My Favorite Sandwich

There’s bread, and then there’s THIS bread. 

This Blythe doll is Cloud 9 Bowl wearing Candy Carnival’s stock dress. The darling sandwich is from Violetpi on Etsy. This picture is for the theme “Bread” in the Blythe a Day group on Flickr.

Birthday!

Katherine is just popping up to say “Happy birthday!” to anyone who was born today!

This Blythe doll is Lovely Katherine’s Corner, posing for the theme “Blythe’s birthday” in the Blythe a Day group on Flickr. The colors are more intense from editing…her hair isn’t really this deep a shade of pink.

The cake she’s popping out of is a coloring page from the books “Rooms of Wonder” by Johanna Basford. I colored it and cut it out just to use in this picture.

Turtle Time

News flash: it’s Turtle Day at the Blytheville Zoo! Come on down, and you can ride the giant tortoise (if Finlee will ever let someone else have a turn.)

This picture is for the theme “My newest doll” in the Blythe a Day group on Flickr. She is Fighting Milk Saranghae. I chose the name Finlee for her because it starts with the same two letters as her stock name, making it easy to remember! 

Are you wondering about the turtle? I love how he looks! Would you believe that he is from a coloring page? He was part of a free page offer by a publisher in a coloring group on Facebook; it’s from a book by Khatiba Press on Etsy. I colored him and cut away the background on the page, so Finlee could sit on his back. The full page is below.

Hansel and Gretel

“If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales.” —Albert Einstein

So, I spoke too soon when said it is hard to use Vera Florentine’s Pinocchio-themed stock outfit in doll pictures. Today it is perfect on Good Neighbor Cafe as she portrays Hansel! I switched the lacy-collared shirt for this simpler one from Simply Mango’s stock outfit, and pulled her hair up under her hat to make her look more like a boy. Cousin Olivia is posing as Gretel in Winterish Allure’s stock outfit. This picture is for the theme “Hansel and Gretel” in the Blythe a Day group on Flickr. 

I just re-read “Hansel and Gretel” and it is quite a horrifying story!

Throwback

Today’s theme, “What did you post on May 27, 2022?” was a chance to remember how much I enjoyed putting together a series of color-themed jigsaw puzzles last year. After they were complete,  I used packing tape on the back of each one, then took a picture of the puzzle with a Blythe doll on it. I posted the yellow one on this date last year, so this week I got the puzzle out again, and took a new picture with it and three of my girls. These Blythe dolls are, left to right, Ice Rune, Playful Raindrops, and Mrs. Retro Mama. Last year’s picture is below this new one, featuring Prima Dolly Marigold.

Rainy Day

Attitude is everything.

These three Blythe dolls are Playful Raindrops, UFO A Go Go, and Vera Florentine, posing on a chalkboard flat lay for the theme “Rainy Day” in the Blythe a Day group on Flickr.

Flower Power

 Bloom. Grow. Blossom.

This Blythe doll is Float Away Dream. Doesn’t she look amazing wearing Junie Moonie Cutie’s stock dress? This picture is for the theme Flower Power in the Blythe a Day group on Flickr.

Go For a Ride

“If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there.” —Lewis Carroll

This Blythe doll is Fighting Milk Saranghae, wearing her stock outfit. This picture is for the theme “Go for a ride” in the Blythe a Day group on Flickr, and the Blythe Pure and Simple group on Facebook.

Picnic Basket

"There are few things so pleasant as a picnic eaten in perfect comfort." ~ W. Somerset Maugham

This Blythe doll is Fighting Milk wearing her stock dress, for the theme “A basket full of…” The background is a coloring page.

There’s Always Time For a Photo

When you’re running late, but there’s a cat.

This pretty Blythe doll is Blue Rabbit, posing for the theme “Window” in the Blythe a Day group on Flickr. The background is a coloring page. I have several coloring books and posters that I bought a couple of years ago, looking for an activity to do with my mother (who had dementia.) I recently realized that some of the images could work in doll pictures, so I’ve started coloring them with colored pencils. It’s harder than I expected it to be, to make them look nice! It actually takes a lot of time and effort, and so far my results are okay but could be better. Out of curiosity, I joined a couple of Facebook coloring groups, and some of the people there make a coloring page look like fine art.

