I first met Kimberly in Portland in 2011! She was one of the first Blythe people that I met “in real life” and she made me feel welcome at my first ever Blythe meet. I asked her if she’d be interested in doing an interview with me for BlytheLife and fortunately she was! She’s the mastermind behind Rosiee Gelutie, to learn more – continue to read!

Hi Kimberly! What can you tell us about yourself and how you discovered Blythe?
I’m a 41 year old Hair Stylist with a Mortuary Science Degree.  I had seen pics of Blythe around and was always drawn to her.  I remember seeing a book in a bookstore that had Blythe doing everyday things.  I loved that book but couldn’t afford it.  In 2001 I was at a toy show and there were tons of them (the whole first BL series).  I bought my first Blythe that day (a BL Hollywood) for $50.  I was so excited to own one!!!  Had I known then what I know now I would have bought one of each!

How big is your Blythe family? Who’s your favourite?
I have 45 Blythes (this includes 2 Blybe’s that are my mini me and my bestie’s mini me, 3 Icy’s, 2 Middie’s, a Jecci 5 and an ADG).  Gertie is my very favorite Blythe in the whole wide world, aside from Gertie’s Bestie Elouise.

Where does the name Rosiee Gelutie come from?
Rosiee Gelutie is an anagram of My Bestie Mandy’s girl Elouise and my girl Gertie!  I tried many combinations before I settled on Rosiee Gelutie.

How did you get started in sewing for dolls?
I started sewing for Blythe because I love crafting.  The very first item that I made for them was a Donutzie.  I wanted to create a Pal that could be held by them and be fun.

What made you decide to start selling what you make?
I knew that I wanted to open a shop to sell items that would allow me to visit my Best Friend in Australia every other  year.  I thought it be selling knitted hats, bags and aprons for Humans.  But it ended up being Donutzies and Clothing for Blythe!

What went through your mind when you made your first sale? How about when you first saw something you crafted (and sold!) being photographed?
I was tickled!  My very first Blythe item sale was a Donutzie.  I was super excited to package him up and send him off!  And the first time I saw an item that I made photographed, it made my heart warm.  I still get a huge smile on my face every time I see someone’s girl in an outfit or bedding, or with a Donutzie that I’ve created.

What has been your biggest learning curve when you went from sewing for humans to sewing for dolls?
I did some Costuming when I was in College (I was a Theater Major before Hair and Mortuary) and I sewed some items for myself but I never enjoyed it.  I always felt like I was fighting the machine and lost in construction.  When I say that I thought I would make bags and aprons in my Etsy shop, I thought I’d fight my way through it (I’d only made a few aprons and never a bag btw)!  It wasn’t until I started sewing for Blythe that construction and pattern making finally made sense!  I just finished making a bag for my Mom for her Birthday and it all made sense!  I’m actually gathering tools to make a shirt pattern for myself now.  Sewing Doll Clothing has changed my whole approach to and understanding of sewing!

All crafters have their own routine when they have the time to sit down and craft, what’s your routine?
I think my only routine for sewing in to go into my Hobby Room.  That is my “special” place.  I walk in and if it’s an utter disaster I have to clean it first and while cleaning I’m looking at the items I’m putting away and gaining some focus for creation.  Then if I’m in a mood to cut things out, I’ll sit on the floor in front of my mini ironing board and do that.  Or I’ll start sewing or just picking out fabric that is calling to me if that’s what I’m in the mood for.  I usually have the Netflix cued up on my ipad (I’m really into Miami Vice right now).  I like everything organized and a spot for everything.

Where do you find your inspiration for your designs?
I love simple lines and late 60’s to early 70’s designs.  I keep building on to patterns I’ve already created.  Just thinking of new things to add (sleeves, collar, buttons) or to shorten this or lengthen that.  Sometimes someone will say “I’d love to see more of some type of item” and I start sketching away.  Sometimes I sew something weird and then think if I do this and put this here… Hey!  New pattern!  Accidents can be happy creations!

