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Outfits for Jo and Carol — inspired by 1970s paper dolls

Outfits for Jo and Carol — inspired by 1970s paper dolls published on No Comments on Outfits for Jo and Carol — inspired by 1970s paper dolls

I’m making 1:6 scale versions of two of my favorite Doctor Who characters, Jo Grant and Carol Bell. In my universe, they’re a couple who end up flying around time and space, notable for embodying the groovy spirit of the Seventies, whatever that is. They play to people’s expectations by rotating through endless closets of flamboyant period clothes. This is all hilarious because neither of them are fashionable…or they weren’t when they lived in the 1970s. But now they’re totally groovy!!

I went through the paper dolls that I saw at the last VTDL meetup and selected outfits that I thought would work for Jo and Carol.

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Paper dolls from VTDL — the glory of the Seventies!!

Paper dolls from VTDL — the glory of the Seventies!! published on No Comments on Paper dolls from VTDL — the glory of the Seventies!!

Mary brought hundreds of pages of paper dolls to the VTDL meetup earlier this month, but I just processed the pictures tonight. All of them capture the bright colors and enthusiasm for prints characteristic of 1971. And they were all so playful and exuberant that I couldn’t select a few favorites. All the [crappy] photos are below the cut. Continue reading Paper dolls from VTDL — the glory of the Seventies!!

Today’s 1:6 scale work: new hands and Tarot deco

Today’s 1:6 scale work: new hands and Tarot deco published on No Comments on Today’s 1:6 scale work: new hands and Tarot deco

I decorated some of my 1:6 scale scenes with cards from my Tarot of the Sweet Twilight by Christina Benintende. I like the twisty, humorous, phantasmagorical designs on almost all cards, so I selected cards for each set based primarily on pictures.

I also gave 75% of the Little Dorks, Alison, the Little Witch, and the Little Fixit, new hands with which they could hold things. Little Bill will get new hands when I have the time. By drilling the holes bit by bit on a low Dremel setting and testing the new wrist pegs frequently, I achieved securely fitting pegs. That’s more than I could ever do when turning the Dremel up to highest speed. No melting plastic either!
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New 1:6 scale spaces in the living room

New 1:6 scale spaces in the living room published on No Comments on New 1:6 scale spaces in the living room

I walled off a corner of the living room with two bookcases to create a place where I can hang out in my new recliner and have [the illusion of] privacy. Here are the new scenes on these shelves:

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Recent 1:6 scale activities part II: Harry’s body upgrade

Recent 1:6 scale activities part II: Harry’s body upgrade published on No Comments on Recent 1:6 scale activities part II: Harry’s body upgrade

When he was at @natalunasans’ house, Harry experienced leg problems. I had originally shortened the legs on the DML body and stuck the feet back on, sacrificing ankle swivel articulation. The feet did not adhere well to the reduced calves, and they broke apart.

This weekend, I finally found a solution for this problem that would keep Harry on the same matching body and also maintain his comparatively short stature. I jammed some long Takara Cy Girl ankle cups up into the holes at the ends of his calves and stuck them there with a lot of hot glue. Then I stuck the pegs in some Hot Toys Willy Wonka bootfeet. Now he has ankle swivels, but no flexion. I don’t care, though, because he stands stably. Also the slim black heeled boots with red details fit his preferred colors.

As much as the default DML hands hold things well, I dislike them. They’re unnaturally posed, and the fingers look like hot dogs. So I picked up a Living Toyz 10″ N*Sync Justin Timberlake marionette from Goodwill for $6.00. I removed the hands, cut off the soft, swivel-only pegs, then drilled holes into the base of the hands and popped them on Takara Cy Girl wrist pegs. The hands, while slightly paler than Harry’s body, are close enough so that I’m not painting them. And they’re so much more detailed and expressive!

 

Continue reading Recent 1:6 scale activities part II: Harry’s body upgrade

Recent 1:6 scale activities part I: BC Mini cake and candy house keyrings

Recent 1:6 scale activities part I: BC Mini cake and candy house keyrings published on No Comments on Recent 1:6 scale activities part I: BC Mini cake and candy house keyrings

Do your small populations need some totally blinged out desserts of questionable aesthetic value? Look no further. BC Mini, purveyor of Japanese novelty erasers, keychains, squishy food replicas, and other necessary things, sells overdecorated circular cakes and candy houses, perfect for all your small-scale baking competitions. Continue reading Recent 1:6 scale activities part I: BC Mini cake and candy house keyrings

Third attempt at vegetarian curry in slow cooker

Third attempt at vegetarian curry in slow cooker published on No Comments on Third attempt at vegetarian curry in slow cooker

10 oz. sliced carrots

15.5 oz. LOW SODIUM chickpeas, rinsed 

5-6 medium beets and shoots, chunked

1 jumbo russet potato, chunked

2 red onions, chunked

6 cloves fresh garlic, diced

1 tsp salt

1 cube Edward & Sons LOW SODIUM Veggie Cubes [bouillon equivalent]

2 cans LOW FAT coconut milk

1 package S&B medium hot golden curry sauce medium hot, softened and mixed into 1/2 c. water

1 c. frozen mixed veggies to fill in cracks

Prepare as directed. Stir well to distribute spices throughout ingredients. Cook for 4 hours on high. YUM YUM [hopefully].

