Little Night tries to help Little Day roller skate. It doesn’t go so well. Finally they decide to do something else. Continue reading Dorklets Little Night and Little Day in…Roller Skating II!
Dorklet Little Allison in…Roller Skating I!
When Moose Toys came out with Real Little shuz wave 2, there were funky roller skates as part of the offerings! I immediately became obsessed with kitting out all seven dorklets in roller skates. They’ve been sitting on my shelf, waiting for an opportunity to skate, for about a month, however. Today one of the dorklets, Little Allison, and her mom Elva got a chance.
Little Allison [who grows up to be the Allison in my recent Allison in Wonderland photoshoot] is a Jakks Pacific Juku Couture Kana head, repainted and rehaired by me, on a body that is Spin Master Liv from neck to waist, Obitsu 24 from waist to upper thigh swivels, and Spin Master Liv from mid-thighs to feets. This seems to be the best compromise I have found for kid bodies in other colors besides extremely white and slightly peach. Unfortunately, the Liv arms only have single-jointed elbows, but the tight, flexible Obitsu abdomen/pelvis allows for very expressive bending, curling, and crouching poses. This hybrid body can also wear shorts and teeshirts without showing any mismatching skintones. Plus the double-jointed knees are pretty decent.
Elva, Little Allison’s mom, is the black Curvy BMR 1959 head, aged, de-glammed, and given locs by me, on a Mattel Made to Move body that doesn’t fully match but I don’t care. She used to be the standard height, but I shortened her. I’ve finally found the secret to shortening MTMs. Instead of hacking through the thighs [which are solid and therefore composed of the thickest plastic on the doll], I now remove excess length from the hollow middle section of the abdomen and then from the ankles. You can significantly reduce the doll’s height this way with no harm to general proportions. In fact, the shortened waist helps the elbows and the hands to fall at more realistic places.
Continue reading Dorklet Little Allison in…Roller Skating I!
Otakuthon, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 08/06/2022: Doll tea party and the rest
Otakuthon, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 08/06/2022: Doll tea party and the rest published on Read more posts by the author of Otakuthon, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 08/06/2022: Doll tea party and the rest, ModernWizard1 Comment on Otakuthon, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 08/06/2022: Doll tea party and the rest
Next we went to the doll tea party, where we met up with some BJD lovers that we had seen at previous Otakuthons. Dolls are identified according to the order in which their photos appear in this post. Continue reading Otakuthon, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 08/06/2022: Doll tea party and the rest
Otakuthon, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 08/06/2022: Chinatown and Otakuthon dealer room again
Otakuthon, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 08/06/2022: Chinatown and Otakuthon dealer room again published on Read more posts by the author of Otakuthon, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 08/06/2022: Chinatown and Otakuthon dealer room again, ModernWizard2 Comments on Otakuthon, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 08/06/2022: Chinatown and Otakuthon dealer room again
On the morning of the 6th, we encountered low humidity and perfect temperatures [low 80s F] with sunshine again. We got up really honkin’ early at 6:00 AM and waited for the hotel breakfast to be served, where I ate hardboiled eggs, chocolate mini croissants, and melon. I organized the previous day’s photos until about 9:45 AM.
Thereupon I wandered into Chinatown. Continue reading Otakuthon, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 08/06/2022: Chinatown and Otakuthon dealer room again
Otakuthon, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 08/05/2022: Kagayaki and Nanami
Right at 5 PM, we made our traditional pilgrimage to Kagayaki Shabu Shabu. I had the kombu and dashi essence broth, ponzu sauce [a citrus-flavored sauce], and lamb for my shabu shabu. Continue reading Otakuthon, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 08/05/2022: Kagayaki and Nanami
Otakuthon, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 08/05/2022: Hotel and dealer room
Lyra and I left Essex, VT for Otakuthon early on Friday, August 5th. After a quick stop at West Meadow Farm for gluten-free bakery treats, I drove northward. With cloudy and occasional misty weather in Vermont, we encountered little traffic and made good time, crossing the border in a startling 35 minutes. From the border to Montreal, the clouds cleared, and the sun shone. Southern Quebec seems strangely flat in comparison to the rippling valleys of New England, and there are many more active farms with silos and grain elevators, neither of which are seen much in my state.
We arrived in Montreal around lunch time, checked in to our favorite hotel, the Travelodge on Boulevard Rene Levesque West, very early, and dropped our stuff in room 411. I think that, with the pandemic, people have temporarily curtailed their activities, so we saw few crowds, even in the city.
Usually we have arrived at Otakuthon in mid-afternoon on Friday, starting our days much later. This time, we enjoyed a leisurely start with a partial circuit of the vendor/dealer room. As usual, I spent most of my time in artist’s alley, chatting with artists whose work I was especially interested in. Pictures follow, mostly from booths where I bought stuff. Vendors show up in booth pics unless otherwise noted.Continue reading Otakuthon, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, 08/05/2022: Hotel and dealer room
Touching up Real Littles shuz
Finally finished touching up some Violet Flyer Real Littles shuz.
Hardshippers in…Red Queen V: “Success”
Despite Ebru’s dramatics, the Red Queen Serial Killer rampages after Allison Wonderland. Allison Wonderland defeats her foe, however. Huzzah! The Red Queen series ends. Continue reading Hardshippers in…Red Queen V: “Success”
Hardshippers in…Red Queen IV: “Ebru Finds Out”
There is some confusion between the characters of the Red Queen and the Queen of Hearts. Allison and Carnelian don’t really have problems with it, but Ebru does. Continue reading Hardshippers in…Red Queen IV: “Ebru Finds Out”
Hardshippers in…Red Queen III: “Carnelian Is Prepared”
Carnelian is all set for her role as the Red Queen in the Alice in Wonderland photoshoot. Or is she?
Carnelian’s case of bloody tools comes from Ringdoll’s Jack the Ripper Misty Midnight figure. Continue reading Hardshippers in…Red Queen III: “Carnelian Is Prepared”
Repainting a Laura Art x Toycity figure
Laura Art x Toycity produces some highly stylized blind box figures of little kids with different themes. I got a few from the Passion Fruit series and the Pool Fight series, with the goal of repainting at least one and putting the head on a more articulated body. Results below. Continue reading Repainting a Laura Art x Toycity figure
Hardshippers in…Mystery Shoot II: “Who Planned This?”
Allison figures out who the Magister is playing, despite his best attempts at obfuscation. Ebru reveals her plan. The contents of the Magister’s hookah are left to your imagination. Given that he’s an Elder Witch, though, it’s probably something magical and trippy…Continue reading Hardshippers in…Mystery Shoot II: “Who Planned This?”
Hardshippers in…Mystery Shoot I: “Groovy Shrooms”
Allison fumbles with the electricity on set and discovers the Magister hanging out with some lightup shrooms. They have an elliptical conversation in which he acts just as mysterious and frustrating as the Wonderland character he’s [probably] playing. If you remember which character sat on a mushroom and said to Alice, “Who are you?”, then you’ll know who the Magister is playing. The hookah might also give it away.
Yeah, I said hookah. I made him one with a glass paperweight as the water reservoir, a brass candle holder as the neck, the platter from the Battat Glitter Girls Sweet Shop that holds the candied apples, and a 1:12 scale TV antenna. A mini lava lamp would have probably finished off the stack of things more realistically, but I think a TV antenna on a hookah is funnier. The nozzle off the side and the mouthpiece are pieces of colored dowels. The tube connecting the nozzle and the mouthpiece is string hot glued to the nozzle and the mouthpiece. You’ll have to wait till next time to see what comes out of it! Sure, the whole thing looks out of scale, but this is Wonderland, so weirdness is standard.
Background mushrooms are just 2D decorations quickly made from scrapbook paper with colored pencil embellishments. If you’ve been following my doll photostories, you may have seen the lightup shrooms here and there. They’re Japanese gachapon that I got off Ebay, and they’re remarkably useful for adding a little strangeness to any scene.
Continue reading Hardshippers in…Mystery Shoot I: “Groovy Shrooms”
Hardshippers in…Mad Tea Party V: “Silliness Breaks Out”
Allison and Marvin get together and cause mayhem, much to Ebru’s consternation.Continue reading Hardshippers in…Mad Tea Party V: “Silliness Breaks Out”
Hardshippers in…Red Queen II: “Ebru Finds a Red Queen”
Ebru finds the perfect Red Queen in Carnelian!!
!!!Action!!! juice is played by J Dream gachapon.
P.S. Carnelian is actually a witch, which makes the pun even better. >:)
Continue reading Hardshippers in…Red Queen II: “Ebru Finds a Red Queen”
Hardshippers in…Red Queen I: “Carnelian’s Finds”
Ebru goes scooting and helps Carnelian.
Ebru is a Mattel Barbie Extra #1 head with makeup enhanced and hair adjusted by me. Dress is from Mattel Barbie Fashionista 90 [aka the gay Barbie]. Her sunglasses are from the Mattel Star Wars C3PO Barbie. Ebru’s scooter is a Vespa with sidecar. Cool, right?!
Carnelian is a Coomodel/Ouzhixiang Monster Files No. 4 Witch head and outfit on Takara Cy Girl 1.0 body. Shoefeetz are from MGA Bratz. Giant gummy bear is from a Mattel Barbie Extra playset. Luggage on wheels is from MGA Rainbow High Rainbow Vision Sabrina St. Cloud. Continue reading Hardshippers in…Red Queen I: “Carnelian’s Finds”
Hardshippers in…Mad Tea Party IV: “Prop Problems”
Allison and Marvin are not listening to Ebru, who is increasingly exasperated.
Leaning Tower of Pisa burger is from Rement. Mug with pan flag design [and many more Pride designs] can be found at PrintedByStovall.
Continue reading Hardshippers in…Mad Tea Party IV: “Prop Problems”
Hardshippers in…Mad Tea Party III: “Very Sensitive”
Felix has to deal with Marvin, who is having some problems with his character.
Marvin is a BCS Baron Samedi with facepaint removed. [He had half his face painted white because he’s a likeness of the character in Live and Let Die.] I love the headsculpt. Though it’s meant to portray a very energetic and unhinged character, the wide open mouth is surprisingly versatile, especially when combined with the wonderfully sculpted hands. When he’s not playing the Mad Hatter, Marvin sings for Hardship’s rock band Flaming Hot Pussy because, with that face, how can he not?!
Mirror is played by some MGA LOL OMG Surprise packaging.
Continue reading Hardshippers in…Mad Tea Party III: “Very Sensitive”
Hardshippers in…Mad Tea Party II: “Poofy Sleeves”!
Felix, who does lights, goes to see where the missing stars are of Ebru’s photoshoot. He fixes Allison’s problem.
Felix is some action figure dude, probably by Dragon/DML. Shirt is a dress from a Mattel Barbie Fashionista. Loafers are from a Mattel BTS doll.
Allison is a custom sculpted action figure head by Eric Barclay, painted by me. Wig is by Culte de Paris. Outfit is by Peppermint Circus.
Dressing room is LOL OMG Surprise Rocker Boi packaging that I added a curtain and curtain rod too. I also modded the interior art.
Continue reading Hardshippers in…Mad Tea Party II: “Poofy Sleeves”!
Hardshippers in…Mad Tea Party I: “Where Are the Stars?”
Ebru plans a super awesome Alice in Wonderland photoshot…at least it would be awesome if the stars showed up!
Ebru is a Mattel Barbie Extra #1 head with makeup enhanced and hair adjusted by me. Dress is from Mattel Barbie Fashionista 90 [aka the gay Barbie]. Coat is from MGA Shadow High Storm Twins.
Backdrop is a Mattel Ever After High Way Too Wonderland playset. Isn’t it freakin’ awesome?! Most of the mini tea party stuff comes from Rement. The Cheshire Cat is needle felted by WoolMiniatureOK.
Continue reading Hardshippers in…Mad Tea Party I: “Where Are the Stars?”
RH bodies updated
Elva is on a Rainbow High Robin Sterling body. But she needs a darker, cooler colored body.
Emeraud is on an RH Vanessa Tempo body. But I recently ordered an RH Sunny Madison body for her because I dislike the floppy knees that her current body has.
Ghoulia is on a Shadow High Nicole Steele body.
Mirabel is on an RH Kia Hart body.
Leila is on an RH Robin Sterling body.
PJ is on an RH Jett Dawson body.
Rosie is on an RH Vanessa Tempo body.
Dolls with MGA Rainbow High bodies
Elva is on a Rainbow High Robin Sterling body.
