Lilith - A Portrait

Dear Jill,

Today I recieved a fab gift - Meester X on Flickr has painted an amazing picture of Lilith on his ipad!


Yay! It's so great! I love it - especially the shading on her face - it makes her look like the real Lilith! Thank you so much Meester X, it's a lovely gift, and one I'll always remember *hugs*

Check out Meester X's other photos, including some adorable customs, on his Flickr Photostream here!

Sarah
-x-

PS - Keep your eye out for more amazing art - I hear there is another doll based painting on the way! :P

Tutorial: Big Blythe Backdrop

Dear Jill,

Recently I have been finding it hard to find interesting and different places to photography my Blythes. I seem to have used every place in my house, so started wondering about backdrops.

I have seen backdrops for sale on Ebay, but they are quite pricy. But you know me - if I can find a way to make something, I will! So last week I bought myself some cardboard and decorative paper and got to work...

To make an A2 sized backdrop, you will need:

. 4x A4 sized scrapbooking card/decorative paper with a repeating pattern

. A2 sized piece of sturdy card stock (I used 2 pieces of A3, stuck together)

. Craft Glue

. Wide, Clear Cellotape

. Scissors

. Ruler

. Glue Spreader (optional, but it helps)

1. Lay your 2 pieces of A3 sturdy card stock on a large flat surface, line them up and cellotap together. I cellotaped both the front and the back of the card, to make it extra sturdy

2. Lay your 4 pieces of scrapbooking card/decorative paper out on top of your A2 piece of card. Line up each piece, starting with one of the corners, so that the 4 make a continuous piece. You don't want to be able to see any lines or pattern change if you can help it. This is why you need paper/card that has a repeating pattern. Work out in what order you're going to glue the card/paper down i.e. which bits are overlapping where. On this backdrop you can see a slight pattern change, but if it's only minimal you're not really going to notice too much :)

3. Place a small amount of glue on the back of the card - not too much, especially if you're using paper, as the glue can seep through and make the paper wobbly

4. Glue each piece of card down firmly. Any glue that seeps from the side should be carefully wiped off with a tissue.


5. Take your wide cellotape, and tape right along the outer edges of the backdrop. Try to do this in 4 continuous lengths to prevent joins being seen. Also tape quite close to the boarder, to minimise the amount of tape you are going to be able to see when photographing.

6. Lay on a flat surface, preferably with something heavy on top of it, and leave to dry.

7. Admire your work! An A2 size backdrop can be used both vertically and horizontally for Blythe, depending on what sort of angle you are shooting.

And that's how I make my backdrops! I've made quite a few of these in different patterns, and I find them really effective. Alternatively - you could use wrapping paper instead of scrapbooking card or decorative paper to cover the A2 card stock, it works just as well. I have also used 4 pieces of 12 x 12 scrapbooking stock, and just trimmed them down :)

Also, for photographing smaller objects, like Domos, you only need 1 piece of A4 card/paper, so it's even easier :)

Have fun!

Sarah
-x-

Christmas Girls

Dear Jill,

How is the customising going? Your Barbie looks creepy with no eyes! I hope all is going well :)

And how was your Christmas? Hope you got loads of lovely Blythe goodies! I was very luck to have 2 new girls arrive over the holidays!


I finally got my hands on my Nicky Lad! She was a present from my Mum and Dad, and I called her Sam. I went with a name that could be either a girls or a boys - she is a tomboy after all :)


Secondly I got myself a Jecci Five doll! I know, she's not Blythe, but I couldn't resist. She's really lovely - really good quality and a similar shape and size to my Blythe, so they can lend her some clothes! I named her Amber, on account of her beautiful hair colour :)

I hear you have a new arrival of your own - can't wait to see her!

Sarah
-x-

Blythe 12 for 2012

Dear Jill,

I love your 12 for 2012! It took me a while, but I finally managed to get round to doing one of my own, too. Enjoy! :)




1. Blythe Boots! My girls don't have many shoes, and Blythe boots are so cute! They're a must this year!

2. Blythe Crown Like you, my girls are demanding their own crowns *rolls eyes* The search continues...

3. Make More For Blythe This includes sewing as well as crocheting. I would also like to knit some things too, but I will have to practice alot before I can get good enough to knit Blythe clothes.

4. Take One Of My Girls To New York! I am going to New York in May, and plan on taking one of my girls. But which one?!! I am also hoping there will be an EssHippo meet!

