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A Blythe Holiday Giveaway with Carmen!

Written on December 12, 2010 at 12:00 pm by Michelle
Filed under: Giveaway with tags: ,

For those of you who don’t know who Carmen is, she’s relatively new to the wonderful world that is Blythe (she got her first Blythe a few months ago) and she’s known on Flickr as smidge girl. She does some fantastic and awesome crafts that she sells over at Etsy and two very lucky people can win some cute things made by Carmen, right here at BlytheLife.com!

You can find Carmen on Flickr, at her blog (Smidge House) or at her Etsy shop, Smidge House, where she sells 1/6th size furniture (which is perfect for our favourite doll, Blythe!).

Due to how late in the year it is, we’re not sure if the prizes will reach the winners before Christmas (or before the end of December, depending on where you are), but Carmen will ship the prizes as soon as the winners are announced.

First up, we have The Rockefeller Wreath. It’s 3″ in diameter and has gorgeous red, green and gold balls. It’s a super-light weight wreath so it can be hung by a pin, a string, a wire or you could just hold it up and admire it. Because, really, that’s what you do with really pretty things, right?

Secondly, and you all should get ready for this, is the Charlie Brown Mini Christmas Tree. Darling, isn’t it? And it looks so much like the tree in the movie… Ahh, memories! This adorable tree is 4″ tall, which includes the wooden stand (and not the little wooden table). And the cute little branches are all made of wire so you can bend them to your liking… Just so adorable, I love it!

If you don’t want to wait to see if you win the wreath or the tree, you can always check out Carmen’s Etsy shop where she sells a lot of cute stuff, all handmade by her!

And now for all the little details…

You can get up to two entries for this giveaway draw and you can enter until Saturday December 18th 2010 at 11:59pm PST. The draw will be held on Sunday December 19th 2010 and the two winners 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 Carmen for arranging shipment of the prize.

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

Mandatory Entry: Comment below to tell me and Carmen that you want to win! I’ll be doing an interview with Carmen in 2011, so if you have any questions for her, now’s the time to ask!

Bonus Entry: Tweet about the contest! Please retweet the following from your public Twitter account! (If you look below, there is a box for you to include your Twitter username, if you do, I can easily verify your bonus entry!)

@blythelifecom & @smidgegirl present: A Blythe Holiday Giveaway – win a dolly-sized wreath or a tree! http://bit.ly/fWy79R

Melly Kay Custom Blythe Giveaway: The Winner!

Written on November 14, 2010 at 3:30 pm by Michelle
Filed under: Giveaway with tags: ,

I’m sure you’re all curious to know who won this beautiful, beautiful girl, Miss Bellatrix Gamma Ray:

And trust me, if I was eligible to enter, I would have too! But sadly, I am not, but that’s a good thing for all of you!

There were exactly 150 entries into the Melly Kay contest! I thought that was pretty darn awesome! There were 98 individuals who entered into the contest!

  • There were 98 comments about what you love about Blythe!
  • 18 of you went on to blog about the contest!
  • And 34 of you went on to tweet about the contest on Twitter!

It was so much fun reading about what you love most about Blythe and I was really pleased to see that there were some people who were new to Blythe reading the interview as well! But now that I’m done with all the numbers, I’m sure you’re all interested in knowing who will be the new owner of their very own Melly Kay custom…

And the winner is…

Click to read more of this entry.

Interview with Melly Kay and a Blythe Giveaway!

Written on November 7, 2010 at 12:00 pm by Michelle
Filed under: Featured, Giveaway with tags:

People who customize are pretty much fantastic to me, seeing as I’m not exactly customizing-inclined and I love looking at photos of customized Blythes. Customizations by Melly Kay is no exception! She has a wonderful eye for colour, combines her style with everyone’s favourite doll’s style. You can check out Melly Kay’s website and Flickr photostream to see all there is that she offers, and it’s all wonderful.