What has been your favourite piece of Blythe clothing that you’ve made so far? Which Donutzie has been your absolute favourite?
Ooo!  That’s a hard question.  I really don’t know.  I think I’d have to say that I enjoy the pieces that are made out of very limited vintage fabric the most.  Simply because they are OOAK items.   My favorite Donutzie was Gertie’s very first Donutzie that was green with a hot pink back.  His name was Limey and we lost him at BC Dallas.  I was devastated and looked every where for him and asked everyone else to keep an eye out.  My Husband says that Limey ran away to join the Rodeo and that it was his plan all along, once Limey knew we were going there.  So I like to think that he is riding some big stallion in Texas with a ten gallon hat! 🙂

What is your favourite aspect of running your own business?
I love challenging myself to learn new things.  I also really enjoy try to achieve the goals that I set for myself.

What would you say is your most irreplaceable tool for sewing and crafting?
My iron.  From start to finish I’m using this tool.  I couldn’t sew without it!

How have you improved as a crafter? What tips do you have to share?
The first thing that I attempted to sew for Blythe were made out of felt.  I created Donutzies and then a simple dress pattern.   Then I progressed to Slacks (made out of fabric) and Bedding.   After Blythe Con Dallas I had a lot of ideas but lacked the skills to do more advanced things.  So for months I labored at learning how to make patterns, set in sleeves and collars.  I’ve gotten better at making patterns and at adding more details to items.  It’s been a slow but steady process.  I hope to continue to improve and evolve.

What can the Blythe community look forward to you in the future?
I’m not really sure but I will continue to work on creating new patterns and styles as they come to me.  I will also work on improving the items that I make with practice.

Thank you for doing this interview with me, Kimberly! What kind of advice do you have for someone who’s new to the hobby?
Thank you for asking me to do this interview!  This has been super fun and I am touched and honored that you asked me!   Advice that I would give to new people in the hobby is to get involved, ask questions and have fun! 🙂

You can find out more about Kimberly on Flickr, Facebook and at her shop on Etsy!

Donutzie Playsuit & Donutzie Giveaway!

Kimberly has generously decided to giveaway one Donutzie Playsuit and matching Donutzie to one lucky reader here on BlytheLife!

The giveaway runs until Saturday May 18th 2013 at 11:59pm Pacific. The draw will be held on Sunday May 19th 2013 and the winner will be announced on BlytheLife.com. Remember to use a valid email address for all comments. If you win, your email will be forwarded to Kimberly so she can get in contact with you regarding sending you the prize.

Please only use one email address per person, those using multiple email addresses for more entries will be disqualified.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I have become quite the fan of Middies. If I had the availability of funds, I would have much more than one. For instance, I would get the mini-Zukin Middie (Nekugutsu) with her adorable cat shoes. And then there is that new one (soon to be released!) Iris Linea with her long, flowing platinum locks and blue princess dress! At times, I like to allow myself to fall into the role of the stereotypical girl and dolls is one of those areas. Especially when the doll just fits the bill and comes with some fantastic shoes and great hair colours.

A lot of people have said that Blythe, of the Neo variety, has gotten boring of late. A lot of the releases have had similar styles in terms of hair colour or cut. How many times have we seen that pink-brown mix over and over again? Or the same shoe mold being used that it just gets so repetitive? But Middie hasn’t been around nearly as long so there is still so much room for improvement and growth and, for the most part, there’s been little repeats in the hair colours that Middie has been given. Granted, they could have had a greater range in variety of eye colours (which would be fantastic), but I think most people are pretty happy with the variety that has been produced so far. And they make such gorgeous customs. It always amazes me how much a doll can look differently with the right person!

Custom Middie and photo by Kate/Moofers.

What I would personally love is for Takara to come out with a shoe pack or accessories pack for Middie. They did for the Neo in the past (shoe packs, accessories packs with glasses, outfit packs that came with a full-on outfit and one set even had a scooter), and I think it would be very fun (and would probably do very well) if they came out with more accessories for Middie. After all, if the doll is doing well and selling well, why not kick it up a notch and give the people what they want? I’d also love to see so much more in terms of hair colours, styles, and outfits! It would be nice to have more fun things for Middies – like headbands, headphones, new shoe styles and accessories that would be well-received by the community as a whole.