Siamese Cats

I’ve always loved cats, especially Siamese cats. For today’s theme, “Something from your childhood,” I tried to get my big silly cat Tofu to pose with Vera Florentine, who is holding a picture of me, age 10, dressed for Halloween (I was a gypsy) with my Siamese cat Kitty. Can you even see Kitty? She is the brownish blob at my feet. It’s the only picture of the two of us that I could dig up on short notice, but it is evidence of my early love of cats.

Travel

Sea Sailor See, wearing her stock outfit, is all ready for her Japanese adventure. There’s only one thing she wants to know: “Where is the train station, please?”

When I was young and single, I decided that I wanted to go to Japan someday, so I bought a Japanese language tape. This was the only phrase I memorized before abandoning the project. Surprisingly, years later when I was married and had small children, my Army husband got stationed in Japan, so I didn’t just visit Japan, I lived there for three years! But I never once used this phrase.

This picture is for the theme “travel” in the Blythe a Day group on Flickr.

Least Favorite Outfit

This Blythe doll is Pretty Peony wearing Vera Florentine’s stock outfit for the theme “Blythe’s least favorite outfit” in the Blythe a Day group on Flickr, and “Weird outfit “ in the Blythe Pure and Simple group on Facebook. I actually think this outfit is cute, but there just aren’t that many doll pictures that require a Pinocchio look, so it doesn’t get much use. Most of the pieces are fine as mix-and-match separates, but the culottes! They are just weird!

Balance

“A well-developed sense of humor is the pole that adds balance to your steps as you walk the tightrope of life.” —William Arthur Ward

This Blythe doll is Prima Dolly Violet. This ballet skirt and balance pole were part of a swap I received years ago. This picture is for the theme “A toy, a table, a shoe, and a fruit” in the Blythe a Day group on Flickr.

Reflection

Keep moving forward!

This Blythe doll is Quintessential Journey, posing for the theme “Reflection” in the Blythe a Day group on Flickr. The mirror is actually a piece of art drawn by my artist daughter, which she turned into stickers. I trimmed the bottom of it to make it look like a hand mirror.

Favorite Book

When your cat is sleeping on your favorite book—which you were planning to read—there’s only one thing to do: watch TV.

This Blythe doll is Simply Thumpty Thump, posing for the theme “Favorite book” in the Blythe a Day group on Flickr.

Home

After a long day at school, it’s good to come home.

This Blythe doll is Petit Dejeuner, posing for the theme “There’s no place like home” in the Blythe a Day group on Flickr. The background is a coloring poster. I’ve been wanting to work on this poster for a while and I finally took a break from jigsaw puzzles to give it a go. It was really fun! Of course, I chose this particular poster because I thought it would work as a background for Blythe pictures. I used colored pencils, and it took about 8 hours to finish. 

Happy Mother’s Day 2023

 "Such a mysterious business, motherhood. How brave a woman must be to embark on it." ― M.L. Stedman, "The Light Between Oceans"

This sweet Blythe doll is Lady Panacea.

Red Riding Hood

“Fear makes the wolf bigger than he is.” —German Proverb

This pretty Blythe doll is Lady Camellia, wearing an assortment of stock outfit pieces from different dolls. The background is a poster. This picture is for the theme “Little Red Riding Hood”  in the Blythe a Day group on Flickr.

Banana

When “climbing a tree and acting like a banana” didn’t work, she decided to try to catch a monkey the old-fashioned way.

This is my newest Blythe doll, Fighting Milk Saranghae. I love her! Her lips are amazing, and it’s great that she comes with two cute outfits. This picture is for the theme “Banana” in the Blythe a Day group on Flickr, and for “Blythe and Food” in the Blythe Pure and Simple group on Facebook.

