BlytheCon UK 2012

Dear Jill,

I am loving the new girls, especially Ayanami Rei Meets Blythe! I think she’s gonna be a must for my collection! And I loled at the article - ‘Too scary for children’ XD

Please forgive me for being so behind with blog related stuff! My mind has been elsewhere these past few weeks. But better late than never, here is the BlytheCon UK 2012 post!

We were lucky enough to be staying at the venue, which was the lovely Double Tree by Hilton…

We started our day early - we had breakfast nearby and made our way back to the hotel for 10am, where we found the event was being held on the 1st floor. It was decked out with the BCUK colour themed balloons

My Mum and I were 4th in the queue! Upon registration we received our goodie bags and made our way to the raffle prize table - there were so many great prizes there!

 

Here are the EssHippo items we contributed…

First things first - the stalls! There were some great stalls this year, here are just a handful of them:

 

Whilst walking round I bumped into Princess MuffinCheeks (Lauren), her boyfriend Jamie and her friends! It was so nice to meet them at last after talking on Flickr! Lauren was kind enough to bring us gifts - bunny hair clips and a cute handmade dress, seen here modelled by Zoe!

Thank you Lauren!

I also bumped into mydollies4 and the charming April Dori! Both ladies were so nice and friendly, and I feel honoured to have got to hold April Dori!

At about 11:30am we were told the Customisation Workshop was going to be happening across the hall, so I made my way there. The workshop was hosted by the fab Fifilatrixabel

We learnt a lot of handy information about customising, including tips on carving, lip painting and eyemech removal. I also picked up some tips about which craving tools are suitable to use, which was great!

After the workshop I made my way to the competition room and handed in my entry for the Party Dress Comp…

I also used this opportunity to vote in this and the photo comp, and made my way back to the vendors room.

On the way out I bumped into the lovely Amy Carney and Jodie from Flickr! They were so nice and friendly - I love their girls and I think Amy was taken with Evelyn :P I received a fab headband from Amy too - modelled here by Evelyn!

Thank you Amy!

I had a look round the vendors room again and picked up some more goodies, and got some more pics…

By this time it was about 1pm, and I was hungry so I made my way back up to my room for a snack. By doing this I missed the Kenner Restoration workshop, which I’m angry at myself about as I really wanted to see it : (

I made my way back to the event about 30mins later, and mingled abit. I talked to BaD_JuJu and BaconLovesBlythe - both lovely ladies!

I thought I’d have a final look round the vendors room, and I’m glad I did! Over on Pipparrots table amongst the beautiful scalps were some of Fifilatrixabels amazing customs - including a sweet little demon girl. She caught my eye as she was so different and I loved her hair! I talked to Fiflatrixabel and found the demon girl was for sale, and at a very reasonable price too. I was so excited! I was about to buy her when we got the call for the Kenner Line Up in the photo room, so I dashed off to that, got my pic of all the lovely Kenners (including Evelyn!)…

… and made my way back to get my demon girl. Luckily she was still there, so I handed over my money and she was mine! Here she is, back in the hotel room…

I later found out that Jodie, who I had met earlier was also after her. I felt kind of bad for Jodie as she had seen her first, but she assured me she was ok with me getting her, so that was a relief : )

I met back up with Lauren and we made our way down to the All Blythe Line Up, which was taking place in the foyer. It was so busy that unfortunately I didn’t get a picture of all the girls :(

As we were goingy back to the event we found a vacant trolley and took advantage of a good photo opportunity!

I love Laurens girls - they are so much fun! Mini Lauren has a really unique personality and Panda is so cute! We went back upstairs to view the video messages.

It was getting towards the end of the messages and we decided to go and get a good spot for the raffle draw. 

We stood patiently, but unfortunately neither of us won anything. I did see the EssHippo items be won though - I hope their new owners are happy with them! And big congrats to everyone that did win - everybody looked so happy to receive a prize!

As the raffle was ending we bumped into IssabellaTheCat who I have talked to on Flickr - she was so nice! I think she won something at the raffle which is fab!

That was effectively the end of the convention, so Lauren and her friends went to get ready for the after party and I went and picked up our cakes - I hope you don’t mind, Jill, but I let my Dad have your cake as it would have been difficult to send to you! He said it was very nice, Thank you!

So that was it - BlytheCon over for another year. It was such a great day and I met so many nice people there. I think I talked to everyone I had hoped to, which is great. Blythe people are so nice and welcoming - although I was there on my own I felt at home amongst everyone, which was really nice.

I would just like to say a massive Thank You to all the organisers, vendors, workshop hosts and basically everyone who made BlytheCon a success. It was my first BlytheCon and hopefully it won’t be my last!

I look forward to Glasgow next year - I’m even thinking we can have an EssHippo table!

BlytheCon UK 2012

Dear Jill,

I love the painting of Zooey by Meester X!. She looks so pretty! It was so nice of Meester X to paint them for us!

I have some fab news - EssHippo will be going to BlytheCon UK this year!