Emeraud is on an RH Vanessa Tempo body. But I recently ordered an RH Sunny Madison body for her because I dislike the floppy knees that her current body has.
Ghoulia is on a Shadow High Nicole Steele body.
Mirabel is on an RH Kia Hart body.
PJ is on an RH Jett Dawson body.
Rosie is on an RH Vanessa Tempo body.
Modding the Motorwagen
I acquired a 1:8 scale model of a Benz Motorwagen recently, and it looks so damn cool. However, 1:8 scale is too small for my 1:6 scale dolls, so I decided to enlarge the seat and extend the tiller so that Silence could drive it and Ethan could be passenger. Continue reading Modding the Motorwagen
THE SPYMASTER LIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIVES…updated!
I had some extra hands from BCS Baron Samedi that I knew would be perfect for the Spymaster 8.0. The only problem was that they were covered with rings. Recently I hacked the rings off, filled in the divots with Aves Apoxie Sculpt, painted, then sealed the damn things. The sculpting is neither 100% meticulous nor 100% anatomically correct, but it looks pretty good. The Spymaster thinks so too!
Much to my annoyance, his original reddish pants leaked dye on EVERYTHING, so I replaced them with a pair of paints that @natalunasans originally sent me for my Third Doctor. Continue reading THE SPYMASTER LIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIVES…updated!
DW characters in…Sweater Sale X!
The Master is back! The Third Doctor is bothering the Master about sweaters [“jumpers” across the pond]. So is Jo. As I may have mentioned, Three is a Titans 3″ vinyl Third Doctor head with repainted face on a BCS body with mostly BCS clothes, but Integrity FR Homme blazer. The Master is being played by the Magister, a Roger Delgado likeness that I resculpted and repainted, and a Hot Toys short, narrow body. Jo is a custom sculpted, painted, and wigged action figure head by me on a Mattel Made to Move petite body with BCS Solitaire hands. Continue reading DW characters in…Sweater Sale X!
Hardshippers in…Sweater Sale IX!
Brocedony finds the sweater of his dreams. And it’s on sale! It’s an overwhelming moment.
I must admit that I love taking stern, armor-wearing figures, like the Threezero King Ezekiel that Brocedony used to be, and turning them into casual characters with a sense of humor.
Hardshippers in…Sweater Sale VIII!
Nychthemeron finally exits the dressing room. IT’S VERY LOUD IN THERE, OKAY? We see why. Like I said earlier, the dressing room and mirror props come from LOL OMG Surprise packages. They look cool in person and even cooler in photos! Continue reading Hardshippers in…Sweater Sale VIII!
Hardshippers in…Sweater Sale VII!
A new side of the Shuz Store appears — the dressing rooms! They’re played by MGA LOL OMG packaging, which is very clever and cute and complementary to the LOL OMG dolls’ style. The style also feels perfectly at home in a tacky clothing store like the Shuz Store.
Frossinaffe is waiting and reading. She’s a recent Mattel Barbie Fashionista Mattel Big City Big Dreams Lyla head on a Mattel Barbie Made to Move body. Brocedony is a Threezero King Ezekiel [The Walking Dead] action figure head on a non-matching [and thus covered] Hot Toys short narrow body. Hands are from a Takara Cy Girl! Nychthemeron, in the last frame, is a Mattel WWE Superstar head on a Takara Cy Girl body.
Shuz, as usual, are played by Moose Toys Real Littles shuz. I had to stick in the roller skates from wave 2 because they’re just so cool. They’re the glittery ones with a lightup feature. I can’t remove the tabs to get the lights to work, which is fine. They’re quite fabulous as it is.Continue reading Hardshippers in…Sweater Sale VII!
Hardshippers in…Sweater Sale VI!
Aphanarit wants another cute sweater. Reeve tries to help. Aphanarit is a Mattel Barbie Looks #10. Reeve is a Prettie Girl made by the One World Doll Project with shortened torso and added double-jointed elbows from Obitsu 24. She’s wearing a coat from one of the Mattel Barbie Cutie Reveals over a dress from a Mattel WWE fashion doll and some MGA Rainbow High shoes. Continue reading Hardshippers in…Sweater Sale VI!
Hardshippers in…Sweater Sale V!
Dom is hiding from the Magister, certain that the Magister will smite him with powers of magical mental manipulation. Will he? Continue reading Hardshippers in…Sweater Sale V!
Hardshippers in…Sweater Sale IV!
A miracle has occurred, and the Magister has taken a break from playing the Master to terrorize Dom visit the Shuz Store.
All my dolls, 06/30/2022
Updated from the one two months ago with those small populations who have significantly changed and been added. Continue reading All my dolls, 06/30/2022
Hardshippers in…Sweater Sale III!
The Hippie acquires a sweater. Dom is shocked. There is more discussion about Elder Witches. Then the OTHER one shows up. Continue reading Hardshippers in…Sweater Sale III!
Hardshippers in…Sweater Sale II!
Caveat’s comment about Hardshippers having no sense of style comes back to bite him. The Elder Witch known only as the Stylist appears!! She is a repainted/resculpted/rewigged head from some collector doll on a Mattel Made To Move body with action figure hands. Her sock sweater says, appropriately enough, HAIR STYLIST.
Then the Elder Witch known only as the Hippie shows up! They’re a custom sculpted/painted/wigged head on an Obitsu Slender Male body with BCS action figure hands.
The third Elder Witch, the Magister, is busy playing Delgado Master and will not be appearing unless some miracle occurs. Continue reading Hardshippers in…Sweater Sale II!
Hardshippers in…Sweater Sale I!
I have made many 1:6 scale sweaters out of socks over the years, so this miniseries shows how hilariously tacky they are.
Caveat is the store clerk. He finally got some ungloved hands! The first shopper is Dom, some DML action figure dude rerooted and repainted by @dollsahoy in the previous millennium. The shopper who can hear colors is Ghoulia, a repainted Mattel Claudette [?] head on an MGA Shadow High body. Sock sweaters are played by actual socks for 1:1 scale human beings that I used to make doll sweaters.
The Spymaster LIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIVES!
After struggling for YEARS to get the Spymaster right and eventually turning my Spymaster likeness doll into Ethan, I thought I was done with dolls of that guy. Continue reading The Spymaster LIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIVES!
Hardshipper meets Doctor Who character in…The TCE!
Yeah yeah, you all know the guy in black as the Magister, but here he’s playing Roger Delgado as the Master in Doctor Who for comedic effect. Ethan is playing himself. Both the Magister and Ethan are custom sculpted and painted [and, in Ethan’s case, wigged] resin heads on Hot Toys small narrow shoulder male action figure bodies.
Continue reading Hardshipper meets Doctor Who character in…The TCE!
Dorklets Night and Day in…The Chest Freezer!
Don’t worry — they’re not inside the chest freezer. They’re just excavating in it. What will they find?? Chest freezer is played by an Ohio Arts tin lithographed recipe card holder from the 1950s or the 1960s. The bright, lovely graphics will go well with my tin lithographed stove! Dessert packages and desserts themselves are played by Moose Toy Shopkins, some of which are pretty useful, if you can disguise the fact that they have cartoony faces. Continue reading Dorklets Night and Day in…The Chest Freezer!
Hardshippers in…The Shuz Store IV!
Shuz Store drama continues. Salesperson of dubious skill is Caveat. Customer is Aphanarit, one of the recent Mattel Barbie Looks metallic series. Shuz are played by Moose Toys Real Littles Shoes. Caveat’s opinion does not correspond with my own because I think Real Littles shuz look good on everyone! Caveat is just being a jerk. Continue reading Hardshippers in…The Shuz Store IV!
Hardshippers in…The Shuz Store III!
The Shuz Store is only nominally involved here. The real star is one of the many sweaters I’ve made out of novelty socks. It’s time for a parade of dubiously sewn fashion! Stay tuned! Purchaser of the sweater is Evan, a Mattel Wizarding World H**** P***** Luna Lovegood head, dehaired and slightly repainted, on a generic fashion doll body from Aliexpress with legs shortened and feet replaced. Interlocutor is Terra, a Mattel Barbie head, slightly repainted, on a Mattel Creatable World body, covered up because it doesn’t really match her head and also because I added non-matching double elbow joints from an Obitsu 21. Continue reading Hardshippers in…The Shuz Store III!
Hardshippers in…The Shuz Store II!
The Shuz Store strikes again. Megan is clerking, along with Caveat. Customer is Priscilla, a Mattel Wizarding World H**** P***** Bellatrix Lestrange with slightly customized face paint and restyled hair. Shuz are played by Moose Toys Real Littles Shoes, which are all amazingly tacky, and I love them. Priscilla is obviously looking in the wrong store.
Continue reading Hardshippers in…The Shuz Store II!
Hardshippers in…The Shuz Store I!
You wouldn’t know it from the comic below, but I have developed an elaborate shoestore set — named the Shuz Store — on my set desk. The first of several Shuz Store adventures features Missy and Megan. Missy is a custom sculpted/painted/wigged head on a Playmates Toys Billie Eilish body with added upper arm swivels. Megan is a Mattel Sterling Silver Rose Barbie [Hispanic version] head with faceup enhanced by me on a Spin Master Liv body. Continue reading Hardshippers in…The Shuz Store I!
Three and the Master dispute over fashion
The Master has been rummaging in the Third Doctor’s closet! …At least for the first shot. They’ve also been shoe shopping together… Continue reading Three and the Master dispute over fashion
At long last, the Third Doctor!!
I finally got motivated recently to finish a project that has been in the works for several years: the Third Doctor in 1:6 scale! Continue reading At long last, the Third Doctor!!
Garden gnome shopping at the candy store?!
Another tale from Hardship, this one features Harry and Missy shopping for…a garden gnome?! Continue reading Garden gnome shopping at the candy store?!
Dorklets visit a shoe store!
Jyll got me a Glitter Girls Sweet Shop for my birthday, and it made its debut as a shoe store in today’s photostory.
Starring Saba, an American Girl Girls of Many Lands Saba head on a Spin Master Liv body with custom wig, as shopkeeper.
Also starring Ethancitx [the dorklet in shorts] and Meghna, his older sister. Ethancitx is a custom sculpted/painted/wigged head with a body made from at least 5 separate bodies [including Obitsu 24 pelvis/upper thighs, unnamed AliExpress action figure arms, and Spin Master Liv legs]. Meghna is a Mattel Barbie Fashionista head with custom wig and faceup.
And introducing Battat Glitter Girls Sweet Shop as the shoe store! The shoes on the outside rack labeled Shoezies are, surprisingly enough, Hasbro Shoezies from the early 2000s. The rest of the footwear is Moose Toys Real Littles shoes, which fits with the playful aesthetic of the store.
Continue reading Dorklets visit a shoe store!
Dorklets outside at the concession stand!
I went outside in the shade for about two hours and took pics of the dorklets having snacks at an outdoor concession stand. Why is Sharmila, the concessionaire, wearing a 1700s French court dress? Why not?! Continue reading Dorklets outside at the concession stand!
Vintage industrial size canned goods in 1:6 scale!!!
Last month I designed some labels for miniature canned goods. The labels themselves are public domain images from the early days of canned foods, around the 1880s to the early 1900s. I merely fiddled with the image size and color to prepare them for printing. “My plastic friends” [as @natalunasans calls them], NMI Plastics in Kewadin, MI, printed plastic cans to my specs for me to put the labels on. Pics below. Continue reading Vintage industrial size canned goods in 1:6 scale!!!
Hardship Toy Adventures V — another fortune telling machine!
For those of you unfamiliar with Hardship, it’s a small town in Vermont populated by your average small-town weirdos, some of whom are witches. Magic is real, and so is time travel and teleportation, and we even see a little bit of magic at work in this episode.
Continue reading Hardship Toy Adventures V — another fortune telling machine!
Steampunk airship cabin: mocking up
Did some more work on the airship cabin this evening… Continue reading Steampunk airship cabin: mocking up
All my dolls, 04/20/2022
Took a census of all my dolls that are out and about. Because the Hardship Toy Shop set has the best light, I decided to photo my small populations in front of my Liebig trade cards showing a kid playing with her doll. Well, at least until I got tired of taking everyone off the shelves and photoing them. Some photos are taken from my previous census of those dolls who haven’t changed since then. Continue reading All my dolls, 04/20/2022
Steampunk airship cabin: deco, levers, curtains
I have acquired some stuff for interior deco for the steampunk airship cabin. Continue reading Steampunk airship cabin: deco, levers, curtains
Hardship Toy Shop Adventures IV — toy shop mysteries!
