blythelife.com
blythelife.com

Interview with Eliana of ClassicBlythe & Giveaway!

Written on March 18, 2016 at 12:00 pm by Michelle
Filed under: Featured, Giveaway with tags: ,

The third featured talent for the 2016 March Talent Showcase is Eliana of ClassicBlythe! She creates such fun things, I was very excited to get to know her – and now to share what I learned with all of you!

logo

Hello Eliana! Please tell us a little bit about yourself.
Hello, my name is Eliana and I am from Argentina. I’m a photographer and I own a hardware store but I can’t stop doing and looking for creative things to do with my free time. Thanks to Blythe, I learn new things every day and develop new skills. Not to mention the great people you meet from around the globe.

How did you discover Blythe?
I discovered Blythe about four years ago. I’ve always loved dolls and one day just googling I discovered a Blythe by Melacacia. As a doll lover and photographer I couldn’t help falling in love with that picture, so I started searching for “big head doll” and “big eyes doll” I didn’t have to look again, it was late for me so I started looking where to buy, haha.

details

Who is in you doll family right now?
My doll family has 18 members right now (13 Blythes, two Icys, one Pullip and two Dals), and I think that I’ve reached a point where I start being a lot more conscious about who is going to get in it, because is going a little out of hands.

Calíope was my first Blythe, she is a TBL, Perséfone (TBL), Athenea (Blythe Prairie Posie), Casandra (Blythe Rachel’s Ribbons), Berenice (Dal), Electra (ADG Blythe- Flower Power), Galatea (Dal Another Rabbit), Juno (Icy Kikyou), Emilia (Icy doll), Alice (Custom Alice in Wonderland), Elizabeth (custom by BlytheShed), Niké (Blythe Allie Gabrielle), Nix (custom Blythe by StrawberryLand), Olivia (custom by Melacacia), Rei (Blythe rei Ayanami), Sabbath (custom by S. Cola), Scarlet (custom by Sandra Soulgirl), Sofia (Pullip)

pullip

How did you start sewing for Blythe?
My grandmother taught me how to sew when I was fifteen years old with an old pedal sewing machine. Since then I’ve started making all kind of things, after discovering Blythe the step was mandatory, that and the fact that is very difficult to get things from abroad, because we have a not very good exchange rate and because the government has restrictions on how many purchases a person can make a year (two is not a very large number sadly). So I started making clothes for my dolls and I found it very therapeutic, I can spend hours sewing or just looking at the fabrics trying to make color schemes on my head. For me is like a getaway from a very busy world.

DSCN4549

What was your first sewing project for Blythe? (Would be a good idea to include a photo of it, if you can)
My first sewing project was a denim skirt, with the T-shirt and socks, it turned out very well, sadly that was also the moment when I discovered, in the worst way possible, that some fabrics stain the body, from that moment on I use that same body to try every little piece of fabric I use.

What made you decide to start selling your clothing on Etsy?
Some friends of mine encouraged me, they bought somethings, some others had their own Etsy shops, and I started thinking that maybe it could be a good thing try earning some “dolly dollars” so I can buy whatever I wanted.

What has been your most favourite piece that you have created so far?
My most favourite piece has to be an English dress set, it has a lot of details and I really like it. Also a custom hand dyed dress is grey with x-long sleeves and some hand-dyed lace, anyway I hope I can make it better with time.

11897157_10207608431875824_403662522_n

What has been one of your most challenging pieces so far? What made it challenging and how overcome those challenges?
The most challenging piece, has to be the grey dress, it was challenging because it was a custom order and a very specific one, I had to fulfill my client expectations, keep my style and make it affordable. I ended up hand dyeing laces, and fabrics in order to make it the way we both wanted it. Finally that dress became one of my favourites, because it made me see that I could make some better things than just some plain dresses, it was a breaking point, that’s why is one of my favourites.

dressset

Tell us about how your day is like when are spending time working on things for ClassicBlythe.
I can’t work on ClassicBlythe everyday because I have to work into adult stuff, the good thing is, that when I can make the time to sew I really enjoy it, it’s the best part of my day. Normally I do it at midday when I have about three hours and I’m alone because my husband is not at home, so I can spread out a lot of fabric on the table to try to make the scheme that I like, small things as hand sewing and embroidery I leave them for the afternoon, because I’m no ta lone anymore and it doesn’t take so much space.