And if they happened to do an Alexis Emerald in Middie form? That would be wonderful.

It’s a simple, yet complex, question – all at the same time.

For me, Blythe has allowed me the opportunity to make new friends, to be creative, to have something positive in my life that I’m able to maintain – all on my own. I was content (and happy) to have Blythe all to myself before I met people (offline) who also shared the same affinity for the big-headed dolls. And now I have a whole group of friends (online, offline – local and far) who also love the same doll – and we’re able to talk about a whole lot more than dolls! Which, I personally think, is the best part of all.

Why is Blythe important to you?

When I attended my first Blythe meet, I was nervous about the prospect of meeting other people in the Blythe community. Not only would it be my first time meeting the people that I had interacted with online and getting to put usernames to faces, but also getting to see dolls that I could only dream of owning, just getting to see them was a dream. Getting involved in local meets can be difficult if you don’t know if there are people around you. What’s the easiest way of finding those people? The internet.

Finding people who also like Blythe online

Find a Blythe forum – such as Blythe Kingdom, Plastic Paradise or We Play With Dolls. Make an account and you can post on one of those forums asking if people are in your general vicinity. For the sake of personal safety, I would recommend asking first if there are others in your state/province/territory, or the nearest large urban center that is close to where you live. That way, you can find people who are near you, without revealing where you live in terms of a small scope. Always be careful when revealing information about yourself on the internet, as you never know who may be reading it! I was able to get involved with people in my local area by finding local people in Portland. You don’t need to attend BlytheCon to find people in your area though, you can definitely look for people on forums in your area – just stay safe!

How many dolls to bring?

That’s a personal choice. At most, I bring 3 dolls. This is mostly because I need to be able to carry them, and the bags/cases that I use usually only hold 3 comfortably. Some people bring 1 doll only, some bring more than 5. Whatever you feel comfortable with is fine. If you’re worried about being overwhelmed with all the sights to see, or if there won’t be any places for you to put your dolls down, I’d recommend one or two dolls. If there’s nowhere to put the dolls down, you’d need to be holding them – and you only have two hands. Plus you need to hold a camera. There’s a lot of things to consider when thinking of how many dolls to bring. How you’re getting there, how big your bag is, if there will be place for you to put your doll(s) down, if you need to hold a camera (and if you’re going to a meet, the answer is: yes).

Be open talking to people

A large part of the Blythe community is online. How can it not when there are forums and Flickr? One of the greatest parts of the dolly hobby can be the people that you meet and interact with – getting to know those people can go a long way. It’s hard for a lot of people to start talking to people that they don’t know. You don’t have to divulge your deepest secrets, but saying hello and being friendly can go a long way! Especially when it comes to new members of the group.

Suggest an activity

Meets can involve a lot of things – from sharing stories, having a customizing party, to having a craft activity for everyone. It might be a good idea to suggest an activity as a sort of ice breaker, or to have a mini costume contest to encourage participation of the attendees. It doesn’t need to be fancy, it can be a great motivator for people to talk to each other and to make something cute for their dolls.

Organizing a meet

Sometimes, if nobody else is willing to organize a meet, you need to step up if you want to meet other people. The best way to do this is to pick a weekend date, a public location that is cheap (or free) to go to and some place with free (or cheap) parking. Some suggestions for public locations could include parks or picnic areas – which is especially good if the weather is nice.

In summary?

• Find people in your general online, figure out if they’re interested in meeting up!
• Bring what you can comfortably carry, as there may not be room to put the dolls down.
• Plan an activity – ice breakers, craft projects or costume contests can be a good way to go.
• Organize a meet in a public location, on a weekend, that is easy to get to and has free/cheap parking.

I have been documenting my process throughout 365 with Eden Mouse this year. I’m behind on uploading for April 2013, but here are some of my photos for the month – starting with what Eden wore for April 1st:

Click to read more of this entry.