For those of you unfamiliar with Hardship, it’s a small town in Vermont populated by your average small-town weirdos, some of whom are witches. Magic is real, and so is time travel and teleportation, though none of these are really relevant to the Toy Shop Adventures.
All of these dolls are customized 1:6 scale action figures, about 12″ (30 cm) tall or less. Qingting, with the skateboard and historical Chinese clothing, is a Pleasant Company/American Girl Girls of Many Lands Spring Pearl. GOMLs were a line of 9″ dolls, sculpted by Helen Kish, wearing detailed, high-quality, accurate historical outfits and wigged hairstyles. They were each accompanied by a book that centered around the character and her experience in her country during historically significant times. Characters hailed from Ethiopia, China, India, Yupik territory [in present-day Alaska], etc., but the most popular [and therefore expensive] of them is the step-dancing Irish redhead. I have the kid from India and the kid from France coming, so you may see them in future installments, although probably redressed.
The very creatively named PJ [in pajamas] is a recent Mattel Barbie Looks head on an MGA Rainbow High body. She’s wearing Robin Sterling’s amazing pajamas!
I was trying to come up with hilarious reasons that Qingting would need three dogbots and PJ would be in her pjs, but then I decided it was funnier if the reasons were left to the imagination. I do have an answer, however, for the reason that the mini figure in the gravy boat [actually a curry boat] appears: because she and her friends amuse me.
Remember how I said that lots of the stuff in the toy shop is gachapon, or miniatures from Japanese vending machines? The dogbots are a perfect example. If they look familiar, it’s because they are small plastic representations of Sony AIBOs, or robotic toy dogs, produced between 1999 and 2006.
Continue reading Hardship Toy Shop Adventures IV — toy shop mysteries!
Hardship Toy Shop Adventures III — the tasty potion!
For those of you unfamiliar with Hardship, it’s a small town in Vermont populated by your average small-town weirdos, some of whom are witches. Magic is real, and so is time travel and teleportation, though none of these are really relevant to the Toy Shop Adventures.
All of these dolls are customized 1:6 scale action figures, about 12″ (30 cm) tall or less. The Hippie, who likes plants and sparkly things, is a gender-optional Elder Witch and spouse of the Magister and the Stylist. They are on an Obitsu slender male body. I sculpted their head in a digital rendering program, painted it, and made the wig myself. They have plant powers and extensive gardens.
Continue reading Hardship Toy Shop Adventures III — the tasty potion!
Hardship Toy Shop Adventures II — the scary [?] witch!
For those of you unfamiliar with Hardship, it’s a small town in Vermont populated by your average small-town weirdos, some of whom are witches. Magic is real, and so is time travel and teleportation, though none of these are really relevant to the Toy Shop Adventures.
All of these dolls are customized 1:6 scale action figures, about 12″ (30 cm) tall or less. The Magister started off life as a very frowny likeness of Roger Delgado as the Master from Doctor Who. He eventually developed into his own character, a nearly-400-year-old witch who loves the whole classic villain aesthetic and has the power of forcing people to do what he wants, though he strenuously avoids using it these days. He is married to the other two Elder Witches, the Stylist and the Hippie.
The set pieces are a little bit of this and that, with a lot of World’s Smallest/World’s Tiniest products, as well as a significant amount of gachapon (miniatures from Japanese vending machines). I made many of the books on the bookshelf, either from printables by others or my own designs. The Magister’s cookbook, Gelatinize It! [“Turn every dish into a quivering masterpiece!”], is one of my own creations, but based on actual promotional cookbooks from the 1950s. I just had so much fun writing the cover copy that I decided to show it off.
Continue reading Hardship Toy Shop Adventures II — the scary [?] witch!
Hardship Toy Shop Adventures I — the rude fortune teller!
I have the time and the props, so here is the first in an occasional series of inconsequential events occurring in the Hardship Toy Shop!!
For those of you unfamiliar with Hardship, it’s a small town in Vermont populated by your average small-town weirdos, some of whom are witches. Magic is real, and so is time travel and teleportation, though none of these are really relevant to the Toy Shop Adventures.
All of these dolls are customized 1:6 scale action figures, about 12″ (30 cm) tall or less. Rosie, who’s trying to get her fortune told, is a recent Mattel Barbie Looks head on an MGA Rainbow High Vanessa Tempo body. Bailey, the clerk, is a Medicom Bambi that I redressed. Farrier, who is looking at a book, is a Big Chief Tenth Doctor that I redressed and repainted the hair on. The Cactus Kid, petting the stuffed sheep, is a Mattel Kelly Club head on an Obitsu 11cm knockoff body. Pammy, holding the dogbot upside down, is a Medicom Pampy head (from the same set as Bailey) spliced with Obitsu 22cm parts for more articulation. She is Bailey’s younger sister.
The set pieces are a little bit of this and that, with a lot of World’s Smallest/World’s Tiniest, as well as a significant amount of gachapon (miniatures from Japanese vending machines). Zoltar is a cheap miniature for sale from Running Press. He lights up and talks (in a fake Russian accent) with the help of 2 AAA batteries. To my knowledge, he does not actually say anything about his butt. 😉
Continue reading Hardship Toy Shop Adventures I — the rude fortune teller!
Steampunk airship: removed center floor and kitchen unit
I unscrewed a lot of screws and removed the kitchen unit and the center floor. Cleaning and modding will now be easier. The space is much larger than I expected! I wonder if I can put a bathroom in there somewhere… Continue reading Steampunk airship: removed center floor and kitchen unit
Steampunk airship base
This weekend I got in the mail an Our Generation RV Seeing You camper. Though made for 18″ dolls, the camper is undersize for them. With slight modification, it can be made suitable for 1:6ers and turned into a steampunk airship cabin!! There are some pics below of its current state.Continue reading Steampunk airship base
Dorklets Night, Day, and Ethancitx in…Cooking Pizza XI!
The pizza party begins with a nap and ends with revenge.
Continue reading Dorklets Night, Day, and Ethancitx in…Cooking Pizza XI!
Dorklets Night, Day, and Ethancitx in…Cooking Pizza X!
Time to work on the pizzas with tomato sauce… Continue reading Dorklets Night, Day, and Ethancitx in…Cooking Pizza X!
Dorklets Night, Day, and Ethancitx in…Cooking Pizza IX!
With the first round of pizzas finished, the dorklets have run out of cheese. Night sends Day to the store. What could possibly go wrong?
The grocery store is played by the other part of my 1959 Wolverine tin lithographed set, the deli counter of which we saw earlier in Cooking Pizza IV. Because the backdrop is just 11″ high, I chose a shorter customer to appear with Day in the store.
Continue reading Dorklets Night, Day, and Ethancitx in…Cooking Pizza IX!
Dorklets Night, Day, and Ethancitx in…Cooking Pizza VIII!
Day takes over pizza making. How will Night and Ethancitx react?! Continue reading Dorklets Night, Day, and Ethancitx in…Cooking Pizza VIII!
Dorklets Night, Day, and Ethancitx in…Cooking Pizza VII!
While the pizza crust is pre-baking, Day comes in to help!
Continue reading Dorklets Night, Day, and Ethancitx in…Cooking Pizza VII!
Dorklets Night, Day, and Ethancitx in…Cooking Pizza VI!
Night and Ethancitx actually settle down to make their crust and let it rise. Continue reading Dorklets Night, Day, and Ethancitx in…Cooking Pizza VI!
Dorklets Night, Day, and Ethancitx in…Cooking Pizza V!
Night returns from shopping and discovers a table with absolutely no snacks on it whatsoever!!! But she recovers, and she and Ethancitx gather ingredients for tomatoless pizzas [because I do not have a mini pizza sauce in my possession yet]. Continue reading Dorklets Night, Day, and Ethancitx in…Cooking Pizza V!
Dorklets Night, Day, and Ethancitx in…Cooking Pizza IV!
Night runs out to purchase some ingredients.
The deli counter just came in the mail today. It’s part of a lithographed tin grocery store set made by Wolverine Toys in 1959. There’s also a folding backdrop including an illustration of a grocery store and shelves where mini foods can be stocked, but that will show up later. Originally the set came with a scale, a phone, and mini food packages, but I just got the deli counter and the folding backdrop.
The deli counter has a colorful illustration of salads, pickles, and very red meats — still vibrant after all these years! It originally stands just about 2 or 3 inches high, so I washed it with some warm water and dish soap and then mounted it on the counter of my Mattel Barbie Coca Cola Soda Fountain. I covered the scratched, stained countertop with white paper. The red on the deli counter matches the red trim of the counter set, creating a convincing deli. I added some silly signs, a few of my many kitchen appliances, and Sappho the Lesbian Love Bot [played by a 13″ Mego Jamie Sommers Bionic Woman doll with new wig and outfit] for the clerk. Then I was ready to play!
Continue reading Dorklets Night, Day, and Ethancitx in…Cooking Pizza IV!
Dorklets Night, Day, and Ethancitx in…Cooking Pizza III!
Ethancitx arrives ready to cook, but finds no one, so he cleans up until a toy robot distracts him. [Happens to the best of us.]
Continue reading Dorklets Night, Day, and Ethancitx in…Cooking Pizza III!
Dorklets Night, Day, and Ethancitx in…Cooking Pizza II!
Day replaces the snacks that they ate, but the replacements are intercepted by the Hippie… Continue reading Dorklets Night, Day, and Ethancitx in…Cooking Pizza II!
Dorklets Night, Day, and Ethancitx in…Cooking Pizza I!
Night is preparing snacks for Ethancitx, who’s coming over to cook with her. But Night’s little sibling Day finds the snacks first! Continue reading Dorklets Night, Day, and Ethancitx in…Cooking Pizza I!
Rainbow of potions achieved!
Got some more 1:6 scale potions [as well as a wonderful shelf for them!] from TinyNaturals to complete my rainbow. Continue reading Rainbow of potions achieved!
Mini magnetic spice rack for Pretty Maid tin litho stove
Found a way to organize all my Zuru 5 Surprise Mini spices and increase kitchen storage space at the same time. Continue reading Mini magnetic spice rack for Pretty Maid tin litho stove
New shelves for toy store!
Improved my toy store’s shelves. I used to have a shot glass display shelf for the toys, but that was too dark, with deep shelves. Unfinished wood mini bookcases work much better. Less wasted space. They take up less room too. Continue reading New shelves for toy store!
Dorklets Silencitx and Ethancitx in…The Roller Rink!
Ethancitx watches people roller skating and finally gets up enough nerve to do it himself. He keeps falling down, though, until Silencitx and Harry arrive with a solution!
Continue reading Dorklets Silencitx and Ethancitx in…The Roller Rink!
Nata’s Neologisms #7
Nata sent me a picture of some toy meerkats and said:
my brain lost the name for these creatures
i went through groundhogs, standyuppies, merpeople….
then as soon as i posted it here to ask you, my brain chilled out and said prairie dogs
I said: Meerkats.
New potions and notions for the Elder Witches!
I’ve collected a variety of charming miniature glass bottles from Michelle Currie at TinyNaturals Gift Shop on Etsy. The Elder Witches love them! Continue reading New potions and notions for the Elder Witches!
Miniature Masters
Warlord Games has made pewter 28mm scale gaming minis of almost all the Masters: Delgado, Ainley, Pratt/Beevers, Yana, Simm, and Missy. I’m collecting them all and having them professionally painted so I can have a chronological set of mini Masters through Missy. Also Warlord Games didn’t make a Roberts Master, so I’m using a hooded cobra mini to represent that incarnation, as he looks like a blue ghost snake before he possesses Roberts’ character. Continue reading Miniature Masters
New sock sweaters
I made some more sock sweaters recently: one for the Stylist, two for the dorklets. Continue reading New sock sweaters
Emeraud, customized new Mattel Barbie Looks
My newest custom got the steampunk power chair! Continue reading Emeraud, customized new Mattel Barbie Looks
One horse open sleigh!!
The dorklets now have one. Continue reading One horse open sleigh!!
Makin’ sock sweaters, du ti du ti du
I got on a sock-sweater-making kick in the past few days. After wearing out my obsession about 5 years ago, I resumed it recently. I made 4 sock sweaters for the dorklets for an upcoming photostory. Continue reading Makin’ sock sweaters, du ti du ti du
The dorklets in…Playing in the Snow part V!!
In the final installment, the snow witch is completed and snacks are snacked upon. Continue reading The dorklets in…Playing in the Snow part V!!