Hi Melly Kay! What can you tell us about yourself?
Well, I’m a 29 year old doggie daycare employee/artist and I’ve been customizing Blythe dolls since January of this year and I love it! I’m enjoying being a part of the Blythe community and making all kinds of awesome contacts and friends 🙂

How did you discover Blythe?
I think I first saw Blythe on someone’s blog…I don’t remember which blog, but it seems like the author had a Blythe doll and posted some pictures. I remember wondering what this big-headed doll was and being really intrigued. Then I kept seeing Blythe dolls pop up here and there on different sites and that led me to Flickr where I discovered the world of customized Blythe dolls. I was blown away by all the gorgeous girls and the beautiful photography After seeing all of this, I knew then I had to learn to customize so I started researching and learning as much as I could about it…

Who was the first Blythe that you customized and what did you learn from the experience?
The first Blythe that I customized was an ADG Pleasant Peasant who I named Gaga. I bought her on ebay and I decided to learn to customize on her. I remember being so excited but also very nervous because I’d read about how hard ADGs are to open. But I got my girl open and did all the common customizations on her one by one. I learned so much while customizing her! Obviously I learned about doll parts and customizing tools/methods, but I think the main thing I gained from it was confidence. I went into this not know how to do any of it and being very nervous about messing the doll up. After I was done and she turned out so cute, it made me realize that maybe this is something I should pursue!

There are so many different Blythe molds and not all of them open up the same way, which ones do you like working with the best and why?
I like the RBL mold (especially the translucent girls!) mainly because I’ve worked on them more than any other mold. For me, they’re easy to open and I love their stock look & expression. But I look forward to working with the other molds too. I’m dying to do my first EBL!

If you could describe your customizing style in 140 characters or less, how would you describe it?
Playful, sweet, colorful, kawaii, whimsical, intricate & just fun! My style is basically a fusion of all the things I love & am inspired by!

I get nervous just thinking about opening up a doll’s head, what is something that you find challenging about customizing and how do you overcome this challenge?
My biggest challenge with customizing is battling nerves! I am a worrier by nature anyway, so the fear of screwing up someones doll can get intense. (I usually get so nervous when the doll arrives that I leave her in the box for a day or two and avoid her at all costs, haha!) I try to overcome the fear by being confident in my ability. I know that I can do the work and I have never had any major accidents, so I remind myself of that and press on. Once I sit down and start the custom, I usually feel a lot better too! Also, I try to play music while I’m customizing too. Music is a big part of my life and it really helps me mellow out and stay focused.

For those who have never gotten a doll customized before, what are some things that you would tell them to look for in a customizer?
Hmm, I would say first and foremost, educate yourself about Blythe customs and know a little bit before diving in. It helps to know terminology and stuff like that. Then I would look at the customizer’s style and abilities. There are so many great customizers out there with different artistic styles so be sure to find one that is customizing Blythe in the way that appeals to you. Also, be sure to check out their portfolio so you can see the quality of their work. I recommend asking lots of questions and getting to know your potential customizer too. You should look for someone who explains everything to you and helps you understand the process.

I know each and every customizer works a little differently, what can you tell us about the process from initially talking to you to finally receiving a Blythe back in the mail from you?
Initially, we’ll go over services and pricing. I like to make sure the client understands what they will get and how much it will cost. Then we discuss color palettes and potential themes. I like for the client to give me as much input as possible about colors they like/don’t like and that sort of thing. I keep a notebook of every client and their requests for their doll so that when the doll arrives I know exactly what to do and I don’t get disorganized. Once the client is sure they want a custom from me, I request they send the doll and payment. When the doll arrives, she gets her own sealed bin and I keep all of her parts, screws, t-bar, clothing, etc. in this bin so that her belongings don’t get lost or sent home with the wrong doll. When I begin working on the doll, I like to try and get the face-up done first and get approval on the colors and then usually I’ll go back and do touch-ups and add little details. I take pictures and send messages throughout the entire process so the client knows exactly what’s going on with their doll. Once the doll is finished, I box her back up and she’s on her way home! I always ship via USPS with tracking & insurance. I also offer FREE touch-ups on minor damage (rubs, fine scratches, etc)…all the client pays is shipping.