New 1:6 scale spaces in my bedroom

New 1:6 scale spaces in my bedroom published on No Comments on New 1:6 scale spaces in my bedroom

I’ve been moving my furniture around the apartment. I used to have my compooper out in the main room, but I moved it into my bedroom onto the desk that I had been using for dolls and photos. Now my former doll desk is my compooper desk. The table that once held compooper now holds creative projects. I also ejected a large brown bookcase that stood on the bedroom floor in favor of shelves in the deep windowsill. And there are some new 1:6 scale sets for my dolls to enjoy! Continue reading New 1:6 scale spaces in my bedroom

Second attempt at vegetarian curry in slow cooker

Second attempt at vegetarian curry in slow cooker published on No Comments on Second attempt at vegetarian curry in slow cooker

Modifications from first attempt noted.

1 large sweet potato, diced
~4 oz. ~6 oz. shredded carrots
~1 cup ~2 cups frozen mixed vegetables
1 15.5 oz. can LOW SODIUM chickpeas [Garbanzo beans], rinsed and drained
1 15 oz. can LOW FAT coconut milk
6 medium beets, diced, and their shoots, chopped [NEW]
1 medium red onion, diced
3 4 heaping teaspoons curry powder
2 teaspoons sea salt
1 teaspoon ginger [in small pieces larger than powder]
1 teaspoon ground coriander
2 3 generous teaspoons garlic granules [in small pieces larger than powder]
2 3 coconut milk cans’ worth of water
1 cube 2 cubes Edward & Sons LOW SODIUM Veggie Cubes [bouillon equivalent]

Prepare as directed above. Mix together in slow cooker. Cook for 4 hours on high. YUM YUM [hopefully].

Dolls old and new in their natural habitat — my room

Dolls old and new in their natural habitat — my room published on No Comments on Dolls old and new in their natural habitat — my room

A few shots of how the stuff from my vacation with natalunasans now appears… Continue reading Dolls old and new in their natural habitat — my room

Day 7 with natalunasans — stretchy clothes, bits and bobs

Day 7 with natalunasans — stretchy clothes, bits and bobs published on No Comments on Day 7 with natalunasans — stretchy clothes, bits and bobs

We hit Target before I flew out this morning. I was looking for the Fresh Doll with boingy hair, but didn’t find her. I found some other stuff, though… Continue reading Day 7 with natalunasans — stretchy clothes, bits and bobs

Day 6 with natalunasans — South Mountain State Park, NC

Day 6 with natalunasans — South Mountain State Park, NC published on No Comments on Day 6 with natalunasans — South Mountain State Park, NC

We took some dolls and went to South Mountain State Park, NC for pictures. Continue reading Day 6 with natalunasans — South Mountain State Park, NC

Day 5 with natalunasans — even more tiny books and a meeting of the catwitches

Day 5 with natalunasans — even more tiny books and a meeting of the catwitches published on No Comments on Day 5 with natalunasans — even more tiny books and a meeting of the catwitches

Today I made more 1:6 scale reading material while natalunasans went out and did errands. Continue reading Day 5 with natalunasans — even more tiny books and a meeting of the catwitches

Day 4 with natalunasans — the Masters at Table Rock State Park

Day 4 with natalunasans — the Masters at Table Rock State Park published on No Comments on Day 4 with natalunasans — the Masters at Table Rock State Park

Yesterday we headed off to Table Rock State Park. Small-scale drama ensued in the form of a multipart photostory called The Master Disaster. Continue reading Day 4 with natalunasans — the Masters at Table Rock State Park

Day 3 with natalunasans — books, bottles, and cards

Day 3 with natalunasans — books, bottles, and cards published on No Comments on Day 3 with natalunasans — books, bottles, and cards

Yesterday, July 4th, we celebrated the United States’ independence by staying inside the air-conditioned house, except for an excursion to Books A Million [discount bookstore], Michaels [craft store], and two discount clothing/housewares stores that I forget because I didn’t get anything there.

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Increasing Fresh Dolls poseability

Increasing Fresh Dolls poseability published on No Comments on Increasing Fresh Dolls poseability

John did some body mods on a Fresh Dolls body to enhance existing articulation. Now that I have three Fresh Dolls, I’ll be modifying them similarly, especially for greater elbow flexion. I’d also like to add wrist articulation too…

Day 2 with natalunasans — limb swaps, pulp fiction, and narcotics

Day 2 with natalunasans — limb swaps, pulp fiction, and narcotics published on No Comments on Day 2 with natalunasans — limb swaps, pulp fiction, and narcotics

Today we stayed indoors with the air conditioning on as we worked industriously on 1:6 scale props. Continue reading Day 2 with natalunasans — limb swaps, pulp fiction, and narcotics

Day 1 with natalunasans — new duds for small populations

Day 1 with natalunasans — new duds for small populations published on No Comments on Day 1 with natalunasans — new duds for small populations

I’m currently visiting natalunasans in South Carolina for about 6 days for almost an entire week of doll-related fun. Yesterday my dolls got some new duds. I also got some new dolls. I swear that they multiply when I’m not looking… >_>
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