The dorklets in…Playing in the Snow part IV
In this installment, a snow individual is constructed. Continue reading The dorklets in…Playing in the Snow part IV
The dorklets in…Playing in the Snow part III
In this installment, snow construction begins.Continue reading The dorklets in…Playing in the Snow part III
The dorklets in…Playing in the Snow part II
The dorklets are playing in the snow. In this installment, there is a snowball fight. Continue reading The dorklets in…Playing in the Snow part II
The dorklets in…Playing in the Snow part I
The lining of my fleece blanket and 100 cotton balls serve as a playground for everyone’s favorite kidsies… In this installment, Day hides in the snow. Continue reading The dorklets in…Playing in the Snow part I
Improving poseability of MGA Rainbow High dolls
I love the MGA Rainbow High fashions, but the bodies leave a few things to be desired. I’m not a fan of the short torsos and small hands, but I can deal with that. I have much more of a problem with the limited articulation. Out of the box, the body can’t sit up straight. Elbows only bend 90 degrees, as do legs. Also, I put Barbie heads on the necks, but the neck range of motion for a smaller head is very limited. Modding to the rescue! Continue reading Improving poseability of MGA Rainbow High dolls
Dried herbs for the Elder Witches
I bought some bunches of miniature dried plants from Etsy, and the seller threw in a lot of extras, so I made several bunches of dried herbs for the Elder Witches. Continue reading Dried herbs for the Elder Witches
At long last, Big Allison is complete!
Finally, Allison 3.0 has her final headsculpt with final hair! Her Afro puff wig came [much later than expected], and she’s now complete! Thus I have achieved one of my goals for this year — to finish updating all the Big Dorklets! Continue reading At long last, Big Allison is complete!
Shelf of witchy supplies
I pulled out my magic supplies that I’ve been collecting and glued them all to a shelf. Now I can easily add witchy supplies to any scene. Continue reading Shelf of witchy supplies
The dorklets and the Elder Witches in…Candy for Breakfast part V!
In the final chapter of our drama, the Elder Witches discover what the dorklets have been doing instead of getting ready for breakfast. Continue reading The dorklets and the Elder Witches in…Candy for Breakfast part V!
The black cat has a kidsy, Catrine!
I got an 11cm doll body and plopped a mini vinyl figure’s head on it. The relative scale to the black cat and the happy expression on the vinyl fig’s face made me think that this character was clearly a perky lil kid. Continue reading The black cat has a kidsy, Catrine!
The Elder Witches in…Candy for Breakfast part IV!
While the dorklets are eating candy in Day’s bedroom, the Magister makes breakfast in the kitchen. Continue reading The Elder Witches in…Candy for Breakfast part IV!
Come4Arts 1:9 scale Pet Hospital figures
At the end of October, @natalunasans and I recently split a purchase of 6 blind boxed 1:9 scale figures by Come4Arts. Their bulky default outfits, single-jointed female bodies [versus double-jointed male bodies], and weird distribution of accessories among figures made them a real disappointment, not at all worth $350.00.
I worked hard to improve the figures. I’ve gotten them to an acceptable point of poseability, but I’m still not sure what I’m going to do with them. Right now they’re just hanging out on a shelf in the living room, chatting.
Continue reading Come4Arts 1:9 scale Pet Hospital figures
The Dorklets in…Candy for Breakfast part III!
Night and Day return triumphant. There is a celebratory feast. Continue reading The Dorklets in…Candy for Breakfast part III!
The dorklets in…Candy for Breakfast part II!
The other dorklets wake up to discover that Night and Day have mysteriously disappeared… Meghna tries to entertain herself by dancing, but there is a surprise pillow attack.
Continue reading The dorklets in…Candy for Breakfast part II!
Doll-adjacent ephemera
I’ve developed a little interest in doll-adjacent ephemera in the past month or two. Continue reading Doll-adjacent ephemera
The dorklets in…Candy for Breakfast part I!
The post-Halloween sleepover… Continue reading The dorklets in…Candy for Breakfast part I!
The dorklets in…The Halloween Store Part II!
Being silly in the store…
Continue reading The dorklets in…The Halloween Store Part II!
Flaming Hot Pussy is kitted out!
For decades, I’ve had an imaginary band called Flaming Hot Pussy. Their latest iteration recently all got their instruments, so allow me to introduce the hottest band around: FHP! Continue reading Flaming Hot Pussy is kitted out!
The dorklets in…The Halloween Store Part I!
The dorklets have been enthusiastically running around in the Halloween store set for about a month now. Finally I have some pictures! Continue reading The dorklets in…The Halloween Store Part I!
MGA Rainbow High stuff for 1:6 scale dolls!
MGA has a newish line of big-headed, single-jointed dolls with really high-quality, detailed outfits. The line is Rainbow High, and, while I’m not a fan of the big heads, I like the bodies, clothes, shoes, and some accessories. Recently I repurposed some of the stuff for my 1:6ers. Continue reading MGA Rainbow High stuff for 1:6 scale dolls!
Carnelian got a new body and a new hairstyle!
I like Carnelian’s toothy, unhinged grin, but her original body covered all useful joints in squidgy skin, so she couldn’t hold a pose well. Inspired by my work on Twerpcat, I thought of the human headsculpt that Carnelian uses, and I decided to work on her.
Tonight I gave her an updo of a ponytail not pulled all the way through the holder. I also plopped her on a Takara Cy Girl 1.0 body which doesn’t technically match, but looks close enough. Though it’s single-jointed, shiny, and slightly tanner than her head, it’s also tight, solid, and capable of standing alone and holding poses. Because the body had a cracked ankle cup, I removed the ankle cup, sank screws into the ankles, and put MGA Bratz feetz on the heads of the screws. Continue reading Carnelian got a new body and a new hairstyle!
Twerpcat in progress
Carnelian, my catwitch, came with an eerily grinning anthropomorphic cat head. When I visited @natalunasans in 2018, I saw that she gave the cat headsculpt its own body. I kept my cat head, but didn’t do anything with it.
Then last week I got the idea of sticking the head on a Lakor Joker Baby body. The body came a few days ago, but without any of the extra hands for some reason. Nevertheless, the cat head looks wonderful on the body, making a small goblinoid creature whose expression is one of pure glee over how much of a little shit it is. Continue reading Twerpcat in progress
Three’s better tie
In my ongoing quest to increase the tackiness of my Third Doctor, I made a louder tie out of blue velvet ribbon. Continue reading Three’s better tie
Beryl the fashionable witch is done!
I moved her onto a Mattel Made to Move, painted exposed parts to match her head, added gold fishnets, and called her done. I decided not to fight the frizzy hair, clipped it up in the back, and combed it forward and out in a corona, and decided that was enough of a style for her.
How to improve a GOML part II — Qingting gets a makeunder
I recently articulated an American Girl Girls of Many Lands doll. Then I recently improved her by removing her overdone lipstick. They made her look like she was pursing her lips. Now she looks more relaxed.Continue reading How to improve a GOML part II — Qingting gets a makeunder
Working on Beryl the fashionable witch
Beryl is a Mattel 2006 Pink Label Wicked Witch of the West [Wizard of Oz] doll who, I decided, needed bright clothes to compliment her green skin. I acquired a used [but original] Silken Flame velvet coat locally and a vintage clone Silken Flame dress from Ebay. Obitsu wrist joints, Takara BBI Cy girl gloved hands, BBI arm sleeves, MGA Hi Glamm boots. Eventually gonna put her on a green-painted Mattel Made To Move body so that she can ride her vehicle of choice: a flying Vespa! Need to do something about her crappy hair too. Continue reading Working on Beryl the fashionable witch
The dorklets in the costume shop!
These are draft pictures of the dorklets overrunning a Hardship costume shop, just in time for Halloween. Continue reading The dorklets in the costume shop!
Oh no! Dorklets in the kitchen!!
Over my break, I finally finally FINALLY got some corner walls painted. One of them even has functioning windows and functioning French doors. Both corners are beautifully done in spray painted primer. I am not done setting up the room, but the dorklets have already overtaken it.
Improving my BCS Third Doctor
At long last, my BCS Third Doctor arrived on August 24th! I dithered about getting one, but I am getting the Delgado Master from BCS, and @natalunasans and I have commissioned custom sculpts of Jo, so I thought that I should really add the Doctor to complete the trio. It’ll be a long while before all my Three-era dolls [the Third Doctor, Delgado Master, Jo, and Galleia] are together, given that Delgado’s release is quite delayed. However, I’m pulling together what I can. Continue reading Improving my BCS Third Doctor
More dorklets reading mini books I made!
Detail shots of kids, books, and book interiors. Um, is that really a comfortable way to sit, Little Allison?!Continue reading More dorklets reading mini books I made!
Big Allison 3.0!
After changing Big Allison’s expression slightly and repainting her AGAIN, I’ve finally captured her. Now for some better hair. The stuff I made for her out of curly fabric looks too square and weighted at the bottom. So I ordered a puff wig from a store on Etsy. Continue reading Big Allison 3.0!
Qingting is back!
Once upon a time, I articulated a Pleasant Company/American Girl Girls of Many Lands 9″ doll by splicing it with Obitsu parts. Here’s my first attempt
at articulating Qingting, a tertiary character from LHF. I used some parts of an Obitsu 27cm doll and didn’t like the results.
Continue reading Qingting is back!
I made a lot of miniature books recently.
I made some 1:6 scale books sculpted in open positions so that my dolls could hold them and easily appear to be reading.
Real Littles Shoes news — Amazon exclusive set for my dolls!
@natalunasans ordered me the Amazon exclusive Real Littles package that included two Real Littles bags, some exclusive Real Littles shoes, and some accessories. They came today! I really like the more saturated palette of the exclusive Real Littles shoes. Dorklets modeling below. Continue reading Real Littles Shoes news — Amazon exclusive set for my dolls!
Little Meghna got a new body!
It’s a slightly modified 10″ Disney Elite Rey body. I popped off the original head/neck assembly, cut off the neck from the Spin Master Liv body that Little Meghna was on, glued it down into the Disney Elite neck socket, and decided to ignore large gaps in socket/mismatched skintone. I filled some Real Littles running shoes with heat plastic to make sockets for the ankle balls. Now her parts match enough in color that she can wear shorts and short sleeves!
Big Night is done!
Big Night is done! She is a repainted Takara BBI Cy Girl Blaze head on a Hot Toys Cuban female action figure body. Her outfit takes inspiration from her Goth leanings, but also her idolatry of the Magister, so she wears a jacket very similar to his.
Real Littles Shoes repaints
I repainted these Real Littles Shoes at @natalunasans house because the originals were SO FUCKING BORING. Continue reading Real Littles Shoes repaints
Kitty is here! Oh yes oh yes oh yes, it is!!!!
Kitty, Harry’s sentient service robot, is in the house! It’s a highly sociable, friendly, anxiety-ridden, autistic, sentient scorpion robot with the personality of a golden retriever and the mannerisms of a cat. Here it is, helpfully carrying a basket of new friends! The Kitty doll is actually a Schleich scorpion that came with an armored rider.Continue reading Kitty is here! Oh yes oh yes oh yes, it is!!!!
Memory and Solace Saxon!!
Hardship, Vermont is full of notable locals, but two of the most notable are Memory [on our right] and Solace [on our left] Saxon, Harry’s younger sisters. They’re dicephalus conjoined twins, inspired by actual dicephalus conjoined twins Abby and Brittany Hensel, each with their own head [obvs], spine, arm, leg, and heart. Solace is taller and stronger. She is an outgoing performer who likes practical jokes and [badly executed] sleight-of-hand. Memory is quieter. She likes etymology, poisons, and privacy. Continue reading Memory and Solace Saxon!!
At @natalunasans house, July 5-7th: Day 2 with @natalunasans — Working with the Villa!
At @natalunasans house, July 5-7th: Day 2 with @natalunasans — Working with the Villa! published on Read more posts by the author of At @natalunasans house, July 5-7th: Day 2 with @natalunasans — Working with the Villa!, ModernWizardNo Comments on At @natalunasans house, July 5-7th: Day 2 with @natalunasans — Working with the Villa!
At @natalunasans house, July 5-7th: Day 2 with @natalunasans — Ruth Doctor, Missy, and the Spymaster
At @natalunasans house, July 5-7th: Day 2 with @natalunasans — Ruth Doctor, Missy, and the Spymaster published on Read more posts by the author of At @natalunasans house, July 5-7th: Day 2 with @natalunasans — Ruth Doctor, Missy, and the Spymaster, ModernWizardNo Comments on At @natalunasans house, July 5-7th: Day 2 with @natalunasans — Ruth Doctor, Missy, and the Spymaster
At @natalunasans house, July 5-7th: Day 2 with @natalunasans
At @natalunasans house, July 5-7th: Day 1 with @cosmomoore
The Little Dorks in…The Playroom VI!