What’s your favourite thing about customizing Blythe and why?
My favorite thing about customizing Blythe is the way it makes me feel. You know how sometimes you feel like you don’t know where you’re headed or what your purpose in life is? Well, for me, customizing is one of the few things in my life that I KNOW I’m supposed to be doing. It feels like my purpose right now. It’s kind of weird, but when I found Blythe and started customizing, it feel like everything had come full circle. I have done all kinds of art (painting, making miniature food, graphic illustration, crafting, etc) and it feels like I learned a lot of that to prepare me for Blythe. I’ve taken a lot of the tools and techniques from those art forms and applied them to Blythe and it’s helped so much! Basically, I just love Blythe dolls. They’re so fun and different…and being able to make a girl OOAK is icing on the cake! I don’t have anything against stock dolls, but when you see a Blythe “come alive” through customization, it’s amazing! You would think I’d get used to it, but sometimes I look at a finished girl and I’m utterly amazed. I’m like, “I did that…WOW I rock!” LOL! It really is a magical thing and I love being a part of it! I also LOVE the Blythe community as well. We’re just big kids letting our freak flags fly 😉 In the documentary, Beautiful Losers, artist Ed Templeton talks about (and I’m paraphrasing here) how as kids we imagine, play, color, and create a lot…but once we grow-up we’re expected to put away our toys and be adults…He says there’s something amazing and beautiful about grown-ups who don’t lose that childlike nature to play, create, and dream! That’s what customizing Blythe does for me…it keeps that side of me alive and excited 🙂

What comes to mind when you see people enjoying the customs that you have done?
Just pure happiness comes to mind! Whether it’s people leaving wonderful comments about my customs on Flickr or seeing pictures of my custom girls in their new homes, it just makes me smile really big. These girls are SO special to me and for another person to feel the same way about them is just amazing to me…I’m still in awe about it at times!

Like any artist, customizers draw their inspiration from somewhere. Where do you get your inspiration from for your customs?
I think the main thing that inspires me is Blythe herself! From the hair colors to the eye chips to the clothing, it all makes me feel creative! I get inspired by lots of things though…beautiful colors, textures, music, characters from my favorite movies/tv shows, nature, and most definitely other customizers! My favorite customizer is frankie.DARLING and I love browsing her Flickr photostream and looking at all of her beautiful girls. I think her customizing style is so unique and the way she photographs her girls really makes her work pop! When I look at her customs, I see HER if that makes sense. Who she is shines through and I really aspire for people to see ME when they see my girls!

Thank you so much for doing this interview with me, Melly. Just one last question, what kind of advice do you have to give to someone who’s new to the Blythe hobby?
You’re so welcome and thank you for having me! As far as advice, first I would say learn as much as you can. I spent a lot of time researching the first few months and it helped me understand things so much better. I’d also say reach out and join a forum or get on Flickr and connect with all the Blythe lovers there.The Blythe community is wonderful and there are so many amazing people from around the globe that connect with. I’d also say go into i with a budget and plan of some sort. Blythe is addictive and expensive so prepare yourself for that. Don’t be impulsive like me, lol! Every single time I buy a girl I like on impulse, it never fails that a “dream girl” I really want goes up for adoption a few days after and I don’t have the funds to get her. Take your time, plan your collection out and have fun!!

Melly Kay is giving away a customized Blythe, meet Miss Bellatrix Gamma Ray!

Melly Kay customized this lovely Bohemian Peace and this is Bellatrix Gamma Ray! You can check out her Flickr set and totally fall in love with her.

You can get up to three entries for this giveaway draw and you can enter until Saturday November 13th at 11:59pm PST. The draw will be held on Sunday November 14th 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 Melly Kay for arranging shipment of the prize.

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

Entry #1: It’s short and simply this week: what’s your favourite thing about Blythe?

Entry #2: Tweet about the contest! Please include the url to your tweet or your Twitter username.

Win a Melly Kay Custom! Find the details at http://bit.ly/c7Giog

Entry #3: Blog about the contest! Please include the link to this page.

Keelie’s Customization Giveaways: The Winners!