5. BlytheCon 2012, Manchester Again, hopefully this will be an EssHippo meet too!

6. More Blythe Photoshoots I really want to start taking more pictures of my girls. I'd also like to start taking them outside.

7. Make Some Blythe Sized Furniture My Grandad would have loved making me some mini furniture for my dolls, but now it is up to me. I'd really like to make some sofas and a bed! And get some wardrobes. And a table. And.......

8. Hold Back On The Spending At the start of 2011 I had zero girls. Now I have 14. I really need to cut back!

9. Rement! Or similar miniature things! It would be nice to use them for Domos too :)

10. A Clown Girl I know, I know, clowns are creepy. But I wouldn't mind customising a Basaak or CCE into a clown. I already have plans...

11. Open The EssHippo Etsy Shop!! Coming soon!!

12. Keep Up With The EssHippo Blog I would like to blog more, and possibly start some new features, like having one of my girls write penpal letters to one of Jills girls! How cute!

I don't know how many of these I will get done, but I hope atleast some will be fulfilled this year!

Sarah
-x-

Blythe 12 for 2012 Wish List

Dear Sarah,

Here it is, my 12 for 2012 wish list! 

1. my doll body, 2. We FINALLY have a bookshelf! I think Zooey approves., 3. Project 365 - 338/365, 4. You are Invited!!, 5. Chicken Little, 6. Princess Lili, 7. Safari Floral Tights for Blythe Dolls BT0604, 8. Blythe Photo Challenge #21 - Festive Wonderland, 9. Google Images 10. Travelling Domo's farewell party 1/4 (323/365 Toy Project), 11. The Girls at Willowee 115/365 Bl♥ved, 12. A new little pink sweetie arrived in the mail from Seraphina!

1. A Licca or Pure Neemo body for Zooey: I really want her to be able to do more, especially since I've been able to see what Lola can do with her bendy Licca-body-self. I plan to keep Adalind stock, and she and Coral come with nail polish and it's too cute to just get ride of those bodies.

2. A shelf: Already complete! I got rid of a dresser and put a mini bookcase in my room. It's so nice to have a bookcase, so now my Blythes have the top shelf, the Domos the first shelf (they have yet to move in) and the second and bottom are for books. Clothes are in the closet now, not books.

3. Doc Martens in every color!


4. A BlytheCon UK 2012 ticket: *crosses fingers* EssHippo together!


5. Miniature amigurumi: This is one of the many that are basically aimed at getting myself motivated to make my Blythes more things. I really want to knit them some mini chickens, like those pictured from Mochimochi Land, and other mini animals.

6. One of those plastic crowns I see all around Flickr and don't know where they came from: I'm determined to figure this out. I did find they come from Petite Princesse Placard, but am not sure who/what that is. We must conduct more research, Watson.


7. This was going to be clear fishnets to protect their legs from stains, but as I was browsing for a picture for the mosaic I came across some insane floral tights, so it's been switched. Floral tights will always outrank clear fishnets.

8. Holiday clothes! My girls do have Christmas dresses...they're just in pieces in a box in my sewing room. I was hoping I'd get them done, but I still have Christmas presents for people I haven't finished. So I'll be starting this year making those, so at least for next Christmas they'll have nice dresses.

9. Hogwarts sweaters, hats, and scarves: Because every Hogwarts student needs proper school spirited apparel in order to properly represent their House.

10. Miniatures! These are going to have to be cheap miniatures, so probably no Rement unless I stumble upon a deal for cheap on eBay. I love mini things, and since I have so many Domos, would love some miniature things that both Domos and Blythe can share and use for photographs/mayhem.

11. Outerwear/weather appropriate clothing: So far everyone has one cold weather item, but only Coral has one knit by me! It's weird for them to go outside in the cold and snow (soon hopefully!) with bare arms and legs. Sure, they're plastic, and don't have nerves or anything, but it'll make for weird photographs of dolls out frolicking in the snow in little sundresses and ice skates. Makes me cold just thinking about it.

12. A makeover for Pippa: Poor Pippa, my little LPS. She's not even listed as being one of the Girls of EssHippo. She just really doesn't have any spark, no oomf. I think she needs a quick makeup and a yarn or crazy acrylic reroot to give her something extra. I do like her bittyness.

I would usually think that this would be impossible to complete, but it's only the second day of the year and I've already got one finished! I can't wait to see your list.

♥ Jillie

P.S. I've got some new family members, and I hear you do, too! Updates from both houses soon!