Night has an idea and leads Allison, Theo, and Meghna out of the room. But Silence, Ethan, and Day remain. What are they doing? Continue reading The Little Dorks in…The Playroom VI!
The Stylist 2.0 facial improvements!
In my efforts to make the Stylist look as old as her fellow Elder Witches the Magister and the Hippie, I changed her headsculpt from a Mattel Barbie to one from a collectible doll from some racist piece of shit. Continue reading The Stylist 2.0 facial improvements!
Missy went in another direction than expected…
In prep for my upcoming visit to @natalunasans house, I embarked on an enthusiastic stint of customizing. This included Missy, a doll who has been picked up and put down in various forms for several years. She, like many of my fan interpretations of DW characters, transferred over Hardship, but I never thought to finish my doll of her because frankly I like Harry better. But, if I want to do any photostories involving the Saxon family, Silence’s parents will likely appear, so I should really have a Missy doll. Continue reading Missy went in another direction than expected…
The Little Dorks in…The Playroom V!
More dorklets playing with toys… Continue reading The Little Dorks in…The Playroom V!
Ebru finds a scooter like hers, but larger!
Billie Jean on Battery Street in Burlington occasionally has a cream scooter with sidecar parked in front. It’s not a Vespa, but it’s similar enough to my 1:6 scale Vespa scooter with sidecar that I asked the owner if I could photo Ebru hanging around the full-size one. She said yes, so Ebru bravely surmounted the huge machine and posed for some photos!
Continue reading Ebru finds a scooter like hers, but larger!
The Little Dorks in…The Playroom IV!
The dorklets are actually playing with their toys… Continue reading The Little Dorks in…The Playroom IV!
The Little Dorks in…The Playroom III!
After receiving gifts from Harry, the dorklets move to another room to play. This entry includes a lot of my 1:6 scale toys and accessories I’ve recently acquired. The new stuff is identified in the photos below. Continue reading The Little Dorks in…The Playroom III!
The Little Dorks in…The Playroom II!
Harry, inventor, tinkerer, and childless lover of kids, made a playroom for the dorklets with art supplies, tools, toys, and all sorts of goodies. In this installment, he picks out things for Allison [teddy bears], Ethan [knitting], Theo [camera], and Meghna [camcorder].
The Little Dorks in…The Playroom I!
Harry, inventor, tinkerer, and childless lover of kids, made a playroom for the dorklets with art supplies, tools, toys, and all sorts of goodies. Here he is introducing the dorklets to it. In this installment, he picks out things for Silence [the typewriter] and Day [the tools].
The playroom represents over two decades of creating, customizing, and amassing 1:6 scale tools, toys, art supplies, and such. A lot of it is gachapon, which are miniatures that come from Japanese vending machines. Japanese vending machine miniatures are extremely detailed, of much better quality than stuff from U.S. vending machines, and often suitable for 1:6 scale use!
Harry’s wheelchair is courtesy of Lyra! Thanks, Lyra!
All my dolls, 05/20/2021
All those out and about, excluding people in progress.
People may belong to the following universes:
Big’uns: 1:3 scale dolls
DW: Characters from Doctor Who
Hardship: Hardship VT stories
House Rainbow Barf: 1:12 scale dolls
LHF: Love Has Fangs
Zville: Zombieville
Silencitx and Ethancitx dressing up!
On a whim I stuck one of my many 1:6 scale tophats on Silencitx, who looked so dashing that I gave her something approximating fancy dress. Ethancitx dressed up too. Silencitx is looking like a steampunk Mad Hatter, while Ethancitx is going for a funky 1980s vibe [because he’s growing up in the 1980s]. Continue reading Silencitx and Ethancitx dressing up!
Traditional canned goods for my kitchens
I have a bunch of little glass jars with corks in them filled with different kinds of rocks. I emptied out some of the rocks and made home-canned preserves with two of the jars. I put real jam and real honey in the jars and sealed them with hot glue. Then I put fabric circles over the tops. Voila! Continue reading Traditional canned goods for my kitchens
Redoing Silencitx’s hair with flocking
I cut off Silencitx’s ponytail and pulled out the remains with hemostats. Then I put glue on her head and unwound a dark brown/black pipe cleaner. I glued the bits of fuzz on her head. Result? Looks like she buzzed her head, which is exactly what I’m going for. Now she really looks like herself!
New set: Ethan’s doll studio — and some new dolls for dolls!
I finally put all my toys for dolls to good use and created a set of Ethan’s doll room. Besides doll customizing, he also likes robots, radio controlled things, steampunk, and sewing, so I put in appropriate miniatures in those categories. Continue reading New set: Ethan’s doll studio — and some new dolls for dolls!
Unexpectedly amazing Rements
A few years ago, Rement did some miniature terraria — more like terrarium-inspired miniature scenes — in a series called something like Petit Terrarium Country Life. It’s a series of 6 miniature scenes from European country life, each housed in an appropriate plastic container made to look like glass. There’s a farmer and a Holstein in a milk bottle shaped container. There’s also a person watching a donkey with a milk wagon, and that whole thing is in a milk bottle. There’s a person cooking over a stove in a square-sided bottle with a short neck and a cork and a man picking olives in a corked olive oil bottle. There are two wine-themed scenes: a woman jumping on grapes in a white wine flute and a man and a woman in a rowboat in a red wine flute.
Anyway, I bought these because I figured that the little figures could work as dolls for my dolls. And they do! Some of the scenes work well as tiny sets that 1:6 scale doll lovers have created!
I thought that these things would be smaller. For some reason, I expected the bottles to be 1:6 scale, rather than 1:2 scale. I was also not prepared for the ingenious construction. Every piece, from base liquid to background foliage to people to non-human animals, is separate, with detailed paint jobs on the people and appropriate translucency on the liquids. Rement has made these scenes as easy as possible to assemble, with removable bottoms for all the bottles so you can easily set the scenes in. There are also removable caps and corks.
The level of detail reaches Rement’s usual outstanding levels, although I think the milk wagon scene must be the best. It contains a milk bottle falling off the wagon and dumping milk back into the milk that the whole scene is floating in [see picture]. There’s also a lamb standing on the cart-pulling donkey for no apparent reason. It’s hilarious.
I like the fact that these aren’t just scenes stuffed into any old type of bottle; the coordination between container and scene makes these miniatures both strange and wonderful. An olive-picking scene in an olive oil bottle is delightfully apropos. It’s also weird because the little scene appears to be floating [?!] in the olive oil. In fact, 4 out of 6 scenes are sculpted so that they appear to be floating. This is, as I mentioned, a very loose interpretation of the term “terrarium,” and I appreciate the fantastical impression of the floating scenes.
Bottom line: I thought I was going to get rid of the containers and use the scenes as dolls for dolls, but I find the overall concept and execution so clever and well done that I think I’m displaying all of them as is when they’re not being used as props for my dolls!
The Little Dorks in…Boating!
Little Allison and Little Theo went to my parents’ house with me and played with their boats in the puddles. Sadly the puddles were not deep enough for the boats to float, but they tried. Continue reading The Little Dorks in…Boating!
The Little Dorks in…The Motorwagen!
Little Silence and Ethancitx went out in Little Silence’s Motorwagen this afternoon! With temps nearing 70, I took them to the waterfront, right in front of the wastewater treatment plant. [P.U.!] It was too blustery for me to show them starting the car and getting into it, so I just showed them driving. The model is a Franklin Mint 1:8 scale reproduction of an 1885 Benz Motorwagen, the first factory line gas-powered car. It’s too small for 1:6 scale adults, but it’s perfect for 1:6 scale kids!
The Little Dorks in…Sleepover! Part II
The Little Dorks dig into Indian food that Ethan and Meghna made. Continue reading The Little Dorks in…Sleepover! Part II
The Little Dorks in…Sleepover! Part I
Ethan [with purple cat ears] and his older sister Meghna [with glasses] bring over some Maharashtrian food that they made.
Neither rain nor snow nor gloom of the night…
…shall keep Vermonters from the first creemee of spring!!! [ESPECIALLY not snow.] Silence Lucinda Saxon, left, and Ethan Coolidge Jones, right, of Hardship, VT brave a slush pile at the end of the Perkins Pier parking lot in Burlington to get their soft serve. [It was about 50 degrees out when I took these photos].
Continue reading Neither rain nor snow nor gloom of the night…
Finished! Big Theo!!
Big Theo, a 3D printed headsculpt with a likeness to the amazing Pearl Mackie, is finally completed! I’m so proud of this one. Pearl Mackie is a very hard likeness to capture because, like Sacha Dhawan, she has big eyebrows, wide nose, large mouth, and large chin, but none of it looks out of proportion. I knew that I succeeded when I made the character smile and her smile looked bigger than her face, as Pearl Mackie’s does in the most wonderful way possible!
This doll took so damn long to paint because I was trying to use very thin layers of paint for a more even coating. Not sure if the tedium was worth it, as I never examine dolls as closely as my photos do. She also took a long time to paint because I was color matching between her body and her head. I really wish there were articulated action figure bodies easily available in a variety of skintones.
New hair for the Stylist!
The Stylist just got a ripply mohair wig in the colors of fire, with some added magenta for excitement! It’s a little bit bigger than her head circumference, but it works.Continue reading New hair for the Stylist!
Silence shows Saxonian spark!
Some time during the month, but I forgot exactly when, I did a partial overpaint of my Silence doll to make her better match Little Silence, who has thick, intense brows, and flecks of gold in her eyes. Continue reading Silence shows Saxonian spark!
His name is now Ethan, and he’s finally done!
The doll that I began about a year ago as the Spymaster has now come into his own as a denizen of Hardship first named the Disaster, then Amish, and now Ethan. After a month of painting and adjusting and ordering/waiting for hair and ordering/waiting for hands and all that sort of thing, he’s finally finished. Progress pics below. Continue reading His name is now Ethan, and he’s finally done!
ACTION PASTA!!!!!!! …and other exciting mini fudz
Recently I got some Rements that are larger than the usual scale [which is around 1:7 to 1:8]. Some are also sculpted as if they are in the midst of being served. Thus my dolls can eat them more realistically. Continue reading ACTION PASTA!!!!!!! …and other exciting mini fudz
Toy stoves as pieces for dolls
A while back, I acquired a cast iron child’s toy stove that would have worked well for 1:6 scale, except it was too short. I recently purchased a beautiful Little Maid pressed tin, lithographed toy stove from the 1930s with the same problem — too short. I justified this purchase by saying that I have three currently active characters who like to cook [Amish, Night, and the Magister], and the Magister is exactly the sort of person to have different cooking places for different foods.
Incidentally, I did some research, and apparently stoves really looked like that in the 1920s and 1930s. Little legs were common, as were multiple ovens, often set side by side with the burners.
I’m surprised that toy stoves running on electric current were so popular for decades. As far as I’m concerned, that sounds like second-degree burns or a house fire just waiting to happen.
Anyway, shortly after I acquired the Little Maid stove, I found Sixth Scale Studio on Etsy. Besides furniture, this shop also makes risers for kitchen furniture so that it’s a more realistic height for 1:6ers. Huzzah!Continue reading Toy stoves as pieces for dolls
Little Theo — the cutest kidsy!
Well, all of my kidsies are equally cute, but Little Theo is the most recently finished, so she’s currently the most adorbz. Progress pics below. Continue reading Little Theo — the cutest kidsy!
Nata’s Neologisms #6
I was telling her about an idea for a portrait that showed an aspect of the subject that most people often overlooked. Response:
Her: ohhhhh like the wossname gay in the attic
durian
Me: The Picture of Dorian G[r]ay.
Bunkbed for the Little Dorks!
The kid-sized bunkbed is finally complete! Continue reading Bunkbed for the Little Dorks!
Some new 3D printed heads — Little Theo, Big Theo, and Grownup Amish!
I got some new 3D printed heads in the mail today from @beetleboo! Continue reading Some new 3D printed heads — Little Theo, Big Theo, and Grownup Amish!
Two Little Dorks in…The Sleeping Bag!
My mom made my kidsies a sleeping bag out of some rainbow fabric I gave her and an old wool blanket she had. What do you do when you’re sleeping over at your bestest friend’s house, and you get cold? D:Continue reading Two Little Dorks in…The Sleeping Bag!