Written on October 17, 2010 at 12:00 pm by Michelle
Filed under: Giveaway with tags:

I had a really fun time interviewing Keelie for BlytheLife.com and, according to the spike in visitors when the interview went live, quite a few people read it as well. Entries were a little lower than I had expected this time around, but I am glad that a lot of people got the chance to read it and learn more about Keelie and her customized Blythes!

But I’m sure what we’re all really interested in is who won, so onto the winners!

Click to read more of this entry.

Interview with Keelie and Customization Giveaways!

Written on October 10, 2010 at 12:00 pm by Michelle
Filed under: Featured, Giveaway with tags:

Keelie is a fantastic member of the Blythe community that contacted me a little while ago wondering if I would be interested in interviewing her. Erm, does it snow in Canada? That would be a resounding yes on both accounts! Keelie’s style is unique and easy to recognize and she’s got some fantastic answers for all the questions that I threw at her. She brings her professional background and training to customizing and comes up with innovative ways to incorporate new things to what she offers to people looking to have their dolls customized by her. You can learn more about Keelie’s customizing services at her website, Marmalade Forest, and check out her Flickr customs group for more photos.

Hi Keelie! What can you tell us about yourself and how you discovered Blythe?
I have always been involved with artsy sort of endeavors. I am a professional airbrush makeup artist by trade and until just a few months ago I owned a hair salon. I sold it in order to be a stay at home mommy to my new baby, Penelope.

I first heard of Blythe through my dad and stepmom. We all have mopeds and they searched the term “scooter girl” in Google in order to find a picture for my stepmom’s Myspace background. Up came a picture of a redheaded, green eyed (just like me!) Kenner Blythe sitting atop an orange, brown and white moped JUST like my own! They thought it was rather cool that they had just stumbled upon my dolly doppelganger. My birthday was approaching and they were looking into surprising me with one of these quirky characters- that is, until they saw what a Kenner’s price tag was! At that point they just showed me the picture for fun. Once i saw it I was obsessed! I looked further into what Blythes were all about and learned about the NEO Blythe. I saved up some money and took a big plunge, purchasing a NRFB Princess a la Mode as my first Blythe. I figured I might as well start off with my dream girl! My collection grew rapidly after that.

Who was the first doll that you customized? What made you want to start customizing Blythe?
The first dolly that I customized was a Mrs. Retro Mama. I had seen some other customs on Flickr and I liked how custom Blythes looked so much more “alive” and full of character than stock Blythes. Being inclined towards crafty things and also being in the professional hair and makeup industry, I decided to jump right in and try customizing out for myself. It seemed to really fit in with the line of work i was already doing…just on a doll and not on a person! I was drawn to MRM’s translucent skin. I noticed that carving her lips was like running a hot knife through butter. It just took shape so easily! I applied my airbrush makeup knowledge to customizing her makeup and I took a stab at a three toned saran reroot. In all, I really like how Charlie turned out…she is still one of my favorite dolls ever!

I only do minor customizations to my dolls, but melting glue sticks to remove eye chips always makes me really nervous. What makes you nervous about customizing the dolls?
I’d say the lip carving. It is such a permanent thing and once you start there is really no going back! I definitely have my own “lip style” but it’s something that differs a bit from doll to doll, so there is always a little bit of apprehension when diving in. I’m happy to say that after a minute or so of mapping out the shape, my fears calm down and I can just enjoy the ride.

Do you have any rituals or something that you always have to do before you start customizing on a doll?
Before I can customize I always clean my craft space. I need a nice clear, open space to work in or I get frustrated and anxiety ridden lol. Once I have a clean space I get out all my equipment and line it up, then lay down a large sheet of paper as a base to work on and then I take apart my airbrush, cleaning it thoroughly so there are no chances of splatters. (I learned my lesson there while on a magazine editorial photo shoot for work one day! I hadn’t cleaned my gun good enough and the lead singer of a band ended up with splattered blush! Luckily it was a quick fix, but still no fun!) . I also take my airbrush and spray some free form pictures on the paper. It seems to get the juices flowing and helps me to decide on color choices.

