you are my new trees.  I picked these up from Ikea.  Don't they look real?  They aren't.   They had several different kinds.  I think they were $5 each.