House Rainbow Barf upgrades complete!
House Rainbow Barf is alive and back together at last! I was waiting on some parts before I could put together Jujube. Earlier I moved Honorine over to an Obitsu 11cm/Paraboccle hybrid. Just now I finally got all the pieces to do the same with Jujube. Head is 14cm Elfdoll tiny. Bust is Obitsu 11m. Everything else is Obitsu Paraboccle. Continue reading House Rainbow Barf upgrades complete!
Little Meghna and Meghna II
Little Meghna, Amish’s older sister, who somehow became an honorary 7th Little Dork, got her mohair wig earlier this week. Now she’s permed up in her late 1980s/early 1990s glory! Shown her with Little Amish. Continue reading Little Meghna and Meghna II
Recent doll work: Meghna, Amish, Theo
Improvements on recent dolls:
Continue reading Recent doll work: Meghna, Amish, Theo
Recent doll stuff: Vehicles
Some small-scale vehicles have recently jointed the local fleet, and I haven’t really done much with them in terms of playing with them. Photos below. Continue reading Recent doll stuff: Vehicles
The Little Dorks in…Kitty!!!!!
The Little Dorks encounter a very friendly cat. @natalunasans got me a rather large figure of a munchkin [short-legged] cat recently. Though the cat only has swivel joints, its sculpting works with its articulation to achieve some expressive poses — especially when begging people for pets!
Nata’s Neologisms #5
Chatting with me about modding a 1:6 scale cat’s face:
Her: the nozzle is a little weird so I thought it could work
what’s the word I want
not nozzle
snout?
noseface?
facenose?
shapespace?
Me: Muzzle!
Her: THANK YOU!
so mouth+nozzle
okay
Me: Muzzle…nozzle…same thing.
Her: jijijiji
also nuzzle exists
which is what a miaou does with their nozzle
Ebru, aka the EXTRA GAY BARBIE, gets a makeover
I finished a significant makeover on Mattel Extra Barbie No. 1, doing a partial repaint and hair restyle, major body mods, and an almost complete outfit change. Continue reading Ebru, aka the EXTRA GAY BARBIE, gets a makeover
Recent work: Grass and pants
First off, I went to the craft store, bought a mat of fake grass, and cut it into four more naturalistic shapes. They now break up the straight border between sky background and ground cloth. I stuck some plastic ferns in the grass pieces to break up the evenness of the blades. Continue reading Recent work: Grass and pants
Crappy overview photos of all main sets and areas where dolls are out
The Dorklets in… The Sleepout
Fidgeting, pestering, chatting, and occasionally even sleeping. Continue reading The Dorklets in… The Sleepout
The Little Dorks in The Vending Machine II
Damn soda machine, stealing my money!!
The Little Dorks in The Vending Machine I
Hey, I paid good money for a soda! Continue reading The Little Dorks in The Vending Machine I
Sleeping accommodations updated — sleeping bag
My mom gave me some wool from an ugly wool blanket, so I hand-stitched a sleeping bag for one of the Dorks over the last few days. It came out okay, I think. Nothing spectacular.Continue reading Sleeping accommodations updated — sleeping bag
The Little Dorks in Shaved Ice
After all that melodrama, the two “cooks” [in quotes because they’re not using heat in this instance] prepare a sweet snack for the rest of the gang. Featuring a hammock made by my mom!Continue reading The Little Dorks in Shaved Ice
The Little Dorks in Hammock Construction
Who lets these kids play with tools unsupervised?! Continue reading The Little Dorks in Hammock Construction
The Little Dorks in Outing #2: Stargazing
Ooooooh, lookit that! Continue reading The Little Dorks in Outing #2: Stargazing
The Little Dorks in Outing #1: Rest Stop
Oh, take a hike! Continue reading The Little Dorks in Outing #1: Rest Stop
Recent projects: Honorine’s new body, BBQ grill, arm improvements
Again pulled from crappy phone camera.Continue reading Recent projects: Honorine’s new body, BBQ grill, arm improvements
Recent projects: Device update, vending machine, Little Dorks camping, Gay Coat Barbie
Recent projects: Device update, vending machine, Little Dorks camping, Gay Coat Barbie published on Read more posts by the author of Recent projects: Device update, vending machine, Little Dorks camping, Gay Coat Barbie, ModernWizardNo Comments on Recent projects: Device update, vending machine, Little Dorks camping, Gay Coat Barbie
Pulled from my crappy phone camera.Continue reading Recent projects: Device update, vending machine, Little Dorks camping, Gay Coat Barbie
The Little Dorks encounter LEON
Six Little Dorks and Leon… Continue reading The Little Dorks encounter LEON
Updated kidsies: Little Dorks, Annie, and Clara
In other recent news, I have improved some of my cutest dolls, known collectively as kidsies.
Continue reading Updated kidsies: Little Dorks, Annie, and Clara
Ten pictures concerning absolutely nothing!
I’ve been waiting for so long to make this pun…Continue reading Ten pictures concerning absolutely nothing!
The Doctor 2.0 and the Master’s new clothes
When I think of the Doctor from Doctor Who, I think of the Doctor from Scream of the Shalka. Played by Richard E. Grant and written by Paul Cornell to be a snarky, smug, petulant, dry, sarcastic, emotionally walled-off person with depression, they’re understandable, but not particularly approachable. Because I like happy characters, I decided to treat much of the Doctor’s attitude in SotS as manifestations of depressive symptoms.
I write all my fanfic from the perspective of the Doctor having recovered from much of their misery. They are now playful, witty, elliptical, and silly. They love plants and music; they frequently express themself in poetry and puns, and they do not match at all. Continue reading The Doctor 2.0 and the Master’s new clothes
The messy lab and new contents
Shit, it’s been a while since I’ve posted. In the meantime, I’ve been quite busy. Continue reading The messy lab and new contents
A slightly racier set of mini pulps, as read by Alison and her extended Dork Fam
A slightly racier set of mini pulps, as read by Alison and her extended Dork Fam published on Read more posts by the author of A slightly racier set of mini pulps, as read by Alison and her extended Dork Fam, ModernWizardNo Comments on A slightly racier set of mini pulps, as read by Alison and her extended Dork Fam
The mini pulps I made today and yesterday are racier than earlier sets. See details as Alison and her extended Dork Fam gather in the Spymaster’s lab for some reading time. The first set took pictures from late 19th and early 20th century ads for circuses, plays, magicians, and Navy recruitment. The next three, all featuring Terra Nova and her spacesuits of dubious functionality, combine renders that I made in Daz Studio on the fronts and 20th century vibrator ads on the backs. Continue reading A slightly racier set of mini pulps, as read by Alison and her extended Dork Fam
Recent doll doings IV: vintage computing center, Mattel windups, Acme magnets
Recent doll doings IV: vintage computing center, Mattel windups, Acme magnets published on Read more posts by the author of Recent doll doings IV: vintage computing center, Mattel windups, Acme magnets, ModernWizardNo Comments on Recent doll doings IV: vintage computing center, Mattel windups, Acme magnets
Well, I finished the Spymaster’s vintage/steampunk/old-fashioned computing center with the removal of the CRT on legs and the addition of a Mattel Barbie Magic Moves windup computer [the pink one on the right]. I’ve amassed quite a few Magic Moves windups and Acme magnets recently because, as I’ve stated many times regarding Acme magnets, they’re detailed, well made, and perfectly 1:6 scale. Continue reading Recent doll doings IV: vintage computing center, Mattel windups, Acme magnets
Recent doll doings III: More steampunk stuff!!
While searching for steampunk stuff to populate the Spymaster’s lab, I discovered that old clock movements are as beautiful and sculpturally fascinating to me as the innards of stereos and record players. I got a cuckoo clock movement for like $20 shipped. It’s about 3.5 x 3.5 x 1 inches, pleasingly harmonious and balanced in its asymmetry. I think I might get some more. They’re just so cool! Continue reading Recent doll doings III: More steampunk stuff!!
Recent doll doings II: The papercraft steampunk laptop
Inspired by my recent forays into papercraft, I made a steampunk laptop printable of my own, combining images that I rendered [primarily the keyboard] and images from Pixabay, where people can download royalty-free images. I did a test run of the laptop this afternoon.
Miraculously, the laptop possesses correct measurements so that it fits together without any problems. However, it’s about 20 to 25% too big. I need to print it at about 75 or 80% for more of a laptop size. Also I supplied the keyhole, leather handles, hinges, side gauges, and side buttons as separate things to glue on to add some dimensionality to the piece. Only the handles and hinges should be glued on; the other stuff doesn’t need to be.
Anyway, pictures below show the Spymaster modeling and using the clunky device.
Continue reading Recent doll doings II: The papercraft steampunk laptop
Recent doll doings I, presented by Bill and Little Bill [with bonus Little Alison]
Recent doll doings I, presented by Bill and Little Bill [with bonus Little Alison] published on Read more posts by the author of Recent doll doings I, presented by Bill and Little Bill [with bonus Little Alison], ModernWizardNo Comments on Recent doll doings I, presented by Bill and Little Bill [with bonus Little Alison]
@natalunasans gave me some MGA Rainbow High doll clothing. Big Bill is wearing the rainbow socks and rainbow platform sneakers from one, while Little Bill is wearing the babydoll top and jacket from another. Little Alison looks on adoringly with great WUVS, as usual. Continue reading Recent doll doings I, presented by Bill and Little Bill [with bonus Little Alison]
Nata’s Neologisms #4
One of her dolls was sitting in the bottom curve of a circular lamp. She commented:
like those little clown ppl in the moon
pirogis
I wrote back:
Pierrots.
She wrote:
yeah them
Anatomy of a pile of junk
Conflict occurs when the chaotically organized Spymaster encounters Alison, an insatiably curious person who pokes at everything.
Alison: “Oooooh, what’s that?”
The Spymaster: “Don’t touch! I have everything organized. Besides, do you know how long it took me to balance all of that?”
How to entertain a bunch of nerds: snacks and pulps
More shots of my recently created pulps and Rocket Fuel Foods in action, courtesy of Alison and her extended Dork Fam. Continue reading How to entertain a bunch of nerds: snacks and pulps
A new Fiendish Device and a vintage/steampunk computing center in progress
This weekend I also worked on a new Fiendish Device and the Spymaster’s vintage/steampunk computing center. Continue reading A new Fiendish Device and a vintage/steampunk computing center in progress
Papercraft pulp magazines, books, food packaging, and apothecary cases
I have been papercrafting a lot recently. This past weekend I folded, cut, scored, and glued a lot of paper. Results below. Continue reading Papercraft pulp magazines, books, food packaging, and apothecary cases
Alison + Spymaster + Bill = <3 <3
Alison reunites with her secondary partner the Spymaster: Continue reading Alison + Spymaster + Bill = <3 <3
The Spymasssssssster [oooooh]! I finally finished him!
A project that I have been working on since at least February is finally complete! During this challenge, I vastly improved my skills in making likenesses, as well as painting. Hooray for me. Now I’m just glad it’s over. Continue reading The Spymasssssssster [oooooh]! I finally finished him!
I built some shelves over one of my counters.
I used a cardboard box, art papers [for lining box], electrical tape [for covering raw edges of box], balsa wood [for shelves], hot glue [to secure shelves], and picture nails [to secure shelves to counter] to make some shelves for the back of one of my counter units. Look! More storage/display space! Continue reading I built some shelves over one of my counters.
Double-jointed arm transplants for Mattel Creatable World bodies! The Little Dork Improvement Project…
Double-jointed arm transplants for Mattel Creatable World bodies! The Little Dork Improvement Project… published on Read more posts by the author of Double-jointed arm transplants for Mattel Creatable World bodies! The Little Dork Improvement Project…, ModernWizardNo Comments on Double-jointed arm transplants for Mattel Creatable World bodies! The Little Dork Improvement Project…
Four of my favorite dolls are the Little Dorks.Continue reading Double-jointed arm transplants for Mattel Creatable World bodies! The Little Dork Improvement Project…
Nata’s Neologisms #3
Her: Let me know if you have any luck at Seespace.
Me: ????
Her: Seaspace? Port of Call? The store with the stuff.
Me: Oh, you mean Homeport.