You have done some beautiful customs. How does it make you feel when you see people showing off their photos of dolls customized by you?
Awww, thanks! 😉 It’s a lot of fun to see my customs out there! The past couple years have been crazy ones so I haven’t really been doing that many, but it’s super fun to stumble across girls that I have sent out into the community. I especially like to see what hair and eye chips were matched up with them if it was just a face-up I did. There are a few dolls that sold on eBay to unknown collectors. It makes me sad to think I may never get to see any pictures of those dolls again…especially my favorite creation thus far: Reagan LaRou. (Reagan…if your mommy is out there reading this then please tell her to show some of your photos on Flickr!).

What kinds of things do you think people should look for before hiring you, or anyone else, as a customizer?
I will sometimes have people send me pictures of other customizer’s lip carvings and say “I want these lips.” I usually will try to nicely tell them that we each have our own style and if those lips are what you desire then awesome, but you should go to that customizer for them. I think it’s really important to remember that each person out there customizing has their own style and you are hiring them specifically to do what THEY do best. I think of it a lot like tattoos….some artists do bold work well, some do soft work, some flash art and etc…if you want a light and beautiful fairy tattoo then you wouldn’t go to the artist that does heavy lined Navy tattoos now, would ya?!

Also, I like to do original pieces for each person. I don’t mind if someone is inspired by another dolls makeup and wants something based off of it, but I will turn down requests to straight up copy another dolls look. I think each dolly should be unique!

You’ve done some ‘full customs’ around a theme, complete with specially designed outfits and even customized stands and other accessories. Where do you get your inspiration for these full customs?
It depends. Sometimes I will just think up something and want to see it play out. Lately though I have had a lot of time sitting around feeding the baby and watching Instant Play shows on Netflix. I often get inspired by things I see in the shows or different characters. Lately I’ve been watching Pushing Daisies and it has inspired three different customs alone!

What do you think is something important for anyone who’s wanting to start customizing dolls to know?
Don’t expect your first shot to be perfect! It’s something that takes practice and you will get better and better the more you do it. Read lots of tutorials, and don’t be afraid to ask for advice. Give yourself the opportunity to find your own style. It’s nice to reference other peoples work, but try to resist copying what you see or you won’t allow your own abilities to shine through. Most importantly, go with the flow and don’t force any certain style if it’s just not your thing! Stay true to yourself! 😉

I know you’ve mentioned that you’re also a professional makeup artist, how has that helped, or hindered, your Blythe customizing?
The only way my experience has been a hindrance is when i think up something really cool that I know would work great in a photo shoot on a human being…but when I try to translate it onto a Blythe face it just doesn’t work! lol It can get quite frustrating. Other than that it has been a great help! I already had my airbrush set up and had 7+ years of airbrushing experience under my belt so I didn’t have to start from scratch on those skills. I could get right to creating what was in my mind. I also am called on to be the creative factor in a lot of photo shoot projects so I’m used to thinking outside the box when it comes to looks and themes. Many times on a shoot the photographer will ask me for something which wasn’t expected. I often have to improvise to make a shot happen, so I have become very MacGuyver-like when it comes to creating something from a few random materials. This has been helpful when creating different props and accessories for my full themed dolls.

For those who have never gotten a doll customized before, and were to choose you, what kind of process can someone expect from the initial contact to receiving their doll back in the mail?
First they will contact me about interest in having a doll customized, or another service done by me. This can be done through Plastic Paradise, Flickr, Facebook or even my email…basically wherever they heard about me. I will then send them a link to my “Blythe Custom Service menu“. Here they can view my services and prices, take a look at my wait list and read up on exactly what steps to expect from sending me their doll to how to get their doll home. After they have signed up for a waiting list slot they will receive a link to a private password page where they can view each step as it happens. This private page is where I will post information from getting their doll in the mail, to posting pictures for approval. They can ask questions, send me example links, etc all through this private page. This is also where they will find payment info when their doll is finished so that she may be shipped up and sent home safely.

This is a new way of doing things for me and I’m really excited to have such a streamlined way of keeping track of my custom work as well as offering a link that people can view at anytime with updates on their doll. It will save us all the hassle of searching through Flickr and other forums looking for the info that was sent about the commission being done!