What are some tools that you think you couldn’t live without?
My scissors, my pin cushion and a box full of fabric, it doesn’t matter if I use them all or not, I just like to look at it.

hand

What has been one of the most exciting moments for you since opening ClassicBlythe?
It has to be my first sale, I woke up to find that something has sold on Etsy, strangely it was not a dress but a custom Blythe. Best moment ever.

Thank you for doing this interview with me, Eliana! What advice do you have to share with someone who’s thinking of opening up an Etsy shop for Blythe?
Only one advice, patience is the key, sometimes you spend a lot of time and sell nothing, but is important to be patient and of course sew what you like, something you can be proud of, something your dolls may use, those things that when you finish them you just think: I can’t sell this, I want it for me. Thanks a lot for the interview it was really a big pleasure.

You can learn more about Eliana and ClassicBlythe on Etsy, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.

Winner’s Choice Giveaway!

giveaway2

Eliana has generously decided to giveaway one dress to one lucky reader here on BlytheLife! The winner will get to choose from Eliana’s existing stock from her ClassicBlythe Etsy shop, or opt for a custom made dress (minimum 15 days turn-around time prior to the dress being posted).

The giveaway runs until Saturday March 26th 2016 at 11:59pm Pacific. The draw will be held on Sunday March 27th 2016 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 Eliana 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

17 Responses to “Interview with Eliana of ClassicBlythe & Giveaway!”

  1. Tracey says:

    Lovely detailed work… Thank you for sharing! 🙂

  2. Pauleen Potter AKA @PauleenPotter
    says:

    I had heard that Argentina had some restrictions regarding the number of parcels you could receive from abroad and I’m shocked to find out it’s true. I don’t think I would be able to live like that. Anyway, a custom dress as prize? Sounds exciting 😀

  3. Kaiti AKA @-
    says:

    Such gorgeous dresses! Love the unusual uniqueness of each look.

  4. Kirsten AKA @lady_kire
    says:

    The detail on these dresses is gorgeous. Keep up the good work!

  5. Christopher says:

    What beautiful craftsmanship and such lovely work! That grey dress is beautiful! I’m glad she loves her work and how in making that dress Eliana had a “YES!” moment and a client got the dress they dreamed of. Lovely lovely work!

  6. Olive says:

    Lovely dresses!!

  7. Candy says:

    A very interesting read, especially about some fabrics staining Blythe’s body!! Love all the detailing in the dresses especially the lace.

  8. Sam says:

    So unique, I love them

  9. Elizabeth Taylor AKA @bebopgirl1969
    says:

    Great interview and contest!

  10. Ollie says:

    Cuuutttee! Great story!

  11. Rhea says:

    So cute!(:

  12. Andreja says:

    I enjoyed reading your interview and the dresses are really pretty – especially those hand dyed. I love the ombre (gradient) effect 🙂

  13. Anne AKA @anneheathen
    says:

    Oh, these dresses are beautiful! I love these interviews with creators – thank you for sharing about your creative process!

  14. Fiorella says:

    I’m happy to say Eliana is one of the closest friends this hobby gave me. I’m so proud of her and I’m glad she and her work get the recognition they deserve 🙂

  15. I love your work, Eliana! Great interview.

  16. Dimitri says:

    I own many dresses from Eliana and I can tell you they are beautifully made and are very detail oriented.

  17. Judith says:

    What fabulous inspirational interviews I am just loving them… they give me the hope that one day my dream may also be a reality like theirs is….I would love to be the recipient of one of Eliana’s dresses they are so beautiful, Thank you

Leave a Reply to Rhea

blythelife.com
blythelife.com