House Rainbow Barf moves! And other rearrangements…
I decided to disembarrass myself of House Rainbow Barf’s heavy, ungainly roomboxes. As an alternative, House Rainbow Barf and inhabitants have moved to an open-plan apartment on the bottom shelf of a bookcase in my bedroom. I also got rid of most of the furniture that went with the roomboxes, so Jujube, Jeff, Dorothy, Honorine, and Ishi are furnishing their loft with a combination of boxes and Rements mostly.Continue reading House Rainbow Barf moves! And other rearrangements…
Presenting THE Doctor and the Judge!
Two years or so ago, Big Chief Studios put out some amazing prototype pics for their doll of Geoffrey Holder as Baron Samedi in Live and Let Die. I saw the wonderfully expressive open-mouthed face and promptly declared that it was clearly a doll of the Doctor from some other universe. A whole history developed in my mind.
Before they were THE Doctor and the Judge, they were just two kids who were the best of friends who swore that they’d always be together and do the right thing. They drifted apart when, in early adulthood, D was recruited to be a medical assassin for the Council of Time Fascists, while J was recruited to enforce the elite fascist policies. They both compromised themselves so deeply that they were sure that the other wouldn’t accept them anymore, so they stayed away from one another.
The Time War was when shit really went down. THE Doctor, who was by then THE Doctor, was killing in the service of “the right time,” whatever that way, while the Judge, who was by then the Judge, was rendering verdicts in service of the Time Fascists and their concept of a “pure timeline.” Eventually THE Doctor rebelled and refused to kill, which brought him to trial, presided over by the Judge. Either she recused herself, or she just blatantly refused to convict him, so the fascists felt compelled to punish them both.
Then things start looking up because there was a horrendous space kablooey [or something], and an explosion kicks both THE Doctor and the Judge out of their universe and onto Alison’s Earth with complete retrograde amnesia [because why not?!]. Alison, ofc, meets the Judge because she has an affinity for Time Dorks like the Magister [Shalka Master, one of her partners in my fics] on her side of the pond, while Bill, ofc, meets THE Doctor because she has an affinity for Time Dorks like him. Because the Judge knows a lot about THE Doctor and vice versa, Alison and the others in the U.S. [i.e., the Magister and the Stylist] assume that the Judge is the Doctor from another universe. Bill and the others in England [i.e., the Doctor and Harry] assume that THE Doctor is the Master from another universe. Hah!
Anyway, the Dork Fam brings THE Doctor and the Judge together and helps them to remember who they are. Alison and Bill assure them that this is a happy ‘verse where no one is conscripting you, monitoring you, or making you condemn your friends. Both THE Doctor and the Judge’s minds are rather blown by the possibilities. With Alison’s permission, they decide to hang out in her universe for a while.
Sheep Happens!: A pointless photostory!
Wow, twelve panels in which to say nothing at all… My sister gave me a felted sheep for use in a photostory, so here’s its starring role. Continue reading Sheep Happens!: A pointless photostory!
Dammit, Doctor!
That’s not what they mean when they say to wear a mask out in public!
Alabama’s body swap for greater realism and poseability
I’ve loved Alabama ever since I got her about 7 years ago. However, she has always seemed too large to be a truly 1:6 scale kid to me. Also, while I love her headsculpt, her porcelain lower limbs and wired armature really limited her poseability. I finally transferred her head onto an action figure body to general success. Continue reading Alabama’s body swap for greater realism and poseability
3D printing in 1:6 scale: Straight out of Sculptris, it’s…the Timeless Kid!
3D printing in 1:6 scale: Straight out of Sculptris, it’s…the Timeless Kid! published on Read more posts by the author of 3D printing in 1:6 scale: Straight out of Sculptris, it’s…the Timeless Kid!, ModernWizardNo Comments on 3D printing in 1:6 scale: Straight out of Sculptris, it’s…the Timeless Kid!
In other 1:6 scale 3D printing news, I present, straight out of Sculptris, THE TIMELESS KID! Yes, folks, brought to you by six mediocre screencaps and hours of collaboration with @natalunasans, it’s my 1:6 scale headsculpt of the Timeless Child, as played by an adorable little kid whose name I do not know. She’s ready to print, but I haven’t yet done a test print.
Yes, I’m aware that the mesh is a little fucked up around the outside bottom edges of her nostrils. No, I don’t care. This was my first time sculpting with this mesh [Dodger’s free and wonderful Elizabeth 2 figure], and I’m officially done with my first effort. Any mesh fuckery will be dealt with by sandpaper.Continue reading 3D printing in 1:6 scale: Straight out of Sculptris, it’s…the Timeless Kid!
Updated adventures in 3D printing 1:6 scale action figure heads: the Spymaster and Missy!
Updated adventures in 3D printing 1:6 scale action figure heads: the Spymaster and Missy! published on Read more posts by the author of Updated adventures in 3D printing 1:6 scale action figure heads: the Spymaster and Missy!, ModernWizardNo Comments on Updated adventures in 3D printing 1:6 scale action figure heads: the Spymaster and Missy!
It’s been a bit since I last posted about my tests in 3D printing 1:6 scale action figure heads. Here’s the latest on the Spymaster and Missy. Continue reading Updated adventures in 3D printing 1:6 scale action figure heads: the Spymaster and Missy!
Attempt 4 million and 6 at a 1:6 scale power wheelchair
Recently, inspired by @natalunasans’ use of large plastic vehicle toys for toddlers, I decided to try my hand at a 1:6 scale power wheelchair YET AGAIN.
Continue reading Attempt 4 million and 6 at a 1:6 scale power wheelchair
Further adventures in 3D printing 1:6 scale heads for 12″ action figures
I’ve been working on a digital sculpt of Michelle Gomez as Missy/the Master on and off for about six months. I finally sharpened her up this weekend and got a decent shape of her nose, so I think she’s ready for prep and printing whenever I get around to it! As with my Spymaster doll, she’ll need full paint and added hair. I think I’m gonna give her the expression shown below as well… Continue reading Further adventures in 3D printing 1:6 scale heads for 12″ action figures
3D printing 1:6 scale heads for 12″ action figures IV
I prepared my third attempt at a digitally sculpted 1:6 scale action figure head for Dhawan Master today. Continue reading 3D printing 1:6 scale heads for 12″ action figures IV
Farrier’s hair surgery — resculpting after microwave casualty
I stuck Farrier’s head in the microwave because I was heating it so that I could remove the neck peg. Bad idea. He melted and burned. I took the opportunity to sculpt him some new hair and paint it SUPER OBNOXIOUS MAGENTA. Much better. He also got a new set of hands.Continue reading Farrier’s hair surgery — resculpting after microwave casualty
3D printing 1:6 scale heads for 12″ dolls/action figures III
I’m back on my bullshit, trying to print a decent 1:6 scale head of Sacha Dhawan as the Master. My first attempt was chronicled here. It came out looking like this:
Continue reading 3D printing 1:6 scale heads for 12″ dolls/action figures III
3D printing 1:6 scale heads for 12″ dolls/action figures II
Two years after my initial blog post about 3D printing 1:6 scale heads for 12″ dolls and action figures, I’m at it again.
After that entry, I tried preparing heads for printing and sending them to Shapeways, a professional printing service, which offered higher resolution and finishing quality than could be gotten from the local makerspace. I made the heads hollow, but I couldn’t figure out how to make neck holes. Therefore I tried manually sawing the necks open. The fine plastic of the print did not agree with my hacksaw, and I got so frustrated that I hid the project in my closet for two years.
Now I’m back, highly motivated to improve my 3D printing skills, because I need a 1:6 scale likeness of Sacha Dhawan as the latest [and arguably best!!!] incarnation of the Master on Doctor Who. I made a decent caricatured likeness of him in Daz Studio. Then I followed this approximate process to create a print-worthy Spymaster.
Continue reading 3D printing 1:6 scale heads for 12″ dolls/action figures II
Thirteen and the Spymaster — together at last!
EDIT 08/05/2020: This is the only picture I have of them in a comparable state of doneness since I’ve been working for so long on perfecting the Spymaster’s headsculpt. Continue reading Thirteen and the Spymaster — together at last!
Two Doctors meeting: Martha Jones, MD, and Ruth Doctor
@natalunasans bought me a Character Options Martha Jones! She’s a cute doll with a decent likeness, but an unflattering tank top and a peeling pleather jacket. She ditched those in favor of this 1970s number and said hello to one of her greatest fans… Continue reading Two Doctors meeting: Martha Jones, MD, and Ruth Doctor
Final pictures of Ruth Doctor, the bestestest Doctor ever
I have long since finished my Ruth Doctor doll, but I thought I’d take some shots of her faceup. Continue reading Final pictures of Ruth Doctor, the bestestest Doctor ever
Spymaster 2.0 in progress
The first Spymaster that I was working on did not work out. I decided that the faceup looked too hostile and broody, while my interpretation of the character is much more open and friendlier. Furthermore, the sculpted beard looked like shit. I ditched that head and started over. Continue reading Spymaster 2.0 in progress
Ruth Doctor faceup mods
Ruth Doctor had a little bit of a paint job rework so that her features more accurately resemble Jo Martin’s. Continue reading Ruth Doctor faceup mods
Doll of the best Doctor ever in progress: Ruth Doctor!!!!!!!!!
Jo Martin as Ruth Clayton/the Doctor = bestest! Accept no pasty White Feminist substitutes. I’m making a doll of her. Progress below. Continue reading Doll of the best Doctor ever in progress: Ruth Doctor!!!!!!!!!
Vermont Doll Lovers meetup, 02/08/2020
The Little Dorks came to VTDL yesterday, along with my collection of felted sleeping cats. They played with their toys and then, inspired by the cats, took a nap.Continue reading Vermont Doll Lovers meetup, 02/08/2020
Recent projects II: Another hand-sewn apron!
I have always envisioned the Doctor as a person with about five types of eyewear on their head and a work apron filled with all sorts of stuff. Part of my vision came true last week when I made them a work apron full of pockets. It was initially going to be a single layer of that goldenrod felt, but then I decided to reinforce it. Then I decided to be artsy-fartsy. Then I decided to add more pockets…and more…and more. It came out extremely loud, extremely pocket-laden, and therefore perfect for the Doctor!
Continue reading Recent projects II: Another hand-sewn apron!
Recent projects I: Nychthemeron, the Spymaster’s TARDIS
As I have dolls of almost all of my DW characters that I write about, so I also have 1:6 scale representations of all characters’ TARDISes. I have a police box for Anima, the Doctor’s TARDIS, since she never assumes any other form. I have humanoid forms for the Master’s TARDIS Scintilla and the Stylist’s TARDIS Reeve. To this crew, I now add another: Nychthemeron! She’s the TARDIS belonging to Dhawan Master, aka the Spymaster.
Continue reading Recent projects I: Nychthemeron, the Spymaster’s TARDIS
The Spymaster in progress — 1:6 scale figure of Sacha Dhawan as the Master
Ever since I saw Spyfall, the series 11 opener for Doctor Who, and developed an infatuation with interest in the latest incarnation of the Master as played by Sacha Dhawan, I’ve been working on a 1:6 scale version of him to join all my other DW dorks in 1:6 scale. Continue reading The Spymaster in progress — 1:6 scale figure of Sacha Dhawan as the Master
An apron for the Master!
This evening I drafted a pattern and made an apron for the Master so he can cook without getting his clothes messy. Of course, he wouldn’t usually wear something so colorful, but my story is that the Doctor made it for him. They were so proud of themself, so he couldn’t disappoint them by not wearing it, now could he? One of these days I’ll do a photostory with the Master cooking for the Dork fam!
I based this pattern on a Mattel Barbie apron, reverse-engineering it, adding length and width where I thought appropriate. For a first try, it came out reasonably attractive and functional, though the bib is too long and the waist ties too low. The apron also lacks bilateral symmetry, but that’s less a fault of the pattern and more a fault of me, the sloppy sewer. I’m very satisfied with the initial results.
Little Dorks and their interests
Little Alison and Little Bill got new bodies from Mattel Creatable World dolls. They changed their clothes too. So did the Little Fixit. Now they’re doing some of their favorite activities…Continue reading Little Dorks and their interests
Happy New Queers from the extended Dork fam!
In which we see just how far from the source material my Doctor Who fanfic characters have wandered…Continue reading Happy New Queers from the extended Dork fam!
New Year’s Wishes 2020, Little Dork Edition
Happy 2200 or 2020 or something from the Little Dorks!
