The New and Improved Duchess Swan

Hi Friends!

This post has been longer than I expected. I started back at work and it's taken some adjustment to get baby used to bottles during the day rather than mom. But now it's the weekend, baby is napping, (It's over 100 degrees outside), and now I get to stay inside and work on this post!

Before I went back to work I got a little time to craft and improve my Duchess Swan doll!

The Duchess headpiece really bothered me. ALL Pink? Where's the fun in that? By looking at what her head piece was in the webisodes and with a little help from a fabulous YouTube video, my Duchess went from ok to OKAY!!

Webisode Duchess

www.everafterhigh.com

Doll Duchess
 

Blah.

So I started by taking down her hair. She looks pretty with it down.

And lots of pretty white and pink streaks. 

So here is Miss Duchess and the fabulous paint brush

Before I started the headpiece I noticed that I always hated the pink on her shoes. In the webisodes they are purple. Not to mention the "overspray" that seeped onto the black part of her shoes.

Again, nothing a little paint can't fix up! I didn't have purple paint so I did a little mixing until I got the right shade I wanted.

Still need another coat but looking good so far!

So I finished with the shoe paint, coated with a clear lacquer and put them on. I also noticed that she had a hole in her tights at the toe. Know how hard it is to put shoes on when they tights don't stay down? 

I didn't take progress pics of the headpiece but I painted the pearls white, the flower black and white with a ruby in the center, the center feathers silver and black, the upper feathers have some white in the creases to give some depth and I wasn't really sure what to do with the "pineapple" up there so I shaded with some light blue. I also gave the black feather across her head some silver in the creases to give some depth. What do you think?

Next it was time to fix her hair. In the webisodes she has kind of a bouffant hair style going on. This is where I followed the You Tube video I found. The girl does a GREAT job of styling Duchess' hair.

First find the place where her hair separates. Towards the front of her head. Note the large plastic seam.

Comb that in front and clip to keep out of the way.

Then separate out all the pink and white hair. This should not be that hard to do. It's very clear where the lighter hair is and where the black hair starts. All the white hair is on top of the black. Clip lighter hair.

Put the black part in a ponytail and don't pull all the way through leaving a little tuft on top.

Get your hairspray ready! Duchess prefers TRESemme UV Protection. Perfect for those days she practices her ballet on the lake.

Then wrap the lighter hair over the top of the tuft and spray in back. Leave some of the black showing through. You can also use a bobby pin to keep the hair in place. I actually didn't follow the directions to the T. I put ALL of the black hair into the tuft. You are actually supposed to keep some of it out for her side ponytail but I think I kind of like it this way....for now. :)

What do you think?

I love her like this and am very pleased on how she turned out. I think she looks more like Duchess and gives a little bit of flair to an otherwise bland headband. Her headpiece does stay on so don't be afraid to cut those plastic bands!

Friends, done any customization on your EAH dolls? Let me know in the comments!

I do have another round of Garage Sale dolls from Dear Ol' Dad and a newcomer to the EAH party! See you then!

World Doll Day Tag Actual Post

Hi!

As I mentioned before I was tagged for these fun questions for World Doll Day. Unfortunately with a newborn and, you know, sleep...I was unable to get to this post until the next day. :)

I was tagged by Kewpie83 at Confessions Of A Doll Collectors Daughter and BarbieLea at Barbie Beauties. If you have not checked out their blogs yet, go do it! They have amazing pictures and collections.

The first question was to name 3 favorite dolls that I acquired in the past year. 

1. This girl inspired my love of Ever After High.

The most beautiful Ashlynn Ella. She is my favorite of the Ever After High Dolls (although Ginger Breadhouse and Raven Queen both run a close second!) I bought her almost exactly one year ago when they had a super sale at Target and then I slowly (and at times quickly!) purchased the rest of the first wave. 

2. My first Midge!

I received my very first Midge for Christmas this year. She is the California Dream Midge, a line I absolutely love! I was so excited. Growing up I received a lot of Barbie (because I have blonde hair) and Teresa (because that's my name). I never got a lot of Midge or Ken or Christie or the others. So getting my first Midge was awesome. 

3. This doll was on my dolly wish list for a LONG time.

California Dream Barbie. I was SO excited to get her. I wanted her since I was a kid and now I finally have her! I also received the Teresa doll my parents found at a garage sale. Now I just need Ken and Christie to complete my California Dream set!

Next question is - 3 dolls on my dolly wish list.

1. Another doll that has been on my list for a LONG time.

www.pinterest.com

Dance Club Barbie. I just love her! She is not too expensive, not sure why I haven't picked her up yet. (Oh I know, I spend all my money on EAH dolls!) I think what I like about her is the socks with the pumps. So 80's!