How would you describe your custom Blythes in 140 characters or less?
Oh geez! Lots of variation,They range from soft and sweet to colorful and sassy. Fantasy to natural, they are all over the board depending on the owners desire.

A little birdie told me that you have something new for reroots that is fun, exciting and sparkly. What can you tell me about that?
I sure do and I’m super excited about it! The new service added to my menu is called “Hair Attitudes”. They are tiny, sparkly strands of tinsel that are rooted into your Blythe’s scalp making her hair shimmer and twinkle. One of the neatest things about them is that they can withstand heat up to 400 degrees which means you will be able to have them in your dolls hair while ironing her hairstyle into place, or even while flat ironing or curling your mohair! I’m starting off by offering ten colors which will quickly grow if people are showing interest in the service. “Hair Attitudes” are available in three different packages that best describe your girls personality:

The Wallflower is for those tamer Blythes looking for just adding a few single strands to their hair. The Dancing Queen is for those girls who like to rebel but want to play it safe. It includes 10 strands that can be added here or there or in a chunky streak or other pattern. Lastly comes The Diva, a full on 25 strands used to highlight the whole head with a sprinkling of sparkles.

You can play it safe by using a sparkling chocolate color in brown haired dolls, a coppery bronze in redheads and a shimmering champagne in blondes, or go wild and add in any color of the rainbow…Or better yet, a rainbow colored pattern itself!!! Sparkly hair is something that I haven’t seen yet on a custom (however I’m sure there could be one out there!) and I’m really excited to be able to offer such a cool service! What’s better than an awesome doll who SPARKLES?!? 😉

Thank you so much for doing this interview with me, Keelie! What kind of advice do you have for someone who has just entered into the Blythe hobby?
No problem! This was a ton of fun. I really enjoy your blog and am honored to be a part of it. As far as newbie advice: Do your homework! Before buying a girl, join the forums, chit chat with people, ask questions. Try to stay away from eBay, because every doll there is “rare” lol. I got caught up in that one…buying a “rare” girl who I found out later was priced way too high and definitely not rare at the time. And, if you really want a certain girl that costs a bit more than you can afford, SAVE UP for her…buying a cheaper girl will not quench your thirst for the pricier girl, it will just set you back because I guarantee you will be buying that pricier girl regardless! lol (I feel I can advise this since I just went for it and bought Princess a la Mode as my first…lol…may as well start with what you really want! i have never regretted it) Also, I know that when you are new you may want to jump and buy tons of dolls and hoard every last one that you can (or at least I did) but I think it’s nice to take your time with each new girl. Get to know her, give her a nice wardrobe and find her personality. Take lots of pictures and just overall ENJOY her! There is plenty of time to grow a large collection. 😉

Customizing Giveaways Galore!

Keelie has been super and offered up several prizes for this week’s giveaway!

First Prize: A Hair Attitudes service of the winner’s choice! You can choose between The Wallflower, The Dancing Queen or The Diva for your very special Blythe doll! Please note that the scalp must be sent to Keelie removed from the dome. The winner covers the cost of shipping to Keelie, she will cover the cost of shipping the finished scalp back to you.

Runner Up #1: $10 off an airbrush package.

Runner Up #2 and 3: $5 off “The Diva” Hair Attitudes service..

For more information regarding the packages or services available by Keelie, check out her custom service menu.

You can have up to three (3) entries into the giveaway, which will be done by a random draw. You can enter until Saturday October 16th, 2010 at 9:00pm PDT. Winners will be randomly selected and announced on Sunday October 17th 2010.

Remember to use a valid email address when commenting. If you are chosen as a winner, your email address will be forwarded to Keelie to discuss getting the prize.

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

Entry #1: Comment on this interview! I want to know what you think about it (the interview, Keelie’s answers, anything at all!).

Entry #2: Bonus Entry! Help Keelie and me promote the giveaway (and interview!) by retweeting the following (be sure to include your Twitter username when commenting to let me know who you are!):

@blythelifecom wants to know if you have some hair attitude! Giveaway details at http://bit.ly/bcdWgp

Entry #3: Bonus Entry! Subscribe to Keelie’s blog by clicking here and then clicking the subscribe link on the right hand column.

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