Continue reading New Year’s Wishes 2020, Little Dork Edition
Vermont Doll Lovers meetup, 12/21/2019 — the Little Dorks
The Little Dorks and Clara [Mattel Nutcracker and the Four Realms doll of Clara, i.e., the only fully articulated Skipper-size body that was around before the Mattel Creatable World line] attended VTDL yesterday. I opened up my two Mattel Creatable World dolls, purchased on sale at the end of November for $10.00, and took pictures of the CW clothes with my Little Dorks.Continue reading Vermont Doll Lovers meetup, 12/21/2019 — the Little Dorks
The [extended] Dork fam in THE THINGIE!!!!!!
I just saw this digital model, a steampunk time machine, and needed to shoot a photostory about it. Naturally all my Doctor Who dolls got in on the action…Continue reading The [extended] Dork fam in THE THINGIE!!!!!!
At long last, the 1:6 scale gingerbread house project is complete!
About a year and a half ago, I got some 1:6 scale candy house replicas made by BC Mini. This is what they looked like:Continue reading At long last, the 1:6 scale gingerbread house project is complete!
The Little Dorks in the candy store!
On November 9th, I took part of my grocery store set to VTDL: the sweets/snacks/candy. I also took the Little Dorks, who had a great time shopping and eating.
Other photos from VTDL are on the official blargh.
Broom lessons for the Little Witch
VTDL occurred today. The Little Witch, Carnelian, and Anna attended. The Little Witch had broom lessons and a mishap!! Wordless photostory below. Continue reading Broom lessons for the Little Witch
As Heck would say, “Nannyyyyyyyyyyy!”
Look who I’m making a doll of! Look who I spent an ungodly [har har] amount of money on clothes for! Look who I spent $40.00 on sunglasses for that don’t even fit her damn [har har] face! Look whose neck I’m gonna have to bulk up… Look whose hair I’m gonna have to sculpt without weighing down the back of her head too much. Look whose head I’m going to have to paint for a rough match… Look who still needs mods on her blazer for a higher collar and slightly longer shirt cuffs and a dark red ribbon at her throat and a carpet bag and SOME GLASSES THAT FIT!
Look who, despite all that, looks remarkably awesome, even in draft form and will look even awesomer when I give her a smirk! Look who’s eventually going to have at least a Heck doll to go with her!Continue reading As Heck would say, “Nannyyyyyyyyyyy!”
Harry is a chick magnet?
I got a cell phone holder shaped like a couch with two stuffed animals on it. I think this one is a chick… Continue reading Harry is a chick magnet?
A weekend at Andrea’s house, 07/04-07/07/2019: doll photostories
Amazing dramas involving ice cream and cats filmed in Andrea’s doll room with her backdrops. Tagged “natalunasans house” for easy finding, even though I did not go to her house this time.Continue reading A weekend at Andrea’s house, 07/04-07/07/2019: doll photostories
A weekend at Andrea’s house, 07/04-07/07/2019: general photos
@dollsahoy, @natalunasans, and I met last weekend for doll geekery! Tagged “natalunasans house” for easy finding, even though I did not go to her house this time.Continue reading A weekend at Andrea’s house, 07/04-07/07/2019: general photos
Death to creepy soaps!!!
Jill gave me these for my birthday precisely because they were creepy. She hoped that I would do a photostory with them. Here it is. Continue reading Death to creepy soaps!!!
Nata’s Neologisms #2
Broadband, but for drugs. It’s a verb. To mainline.
Vermont Doll Lovers meetup, 06/15/2019
I took a bunch of 1:6 scale doofuses, including Iris, Bailey and Pammy, Major Tom, and 1:6 scale Thirteenth Doctor.
Nata’s Neologisms #1
My friend @natalunasans has anomial aphasia [or, as she says, “Help — I lost my nouns!”], so the labels for things come slowly to her. As a result, she often creates wonderfully poetic circumlocutions. Here are some of my favorites:
Goo + goo = thing. Two-part sculpting epoxy.
A sound looker. You know, for babies. Ultrasound.
Free things that aren’t real. Free digital models, textures, morphs, and other assets for creating CGI art.
Bailey’s shit-tacular shirt
Using @dollsahoy’s long-sleeve shirt pattern for female fashion dolls at 100%, I started an overshirt today at fiber arts, finishing this evening. The original pattern does not come with cuffs, but I added them. Messy results as usual, shown below. I think I would do a lot better if the thread was invisible. Bailey is not impressed. Then again, she’s not impressed by anything.Continue reading Bailey’s shit-tacular shirt
All my dolls, 05/26/2019
There has been enough change since the last census, 03/30/2019, that it’s time for another.
Universe tags are as follows:
Bugs me: dolls that interact with me
DW: Doctor Who and extended universe
Hardship: The Tales of Hardship, Vermont
House Rainbow Barf: 1:12 scale
LHF: Love Has Fangs [inactive]
Smallerverse: 10″ scale, slightly smaller than 1:6 scale
Zville: Zombieville [inactive]
Mattel Thirteenth Doctor — final hair, final neck, done except for boots!
Today I gave my Mattel Thirteen some Obitsu24 hands on Obitsu24 pegs because they’re slightly larger and more proportional than the default Mattel ones. I removed the neck spike thing from the cut-off top of neck, reamed out inside of shortened neck, and wedged loop end of neck spike thing into opened-up neck. It will hold the head on fine as long as I don’t pop head on and off, which I won’t. Sealed faceup, glossed eyes, trimmed one bang on left side. I used dark brown paint on the hair to simulate the brown roots along the part and around hairline around face. Once I get some brown boots from @natalunasans, I can call this custom complete. Till then, have some pics of a mostly complete, very smirky Thirteen.
I’m so pleased with the results of this custom. It should be noted that I am no longer a fan of modern DW, and I refuse to watch any more of it since its racism, sexism, classism, and ableism have broken my heart too many times. I will never see any episodes with Thirteen in them. Nevertheless, I love the character of the Thirteenth Doctor, in part because they are QUEER AS FUCK. Hence my affection.
Anyway, though not a fan of Thirteen’s era, I still become very excited when Thirteen dolls come out. The 10″ Character Options one thrilled me, as did the Mattel version. I wouldn’t have gone out and bought the Mattel one, since it is not at all worth $50.00. But I welcomed the gift of it from @natalunasans because, as soon as I saw it, I had a hunch that I could make it so much better.
Continue reading Mattel Thirteenth Doctor — final hair, final neck, done except for boots!
Mattel Thirteenth Doctor — final lips, draft shading, new sock tops
Today I finalized the doll’s lips and gave the face more definition with some shading around eyes and nasal bridge, including trademark eye bags [TM]. I also made some better sock tops out of actual 1:1 scale sock tops. They fill in the space between the doll’s ankles and the comparatively large [temporary] Ken hiking boots, adding stability.Continue reading Mattel Thirteenth Doctor — final lips, draft shading, new sock tops
Mattel Thirteenth Doctor — neck reduction, draft lips
I considered whether to move the Thirteen head to a modded WWE Fashion Superstar body. Then I ultimately tried removing a bit from the top of the default body’s neck. The shortened neck reduces the impression of a scrawny bobblehead, obviating the need for a new body with a thicker neck. I also painted a draft of the lips, mostly darkening the existing lips and making them slightly bigger. Added some golden tan highlights in the eyes to make them appear more hazel than muddy green. Continue reading Mattel Thirteenth Doctor — neck reduction, draft lips
Mattel Thirteenth Doctor — alternative bodies
The narrow neck on my Mattel Thirteenth Doctor is bothering me, especially since Jodie Whittaker has a rather short, wide neck. Below, I stuck the Thirteen head on a WWE Fashion Superstar first, then a Takara Cy Girl body second. [Don’t blame me for the nipples. I had nothing to do with them.] Continue reading Mattel Thirteenth Doctor — alternative bodies
Mattel Thirteenth Doctor — final eyebrows, shortened legs, added feet
Today I finalized my Thirteen’s eyebrows, shortened the legs, and added FLAT [!!] feet from a Made to Move doll. The doll is now 11″ or just a bit under, which scales out to Jodie Whittaker’s actual height. The shortened legs also make the cuffed culottes a bit longer and thus more realistic. Continue reading Mattel Thirteenth Doctor — final eyebrows, shortened legs, added feet
Mattel Thirteenth Doctor — finished eyes, draft eyebrows
I worked a little more on my Mattel Thirteen tonight. Eyebrows are in draft form, but looking good. Also worked on taking a little height out of the legs, as Jodie Whittaker is 5′ 6″ [=11″ in 1:6 scale], so the default doll is a little on the tall side, especially with those damn molded heel feet. Continue reading Mattel Thirteenth Doctor — finished eyes, draft eyebrows
Mattel Thirteenth Doctor — overpainting the eyes
I’m working from pictures like the one below of Jodie Whittaker as the Thirteenth Doctor: Continue reading Mattel Thirteenth Doctor — overpainting the eyes
Angel of Grief/Weeping angel in 1:6 scale
Before the Weeping Angel monsters from Doctor Who existed, there was The Angel of Grief, carved by William Wetmore Story for his wife’s tomb. Some time ago, I got a small-scale replica of this statue, shown below with a 1:6 scale figure for comparison. Continue reading Angel of Grief/Weeping angel in 1:6 scale
Timonium’s new wig — sigh…
In other news, I made Timonium three wigs this weekend. The first wig involved me sewing wefted red hair onto an elasticized size 4 wig cap. I did this with the hope of cutting and styling it to look like Jareth’s hair from Labyrinth. Unfortunately, I could still see the cap, the cap’s elastic, and the weft stitching at various points in the finished wig. In other words, it was not dense enough for my purposes. I don’t know how I could have made it denser, however, since there’s only so much room on the wig cap!
My second wig was made of red faux fur. Since I don’t have a sheet of red faux fur, I stitched together many small pieces from a multicolor piece of faux fur. Trying to keep all the pieces together and also trying to hide all the loose edges proved more trouble than it was worth. I threw that away.
In the end, I used my long pile VIOLENTLY PINK faux fur to make a simple wig from a pattern for Isabel’s wigs. It looks fine — the bright color contrasts nicely with Timonium’s dark outfit and shows up his pale resin well. I have hereby given up on making him a wig that looks like Jareth’s hair in Labyrinth.
Continue reading Timonium’s new wig — sigh…
Mattel Nutcracker and the Four Realms Clara repaint
@natalunasans gave me this doll for my birthday. She’s notable for using the first highly articulated Skipper size body and also for having an unusual toy-soldier-inspired uniform. I let my whim guide me as I repainted her, darkening everything about her facial features, with heavier brows, heavy eyelids, MW Signature Eyebags [TM!], and brown-based lips. I also filled in her irises with gold paint marker. I’m not sure who she is, but I have enjoyed repainting her, and I think she has much more character now. Continue reading Mattel Nutcracker and the Four Realms Clara repaint
Mattel Thirteenth Doctor — another minor mod, another major improvement
I cuffed Thirteen’s culottes and stitched them up. They’re a little short now, but the overall likeness is improved. Continue reading Mattel Thirteenth Doctor — another minor mod, another major improvement
Bailey and Pammy completed!
I used some zit cream and UV rays to remove some stains on Pammy’s face from her devil suit. Then I dressed her in that suit. I removed her lip paint because her lips are sculpted enough not to need paint. In the mean time, I drilled out Bailey’s wrists, making them easier to swivel. Here they are finished and together! Continue reading Bailey and Pammy completed!
Minor changes to Mattel Thirteenth Doctor, major improvements
Tonight I trimmed the right front of my Mattel Thirteenth Doctor’s hair. I also took the shirt off my Character Options 10″ Thirteen and put it on the Mattel one. Still looking too pale and washed out, but there’s a marked improvement. This gives me hope that a minor repaint will work additional wonders… Continue reading Minor changes to Mattel Thirteenth Doctor, major improvements
Fancy Pippi updates
Besides the Swedish Pippi head that I showed yesterday, I also have a Mattel Scooter. I have long wanted to make her a Pippi, since her red hair and mischievous expression are perfect. Anyway, at first I thought that the 2007 Mattel Mad Hatter body was too small for the Swedish Pippi head, so I moved it up to a Noix de Rome Ninie body. I added some ball-jointed pegs to Pure Neemo jazz hands and used those. I also added upper arm swivels, since the Noix de Rome body lacks them for some reason. The Hatter clothing still fit on this body, but with an appealingly too-small look.
Because the Swedish Pippi head did not match the Ninie body [the head was too red], I tried the Scooter head. The skintone matches much better, and she’s adorable. I will use Scooter for Fancy Pippi. Swedish Pippi will use Scooter’s original body, which is a better color match. I need to either give Fancy Pippi feet or glue her shoes on. I also need to do her hair. But she’s very close to done!!