2. I'm a HUGE Lord of the Rings fan.

www.pinterest.com

 

Arwen and Aragorn. LOVE LOVE LOVE. I would love to get these someday. Just beautiful. And so accurate!

3. A unique doll but because I can't go to SDCC.

www.mattel.com

 

Cerise Wolf. They seem to be in a trend of releasing a special EAH doll at the San Diego Comic-Con. The one this year is AMAZING but this one I just can't get over. I would love to put her in my collection!

I'm supposed to tag other bloggers but I think at this point they've already been tagged. So what I'm doing is tagging YOU! Let me know in the comments what are the three favorite dolls you acquired this year and three dolls on your dolly wish list. 

New post coming up in a few days! :) See you then!

World Doll Day Tag!

Hi friends!

I've been tagged by Kewpie83 at Confessions Of A Doll Collectors Daughter and BarbieLea at Barbie Beauties for this fun World Doll Day Tag post!

Unfortunately I won't get to this post now but it will be forthcoming!

The questions are:

1. List 3 favourite dolls from the ones you got last year
2. List 3 dolls currently on your wish list
3. Tag 5 people to do the same thing! (Anyone with a home on the web, not just bloggers, can be tagged!)

Stay Tuned!

Today is World Doll Day!

Greetings everyone!

Today is World Doll Day! A beautiful tradition started by Mildred Seeley who in 1986 wrote this letter:

“So, you have not heard of World Doll Day? This is not surprising as of an hour ago, I hadn’t conceived the idea. To make it happen. I need cooperation of every doll collector, every magazine editor, doll newsletter, doll shop, library, doll maker, mother, grand­mother, father, grandfather, and all the stray aunts and uncles. The first World Doll Day is the Second Saturday of June 1986. Give a doll to a grownup, child in the family or just a friend. If you don’t have a child to give a doll to – find one. There are many children with no dolls.

Think of it this way and ship a doll to another country. I have always felt that the common doll could be an instrument of world understanding. From the first time I started writing books on doll making, I had the hope that dolls would help make friends all over the world and develop a little love among all.

World Doll Day will also be a day for doll exhibits. It is my hope that all libraries will have a special doll exhibit. Museums will publicize their doll exhibits and have special doll exhibits at this time. Magazines will put out special editions. Doll stores will put on campaigns weeks ahead. Doll Makers will make special dolls for World Doll Day. There will be doll competitions with World Doll Day awards, plaques and trophies.

The logo is made from artist Boots Tyner’s doll representing a child. The child carries a German bisque doll to represent this doll collectors gift. Feel free to copy the logo or have one made.

Everyone can enjoy the fun as there are no fees, no permission needed, no obligations, nobody owns the day, no club, no company. It’s a free- for- all, take up the day, its ideas and fly with it. Lets do it now. World Doll Day.

If you think World Doll Day is a good idea, then appoint yourself a committee of one to do something about it–only then can it become a reality. Would you tell five people, ask them to tell five people, and each of them tell five people and so on. World Doll Day’s birthday is June 14, 1986.

Sincerely,
Mil and Vernon Seeley
P.S. This letter may be copied and copied again and again until the world knows about World Doll Day.”

*letter borrowed from Confessions of a Doll Collectors Daughter (dollyconfessions.wordpress.com)

I do have plans to give dolls. I have a TON of Kelly dolls that I got from the thrift store. So once I get them out of storage and get some clothes for the poor girls (and one Tommy!) then I can work on giving them out to little ones in need. (Check out the whole ton of Kelly's I got here!)

So for this World Doll Day I would like to again show off this vintage beauty. Usually when I talk vintage I mean Barbie! However it was this gift I got from my Grandmother. 

The bells are from my Grandma's wedding cake but look how beautiful she is. 

There is minor cracking on her feet. She is not porcelain but kind of that paper mache type material.

Her dress is flawless.

In the lid of the box was written this message

My grandmother was born in 1929 so she would have been 14. I'm excited that she wrote this in the lid. My grandmothers memory is failing and if I were to ask her about it she would not likely remember. However when she did give it to my dad to give to me she said that she was going to give it to my cousin but decided that she wanted me to have it. And I'm glad!

This is a special doll that I cherish. I haven't named her yet and I'm not sure. Maybe Lorrine after my Grandmother (which is my middle name.) I could name it after Grandmas middle name except she hates it (It's Doris.)

And I'm so glad that I've met awesome collectors all over the world! You all are awesome and I love talking dollies with you and seeing all your collections. Love you all!

I was all ready to start on my re-do of the hair of Duchess Swan. But we are in the process of moving. We've got a couple of showings on our house and one offer so we will see if I will have to pack up the Ever After High dolls soon or not. However, there will be a new post possibly next week! (depending on when the mail arrives, HA!)

Until then and Happy World Doll Day!