Hidden

“I have hidden your word in my heart” Psalm 119:11

Mondrian was on her way to church, and she looked so angelic that a passing photographer stopped and asked to take her picture. She’s wearing a vintage dress from Quick Curl Francie. This picture is for the theme “Hidden” in the Blythe a Day group on Flickr. 

Trash Day

Taking out the trash: it’s a stinky chore, but someone has to do it.

This cute Blythe doll is Simply Thumpty Thump, wearing Fighting Milk’s stock outfit. I de-boxed my Fighting Milk and washed her hair. While waiting for it to dry, I couldn’t resist using her clothes for this picture. Whenever I put a new outfit on an old doll, she seems new again. I love these colors on Jubilee. This picture is for the theme “It stinks!” in the Blythe a Day group on Flickr.

Bread

“If thou tastes a crust of bread, thou tastes all the stars and all the heavens. 

—Robert Browning

(And it smells amazing, too!)

This Blythe doll is Quintessential Journey, posing for the theme “It smells wonderful “ in the Blythe a Day group on Flickr, and “Blythe and food” in the Blythe Pure and Simple group on Facebook. The bread, board, knife, and bread box are a play set from Maileg.

Puzzle

“I’m sorry I took so long to get here.”

“That’s okay. You know what they say here at the coffee shop: better latte than never!”

These pretty brunettes are Blue Rabbit (left) and Raspberry Sorbet (right). I put them together in this picture to compare them. Raspberry Sorbet’s makeup is so subtle compared to Blue Rabbit! The background is a jigsaw puzzle. This picture is for the theme “Puzzle” in the Blythe a Day group on Flickr.

Sleeping Beauty

“They say if you dream a thing more than once, it’s sure to come true.” —Aurora, Sleeping Beauty 

This Blythe doll is Spright Beauty wearing Leading Lady Lucy’s stock nightie. This picture is for the theme “Sleeping Beauty “ in the Blythe a Day group on Flickr.

Dog

“Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.” —Rodger A. Caras

This Blythe doll is, fittingly, Bow Wow Trad. She’s wearing a pretty Liberty of London print dress from WoollyRockers on Etsy. This picture is for the theme “Dog” in the Blythe a Day group on Flickr.

Cat

“Who would believe such pleasure from a wee ball o’ fur?” —Irish Proverb

This Blythe doll is one of my favorites, Spring Hope. She’s wearing a very sweet dress we just got from Gingermelon on Etsy.

Off To Work

“Goodbye! Don’t forget to whistle while you work!” Snow White always has encouraging words for the Seven Petites.

Daunting Drusilla makes a beautiful Snow White. This picture is for the theme “Snow White and the Seven Petites” in the Blythe a Day group on Flickr. The second and seventh Petites are Takara; the others are Littlest Pet Shop.

Live Entertainment

Come to Dolly’s Diner tonight for live entertainment with your dinner. We hope you like “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” because that’s the only song she knows!

This Petite is a Littlest Pet Shop Blythe called Fabulously Vintage. The Neos in the background are Prima Dolly Cassis and Devi Delacour. This picture is for the theme “Over” in the Blythe a Day group on Flickr, and “Rainbow” in the Blythe Pure and Simple group on Facebook.

It’s a Mystery

Life is full of mysteries. What happened to the macarons for the tea party is one of them.

This Neo Blythe doll is Pow Wow Poncho. She’s my go-to girl when I need someone to look downwards. This picture is for the theme “Under” in the Blythe a Day group on Flickr. I had hoped that the Middies would actually fit UNDER the table…they didn’t, but it was too late to come up with a new plan. They are Yellow Marshmallow, Nellie Nibbles, and Francoise Ananassa. The macarons, cake stand, and tea set are from a company that I just discovered: Maileg. They have the sweetest little toys!

May Day

April showers bring May flowers. Happy May Day!

This Blythe doll is Tsumori Spirit, posing for the theme May Day in the Blythe a Day group on Flickr, and “Rainbow” in the Blythe Pure and Simple group on Facebook.