BlytheCon UK 2012 (BCUK 2012) will be held on Saturday 6th October 2012, in Manchester, at the Double Tree Hotel. It's a special year this year, as Blythe is celebrating her 40th Birthday! Because of this there is going to be a fab after party, which we also got tickets for. Weeeee!

It's going to be so great - I hear there will be vendors selling all manner of Blythe items, and workshops being held throughout the day on things like customising. And best of all - we get to have an EssHippo reunion and meet aload of our Blythe friends! Yay!

There is a ton of info on the Official BCUK 2012 website, where you can also buy tickets to the event. Soon there will be a schedule and vendors info up too. You can also find out more about BCUK 2012 at these sites:

Flickr

Facebook

Twitter

Sarah
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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
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Elise & Evelyn

Dear Jill,

Wow, so many links! Fab! The boil perm tute is especially handy - I might try that on one of my girls!

Talking of, last week I was very lucky to greet 2 new girls to my Blythe family. First, there is my Birdie Blue, Elise, seen here being met by Umi, Lilith and Zoe...


I originally didn't go much on BB - the yellow blush is kind of creepy. But she grew on me, until I couldn't say no anymore! Here she is after her Spa day...


Secondly, I bid on and won a Kenner Blythe! Yay! Here she is in her original condition...


She was in great condition really - all I had to do was detangle and even out the hair, fix the pull string and give her a good bath. Here are a few of her spa day pics...






I originally bathed her and washed her hair in Johnsons Baby Shampoo, then applied human conditioner to her hair. I set it in rollers...


... then wahsed her hair a second time. This time, after the johnsons Baby Shampoo, I applied Comfort (Fabric Softener). I only put it on the ends of her hair, as the roots were fine. I set in rollers again, let it dry over night, and this was the result!


Very glam! Her hair stayed like that for a total of 24 hours before going flat lol I decided to call her Evelyn :)

I am very happy with my new girls!

Sarah
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Blybe Vs CCE

Dear Jill,

Wow, looks like you and Lola had a great time! I'm so glad she's fitting in well! And I like Zooeys dress actually - very pretty colour combo!

Blybes and CCE's. Yep, they do seem to be the most Blythe like of the clones. Here is a comparion picture...


I found there to be a slightly wider nose bridge on the CCE than the Blybe. You can also see a slight difference in the eye shape - the CCE's are more oval. When I took the face apart I found the inner edge of the eye (where your tear ducts are) to be almost pointed.

The CCE also has extra plastic around the mouth - if you look closely you can see the mouth is actually shaped into a smile. I had to sand this away when I customised Lilith, as I didn't want her to be smiling.

The body's are totally different...


NSFW!! XD

The Blybe body is very much like Takara. Blythe clothes and shoes fit perfectly, but there is a stark colour difference. The Blybe is much more pink.

The CCE body is a tiny bit shorted than Takara, but as you can see it is very thin. Blythe clothes fit, but are very baggy. If you were customising a CCE and wanted her to wear Blythe clothes, I would change the body to a Licca Chan or Azone. Plus if you notice the top of the neck - it is completely different to Blybe and Blythe, which are pretty similar. For a Takara/Blybe/Azone/Licca body to fit a CCE head you need to make adjustments (tutorial to follow!)

Other notes:

. Blybe eyechips are a right pain to remove. You will need a Dremmel. And patience.

. Don't bank on Coolcat and Brainworm chips fitting Blybe/CCE. On all occasions I have had to make the eyechip wells bigger with the help of a dremmel.

. The face colour are both very similar, but both are more pink than Takara.

. My CCE's scalp was floppy. It is made of very thin plastic. It's easier to reroot than Blybe, but you will be left with a spongy head.

. There is a big margin from where the bottom of the scalp starts and the hair begins on the Blybe. I got over this by adding an extra row of plugs. You will also need to stick the Blybe scalp and dome down when you're finished - it lifts off very easily.

. Both eye mechs are the same, though the inside of the CCE's head has some extra bits of plastic where the screws hold the plates together. This doesn't get in the way of any customising though :)

In conclusion, I would say that the Blybe is more like a Takara. I have never customised a Blythe, so I am basing this mainly on what the dolls look like. But the difference is minimal, apart from the body, obviously :S

I hope this has helped!

Sarah
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A New Girl

Dear Jill,

I totally agree - they are very cute indeed! Have you found anywhere that sells them? I found a couple on Ebay.com but they were so expensive :(

I have great news! I have ordered a new Blythe! My Mum and Dad knew I was after a new girl, so they said they would get me one for my birthday! It was between Punkaholic People or Nicky Lad, and I chose...

Nicky Lad!

I've wanted a Nicky Lad for a long time - it was between her and Zoe (STT) back in April, but the one thing I wasn't keen on with Nicky Lad is the yellow eyeshadow. But now I have dabbled in a few customs I know I can easily change that :)

On top of that, I also got an Azone 1/6 Pure Neemo Flection S Natural Body and the Azone 1/6 Pure Neemo Advance Option Hands Set B - both from Mimi Collection on Ebay!




I have big plans for this girl, but the sad thing is I have to wait until my birthday in December to get my hands on her. It will be worth the wait though, I'm sure!

Sarah
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